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A Practical Guide to Saving Your Water-Damaged Wooden Floor – What to Know

Feb 04, 2020
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For those in hurricane and flood zones, it can be a problem if you have a wooden house or some parts of it, such as the floor. When storm or flood strikes, it’s more likely that you have to deal with wet floors, moist spots, or worse, damaged flooring. This is because standing water and hardwood flooring don’t complement each other. Major amounts of water in contact with your wooden floor will eventually cause severe damage, which could affect the integrity of your house.

When you’re faced with this problem, you don’t necessarily have to give up and have your flooring immediately replaced. Know that there are several practical ways to salvage the flooring of your house. In this article, we?ll give you a practical guide to saving your water-damaged wooden floor.

1. Prompt action and preparation

It’s worth knowing that prompt action towards a water-damaged floor is necessary because the sooner you can attend to your wet floors, the better chances you have of staying away from more severe problems. This is because the wood’s cellulose fibers can quickly soak up water but can only gradually release that water. Here’s what you need to do in such situations:

  • Cleaning: Start by pulling off the water with your shop vacuum as soon as possible. Even if you think your wood floors are well-finished, chances are that water might penetrate the raw wood.
  • Eliminating dirt: Make sure to get rid of dirt as well to prevent mold and mildew growth. Know that it’s not just water that causes mold and mildew but actually a combination of water and dirt.

2. Tools and supplies required

Before getting into the actual work, you have to prepare all the tools and supplies that will be required in cleaning the wet flooring. Below are some of the essentials you need:

  • Shop vacuum
  • Squeegee
  • Stiff brush
  • Mild detergent, disinfectant, or TSP (trisodium phosphate), as needed
  • Bucket
  • Rubber gloves
  • Absorbent cloth

3. Cleaning instructions for the water-damaged floor

Now, let’s get into the actual work. For your water-damaged floor, make sure to follow the cleaning instructions below:

  • Get rid of the surface water: Use a shop vacuum on “wet mode” (no bag) to remove as much water as possible from the surface of the flooring.
  • Scrub the floor: Mix mild detergent and a compatible disinfectant with clean water in a bucket. Then, scrub the entire floor and all related woodwork, such as baseboards, stairs, and newel posts.
  • Treat moldy areas: Utilize TSP (trisodium phosphate) or TSP substitute mixed with water to clean areas that show signs of mold before it thrives and grows.
  • Dry the floor: Dry the floor naturally and slowly with fans. You can also open windows and doors and run fans to move the air quicker.

Salvaging your water-damaged wooden floor isn?t actually a daunting task. However, you have to consider the steps as mentioned in this guide. By doing so, you can restore the beauty and functionality of your house’s flooring in the quickest time possible. If you are unable to perform the cleaning by yourself, seek help from a cleaning and restoration company because they have the tools and knowledge to perform an efficient job.

 

If you?re looking for a water damage restoration service in St Louis, get in touch with us to see how we can help.

 

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