There are many things to consider before buying a fire damaged property. Fire damage restoration can be quite costly because often a specialist has to be hired to assess the damage and do the cleanup. Furthermore, getting financed to buy a fire damaged property can be quite difficult, unless one is able to qualify for a construction loan that will also include the cost it would take to do the fire damage cleanup.
Here are some often overlooked considerations to take into account before buying a fire damaged property:
1. There may be a significant amount of water damage to the house. Firefighters most likely soaked and saturated much of the wood construction including flooring and roofing. Water damage will cause significant problems including mold and structural damage. Mold, in particular, can be quite costly to clean up.
2. The smoke from the fire could also leave a very sticky residue that can be difficult to clean up and an odor may linger in smoke-saturated construction for years. Often the smoke residue is invisible, so fire damage repair is even more difficult, and yet another specialist has to be brought in to assess the damage. The smoke odor may also be temporarily masked and could begin to seep out weeks, months or even years down the track.
3. There may be a large amount of damage to the electrical and plumbing systems. In addition to the cost of rebuilding, re-wiring and plumbing will most likely have to be redone as well.
4. The cost of the cleanup will need to be assessed and taken into account, along with the asking price of the property. Unless the seller is able to meet the buyer halfway, buying a fire damaged house could be almost as costly as buying a property that is not damaged by fire.
The most important point is to make sure the buyer has a clear understanding of the amount of clean up and the cost involved when buying a fire damaged property. While the asking price may look attractive on paper, the additional time and financial commitment to make the house livable may be more than many are willing to undertake. With that being said, if a person is able to negotiate with seller on the fire damage clean up costs, pay in cash, and has significant experience in fire damage restoration, then this could be a wise decision.
A Few Tips When Cleaning Water Damage
Water damage can occur in one of many different ways and regardless of how it actually occurs, it is imperative that you begin cleaning water damage as soon as you can. One of the cautions that should be made clear before you wade into the fray is that water that has invaded the home may be filled with pollutants that are dangerous to your health.
If you are going to attempt to clean water damage you should be sure that the water is clean water rather than water that has been contaminated with sewage or a chemical or biological pollutant. Any items that have suffered water damage as a result of water other than clean water should simply be disposed of.
The first step in cleaning water damage is to assess every item in the house for the level of damage that has occurred. As an immediate guide here are some of the items that will be simpler to discard and replace: ceiling tiles, fiberglass insulation, drywall that has noticeably become swollen, cheap or non-valuable books and documents. Just about everything else can be dried and then cleaned to the point where it will be salvageable.
If the water damage has occurred longer ago than 48 hours there will be a good chance that mold growth will have begun. The first step in this case is to clean any noticeable mold growth before you take any further action. While performing the mold remediation you should also have begun the drying process. This may be done with a dehumidifier in conjunction with fans or heaters.
Carpets, concrete, upholstered furniture and hard surfaces will also benefit by using a water extraction vacuum first. This will start the drying process and then bringing in other methods will give you faster results.
Drapes or curtains that have been damaged by water should be removed from the room and laundered following the manufacturers instructions. Once they have been properly cleaned and dried they should be ready to hang back in their original place following the cleaning process of the rest of the room.
Any object that holds special sentimental or monetary value that concerns you and your own abilities to properly clean it without damaging it should seek the assistance of a water damage specialist. It is better to spend the money on a professional job which may save you the greater cost of losing your valued object.
This post is part of the wide ranging articles offering advice on fire and water damage on this site.
If you are going to attempt to clean water damage you should be sure that the water is clean water rather than water that has been contaminated with sewage or a chemical or biological pollutant. Any items that have suffered water damage as a result of water other than clean water should simply be disposed of.
The first step in cleaning water damage is to assess every item in the house for the level of damage that has occurred. As an immediate guide here are some of the items that will be simpler to discard and replace: ceiling tiles, fiberglass insulation, drywall that has noticeably become swollen, cheap or non-valuable books and documents. Just about everything else can be dried and then cleaned to the point where it will be salvageable.
If the water damage has occurred longer ago than 48 hours there will be a good chance that mold growth will have begun. The first step in this case is to clean any noticeable mold growth before you take any further action. While performing the mold remediation you should also have begun the drying process. This may be done with a dehumidifier in conjunction with fans or heaters.
Carpets, concrete, upholstered furniture and hard surfaces will also benefit by using a water extraction vacuum first. This will start the drying process and then bringing in other methods will give you faster results.
Drapes or curtains that have been damaged by water should be removed from the room and laundered following the manufacturers instructions. Once they have been properly cleaned and dried they should be ready to hang back in their original place following the cleaning process of the rest of the room.
Any object that holds special sentimental or monetary value that concerns you and your own abilities to properly clean it without damaging it should seek the assistance of a water damage specialist. It is better to spend the money on a professional job which may save you the greater cost of losing your valued object.
This post is part of the wide ranging articles offering advice on fire and water damage on this site.
Soot Removal From Carpet
Soot damage can occur in many situations around the house, not necessarily only after a major fire. Anyone with a wood burning heater or an open fire would be well aware that it is possible to find spots of soot lying on the carpet. There are some important steps to take when you notice a soot stain on the carpet so that you avoid making the stain worse. Here are a few tips on how to get fire soot stain out of carpet that covers what you shouldn't do as well as what you should.
There are some things you should make sure you don’t do, keep them in mind while conducting your clean up operation. Firstly, don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush connection as this will only grind the soot deeper into the carpet pile. Secondly, don’t try to clean the stain by using water because this will simply spread the soot and embed it firmly into the carpet.
Your first step with any soot removal process but particularly when performing soot removal from carpet is to use the vacuum cleaner, but be sure to keep the end of the nozzle at least a quarter of an inch above the surface you are cleaning. If you don’t have a vacuum a stiff brush can be employed to sweep the soot up. Sweeping should be done with quick flicking motions as you remove the soot onto a newspaper.
Once the bulk of the soot has been removed you should then begin to repair the soot stain that is left. Use a citrus degreasing solvent by applying it directly to the stain allowing it to settle in before blotting the stain off with a dry towel. Repeat the process as necessary until the stain has disappeared.
Once the stain has been removed you can rinse the affected area with cold water and then apply a fan to the wet area so that it dries quickly.
There is another product that may be used to absorb the excess soot and it is known as a soot sponge. Unlike other sponges a soot sponge is designed to be used dry. It has been chemically impregnated with a substance that will capture the soot that comes in contact with it into its pores. To clean the sponge when it gets dirty you simply shave off the outer layer of the sponge until a clean surface is revealed. You may then repeat the cleaning process.
