how to repair water damaged wood floor

How to Repair Water-Damaged Wood Floors

• Act Fast. If you notice any signs of water damage, you need to take care of the problem as fast as possible. ...
• Wipe Up the Water. Start by cleaning up any water that's still on the surface of your floor. ...
• Give the Floor a Good Scrub. ...
• Dry the Floor. ...
• Sand and Reseal. ...
• Call a Professional. ...

Full Answer

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 to repair hardwood floor water damage step by step?

Step #1. Identify the Source of the Water. It is crucial to find out the original source of water before replacing the water damaged flooring. Once you identify the source, take some steps to resolve the source of water that is damaging your hardwood floor.

How do you fix water damaged hardwood floors?

Step 4: Fixing water-damaged floors

• Remove the surface water. Wood fibers rapidly absorb water but tend to release the water more slowly, meaning you should use a shop vacuum to start pulling out the water ...
• Clean the floor and treat moldy areas. ...
• Run drying equipment and wait until the wood fully dries. ...
• Sand the floor. ...
• Stain and refurnish. ...

How does water damage hardwood floors?

• 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.

Can hardwood floors be repaired after water damage?

Depending on the severity of damage, the hardwood floors may only need to be refinished. In some cases patching is required to replace the damaged boards prior to refinishing. In the worst case scenario, the entire floor needs to be removed and replaced.

How do you fix a swollen wood floor with water?

If the floor is swollen from humidity, then you must set up ventilation fans to dry out the room. To speed up the process, a dehumidifier may also be set up in the room to help dry out the flooring and capture the 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.

Can cupped hardwood floors be repaired?

To truly fix it, you must get to the source of the water damage. Once you've addressed that, you can try to get your wood floors back to their original beautiful state. For minor cupping, the fix might be as simple as returning the room to its normal humidity levels with a dehumidifier.

How do you Unswell a wooden floor?

0:281:32How To Repair A Hardwood Floor - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd a wet washcloth. Your washcloth should be a little more than damp with warm water and your ironMoreAnd a wet washcloth. Your washcloth should be a little more than damp with warm water and your iron set to medium-high heat lay your washcloth on the floor on the damaged.

How do you reverse swollen wood?

One notable solution in fixing swollen wood furniture is by drying it thoroughly before anything else. You can remove the moisture by letting it sit under direct sunlight for at least 24 hours rather than using artificial means such as a hairdryer or blower.

Will warped wood floor go back to normal?

Cupped flooring looks bad but it's almost always reversible. It can usually be corrected by simply restoring proper humidity inside the room, which will help balance out the moisture above and below the flooring.

Can you repair hardwood floors that have buckled?

When it comes to buckled hardwood flooring options, the good news is that your floor might not need a major repair job. A buckled floor with only minor damage can sometimes be repaired simply by removing the excess moisture, but serious buckling will necessitate replacing the hardwood boards.

Will cupped hardwood floors flatten out over time?

In some cases, if the cupping was not severe the flooring may flatten to an acceptable level with minor gapping after drying. Remember the flooring has lost moisture so some shrinkage will result. Before any repair or remediation the flooring should be checked for looseness.

What does hardwood floor cupping look like?

The simplest way to think of wood floor cupping is to imagine the edges of each plank sticking up higher than the centers. It ends up looking a little like an accordion. If you imagine a picture of a child drawing a boat in the water, then the water will give you a good idea of what a cupped floor looks like.

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).

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 to deal with water damage on wood?

The best way to deal with water damage is to keep it from happening in the first place. Make sure you have the proper sealant to protect your wood, and don't forget to reapply it every few years.

What to do if water gathered on floor?

The water that gathered on your floor was likely dirty (especially if this water came from a floor or a leak). To remove any dirt or harmful bacteria, you brush the entire floor with a stiff, scrubbing brush.

Why does my hardwood floor feel squishy?

Your hardwood flooring shouldn't feel squishy when you take a step. If it does, odds are the structure underneath the flooring is rotted or damaged. This might mean you have a leak under your flooring or that it absorbed a lot of water from a spill or a flood.

How long does it take for a floor to dry?

Open the windows and doors to allow more airflow through the space. This drying process may take several hours or, depending on how much water seeped into your flooring, several days.

Why does wood warp?

Since wood swells up when it absorbs water, it can warp out of shape. If you notice any bubbling on the surface of the wood, curling at the edges, peeling, or otherwise odd-looking shapes, your wood is very wet (or at least was at one point).

What happens if you leave a floor alone for too long?

