how to repair water damaged hardwood floors

Replacing Damaged Flooring by Weaving in New Planks.

• Step 1: Identify and resolve the source of the water. As previously suggested, we don’t begin repairs to any floor without first positively ...
• Step 2: Select the planks to be replaced. Of course you’ll always replace the planks that show the visual effect of the water damage, but it’s ...
• Step 3: Remove the water-damaged subfloor and insure the concrete floor, if one exists, is dry. Removing the affected hardwood planks is just the ...
• Step 4: Replace the subfloor and lace in new hardwood planks. Once the foundation upon which the subfloor will be installed is determined to be dry, ...

Full Answer

How can I protect my hardwood floors from water damage?

• Lifting up or actual pull up from the sub-floor can be a green-light for buckling damage.
• Puffed-up areas on the floor or crowning, especially in moisture damage areas.
• Wood floor cupping or when boards turn up on the edges.
• Gap and cracks between hardwood planks.

How to repair hardwood floor water damage step by step?

Wood Floor Water Damage and Repair

• Water Damage to Your Hardwood Floor. One of the most frequent problems we’re called in to address is water damage to hardwood floors. ...
• The Type of Wood Flooring You Have Affects the Repair Options Available. ...
• Sanding and Refinishing Water Damaged Flooring. ...

How to repair water damaged wood in 7 simple steps?

• Start to swell up from moisture and deform in structure/shape.
• The edges will start to swell up the most and with time will start to crumble and fall apart.
• Waterlogged Particle board can start to sag under the weight which can be extremely unsafe.

More items...

How do I fix water damage on my hardwood floor?

How to Remove Water From Wood Floors

• Remove Surface Water. Use a shop vacuum on "wet mode" (no bag) to remove as much water as possible from the surface of the flooring.
• Scrub the Floor. Mix a mild detergent and a compatible disinfectant (such as Mr. ...
• Treat Moldy Areas. ...
• Dry the Floor. ...
• Sand Water-Damaged Wood Flooring. ...
• Deal With Mold on Wood Under Paint. ...
• Replace Laminate. ...

Can water-damaged hardwood floors be fixed?

Depending on the damage, the hardwood floor may be repaired rather than being fully replaced. If there is minor damage then the majority of the floor can be saved and an isolated floorboard may need fixing. However, if the damage is major then the whole floor may need replacing and sometimes even the subfloor as well.

What does hardwood floor water damage look like?

Staining: Staining is simply the discoloration on the hardwood floors, due to water damage. Staining comes in two forms, white stains and black stains. White stains come in the form of white circles on your hardwood floors. They indicate that the floor's finish has been mildly damaged, due to the build-up of moisture.

How do you fix a buckled hardwood floor with water damage?

As mentioned, weather and moisture are the most culprits of buckling wood floors. If the buckling is minimal, you can try drying the damaged area and see if it returns to its normal shape. You can also try putting a little pressure or a heavy object on top of the buckled wood to settle it back to its place.

How long does it take for water to damage wood floors?

The first 24 hours are critical, and the longer the wood is in contact with water, the worse the damage will be. If you remove the water from your hardwood floors quickly and properly dry them, you may be able to save the wood (or most of it).

Will cupped hardwood floors flatten out?

For a solid floor as flooring acclimates to the space the initial cupping will subside and gapping will be the issue of the finished floor. In this case allowing the flooring to complete a heating season will likely fix the cupping as the elevated moisture will be removed by the heating and the flooring will flatten.

Can mold grow under hardwood floors?

Mold grows on organic materials in environments with high humidity or trapped moisture. Unfortunately for your hardwood floors that means they are vulnerable to damage and mold growth underneath them when there has been water or flood damage.

Will warped wood floor go back to normal?

If the buckling is only minor, in many cases the boards might return back to normal. If the boards are still showing areas of damage and buckling, you'll need to replace them.

How do you flatten a warped wood floor?

