Proper maintenance of your plumbing system goes a long way in ensuring your floors and floor covers retain their polished vibrant appearance, be they cork, ceramic tile, porcelain tiles, hardwood floors, slate or vinyl tiles. However, should floods hit, there are several steps you could take to ensure your floors, an intricate part of any home's interior decor, are restored to their former state.
Carpets and Rugs
Carpets and rugs not only help in keeping your home warm and comfortable, but also accentuate your space. In most cases, carpets are rarely salvageable after floods and need to be replaced especially the underlayment or padding. However, if the damage is not as extensive, the first step would be to remove the carpet from the floor and get rid of all water. Once the carpet is all dried up, vacuum it with a HEPA vacuum cleaner. Vacuums with HEPA filters get rid of any growing mold, bacteria, pet dander or debris. Ensure the subfloor is completely dry and not damaged before putting back your rugs and carpet.
Tiles
These could be either ceramic, porcelain or travertine also Luxury Vinyl. Tiles are the most resistant to water damages as well as durable flooring material. The denser the material of the tile, the less its chances of absorbing water. Ceramics for example, are hardly damaged by standing water. However, tiles are held together by adhesives and grout. Standing water weakens the adhesives causing the tiles to become loose. Take out the loose and damaged tiles for the purpose of drying them and the subfloor underneath. Once dry, get professionals to fit them back and seal them with the best commercial sealants.
Slate
This group of floor cover includes granite, terrazzo, limestone and marble. Slate floor covers and countertops give a room an air of class and sophistication. While stone is quite resistant, their surfaces can be effected by floods. Some of the effects include efflorescence where whitish mineral deposits appear on the floor surface. These salt deposits could also fail to come all the way up and get stuck in between the stone's pores leading to spalling. Flooring Galaxy's staff are experts in this field which will come to your home assess the damage, remove the cover, along with remediation experts use special equipment to suck out moisture from the slate and dry the subfloor.
Hardwoods and corks
They are the most affected by floods. Stagnant water causes them to swell, buckle, crack and split. Remove the wood boards and dry them as the subfloor dries. This process can take up a couple of days. In most cases wood floorboards will need to be replaced with new ones. Call our Experts for a in home Assessment.
Vinyl
Investing in a waterproof vinyl floor is an expensive but totally worthy decision. However, if your vinyl floor is not waterproof, the best thing would be to pull out the vinyl and let the subfloors dry. If you notice mold growing then throw out the vinyl cover and get a new one. The dangers of growing mold include causing allergies and asthma.
Laminate
Even though just a single plank might seem damaged, it is recommended you pry up all laminate planks. Assess the damage and decide whether they can be repaired or new ones are needed. Dry the subfloor before moving on with the repairs.
Taking proper care of your floor by wiping spills immediately they happen and ensuring there are no leaks is mandatory if you want to keep them looking brand new. Proper swimming pool and fountain maintenance during winter should also be observed.
