Please beware that most insurance companies will lead you to believe that once they remove moisture from the wood subfloor and the wood flooring, your the flooring will revert back and be fine. It is not necessary true. It depends on how badly the floor has been damaged by the water.

They may be able to dry the visible areas of the floor and possibly even the subfloor by pumping air between the floor and the subfloor. But there is no in home mechanical way of drying the cell structure of the wood flooring from the water it has absorbed. It could take up to a year depending on the homes relative humidity levels to completely remove any excess water.

If the edges of the flooring are cupped upwards or split then you will most likely want to have that whole flooring removed and replaced. Because when that flooring finally dries out "months" later it can dry out and split and/or contract in size and leave wide open gaps between the boards. These gaps are caused by the wood swelling so tight together from absorbing the water that it crushes the edges of the boards. Then when the floor dries out you will see large open gaps between the floorboards. Its called compression set.

You should also be concerned about mold growing under the flooring if the flooring is not removed. I would demand a total replacement cost from your insurance company and do not settle for any quick fix methods. Remember that they want to settle with you at the lower cost for them.

Jeff Hosking