What do I do if my hardwood floor gets water damage?

Here are some steps to follow if your hardwood floor gets water damage.

1. Mop up as much water as you can, as quickly as you can.
2. If you plan on making an insurance claim call your insurance agent.
3. Wait 30 days.
4. Call a wood flooring contractor to come look at the floor and give you an estimate.
5. Get a second opinion – If the two opinions vary greatly get a third opinion (this step is unnecessary if you have someone you have worked with before and you trust them.)

     Step 3 is very important! It is hard to wait when you want it fixed and looking good tomorrow. The wait sometimes pays off and you will need less repairs than it looks like originally. There is no way to guess what the wood will look like after 30 days. It could have cupping or crowning or warped boards or it could go back to what it looked like originally. I have seen it all.

     Also moisture in the subfloor needs time to dry out completely so it will not affect the repaired floor or new floor. You never know how deep the moisture has gone. Be patient and trust me it will payoff.

What type of wood floor finish do I need?

Once you feel comfortable with the wood flooring professional you’re going to hire, discuss the finish options available. There are three different types of wood floor finishes that I recommend, however there are more to choose from.

1. Acid Cure: It is one of the hardest and oldest finishes on the market. It does amber over time, but it is rich in appearance. (sometimes called Swedish finish) Please note: This finish requires you to leave the home while it is being applied and until it is dry.
2. Oil Polyurethane: This finish is a rich looking, but soft finish and does yellow over time. This is a perfect fit for those who want to enhance the richness of their floor. Please note: This finish will scratch the easiest of the three mentioned.
3. Two-component Water Base Commercial Rated Finish: The two manufacturers I recommend are Bona Traffic and Basic StreetShoe. They are both commercial rated products, which makes them as hard or harder than the acid cure products, and they resist yellowing over time. In some cases where intense daylight hits an area the finish can bleach. I recommend using an oil sealer to bring out the richness in the wood then topcoat it with one of the water finishes. 

Remember all finishes are chemicals and chemicals change in color and fade or darken over time because of UV light and oxygenation. You can review these options with your flooring contractor and make the best choice for your needs. A little homework will go along way. For more information here is a link to the National Wood Flooring Association.