Can Your Water-Damaged Hardwood Floor Be Saved? A Chicago Homeowner’s Guide
Nasutsa Mabwa
June 25, 2025Water damage can destroy hardwood and engineered floors — but can they be saved? Discover the answer and how ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons can help restore your floors fast.
Why Water Is the Enemy of Hardwood Floors
Hardwood flooring adds timeless beauty and value to any Chicago home. But water — whether from a burst pipe, flood, or slow leak — can severely damage even the most durable wood floors. Even with protective polyurethane coatings, hardwood is not waterproof.
Water seeps into the wood fibers, causing them to expand, warp, and lose structural integrity. The sooner you act, the better your chances of saving your floors.
Signs Your Hardwood Floors Have Water Damage
If water penetrates your hardwood flooring, you may see:
- Cupping: Edges of the boards rise higher than the center, forming a U-shape.
- Crowning: The center of the board bulges higher than the edges (inverted U-shape).
- Buckling: Boards lift entirely from the subfloor — the most severe form of damage.
- Cracks or gaps between floorboards.
- Mildew or mold growth, often hidden beneath boards.
Can Water-Damaged Hardwood Floors Be Saved?
- Yes — in many cases!
Modern drying technology makes it possible to restore water-damaged hardwood floors if action is taken quickly. At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we use powerful water extraction equipment, dehumidifiers, and specialized floor drying systems to minimize permanent damage.
Factors that affect whether your floors can be saved include:
- How long the water sat before removal
- The volume of water involved
- The type and finish of your wood
- Whether mold or mildew has started to grow
In cases where floors can’t be saved, we can assist with safe removal and refer trusted partners for replacement.
What About Engineered Wood Floors?
Engineered wood is often less forgiving than solid hardwood because of its layered construction. Common water damage includes:
- Delamination: The top hardwood layer separates from the core.
- Bubbling or warping of the surface layer.
- Cracking of the finish.
- Discoloration or staining.
Engineered floors that have buckled, delaminated, or discolored typically cannot be restored and need replacement.
How ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons Can Help
We act fast to:
- Extract standing water
- Deploy drying and dehumidification equipment
- Use thermal imaging to locate hidden moisture
- Apply antimicrobial treatments to prevent mold
- Communicate directly with your insurance company
We aim to return your floors and home to pre-loss condition — quickly, safely, and professionally.
Our Full Range of Services
- Water & Flood Damage Restoration (Residential)
- Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration (Residential)
- Mold Remediation (Residential)
- Specialty Cleaning (Residential)
- Water Damage Restoration (Commercial)
- Fire Damage Restoration (Commercial)
- Mold Remediation (Commercial)
- Construction & Reconstruction (Commercial)
About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons
Founded in Chicago in 1929, ServiceMaster is the nation’s oldest restoration company. Locally, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons brings 40+ years of trusted service to homeowners and businesses across Chicago, Oak Park, River Forest, and the North Shore.
We are:
- IICRC Master Fire & Water Restorers
- MBE/WBE certified
- Part of the ServiceMaster QRV (Quality Restoration Vendor) network
- Award-winning (SB100 Best of Small Business, BBB Torch Award, Stevie® Award)
Call Us Today
If your floors have suffered water damage, don’t wait. Call (773) 376-1110 or contact us online for immediate help.
Nasutsa Mabwa is the CEO of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a nationally recognized, award-winning disaster restoration firm serving Cook, DuPage, and Lake Counties. Under her leadership, the company has become one of Chicagoland’s most trusted providers of water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke damage cleanup, mold remediation, and specialty cleaning services for both residential and commercial clients.
A respected business and civic leader, Nasutsa has received numerous honors for her contributions to the industry and her community. Her accolades include:
- Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies - 2025 recipient
- Top 100 Women to KNOW in America (2024) by KNOW Women & JPMorgan Chase
- Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40
- SB100 Best of Small Business Award
- 2020 BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics
- Stevie® Award for Female Entrepreneur of the Year
- 2020 Daily Herald Business Ledger C-Suite Award
- 2018 ServiceMaster® Achiever Award
She is IICRC-certified in both Water Damage Restoration (WRT) and Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), combining technical expertise with visionary leadership. Nasutsa holds a Master’s in Urban Planning & Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MBA in Real Estate Development from Roosevelt University.
Beyond her business achievements, Nasutsa is an active community advocate. She is a Board Member of the Civic Federation, an Advisory Board Member, and Past President of the Executive Committee for the Evanston Chamber of Commerce. She is also a long-standing member of the Women Presidents Organization (WPO).
She is the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset, an essential guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water and fire disasters.
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Flooded basement? Burst pipe? Don’t wait—water damage spreads fast. ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons provides 24/7 emergency water damage cleanup for Chicagoland and North Shore homes. With 40+ years of local expertise and IICRC-certified crews, we’ll protect your property and start the restoration immediately.
(773) 376-1110
(773) 376-1110
