Baseboards are panels installed at the bases of furniture. You can also fit them in places where the interior of a wall meets the floors. Baseboards serve many purposes, but you will mostly need to install them to protect the joints that help seal the gap between the wall and flooring and prevent water damage.

Water may get into your walls from behind and cause warping or swelling. So, you should get help from professionals such as Water Damage Near Me whenever you notice any signs of water damage on your baseboards.

But how do you know if your baseboards have suffered water damage?

How to Identify Water Damage on Baseboards?

The readily visible signs that suggest that your baseboards have suffered water damage include:

Discoloration

Staining

Peeling

Warping

Although not uncommon, the walls in your bedroom or living room can also suffer water damage. However, common places around the house where this can occur may include the bathroom, or the kitchen, as they tend to attract a lot of moisture.

How do you fix water-damaged baseboards?

Steps to Fix Baseboard Water Damage

Fixing water-damaged baseboards involves many steps and processes. Moreover, it also requires a specific skill set, not to mention tools or equipment. While you will need some carpentry skills to fix water-damaged baseboards, you will need these tools or equipment. 

  • Hammer
  • Finish Nails
  • Putty Knife
  • Pry Bars
  • Miter Box
  • Backsaw

So, now that you have gathered the tools, it is time to fix those baseboards around the house that have suffered water damage. The process involves several steps, but this method should help you get the job done.

Check to ensure that the Wall isn’t Wet

Every house has a plumbing system that runs behind its walls consisting of pipes through which water flows to every room. However, these plumbing systems are prone to damage that can break them open and cause leaks. So, before attending to a water-damaged baseboard, you must make sure that the wall isn’t wet or that there are no signs of water damage due to burst or leaking pipes.

Pry the Baseboard Off Carefully

So, now that you have thoroughly checked for signs of a wet wall, it is time to grab that putty knife and a pry bar and pull the baseboard out of its place. It would help if you started by removing the top molding using the putty knife and then force open the baseboard using the pry bar. You can also let the base shoe remain intact if you want to but ensure that the nail doesn’t come off.

Fix the Baseboard in Place

The last step involves fitting the new or replacement board into its place. You will need to measure the replacement baseboard to see if it works. If the new baseboard is too long, you must cut it down to size to match the previous board, and you can fix it into its place.

After fixing the new baseboard into its place, you can then attach an existing or new base shoe molding back onto the foot by drilling pilot holes with the help of nails.

The base shoe helps hide any floor irregularities and prevents accidental damage to the baseboard.

Conclusion

Walls are prone to water damage, and so are baseboards. So, when the baseboards in your house suffer water damage, be sure to attend to them immediately to prevent mold growth, swelling, and subsequent structural damage to the walls around them.

If you notice any signs of warping due to a damaged baseboard, you will have no choice but to get them replaced. However, you should still call an expert such as Water Damage Near Me and have them assess the situation to be sure.

In many cases, the signs of a water-damaged baseboard are evident, and you may as well fix them yourself by following these steps.

Professionals such as these have the necessary equipment for the drying and dehumidification processes, which are some of the most critical steps to take when basements flood.

Besides this, they also have the necessary skills and training to deal with such situations. They sanitize the affected area, structural repair damage caused to the woodwork, flooring, drywall, and even attend to the mold formation and corrosion.

The following table sums up the factors that affect the cost of cleaning up a flooded basement.

Serial Number Steps
1 Ensure that the wall isn’t wet.
2 Pry the baseboard off
3 Fit the new baseboard into place.