How to Dry Out and Replace a Water Damage Subfloor
How to Dry Out and Replace a Water Damage Subfloor
When a house is built, the structure begins with many base layers that set the foundation for a strong and lasting home. This includes the subflooring, which is a thick and durable material that can be found underneath the tile, wood, or carpeting inside of your home. This layer generally rests on the joists of the home to create a strong base for any flooring you choose to have installed.
In general, most homeowners will never see this base unless they change out their flooring. However, in situations where water damage is present, subflooring can play a key role in the cleanup process. If you’re in a situation where your home has water damage and your flooring has been impacted, the information below can help. At Action 1 Restoration, we share this information because we prioritize helping homeowners understand more about their homes and how water damage can impact each area.
If a flood or leak has occurred inside of your home, it’s almost guaranteed that the flooring will be impacted. Unfortunately, this will not safely dry out on its own. In fact, leaving flooring to dry naturally can make the damage worse while also giving mold and mildew a chance to grow. To have the best chance of preserving your home, proper drying is crucial. To do so, our company at Action 1 Restoration recommends first stopping the source of water. After this, it’s important to remove excess standing water with a wet/dry vacuum and/or large buckets.
The next step in drying out a water damaged subfloor is to remove the flooring from the top of it. This can be done on your own with a few tools, although some homeowners prefer to contact professionals to avoid causing more damage. If you’re not comfortable with this type of work, we highly recommend asking for help from the start. Once all impacted flooring has been removed, you’ll want to dispose of it outside to prevent the moisture from staying indoors.
Once the flooring is removed, the real drying of the subfloor can begin. This should start with placing thick plastic sheeting over the flooded area and securing it down with tape on the sides. It’s important to make sure tape is covering each seam so the plastic is completely sealed. From here, take a utility heater and place the spout of it underneath a small portion of the plastic. Seal the edges and then turn on the heater. At this point, the plastic should inflate and fill with air as the heater runs.
In most homes, the heater will need to run for three or more days to completely dry the subflooring. However, we recommend checking daily to see how the subfloor is progressing. If you’re not able to tell by touch, then a moisture meter is an inexpensive tool worth investing in. This will tell you how much moisture is left so you know when it’s completely dry and safe to begin working on. When the drying process is finished, the plastic can be removed and disposed of so you can move on with the rest of the restoration.