To properly straighten flooring boards that have curled at the edges or bulged in the middle, you need an aggressive sanding technique. Many refinishers fit a drum sander with 20-grit paper and sand the floor diagonally. They then sand parallel to the grain to remove the scratches.

How do you dry cupped wood floors?

To dry out cupped hardwood floors, start by vacuuming up visible water and running industrial fans in the room. Once the area has begun to dry, bring in a dehumidifier to remove any excess moisture stuck in the wood's pores. Finally, use a moisture meter to check the area is completely dry.

Is wood ruined if it gets wet?

Wood is a porous material. This means that, over time, exposure to water will permeate the wood's membranes, causing it to rot, soften, and fall apart. Additionally, water compromises the structure of wood, leading to mold growth and expensive restoration efforts.

Does baking soda absorb moisture from wood?

Open all cabinet doors and remove drawers to allow fresh air to circulate. Liberally sprinkle baking soda inside the furniture to help absorb the moisture from the wood. 2. Use a fan to blow air over the piece, or place furniture in a bathroom with a dehumidifier.

How long does it take for wet hardwood floors to dry?

It may also be necessary to access the floor from below for faster drying. Effective drying of a hardwood floor is a slow process. It will sometimes take seven to 10 days for the floor to release enough water to halt the forced drying process.

Will a dehumidifier help wood floors?

When a dehumidifier is left on an automatic setting, it will remove excess moisture from the air. This will greatly reduce the amount of moisture your wood flooring will absorb and most automatic settings will maintain humidity at around 50% RH. Ideal for any wood floor type and good for your health too.

What causes moisture under hardwood floors?

Moisture under hardwood floors is often caused by four factors: water on or under the floor, high humidity, poor installation, or no acclimation. Wood is hygroscopic and vulnerable to moisture, leading the boards to peel away from the subfloor and can cause discoloring on the hardwood floor.

Will a dehumidifier dry a wet floor?

Dehumidifiers work by removing moisture from the air and replacing it with dry air. Used in conjunction with fans and heaters they can speed up drying out a floor. The problem with using a dehumidifier to dry out a floor is that it will collect moisture from the entire room not just the wet surface.

An Ounce of Prevention Is Cheaper Than The Cost of Repairing Your Wood Floor

The first thing to mention is that your wood floor’s polyurethane coating is specifically intended to keep water and dirt from ever touching the wo...

How Can I Tell If I Have Water Damage on My Wood Floors?

The damaging effect of water on wood builds over time. By the time you notice a change in your wood floor, the water has already hurt the floor. On...

Where Did The Water Come from?

Before you try to repair the damage, the first question to ask is “where did the water come from?” An occasional spill won’t cause mold to form or...

The Type of Wood Flooring You Have Affects The Repair Options Available

As suggested in the Wood Flooring 101 section of our website, the type of wood flooring you have limits the range of possible repairs for your wood...

Sanding and Refinishing Water Damaged Flooring

Water-damaged boards that suffer from mild cupping or simple surface staining can be sanded down in the field, re-stained and re-coated. While this...

Replacing Damaged Flooring by Weaving in New Planks

For many water-damaged wood floors, the best way to repair the damage is to eliminate and replace the affected boards and then to refinish the enti...

How does wood change color?

First, wood flooring changes color over time as sunlight darkens or lightens the wood, depending on the species. When you sand a floor, the original color of the wood is often revealed and even when the exact same stain is applied, can appear a slightly different color.

Why does my dishwasher leak water?

For some reason, the plastic, flexible drain hoses are so cheaply made that within a few years, cracks can form that drip water down to the floor.

Why do plastic hoses crack?

Because the plastic hoses must make a bend or two, and are often longer than required, tight bends will crack over time, creating a hidden leak that can ruin your wood floor. No matter what the source of the water, the leak must be found and fixed before repairs to the flooring can be made.

Can you remove a wood plank from a subfloor?

