One of the most common areas where we see water damage in Minneapolis homes is on floors. Although water damage can have many sources like a burst pipe, a leaking roof, a slow plumbing drip, or even just an open window, they all have gravity in common: Water from any source flows down and often collects on your flooring.
In this article, we will explain the problems that water damage can cause on five common types of flooring, plus a few tips on how to spot it: This can be important because the source of the problem may be hidden. Read on to learn how to protect your home and your family.
There are many homes in the Twin Cities area that have hardwood floors. This flooring type is beloved for its warm character and historical charm. It is durable in many ways, but it can be damaged by prolonged exposure to water or excessive moisture.
Water damage to hardwood floors can cause numerous problems such as warping, cupping, discoloration, musty smells, or even rot that compromises the structural integrity of the flooring. When left untreated, too much moisture will not only stain and weaken the wood, but also can allow mold to grow.
If your carpet has experienced a large amount of water damage, or even a smaller leak over a long period of time, you are probably dealing with serious problems. Mold, mildew, fungi, and bacteria can grow quickly in wet carpet and on the layers underneath, leading to musty smells and even visual stains and colonies. Mold will release spores into the air, which can cause respiratory issues in people with allergies or asthma. Long-term moisture can also cause the backing and fibers of the carpet (and even the subfloor of your home) to rot.
If your carpet was soaked with contaminated water, such as from a toilet, storm flood, or sewage back-up, you shouldn’t even consider salvaging that carpet and carpet padding: Contaminated water is full of dangerous organisms that can threaten your health. Only consider cleaning and drying carpets that were briefly wet with clean water. Full carpet replacement with a careful inspection of the subfloor underneath is the best option in most water damage cases.
While tile flooring is more water resistant than the types listed above, it’s not completely waterproof. Ceramic, travertine, stone, clay, or porcelain tile are all somewhat porous. Tile grout and the adhesive used to attach the tiles to your subfloor are porous, too. Too much moisture (particularly by a major flood that submerges the floor or by a long-term leak) will eventually penetrate your tile floor. Then, the subfloor under your tile and the tile adhesive can also be damaged.
Water damaged tiles may be stained around the edges, loose, cracked, warped, or make a hollow sound when tapped. This hollow sound is a sign that the adhesive behind the tile is detached, often due to water damage and subfloor warping.
Laminate flooring is a durable, affordable, easy-to-clean alternative to traditional hardwood floors. However, it is still made of wood fibers. If it’s exposed to too much moisture for too long, it can suffer from a lot of the same damage as wood flooring, like swelling, warping, cupping, and even cracking or splitting. Mold can also grow in and under water damaged laminate flooring.
Another attractive and durable flooring option is vinyl plank or luxury vinyl plank (LVP). LVP does have a water-resistant surface, but it is laid on top of the underlayment and subfloor, which can suffer from water damage. Water damage to vinyl plank flooring can cause the core material of the flooring to expand, resulting in warping, buckling, and even layer separation within the vinyl planks. The seams and edges of the flooring can be points where water can find its way underneath, soaking and damaging the subfloor underneath. Smelly, dangerous mold can also grow under water damaged vinyl plank flooring.
If your St. Paul home has been impacted by water damage, the most important thing you can do is to get expert help right away. The longer you let water damage sit, the worse it will get. Don’t let a small issue turn into a huge restoration project – contact Green Clean today. We are your trusted, local water damage restoration experts. We can get a team on site right away, and get your life back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
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