Repair Water Damaged Wood Floor

Water damage can be a significant problem for wood floors, causing warping, buckling, and discoloration. If you've experienced water damage to your wood floor, it's important to take action quickly to prevent further damage and restore the floor to its original condition.

The extent of the damage will depend on the type of wood flooring, the amount of water exposure, and the length of time the water was present. Solid hardwood floors are more susceptible to water damage than engineered hardwood floors, which have a more moisture-resistant core.

If the water damage is minor, you may be able to repair the floor yourself. However, if the damage is severe, it's best to call in a professional flooring contractor.

DIY Water Damaged Wood Floor Repair

If you're comfortable doing it yourself, here are the steps on how to repair water damaged wood floor:

Remove the standing water. Use a wet/dry vacuum or towels to remove as much of the standing water as possible.
Open windows and doors. This will help to circulate air and dry out the floor.
Set up fans. Place fans around the damaged area to help speed up the drying process.
Remove the damaged floorboards. If the floorboards are severely damaged, they will need to be replaced. Use a pry bar to carefully remove the damaged floorboards.
Dry the subfloor. Once the damaged floorboards have been removed, use a wet/dry vacuum or towels to dry the subfloor.
Install new floorboards. Replace the damaged floorboards with new ones of the same size and species.
Sand and refinish the floor. Once the new floorboards have been installed, sand the entire floor to remove any unevenness. Then, apply a new finish to protect the floor from future damage.

Professional Water Damaged Wood Floor Repair

If the water damage to your wood floor is severe, it's best to call in a professional flooring contractor. A professional will have the experience and expertise to properly repair the damage and restore your floor to its original condition.

Here are some of the benefits of hiring a professional flooring contractor to repair water damaged wood floor:

Experience and expertise. Professional flooring contractors have the experience and expertise to properly repair water damaged wood floors.
Proper equipment. Professional flooring contractors have the proper equipment to dry out the floor, remove damaged floorboards, and install new ones.
Warranty. Most professional flooring contractors offer a warranty on their work, giving you peace of mind that the repair will be done properly.

If you're not comfortable repairing water damaged wood floor yourself, or if the damage is severe, it's best to call in a professional flooring contractor.