Tips for Saving Your Hardwood Floor From Water Damage

8/16/2021 (Permalink)

A pipe burst can cause water damage to the hardwood floor in your building in Roanoke Rapids, NC.

Hardwood floors are an attractive addition to any office building. They add richness and elegance to any decor. A pipe burst in your building can put your beautiful floors in peril. To avoid the expense of having to replace them due to irreparable water damage, you must act quickly.

Follow these tips to save your floors from ruin.

Extract Excess Water

Obviously, if you have standing water in your building in Roanoke Rapids, NC, you should remove it as quickly as possible. The longer it remains, the more damage it is likely to do. Even after the bulk of the water is extracted, however, the floor is probably still damp. There are several materials you can use to dry out a wet floor:

• Newspaper
• Paper towels
• Kitty litter

You are most likely to have absorbent paper products on hand, so start with them. Spread a layer of newspaper or paper towels down over the entire affected area. As they become saturated, replace them until they no longer pick up any water. Kitty litter is useful if the water has seeped into the cracks between the boards. Once it draws out the moisture, you can simply vacuum it up.

Hire Professional Help

Even if your initial efforts are effective, the pipe burst may cause damage you can't see on the surface. Certified water mitigation experts can conduct a more thorough assessment so that hidden moisture doesn't cause secondary problems. They inspect your floors for signs of permanent damage and buckling. Their swift attention can mean the difference between having to replace a few warped boards and having to rip out the whole floor and start over.

Repair All Damage

Even if you respond as quickly as possible, secondary damage to your wood floor can still occur. Mold can start to grow in as little as 24-48 hours from the moment excess moisture is present. Another benefit of hiring mitigation specialists is that they understand this is a possibility and know to watch out for it. If they find secondary damage, they can fix it before it gets out of hand.

Prevent Future Problems

Thorough remediation is vital for ensuring that the same leak doesn't come back to haunt you and cause further damage to your floors. You must also take measures to prevent subsequent leaks. If your business is located in a particularly cold climate or the pipes are housed along exterior walls, you need to make sure they don't get too cold. Add extra insulation, particularly in the areas around the pipes. In addition to preventing another water loss, you may also save on utility bills.

Just because your hardwood floors get drenched in the aftermath of a pipe burst, that doesn't necessarily mean they are a total loss. Getting rid of as much of the water as possible as soon as possible can help you avoid such a catastrophe. Enlist the help of certified experts who have experience mitigating damage to wood floors, and do your part to prevent further issues from happening. Even after an accident, your floors can stay beautiful for years to come.