Flood Repair: What to Look for in Your Flooring and When to Consider Replacement
Whether it is a flood from a huge rainstorm or you’ve had a water leak from a busted plumbing pipe, you are probably concerned about your home’s floors. To keep your home and your family safe, you are going to want to clean up as quickly and effectively as possible. At the same time, you need to determine whether you floor is savable. Now, when it comes to determining whether your flooring is okay and what it is going to cost to have it repaired, it is going to come down to the type of flooring that you have. Here’s a basic overview of what to look for and what to expect in terms of potential replacement:
- Indoor Carpet – The carpet needs to be lifted up so that the padding can be removed and air-dried. Then, the water needs to be extracted from the carpet. Otherwise, if the water stays on it for too long, it can cause the back of the carpet to deteriorate or mold can begin to grow and ruin subflooring or cause the carpet to buckle. Also, fans need to be placed between the carpet and the subfloor to help dry the area, including the subfloor. As a general rule, a professional needs to do this.
- Outdoor Carpet – Usually, outdoor carpeting is going to be savable. It’s designed to battle through these types of conditions. However, you are going to need to extract the water and dry it out with fans.
- Hardwood Flooring – Moisture can cause some of the hardwood planks to buckle. However, you have to wait until they dry to try and straighten them. If this doesn’t work, then they’ll need to be replaced. Once the planks have dried, you’ll want to pull them up and see if the subfloor is still wet. If it is, then mold may start growing. Use fans to dry the subflooring out. Also, keep an eye out for bubbles in the flooring finish from the moisture, as this is a sign that you need to strip and wax the floor.
- Vinyl Flooring – If you notice any vinyl flooring pieces popping up from the floor, this is a sign that the subfloor is still wet. You will need to remove the flooring and replace it. But, first, you need to get the subflooring dry. You can use fans to do this.
Ultimately, you will want to give a professional contractor a call as soon as possible after the flooding as occurred. Get an inspection immediately and find out what the contractor wants you to do. The damage may not be as severe as you may think and the flooring may not need to be removed, or the damage may be more serious than you think and replacement may be necessary. Plus, with the risk of mold growth, it is always best to leave the diagnosis up to a professional to ensure your family’s health and safety.