The process of restoring a building to a pre-loss state after sustaining damage by water is widely known as water damage restoration. This procedure comprises the cleaning, refurbishment and renewal of the exterior and the interior of the entire building and the rebuilding of any severely damaged external structure.
Although the United States government has no policies prescribing these procedures, certain standards are recommended by two certifying institutions, namely the IICRC and the RIA. The IICRC standard is known as the S500. Most of the companies involved with the restoration process adopt the recommendations of the IICRC. They are based on sound research, reliable principles of restoration and vast experience collected over many years from countless sources.
The data is collected from such diverse sources as local and international trade associations involved with restoration work, scientific organizations, chemical companies, equipment suppliers, insurance companies and trades professionals with expertise in the field of restoration. The S500 standard is constantly under review so that it keeps pace with new technology, processes and testing procedures.
A set of standards have been drawn up for the restoration process to homes, buildings and other water or sewage damaged structures requiring specific, specialised precautions.
Materials affected due to serious water contamination are usually documented by professional restoration services who use industry standard costing tables to work out the exact value of those materials and their service lost or damaged.
In order to inspect any damage, specialised water sensing equipment, such as sensitive probes and a range of infrared sensors, are used to detect the sources of the damage and exactly how widespread it is.
The process of restoring the building by first drying it out, then sanitizing the affected areas, followed by deodorizing the areas and all materials may now be commenced. Once the work has been completed, specialized equipment developed for water problems may now be employed. This equipment may include air scrubbers, air movers, dehumidifiers, drying apparatus for wooden floors and similar tools for under floor drying. The apparatus is left in the building for about two or three days after which the site is re-evaluated to check on the drying process. Any tools not needed after the evaluation, are removed to keep costs down.
The personnel involved in the restoration work often have to perform their duties while surrounded by the personal effects of the home owner. These include such items as electronic appliances, books, furniture and any other items that have been affected by the water contamination. If these items have to be moved around, the restoration firm often charge for this by the hour. House contents may also require specialized treatment to restore them after being damaged by water.
Once moisture content, humidity and temperature have been brought under control, all apparatus would be removed and the restoration procedure would have been completed. Many homeowners, building supervisors and property managers use their own people to recover their premises for financial reasons but, in the long run, hiring professionals is highly recommended.
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Tags: floods, home, home flooding, home improvement, water damage restoration