The 48-Hour Window – What Happens to Drywall and Flooring After a Flood
After a flood, most homeowners focus on removing the visible water. What many do not realize is that the real damage often begins in the hours that follow – inside the walls, beneath the floors, and behind materials that look fine on the surface. The 48 hours after flooding are critical. Here is what is actually happening to your home during that window. What Happens in the First 12 Hours Within the first few hours, water begins wicking upward through drywall. Standard drywall is made from gypsum sandwiched between paper facing – both materials absorb moisture quickly. Once wet, the paper backing begins to weaken, and the gypsum core starts to soften and crumble. At this stage, the drywall may still look intact from the outside. Hardwood flooring begins cupping – the edges of each plank curl upward as moisture is absorbed unevenly through the wood. Laminate flooring is even more vulnerable; the fiberboard core swells and the surface layer separates from the base. What Happens Bet...