Water damage can take as little as six months or as long as three years to destroy the wooden structure of houses. However, it doesn't always cause damage immediately after a leak occurs. In fact, it takes up to 10 days for wood to start to rot due to exposure to water. If you have hardwood floors, you should take action quickly if any liquid stays on the surface for too long, as it could deform the wood.
If there is a major flood on your hardwood floors, it should be resolved within 24 hours. If you notice that the sides of the wooden floorboards are higher than the center of the plank, then you know that they are deformed and that the cause is undoubtedly water damage. When water damage occurs in the first 48 hours (approximately 2 days) or a week, the paint begins to peel off and take on a wet texture. It's almost impossible to completely prevent water damage from occurring during the time you live in your home, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.
If you can't prevent it from happening, take corrective action quickly, as this will guarantee a minimum loss without adversely affecting both you and your wallet. If you notice that normal household odors are starting to intensify, it may be due to water damage. This is partly because the source of water damage hasn't been addressed, but it also has a lot to do with the chemicals in the paint used to paint the house and the drywall. Take them to the homes of friends or family where they are safe until the water damage is fixed.
Let's discuss how long it takes for wood to rot from water if water starts to enter unexpectedly. An additional sign that begins to appear within the first 24 hours after water damage is that metal surfaces begin to tarnish. For homeowners who see their beautiful hardwood floors start to bend and warp due to water damage, this isn't good news at all. Another bad sign during water damage within 48 hours (about 2 days) to a week is that the paint will start to peel off when it gets wet under your fingers due to chemical reactions inside it caused by exposure for extended periods of time. Because of this, furniture will show signs of mold, deformation, and will continue to show signs of bleeding for the first 48 hours (approximately 2 days) or a week after water damage occurs.
The reason for this is the accumulation of mold that occurs when drywall is exposed to too much water damage. An unexpected cost of leaving water damage unattended are structural safety and health issues, which pose a serious threat to the occupants of the house. Bacteria can build up anywhere in the house, but are more likely to occur when there is water damage due to conditions established by water damage. If you can't prevent water damage from occurring, take corrective action quickly, as this will guarantee a minimum loss without adversely affecting both you and your wallet. However, damage caused by rotting wood can be combated and prevented.
