There are a few different signs of water damaged hardwood floors. As mentioned previously, discoloration and your floorboards sticking up is an indication of damage. Staining, buckling floorboards, and mold growth are also signs that you may be dealing with water damage. It’s important to stay alert and check your flooring for any of these signs every so often. Once you notice any of these, you should call a professional right away. 

1. When dealing with any type of water damage, it’s important to wear protective gear. Where there is water damage, there could be contamination or even mold growth. Both of which can be harmful to come in contact with. 
2. If there is a current flow of water coming into the damaged area, it’s important to stop the flow first. Then, you can assess the damage accurately. 
3. When assessing the water damaged hardwood floors, make a decision to try and handle them yourself or to call a professional restoration company. It is recommended that you always call a professional to handle the damage quickly, safely, and accurately. At this point, you should also give your insurance company a call and document all damage with photos.  
4. If you have any rugs or carpets in the room, you should remove them. Then care for them using our Preventing Carpet Mold after Water Damage  article.
5. Air out the space by opening as many doors and windows throughout the home as possible. 
6. Dry up the mess using mops, dry cloths, or a wet/dry vacuum. Again, if there is a lot of damage, please consider calling a professional restoration company to handle the situation. 
7. Use dehumidifiers and fans to help the area dry quicker and prevent mold growth.  
8. Use our prevention tips for protecting hardwood floors from water damage in the future.