Removing the affected hardwood planks is just the first step in mapping out the flooring to be repaired. As the top layer of wood is removed, the plywood subfloor must also be inspected to insure its integrity. If the subfloor is moldy or substantially weakened by the water, then the hardwood top layer must be pulled off, even if it appears unaffected by the water.

Can you use prefinished wood flooring?

However, if you’re replacing the damaged boards, using pre-finished flooring can make the task easier as the stain and protective coating, applied at the factory, improve both quality and consistency. It is important to note that replacing damaged planks with native materials is the surest way to guarantee a match. You should always keep some attic stock from any wood floors that you have installed.

Do you have to remove planks from existing flooring?

Just as important, because new wood will be weaved or laced into the existing flooring, rather than simply cutting in a rectangular patch from the affected area, the flooring contractor must remove planks selectively in a natural looking pattern to provide the most seamless repair possible.

Can water get into wood flooring?

That being said, water is an insidious foe of wood flooring and even if the polyurethane is in good shape, a continuous drip of water from an unknown source will find a way into the wood.

How to dry out a house after cleaning?

To dry everything out as much as possible after cleaning, use fans, dehumidifiers, and open the windows so that everything thoroughly dries.

Why do floorboards curl?

The bottom of your floorboards absorbs more moisture, which causes them to expand. The bottom then swells, which makes them curl up.

How to stop mold growth in a house?

If you do see visible mold, be sure to clean it with some cleaner that will stop mold growth. Use that same cleaner to scrub the area, rinse it thoroughly with clean water, and then dry the surface as much as possible.

What does it mean when a floor is cupping?

Cupping is when the edges of the floor have lifted up and are higher on the edge than in the center. This means that the damage occurred from water vapor or direct water coming from under the floor.

What are the sources of water in a house?

You will need to look for external sources of water, like rain that comes in your home, cracks in the floor, or burst pipes. Internal sources can be appliances, water drips, pets, and even spilled glasses of water .

Can you sand a floor that has been cupped?

If the cupping is too significant, it cannot be sanded flat. Instead, you will want to nail the floorboards back down. Unfortunately, if your floors are cupped too much, you won’t be able to nail them down or sand them. In this case, the only thing you can do is pull up the individual boards and replace them.

Can you repaint a floor with mold?

If you have a lot of mold, you will want to restrain and repaint your floors. Painted floors, in particular, are known to encourage mold growth underneath the paint. You will have to strip the paint off the floors and repaint them. Use a cleaner in between paint and wood, and always dry everything out as you go. Do the same thing with your stain.

How Do I Restore Water Damaged Hardwood Floor?

It is recommended to employ a professional to replace your hardwood floor plan ks, as the job is laborious and can be a tricky task.

How Do I Dry My Hardwood Floor After a Leak?

Even if you have cleaned up the surface water, the wood could have likely already soaked up the liquid. Take a look at these steps to ensuring your hardwood floor is completely dry:

What happens if you leave water on hardwood floors?

Like the Joker to Batman, water is the enemy of your hardwood floor. If water is left to soak into the wood it can rot, smell, swell, discolor and distort the wood, whilst leaving mold underneath or in between the planks.

How Do I Prevent Water Damage?

The primary way to prevent water damage is to reduce your hardwood floors’ exposure to water. Regularly cleaning your hardwood floors would not only keep it clean but also increases the life of the wood floor.

Why is my hardwood flooring water damaged?

Problems that cause damage to wood floors may happen due to persistent moisture over a long period. External sources are the first place to look to determine the cause.

How to tell if wood is water damaged?

Knowing how to spot the signs of water damage will help you catch the problem before significant damage occurs. Cupping and crowning are some clear signs that there is an issue somewhere.

What does it mean when your floorboards are cupped?

Each of the floorboards has a concave appearance. Cupping is the first sign that indicates there is a moisture problem in your floors.

What does crowning mean on a floor?

