Beautiful flooring definitely sets the tone for your entire residential design. Your choices reflect your style and vision of your home. Farmhouse chic, traditional elegance, and streamlined and modern moods can all be conveyed with the flooring used.
Beyond just the aesthetic desired, homeowners have to balance the care and upkeep with their reality. Lots of kids and big dogs will limit your choices away from heirloom rugs or delicate hardwoods. Another factor in flooring is the vulnerability to water damage.
Let’s start with what is not great for wet areas: wall to wall carpet over a foam pad over a plywood subfloor. Each of these layers can absorb and hold water– leading to mold, mildew and water damage.
Although hardwood floors are classic, traditional and luxurious, they are not appropriate for every room. Reconsider in areas that might get water damage: bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens. Laminate floors can get you a similar look but are more water resistant (but not waterproof.)
True stone like marble, granite, travertine and slate shed water but can absorb moisture under poor conditions. The porous nature of those stones can take in water that weakens the structure. Hard tiles of porcelain and ceramic are waterproof, but the grout can degrade under standing water.
Luxury vinyl planks fare well after a deluge. When properly installed, they resist scratches, stains and water damage quite well. However, if water does get underneath, the subfloor can be damaged.
Water damage is one of the most common and most costly types of homeowners insurance claims. Every year, about one in 50 homeowners files a water damage or freezing claim. Common causes are:
When you discover standing water on your floors, get on the phone immediately. As you are dialing Trac Solutions and your insurance agent, try to turn off the flow of water. If it is safe to be in the area, try to squeegee or mop up the water. As soon as TRAC Solutions arrives, they will assess the damage and begin drying the area. All moisture must be removed with fans, dehumidifiers and air movers.
After the area is dry, the technicians will be able to tell if some or all of the material can be solved. In some situations, the damaged sections can be removed and replaced, seamlessly integrating the old and new. In other situations, all the damaged material will be removed, trim work will be put aside until new floors are installed and then the room will be put back together.
During the entire cleanup and restoration process, the TRAC Solutions team will monitor for mold. They will keep your family and home safe from future problems.
Your homeowners Insurance policy will generally pay for floors to be repaired or replaced with flooring of a similar type and quality. One stipulation is that the even is sudden and accidental (not from poor maintenance.) Weather-related damage, spills, leaks, overflows, and seeping can be covered in many cases. However, the damage from a flood is seldom covered. Check your policy.
When you have suffered water damage, TRAC Solutions can help with every element of restoration: structural drying, painting, mold remediation, contents packout, etc.
This full service general contractor is Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certified, Applied Structural Drying (ASD) certified, a member of the National Air Duct Cleaners Association (NADCA), and accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
TRAC Solutions is a well respected Chippewa Valley company with more than 25 years of experience in Western Wisconsin.
