Hardwood and water don't mix, but a wet floor isn't always a lost floor. The difference between drying and replacing usually comes down to how fast the water is removed and how thoroughly the boards and subfloor are dried afterward.
First, stop the source: shut off the supply valve or the main, and turn off power to the affected area if water is near outlets. Then remove standing water with towels or a wet vacuum, and get rugs, furniture, and anything wet off the floor. Don't use heat guns or crank the furnace — drying too fast can crack and split boards.
Next, call a flooring professional who can measure moisture, not just look at the surface. Water wicks into the subfloor and under baseboards, and a floor that looks dry can still be holding enough moisture to cup weeks later. Proper drying means checking readings until the wood is back to normal levels.
Once the floor is dry, cupped boards can often flatten out and be sanded and refinished. Boards that are buckled, stained black, or delaminated get replaced and woven into the existing floor. We handle the full process — water mitigation, subfloor repair, and restoration — so you deal with one company from the first call to the final finish.