How Fast Can Water Damage Your Floors?
Your home is humming with activity- morning, noon and night. Family members rush for the shower first thing in the morning. Someone is responsible for coffee, someone else starts a quick breakfast. Throughout the day, you might run a load of laundry. The last task before you turn off the lights is to run the dishwasher.
We don’t even think about all the times we use water in the house. Unfortunately, at any hour, your home might suffer a water leak. How quickly you react will make a huge difference for your recovery results. Water damage on floors is notoriously hard to find so calling an expert like PCS/PRS Southern to help will ensure success.
You Need Move Fast
Even a small leak can be worse than it seems. Floors, walls, furnishings, and other materials can quickly become damaged by fast spreading water. If you leave water damage too long, problems multiply and the cost of water damage to your home could, too. Within the first 24 hours of a leak or flood, mold development, damage to floors, walls, and electrics, and even structural issues can occur.
As water floods your home, it will soak everything in its vicinity. Personal belongings, such as books and photographs, can immediately bulge and warp beyond repair. Soft furnishings and upholstery will soak through, and walls and floors will begin to absorb the water. Drywall, furniture, wooden doors, and window frames can swell.
On the first day, the floors are the least of your worries. Hard tile floors are only at risk if the grout is damaged or in bad condition. Laminate floors are safe for a day; they are water resistant (but not waterproof.) Hardwood floors are pretty safe since they are sealed. Carpets can usually handle water for a few hours but not several days.
After that initial day, standing water can become a biohazard. Mold spores will start growing exponentially. The damage to wood surfaces and walls intensifies; metal can start rusting or corroding.
If You Delay…
… the amount of restoration work will increase significantly. The spread of mold increases dramatically, and the risks associated with structural damage are greater. If the situation is left untreated for more than a few days, wood will begin to warp and split, ruining wood floors and permanently damaging wooden building materials. Rusted metal can lead to structural damage. Delays in cleanup lead to bacteria and bad smells that are difficult to remove.
Hardwoods In Particular
Natural, organic and porous, moisture can be easily absorbed into hardwood floors. The longer the wood is in contact with water, the worse the damage will be. While sealers and waxes can add more water resistantancy, they don;t waterproof the material. These products do give you more time to clean up the spill from the floor, but not weeks! Mold grows on organic materials in environments with high humidity or trapped moisture. So unfortunately, hardwood floors are at risk for mold growth underneath them.
You can’t just wait for the flooring to dry naturally; you will end up shortening the lifespan of your floor.
Professional Water Damage Cleanup in Seymour
The water damage experts at Professional Restoration Systems care about your home and the health of your family. A personalized plan will be developed to remove all traces of damaged materials, while keeping your family safe.
If your floors get wet, call PRS as soon as possible. If you are in New Haven or Fairfield County we will be there within 90 minutes of your call.