Does Water Permanently Damage Unfinished Wood?

9/25/2020 (Permalink)

Raleigh Homes with Water Damaged Laminated Tongue and Groove Planks Are Often Salvaged by SERVPRO Skilled Technicians

Wood without Varnish or Finish Can Absorb Large Quantities of Moisture, Causing Warping. SERVPRO Water Restoration Services Can Rescue Wet Wood in Your Raleigh Home.

Why does wood warp?

Wood is a semi-porous material that is likely to feature in your Raleigh home's structure or contents. Carpenters apply varnishes, lacquer, or finishes to woods to waterproof and enhance their appearance. Unfortunately, not all timbers in a home's material construction are likely to be finished. Wood panels or frames in the subfloor, for example, may have an insufficient varnish or not be finished at all. Unfinished wood absorbs moisture, which can cause it to expand. The expansion manifests as warping or cupping and can put extra pressure on the construction of your home. Typical signs of distortion include cracks at the base of walls and ceiling corners and cupping of floorboards.

What factors influence the effect of water on wooden floors?

• The material of wood either hard or soft
• The length of water exposure
• The amount of water that the wood is exposed to

Is refinishing an option for water-damaged wood floors?

The possibility of successful water restoration for floorboards in your Raleigh home depends a lot on the material type. Hardwoods frequently cup or buckle following exposure to moisture but can often make a return to their preloss condition with refinishing. Before refinishing a wood, the moisture content must be brought back to a natural equilibrium. For most types of timber, 12% moisture content is considered normal, but your area of the country may require more or less moisture content. SERVPRO technicians can use desiccant dehumidifiers that can reduce indoor humidity to below 40 grains per pound. Over time, the dryness of the air removes water from semi-porous materials.

Is it possible to mitigate water damage for hardwoods?

• Immediately reduce relative humidity to between 30% and 45%
• Use a moisture probe to measure water content
• Once moisture content drops below 16%, increase air temperature to encourage evaporation

Professional restoration services can help you to recover hardwood floors. Contact SERVPRO of East Raleigh / Zebulon at (919) 250-0455.