What Happens To Your Floors After A Flood? What Union County, SC Homeowners Should Know

People who own homes or businesses in this area don’t think much about their floors once those surfaces are installed. After all, when a building’s construction is complete, floors mostly take care of themselves, aside from some cleaning or occasional washing to deal with a spill.

However, in a flooding situation, this is where things get serious (Are you covered for flood damage mitigation in Union County, SC?). A flood unleashes a devastating amount of water damage to nearly every aspect of a building, from the electrical systems to the floor itself

So if a flood hits your property, what happens to your floor? Can it be salvaged?

The Materials Question

One of the biggest considerations when assessing the potential for a floor to be recovered is the type of material the floor is made of. In general, there are porous materials—which admit water easily—and nonporous substances—where water can’t penetrate. Unsurprisingly, nonporous materials tend to be more resistant to water damage.

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But floors come in various materials, from synthetic materials to natural substances like stone that need to be carved to traditional materials like wood that have been used for generations - Get a flood damage repair estimate in Union County, SC. Each one of these has different reactions to water and therefore receives different treatment when formulating a recovery process

Can Carpets Be Saved?

Of all the materials used on floors, carpet is most likely written off as a “lost cause” and requires a full replacement. This is because carpet, whether using natural or synthetic materials, is still fibrous and extremely water absorbent, the price carpet pays for being such a soft, plush material.

Unlike rugs, which are smaller and can be moved to new locations and dried out from top to bottom, carpet may be made of thicker materials and come in layers. When that much flooring material is wet, it’s unlikely to be safely recovered and is probably a mold hazard.

Saving Tile Flooring

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Unlike carpet, tile floors, whether synthetic, such as vinyl, or natural materials like marble, are sturdy materials that handle water well. However, while the tile surfaces themselves are often resistant to water, the real trick with tile flooring is the grout that sits in the seams between tiles.

If too much water has penetrated the grout and gotten into the layers of flooring beneath the tiles, then the sub-flooring may need repair, even if the tile itself can be easily recovered.

What About Hardwood Floors?

Many people love hardwood floors both for the warm look they provide a room and their temperature compared to stone surfaces. However, if they do suffer from flood damage, they can be recovered, provided that a proper, comprehensive drying out process is observed.

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In the case of hardwood floors, while it’s true that wood can be absorbent, unlike fabric, it can also be thoroughly dried out, retaining little moisture. As long as proper hardwood floor recovery procedures are used, and the process begins quickly, these floors can be recovered.

Call Us 24/7 for Same Day Emergency Flood Damage Restoration in Union County, SC

If your home or business has suffered flood damage, we can help. We have many years of experience serving local residents with complete restoration services. Contact us 24/7 for a prompt, professional response.