Kalispell Hardwood Flooring Benefits from SERVPRO Drying Methods 

11/19/2019 (Permalink)

This is how your Kalispell home can look after SERVPRO restores water-damaged hardwood floors.

How Tenting Maximizes Concentrated Drying in Kalispell Homes

Drying up specific materials is a standard practice of our water recovery team when dispatched to Kalispell addresses. With a fast response to specific situations, we can often limit how many structural elements become exposed to water damage. When we can reduce water losses to drying out flooring materials and baseboards, approaches like tenting are highly effective.

Tenting is a practice that can amplify the concentrated effects of drying water damage in Kalispell residences. By reducing the area to get dried, our SERVPRO technicians can better regulate the draw of moisture and maintain better monitoring of the moisture content to ensure that materials do not become overly dry and damaged on the other side of this spectrum. Flooring materials like hardwood are particularly susceptible to excessive dryness leading to splintering, which can be as destructive to the flooring as oversaturation.

The process of tenting utilizes 6-mil plastic sheeting for large areas that can be secured to keep a good seal with painters tape and, if needed, also sandbagged to the dry perimeter around water-damaged flooring. Lay-flat poly tubing may be attached to the covering and works as a duct for air circulation. Depending on the conditions present, we can utilize dehumidifiers and drying mats within this zone to draw out moisture for removal. We establish a quick-access monitoring device within this tented area to continually note the changing moisture conditions and modify the approach as we reach the ideal moisture content recommended for the specific type of flooring affected. The moisture content measurements follow the guidelines of psychrometrics tables. Different areas of the country have varying levels of average moisture content levels. Hardwood planks are 6% in Arizona but 12% in Florida or Washington.

Because of this thick plastic sheeting around the work area, our drying processes are more effective and efficient. A concentrated drying effort can even protect supports and joists beneath the main planking of the floor from becoming overly saturated. Moisture pockets get determined during the initial inspection phase, where our SERVPRO crew chief or production manager works with our customers to gain an understanding of the source and spread of water loss. 

Many potential threats can exist when moisture and dampness threats get inadequately controlled after a water loss incident. We can work quickly to protect damaged flooring after a water emergency. We work hard to protect and preserve through restoration these expensive flooring materials.

We have advanced practices that can maximize efficiency and get your property back to preloss condition. Give our SERVPRO of Flathead County technicians a call today at (406) 300-0435.