When flooding occurs over your wood flooring, there are certain steps you should take immediately to reduce the damage. Doing these things as soon as possible may be the difference between needing a cleaning and having to tear up the entire floor. Though wood floors are usually pretty durable, especially if you've used protectants and sealants for repelling water, they can only take so much before they begin to soak in the water. Keep in mind that mold can form quickly if your floors aren't thoroughly dried. Here are three things you should do when your wood floors are flooded.

First, Stop the Flooding

There's no sense starting to dry your floor if the water is still flowing or likely to flow over your floors in the near future. If the cause is something fairly controllable, like a leak, then fix that first before attending to your floors. If the problem is flooding from a storm or other natural phenomena, then you will need to wait until the waters have gone down permanently. If the water has gone down, but is pooling on the floor, try to use a wet vacuum to soak up the water before it can soak deeper into the subfloor, if possible.

Remove Mud and Debris

Remove any mud or debris from the floor before using soaps and detergent to scrub them clean. Be aware that flood water often contains contaminates that could make you sick, so proper protection, such as gloves and boots, is recommended. Use non-abrasive scrub brushes so as not to harm your floor's finish. Use a scoop, such as a dust pan with a rubber edge, to scoop up mud and debris more easily. You can also hire a company with professional equipment to clean it up for you.

Dry Out the Wood

Though you can dry out the wood yourself, you'll get better results with a professional restoration company. However, you can do your part by opening windows, turning on the furnace (if it has not been damaged by the flood as well), or using dehumidifiers to speed up the drying before mold forms. The restoration company will have special exhaust fans that are specifically made for drying out floors at a steady rate.

If your floors have been submerged for a long time, then there's a chance that the water damage has gone deep into the subfloor which will be difficult to dry. Floors can also buckle and warp if not properly and promptly attended. A professional water damage restoration company, like Continental Carpet Cleaning Restoration, has tools to check for hidden water damage and possibly save your floors from further damage.