Historic Homes in Lutherville Need Special Care With Water Removal

4/28/2017 (Permalink)

When hardwood flooring is not dried out properly after damage, staining and discoloration can result. Call SERVPRO for certified water removal.

SERVPRO Technicians Have Years of Experience Remediating Historic Properties

Our area boasts spacious yards and pre-World War I housing stock, a very special, not to be recreated ambiance. When water seeps, leaks or floods into any interior space of a one-of-a-kind home, it is critical you seek out an experienced water removal specialist. SERVPRO is a trustworthy source of water removal knowledge and practical experience.
 
Beautiful hardwood floors have some natural defense against superficial moisture, but significant soaking requires expert water removal from your Lutherville house. A sudden leak in the aging radiators threatens the integrity and elegance of century-old parquet and strip flooring. When hardwood floors are at risk, we make sure the crew assigned has advanced training in targeted water removal techniques.
 
SERVPRO follows professionally researched protocols when removing water from antique flooring. First, water is extracted using specialized equipment, pulling standing water from the surface. Our technicians take care not to dislodge individual strips during the extraction. Visible water is removed from the surface, and then staff positions air movers to reduce the moisture content of the wood further. Since water often remains under the floorboards, we also employ efforts to dry from beneath. Aiming fans at the subflooring beneath the affected area, drilling small holes to release moisture, and lifting up some boards are all in the repertoire when stubborn water deposits remain.
 
We also use hardwood rescue or drying mat systems, consisting of special absorbent pads applied to the floor to draw moisture out gently yet persistently. This technique requires monitoring by our well-qualified technicians. Our staff continuously monitor moisture levels as sanding and refinishing of the soaked floor occurs only after the moisture content of the wood dips below 12 percent. Patience is essential as it can take weeks or months for the wood to reach that level. Pressing ahead before the wood has nearly all water removed results in unsightly warping.
 
To remove the remaining water, SERVPRO technicians recommend dehumidifiers and routine use of air conditioners, which remove water from the air to achieve cooling. In some cases, heat is added as an accelerant to the drying process. All efforts aim to restore the beauty of the original hardwood flooring, a highly sought after feature in traditional older homes.
 
Explore your options for expert water removal with the staff at SERVPRO of Hunt Valley / Lutherville. Schedule an appointment at (410) 229-0012 now.