A soot sponge will not work as affectively on carpet as it will on the ceiling or the walls but it is another weapon in the arsenal that will help with any fire damage clean up.
By employing the tips explained above on small to medium sized soot damage on carpet you should be able to effectively remove a soot stain without creating greater problems for yourself. Remember that soot is the kind of substance that creates more problems the more it is disturbed. Although it looks dry it is actually quite oily and this is what makes it so difficult to remove.
Further Soot Removal Information
Dealing With Soot Damage Removal
Soot Removal From Glass
There are some things you should make sure you don’t do, keep them in mind while conducting your clean up operation. Firstly, don’t use a vacuum with a rotating brush connection as this will only grind the soot deeper into the carpet pile. Secondly, don’t try to clean the stain by using water because this will simply spread the soot and embed it firmly into the carpet.
Your first step with any soot removal process but particularly when performing soot removal from carpet is to use the vacuum cleaner, but be sure to keep the end of the nozzle at least a quarter of an inch above the surface you are cleaning. If you don’t have a vacuum a stiff brush can be employed to sweep the soot up. Sweeping should be done with quick flicking motions as you remove the soot onto a newspaper.
Once the bulk of the soot has been removed you should then begin to repair the soot stain that is left. Use a citrus degreasing solvent by applying it directly to the stain allowing it to settle in before blotting the stain off with a dry towel. Repeat the process as necessary until the stain has disappeared.
Once the stain has been removed you can rinse the affected area with cold water and then apply a fan to the wet area so that it dries quickly.
There is another product that may be used to absorb the excess soot and it is known as a soot sponge. Unlike other sponges a soot sponge is designed to be used dry. It has been chemically impregnated with a substance that will capture the soot that comes in contact with it into its pores. To clean the sponge when it gets dirty you simply shave off the outer layer of the sponge until a clean surface is revealed. You may then repeat the cleaning process.
A soot sponge will not work as affectively on carpet as it will on the ceiling or the walls but it is another weapon in the arsenal that will help with any fire damage clean up.
By employing the tips explained above on small to medium sized soot damage on carpet you should be able to effectively remove a soot stain without creating greater problems for yourself. Remember that soot is the kind of substance that creates more problems the more it is disturbed. Although it looks dry it is actually quite oily and this is what makes it so difficult to remove.
Further Soot Removal Information
Dealing With Soot Damage Removal
Soot Removal From Glass
Importance Of A Quick Fire Damage Assessment
Following a fire there are many things that must take place in order to begin the restoration process but one of the important first steps is to get a fast fire damage assessment. In order to minimize further damage, health hazards and the damage caused by smoke and soot residue, having an expert on site to guide you in the early stages is very important.
What a timely fire damage assessment can get for you is the security of the safety of you and your family. Very often the urge is almost overwhelming to enter the fire damaged premises to see if there is anything you can salvage or even just to gauge for yourself how extensive the damage is.
The problem is that the house is at its most unstable immediately following the fire, there will be some smoldering embers lying around and live electrical wires could still be present. The assessment is not the home owners to make and a professional fire assessor will make it their business to keep people away from the damage.
Part of the assessment of the property will include ways in which the home can be secured against unwanted guests. For some reason a burnt out home is a target for looters, lowlifes who think nothing of walking into the property with an aim of taking anything that has survived the fire as if the presence of a fire automatically removes ownership of the belongings.
Soot damage is a real problem after a fire of any size and the sooner the fire assessment has been made, the sooner the restoration can get under way. This is relevant to soot damage because soot can continue to damage whatever it is sitting on and the longer it sits there the more significant the damage becomes. Moving quick over the first few hours can save a lot of permanent furniture damage.
A successful fire damage assessment will not be limited to either only inside the house or outside the house, it should involve all aspects of the property. Before going near the structure a complete examination of the state of the walls, chimneys, surrounding trees should be made and a decision be made on whether it is safe to approach them.
The first action you should be taking in response to a house fire is to get in touch with a fire damage assessment expert to guide you through the stages of the restoration. Getting this part right will ensure that later steps will also be done right and it could also ensure the continued health of you and your family.
What a timely fire damage assessment can get for you is the security of the safety of you and your family. Very often the urge is almost overwhelming to enter the fire damaged premises to see if there is anything you can salvage or even just to gauge for yourself how extensive the damage is.
The problem is that the house is at its most unstable immediately following the fire, there will be some smoldering embers lying around and live electrical wires could still be present. The assessment is not the home owners to make and a professional fire assessor will make it their business to keep people away from the damage.
Part of the assessment of the property will include ways in which the home can be secured against unwanted guests. For some reason a burnt out home is a target for looters, lowlifes who think nothing of walking into the property with an aim of taking anything that has survived the fire as if the presence of a fire automatically removes ownership of the belongings.
Soot damage is a real problem after a fire of any size and the sooner the fire assessment has been made, the sooner the restoration can get under way. This is relevant to soot damage because soot can continue to damage whatever it is sitting on and the longer it sits there the more significant the damage becomes. Moving quick over the first few hours can save a lot of permanent furniture damage.
A successful fire damage assessment will not be limited to either only inside the house or outside the house, it should involve all aspects of the property. Before going near the structure a complete examination of the state of the walls, chimneys, surrounding trees should be made and a decision be made on whether it is safe to approach them.
The first action you should be taking in response to a house fire is to get in touch with a fire damage assessment expert to guide you through the stages of the restoration. Getting this part right will ensure that later steps will also be done right and it could also ensure the continued health of you and your family.
Water Damaged Plaster
After a lot of water exposure to a building, regardless of the source of the water, the building must be dried out thoroughly before any kind of restoration can be done. One of the materials that exist in a lot of building is plaster so it is necessary to be aware of the kind of restoration that is required for water damaged plaster.
The good news if you’ve got plaster walls is that plaster can be dried out much more readily than other common wall surfaces such as sheetrock. Exactly ho much better it dries will depend on the plaster mix that was used when making the wall, the amount of water it has been exposed to and where in the wall the greatest damage has occurred.
If the damage to the plaster has come from clean rainwater it should be possible to save the wall. The first step I s to drain the water from the wall cavity by removing the baseboard and drilling holes in the plaster just above the floor. A word of warning here, use a cordless or battery drill when performing this task.
Remove any wet insulation from within the wall cavity. You want to ensure that the wall cavity has dried thoroughly. To speed up the drying process, open windows and doors to promote good airflow or if that’s not possible bring in fans to circulate the air.
