The Basics on Damage Baseboards

Sometimes only certain parts of a room or home get damaged in a flood or leak. The baseboards may get stained or swell up if they absorb too much water. It’s usually easy to recognize water damage on baseboards. Any time you see water coming through your baseboards, you should immediately look for a leak in your home. But if the leak is small, it may take a short while to be visible. And if it does not rain for long, it can even be dry outside.

Water damage on baseboards is a common and serious problem that can affect the appearance, value, and safety of your property. Water can leak onto your baseboards from various sources, such as windows, roofs, pipes, appliances, or floods. If left untreated, water damage can cause your baseboards to swell, stain, break, or fall off. It can also damage the wall behind the baseboards, leading to mold, rot, or structural issues.

The first step is to inspect your baseboards for any signs of water damage. Some of the common signs are:

Brown Spots On Baseboards

These could indicate that water has seeped into the wood and caused discoloration. However, brown spots are not always caused by water damage. They could also be caused by mold, mildew, dirt, or stains from other sources. Therefore, you should confirm the presence of water damage by other indicators or tests.

Swollen or Warped Baseboards

These could indicate that water has caused the wood to expand and deform. This is especially common for MDF baseboards, which are a type of fiberboard made from wood fibers and resin. MDF baseboards are more vulnerable to water damage than solid wood baseboards because they absorb more water and break down more easily.

Loose or Falling Baseboards

These could indicate that water has weakened the nails or glue that hold the baseboards to the wall. This could also mean that the wall behind the baseboards is damaged by water.

Wet or Damp Baseboards

These could indicate that water is still present on or behind the baseboards. You should dry the baseboards as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

Condensation or Dripping Water on Baseboards

These could indicate that there is excess moisture in your home or in the wall behind the baseboards. You should check for any sources of leaks or humidity in your home and fix them.

Finding the Cause

The next step is to find out what caused the water damage on your baseboards. This will help you prevent it from happening again and fix it properly. Some of the common causes of water damage on baseboards are:

• Leaking windows – If your windows are not sealed properly, rainwater or snowmelt can leak through them and onto your baseboards. You should check your windows for any cracks, gaps, or holes and seal them with caulk or weatherstripping.
• Leaking roof – If your roof is damaged or worn out, rainwater or snowmelt can leak through it and onto your walls and baseboards. You should inspect your roof for any missing or broken shingles, tiles, or flashing and repair them as soon as possible.
• Air conditioner leaks – If your air conditioner is not installed or maintained properly, condensation can form on it and drip onto your walls and baseboards. You should check your air conditioner for any leaks or clogs and clean it regularly.
• Floods – If your home is flooded by heavy rain, storm surge, or burst pipes, water can soak your floors and walls and damage your baseboards. You should clean up the floodwater as quickly as possible and dry your home thoroughly.
• Busted pipes – If your pipes are old, corroded, frozen, or damaged by external forces, they can burst and spray water onto your walls and baseboards. You should turn off the main water supply and call a plumber to fix the pipes.
• Leaking fish tanks – If your fish tank is not sealed properly or overfilled, water can leak from it and onto your walls and baseboards. You should check your fish tank for any cracks or leaks and repair them with silicone sealant.
• Leaking sinks – If your sink is not connected properly to the drainpipe or faucet, water can leak from it and onto your walls and baseboards. You should check your sink for any loose or broken parts and tighten or replace them.
• Overflowing toilets – If your toilet is clogged or malfunctioning, water can overflow from it and onto your walls and baseboards. You should unclog your toilet with a plunger or snake and fix any faulty parts.

Baseboard Pulling From Wall Moisture

Most walls have moisture, and if there is a leak in your home or a lot of humidity, there may be excess water moisture in your walls. Your baseboards may pull this extra moisture from your walls. You can look for these signs:

• Swollen baseboards
• Baseboards falling off the wall
• Wet spots on baseboards
• Stain on the baseboards
• Condensation on baseboards
• Water dripping from baseboards.

Baseboard Swelling

If you notice your baseboards swelling and are looking for a way to prevent it from happening again, there are a few different things you can do.

• Windows: Make sure all windows are secure and sealed
• Appliances: Check appliances for signs of leaks
• Pipes: Check pipes and fixtures for leaks
• Clean up: Clean up water in the bathroom immediately
• Dry: Dry flooded areas quickly
• Moisture: Reduce moisture in your home. Improve or use a dehumidifier or air conditioning system.

Grammatico R specializes in water damage restoration. Call us today!