The longer you wait, the worse the damage will get. If you leave it alone for too long, you may end up having to replace the floor.

What causes water to stains on wood?

Stains. Water can create stains on the surface of your wood if you don't clean it off fast enough. If you can see outlines of a puddle or other types of discoloration, water is gathering on the top of your floor.

What happens when wood is exposed to water?

When your hardwood flooring is exposed to water, it will lead to multiple unpleasant changes in the wood. The wood planks may lose their natural look or get damaged entirely.

Why does my wood floor look humpy?

If your wood floor is damaged with water, you may observe cupping of single planks or crowning of multiple planks, making them look hump. When the floor wood absorbs water, it expands. This expansion can make the whole plank or various planks buckling.

What causes wood planks to rust?

Water accumulation beneath wood planks results in mold growth. This mold combines with the tannins in woodturning color, resulting in staining. Tannins react when they come in contact with the water minerals. It leads to wood staining, or you may observe rust along the edges of a plank.

What to do if you live in a high rise building?

Consider installing a moisture barrier, if necessary, and an appropriate sound barrier, such as cork, if you live in a high-rise building. It will help avoid future problems. Now you can start the process of selecting, cutting, sizing, and installing the new wood planks.

Is hardwood flooring good for a dance studio?

From offices to the home interior to the dance studio floor, hardwood floors are an ideal pick for every space.

Can you refinish wood floors to repair water damage?

You may sand, refinish, and re-coat the wood floor to repair water damage, but is not a permanent solution. The best way to avoid and fix water damage for wood floors is to get them repaired. For this, you will have to take out the affected planks and replace them with new boards.

Can you replace planks that have water damage?

This is certain that you’ll have to replace the planks that are visually appearing damaged with water. But, there might be invisible mold, mildew, or water accumulation on the non-affected planks that may appear in the future. Therefore, you’ll also have to take additional planks out, surrounding the damaged planks.

Why is water damage bad for your home?

Water damage is one of the biggest fears of homeowners everywhere because of the risk it poses to nearly everything in the home. For example, when not handled properly, water damaged hardwood floors can warp, develop mold, and drastically lower the value of your property.

What to do if rug is soaked?

If left unattended, a soaked rug could cause potentially irreparable damage to your wood floors. Next, using whatever you have, remove as much standing water from the floors as possible. A wet-vac will work best, but laying down towels and rags will help quite a bit.

Do you need to dry wood floors?

Once you’ve cleared, dried, and cleaned your floors, you’ll need to dry your floors once again. Continue to wipe the floors with whatever you can. Removing water from everywhere, including underneath cabinets or appliances, is vital to saving your wood floors. A moisture meter will check to make sure that the floors are completely dried.

Can water damage wood floors?

When dealing with water damage to wooden floors, water is not the only material that you have to watch out for. Depending on the source, there might be silt, mud, or other organic materials along with your unwanted moisture. Scrubbing your floors gets rid of these impurities and can prevent permanent damage to your flooring.

Do boards absorb water?

However, a large volume of water will seep in between the boards and get underneath. The untreated areas of the boards will absorb water and expand.

Can you save wood floors from flooding?

Remember, if you ever are facing a water damage issue in your own home, all is not lost. You can still save wood floors with immediate action and if necessary, help from professionals such as Jenkins Restorations.

Identifying Water Types

The first step with all water damage is to find the source of the leak and stop it. You might need to turn off the supply to your home or call your plumber to help plug it. Once no more water is flooding onto the floors, you need to know just what type of water damage you are dealing with.

Signs of Water Damage on Your Floors

Next, it’s time to identify how your flooring reacted to the water. What you might assume is natural wear over time could really be telltale signs of water damage.

How to Repair Water Damaged Wood Floors

Once you’ve classified the water damage, stopped the source, and understand what type of damage you’re dealing with, you can begin to fix the floors.

Do I Need to Replace My Water Damaged Wood Floors?

In serious cases, you may need to replace your flooring. For example, if a leak occurred while you were on vacation, enough time may have passed for mold to grow — in which case the only safe option is replacing your floors. In fact, after 24 hours of water damage, mold can grow and floors could require replacement.

How to Prevent Damaging Your Wooden 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.

Need Help? Call All Dry USA!

Never attempt home repairs if you don’t feel comfortable or safe, or it’s dangerous (as in the case of black water flooding). Don’t start nailing down floorboards or renting an orbital sander if you don’t have the proper tools or time. Home repairs can turn into large projects very quickly, but you don’t have to go through it alone.