Clean down the walls to remove any water stains and you can consider using a weak solution of Clorox and water to inhibit or remove any early stages of mold growth.
When water damages plaster it causes bubbles in the surface due to the way the lime reacts to the water. This may either be minor damage or it can involve the entire plaster coat that can then crumble away. All of the water damaged plaster should be removed and this can be done with a putty knife or a paint scraper. If the plaster surface has become too hard for the putty knife it may be necessary to use a hammer and chisel to scrape back the hard shell that has formed.
If the wall surface is painted you will have to test it to find out whether it has survived the damage. If it peels off easily when scraped with a putty knife it should be removed back until you reach a point where the paint won’t come off easily.
Once you have scraped back to undamaged plaster you can then prepare the surface and replace the plaster that has been removed with a setting-type joint compound. After refilling the plaster and letting it harden, sand it back until it is smooth and then add another layer of the compound, applying it in a direction that is perpendicular to the way it was applied with the first coat. Repeat the sanding process ensuring that the wall is completely smooth. Clean off the plaster dust and then coat the surface with a primer-sealer before painting over the patched up area.
The good news if you’ve got plaster walls is that plaster can be dried out much more readily than other common wall surfaces such as sheetrock. Exactly ho much better it dries will depend on the plaster mix that was used when making the wall, the amount of water it has been exposed to and where in the wall the greatest damage has occurred.
If the damage to the plaster has come from clean rainwater it should be possible to save the wall. The first step I s to drain the water from the wall cavity by removing the baseboard and drilling holes in the plaster just above the floor. A word of warning here, use a cordless or battery drill when performing this task.
Remove any wet insulation from within the wall cavity. You want to ensure that the wall cavity has dried thoroughly. To speed up the drying process, open windows and doors to promote good airflow or if that’s not possible bring in fans to circulate the air.
Clean down the walls to remove any water stains and you can consider using a weak solution of Clorox and water to inhibit or remove any early stages of mold growth.
When water damages plaster it causes bubbles in the surface due to the way the lime reacts to the water. This may either be minor damage or it can involve the entire plaster coat that can then crumble away. All of the water damaged plaster should be removed and this can be done with a putty knife or a paint scraper. If the plaster surface has become too hard for the putty knife it may be necessary to use a hammer and chisel to scrape back the hard shell that has formed.
If the wall surface is painted you will have to test it to find out whether it has survived the damage. If it peels off easily when scraped with a putty knife it should be removed back until you reach a point where the paint won’t come off easily.
Once you have scraped back to undamaged plaster you can then prepare the surface and replace the plaster that has been removed with a setting-type joint compound. After refilling the plaster and letting it harden, sand it back until it is smooth and then add another layer of the compound, applying it in a direction that is perpendicular to the way it was applied with the first coat. Repeat the sanding process ensuring that the wall is completely smooth. Clean off the plaster dust and then coat the surface with a primer-sealer before painting over the patched up area.
Attic Mold and Attic Ventilation
A common occurrence in a surprisingly high number of attics, particularly in the warmer northern climates, is the growth of mold. A common cause of the problem is inadequate ventilation into the attic and with warm moist air rising through the ceiling and into the roof it can get trapped providing the perfect conditions for mold growth.
You may become aware that you have a problem with attic mold if you have noticed a musty smell throughout the house and could never pinpoint where it came from. It is unlikely that there will be any visual evidence to alert you from the fact. Similarly if you have a constant problem with your air conditioning not seeming to do the job adequately, it could mean that there are problems in the attic.
Attic mold can spread completely through the entire length and breadth of the attic. If the mold that is growing in the attic is black mold then there is a health risk involved in the attic mold removal and it would be best to call in the mold remediation experts. Living under an attic full of mold poses a relatively minor health risk because air flow generally travels up and out rather than down and in.
That being said, it is still advisable to initiate some kind of attic mold treatment to remove it from the rafters, insulation or other parts of the attic affected.
Before attacking the mold in an effort to remove it, it is best to take a sample of it to get it tested so you know exactly what kind of mold you are dealing with. The kind that you want absolutely nothing to do with is black mold which can cause some serious respiratory illnesses. Stachybotrys is the black mold type that you are likely to find on wet or damp cellulose material such as the kind you would find in insulation.
If the mold in the attic is not terribly heavy you may simply choose to leave it alone and simply install attic ventilation instead. Attic ventilation fans or soffit vents will ensure that sufficient air is getting into the attic to dry the area out so that any mold will be killed.
You may be concerned that by installing attic ventilation fans and vents you will be compromising the effectiveness of your insulation. In fact, the fans and vents are a necessary part of the cooling and warming process of keeping the temperature in your house controlled. Attic fans will cool hot attics by drawing cooler outside air into the attic through the vents and will also push the hot air out.
Heavy mold infestation should be cleaned completely and the safest way to do this is by calling in mold remediation specialists. It is unlikely that you will find someone who only specializes in attic mold remediation and the best place to look for someone to do the job is to find a fire and water damage restoration professional.
For further reading on mold damage and remediation :
Cleaning Mold From The Ceiling
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Prevent Mold From Taking Hold In the Home
Restoring the Home From Mold Damage
Repair Mold Damage In Books
You may become aware that you have a problem with attic mold if you have noticed a musty smell throughout the house and could never pinpoint where it came from. It is unlikely that there will be any visual evidence to alert you from the fact. Similarly if you have a constant problem with your air conditioning not seeming to do the job adequately, it could mean that there are problems in the attic.
Attic mold can spread completely through the entire length and breadth of the attic. If the mold that is growing in the attic is black mold then there is a health risk involved in the attic mold removal and it would be best to call in the mold remediation experts. Living under an attic full of mold poses a relatively minor health risk because air flow generally travels up and out rather than down and in.
That being said, it is still advisable to initiate some kind of attic mold treatment to remove it from the rafters, insulation or other parts of the attic affected.
Before attacking the mold in an effort to remove it, it is best to take a sample of it to get it tested so you know exactly what kind of mold you are dealing with. The kind that you want absolutely nothing to do with is black mold which can cause some serious respiratory illnesses. Stachybotrys is the black mold type that you are likely to find on wet or damp cellulose material such as the kind you would find in insulation.
If the mold in the attic is not terribly heavy you may simply choose to leave it alone and simply install attic ventilation instead. Attic ventilation fans or soffit vents will ensure that sufficient air is getting into the attic to dry the area out so that any mold will be killed.
