Some types of hardwood floors are more water-resistant than others. Even so, water damage can ruin your floors.
Some types of hardwood floors are more water-resistant than others. Even so, water damage can ruin your floors. Water-damaged floors are weaker and less stable than the boards that aren’t affected in this way. Here is a guide on how to deal with any possible symptoms of water damage in your floors.
Prevention First
Preventing moisture damage is your first line of defense. That’s why you should make the layers of finish on all of your hardwood floors a priority. It’s possible to install hardwood floors in rooms with plenty of steam or moisture in them – such as kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements – but you have to approach it with some common sense. In areas where you expect everyone to walk around, lay down some rugs or runners to help protect against wet umbrellas, soggy shoes, and muddy paws. Spring and summer can be rainy months, so get out ahead of that potential messy problem right now. Being prepared now will save you money later on because you won’t have to shell out any cash to get your floorboards fixed, or in the worst-case-scenario, replaced entirely.
Finding the Signs
The problem with figuring out if you have water damage is tracking its progression. Unfortunately, it happens gradually. Since it’s not that obvious, many homeowners probably won’t notice until it’s already too late to do anything about it. Clean up a spill as soon as it happens – it could be water from a broken dishwasher, spilled red wine, or a leaking carton of fruit punch – any liquid can cause problems for you.
After a while, you will see that the planks are cupping and crowning. If you see odd signs of staining it could have to do with almost unnoticeable humps in the floorboards that could cause you to trip over them as you walk by. A leaking faucet, broken toilet, or washing machine that loses water can also contribute to water damage problems, mainly because they are steady sources of water drippage, and that is much worse for your hardwood floors than you might expect.
Hardwood Flooring from Jason Brown Wood Floors
At Jason Brown Wood Floors, our commitment to quality installation is clear in all that we do, which is why our customers consistently rate us as one of the top contractors in the region. We have been awarded Baltimore Magazine’s Best of Baltimore Award 4 times and have been proudly serving the Baltimore Area for over 16 years. If you’re ready to speak with someone about your hardwood flooring project, we want to hear from you! Contact us at 410-668-9131 or send us a message here.
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