Water Damaged Flooring:

Dealing with a Water Damaged Floor

One of the worst prospects of home ownership is harm and decay to it, the result of faulty technology or natural disaster. One of the most common is a water damaged floor. This can be the rult of many mishaps, ranging from a leaking pipe to a spilled drink to a leaking roof to the absolute worst, a flash flood. A water damage floor needs to be inspected, and covering materials unraveled. Because wood rot and other damage may actually be beneath a carpet or other covering, you may not notice the damage until it is very bad.

One sign of water damage floors might be discoloration in the carpet. Another is that a spot is sagging. Yet another is if rotten wood sinks beneath your shoe, and especially if your foot falls through. Rotten wood will be more spongy than hard wood, and should not echo well if knocked. Sometimes there is no evidence of water damage, and yet you might expect it because something was spilled there, or repeatedly. If you are gone on vacation for a week and return to see your roof leaking, then suspect floor damage in the affected spot.

If there is the potential for water damage, but you do not wish to tear up the carpet just yet, then look underneath in the crawl space. A professional will do this. Water damaged flooring is troublesome to repair, especially if the damage is exensive. The carpet must be torn up, if for no other reason than to allow the wood to dry. The affected spots must be cut out and new wood set down. If the carpet is discolored or mildewed, it must be replaced.

Although it is possible to do this yourself, especially if the damage is small, professional help is a very intelligent option for this type of project. A professional knows the many complex steps and safety proceedures that are necessary. Of course, in the event of a flood, then extensive repairs may be needed, and the expense might be so great that the home is not worth fixing. Any home that has endured a flood depreciates, even if it was repaired.