You may be concerned that by installing attic ventilation fans and vents you will be compromising the effectiveness of your insulation. In fact, the fans and vents are a necessary part of the cooling and warming process of keeping the temperature in your house controlled. Attic fans will cool hot attics by drawing cooler outside air into the attic through the vents and will also push the hot air out.
Heavy mold infestation should be cleaned completely and the safest way to do this is by calling in mold remediation specialists. It is unlikely that you will find someone who only specializes in attic mold remediation and the best place to look for someone to do the job is to find a fire and water damage restoration professional.
For further reading on mold damage and remediation :
Cleaning Mold From The Ceiling
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Prevent Mold From Taking Hold In the Home
Restoring the Home From Mold Damage
Repair Mold Damage In Books
Soot Removal From Glass
Following a fire the soot damage throughout the house might be extensive and there are specialist cleaning methods required depending on the surface that the soot has damaged. The following products and tips should give you the basics required to perform an extensive soot removal from glass surfaces. This soot removal is one of the more pressing tasks required when starting a fire damage clean up operation.
Soot is made up of microscopic particles of carbon and will find its way into the smallest of cracks and fissures in the surface. Glass is one of the few surfaces that you should attempt to clean it yourself.
There is more than a fair share of glass throughout any home and soot will cling stubbornly to whatever has been exposed during the fire. The good news is that there are quite a few products that have been specially developed to shift soot and many of them are available for people who own fireplaces. They can be found from any fireplace or barbecue retailer.
Some of the products that are available to clean soot from glass surfaces include: Anti-Creo-Soot, Speedy-White Multi Purpose Cleaner, White-Off Glass Cleaner, Heatsafe Glass Cleaner.
These products are all made to clean the soot off of fireplace glass surfaces and they work by attacking the fine soot particles. Most of the spray-on cleaners can be applied directly to the soot and then left to work for the next 10 to 15 minutes. Once the spray has been allowed to work its way into the soot particles it can be washed off.
Another cheaper alternative that can work effectively is to take some sheets of newspaper, wet them and then dip the paper in ashes and scrub using the screwed up paper as a rag.
Where soot damage should not be touched when it lies on other surfaces it can be cleaned with a multi purpose cleaner without the risk of creating further damage. Once the cleaner has done its work the residue must be cleaned off completely. These types of cleaners are appropriate for cleaning cold surfaces. When the surface heats up again the soot stains may become apparent again if they haven’t been properly rinsed off.
The build up of creosote on glass surfaces may require multiple applications of a cleaning product to completely rid the glass of the stain. Repeated treatments will eventually break through the soot crust.
You don’t always have to clean soot using a liquid cleaner and a rag. If the soot is thick and difficult to move it may be necessary to take a razor blade and use it to scrape the soot off the glass. As long as the blade is kept at a flat angle to the glass you will avoid scratching the surface. You may not be able to remove the entire soot coating, but it will remove the larger proportion of soot and the rest can be cleaned off with another method such as regular soap and water or one of the soot removal cleaners mentioned above.
Soot is made up of microscopic particles of carbon and will find its way into the smallest of cracks and fissures in the surface. Glass is one of the few surfaces that you should attempt to clean it yourself.
There is more than a fair share of glass throughout any home and soot will cling stubbornly to whatever has been exposed during the fire. The good news is that there are quite a few products that have been specially developed to shift soot and many of them are available for people who own fireplaces. They can be found from any fireplace or barbecue retailer.
Some of the products that are available to clean soot from glass surfaces include: Anti-Creo-Soot, Speedy-White Multi Purpose Cleaner, White-Off Glass Cleaner, Heatsafe Glass Cleaner.
These products are all made to clean the soot off of fireplace glass surfaces and they work by attacking the fine soot particles. Most of the spray-on cleaners can be applied directly to the soot and then left to work for the next 10 to 15 minutes. Once the spray has been allowed to work its way into the soot particles it can be washed off.
Another cheaper alternative that can work effectively is to take some sheets of newspaper, wet them and then dip the paper in ashes and scrub using the screwed up paper as a rag.
Where soot damage should not be touched when it lies on other surfaces it can be cleaned with a multi purpose cleaner without the risk of creating further damage. Once the cleaner has done its work the residue must be cleaned off completely. These types of cleaners are appropriate for cleaning cold surfaces. When the surface heats up again the soot stains may become apparent again if they haven’t been properly rinsed off.
The build up of creosote on glass surfaces may require multiple applications of a cleaning product to completely rid the glass of the stain. Repeated treatments will eventually break through the soot crust.
You don’t always have to clean soot using a liquid cleaner and a rag. If the soot is thick and difficult to move it may be necessary to take a razor blade and use it to scrape the soot off the glass. As long as the blade is kept at a flat angle to the glass you will avoid scratching the surface. You may not be able to remove the entire soot coating, but it will remove the larger proportion of soot and the rest can be cleaned off with another method such as regular soap and water or one of the soot removal cleaners mentioned above.
After The Fire: Seal Fire Damaged Wood
Following a fire there is a lingering odor that serves as a constant reminder of the disaster. It is an unpleasant smell that sits in every pore of the hard surfaces of the house. A complete fire restoration operation can only remove a certain amount of the smoke and soot odor but there is inevitably a residual smell remaining.
Paint products are available for the walls that will seal fire damaged wood that has maintained a strong odor even after the most rigorous treatment. These products are sealers and primers that contain the smell and also covers stains too.
A fast dry alkyd is an oil based sealer that can be used as part of a fire damage restoration. It is an oil-based product that can be applied using a roller or sprayer. It is an inexpensive option but it comes with a few problems such as its smell which, while it replaces the smell of the smoke, can be unpleasant in its own right. It also isn’t particularly effective and can require multiple coats before the smoke odor is removed.
Another option when looking to seal fire damaged wood is to use shellac which is an alcohol-based resin product and comes in either a clear or pigmented version. It can be brushed on or applied with a roller and, through the small particle size of the grains within the liquid, gives good coverage that effectively seals the odors. Once it dries the odor of the shellac dissipates quickly leaving it virtually odorless. This is the more expensive option but it will give you a better result and the application time will be shorter.
Before you use a product like shellac you should first prime it with an oil-based primer. Following that you can use the shellac to seal in the smoke odor.
This type of treatment should only be considered for fire damage that is not of a significant nature. If there is structural damage to the wood surfaces after a fire a fire restoration expert will be able to help you with advice on whether or not the surface can be saved or whether it should be replaced.
The primary aim of the work done following the fire is to make the building safe again, then it must be fit for human habitation. All safety aspects should be followed and that includes the dangers of introducing new chemicals and their accompanying smells. When performing a fire damage restoration, you want to be sure that you are improving the situation and not introducing new and unexpected dangers.
