Watch out for h2o damage on baseboards—at that place could be a more meaning problem lurking behind your walls!

Water damage is something that happens to many houses. For example, a water leak can happen behind a wall, or water tin seep into the abode from a broken pipe in the basement.

It's essential to catch water leaks early before they do too much harm. One of the get-go signs of a water issue in your home is water damage on baseboards .

This commodity will get into the causes of water damage on baseboards, the four warning signs you can look for on your baseboards, and your options for repair. If you find whatever warning signs on your baseboards, it may be time to call in an expert!

What causes water damage on baseboards?

The first significant crusade of water damage on baseboards is abode flooding. If at that place'south been water throughout your habitation, there'south no surprise if your baseboards take associated water damage!

Besides the obvious answer, what else causes water harm on baseboards? What if at that place hasn't been any flooding (as far every bit you're aware)?

When leaking pipes behind walls have a slow period charge per unit, the escaped h2o can cause h2o damage on baseboards. This scenario is incredibly worrying because the leak can go undetected for a long time, leading to mold growth in the infinite behind your walls.

Mold growth puts everyone who frequents the space at risk for respiratory-related wellness issues.

If yous're buying a new home or were on vacation and discover water damage on baseboards, this is evidence that there was a flooding result in the by. Do a thorough inspection of the surface area, specially the flooring, and have an skilful search for mold growth.

3 signs of h2o damage on baseboards

When looking at your home, or checking out a new home, look for these four signs of water damage on baseboards:

  • Peeling paint or wallpaper
  • Visible stains
  • Loss of contact with the wall

split wallpaper on displaced baseboard

Peeling paint or wallpaper

When water amercement happen to drywall, in that location's a good chance the outside covering peels or flakes off at the point where the wall meets your baseboard.

Peeling wall covering is a surefire sign of wet drywall, and more oftentimes than non, this coincides with a piping leak someplace behind the wall.

Replacing drywall afterwards information technology gets wet is crucial—the soaked portion becomes a weak bespeak in your wall. Keep an eye on the space above your baseboard, and y'all'll take hold of water impairment early.

Visible stains

Stains from h2o damage on baseboards are apparent when the baseboards are white. No matter how make clean the water is, any place that it touches the baseboard will go stained.

Additionally, the area just above your baseboard could also become stained from exposure to water. A stain that becomes larger over fourth dimension is indicative of an ongoing leak, and you'll need professional aid right away.

Remember: even stains that don't abound could exist promoting mold growth in unseen areas behind your walls.

space between baseboard and wall

Loss of contact with the wall

When your baseboards lose contact with the wall and are no longer flush against the surface, there'southward a good risk you lot take h2o damage on baseboards.

2 situations cause this:

  1. Your baseboards take swelled or warped because of water harm
  2. The wall backside your baseboard has warped because of a leak

Looking for areas where the baseboard doesn't contact the wall is crucial when walking through a home for the first time. Noticing this is your cue to call water damage or mold professionals and make certain there's non a more than significant issue lurking behind your walls.

Fixing water impairment on baseboards

There are two options for repairing h2o damage on baseboards:

  • Repair
  • Supplant

Repair requires an undamaged baseboard. You can tell if the baseboards lay flat on the footing instead of ascension because of warping. If the baseboards are salvageable, finding and repairing the leak then fixing the underlying drywall before reattaching the baseboards should solve the trouble.

Replacing the baseboard is necessary when the water warps the baseboards or when fiberboard baseboards absorb water and become bloated. Both scenarios require new baseboards afterward your chosen professional addresses the leak and damaged drywall.

mold growing above baseboard

Fixing water damage on baseboards in Atlanta, GA

Strictly speaking, repairing the actual baseboards isn't an involved procedure—taking intendance of the drywall and the underlying leak is where experts shine.

Whenever in that location's a leak, there's a take a chance for mold. Water damage on baseboards is the canary in the coal mine for a potentially more significant issue.

If h2o impairment on baseboards is a trouble in your home, telephone call the experts at Revere Construction and Covering, or reach out via our contact page . Our water mitigation specialists are equipped with state-of-the-art drying equipment and tin address water leaks chop-chop to minimize water damage throughout your property.