One thing that makes water damage restoration so demanding, and often expensive, is that different home building materials respond to moisture differently and require different restoration services.
Wood is one of the most common materials for household floors, and unfortunately, it’s one of the most finicky after interior flooding. Hardwood floors cost more to repair than other flooring materials and struggle to shrug off moisture exposure, and many homeowners are unprepared for both after an unexpected flood.
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Top To Bottom Renovation, the leading water damage restoration expert in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, and the surrounding communities explains everything else homeowners should know about their hardwood floors and water damage.
Hardwood Flooring Cannot Handle Much Moisture
Water damage is bad for any flooring material, but hardwood floors have an especially difficult time handling that excess moisture.
Most hardwood floors have a moisture content of roughly 9% with the natural humidity in the air. However, after a flood from a burst pipe or broken appliance, that moisture content skyrockets by more than four times the standard amount. Once that happens, hardwood floors crack, weaken, and become structural liabilities.
Water damage restoration teams can repair mildly clogged hardwood floors. However, in most cases, they must rip out the soaked boards and replace them since hardwood responds poorly to water.
Signs of Water Damage in Hardwood Floors
Even if you can’t see water pooling on the floor, hardwood floors will exhibit several telltale symptoms that they’re soaked with water before they collapse, including:
- Staining or discoloration
- Cracking
- Warping and buckling
- Musty odors (reminiscent of mold)
Cracked wooden floors might be a symptom of age, but the others indicate severe water damage that only a water damage restoration team can repair.
Hardwood is Often More Expensive to Repair Than Other Floors
The costs for water damage restoration vary depending on dozens of factors, but the materials affected after the flood is the most influential. For example, while carpet floors cost $5.50 per square foot on average to repair during a water damage restoration service, hardwood floors cost roughly $10.45 per square foot.
Hardwood is more sought-after and difficult to assemble than carpet and other flooring types. As a result, damage restoration teams pay more for the necessary replacements, costing homeowners more in the final price.
Water Damage Repair for Hardwood Flooring from Top To Bottom Renovation
Top To Bottom Renovation has been the go-to water damage restoration company in Maryland since it opened its doors in 2000. The qualified IICRC-certified technicians use their expertise and industry-leading equipment to work quickly through severe floods and restore all damaged surfaces to restore the home to pre-flood condition.
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Top To Bottom Renovation also offers 24/7 emergency services to help the local community overcome unexpected obstacles whenever necessary. Additionally, Top To Bottom accepts insurance claims from all providers and promises a 100% customer satisfaction guarantee to meet every client’s needs.
Call Top To Bottom Renovation today at (866) 746-5826 to schedule an appointment for water damage restoration services.
