Different Types of Flooring and How Water Damage Impacts Them

11/23/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage affects everyone differently, and depending on the flooring you have in your Green Hills home or business, you may be surprised to learn how your flooring is affected by flooding. Each type of flooring has its pros and cons, and especially after water damage, those qualities are highlighted. The first step to understanding how water damage affects flooring is to know what type of flooring you have. Do you have hardwood or laminate flooring? Or how about vinyl or tile flooring? We will discuss below the qualities of each type of flooring and how water damage impacts them so you have the necessary information when contacting us and for insurance purposes. 

Hardwood And Laminate Flooring: What Are Their Qualities And How Does Water Damage Affect Them? 

• Hardwood: Hardwood flooring is characterized by its durability. You can refinish certain types of hardwood several times. Hardwood flooring is most known for its longevity and wood bases, including red oak, white oak, walnut, cherry, maple, and hickory. 

• The effects: Water and wood do not get along well- wood is very porous and can easily absorb into flooring. This activity can cause discoloration and flooring to swell and warp. 

• Laminate: This flooring looks like natural wood, stone, or tile but is more affordable. Laminate comes in planks or tiles that include a tongue-and-groove assembly which can easily latch onto each other. 

• The effects: You’ll notice discoloration and warping due to concentrated moisture in the affected areas. The intensity of your water damage experience can also cause the planks to become loose. 

What Makes Up Vinyl And Tile Flooring, And How Does Flooding Affect It? 

• Vinyl: This type of flooring is made from plastic and is the most cost-effective option out of the options on this list. Many vinyl options are waterproof, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t affected by flooding. 

• The effects: Water can absorb through vinyl planks which can cause it to swell and warp. Vinyl planking can also show bumps, ridges, and decaying adhesive. (In other words, are the planks moving in areas where they weren’t moving pre-flood?)

• Tile: Tile flooring is very versatile in the sense that different types of tile are made from different materials. For example, ceramic tile is made from clay, whereas natural stone tile is composed of marble, slate, granite, and other polished material that gives tile flooring its trademark elegant appearance. Despite its delicate appearance, porcelain tile is primarily known for its resilience because it’s created at a higher temperature than the other options, making it more durable and less porous. 

• The effects: Tile flooring has been a popular choice in bathrooms and other areas of the home that are prone to excess moisture because of its water resistance. However, when tiles become loose from flooding, they can crack and allow mold to settle underneath the floating tile. Water can also enter through unsealed grout or missing caulking, causing the subflooring to rot. 

SERVPRO of Belle Meade and West Nashville provides water damage restoration and cleanup services all year round. Aside from Green Hills, we are strategically placed across more than 2,000 locations throughout the US and Canada, enabling us to arrive on the scene in minutes. As recipients of the Angie’s Super Service Award and a BBB-accredited business, among our other distinctions, we ensure that our staff is highly trained and qualified to go out into the field. If you need us this season, give us a call at (615) 242-9391. From the water removal and cleanup process to the drying and cleanup process, SERVPRO is the solution to all your water damage woes. 

This franchise is independently owned and operated.