Water Damaged Hardwood Floors? We'll Restore Them Quickly

Immediately. The first 24-48 hours after water damage are absolutely critical, especially in Hawaii’s humid climate. The longer water sits on or in your hardwood floors, the more damage occurs—boards swell, warp, and separate, and mold begins growing in the moisture. We’re available 24/7 at (808) 745-1608 because we know water emergencies don’t wait for convenient times. Even if it’s the middle of the night or a weekend, call us right away. The faster we can start extracting water and beginning the drying process through our emergency water extraction services, the more of your original flooring we can typically save.

In many cases, water-damaged hardwood can be saved, but it depends on several factors: how long the water was present, the type of wood, whether it’s solid or engineered hardwood, and the extent of the damage. We’ve successfully restored floors that homeowners thought were beyond repair. Cupping (edges higher than the center) and minor warping can often be corrected through proper drying and refinishing. However, severely buckled boards, floors with black water contamination, or wood that’s delaminating will likely need replacement. We’ll give you an honest assessment during our initial inspection and explain which boards can be saved and which need replacing.

The timeline varies depending on the extent of damage and the type of flooring. The drying phase alone typically takes 3-7 days in Hawaii’s humid climate—we can’t rush this process without risking further damage. After drying, repairs, sanding, and refinishing add additional time. A straightforward restoration might take 1-2 weeks total, while more extensive damage requiring significant board replacement and subfloor repair could take 3-4 weeks. We’ll provide you with a realistic timeline during our initial assessment and keep you updated throughout the process if anything changes.

Most Hawaii homeowners insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage, such as burst pipes, appliance malfunctions, or storm-related flooding (though flood insurance is separate). However, damage from long-term leaks or lack of maintenance is typically not covered. We work directly with insurance companies and can help you understand your coverage. We document everything thoroughly—moisture readings, photos, detailed reports—to support your claim. Our experience with Hawaii insurers means we know how to present the full scope of damage to maximize your coverage.

We restore all types of hardwood flooring found in Oahu homes: solid hardwood (oak, maple, cherry), engineered hardwood, bamboo, and tropical species like koa and monkey pod. Each wood type responds differently to water, and we adjust our restoration techniques accordingly. Koa, for example, is particularly sensitive and requires careful handling. Engineered hardwood has different limitations than solid wood. During our assessment, we’ll explain how your specific flooring will respond to our restoration process and what results you can expect.

Yes, absolutely. Water doesn’t stop at your hardwood—it penetrates into the subfloor beneath, and if we don’t address subfloor damage, you’ll have problems down the road. We inspect the subfloor during our assessment using moisture meters and, if necessary, by removing a few boards to see what’s underneath. If we find subfloor damage, we repair or replace those sections before reinstalling or refinishing your hardwood as part of our complete reconstruction services. This is part of our end-to-end service—we make sure every layer of your flooring system is properly restored.

Mold prevention is one of our top priorities, especially in Honolulu’s tropical environment where mold can begin growing within 24-48 hours of water exposure. During the drying process, we apply EPA-registered antimicrobial treatments to all affected areas. Our industrial dehumidifiers create a controlled environment that’s inhospitable to mold growth. We also monitor moisture levels closely—mold needs moisture to thrive, so once we get your floors and subfloor to the proper dry state, mold can’t establish itself. If we discover existing mold during our initial assessment, we follow proper containment and mold remediation protocols before proceeding with floor restoration.

We do our best to find matching materials, though it can be challenging depending on your floor’s age and wood species. For common woods like oak or maple, finding matches is usually straightforward. For specialty woods like koa or discontinued products, it’s more difficult but not impossible—we have relationships with local suppliers and hardwood sources throughout Hawaii. In some cases, we can take boards from less visible areas (like inside closets) to use in main living spaces and put the new, non-matching boards in those hidden spots. If exact matching isn’t possible, we’ll discuss your options, which might include refinishing the entire floor to create a uniform appearance.

Not usually. The drying phase involves equipment running 24/7, which creates noise and takes up space, but most families stay in their homes during this time. We’ll work with you to minimize disruption—setting up equipment in ways that allow you to maintain your daily routines as much as possible. The sanding and refinishing phase produces dust and strong odors from finishes, so some families choose to stay elsewhere for a few days during that part of the process, but it’s not required. We’ll discuss the specifics based on your situation and the extent of work needed.

We’re a local Honolulu company, not a mainland franchise, so we understand Hawaii’s unique challenges—the humidity, the tropical wood species, the building methods common in island homes. We provide complete end-to-end service from emergency water extraction through final refinishing and reconstruction, handling everything in-house. You won’t need to coordinate with multiple contractors. We also work directly with your insurance company, handling the documentation and communication so you don’t have to navigate that process alone. Our founders have years of experience in the restoration industry right here in Hawaii, and we treat every home like it belongs to our own ohana.