One of the most frequent problems we re called in to address is water damage to hardwood floors.
Water damage on engineered wood floors.
This is a guide about repairing water damage on an engineered hardwood floor.
Many times the damage is the result of a combination of both.
So if the water is removed quickly there is a good chance you can save this type of flooring.
Typically this type of flooring is glued to the substrate.
Act fast if you notice any signs of water damage you need to take care of the problem as fast as possible.
Fixing the water damaged floor by replacing damaged flooring you may sand refinish and re coat the wood floor to repair water damage but is not a permanent solution.
Signs of water damage.
M ajor storms like sandy can cause extensive water damage to hardwood floors but panicked homeowners should not rush to replace what appears to be beyond repair.
The longer you wait the worse the damage will get.
Repair to this flooring will depend on the type and extent of the damage.
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.
Sand water damaged wood flooring.
The length of time determines how much damage can and will be done.
Sometimes if you let it dry out.
However if the water damage is minimal you may be able to save your flooring by following these steps.
Sand stain shallow scratches in wood or engineered wood floors for shallow gouges or stains in a wood or engineered wood floor and also for laminated wood floors in which the gouge has not penetrated the wood veneer you can clean the gouge gently sanding it with 2oo then 400 sandpaper planning to leave the gouge un filled.
However heavily cupped wood cannot be sanded down flat.
The best way to avoid and fix water damage for wood floors is to get them repaired.
Wood floors are susceptible to moisture and many may have been damaged prior to the single event that finally required action to be taken.
By the time a chicagoland homeowner calls us for help the problem will almost always require refinishing and often the replacement of some or all of the damaged wood.
Hardwood floors may make it easier to clean up spills but it can only resist water and its effects for only a short period of time.
It is when the water sits and remains on the hardwood floors that the real damage can occur.
Like solid hardwood floors damage to engineered hardwood floors can be the result of either a one time water event or an ongoing issue.
Water damage to your hardwood floor.
Therefore water will take some time before it penetrates.