How to Repair Your Water Damaged Wood

Water damage is one of the many problems you have to face while managing your property. Your house can be damaged by water to an alarming extent, including wood rots, mold infestation, and bad indoor quality. We will discuss all about repairing water damaged wood in this article.

First things first,

What is water damage?

It is the damage caused to your property or belongings due to excessive water or moisture. It most commonly occurs when water gets collected in basements or crawl spaces, which can go unnoticed for a long time, or it can be due to sudden pipe bursts or flooding.

One of the common problems faced by owners is the damage done to the wood. Even though the furniture and floors are made to withstand everyday wear- tear and spills, they can suffer if they are submerged or are in contact with water for a long time.

With a large amount of moisture for long periods, you can easily see your furniture and floors breaking down and rotting. Different types of wood suffer various kinds of damages like hardwood gets stained and discolored and plywood gets warped and all the other layers fall apart.

so,

How to fix water-damaged wooden surfaces?

Depending on the extent of damage and type of wood, you have to use different methods.

Before starting any DIY project, make sure you have the required materials, tools, and protective equipment to complete the restoration task safely.

Most people take the help of a commercial water damage restoration company as they have the skills and knowledge about the repair. Make sure you seal the work area to avoid cross-contamination in different parts of the house.

You can start repairs by removing any rotten wooden part from the damaged wooden piece, filling it with putty, and waiting for it to dry. You can then sand it to give it a good finish and prime or paint the surface to match the furniture and other pieces.

In case a structural part of the house is damaged, call a professional company to handle it as improper handling can cause more harm than good and put you and your family at risk.

Mold is one of the hardest things to restore wood from so you should try to prevent mold growth. You can do so by:

1. Using cleaning products is suited to kill mold and fix the original damage area leaks due to rain or pipe as soon as you spot it.
2. Dry out the entire area and install a dehumidifier in rooms prone to moisture buildup.
3. Remove and discard damaged items to prevent cross-contamination and reduce indoor air quality.

If you find yourself with a swollen piece of furniture, make sure you dry them first before cleaning and bleaching it with an anti-mold solution. You can then proceed to remove the damaged part and sand the unit. You can choose to finish it with curing, adding finish, or repainting it.

Get your wooden floors checked by professionals and use the right water restoration equipment to dry the wood quickly and efficiently to fix the damage. Most water damage restoration experts will use the following equipment :

1. Air movers: To dry of water-damaged flooring and surfaces by forcing moisture out of them and increasing the evaporation rate.
2. Dehumidifiers: To maintain humidity and remove excess moisture from the air.
3. Moisture meters: They help know the severity of water damage and plan the restoration method to be used.
4. Air scrubber: Removes the airborne contaminants and musty smell using filters.

Knowing about the equipment can help you figure out the work and repair done by professionals.

Call at 760-815-3033 to get a free consultation if you feel your house is suffering water damage.