Cupping: Cupping occurs when the sides of the flooring are higher than the center of the boards. This usually produces a concave shape. Both solid and engineered (made up of different woods) can cup when exposed to water damage. H
ardwood floor cupping is usually a result of a change in the moisture content levels of the wood flooring. In many cases, you can reverse hardwood floor water damage with the use of a professional.
Warping: Warping is similar to cupping but is much more severe. This usually involves the floor buckling or even popping off the subfloor. This needs to be taken out immediately to prevent further damage. Warping is usually a result of humidity fluctuations, and can impact all types of wood, whether brand new or old. Unfortunately, water does not have to be present to cause warped hardwood floors. Water vapors being present in the area surrounding the hardwood can warp your floors. It can also be from environmental influences like quick humidity changes in the weather. Warping is most noticeable in the summer, where hardwood floors will expand with the humidity and sometimes buckle up. Fortunately professional hardwood floor drying equipment can prevent warping if caught early.
Mold: If hardwood floor water damage is not taken care of immediately, mold growth may occur. This usually happens due to a pieces of paper that are normally installed directly underneath the floor during installation to prevent squeaking. Hardwood floor water damage can produce mold spores on furniture, clothing, and other areas of the house if not taken care of right away. If your floor has been wet for an extended amount of time without care, there is a chance that your floor is permanently damaged.
At Certified Restoration, we deal with many customers who have wet hardwood floor cupping, warping, and molding problems after water damage. Using our Injectidry system, we strive to dry hardwood floorsas quickly and efficiently as possible while keeping our environmental footprint to a minimum. We also dry hardwood floors in place without having to remove them. If you have a wet hardwood floor emergency, call us right away and we’ll be there, 24/7.
Using a Panel System
1. Set up a drying system containment area around the room with the water loss. 2. Install your dehumidifier. 3. Install your panel drying system, making sure your panels are no more than 3-6 inches apart going against the flue and 12-36 inches apart with the flue. This will depend on the construction of the wood floor and which panel system you are using. 4. Tape the panels to the floor using preservation tape.* 5. Monitor moisture content frequently by using a penetrating meter with a hammer probe (slide hammer). Make sure you are checking at all levels, including the sub floor.
Comments