Hardwood flooring is vulnerable to major damage from flooding and excess water because it absorbs water and moisture.  As the wood absorbs water, it may become swollen, buckled, or warped.  Water can also get between the wood panels and cause damage to the subflooring.  If hardwood flooring is not properly dried quickly, it can experience severe, even permanent damage.

There is likely hardwood floor water damage in your home if you notice the following:

• Swollen wooden floor
• Warped flooring
• Hardwood floor buckling
• Hardwood floor warping
• Hardwood floor cupping

The following can cause hardwood floor water damage:

• Water from leaks
• Standing water from a burst pipe or overflow
• Water from natural floods and sewage backups
• Water from leaking appliances and plumbing fixtures

Hardwood floor water damage can occur any time the floor is saturated with water, no matter the source.

Hardwood floor water damage can get expensive quickly.  To limit the damage to your hardwood flooring, call (888) 915-7197 right away to get in touch with an insured and bonded water damage restoration professional.

Water damage restoration contractors are experts when it comes to repairing water damaged hardwood floors.  They will start by removing the water and then set up air dryers and dehumidification equipment to thoroughly dry the flooring.  These professionals will remove the water at the right pace and provide strategic drying to prevent further damage to the floor.

The following are the steps include with hardwood floor water damage repair services:

• Stop the source of the water
• Evaluate the damage and spread of the water
• Water extraction and cleanup
• Drying and dehumidification
• Content cleaning
• Disinfection and cleaning
• Reconstruction

To set up a free consultation, call (888) 915-7197 to get in touch with a hardwood floor water damage restoration professional near you.

The cost of hardwood floor water damage repair may be between $10 and $80 per square foot, depending on the extent of the damage and if the damage reached the subfloor and joists.  You can expect the following costs for hardwood floor water damage:

• $15 to $30 per square foot to remove mold
• $2 to $6 per square foot to refinish hardwood floors
• $35 to $80 per square foot to replace small sections of subfloor
• $500 to $2,100 to replace the subfloor of a room between 200 and 500 square feet
• $100 to $300 to replace each damaged floor joist
• $2 to $6 per square foot to repair hardwood floor cupping

Homeowners insurance will cover water damage to hardwood floors if the damage was sudden or accidental.  If your hardwood floor is damaged by water from a burst pipe, appliance leak, overflow, or plumbing issue, your insurance will cover the damage.

The damage will not be covered if that cause of the damage is due to neglect or lack of maintenance.  Homeowners insurance does not cover water damage from outside sources such as flooding, sewage backups, and rain.  You need to purchase a separate flood insurance policy to cover this type of water damage.

Hardwood floor cupping occurs when water gets under wood floor boards and gets absorbed through the unfinished wood on the bottom of the boards.  This causes the edges of the floorboards to raise up, resulting in a “cupped” shape.

Before fixing the cupping, it is important to identify and address the source of the water or the damage will keep happening.  You can fix minor cupping by using a dehumidifier to get the humidity level of the room back to normal.  The dehumidifier will pull the excess moisture out of the floorboards, and they will return to their normal shape.  If there is excessive cupping, it is best to call professionals to treat your floor with advanced dehumidification equipment.

If your hardwood flooring is affected by flooding or water damage, call (888) 915-7197 to get a free quote from a top-rated hardwood floor water damage repair contractor.