How Did Your Floors Weather The Storm?

Hurricane Ike left his mark, alright, and not the kind many of us want to remember. Even the Schenck Company showroom experienced minor flooding, despite my efforts to clear debris from the storm drain on North Main Street in front of our building. Thanks for the many phone calls from our friends who saw this photo in the Houston Chronicle or on one of many Ike-related websites. It was taken by AP/Houston Chronicle photographer, Smiley N. Pool.

In the wake of Ike, we’re receiving many inquiries about repairing floors damaged by water. The truth is, many of the floors we are looking at that are slightly cupped will flatten on their own, given sufficient time.

Right now your floors may look swollen and uneven. That’s due to a phenomenon called “cupping” which is explained in detail in the Damaged Floors section of our website.  Under normal conditions, your wood floors should dry completely within three to twelve months, depending on how wet they are. The drying process can be accelerated by the use of fans and dehumidifiers. As the floor dries, the cupping subsides and it is possible that your floors may require nothing more than a good cleaning.

True, waiting for your wood floor to dry requires patience. Yet that patience will hopefully pay off in the long run when your floors can be restored to their original condition with minimal inconvenience.

Greg Schenck
October 2008