How To Detect Water Damaged Wood: Helpful Signs And Tips

Knowing how to detect water damaged wood is an essential skill you can have. Noticing it can be pretty easy when there are physical signs of water damage.

We’ll tackle the importance of water damage detection, the general signs of water damage, and more specific signs. Lastly, we will talk about what to do after detecting water damage.

 

The Importance Of Detecting Water Damage Immediately

It is pretty apparent why detecting water damage is essential. This is because if you leave your home structures and furniture in continuous contact with water, it could result in structural damage.

In short, it can lead to the destruction of your home. Since it can damage your home (sometimes beyond repair), this could lower your home’s market value. This will make it difficult for you to sell it.

Also, if you wish to repair the water damage, it would be expensive because of its extent. Another thing that you have to consider concerning costs is the increase in water bills. With that, let us move on to the next part of the article, which tackles the general signs of water damage on wood.

 

General signs of water damage on wood

We enumerated the most typical signs of water damage on wood structures or pieces of furniture in your home:

 

1. Water stains

Water stains are the yellowish-brown discolorations on the paint of your house’s structures. They happen when water is trapped behind the paint, and it grows more prominent as time passes.

This may seem like a small problem. However, water stains can lead to peeling paint and other signs of water damage.

Aside from water stains, there are also water rings, which are white rings that form on wooden furniture due to water. Water rings can be removed by vacuuming or drying the area then rubbing mineral oil on the wood and letting it sit overnight.

 

2. Peeling paint

When water gets underneath the paint, the paint gets pushed away from the wooden structure. This leads to peeling paint.

This situation is common when there is a leaking pipe or in high-humidity areas. If you see this outside of your home, you may need to look into how your gutter filters your water.

 

3. Warped wood

Wood absorbs water because it is a porous material. Because they can absorb water, their shape changes according to the moisture level.

If your home is exposed to high humidity or heavy rains, this can result in warped wood. Since warped wood means it changes shape, something as simple as an unfitted wooden door can indicate water damage.

 

4. Mold

Mold and water damage go together because mold thrives in a water-damaged environment — warm and moist. When dealing with mold, you have to go beyond the surface because most of it grows from within.

 

Signs of water damage on ceiling and walls

Apart from the above examples of water damage, here are more specific signs of water damage, focusing on ceiling and walls.

 

1. Sweating walls

Sweating walls precede water stains. In this situation, moisture clumps together as it condenses.

The moisture drips down from the ceiling onto the walls, which gives it a “sweating” look. This indicates roof or ceiling water damage, so it is best to contact professionals immediately.

 

2. Loose baseboards or wallpaper

Loose wallpaper happens because moisture wears out the adhesive of your wallpapers. On the other hand, baseboards tend to separate from the wall because of swelling.

 

Signs of water damage on hardwood floors

We enumerated the signs of water damage on hardwood floors that you have to watch out for:

 

1. Cupping

Cupping is when your hardwood floor takes on a concave shape. This occurs when the edges of the wood planks absorb water and expand, resulting in a gap in your flooring and cause structural problems.

 

2. Crowning

Crowning is due to moisture imbalance as well, but it can also be caused by cupping. However, it is the opposite of cupping because the board’s center is higher than its edges in crowning.

 

What to do after detecting water damage

After knowing how to detect water damage by looking at the signs, we can proceed on what you should do after noticing water damage.

 

Step #1. Remove furniture

First, remove the affected furniture. Whether it’s a cabinet placed near a water-stained wall or a sofa on a water-damaged flooring, you have to remove it.

 

Step #2. Assess the damage

After removing the furniture, check for additional water damage signs. Look for wood rot or damp spots on your structures or furniture.

 

Step #3. Document the damage and contact professionals

After assessing the damage:

• Document it and compile your receipts. This will be useful for your insurance claim.

• Clarify your insurance policy and coverage with your insurance company.

• Contact your lawyer to strengthen your insurance claim.

After claiming your insurance, the company would contact professionals to attend to your home’s water damage.

 

Conclusion

Water damage is a severe issue with lots of repercussions. That is why knowing how to detect water damaged wood can help you save on repair costs or high water bills.