Drying Timber Flooring

Timber Floor Drying

At Disaster Recovery Qld, we often get calls from distressed homeowners and business owners who have experienced flooding, burst pipes, or other water damage that has affected their beautiful timber floors. Seeing your floors cupped, discolored, or even buckled can be heartbreaking. Many assume the flooring will need to be completely ripped up and replaced – but that is often not the case if prompt action is taken to start the drying process.

There are many types of timber flooring used in Queensland homes and businesses. Disaster Recovery Qld specialises in working with all the common hardwood and softwood species installed across the state. Whether your flooring is a classic Australian hardwood like spotted gum or Sydney blue gum, or a imported softwood like pine, we have the expertise to assess the damage and take the necessary steps to dry and restore your floors after unexpected water exposure.

Drying Timber Floors

Disaster Recovery Qld knows that time is of the essence when timber floors get wet. The faster the drying process can begin, the better the outcome for salvaging the floor. Water sitting in the boards for over 24-48 hours can cause permanent warping, cupping, delamination, and mould growth. By starting the drying process quickly, Disaster Recovery Qld can often prevent this type of serious damage.

Our technicians are equipped with advanced moisture meters that can accurately assess the current moisture content of the flooring. This helps identify how deeply the water has penetrated the boards and which drying methods will work best. For more superficial flooding or leaks, mopping up excess water, using fans and dehumidifiers, and ensuring proper ventilation may be sufficient. But for more extensive saturation, Disaster Recovery Qld utilises commercial air movers and drying systems that actively force air under the flooring to accelerate evaporation.

Getting the flooring back to a normal moisture content is the goal. For most timber species, this means drying the wood down to 10-12% moisture content. Disaster Recovery Qld technicians will check readings and monitor the progress until safe levels are achieved. Rushing this process risks further damage, so patience is needed. But prompt initiation of drying gives the wood the best chance of recovery.

Evaluating Damage

Once drying is underway, Disaster Recovery Qld will inspect the flooring for any swelling, cupping, gaps, mould, or finish delamination that has already occurred. The severity of this damage will determine what steps are needed for restoration. Our technicians are trained to distinguish between issues with just the finish itself, which may just need sanding and refinishing, versus structural distortion of the boards that requires more extensive sanding and flattening.

Disaster Recovery Qld will also identify whether contaminated water exposure poses any additional risks. Flood waters potentially contain bacteria, chemicals, and other contaminants that can be absorbed by the wood. This may dictate using disinfecting treatments in combination with drying methods.

Sanding and Refinishing

For floors that exhibit cupping, swelling, gaps, and unevenness between boards, sanding is generally required before finishing to return the floor to a smooth, flat profile. Disaster Recovery Qld uses professional assistance from flooring inspectors, installers, and flooring finishers throughout the processes of drying and finishing.

Replacing Damaged Boards

In some cases, despite prompt drying efforts, certain boards may exhibit severe cupping, mould growth, or finish delamination that prevents effective refinishing in place. Disaster Recovery Qld will identify these boards and make recommendations for targeted replacement to restore the floor’s structural soundness and appearance. We take care to source replacement boards that closely match the existing flooring in terms of wood species, cut, and finish. New boards are installed using the proper fasteners and integrated seamlessly with the surrounding flooring. We strive for results where replacements boards are minimally visible.

Trust the Experts at Disaster Recovery Qld

Dealing with unexpected flooding or leaks can be upsetting, especially when your beautiful timber floors are damaged. But prompt action to dry and restore the flooring can prevent the need for full replacement in many cases. Disaster Recovery Qld has the training, equipment, and experience to properly dry flooded timber floors and bring them back to life with our sanding and refinishing services. We also handle any necessary mould remediation and odour elimination. Don’t hesitate to call us for a consultation and estimate if your home or business suffers water damage. Your floors are worth saving!