The first and most important factor in water damage restoration is to locate the source of the leak and repair it. There is no point to repair damage unless the source has been taken care of first or you will just end up repeating the repair over and over again. When a flood occurs, you may need to consider if there is a chance it may happen again and if the chances are high, then you should consider moving or taking steps to protect yourself from having it happen again.
Rot and mold are a big problem after flooding and dealing with these are a huge part of the restoration process. All items in the flooded area will need to be removed, dried, and then properly cleaned. When the area is clear, all remaining water needs to be pumped out with a pump or removed with a wet/dry vacuum.
After you have removed the water, it will take some time to dry out the carpet and the drywall. You should expect to have to run humidifiers, heaters, and high-powered fans for several days. The use of a humidity meter will allow you to more accurately tell when the drying has been completed.
One of the highest attractors of mold and microbes is carpeting and underlay. If at all possible, take up the carpet and allow it to dry separate from the underlay. If that is not possible, keep in mind that the underlay will not be dry until after the carpet is dry. When drying is complete, use an antimicrobial carpet cleaner. Since the area has just spent some time drying, it is preferable to use a dry cleaner so the area will not have to go through the drying process again.
Drywall will also need special attention. Water creates bubbles and roughness on drywall and causes paint to peel. When the drywall is dry, it will need to be sanded, plastered, and painted again. If you are not familiar with plastering, you may prefer to hire someone or get a friend who knows how to do it to help you.
If the damage to furniture and belongings is minimal, drying and cleaning them will be sufficient. If the water was dirty, or the flooding was severe you will need to dispose of the items. Letting go of some of these items will be hard, but the health of you and your family must be considered as the most important factor in this situation.
If the damage is very bad, the drywall and carpeting will need to be replaced completely. If the floodwater contains harmful materials then it is in your best interest to do the replacement. To prevent rotting in the walls and under the floor, be sure to dry it completely before putting up the new material.
In order to protect yourself in such situations, you should make sure your insurance policy covers water damage. If you do have water damage, assess how much it will cost to fix before going to the insurance company because the damages may be less than the cost of the deductible.
Learn more about water damage services. Stop by George Archer’s site where you can find out all about fire damage services and what it can do for you.
Tags: floods, home, home flooding, home improvement, water damage restoration