water damaged hardwood floors

How to Save Water Damaged Hardwood Floors

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Using hardwood floors in the house has many advantages. They are easy to clean, strong and durable and they look elegant. However, wood flooring is not suitable in wet areas as it is vulnerable to moisture and humidity. Water is the wood’s biggest enemy. When the water sits on the hardwood floor, the wood will absorb the water which causes cupping and discoloration. 

Save Water Damaged Hardwood Floors

When water damage occurs in a house with wooden flooring, homeowners need to act fast to avoid serious damage on the floor. Here are some things homeowners to save water damaged hardwood floors:

1. Find the Source

The first thing that you need to do is to find the source of the water and stop it. If the water continues to penetrate the wood, it won’t fix the problem at all. When the source is not found, the drying up process would be of no use. 

2. Get rid of hardwood water. 

Removing water is the next step in saving water damaged hardwood floor. You can use mops, old towels, and floor squeegees to remove standing water. If you have a wet/dry shop vacuum in the house, you can also use that. Remove any other wet items such as rugs and carpet from the area to fully remove the water.

3. Clean and Disinfect the Floor. 

Mix mild detergent and disinfectant with clean water in a bucket. Scrub the floor using the solution. Don’t pour the water to the floor as it will add up to the problem. Clean the floor thoroughly to remove the dirt and other organic materials that aid mold growth. 

4. Apply Treatment to Moldy Areas. 

Check all the areas if they are free from mold. If molds colonize a small area, it is still easy to remove.  First, scrub the surface mold stain with a mixture of 1qt. Water and 1/2 cup bleach mold cleaner to kill the mold. After scrubbing the area, let the solution penetrates the surface and dry. However, when the area is big, it is necessary to call mold remediation experts to help you with the problem. They have all the necessary tools and knowledge to fully remove the mold. 

5. Dry the Floor

Dry the floor naturally using fans on full blast. If it is not raining, opening the window will help dry the floor. Use dehumidifier to pull out the moisture. Make sure to dry the floor naturally as fast drying process would lead to cracks on the floor. Do not apply heat on the flooring. It may cause cupping and other problems. You can use a moisture meter to monitor the moisture level of the floor. Drying hardwood floor completely takes weeks. Leave your dehumidifier active until there is no water left in the area. 

Call a Professional for Help!

Drying hardwood floor takes time and can be daunting for homeowners. It is important to do the process accordingly to ensure that the wood can still last for a long time. If you are unsure about what to do, it is best to call a professional water damage restoration company. They have the equipment and tools necessary to clean and dry up your place.

carpet with stains because of water damage

How To Dry Carpet After Water Damage

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Carpet is one of the most common and trendy floorings you can see in many homes. Aside from the beauty and accent it gives, it also provides safety to the occupants. But, this type of flooring is more difficult to handle, especially when water is the culprit of the damage. 

Carpet is absorbent in nature. Because of that, even a small amount of water can bring danger to your carpet. Water damaged carpet is known to be destructive. It can bring harmful effects to your property and your health.

Drying A Water-Damaged Carpet

If you attempt to dry your water damaged carpet, keep in mind that acting fast is vital. A water damaged carpet, if damped for a longer period, has a great chance of attracting mold growth. Mold is very dangerous and could lead you to serious health problems.

Assess the Water Involved

Before taking any steps in fixing your water damaged carpet, understanding the source of the water is essential. You don’t know what is in your carpet. Be sure to keep yourself protected when evaluating the situation

If Category 1 water or clean water (water from broken pipes, supply lines, and rain or snow) is the source of the water damage, it is safe and easy to clean. Yet, when the water contains floodwater, your carpet is unsalvageable. It has to be discarded immediately. Floodwaters contain contaminants that are toxic and harmful to humans, which could even lead to killing a person.

If you are unsure of the situation, call in professionals to handle the situation.

Start Drying the Damaged Carpet As Soon As Possible

As mentioned above, acting fast is vital. Drying your water damaged carpet as early as possible could prevent you from having severe damage and health issues. Plus, it could help you save money for water damage restoration and mold removal services. Follow these simple tips in drying out water damaged carpet;

  • Remove the excess water.

    Of course, first, it is necessary to stop water from flowing into the damaged carpet. Once you are done with it, remove the excess water. Use a wet vacuum to do the job. Wet vacs are an effective tool in removing any excess water or moisture on your carpet. Though using them requires a lot of time, they are inexpensive and you can rent one easily if you have to just use it once. If needed, vacuum the same area several times to fully remove excess water. 

  • Move the Wet Carpet from the Floor.

    Moving your water damaged carpet from your flooring can prevent you from having another type of damage or could lessen the amount of the damage. Carefully pull it away. Avoid using too much force to keep the carpet intact. 

  • Discard and Replace Carpet Padding.

    Never use the same carpet padding once it gets wet. Carpet padding cannot dry out. Once it soaks up water, it will remain damp. And, dampness will then cause mold growth that could lead to nasty odor and an unsafe environment. Pull up the carpet and remove the padding. Discard it right away. Replace a new one. 

  • Dry the Carpet and the Flooring.

    It’s now time to dry out the carpet and the flooring. Use a high powered blower, fans or dehumidifiers to help in the drying process. You can still use a regular fan, however, drying will take longer. Keep the blowers or fans working until the carpet and the flooring are fully dry. If the weather permits, open your windows so that air can circulate properly inside your house. Do this only when it’s not raining or humid outside.

Sanitize Your Water Damaged Carpet

Even if you have dried out your carpet, you are still uncertain whether your carpet is safe to use. There could be some germs or bacteria that still stick on it. Sanitize your carpet with an anti-microbial cleaner to make sure that it is free from stains and bacteria.

