Water damage is common among many home and business owners. It can occur anywhere within the property at any time. 99% of the time, water will damage the floor, even traveling towards the walls to leak into the floors below.

One of the most common types of building materials to be affected by water damage is baseboards. But when this area is affected, it poses an even bigger problem because the moisture will seep through the wood and become stuck between the board and the wall. Then there comes the mold.

Reacting to Baseboard Water Damage

As soon as you notice that your baseboards are wet from a leak, flood, or any other type of water damage, quick action must be taken to protect the health and safety of everyone on the property.

If mold is left to grow in this area, spores will be released into the air that can cause a number of health problems, including the following:

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Runny nose
• Itchy/watery eyes
• Asthma
• Throat irritations
• Other allergic reactions

How to Repair Baseboard Water Damage

The best way to repair the baseboards from water damage is to replace the damaged sections. This would be the best to prevent any mold growth that is sure to cause significant health risks. So here’s what you will need to get started for repairing the baseboard water damage.

1. Gather the Necessary Tools and Materials

To ensure the results will look as if there was no damage done in the first place, you will need quite a few materials. But most of these are staple items, so you shouldn’t have to buy too much.

• Miter box
• Pry bar
• Sealant
• Level
• Paintbrush
• Panel saw
• Drill
• Hammer
• Pencil
• Grab Adhesive
• Molding
• Dark wood glue
• Wood glue
• Finish screws
• Paint
• Nails
• Wood filler

2. Remove All Water Damaged Baseboards

As long as the damage hasn’t spread too far, removing the sections of the damaged baseboard shouldn’t take much time. In any case that there was a flood and the baseboards of the entire room are soiled, consider hiring a water damage cleanup company to have the job done effectively and efficiently.

But for smaller areas, place two wooden shims between the baseboard molding and the wall on either side of the damaged area.

3. Mark the Section to be Removed

Use the pencil to draw the vertical lines on either side of the damaged area.

4. Cut on the Pencil Lines

Use your miter box to cut angle lines down the baseboard. Make sure that they are angled to allow the replacement to fit in below.

5. Take the Sample to the Lumber Yard

Because many baseboards have designs that are difficult to replicate, it’s best to take it to a lumber yard where the professionals can create a perfected replica.

6. Paint or Stain the Replacement

It will be much easier to paint or stain the attachments before you install them. Otherwise it could be a messy job doing it later.

5. Measure and Cut the New Section

If there were multiple damaged sections of the baseboard, you will have to measure and cut out each one to ensure a perfect fit. After you have all the necessary replacement pieces, apply the wood glue to the mitered ends as well as adhesive to the back side.

6. Attach the Replacement Sections

Be careful when positioning the new board into the area; you don’t want to miss any space or overlap the sides. But once it is well-fitted into the section, make sure the glue and adhesive are adhered to the walls and surrounding baseboards. But to make sure it sticks, hammer in a few nails on the four corners of the replacement board.

Call for Help When the Job is Too Big

Replacing water-damaged sections of baseboards can be a simple DIY task. As long as there is no excess moisture behind the walls or between the baseboards, the job shouldn’t take more than a few hours.

But for those whose properties have suffered through floods, pipe leaks, or sewer backups, the job is more complicated. It has been known that mold will also develop within 24 hours, given the excess moisture in the affected area.

Water Damage Restoration

If there are additional building materials that have been damaged by water from a burst pipe, appliance malfunction, or heavy rain, be sure to contact a professional water damage restoration team. The professionals at RestorationMaster specialize in these services, using powerful dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers to eliminate the moisture and prevent mold growth.

But if the fungus has already started growing, they can also provide mold remediation services. Regardless of the extent of the damage, they will ensure to have your home returned to its original condition in a timely manner. They are available 24/7 in the Dallas, TX area to respond to all property emergencies.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.