Water damage to jarrah floorboards

Unfortunately we have had a minor flood which has damaged our floorboards. They are solid wood.

Insurance company is using this method
Wet Timber & Wood Floor Drying Service

and stating once dried out they will be perfect and no need for re-sanding etc


Its been 7 days, floor has dried out, still cupped in some areas. Regardless whether cupped or not, surely they should be sanded back??? And polished

My concern is the assessor seems to be very rigit. Stating this system never fails, and we need to wait 6 months for it to settle... not happy with this

Anyone been down this road?

 

Have you got pre-finished or site-finished boards? The latter will be much more easy to repair

 

they are pre finished, its 100 year old home

 

Ok pre-finished is a PITA to maintain. Pre-finished is more durable in the sense that it's done in a factory and can contain like 7 layers of polish and protection instead of 2-3 as with site-finished, but the problem is if you ever want to perform a new sand and polish it's difficult to get the surface exactly the same as it was in the factory because they don't use the same polishing materials. So to try to do that you have to sand off that 7 layers which is not easy, and you can't just do the one spot you have to do all of it so it blends in. That's why I prefer to go with site-finished cause if you just want to replace a few boards it's a lot easier. With pre-finished, it might be 10 years before you need to replace some boards and the chances of finding ones that match exactly 10 years later are slim even if it's the same type of wood.

Do you happen to have some of the original boards? That would be your best bet.

 

Original? Noah & Abraham would have applied a finish on site.

 

We believe they just need sanding and polishing, no need to replace boards

Insurance company believes boards can be saved by drying and just waiting for boards to settle and cupping will vanish. I cant see this happening

I can see a bum fight and having to get insurance ombudsman involved.... lets see

 

yes original

 

If this is an approved solution you may have no option but to wait the 6 months. Then, if it is not corrected, you can demand further rectification.

Just make sure you don’t sign any release to finalise the claim until you are completely happy.

 

Sadly I think you are right.

 

It may take that amount of time to level out again,and then it may have to be reset again.
I've be through this several times in Brisbane and every time with hardwood I had to re--nail the entire inside ,but the floods went over the roofs..imho..

 

oh wow, thats major

this was a minor flood in comparison

 

Not a leak from that new kitchen

 

Nope

 

I don't think yours are prefinished if it's in the original part of your house. Prefinished is where boards come from the factory with polish already on them. If this is your original boards they would have been sanded and polished onsite.

 

Had similar issue with 1 month old spotted gum, one assessor said replace some planks and sand back whole floor, the other said replace the lot. Insurer always goes with cheapest option.

 

Lets see how this new method of drying works out. Its cheapest option for insurer, however if they are cupped after 7 weeks I will be getting second opinion

 

Its the extension, recycled jarrah boards, sits on batten and concrete under this

 

Then it's possible that there may be water lying between the boards and the slab. That may take ages to dry out.

 

yes for sure

 

Insurers are *******s. They will insist on initial dodgy repairs. If that doesnt work they will consider replacement.
Same with wet carpets. Unless its a major flood they will always clean and dry and then replace. I bet some just accept it.