How SERVPRO Dries Hardwood Floors in Atlanta Georgia

3/26/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of South Atlanta is available 24/7. We are always on call and can be at your home or business in less than two hours!

One of the most common questions associated with water damage we hear at SERVPRO of South Atlanta is, “Can my hardwood floors be saved?” While we can not save every set of hardwood floors we come across, SERVPRO of South Cobb has become a leader in the floor restoration industry and have had great success when it comes to restoring hardwood floors. If your hardwood floors are damaged, before you have them replaced, give SERVPRO of South Atlanta a call at (404) 505-1760.

Wood floors cannot absorb large amounts of moisture without warping, bowing, or cracking. One of the most important factors in the success of drying your wood floors is to have water extracted as soon as possible. Another important factor is the humidity level of the home. In most cases, to dry hardwood floors we want to lower the overall humidity level of the affected area. We do this by placing specialized drying equipment throughout the affected area. If there is wet carpet and padding installed in your home, it should be removed or dried as soon as possible. Finished wood flooring sometimes returns to their original shape after drying, eliminating the need for costly replacement. 

Three common problems that occur when hardwood flooring gets wet:

• Cupping - This is when the wood bows to a concave shape with the edges slightly raised. This can oftentimes be sanded out and restored without replacing the floor..
• Crowning - This is when the wood bows in a convex shape, with a hump in the middle. This in general is not possible to sand out and replacing the floor is typically the most cost effective repair. 
• Cracking - This is when cracks appear in the board themselves or between boards due to swelling. This in general is not possible to sand out and replacing the floor is typically the most cost effective repair.  

To minimize the damage, your wood flooring should be dried from the top and bottom when possible. SERVPRO of South Atlanta can use the Dri-Eaz Mat Drying System along with any number of additional air movers, dehumidifiers, and/or desiccant drying machines to dry your hardwood floors. The Dri-Eaz Mat Drying System is one of the most effective and efficient pieces of floor drying equipment on the market. Let's take a look at how the Dri-Eaz Mat system works:

First, we will ensure that any standing water has been extracted/removed from the floor thoroughly. We then clean the hardwood floors with SERVPRO’s proprietary cleaning products, removing any dirt or debris by gently wiping with cleaning cloths.  It is important that any dirt or debris is removed, if left on the surface it will retain moisture and create drying issues. 

Next the Dri-Eaz Mat System is used with an air mover to create a vacuum seal to the floor that speeds up the drying process by moving air from the sub-floor to the surface. Combined the system utilizes high pressure to draw evaporated moisture out of damaged areas.

Mats can be used singly for quick spot drying or several can be used for larger areas. The mat system also has customizable configurations, so matter what your layout is, the Dri-Eaz Mat System can handle the job. 

Drying time can vary depending on many factors, the amount of water the floor was exposed to, the length of time that the water was on the flooring, the thickness and quality of the finish.  SERVPRO of South Atlanta uses the most advanced techniques to make sure that your wood floors will be dried out properly and saved whenever possible! 

Just remember that minutes can count when it comes to water damage! Just give us a call and our dispatch will have a team of SERVPRO of South Atlanta professionals on the way in no time. Our staff is well trained, punctual, and always has our customers best interest at heart. We understand that flooring, damaged by water, can be a time sensitive situation. We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, so no matter what time of day or night, we will be there to serve you. We also offer professional residential cleaning, commercial cleaning, storm damage cleanup, and many other disaster related restoration services. Please don’t hesitate to contact us today. SERVPRO of South Atlanta is faster to any sized disaster and can get the job done right, the first time.