HARDWOOD FLOORING MOISTURE DAMAGE

31 May 2012
HARDWOOD FLOORING MOISTURE DAMAGE

More and more people are choosing to have a hardwood floor installed in their home. A hardwood floor is a surface that is hard-wearing and long-lasting whilst also being fantastically cost-effective.
Most hardwood flooring is extremely resilient to water damage, but if the flooring is kept in a damp or wet environment for a period of time problems can develop.

If hardwood flooring is exposed to moisture for a prolonged period of time it can swell and buckle and may need to be repaired. In the worst cases it may even need to be replaced completely.

Stopping hardwood flooring moisture damage

If you are installing a new hardwood floor over a concrete subfloor you need to make sure a moisture barrier is in place. The moisture barrier will stop the wood from soaking up any moisture from the floor beneath.

One of the worst things you can do to a hardwood floor is to continually mop the floor with a soaking wet mop. The water from the mop can get between the individual planks and over time may damage the wood. If you are going to mop a hardwood floor, it should be well rung out. If any damp residue remains on the floor it should be removed with a dry mop.

If any substance is spilled onto the floor it should be cleaned up straight away. If the substance is left to sit on the floor for a period of time the floor may be damaged and may need to be repaired or treated by a hardwood flooring expert.