How to Dry Out Cupped Hardwood Floors? Detailed Guide
The usual drying processes we use cannot be used when we dry cupped hardwood floors because the usual methods we use can cause damage to the shine and quality of the floor. So in this article, we discuss how to dry out cupped hardwood floors without doing any damage to the floors.
In short, when drying the cupped hardwood floors:
- Identify the source of moisture and stop adding more water to the floor.
- Vacuum the water that is visible to the naked eye,
- Run ceiling fans or floor fans,
- Use a dehumidifier to dry out the remaining moisture.
- Check the moisture level using a meter.
When using and also while drying, you should not let the wooden floors get damaged. Even a simple color change in some spots may waste a lot of money on repairs.
Is wood ruined if it gets wet?
A porous material, wood. This means that the wood will eventually rot, soften, and disintegrate as a result of exposure to water permeating its membranes over time.
Water also weakens the structure of wood, encouraging the growth of mold and necessitating costly restoration efforts.
What causes a hardwood floor to be wet?
As I’ve mentioned, the first thing to do before beginning drying is to find the cause of the water. So right after you’ve found that, close it to avoid adding more water to the floor. So the common sources are,
- Damaged drainage pipes,
- Refrigerator leaks.
- AC leaks.
- Zink overflow etc.
As a house owner or a worker, you should have a good sense of the possible causes of water leakage, and then you have to pay some attention to those things to avoid severe damage to the floors.
If the moisture is left on the hardwood floors for a long time, then they will be damaged and unrepairable.
If some area is wet and can be seen to the naked eye, then you should prevent using that area for walking until you dry it. If not, the wax will be damaged and the moisture will be sucked into the hardwood, making it very hard to dry out.
What happens when a hardwood floor is wet?
When hardwood flooring is wet, the finish shields the top of the flooring, while the unfinished underside of the wood absorbs the water. The long outside edges of the floor rise as a result of the back of the wood expanding, a phenomenon known as cupping.
Therefore, the wood will absorb more moisture from the air and swell if the air is humid. Wood fibers will release some of their moisture back into the air if the air is dry, which will cause them to shrink again.
The subfloor is where moisture most frequently enters the floorboards from below. This causes the board’s bottom to swell, which causes the edges to curve upward in a pattern that resembles a wave.
Depending on the environment and the building, cupping can occur even on a wood floor that was installed perfectly. However, there are a number of typical circumstances that are known to result in cupping that can be addressed and even avoided.
What does cupping look like on a hardwood floor?
A hardwood floor reacts to moisture by expanding on the side of the boards closest to the moisture. The board may cup (have the center lower than the edges) or crown as a result of this expansion.
No matter whether the floor is cupped or still in good shape, it can surely be dried, but a question remains. Can it be repaired when the hardwood floor is cupped?
How to repair a cupped hardwood floor?
In most cases, getting a cupped floor back to its normal state is not possible because when a hardwood floor becomes cupped, the bond between the tiny wood particles loses bond. So there is no way to recreate those bonds to recover the surface as it was before.
But you can still dry the floors to prevent further cupping and any other damage by applying the following steps.
- Identify the source of moisture
Once you see your hardwood floor is cupped, then look around well to find out what causes moisture. Right after finding the cause of the moisture, block the source to prevent adding more moisture. When it is done, proceed to the next step.
- Vacuum the floor to remove water
Activate the vacuum. Put the nozzle on the water’s surface. Hold it in place until there is no more water underneath or around it. Once all of the water has been sucked up, gradually move the nozzle to a new area.
- Run fans
Fans will blow out the moisture around the wooden floor and let it evaporate more water that it has absorbed into it. So with time, almost all the water particles come out, and the wind makes the hardwood dry.
- Use a dehumidifier
The fans will carry out a considerable amount of moisture, but some water may still be retained in the hardwood. So it is time to use a dehumidifier to absorb moisture until the last drop, making it completely dried.
- Use a moisture meter. And check the moisture level.
After everything is done, you can use a moisture meter to check out the moisture level which is still remaining. So if the present moisture level is in a satisfying state, then the process is completed and you are done.
How long does it take for cupped floors to dry?
It may take weeks, months, or even an entire heating season to complete this process. Sanding shouldn’t start until the humidity is completely back to normal.
The flooring is probably not finished drying if there is a difference in moisture content of at least 2% between the top and bottom surfaces.
So you should not be in a hurry, because things won’t happen as fast as you want. If you try things, again and again, to dry the floor quickly it may cause damaging the floor as you never expected.
Will the warped wood floor go back to normal?
This is a pretty strange question. According to my experience and what I have seen so far, the warped wood floors will not go back to normal unless you remove the damaged areas and replace them with new ones.
How to Fix Chatter Marks in Wood?
Chatter marks are recurring flaws in the flooring that are spaced between half an inch and a foot. They are typically brought on by a big machine sander failure of some kind. faulty sandpaper.
Using a multi-disc sander like the Lagler Trio is a great way to remove chatter marks that have already appeared on your floor.
A multi-disc sander was created for finishing sanding. Although powerful enough to remove cross-grain scratches, it won’t alter the topography of the wood floor.
How do you flatten a buckled hardwood floor?
As already mentioned, moisture and the elements are the main causes of buckling wood floors.
If there is only minor buckling, you can try drying the affected area to see if it takes on its original shape.
To restore the wood to its original position, you can also try applying some pressure or placing a heavy object on top of the buckled wood.
Read also our guide: How to get dry paint off wood floor?
FAQs
How do you dry out wet floor joists?
To hasten the drying process, you can use heat, air movement, and a dehumidifier. Apply the borate wood treatment powder after the wood has dried to kill the rot fungus and stop it from returning.
Wood that has been damaged by rot must frequently be replaced, but you might not have to go to that much trouble.
How long can water sit on hardwood floors?
You shouldn’t let any liquid sit on your wood floors for an extended period of time because it could cause the wood to warp. Ideally, you want that taken care of within 24 hours if there is a significant flood that is sitting on your wood floors. You should immediately wipe up any water that may have gotten on your wood floors.
Does baking soda soak up moisture?
Baking soda will absorb any unpleasant odors in addition to moisture. Baking soda absorbs moisture and congeals into cakes, which makes it simple to remove after the fact. All you need to do is vacuum your carpet once it has dried, and you’ll be good to go.
How do you dry wood in the winter?
Firewood needs to be left exposed on one side so the air can naturally dry it out throughout the winter in order to continue drying.
Even in the winter, it’s crucial to keep seasoning firewood outside because the wind is a crucial factor in drying it out.
Hi, I’m Anna Jeffery, cleaning expert and author of articles. I strive to share my knowledge with everyone by writing helpful cleaning guides. I believe that everyone deserves to live a clean and orderly life, and I am proud that my articles help people achieve this goal. Stay tuned for practical and useful cleaning tips!