Never use bleach in cleaning your carpet. Bleach can damage the rear part of your carpet and the sub-flooring beneath it. 

Dry Your Carpet Once More

After applying any type of anti-microbial cleaner, let it dry again. When sanitizing and drying are done properly, your carpet should not have any signs of mold growth. Stay alert until you are truly sure that it is free from any danger. Then, bring it back to its place.

Call Professional Water Damage Restoration 

Dealing with water damaged carpet can be very dangerous and requires a lot of effort and proper equipment. Drying, if not done properly, could lead to a more serious situation. Thus, letting professionals handle this problem is your best option.

Professional water damaged restoration company has enough equipment and advanced skills to save your water damaged carpet and prevent the severe issue to happen.

Let Superior Restoration help you. We are a team of professionals that handle all sorts of fire, water and mold issues. Call 951-301-2123 to talk to our staff and give you ideas about our restoration services.

Mold Remediation as A Solution to The Growing Mold Problems

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Molds are types of fungi that usually grows on surfaces inside one’s property due to water interaction or excessive moisture. 

However, although some types of mold are normally harmless, there are some types that can cause severe health issues in anyone. According to the EPA, one of the most common causes of molds are allergies and can be a top reason for asthma symptoms. Furthermore, molds in one’s property might also lead to irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat and, worst can also cause serious lung issues even if the person involved is not allergic. In line with this, mold growth in the house or property should be treated as a serious issue and should not be, in any way, ignored.

As for the fact that molds can be found everywhere, the problem of its growth arises, most especially when the growth begins inside the house. This is usually caused by the moisture that the mold spores found to begin to grow. The extremely common reasons for mold growth inside one’s property are roof leaks, pipe leaks, high humidity levels, and floods.

Mold requires spores (serves as their ‘seeds’), favorable temperatures, nutrient supply, and moisture. Molds, like plants, grow by spreading and releasing its mold spores. However, if the conditions for the molds are unfavorable, mold will be dominant and release spores into the air to find a suitable environment for their growth and survival.

Moreover, these conditions can lead to mold growth subjected to water damages within the span of 24 to 48 hours. The affected materials or appliances should be dried as quickly as possible to prevent germination and subsequent mold growth. This mold growth can result from inadequate design, installation, and operation of materials and appliances used, maintenance of the structure and lack of adequate ventilation in the building. Among the conditions mentioned, moisture is the only condition a homeowner can really control.

Mold Remediation: The Basics and Process

Molds should be removed by a trained professional accredited by organizations such as RIA, IAQA, and IICRC. However, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) any area subjected to mold growth less than ten (10) square feet (or about 3 feet by 3 feet) can be remediated by the homeowner. If the affected area succeeded the 10 square feet policy, the homeowner or the building administrator must contact a mold remediation contractor.

On the off chance that the mold growth occurs inside a homeowner’s property that requires larger immediate removal or mold remediation, it is important for the homeowner to know the basics of mold remediation.

Basic Mold Remediation Directions:

  1. Determine the size of the area that will need to be contained. Set up your containment using zip walls and 6-mil poly sheeting.
  2. Determine the size of air scrubber needed (4-6 air exchanges per hour).
  3. Install air scrubber into containment, duct clean air from the scrubber out of the containment area to keep the containment under negative pressure.
  4. Vacuum all surfaces in the containment area using a HEPA vacuum.
  5. Remove all porous surfaces (drywall, carpet, etc.) with mold contamination. The material that is being removed should be placed in contractor bags and disposed of in normal garbage receptacles (e.g., dumpsters). Bags should be sealed before leaving the containment area.
  6. Vacuum all surfaces in the containment area using a HEPA vacuum.
  7. Physical mold removal:
  1. Using a cleaner, all surfaces with visible mold should be scrubbed or sanded to remove some of the mold stainings. Without heavy sanding, some of these stains might not be removed. Staining is not an indication of active mold growth.
  2. Using a disinfectant, wipe or spray all surfaces to ensure any remaining (hidden) mold is dead. This will not preclude any health problems from the mold, but it will keep it from further growth.
  1. Again, vacuum all surfaces in the containment area using a HEPA vacuum.
  2. A mold-preventative coating can/may be applied to further ensure no future mold growth.
  3. For larger jobs (over 32 sq ft of contamination) it may be required to:
  • Have a controlled egress area.
  • Have an independent hygienist write a protocol.
  • Have an independent hygienist do post clearance testing.

With regards to the increase of mold growth in the house, EPA provided the necessary simple steps or process of mold removal or mold remediation.

Process: Steps to Mold Remediation

  1. Containment and Ventilation. This is the first step, and probably the most important step in the process of mold remediation. The installation and use of adequate ventilation and air filtration devices (AFDs) including air scrubbers are required to keep and ensure that the existing mold spores that are disturbed and become airborne will not be spreading to any uninfected area through the air.
  2. Cleaning and Disinfection. Next is the stage that includes the actual remediation, removal, and disposal of materials subjected to molds—the cleaning and disinfection stage. Where the trained professional or technicians will apply biocide, fungicide or moldicide solutions to the infected areas.
  3. Fixing the Source of the Mold. This is where the technicians will address any moisture or humidity concerns that cause the growth of molds within the property or area. This includes a loose bathroom fan duct that is running into an attic, in this case, the broken fan duct may be fixed. For cases with more involved repairs, the mold remediation company could hire a sub-contractor to recommend to the homeowner.
  4. Encapsulate the Unremoved Molds. Molds that are not removed through the process of mold remediation should be encapsulated by paint or a similar material. The encapsulation process is an approved method for dealing with mold in a house.

Molds are complex. It may start from a small area but can form larger colonies indoors under appropriate conditions. It is important to not ignore the significance of a proper building or house maintenance at all times.