When you have a plumbing leak of any type, you need to take fast action. If you don’t, the moisture from the leak can soak into your walls and flooring, leaving behind extensive damage.
Hardwood Planks Start to Buckle
When water leaks onto hardwood flooring, it will absorb between and underneath the planks. The wood will continue to take on the moisture to the point that it expands and pushes against the boards around it. If you don’t have the water removed in a timely manner and the leak fixed, the affected sections of the flooring may start to lift or buckle, causing uneven flooring that’s unsafe to walk on.
Laminate Flooring Starts to Swell at the Seams
Laminate flooring is vulnerable to damage from water leaks because the moisture likes to settle into the seams, causing them to swell. You may notice the edges along the seams starting to lift or curl, and once this happens, the laminate is very difficult to flatten back out. This is why water damage to laminate flooring often requires replacing the affected sections.
Tiles Loosen From the Floor
When it comes to tile flooring, many materials hold up quite well to water damage. It’s the subflooring underneath the tiles that tends to suffer the most. The adhesive holding the tile to the subfloor can lose its bond, which is why the tiles may start to shift when you walk on them. Some may even crack if the moisture damage is severe.
Drywall Becomes Soft and Crumbly
When moisture from a water leak touches your walls, the drywall will quickly soak it up. You may not think there’s any damage to repair at first, but over several days, you may begin to see water stains. If the wall has wallpaper on it, it may begin to bubble. Painted walls will often begin to peel or blister. The drywall itself will likely become soft and crumble if you don’t take fast action to get the leak repaired.
Wooden Wall Framing Starts Rotting
If a water leak leads to moisture soaking into wood framing, it will eventually start to rot and lose its strength. You may not even realize there’s damage until you see discoloration on the surrounding walls or notice a musty odor that doesn’t go away. Rotted wood framing can be especially dangerous if it results in walls and ceilings becoming structurally unstable.
Since water leaks require fast repairs to limit damage to walls and flooring, it’s a good idea to have a plumber who offers same-day leak repair. When you need water damage services in Long Island, NY, contact United Water Restoration Group of Long Island.
