H 1. Caulking: Be sure to use commercial grade polyur ethane caulk such as Vulcan or one of the newer “urethanized” acrylic caulks (they have a longer shelf life) on all window and door openings to keep water from intruding. Most latex caulk that is commonly used is simply not strong enough for hot and humid weather. 2. Seepage: If door and slider openings aren’t elevated, water may buildup and seep in underneath. If you have this situation, use polyurethane sheeting and sand bags or tape. The idea is to minimize water that gets into the bottom of the opening. 3. Power loss: If electricity is lost for an extended period of time check to see that the refrigerator and freezer are not leaking water onto the floor. 4. Circulation: In general, humidity goes up at night. Be sure to circulate the air during mid-day when humidity is the lowest so that less moisture will be added to the interior. 5. Mopping up: If water does get on your wood all is not necessarily lost. O nce po w er is r estor ed be r eady to get the building dried out quickly . Remember that hot air will pull moisture out much faster than air condition- ing, especially if the relative humidity is high. Every 20 degree Fahrenheit increase in tem- perature doubles the amount of moisture the air will hold. Turn the heat on when you aren’t there, use fans and consider commercial dehumidification equipment. And finally, you may need to remove the finish if you have a plywood subfloor to let the moisture out fast enough. Call and we will gladly connect you with a wood floor professional in your area! Hard rain over an extended period will try to work its way into a building. If you do get water on your wood floor all is not necessarily lost. Try these tips to minimize water damage: GoodN ews SUMMER 2005 H URRICANE T IPS FOR WOOD FLOORS THE RICHEST, MOST BEAUTIFUL FLOORING IN THE WORLD… River-Recovered Specialists COME VISIT US IN PALM COAST, EXIT 289 OFF I-95 CALL FOR ANY ASSISTANCE | 1-800-336-3118 | 1-352-466-0339 | www.heartpine.com