Paint products are available for the walls that will seal fire damaged wood that has maintained a strong odor even after the most rigorous treatment. These products are sealers and primers that contain the smell and also covers stains too.
A fast dry alkyd is an oil based sealer that can be used as part of a fire damage restoration. It is an oil-based product that can be applied using a roller or sprayer. It is an inexpensive option but it comes with a few problems such as its smell which, while it replaces the smell of the smoke, can be unpleasant in its own right. It also isn’t particularly effective and can require multiple coats before the smoke odor is removed.
Another option when looking to seal fire damaged wood is to use shellac which is an alcohol-based resin product and comes in either a clear or pigmented version. It can be brushed on or applied with a roller and, through the small particle size of the grains within the liquid, gives good coverage that effectively seals the odors. Once it dries the odor of the shellac dissipates quickly leaving it virtually odorless. This is the more expensive option but it will give you a better result and the application time will be shorter.
Before you use a product like shellac you should first prime it with an oil-based primer. Following that you can use the shellac to seal in the smoke odor.
This type of treatment should only be considered for fire damage that is not of a significant nature. If there is structural damage to the wood surfaces after a fire a fire restoration expert will be able to help you with advice on whether or not the surface can be saved or whether it should be replaced.
The primary aim of the work done following the fire is to make the building safe again, then it must be fit for human habitation. All safety aspects should be followed and that includes the dangers of introducing new chemicals and their accompanying smells. When performing a fire damage restoration, you want to be sure that you are improving the situation and not introducing new and unexpected dangers.
Prevent Damage With Passive Fire Protection
We don’t spend our days obsessing over the worry that out house may somehow fall victim to a fire, or at least, we shouldn’t. There are some basic steps that you can take to minimize the chances that it will ever happen to us by making structural changes and additions to the house. This type of action is known as passive fire protection and it concerns the materials used to build the house, coatings that can be added to the walls, beams and pipes and compartments that the house may be broken into to retard a fire’s progress.
As opposed to active fire protection which involves sprinklers, fire alarms and fire extinguishers, passive fire protection is actually always at work to stop or retard a fire. It is in the way the building is built and the materials that are used to build it.
Passive fire protection can be broken down to four key areas:
As opposed to active fire protection which involves sprinklers, fire alarms and fire extinguishers, passive fire protection is actually always at work to stop or retard a fire. It is in the way the building is built and the materials that are used to build it.
Passive fire protection can be broken down to four key areas:
- Structural fire protection which guards the essential parts of the building should a fire break out. Supporting beams, walls and ceilings are all coated with insulation.
- Compartmentalization involves ensuring that the fire can be contained to a single area of the building by use of fire barriers such as fire-rated walls, floors and ceilings.
- Opening protection by installing fire doors and windows and surrounding them with fire resistant frames so that they won’t be distorted in a fire.
The aim of passive fire protection is to contain a fire in the same part of the building as it starts, 
limiting the damage it will do to other rooms. Measures such as coating the walls, ceilings or subflooring with materials that will slow that spread of a fire are commonly seen in buildings for this purpose.
It is extremely common to see thick layers of vermiculite coating on the walls and ceilings of the basements of public buildings. This is not a particularly attractive look which is why it is placed in parts of the building that isn’t populated by frequent traffic. But the fire retardant qualities are particularly valuable.
A more acceptable looking method of protecting against a fire is a coating of intumescent paint used on the internal supporting beams. In addition to this you will find fire resistant materials covering pipes or other steel surfaces.
Passive fire protection doesn’t only refer to how the building is insulated or otherwise protected, it also refers to the fire doors and fire walls. Fire resistance rated walls are designed to sub-divide the building and contain a fire for a set period of time.
Part of a building’s passive fire protection involves the ease and means of allowing the occupants to escape. There must be the ability to close doors to protect oneself from a fire in another part of the building and then, in so doing, be able to escape out of a different exit route.
Fireproof cladding is one of the essential materials that make up a firewall and it can be made from such products as vermiculite, perlite, gypsum, intumescent epoxy, calcium silicate, MicroTherm or DuroSteel.
The greater the level of protection that is built into your building, the lower the risk of fire damage. Passive fire protection will also mean that your own personal safety will be assured.
Prevent Water Damage With A Water Leak Detection System
Just as important as repairing a water damaged house after a flood or other type of water damage is taking steps to prevent the damage in the first place. One of the sources of a high proportion of cases of water damage comes from water pipes that have failed. It is possible to detect and prevent water damage from occurring.
It’s possible that a burst water pipe can go undetected for a long time, leaking hundreds of gallons of water and flooding the floor of the home. An automatic shutoff valve will prevent untold water damage due to a failure in the plumbing. By automatically cutting off the water flow when a leak is detected they can prevent flooding.
You can get two types of water leak detection devices. The first is one that you install near the source of the water to the entire house at the service valve. The second is a water leak detector that is installed on the line directly to the appliance.
In both cases the device uses a sensor to detect the presence of a leak. The sensors can be an integral component of the plumbing that can be either wired in to the shutoff valve directly or via a wireless connection. The sensor might be placed on the ground near the base of the appliance where it is most likely a leak will occur. One of these devices can be used to prevent damage from a water heater leak.
Water leak detection systems are available that have two vastly different reactions after a leak is detected. The first is what might be termed an active leak detector and the second as a passive leak detector.
The active leak detector will activate a shut off valve that will immediately turn the water off to ensure the leak is stopped. The passive leak detector will simply sound an alarm to alert you to the fact that a leak has been found. The passive leak detector loses its effectiveness if no-one is home to hear the alarm, meanwhile the water will continue to flow onto the floor of your house.
The leak, if and when it comes, is not necessarily going to play nice and occur out in the open where you can easily spot it and have the access to stop it immediately. Water pipes are also laid underground and are prone to corroding and failing, spilling water straight into the earth and potentially washing away the soil making the ground particularly unstable. You can get a water leak detector that can listen for the distinctive sound of water escaping from a pipe under pressure.
The ideal situation is to have your water leak detector installed on the main water supply line with sensors mounted at all of the vulnerable points where a leak is likely to occur.
The benefits that you will get from installing a water leak detection system is that the risk of water damage to the house is greatly reduced, you may be eligible for a reduction on your insurance premiums and you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your home and valuables are protected.
It’s possible that a burst water pipe can go undetected for a long time, leaking hundreds of gallons of water and flooding the floor of the home. An automatic shutoff valve will prevent untold water damage due to a failure in the plumbing. By automatically cutting off the water flow when a leak is detected they can prevent flooding.