Be Sure To Document the Level of Water Damage

Before you do any repairs, you want to take photos of your water damage and make notes about it. This will help you with any insurance claims. You also want to do some research into the water damage itself, which can help you to prevent the same issue from occurring again and damaging your floors again.

Will Repairs Do, Or Do You Need a Full Replacement?

Sometimes, a floor is damaged so much that you simply can’t make repairs and instead need to replace the entire floor. If your moisture content is too high on every board, it doesn’t make sense to repair it. The moisture content of your boards depends on how long it was exposed to water.

Figure Out What Caused the Issue

Once again, the biggest thing you need to tackle first is figuring out what caused the water damage to begin with. Most people will know what caused the issue, like a leak in the dishwasher or a flood from a fire, but sometimes the reason isn’t always apparent.

Fix Your Water Damaged Wood Floors

The sooner you fix your damaged wood floor, the easier it will be and the better chance you have. First, you want to secure the area and clean up all of the water. You don’t want to introduce any more water while you are working on your floors.

Fixing Your Wood Floors Is a Snap

Fixing your water-damaged wood floors doesn’t have to be the nightmare it is sometimes portrayed to be. It actually isn’t a difficult process at all if you only have a board or two that is water damaged. However, if almost every board needs fixing or nailing, then you may just want to replace the entire floor for the best results.

What to do if you suspect water damage to your floor?

If you suspect water damage to your floor, here’s what you need to do: 1. Look for Signs of Moisture Damage. If you’ve experienced flooding, leaks or any water incident, you need to check your floor for signs of damage. Damage to hardwood floors is the easiest to spot. Wooden floors may show peaking, buckling, cupping and discoloration.

How do I repair a buckling vinyl floor?

Make sure the floor is dry before attempting to replace or repair buckling on your vinyl floor. Cut out the damaged vinyl then pry it off the floor using a screwdriver. You can replace the damaged part or reuse the vinyl.

Why do tiles move?

bathroom tiles) also get damaged over time. Water can infiltrate the grout cracks and affect the subfloor beneath the tiles. This can cause the tiles to move and detach from the subfloor. Signs of tile floor damage include:

How do you know if your hardwood floor is moisture?

The most common sign of floor moisture in hardwood floors is cupping. The board edges curl upward, leaving the midsection with a slight dip. In addition: Crowning or when the center of the wood gets higher than the edges.

How do I remove ceramic tile?

To remove ceramic tiles, lift the loose tiles and pry them up from the floor. You may reuse the tiles (unless they’re cracked or broken) after cleaning them. To reinstall, make sure to use a matching grout. If you want to make sure the installation is water-tight, seek expert help.

How do I clean a tile floor?

Using a sponge/squeegee may also help, but don’t forget to wear a pair of rubber gloves! Step 2. Clean the floor. Mix your preferred detergent with a mild disinfectant.

How do I clean a carpet that has mold?

Clean the floor. Mix your preferred detergent with a mild disinfectant. Using a stiff brush, scrub the entire floor with the solution. Make sure to scrub away dirt, grime, silt or any organic material from the floor. If there’s mold, treat the affected area with trisodium phosphate.

How to get rid of mold on a carpet?

Scrub affected areas with the solution until the mold and mold discoloration are gone, then rinse with clear water, and dry the surface with an absorbent cloth.

What is laminate flooring made of?

The majority of a laminate flooring plank is made with wood pulp, much like particleboard or MDF (medium-density fiberboard). This material is highly vulnerable to water damage and swells when it gets soaked, ruining the integrity of the material. Most laminate flooring that is water-damaged must be replaced.

Can you sand a wood floor flat?

After drying a wood floor, you may have some concave or convex floorboards; this is called "cupping." Heavy sanding with a drum or orbital sander can actually "take down" some minor high areas. However, heavily cupped wood cannot be sanded down flat. It is inevitable that some floorboards may lift up completely at the ends. In this case, face-nail the floorboards back down.

Can water penetrate wood floors?

Even if you believe your wood floors are so well-finished that water cannot penetrate to the raw wood, think again. Wood floors have many infiltration points besides the top layer: between seams, through breaks in the coating, under baseboards, through heating registers, and a host of other areas.

Can standing water damage hardwood floors?

Standing water and hardwood flooring don't mix. For anyone who lives in hurricane- and flood-prone areas that have historic homes, this comes as no surprise. If major amounts of water—flood-related or not—have come into contact with your wood floor, your floors will never be quite the same as new again, but you can take steps toward saving them ...