You can check if there is any remaining moisture in the wood with a moisture testing meter. Don’t be surprised if the meter still shows signs of moisture in the floor after a day or two. It can take up to several weeks for wood flooring to completely dry.

How long does it take for a flooded floor to dry?

Depending on the extent and nature of the damage, it may take anything from two days to a number of weeks to completely dry out the damage done by a flood or leak.

How long does it take for wood to replenish?





To get green wood to less than 20% moisture takes at least six months. Freshly cut wood will have bound and unbound moisture.

What happens if water sits on wood floor?

Water can damage hardwood floors—and it will happen quite quickly. Because wood is naturally porous, it can easily absorb moisture. Just a small amount of water can cause staining, while larger spills might cause the planks to buckle, cup, and swell. This is true even if your wood floors are waxed and sealed.

Can you get water damage out of wood floors?

Depending on the severity of damage, the hardwood floors may only need to be refinished. In some cases patching is required to replace the damaged boards prior to refinishing. In the worst case scenario, the entire floor needs to be removed and replaced.

How long does wood take to dry after a leak?

Usually, the drying process takes up to several weeks, depending on the humidity and moisture level of the floor when you started. The ideal moisture content of the section of wood flooring that wasn’t affected by leakage should be within 5%.

How long does it take for wood to rot from water damage?





Wood can Start to Rot in 1-6 months If:



Water and/or air space is hot & humid. The area is at or near the ground.

How do you dry a wood floor after leaking water?

Use a dehumidifier placed at the highest setting possible to dry the floors. Place it in the center of the room and leave it on for at least 24 hours. Next, place fans around the room so the entire surface receives the blowing air. Place the fans at the highest settings possible.

How do you fix a soaked wood floor?

How to Remove Water From Wood Floors

  1. Remove Surface Water. Use a shop vacuum on “wet mode” (no bag) to remove as much water as possible from the surface of the flooring. …
  2. Scrub the Floor. …
  3. Treat Moldy Areas. …
  4. Dry the Floor. …
  5. Sand Water-Damaged Wood Flooring. …
  6. Deal With Mold on Wood Under Paint. …
  7. Replace Laminate.


How can you tell if wood is water damaged?



Some signs that your wood flooring is water damaged include:

  1. Staining and discoloration.
  2. Cupping and moisture causing it to buckle.
  3. Lifting nails.
  4. Lifting floorboards.
  5. Mold growth.


How long does it take for hardwood floors to dry after flood?

It may also be necessary to access the floor from below for faster drying. Effective drying of a hardwood floor is a slow process. It will sometimes take seven to 10 days for the floor to release enough water to halt the forced drying process.

Will warped floors go back to normal?



Cupped flooring looks bad but it’s almost always reversible. It can usually be corrected by simply restoring proper humidity inside the room, which will help balance out the moisture above and below the flooring.

How do you fix a swollen wood floor?

If the floor is swollen from humidity, then you must set up ventilation fans to dry out the room. To speed up the process, a dehumidifier may also be set up in the room to help dry out the flooring and capture the moisture.

How do you reverse swollen wood?

One notable solution in fixing swollen wood furniture is by drying it thoroughly before anything else. You can remove the moisture by letting it sit under direct sunlight for at least 24 hours rather than using artificial means such as a hairdryer or blower.

How do you fix warped hardwood floors from water damage?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Your washcloth should be a little more than damp with warm water and your iron set to medium-high heat lay your washcloth on the floor on the damaged. Area and start ironing the floor.

Will buckled floors go back down?



If the buckling is only minor, in many cases the boards might return back to normal. If the boards are still showing areas of damage and buckling, you’ll need to replace them.

How long does it take for wood floors to buckle?

On average, acclimation is a process lasting two weeks, though there is debate on whether improper acclimation causes buckling. However, many believe installing planks that are too dry or too moist both cause buckling in the long term.

Will cupped floors flatten out?

For a solid floor as flooring acclimates to the space the initial cupping will subside and gapping will be the issue of the finished floor. In this case allowing the flooring to complete a heating season will likely fix the cupping as the elevated moisture will be removed by the heating and the flooring will flatten.