Replacing Water Damaged Floor Boards

How to repair rotten wood article repairing water damaged wood video.

Replacing water damaged floor boards. The proper way to replace planks in a wood floor takes time and the expertise of a craftsman. Replacing damaged flooring by weaving in new planks. Most floors use a tongue and groove design for connecting adjacent strips. If the remaining solid wood is wet ventilate the area and allow it time to thoroughly dry before installing replacement materials.

Use a circular saw set to 1 depth to cut the subflooring back beyond the damaged areas until you reach solid structural framing. Mix up two part automotive filler. This design makes replacing a single strip or plank challenging but not impossible. However before you get into replacing boards here s some ideas on how you can repair water damaged wood floors.

Watch this video to find out more. After drying a wood floor you may have some concave or convex floorboards. For many water damaged wood floors the best way to repair the damage is to eliminate and replace the affected boards and then to refinish the entire floor. If any problems come up such as water damage or scratches or if laminate boards lift or buckle you can often fix them yourself.

This is called cupping heavy sanding with a drum or orbital sander can actually take down some minor high areas. Sand water damaged wood flooring. Dig out any rotten wood. If the water is just a puddle from someone s wet boots or a leak in the kitchen first mop up the moisture then dry the floor as best you can.

Laminate flooring is an attractive durable kind of flooring made to withstand stains fading and dents. Fill the void with the filler. It s a great choice for households with children and pets and comes in a variety of styles textures and colors. However heavily cupped wood cannot be sanded down flat.

Note that underlayment and padding are particularly susceptible to water damage and must usually be removed. First look for any nails in the damaged board and drive them as far through the board as possible by using a hammer and nail set. That said the wood in the laminate floors is prone to water damage if it s not treated properly. Ceramic tile high end vinyl and certain engineered wood materials can all help protect floors against future water damage repair.

A fan or a hair dryer on a low setting will help dry both the. After the filler hardens sand it smooth with the surface. However this also presents an opportunity to install new waterproof flooring in the area. While these floors can withstand occasional spills constant contact with water can warp and bend the flooring.

Always keep an eye on your floors to prevent damage but be prepared to replace warped tiles if the water damage is too severe.