Structural Drying and the Importance
Violent storms with high winds can wreak havoc on a home in a matter of minutes or hours, especially when structural damage is accompanied by heavy rainfall or flooding. After suffering water intrusion it is important to secure your property as soon as possible to prevent additional damage from occurring. Water damage should addressed within 24 to 48 hours. Depending on the size of the area affected, professional assistance will probably be needed to dry an area quickly and thoroughly.
In the immediate after-math of water intrusion non-valuable books or papers should be discarded. In the case of important papers or documents it's best to photo-copy and discard originals or freeze-dry them in a frost-free freezer or meat locker.
Wet carpet and backing, concrete or cinder block surfaces, and porous flooring such as linoleum or vinyl should all be vacuumed within 24-48 hours with a water extraction vacuum. To accelerate the drying process, humidity levels should be reduced with a dehumidifier and fans. Although it may be difficult to completely dry within 48 hours, the same procedure should be followed with upholstered furniture.
These are some of the important first steps you should take if you have suffered water intrusion damage. Over the past few decades there have been many advances in the water damage restoration industry that have moved beyond the simple task of extraction. This is why you should consult professionals in the field who deal with the bigger issues of bound structural moisture, residual odor, remedial mold contamination, and removal of microscopic debris from the air. The end goal should be a verifiable pre-loss condition.
Before the next storm hits there are many things you can do to prevent water damage before it happens. Have a professional contractor examine the stability of your foundation. This is particularly true if you live in an older home. Is the foundation level? Are there any obvious cracks in the foundation that extend into the upper structure? If this is the case it is important to check interior walls, particularly tile for cracks, sheetrock for tears.
Structures with a pitched roof are less of a problem, but a flat roof has a tendency to sustain damage from rotting due to undetected leaks. In this case a careful attic inspection of your roof's underside is in order to determine if there has been previous water damage that might lead to something worse.
In the immediate after-math of water intrusion non-valuable books or papers should be discarded. In the case of important papers or documents it's best to photo-copy and discard originals or freeze-dry them in a frost-free freezer or meat locker.
Wet carpet and backing, concrete or cinder block surfaces, and porous flooring such as linoleum or vinyl should all be vacuumed within 24-48 hours with a water extraction vacuum. To accelerate the drying process, humidity levels should be reduced with a dehumidifier and fans. Although it may be difficult to completely dry within 48 hours, the same procedure should be followed with upholstered furniture.
These are some of the important first steps you should take if you have suffered water intrusion damage. Over the past few decades there have been many advances in the water damage restoration industry that have moved beyond the simple task of extraction. This is why you should consult professionals in the field who deal with the bigger issues of bound structural moisture, residual odor, remedial mold contamination, and removal of microscopic debris from the air. The end goal should be a verifiable pre-loss condition.
Before the next storm hits there are many things you can do to prevent water damage before it happens. Have a professional contractor examine the stability of your foundation. This is particularly true if you live in an older home. Is the foundation level? Are there any obvious cracks in the foundation that extend into the upper structure? If this is the case it is important to check interior walls, particularly tile for cracks, sheetrock for tears.
Structures with a pitched roof are less of a problem, but a flat roof has a tendency to sustain damage from rotting due to undetected leaks. In this case a careful attic inspection of your roof's underside is in order to determine if there has been previous water damage that might lead to something worse.
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