You can get two types of water leak detection devices. The first is one that you install near the source of the water to the entire house at the service valve. The second is a water leak detector that is installed on the line directly to the appliance.
In both cases the device uses a sensor to detect the presence of a leak. The sensors can be an integral component of the plumbing that can be either wired in to the shutoff valve directly or via a wireless connection. The sensor might be placed on the ground near the base of the appliance where it is most likely a leak will occur. One of these devices can be used to prevent damage from a water heater leak.
Water leak detection systems are available that have two vastly different reactions after a leak is detected. The first is what might be termed an active leak detector and the second as a passive leak detector.
The active leak detector will activate a shut off valve that will immediately turn the water off to ensure the leak is stopped. The passive leak detector will simply sound an alarm to alert you to the fact that a leak has been found. The passive leak detector loses its effectiveness if no-one is home to hear the alarm, meanwhile the water will continue to flow onto the floor of your house.
The leak, if and when it comes, is not necessarily going to play nice and occur out in the open where you can easily spot it and have the access to stop it immediately. Water pipes are also laid underground and are prone to corroding and failing, spilling water straight into the earth and potentially washing away the soil making the ground particularly unstable. You can get a water leak detector that can listen for the distinctive sound of water escaping from a pipe under pressure.
The ideal situation is to have your water leak detector installed on the main water supply line with sensors mounted at all of the vulnerable points where a leak is likely to occur.
The benefits that you will get from installing a water leak detection system is that the risk of water damage to the house is greatly reduced, you may be eligible for a reduction on your insurance premiums and you will have the peace of mind in knowing that your home and valuables are protected.
Water Damage From Water Heater Leaks
It is usually pretty obvious that the water heater has started to leak, although this will only be the case if your water heater is in a spot that you see on a regular basis. If the water heater is under the house in a basement that is rarely visited, then the water that has started to pool on the floor under the heater will remain unnoticed until other factors come into play.
Unfortunately, these factors may include a higher than expected water bill, a higher than expected electricity bill or an unexpected cold shower when the hot water runs out. There may be other indicators that the water heater has started to leak such as a constant damp feeling in the air or the growth of mold.
The leak in the water heater may have come about due to corrosion, in which case it will be necessary to replace the water heater, or it could be because of a failure in the water lines. If it is the latter problem, then it may be possible that you can repair the leak yourself. If you are going to avoid any further water damage the water heater is going to have to be repaired one way or the other.
As a means of avoiding significant water damage from a failed water heater that may begin leaking, you can place a drip pan underneath the unit. This is a preventative measure that is not expected to provide a long term solution should the water heater actually start to leak. The drip pan would merely prevent or minimize water damage to the floor until the proper repair work can be carried out. Make sure the drip pan has a drain that can be connected to a waste line so that it can channel the water out of the building.
A water heater leak can cause all sorts of water damage to the home, but even though the thought of possible mold, mildew or subfloor damage may sound like it’s a nightmare there is even greater damage that can be caused. An improperly installed water heater can result in toxic fumes being emitted or can be the cause of a house fire.
One of the simple steps you can take from time to time is to empty a bucket of water from the water heater though the release valve. This will help to rid the water heater of sediment build up which can contribute to corrosion of the unit.
Another step you can take that will also help to prevent major water damage in the house is to install an automatic shut of valve (ASOV), also known as a water leak detection system, to the water heater. The ASOV uses a water sensor that is linked to a water-controlling valve that is mounted on the heater’s cold water supply. When a leak is detected the ASOV stops the flow of water into the heater preventing the slow leak that can become a major water damage problem.
Water is one of the most damaging elements to property, responsible for more damage to properties each year than fire. The best way to avoid adding your property to the list due to a failed water heater is to take preventative measures. Assuming that there will be a water heater leak one day will prepare for a quick clean up job when it happens.
More articles about water damage prevention and restoration.
Hardwood Water Damage
Ceiling Water Damage Repair
Flood Restoration Tasks
Basement Water Damage
Unfortunately, these factors may include a higher than expected water bill, a higher than expected electricity bill or an unexpected cold shower when the hot water runs out. There may be other indicators that the water heater has started to leak such as a constant damp feeling in the air or the growth of mold.
The leak in the water heater may have come about due to corrosion, in which case it will be necessary to replace the water heater, or it could be because of a failure in the water lines. If it is the latter problem, then it may be possible that you can repair the leak yourself. If you are going to avoid any further water damage the water heater is going to have to be repaired one way or the other.
As a means of avoiding significant water damage from a failed water heater that may begin leaking, you can place a drip pan underneath the unit. This is a preventative measure that is not expected to provide a long term solution should the water heater actually start to leak. The drip pan would merely prevent or minimize water damage to the floor until the proper repair work can be carried out. Make sure the drip pan has a drain that can be connected to a waste line so that it can channel the water out of the building.
A water heater leak can cause all sorts of water damage to the home, but even though the thought of possible mold, mildew or subfloor damage may sound like it’s a nightmare there is even greater damage that can be caused. An improperly installed water heater can result in toxic fumes being emitted or can be the cause of a house fire.
One of the simple steps you can take from time to time is to empty a bucket of water from the water heater though the release valve. This will help to rid the water heater of sediment build up which can contribute to corrosion of the unit.
Another step you can take that will also help to prevent major water damage in the house is to install an automatic shut of valve (ASOV), also known as a water leak detection system, to the water heater. The ASOV uses a water sensor that is linked to a water-controlling valve that is mounted on the heater’s cold water supply. When a leak is detected the ASOV stops the flow of water into the heater preventing the slow leak that can become a major water damage problem.
Water is one of the most damaging elements to property, responsible for more damage to properties each year than fire. The best way to avoid adding your property to the list due to a failed water heater is to take preventative measures. Assuming that there will be a water heater leak one day will prepare for a quick clean up job when it happens.
More articles about water damage prevention and restoration.
Hardwood Water Damage
Ceiling Water Damage Repair
Flood Restoration Tasks
Basement Water Damage
Is An Ozone Air Purifier Effective For Cleaning Smoke Odor?
The question about whether ozone air purifiers are effective against contaminants in the air has been challenged by bodies such as the EPA. The claims that are often seen around the traps is that if you have a smoke damaged home following a fire one of the ways to remove the smoke odor is to use an ozone air purifier and the smoke odor would soon be cleared away.
