Wet Floor and Carpet Damage – Prevention and Action – Part 1

We are well into winter now in the Western Cape and have already experienced severe weather and even flooding in certain areas. This means many people are dealing with roof leaks, and when that is the case, or when rain has managed to enter the building through doors or windows, a certain amount of damage will have been done to the floors or carpets by water.

There can, of course, be other times when there is wet floor damage, like when pipes burst or toilets or baths overflow. But that is usually just human error, so this article looks more at the damage done by inclement weather.

These are just a few ways you can try to prevent flooring and carpet damage…

• In our wet weather times ensure that your gutters have been cleaned and that your roof is not leaking prior to the rainfalls. Water seeping down walls or dripping straight onto floors and carpets can cause heavy damage.
• Ensure you only open windows that open outward and prevent rain from coming in. Ensure sliders are always closed.
• For water coming under doors, or water being traipsed into the house and onto the floors, try what they call a “two-mat” system, which essentially is to place a coarse, scraper mat outside to remove heavy mud from shoes, and also a dense, moisture-trapping rug inside to soak up the water.
• With regard to Laminate floors specifically, don’t use a dripping wet mop. Rather, use a damp microfiber cloth and a specialised laminate cleaner that evaporates quickly.
• One more tip is to possibly silicone the perimeter of the floors. In areas like half-baths or laundry rooms, applying a bead of 100% silicone sealant around the perimeter (under the baseboards) can prevent water from seeping under the floor during a leak.

Watch this space for our next article on the actions that immediately need to be taken once wet floor damage is done. Usually, this involves an insurance claim, so immediately contact Libra Flooring in Montague Gardens, Cape Town.

Not only are we suppliers and installers of many types of floors and carpets, but we will happily advise you on what action to take to prevent further damage, and assist you through the entire insurance claim process until the time we repair your damaged floors.

Our motto of a ‘balance of quality and price’ and over 25 years of service assures you that there is simply no better place for floors and carpets in the Cape than Libra Flooring!