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Do Water Damaged Hardwood Floors Need to be Replaced?
Ryker Bingham | Apr 16, 2020
In this post, we will review five simple factors to consider when deciding whether water damage restoration services
are needed to repair water damaged hardwood floors.
Several factors need to be considered in determining whether or not the hardwood floors need to be replaced or repaired.
The Five Simple Factors of Determination
- The Amount of Water Damage to Hardwood Floors
- The Length of Time Water Sits on Floors
- The Source of Water
- Visible Physical Damage
- Fixing the damages yourself versus seeking professional help
Remember that each situation is different. Let’s dive into how the degree of water damage
will determine your decision to repair or replace your hardwood floors.
The Amount of Water Damage to Hardwood Floors
The amount of water on hardwood floors has a direct connection to the extent of the damage. The more water on the floor, the more damage that could be done. A pipe with a one eighth of an inch crack can dump more than 200 gallons of water a day, which has the potential of causing significant damage to your hardwood floors. If you compare a 100 gallon fish tank falling on a hardwood floor, compared to a one gallon fish bowl, the larger container will cause the most damage because it contains more water, and therefore will increase the potential for water to absorb into the wood.
Length of Time Water Sits on Hardwood Floors
Time is a significant factor in whether or not to repair or replace the hardwood floors. The longer the water sits on a hardwood floor, the more damage it causes. If water has been on the floor more than 24 hours, the potential for replacing the entire floor is significantly greater.
The Source of Water
There are four different types of water to keep in mind when considering repairing your hardwood floors.
- Clean Water: Water damage from clean water is the least dangerous, as is it fresh water with no harmful bacteria. An overflowing sink or bathtub are common examples. If the fresh water has not been contaminated, it is safe to clean up and less likely to harbor bacteria, that could result in mold growth or foul smells. In this situation, depending upon the amount of water and how fast it can be removed, you’re least likely to have to replace the floor.
- Grey Water: Think of grey water as dirty water. Dirty water is most often associated with dishwashers and washing machines. The water is considered dirty because it has been contaminated with various cleaning materials such as bleach or dishwashing detergent.
- Black Water: Black water is the most dangerous type of water damage. Black water comes from contaminated sewage, usually in the form of an overflowing toilet. Black water not only smells, but also contains harmful bacteria, known as pathogens, which can result in contracting various diseases. If the water has been sitting on the hardwood floors for a long period of time, you will most likely need to replace the hardwood floors.
- Salt Water: Salt water is not dangerous, but can cause damage to hardwood floors if not dealt with immediately. A common example are salt water fish tanks. If the salt water fish tank spills onto the hardwood floor and is not cleaned up immediately, it could damage the overall finish of the floor.
Visible Physical Damage
Before deciding whether to repair or replace your hardwood floors, it is vital that you assess the obvious physical damages to the hardwood simply by looking at it. Here are 4 signs to look for, when evaluating visible physical damage to your hardwood floors:
- Cupping: The build-up of moisture in the hardwood causes the sides or edges of the hardwood floors to expand and eventually become uneven. As a result, the sides stick out and are not even with the center of the wood.
- Crowning: In the case of crowning, the wood boards are being forced together, due to the build-up of moisture. This type of physical damage could result in the wooden planks sticking out or the wood shrinking permanently, depending on the amount of moisture present. The quicker you locate the source of the problem and dry out the floors, the less likely it is that the hardwood floors need to be replaced.
- Buckling: Buckling is a rare instance, when the individual pieces of hardwood wood detach from the subfloor and stick out. Buckling is typically the result of severe water damage, which can occur from severe flooding. Since buckling is one of the most severe types of physical damage, replacing the hardwood floors would be your best option moving forward.
- 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. White stains can be easily repaired using common household items such as mayonnaise, a mixture of olive oil and vinegar, as well as white toothpaste. Black stains, on the other hand, indicate that the water has absorbed and infiltrated into the actual wood floor and thus requires more extensive repairs. Black water stains are not impossible to remove, as long as you identify them in time and dry the hardwood completely. To learn more about how to remove mild dark water stains, visit Hunker.com.
Can I Make the Repairs On My Own or Do I Need Help?
Before you decide to repair your water damaged hardwood floors, ask yourself the following questions:
How bad is the damage?
- If the damage is mild and involves cleaning up a white water stain from four gallons of water, chances are that you can repair the damages yourself and not have to replace the hardwood floors.
- If the damages are more severe, such as buckling of the floor, it may be time to reevaluate whether it’s worth it to repair the floor or replace it altogether.
Do I know how to fix the problem?
- If you have the skills, the expertise, and the funds to refinish your hardwood floors for example, go for it!
- If you see that there is more damage than you anticipated to your hardwood floors and you do need to replace them, depending on your skills, expertise, and budget, it may be time to reach out to your insurance company and file a claim. Then, have a water restoration company visit your house and make the repairs. If you can save money in this process, do it!
If the damages are severe and you don’t feel comfortable fixing them yourself, contact Standard Restoration. We’ll give you a free evaluation and even help you file a claim with your insurance company.