According to the EPA the scientific evidence that is available at the moment shows that ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants. In fact, the scientific evidence has indicated that for many of the chemicals that are commonly found indoors it will take months or years for an ozone reaction to clear the air.
A further warning about using ozone air purifiers is that when the ozone comes in contact with certain chemicals there is the possibility of a chemical reaction that can be harmful to the health, possibly triggering allergies. Ozone air purifiers that contain an ionizer in the same unit are often said to be most effective for the clearing of smoke particles. Experiments have shown that ionizers were found to be less effective in removing particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal spores than either high efficiency particle filters or electrostatic precipitators.
Given that the main reason you would want to use an ozone air purifier as part of a fire damage restoration process is to remove odors from the house it is a little concerning to read that ozone is not effective at removing many odors.
There is data available that demonstrates that low levels of ozone may reduce levels of airborne concentrations and inhibit the growth of some biological organisms. The downside to this finding is that the level of ozone would have to be 5-10 times higher than public health standards allow before the ozone could decontaminate the air.
So if ozone air purifiers aren’t the answer for removing smoke odor from a smoke damaged home one wonders what methods of air pollution control are we left with?
There are three common ways that you can approach reducing air pollution and odor from an affected room:
1. Source Control: Remove the source of the pollution.
2. Ventilation: get as much air into the room from the outside as possible, and
3. Air Cleaning: remove the pollutants from the room using proven air cleaning methods.
This leaves the way open to wonder what the proven air cleaning methods are. Three types of air cleaner is currently on the market: mechanical filters, electronic air cleaners and ion generators.
Mechanical filters can be installed in the ducting of homes with central heating or air-conditioning or, if they are not available, as stand alone devices containing a fan to force the air through the filter. Electronic air cleaners use an electrical field to trap charged particles and ion generators use static charges to remove particles from indoor air.
All of these devices are effective for removing airborne particles from the air but they can only work as quickly as they can push air through the system. Unless the devices are particularly strong they will only move around 10 cubic feet per minute which means that it will take a long time to process the air in a room of around 1000 cubic feet.
According to the EPA the scientific evidence that is available at the moment shows that ozone has little potential to remove indoor air contaminants. In fact, the scientific evidence has indicated that for many of the chemicals that are commonly found indoors it will take months or years for an ozone reaction to clear the air.
A further warning about using ozone air purifiers is that when the ozone comes in contact with certain chemicals there is the possibility of a chemical reaction that can be harmful to the health, possibly triggering allergies. Ozone air purifiers that contain an ionizer in the same unit are often said to be most effective for the clearing of smoke particles. Experiments have shown that ionizers were found to be less effective in removing particles of dust, tobacco smoke, pollen or fungal spores than either high efficiency particle filters or electrostatic precipitators.Given that the main reason you would want to use an ozone air purifier as part of a fire damage restoration process is to remove odors from the house it is a little concerning to read that ozone is not effective at removing many odors.
There is data available that demonstrates that low levels of ozone may reduce levels of airborne concentrations and inhibit the growth of some biological organisms. The downside to this finding is that the level of ozone would have to be 5-10 times higher than public health standards allow before the ozone could decontaminate the air.
So if ozone air purifiers aren’t the answer for removing smoke odor from a smoke damaged home one wonders what methods of air pollution control are we left with?
There are three common ways that you can approach reducing air pollution and odor from an affected room:
1. Source Control: Remove the source of the pollution.
2. Ventilation: get as much air into the room from the outside as possible, and
3. Air Cleaning: remove the pollutants from the room using proven air cleaning methods.
This leaves the way open to wonder what the proven air cleaning methods are. Three types of air cleaner is currently on the market: mechanical filters, electronic air cleaners and ion generators.
Mechanical filters can be installed in the ducting of homes with central heating or air-conditioning or, if they are not available, as stand alone devices containing a fan to force the air through the filter. Electronic air cleaners use an electrical field to trap charged particles and ion generators use static charges to remove particles from indoor air.
All of these devices are effective for removing airborne particles from the air but they can only work as quickly as they can push air through the system. Unless the devices are particularly strong they will only move around 10 cubic feet per minute which means that it will take a long time to process the air in a room of around 1000 cubic feet.
Fire Smoke Damage in Unexpected Items
A fire will cause more damage than simply the obvious scorching or complete combustion that is plain to see after every fire. One of the challenges that confronts anyone coming in after the fire with the intention of cleaning up will be given the challenge of dealing with heat and smoke damage too.
Take, for instance, your CD player. It may look as if it has been completely spared by the fire, after all it is sitting in a part of the room that was not consumed by the flames. But a closer look, perhaps a look inside the casing of the CD player may reveal a different story. With tremendous heat being generated from close range it is very likely that considerable damage could have been done to the electrical components inside the player’s casing.
It will be necessary to disassemble just about all of your electrical devices in the house to check that they have not been melted or otherwise damaged during the blaze. Many of the working parts in these types of machines are actually made of plastic and it doesn’t take a particularly hot heat to melt or warp these pieces.
Another important consideration to make after a fire is the smoke damage that will have been done to food. Any food that was exposed to the fire will have to be removed and disposed of. Even though it looks like the food has survived the fire unscathed, the smoke generated by the fire will have penetrated deeply into the surface of any fresh fruit or vegetables as well as any container that was exposed to the elements. Don’t risk it – chuck it out.
Painted surfaces that have been damaged by smoke or heat will usually be noticeably affected with bubbling or discoloration. The smoke damage must be cleaned off the walls first and a very effective product to use to perform the cleaning is TSP which is available at paint or hardware stores. If necessary the old and damaged paint should be stripped from the walls. There are some sealing paint products available that can be used to paint over smoke damaged walls.
Fire smoke damage in the house structure and furnishings has been dealt with in much greater detail elsewhere at this site. You can read more about what steps to take when confronted with major smoke damage by hopping over to the page titled
Smoke Damage Restoration Steps
Take, for instance, your CD player. It may look as if it has been completely spared by the fire, after all it is sitting in a part of the room that was not consumed by the flames. But a closer look, perhaps a look inside the casing of the CD player may reveal a different story. With tremendous heat being generated from close range it is very likely that considerable damage could have been done to the electrical components inside the player’s casing.
It will be necessary to disassemble just about all of your electrical devices in the house to check that they have not been melted or otherwise damaged during the blaze. Many of the working parts in these types of machines are actually made of plastic and it doesn’t take a particularly hot heat to melt or warp these pieces.
