How To Protect Your Wood Floor Against Water Damage

Hardwood floors are popular due to their durability, but if you want your hardwood flooring to remain a beautiful part of your home for a long time, a little loving care is needed. It would help generously if you avoided spills, leaking pipes, and other water damage on your floors.

Although engineered hardwood flooring is more resistant to water than solid hardwood, excessive moisture can still end up causing stains or warping. Fortunately, you can protect your floors with a few simple steps.

Billings Water Damage Cleanup

Here’s how to protect your wood flooring from water damage so you can enjoy your beautiful floors for many years to come.

Maintain Your Plumbing

Check your plumbing before installing hardwood floors. Water leaks and flooding are the most common causes of water damage to wooden floorings, with sinks, dishwashers, and washing machines being some of the most common sources of plumbing leaks.

Have a qualified plumber examine the plumbing if you plan to install wooden floors in an older building. To protect your wood floor, ensure that everything is up-to-date and will not end up causing you any problems.

Make Use Of Door Mats And Rugs

Laying down mats and rugs around the house protects your hardwood floor from water damage. For example, placing a mat at the entrance to your home will prevent wet, muddy shoes from scuffing your floor. Also, a rug at the base of the sinks will protect your floor from splashing water.

Maintain The Floors Sealant

Sealants do not make your floors completely waterproof, but they do an excellent job of repelling spills and other water damage so you can clean up the mess. Reapply your sealant regularly and refinish wax sealants at least once a year. Oil and water-based sealants require less upkeep but reapplying every couple of years is advisable. 

Clean Moisture And Spills ASAP

The sooner you address your wet or flooded floors, the better. The cellulose fibers in wood absorb water quickly but release it slowly. As a result, you should remove water as soon as possible.

Consider The Area

Spills and leaks are unavoidable — particularly with children and pets. But some rooms, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and laundries, are more prone to water build-ups, and choosing a flooring type needs more thought and care to ensure longevity. If you intend to use wood flooring in an area prone to water build-ups, some materials are preferable to others. 

Hardwoods are more water resistant than softwoods because their fibers are more closely packed together, likely to result in less absorption. Besides that, some hardwoods, such as walnut and oak, are more water resistant than others, such as Douglas fir and pine.

On the other hand, engineered hardwoods are more moisture resistant than solid hardwoods because they are made of several thin layers of plywood glued with grains. This alters directions, resulting in a more stable structure resistant to contraction and expansion and, to a minor extent, absorption. For that reason, engineered floors are unquestionably preferable to solid hardwood floors due to the moisture in bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas where the subfloor is concrete.

Hiring experts is the best way to ensure the best results for your wood flooring after water damage. At Faithful Cleaning, we have all of the necessary tools and equipment, as well as the training and expertise, to quickly remove and dry the water. Call us today if you need a Billings water damage cleanup.