Crowning usually means that the moisture content at the top of the floor is higher than that at the bottom.

How much moisture does a flooded floor have?

The moisture content in any typical hardwood floor ranges between 6-12% and a flooded floor will have a moisture content of 40% ; which is why the damage can be severe.

How to get rid of mold on a carpet?

Scrub all the affected areas with the cleaner, ensuring the mold is gone together with its discoloration. Rinse the area with clean water and then dry the surface with a cloth.

Why do floorboards curl?

Since the moisture content is higher at the bottom than at the top, the bottom of each floorboard swells, making the top curl inwards while the sides of the boards swell around the center, bringing about the concave look.

How much water damage can you remove from solid wood floors?

With solid hardwood floors, you can sand and scrape away up to a quarter of an inch off the wood to remove water damage on the surface. This type of flooring can also have replacements for individual planks.

How to tell if a floor is water damaged?

Often times the first sign there is a problem, and there is water damage, is when individual planks are cupping or several begin to crown causing a hump in the floor. Water absorption in the wood of your floor causes expansion, which is most noticeable in the edges of the board that are turning upward or when planks begin to buckle.

What percentage of moisture is in a hardwood floor?

An acceptable or normal moisture content in hardwood flooring usually ranges between 6 and 12 percent, but flooded wood flooring can often have up to a 40 percent moisture content, which means there is severe damage. Hardwood flooring retains water and if it is left to dry on its own then the moisture retained has more time to sit causing greater damage.

Why is engineered wood not resistant to water?

Because the core of engineered wood flooring is not resistant to water, the floor will become damaged if water is allowed to soak into it. You'll know there's water under your engineered wood floor when your floorboards start to buckle and warp. Similarly, flooring made from genuine hardwood is also a permeable and will absorb any water ...

What are the factors that determine the type of flooring you have?

These determining factors include: How much time the floor has been exposed to water. The type of flooring you have, whether solid or engineered hardwood. How much damage there is and if the water has seeped into the subflooring.

Why do you use a water vacuum?

When you wipe up smaller amounts of liquid or use a water vacuum, it will help eliminate excess water from being absorbed into the hardwood and will be able to dry fully quicker. A small amount of water can be easily cleaned and can dry by itself and will gradually get back to looking normal again.

How to tell if water damage is coming from a leak?

Another warning sign that water damage has occurred is when a black or dark sta in runs along the edge of a plank or across several. When this type of stain is visible it is often due to mold growth. These water damaged signs come from a consistent water source that may have come from a leak of some kind within your home.

How to keep water level in wood floors?

If you have a room prone to excess moisture, install a dehumidifier to keep the water level in the air regulated. Cover your wood floors with plenty of rugs, as it’s easier to dry cotton than wood.

How to get moisture out of wood?

Once you’ve pat-dried the clean wood, open the windows (if you are in a dry climate) or bring in a dehumidifier to remove all moisture from the room. Expect this to take up to a whole day. Don’t rush this step! Using a heater or hair dryer directly on the wood risks cracking it.

What happens when you pop floorboards out of the subfloor?

Buckling — when cupping and crowning go unchecked the floorboards can actually pop out of the subfloor which is then subject to its own damage. If you are tripping over your wood floor, it is probably buckling.

What does it mean when a subfloor buckles?

If buckling continues after you’ve followed every step above, this could be a sign the subfloor has been damaged as well, and you will need to dry and clean it before replacing the boards above.

What to do if you spill water on a laundry machine?

A gray water spill, like a laundry machine leak, will need to be thoroughly cleaned with wood-safe products before repairs can take place.

Can moisture damaged wood split?

Cracking and Warping — moisture-damaged wood can split and contort into any shape but the nice flat flooring you had.

Is water damage to hardwood flooring scary?

Everyone loves beautiful hardwood flooring and water damage is a scary prospect. But before you panic, follow these steps and save the day as a DIYer!