One of the biggest fears every homeowner dreads is water damage. The risk involved in this poses to nearly each and everything in the home.
No one likes to discover water damage in their home.
All types of flooring can get damaged by water and it could be worse if the water has seeped down into the floor. Experiencing water damage is quite discouraging but remember you don’t need to have to replace your flooring.
If the water has damaged your floor it is quite easy to identify it. You can notice signs of discoloration, warping, mold, bacteria, and buckling. This can drastically lower the value of your home. But each floor will have its tell-tale signs of damage.
The damaged floor is quite disheartening especially if it is hardwood flooring. Hardwood adds an appealing effect to any home and is quite sturdy but if water damages this floor it becomes dangerous. Calling emergency water damage San Diego if you live around will help to prevent any major damages.
If you can notice the damage done to your floors quickly then you will be in a better position to handle repairs. Try to take the help of professionals like water damage San Diego company in times of emergency.
How to Tell If Your Floor is Water Damaged?
Water damage causes a lot of damages to our homes. Our ceiling, floors, walls, everything gets damaged. Everything in our house has its way of showing damage. Here are some of the signs if your floor is water damaged:
· Hardwood floor – The planks will have dips and raised edges with bubbles bulging upwards.
Don’t get mistaken for seeing dark spots as wood’s natural pattern. It could be mold or mildew.
· Laminate floor – Usually there would be swelling on plank edges with warping or bulging.
There could be discoloring as well due to mold or mildew.
· Carpet floor – There will be discoloration because of mold or mildew accompanied by a bad odor.
· Tile floor – Stains can be seen with discoloration. When you tap on the tiles you can feel an empty or hollow sound. This means the tiles have become loose.
- Linoleum floor – There could be stains or discoloration that means water has damaged the floor.
- See and inspect the floor for any signs of water damage and act immediately to get your floor repaired.
How to Handle Water Damage on the Floor?
Various things can cause water damage such as leaking or burst pipes, natural floods, etc. Any incident that involves water damage would normally affect the floor first because water always flows downward to the lowest place. Some tips to handle water damage on the floor are:
First try and find out the source of the leak and cut it off. It is of no use if you start drying out without stopping the source.
Cleanup should always start as fast as possible by removing the water first to prevent further damage.
Discard any materials used for flooring that cannot be salvaged like carpets.
Remove damaged furniture or any other loose items quickly.
Remove excess moisture from the floor and even the subfloor of wooden floors. Use dehumidifiers or fans or other drying devices to dry the area to help restore the level of humidity.
Treat the surface of the floor against mold growth once the surface is dried.
For carpeted floors if the old one is badly damaged and cannot be cleaned install a new carpet.
For wooden floors remove all the damaged hardwood. If the water has weakened the subfloor replace it. Use a floor leveling material and spread out a new wood flooring. Make sure that it is of the same color, texture, and thickness as the existing floor.
For tiled floors, use a cleaning agent like baking soda solution to clean the stains off the tiles. If the stains are stubborn and serious with discoloration then call a tile professional. If the tiles have become loose or cracked then they should be removed and replaced. Ensure that there is no moisture beneath the surface of the tiles before you start the replacement.
If the damage is huge and has affected large areas then it is better to call a professional like the emergency water damage San Diego or water damage San Diego company as they will help in cleaning up everything rapidly without wasting any time. Time plays an important part as otherwise, molds will grow on any wet surface within a day or two.
ü Use of specialized types of equipment is necessary and for this, it is best t hire a professional water damage crew as they are already experienced in this equipment and are trained to do this job efficiently.
Whatever the way to handle water damage take the necessary precautions and venture out into the damaged area.
Conclusion
Water damage to floors and handling it can be quite a trauma. Try doing it on your own but if you feel it is not happening take the help of companies who are specialized in this. Their services of sanitizing and deodorizing will help a lot.
Also check if your insurance covers water damage to floors as some policies cover expenses of water removal, floor replacement, and sometimes even hiring a professional.
Author Bio:-
Billy is a marketing manager at EZ Restoration USA. She loves to write about plumbing services, Water Damage Repair, slab leak repair, Hydro Jetting and AC & Appliance Installation San Diego.