Hardwood floors are beautiful and highly sought after by homeowners. However, hardwood can warp when exposed to water during flooding or after plumbing or appliance leaks, requiring costly repairs and possibly complete replacement. Wood is a porous material that swells when it absorbs moisture, creating an uneven and unstable surface unless standing water and absorbed moisture are removed quickly, followed by appropriate drying strategies. IICRC-certified technicians from Sansara 24/7 Restoration & Remodeling prevent warping in St. Louis homes through prompt water damage restoration techniques, including surface water removal using pumps and extractors and structural drying using low-profile air movers and dehumidifiers.
Water Damage Challenges from Unfinished Wood and Subfloors
Although hardwood is more resilient than many homeowners believe, bouncing back when exposed to swiftly blotted-up spills and brief episodes of flooding or other weather spread, it is still at risk of damage. Usually, the surface of the planks or strips that make up the floor has a finish applied to protect it from temporary water issues. On the other hand, the sides and flip sides of the hardwood are typically unfinished and much more likely to soak up available water. Subflooring, customarily made of unfinished materials such as plywood or particle board, also underlies the decorative hardwood. Water drains through the joints between the hardwood strips and saturates the unfinished wood like a sponge. When left in place, this trapped and hidden water wicks into the hardwood, risking warping.
How Sansara Resolves Water Wicking
After pumps and extractors remove visible water, our technicians use sensitive water detection tools to locate the absorbed moisture. We then use one or more tactics to pull the fluids out or accelerate the drying.
- Workers attach floor mats connected to hoses using negative pressure (extractors) to help suction water out of several layers of flooring materials.
- If space beneath the floor foists permits, technicians aim fans upwards to facilitate the evaporation of absorbed water from under the flooring layers.
- Crew members carefully select hardwood strips to lift or temporarily remove, using the access created to direct dry, moving air under the surface of the hardwood.
Have confidence that the highly qualified team from Sansara 24/7 Restoration & Remodeling will intervene promptly to prevent hardwood damage from water incursions. Call us at (636) 812-3838 to learn how advanced water damage restoration equipment supports our skilled technicians, removing water rapidly and drying wet materials efficiently before warping becomes permanent.
