{"id":20747,"date":"2026-06-22T11:56:36","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:56:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/?post_type=blog&#038;p=20747"},"modified":"2026-06-22T11:56:36","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:56:36","slug":"how-to-restore-hardwood-flooring-after-water-damage-in-auburn-maine","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/blog\/how-to-restore-hardwood-flooring-after-water-damage-in-auburn-maine\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Restore Hardwood Flooring After Water Damage in Auburn, Maine"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As in all water-related property damage, time is crucial. Floors are at a greater risk for permanent&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/tacoma-wa-puroclean-tacoma-east\/services\/water-damage-restoration\/\">water damage<\/a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/services\/mold-removal\/\">mold growth<\/a>&nbsp;if you don\u2019t take care of moisture immediately. Hardwood flooring will absorb moisture more quickly due to its porosity. Besides response time, successful hardwood floor water damage repair depends on the type of flooring, wood, and finish, method of installation, amount of moisture, and replacement value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For hardwood floor water damage restoration, consider hiring a professional disaster restoration company. They have the necessary knowledge and expertise and use specialized equipment for efficient drying. However, if you want to repair a water-damaged floor yourself, check out the tips below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to repair hardwood floor water damage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wear protective gear such as gloves, rubber boots, and a mask.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stop the flow of water if the flooding occurred due to a burst pipe, washing machine failure or water heater failure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Turn off the power to the affected room until the water has been removed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assess the damages before you begin the restoration to determine whether to clean up or replace the floor. Take photos, list damaged items, and show them to your insurance company.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove any items (carpet, furniture, etc.) from the floor and take them to a dry area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Open windows and doors to allow moisture to evaporate more quickly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start removing the excess water with a wet\/dry vacuum cleaner or with mops and old cloth. If the water level is deep, use a pump to drain the water. Ask someone to help so you can finish the task faster and avoid further damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use dehumidifiers, heaters, and fans to speed up the drying process. Place them on top of an elevated surface in the flooded area and close the windows. Direct the fans towards the floor\u2019s surface.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean any debris and mud from the floor with a non-abrasive brush and detergent while the heaters, fans, and dehumidifiers are running. Rinse the floor with clean water and continue to dry the floor.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When dealing with a flooded hardwood floor, act quickly to save your floor from permanent damage and mold growth. Contact a professional flood remediation company, such as PuroClean, that can quickly mitigate the damage and implement the best course of action. Also, learn how to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/blog\/how-do-i-protect-hardwood-floors-from-water-damage\/\">avoid hardwood flooring water damage<\/a>&nbsp;in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/july-wood-floor-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"hardwood floor water damage\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How professionals restore hardwood floor water damage<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Determining the type of flooring and installation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inspection is always crucial when starting to repair hardwood floor water damage.&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisoldhouse.com\/flooring\/21017857\/all-about-hardwood-floors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Hardwood flooring<\/a>&nbsp;comes in a variety of species, such as oak, pine, maple, and cherry. More and more exotic species are being used in flooring. Every type poses different challenges in the drying process because of the varying levels of moisture absorption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are also varieties of flooring that look like wood but are not. These floors will sometimes have a laminate on the surface and a particleboard substructure. When moisture seeps beneath these floors, drying is nearly impossible. The inability to dry these surfaces is due to moisture being trapped under the laminate, which acts as a vapor barrier. For more help, call a PuroClean water damage restoration professional to help you evaluate your flooring\u2019s type and condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Professionals will also assess the initial installation method of the hardwood flooring. Original installation may be nailed, glued, or installed in a floating method.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>When nailed floors have suffered from any type of water damage, the nails may lift.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If the floor has been glued onto the substrate, the moisture may release the glue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the case of a floating type floor, it may not be true wood and may be a laminated product. Tongue and groove hardwood flooring may \u201ccup\u201d after absorbing moisture.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Drying the hardwood floor (patience is key)&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the technicians determine the wood floor type and installation method, drying can begin. Using surface and\/or subsurface drying methods and proper dehumidification, technicians can force airflow beneath the surface of the floor (in a positive or negative manner) to remove this moisture. It may also be necessary to access the floor from below for faster drying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Effective drying of a hardwood floor is a slow process. It will sometimes take seven to 10 days for the floor to release enough water to halt the forced drying process. Removing all the absorbed water from the floor is expensive and nature must be allowed to assist in the process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The hardwood drying continues until the wood\u2019s moisture levels reach four percent of the floor\u2019s dry standard. At this point, nature will remove the remaining water, although slowly \u2014 anywhere from three to six months. Education in this process is crucial for a successful job. Let the restoration professionals of PuroClean help you dry your hardwood flooring properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/floor-drying-min.jpg\" alt=\"professionals hardwood floor water damage restoration \" class=\"wp-image-16266\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Repairing the finish&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once the hardwood floor is dry<strong>,<\/strong>&nbsp;there may still be damage to the floor finish. Finishes, such as waxes and polyurethane, may inhibit the evaporation of the absorbed moisture. They will sometimes have to be removed in the drying process to allow for moisture removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the hardwood floor cups slightly, the finish may check and crack due to the movement of the wood product. This is a normal part of the drying process. Once the floor is completely dry, the floor can be refinished.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hardwood floor drying is a specialty. PuroClean restoration professionals have the knowledge to evaluate the many types of floors properly and have specialized equipment to repair hardwood floor water damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Tips to protect your hardwood floors<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Remove wet, moist,<\/strong>\u00a0or damp items, such as carpets, clothes, boots, or appliances, from contact with the floor as soon as possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Wipe up any spills<\/strong>\u00a0from the surface immediately to prevent the liquid from penetrating the floor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If a room with hardwood floor has an exterior door,\u00a0<strong>place a rug in front of the door<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inspect the plumbing and fix any leaks<\/strong>\u00a0that might contribute to water getting onto the floor surface (or any structural component, for that matter).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Control the humidity in your home.<\/strong>\u00a0During the summer, air tends to be moister and during the winter, the air is dryer. Both moist and dry air can affect wood, so adjust your humidifier accordingly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Reinforce the<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>sealant<\/strong>\u00a0on your hardwood floor periodically. Wax sealants should be refinished annually. Polyurethane sealants (oil or water based) last longer and only require maintenance every few years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>When cleaning hardwood floors<\/strong>, use a quality product intended specifically for hardwood floors. Make sure you don\u2019t leave pools or puddles of liquid, no matter how small, on your floor. Don\u2019t soak the mop head or the cloth you are using; instead, only dampen them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>To summarize, here\u2019s how to repair hardwood floor water damage:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drain the excess water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assess and document the damage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clear the flooded area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean the dirt and dry the entire floor using air-blowing equipment and dehumidifiers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At the end of this process, if the floor shows signs of cupping and crowning, consult a hardwood flooring installer to get the floor back in shape.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Alternatively, call a professional restoration company to do all this hard work.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As in all water-related property damage, time is crucial. Floors are at a greater risk for permanent&nbsp;water damage&nbsp;and&nbsp;mold growth&nbsp;if you don\u2019t take care of moisture immediately. Hardwood flooring will absorb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":867,"featured_media":19488,"template":"","blog-category":[10],"class_list":["post-20747","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","blog-category-water-restoration"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/20747","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/867"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/20747\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20759,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/20747\/revisions\/20759"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19488"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20747"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"blog-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.puroclean.com\/auburn-me\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog-category?post=20747"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}