Residential and Commercial Flood Damage

8/21/2017 (Permalink)

Residential and Commercial Flood Damage

Water damage is one of the most serious threats any real property will ever face. It is also one of the most insidious. Unlike other sources of damage to a property, such as a fire or wind, water damage often may appear far less serious than it is. It is absolutely crucial that the owner of a property recognize any water damage that has occurred and begin professional restoration and mitigation efforts immediately.

Any amount of water much more than about a gallon has the potential to cause serious and lasting water damage. If restoration and mitigation efforts are not begun at once, water may seep into drywall, flooring and structural components. This can cause rot and even structural compromise. In larger flooding events, it restoration and mitigation efforts are not started within one week of the initial pipe break or supply line break, the damaged property will often become uninhabitable.

For this reason, it is absolutely imperative to get a professional restoration company on scene. A professional restoration company has the tool, training and experience needed to successfully carry out mitigation and restoration procedures. The good news is that almost all flooding events caused by a pipe break or a supply line break can be completely remediated, saving the property and restoring it to its prior condition. However, time is the enemy of water damaged properties. The key is to begin the water cleanup and drying process in the first 24 hours after the event, before the flood damage has had time to take hold and cause lasting harm to the property.

Luckily, almost every town in America has at least one professional restoration company. The key is to make the call to your local restoration company the moment any water has leaked into the property from a supply line break or pipe break. Once the emergency call is placed to the water cleanup company, they will spring into action, arriving at the flooded home or business within minutes.

Once on scene, the team will first enter the property, looking for any active leak coming from a supply line break or a pipe break. Once the leak has been stemmed, the team will assess the level of water in the home or water in the business. Using sophisticated equipment, such as hygrometers and infrared detection devices, the team will assess if any water in the home or water in the business has seeped into places not visible to the naked eye. If the water in the home or water in the business has compromised structural components, such as flooring, joists or beams, the team will note it.

Using extremely powerful vacuum equipment, the team will then remove all of the standing water in the home or water in the business. This is another area in which it is crucial to get a professional team on scene. The chances of being able to remove standing water from a flooded home without the specialized equipment available to professionals is virtually zero. With high-powered vacuums and pumps, the cleanup team will be able to remove all standing water within one hour.

Once standing water is removed, the drying process begins. This is the most important phase in preventing lasting flood damage. Water that is allowed to stagnate is the chief source of flood damage and is capable of compromising structural integrity and creating unpleasant odors. The flooded home will be dried using powerful heating and drying equipment, similar to what's seen in a car wash. Once dry, there will be no further risk of flood damage to the home.

The last phase is the final cleanup. This involves disinfecting and thoroughly cleaning all surfaces and furniture. At this point, the property will be completely restored.
Visit http://www.SERVPROnorthweststarkcounty.com for more information on water damage.