water damaged floor boards

**pantene** · 28th October 2007, 05:49 PM

I recently had a interior flood - whilst away so I came back to a house that had water in it for five days - when the carpet was removed (and we could take off the gas masks) - the floor boards had been soaking for the five days. They are 30 year old unsealed pine. they have cupped a lot and two weeks after the damage the worst area still had a moisture reading of over 21. the insurance company just wants to sand them - although I planned to stain and polish them in the next two years and the shrinkage makes that unlikely from an asetic point of view. Some floor guys I had in re putting a floating floor over the top instead of replacing the carpet - said they had too be replaced as being pine so wet they could still crown in a year or six months or recup or warp. the insurance says their people say a sand will fix it all. both have best invested interests so Im hoping I can get some unbiased advice as too likely outcomes with the boards - if replacing is the best option (aside from shrinkage because the insurance company dont seem to be hearing that. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

**123** · 29th October 2007, 09:56 AM

it is hard without seeing the floor, i would say it is going to be safer removing and replacing the boards. in most cases a re-sand and polish will fix the floor, but as water has been there for five days it may be a different story. you could even try waiting until the boards have fully dried out to see how they turn up before making a decision. keep in mind the insurance company want to outlay the smallest amount of money, whilst still warranting the works!

**glock40sw** · 29th October 2007, 10:09 AM

G'day.

If the wet floor is reading 21% and needs go back to say...12%, that is a 9% difference.
So...Units of shrinkage for baltic pine (I don't know what pine your floor is)
is roughly 0.4mm per 1% moisture loss or gain.
So...0.4 X9=3.6mm of shrinkage.
Add to this the shrinkage that was there before the floor got wet.

I would be saying to the insurance company that when the floor was resanded & sealed in its current state, it would crown and gap severly when the moisture content came back down. Push the idea to them that you will be able to drop a pencil down through the gaps and see daylight through the gaps in the floor.

At the end of the day, The floor should be removed and a new floor installed. A floor that has been wet will always look second hand.

**seriph1** · 29th October 2007, 10:19 AM

I can't be absolutely certain, but it may be possible to try this. Measure the cupping in the worst boards and if it works out that sanding them takes the board thickness below code requirements, then you have a case for replacement.

Further, if you can get a couple of experts to state the boards need replacing, you strengthen your case.

Finally, if you really do feel they will end up sub-standard and unsightly, then push for a cash settlement, stating that with the labour costs of floor sanding, followed by the costs of new carpet and underlay, a cash settlement would allow you to buy the materials to replace the floor yourself and everyone wins.

Last step is to hope they forget about you for a month or more .... then you can call and complain about their crappy service and request an internal investigation be conducted ... they can't refuse .... this is all before mentioning that you feel you have no choice but to call the Ombudsman's office to request them to investigate. Again they can't refuse and they have to pay - it costs around $1200 - you'll possibly get what you want in 24 hours.

If you think I have had some experience with this, you'd be on the mark. Our fence is about to be replaced..... after the claim was denied initially.

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