Water Damage In Wood Floors & How To Prevent It

Your home's aesthetics rely heavily on the floor. Even with the best furniture and the most pristine curtains, your living room will still look shabby if the flooring is not taken care of. 

When it comes to US Burbank flooring that looks gleaming, lustrous, and at the same time sophisticated, wood is a clear winner.

However, you should be wary of signs of water damage. Here are a few:

Cupping

Wood starts to swell when absorbs more water than it is capable of handling. Planks of the floor start to show dips and wooden boards start to pull away from the edges.

Along the length of the floor, there is an indentation that makes it look wavy. The bottom has more moisture, than the top.

Cupping occurs when the air's moisture content changes. Apart from this, it can even happen because of leaks, spills, subfloor humidity, and improper care.

Musty odours

Moisture is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and mildew. Indoor mold growth is a significant health hazard, according to Health Canada. Mold infestation often causes eye and throat irritation, constant coughing and sneezing, shortness of breath, and worsening asthma symptoms.

Mold is usually very obvious because of its musty smell. It can also be described as earthy or meaty. Most of the time, it's the same smell as wet socks.

You may also end up with pest infestation if you ignore the smell for too long. The two signs indicate that there is too much moisture in the wooden floor.

Discoloration

Shiny, spotless, and pristine hardwood US flooring Burbank look their best. A slight discoloration can make it look faded, old, and different from the rest of the furniture.

Whenever the wood surface retains excessive moisture, the finish may become discolored, splotchy, or mismatched.

It will compromise the aesthetics of your house and will make your flooring look old, even if it isn't. If the moisture content is too high, you may even see dark spots.

How To Prevent Damaging Your Wooden Floors?

To regulate the moisture in the air in a room prone to excess moisture, install a dehumidifier. It is easier to dry cotton than wood, so cover your wood floors with plenty of rugs.

Knowing the signs of water damage can help you catch it earlier. Don't let your floors buckle by taking care of cupping and crowning at the first sign.

Do You Need To Replace Water Damaged Floors?

In severe cases, you may need to replace your flooring. As an example, if you had a leak while you were on vacation, then enough time had passed for mold to grow - in which case replacing your US flooring Burbank would be your only safe option. After 24 hours of water damage, mold can grow and floors can need to be replaced.