Flooded Hardwood Floors - Hardwood Floor Technical Help

Remedial  Action: What to do and what to expect

What it is: Standing water on the wood floor.
 
Cure: Remove the water and dry the floor as quickly as possible. Elevate the temperature, dehumidify and increase air flow using fans. In basement houses, dry from below. In crawl space homes, use exhaust fans.

If the flooding was of a long duration on a surface finished floor, rough sanding to remove the finish will accelerate drying. Lightly sand at a slight angle of about 7 degrees. Or, use a buffer or orbital sander with a 120-grit screen backed by a soft pad. (Sanding this way should not remove the edges, which could cause crowning later)

Do not sand down to bare wood, but rather remove the majority of the finish.   Do not repair the floor until moisture meter readings on the top and bottom of the boards and subfloor are at normal levels. When flooring is stabilized, determine the damage. If the flooring has loosened from the subfloor, repair the necessary areas or the entire floor. If it is cupped, sand it flat. If the floor is flat, fill if necessary and screen and recoat.  

If the subfloor is plywood over concrete, it is unlikely that the plywood and concrete subfloor will dry out in a reasonable time. Full removal to concrete usually is best to allow the slab to dry.

In cases where you have determined that the flooring system has not returned to normal levels, do not succumb to pressure from involved parties for a quick fix. If you must proceed, have a full release signed due to the risk of more moisture problems.