How to Dry Out Hardwood Floors After a Flood – A Step-by-step Guide

Hardwoods, like other types of wood, do not relate well with water. In fact, water damage or still water from floods staying on top of hardwood flooring can quickly damage it, as wood boasts pores that absorb water and cause discoloration and warping. So what can you do in such case? The best solution is to dry out the floor, although its efficiency depends on how quickly you do it. To help you out, here are few tips on how to dry out hardwood floors after a flood:

How to Dry Out Hardwood Floors After a Flood

1. Identify and Rectify the Water Damage Source:

If your hardwood is exposed to water, it can penetrate through it and destroy the floor. To avoid this, find the cause of the problem and quickly fix it before it worsens.

2. Take out any Other Wet Items from the Space:

Whether it is furniture or bedding, ensure that you move the furniture to a different room or outside; and if you must keep the wet items inside, place a piece of plastic between them and the floor, or move them to another space with a waterproof floor. Also, if you have carpet, remove both the carpet and the padding immediately as this area tends to get smelly and moldy.

3. Get a wet Vacuum to Suck up any Standing Water:

The idea is to absorb any still water from the floor as quickly as possible. Keep your wet vacuum going even after seeing all the visible water has disappeared. This is because the invisible wood pores might still be holding water. You might also have to remove the drywall sections and baseboards to help prevent mold growth.

4. Disinfect the Surface:

After getting rid of the water, the next thing is to, of course, preserve the hardwood floors and prevent mold growth. The best way to do this is cleaning the floor with a non-sudsy disinfectant. After this, vacuum the floor again with the wet vacuum to dry out any water left over.

5. Bring in a Dehumidifier:

Position the dehumidifier in the room’s center, and ensure you occasionally clear the water (while making sure the filter is clean). Depending on how much water is on your hardwood, you might need to use it for a few weeks.

Note: Reduce the amount of traffic on the previously wet area to ensure more even and faster drying.

6. After the Hard Floor Dries, Check for any Signs of Mildew or Mold:

Lookout for mildew or mold on your floor and if you identify any signs, ensure that you scrub your floor immediately either with a disinfectant or a mixture of water and baking soda.

7. Sand and Refinish the Floor:

Water usually wears down the polyurethane on hard floors. What’s more, there may be some portions or pieces of your floor that require replacement or wood pieces that need to be woven in. While some polyurethane may remain on the floor, it is almost certainly somewhat compromised and relatively thinner and will as such not last any long hence the need to refinish your floor immediately after.

In Conclusion

When learning how to dry out hardwood floors after a flood, professionalism and expediency can be the difference between a few repairs and completely replacing your hardwood flooring. Our on-site water mitigation technicians, mention, quickly and adequately drying the floors, can subsequently salvage your hardwood floor.