The number-one enemy of wood floors is water. Wood’s natural composition causes it to react to certain external influences like sunlight and moisture. Between leaks from pipes and accidental drink spills, many occurrences cause potential water damage to your floors, requiring you to either replace your foundation or undergo severe floor maintenance. When it comes to water-damaged floors, prevention tops restoration. However, sometimes an unknown leak occurs, or sneaky spills happen while you’re away, overcoming various prevention methods. Here are three major signs that indicate water damage to your wood floors.
Warped Floorboards
Warped floorboards create raised and unsightly groundwork within your home. Various factors cause warping, from high temperatures to humidity exposure. Water damage also causes wood boards to curl and warp in shape. As the wood absorbs water, it expands and softens, causing your floor to become more malleable and push up against other planks. Between the expanded size, malleability, and sudden overcrowding, the wood becomes disfigured and warps into a humped shape as it dries.
Color Discoloration
One of the key attractive features of wood flooring is its natural and visual appeal. Although some hardwoods feature natural color variation in their design, discoloration from external influences doesn’t do much to enhance the wood’s authentic beauty. Water damage often results in discolored floors. As the absorbed water in the wood dries and evaporates, it leaves washed-out minerals and salts in its wake, creating stains and dark patches on your floors. Certain wood finishes also cause discoloration as it reacts with the water, leaving behind white streaks and rings.
Mold and Mildew Growth
Musty smells and cultured mold thrive in damp wood. Water exposure and little sunlight build the perfect nesting ground for mold spurs and mildew. Water damage, especially occurrences that happened a while back or were left unattended, causes mold and mildew to grow on your floors. They appear in numerous forms, from black splotches to white furry patches on the surface of your floorboards. They typically release a musty aroma and make a room feel thick and damp. Too much mold leads to numerous potential health issues, releasing toxins and creating unhealthy air quality within your home. It also causes rot, further damaging your floors to the point of no return.
Compared to solid wood floors, engineered wood flooring provides the most water resistance. However, over time, those water-resistant barriers weaken, and overexposure to water increases your chances of enduring water damage. Knowing the various signs of water-damaged floors ensures your home stays in top shape and allows you to handle any damages before they create more destruction.
From the Forest is an engineered hardwood flooring manufacturer in the USA that provides durable engineered wood floors finished with an industrial-grade coating that protects and aids the prevention of water damage. With the right floors, prevention methods, and knowledge of what to look out for, you can keep your home safe and free from water damage. Now, you can enjoy the benefits of your dream floors!