As the owner, your primary job is to keep your home in proper condition. You will face many issues throughout your stay on your property. You’ll have to deal with appliance service, invest in a remodelling project, or insure your property against disasters.
Water damage is one of the hardest issues that a homeowner may face. If left ignored, water damage can pose several health dangers to your family members and degrade the overall integrity of your home.
Water Damage Causes
Is water formed in your kitchen? Is water dripping from your ceiling and walls? Water damage can be difficult to locate because it can come from sources. But one thing is certain: one of your walls has been damaged.
Water damage can occur both indoors and outside. Water damage from the outside is typically caused by flood water entering your property due to broken home structures that can no longer operate properly. Here are a few examples:
- Unsealed siding
- Clogged gutters and downspouts
- Damaged chimneys and roof
- Dripping windows and doors
- Poor plumbing
- Leaking appliances such as water heaters, washing machines, and dishwashers
- Cracked, warped, or split tile flooring
- Leaking kitchen and bathroom fixtures such as sinks, bathtubs, and showers
Because you use the majority of these areas of your home regularly, you should be able to spot any problems more easily. If you find even minor evidence of water damage in your house, don’t hesitate to contact water damage restoration experts in your area, such as Reztor Restoration.
Restoration of Water Damage
The first step in the water damage restoration process is to contact a water mitigation firm.
The mitigation firm, often known as “restoration first responders,” arrives on the site to examine and contain any damage and extract any standing water so the restoration process can begin.
While it’s common for the mitigation of water damage to be performed separately from the restoration, the two are frequently performed by the same firm.
Water damage repair can only begin after the water is extracted. Here’s an example of how it usually happens:
1. Extra water extraction.
It is possible to remove any excess water soaked into the carpet using a portable extractor if it is possible to save the carpet. In other circumstances, the carpet must be removed and discarded.
2. Debris Removal & Demolition
If repair is impossible, certain building components may need to be damaged. It is usually done before the property is dried. Removing drywall to expose the wall cavities and carpets to expose the subflooring could facilitate the drying effect. Restoration companies can skip this stage and clean the property if no structural damage is found.
3. Final drying.
Following that, your contractor will strategically place air movers to aid in the ventilation process and dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air. With the right drying plan, it is common for properties to dry out within days.
4. Illnesses
Fungal and mould growth may be a problem in some water damage conditions. Mould can begin developing in as little as 24 hours under the right conditions. Therefore, whether out of prudence or necessity, a restoration business may administer antimicrobials to prevent mould growth or eliminate existing mould spores.
5. How to Restore
Though any property loss has the potential to destroy specific goods, content restoration technology has improved to the point where they can now be saved. A contents pack out is usually performed near the beginning of the restoration procedure. A restoration business will remove salvageable things such as fabrics, clothing, wooden goods, pictures, electronics, and other items and transport them off-site for restoration.
6. Reconstruction and rebuilding
The final step in the restoration process often includes moisture testing to ensure dryness, followed by construction services to rebuild the removed building structure. It could comprise electrical, plumbing, drywall, and finishing materials, among other things. A full-service restoration company will assist you throughout the entire restoration procedure.
Water Damage Restoration vs Water Mitigation
What’s the distinction? The procedure is the primary distinction between water mitigation and water damage rehabilitation. As previously stated, water mitigation prevents more damage from occurring. In other words, it is what experienced restoration contractors do before the restoration process to limit the loss sustained by a property.
Property may need to be tarped off or contained where water damage may spread, and the property’s structural integrity may have to be preserved. Mitigation eventually includes effectively removing water from the site to eliminate the possibility of additional spread and property damage.
A commercial-grade truck-mounted extractor is often used to remove any standing water from the site. As a result, portable extractors are frequently used to remove water from carpeting or other soft surfaces. Water damage rehabilitation begins after mitigation. It is the process of returning the property to its pre-loss state.
The extent of the property damage will largely determine the amount of restoration required. In some circumstances, installing air movers and dehumidifiers on the property is sufficient to dry it out adequately. It is possible to prevent mould growth by removing drywall, carpet and padding and applying antimicrobials.
The process often includes restoring a property’s valuables and soft commodities to their pre-loss state. Furthermore, demolition is necessary before rebuilding can begin. As you can see, it is only possible to restore a water-damaged home once it has been properly mitigated because experienced restoration contractors must first know what has to be done.
Until the problem has been contained and the harm has not spread further throughout the property.
How Does a Water Damage Restoration Firm Work?
A water damage restoration company’s main job is to take the necessary steps to restore your property to its pre-loss state.
As previously mentioned, the complete water damage restoration process involves several steps to guarantee the property is correctly restored. It will ensure that additional damage and mould growth do not occur. Your restoration business and a team of professionals will normally work with your property owner’s insurance company to assist with filing claims. It will ensure that everything proceeds smoothly from start to finish.
While distinct firms can perform mitigation and restoration, it is typically easier for property owners to have one company manage both. Reztor Restoration, for example, can assist you with cleanup, water mitigation, mould treatment, fire and smoke damage restoration, roofing, interior and exterior construction, and more.
