Hardwood floors are a staple in many households and businesses, adding style, color and texture to almost any interior. But water damage can really wreak havoc on hardwood floors. Since hardwood floors are porous, they absorb moisture quickly. Acting quickly is essential to avoid warping and buckling and mold growth, all of which can be difficult and expensive to fix.
So, what do you do when water damage affects this type of flooring?
Popular Styles and Types of Hardwood Floors
There are all sorts of hardwood floors available. Here are some of the most popular types:
- Engineered waterproof hardwood floors. Specially-made floors to resist water and moisture.
- Bamboo floors. Environmentally friendly, scratch-resistant, and slightly harder in texture than other styles.
- Acacia floors. Durable and low maintenance, this style of hardwood floor is made from Acacia wood or Asian walnut.
- Solid hardwood floors. Made from single strips of wood cut straight from the tree, this style of floor can be nailed directly to the subfloor.
- Engineered hardwood floors. This style can usually be installed quickly, as it’s delivered to the property prefinished.
- Gray hardwood floors. Engineered and easy to install, with a popular stone-like appearance. It’s made from North American foliage, like birch.
- Hickory floors. Very durable with a distinct rustic look. Hickory floors can be difficult to install due to their hardness.
- Cherry floors. Ideal for low traffic areas, cherry is notable for its red and/or orange hue.
- Oak floors. Durable and useful for high traffic areas. It can yellow over time.
- Maple floors. Versatile in color, maple is a durable type of hardwood floor. It can be hard to stain since it tends to retain its natural light color.
- Ash floors. Lighter in color, this flooring is like oak in durability. It’s a bit more expensive than other types and can be harder to find.
- Mahogany floors. Durable and water-resistant, mahogany is often considered the most beautiful type of flooring. It can be quite expensive.
- Walnut floors. Dark brown and often found in historical homes, but sometimes harder to acquire since it’s more expensive than other types.
Tips for Cleaning Hardwood Floor Water Damage
Some useful tips for cleaning and repairing your hardwood floors yourself:
- If it’s safe, locate and shut off the source of water as soon as possible. Dry the floor gradually and naturally. Rapid drying can cause the wood to split.
- Remove the water and moisture, perhaps using wet-vacs and dehumidifiers.
- For excessively buckled or warped flooring, consider removing the damaged sections and replacing them entirely.
- Clean and disinfect the floors. Consider mixing a mild cleaning solution comprised of one part vinegar and 10 parts warm water. Don’t use household cleaning products on hardwood floors.
- Confirm your plumbing system is in good working order.
SERVPRO is Here to Help®
Beyond the cleanup of hardwood floors, SERVPRO offers services such as fire damage restoration, mold remediation and biohazard cleanup. Even construction. Our technicians are committed to returning your property to pre-loss condition, making it “Like it never even happened.”
To find out more, contact us today or visit our FAQ and Glossary.