Can I Fix Hardwood Floors Ruined by Melted Ice ?

Drying

• Before you even attempt to fix your floors, you have to completely dry them out. Point a fan directly at the affected area. If possible, you should also try pointing fans from underneath, such as when you can see the underside of the floors from the basement. Though they may initially look dry after several hours with the fan, there may still be moisture deep inside. It's safest to wait several months. In cases where the damage was mild, simply drying the floor may cause the wood to go back to its original shape.

Sanding Down

• After waiting for the wood to completely dry, you'll see that the damage has caused the wood to swell up, creating a convex shape. Sand this down using a large sander until the area is even with the rest of the floor. Then you can reapply any stain or finish that you had on the floor. To create a more uniform look, you may want to sand the finish off of the floor in the entire room and reapply it everywhere.

Replacing Boards

• If it doesn't seem like a simple sanding will do the trick, you may have to replace the damaged boards. Visit a store that specializes in flooring so that you can purchase an exact match in type and shape.

Prevention

• Once you've fixed your hardwood floors, prevent ice from damaging them again. Keep a door mat at both the inside and outside of your door to sweep ice and snow from shoes, then remove shoes at the door. The Lumber Liquidators recommend keeping a rag by the door to wipe down any wet areas immediately.