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Perhaps the most common issue with hardwood floors comes in the form of water damage. It is one of the problems that require a timely intervention, or else the repair process becomes more complex and expensive. It is safe to say that wood floor refinishing, or even replacement will be in order in severe cases of flooding or when you have delayed addressing the trouble. Of course, you wouldn’t want that to happen to your hardwood floor. Here is how you can spot, minimise and altogether prevent the damage that water can cause to a hardwood floor.

• Prevention is the way to go – the most important thing to consider when it comes to a hardwood floor is prevention. Polyurethane coating is usually enough to prevent water and dust particles from ever reaching the wood. Proper maintenance and care of this protective layer is the best way to minimise the threat of water damage. Proper cleaning with a microfibre mop goes a long way in improving the lifespan of the polyurethane coating. Remember to use a slightly damp mop and never use excessive moisture on the hardwood floor.
• How to identify water damage on wood floors – water doesn’t cause immediate damage to wood floors, but it does build up over time. The worst part is that by the time you notice any change, water will have already caused damage. The first thing to look out for is cupping of planks, or when a few planks create a hump. This is because wood expands, as it absorbs water, causing malformations in the planks of the floor.
• Repair the root problem – while you may feel like repairing the damage of the wood floor as soon as possible, you first have to address the water. Where is it coming from? Since an accidental spill doesn’t cause that much damage, you need to look for a consistent source of water trouble. Fixing that should be your main priority. There are internal and external sources to keep in mind. Inspect the area around your windows. Do you see staining around there? It could be that water is seeping under the framing of a poorly installed window or door. Internal sources of water cause water damage more frequently than others. It could be your dishwasher or fridge dripping underneath the appliance.
• This is more difficult to notice than, for example, radiator drips. Regardless of the source, you have to take quick action to fix it before initiation of wood floor repair can commence.
• Consider repair options – there are different ways to repair the damage. For solid hardwood flooring, you are probably better off sanding and scraping off a quarter of an inch of the top layer. This should remove cupping, mould and staining when the planks dry out.

Now that you know more about water damage and hardwood floors, you can hopefully stay ahead in the game. Preserving hardwood is important. That way it will preserve its looks as time goes by.

If you feel like you need experts on the case, you can contact FK Floor Sanding on 020 3909 7641 to repair any damage on a hardwood floor.

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