Whether it was a malfunctioning dishwasher, an overflowing toilet, or a washing machine hose that split, water can get to your hard wood floor. Unfortunately, water and wood do not play well together. When wood floors are exposed to water, damage is inevitable. But there are some things you can do to minimize the damage. If you act quickly, you can prevent further damage. The first thing you need to do is to soak up or remove as much water as possible. If caught quickly enough, water damaged floors can simply be refinished to restore them to their original condition. 

The Experts at Huggins Wood Floor Specialist Will Minimize Hardwood Floor Repair Time and Costs 

At Huggins Wood Floor Specialist, we are experts at hardwood floor water damage repair and restoration. Our goal is to repair what we can and replace what we have to. We will do our best to minimize the replacement costs and time. Most wood flooring contractors will sand cupped wood flooring without checking the moisture content of the wood, this can result in the opposite issue: crowning.  We will ensure your wood flooring has the appropriate conditions for repair and recommend an adequate solution for your project’s needs. At Huggins Wood Floor Specialist we have over 20 years of experience with water damage and we are the only company in the northeast area that is owned and operated by a certified wood flooring inspector. 

Whether we repair or replace your wood floor, it will look brand new when we’re done. Many times, we can replace only the damaged area and weave the new planks seamlessly into the existing wood floor. Then we can sand and refinish the entire floor so everything matches perfectly. 

Signs of Hardwood Floor Water Damage to Look for:

Is the damage bad enough to call in hardwood floor experts, or will the floor recover on its own. It’s hard to tell sometimes. Depending on the type of hardwood floor you have, damage and repair will be different. Here are some signs to look for:

Cracking and Peeling

  If it only affects the finish, this damage may be repairable by simply sanding and refinishing the surface.

Cupping

When the edges of each plank rise. Cupping means that the hardwood floor still has a lot of moisture in it.

Crowning

When the floor has dried completely, it will usually crown or rise in the middle of each plank. This gives it a rounded, pillowed appearance. Crowning will require sanding and refinishing to repair.

Buckling

Buckling is the worst sign of water damage and usually occurs when the moisture has totally permeated the wood. If the leak isn’t immediately discovered and the water is allowed to sit on the wood for an extended period of time and seep in slowly, buckling will occur. Buckling is the wood plank itself warping and twisting. If your planks are twisted or bent upward, the floor will have to be removed and replaced.

If you suspect water damage, call Huggins Wood Floor Specialist at (908)-232-6600 and one of our hardwood water damage repair experts can help assess the situation and give you an estimate on repairing or replacing your water damaged wood floors.