Another important consideration to make after a fire is the smoke damage that will have been done to food. Any food that was exposed to the fire will have to be removed and disposed of. Even though it looks like the food has survived the fire unscathed, the smoke generated by the fire will have penetrated deeply into the surface of any fresh fruit or vegetables as well as any container that was exposed to the elements. Don’t risk it – chuck it out.
Painted surfaces that have been damaged by smoke or heat will usually be noticeably affected with bubbling or discoloration. The smoke damage must be cleaned off the walls first and a very effective product to use to perform the cleaning is TSP which is available at paint or hardware stores. If necessary the old and damaged paint should be stripped from the walls. There are some sealing paint products available that can be used to paint over smoke damaged walls.
Fire smoke damage in the house structure and furnishings has been dealt with in much greater detail elsewhere at this site. You can read more about what steps to take when confronted with major smoke damage by hopping over to the page titled
Smoke Damage Restoration Steps
A Desiccant Dehumidifier To Repair Water Damage
When your home has been subject to significant water damage and you have a pressing need to dry it out quickly, one of the tools that will come in extremely useful is a desiccant dehumidifier. These dehumidifiers can be rather expensive to buy so the most usual course of action to take is to find a hire company to get one for some short term use. Alternatively you can find a water restoration company that uses a desiccant dehumidifier as part of their water cleanup.
A desiccant dehumidifier works by using a desiccant material to produce a dehumidifying effect. In other words the desiccant attracts high humidity air into the device and away from the room accelerating the drying process as a result. The moisture is retained in the dehumidifier and in the meantime a second level of air is created that is used to dry the desiccant material so that it can continue to work. This type of system is a cyclical dehumidifier with the desiccant moving around the machine, drying out as it completes a revolution.
The means of regenerating the desiccant allows the dehumidifier to operate continuously for long periods of time needing only to be paused to remove the trapped water when the well becomes full. Other dehumidifiers can be connected to a hose that deposits the water outside of the room that is being dried. Those dehumidifiers that operate with a well system can take from between 8-12 hours to fill before they need to be replaced.
To give you an idea of what is meant by a desiccative material, think of those sachets of silica gel that come with many products to ensure they are kept dry. The desiccative material used in your average dehumidifier is much the same.
A desiccative dehumidifier operates by means of important components that work together as a cohesive unit. The first is the desiccant holder, the next is some type of fan that will direct the air to be treated into the unit, a heater is then used to dry the used desiccant and finally a fan that drives the desiccant through the holder.
These desiccative dehumidifier units are important when removing moisture from a water damaged wood floor because they are extremely effective in removing air from the room quickly. Whether it’s a wooden floor that has to be dried out or soft furnishings, the dehumidifier will dry the moisture out in no time.
Although they can be integrated into an existing air conditioning system, there are smaller models that can be easily moved from room to room as required. Not all dehumidifiers run on electricity either. In some cases they are needed in disaster or flood areas where there is no power and for these situations you can use a gas powered dehumidifier.
For regions of very high humidity, a desiccant dehumidifier can be an extremely valuable asset to have in order to remain comfortable during the most humid of days. It is quite common that hardwood floors will have suffered from the high humidity and have buckled a little because they have absorbed some of the moisture. In this case you would need to operate one not only for your own comfort but also for your floors too.
As a means of solving water damage within the home and to reduce the risk of having mold taking root on the walls and ceiling, a desiccant dehumidifier is a great option. It is certainly worth looking into getting a unit of your own, particularly if you have found re-occurring mold and mildew problems.
More reading about dehumidifiers
A Whole House Dehumidifier
A desiccant dehumidifier works by using a desiccant material to produce a dehumidifying effect. In other words the desiccant attracts high humidity air into the device and away from the room accelerating the drying process as a result. The moisture is retained in the dehumidifier and in the meantime a second level of air is created that is used to dry the desiccant material so that it can continue to work. This type of system is a cyclical dehumidifier with the desiccant moving around the machine, drying out as it completes a revolution.
The means of regenerating the desiccant allows the dehumidifier to operate continuously for long periods of time needing only to be paused to remove the trapped water when the well becomes full. Other dehumidifiers can be connected to a hose that deposits the water outside of the room that is being dried. Those dehumidifiers that operate with a well system can take from between 8-12 hours to fill before they need to be replaced.
To give you an idea of what is meant by a desiccative material, think of those sachets of silica gel that come with many products to ensure they are kept dry. The desiccative material used in your average dehumidifier is much the same.
A desiccative dehumidifier operates by means of important components that work together as a cohesive unit. The first is the desiccant holder, the next is some type of fan that will direct the air to be treated into the unit, a heater is then used to dry the used desiccant and finally a fan that drives the desiccant through the holder.
These desiccative dehumidifier units are important when removing moisture from a water damaged wood floor because they are extremely effective in removing air from the room quickly. Whether it’s a wooden floor that has to be dried out or soft furnishings, the dehumidifier will dry the moisture out in no time.
Although they can be integrated into an existing air conditioning system, there are smaller models that can be easily moved from room to room as required. Not all dehumidifiers run on electricity either. In some cases they are needed in disaster or flood areas where there is no power and for these situations you can use a gas powered dehumidifier.
For regions of very high humidity, a desiccant dehumidifier can be an extremely valuable asset to have in order to remain comfortable during the most humid of days. It is quite common that hardwood floors will have suffered from the high humidity and have buckled a little because they have absorbed some of the moisture. In this case you would need to operate one not only for your own comfort but also for your floors too.
As a means of solving water damage within the home and to reduce the risk of having mold taking root on the walls and ceiling, a desiccant dehumidifier is a great option. It is certainly worth looking into getting a unit of your own, particularly if you have found re-occurring mold and mildew problems.
More reading about dehumidifiers
A Whole House Dehumidifier
Smoke Damage Cleaning Products
In order to perform an adequate cleaning job after fire has gone through the property, your restoration specialist requires proper cleaning products. Part of the restoration work that is required must address the smoke damage that has taken place.
Smoke is the result of partial combustion of the fuel that feeds the fire and forms as visible particles in the air during the fire. These particles are absorbed into just about everything they come in contact with and linger long after the fire has been extinguished in the form of stains or odor. It doesn’t matter whether the surface is a hard surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling or a soft surface such as clothes, carpets or blankets smoke will get into everything and must be dealt with for any hope that it will be removed again.
Smoke damage cleaning products will include chemical cleaners such as the ones that are available from Winsol . For soot stains that have accumulated on the walls and ceilings you would need a dry chemical sponge to begin the soot removal process.
Some chemical products are available as air neutralizers that help you to eliminate the smoke odor from hard surfaces and textiles, speeding up the restoration process. It won’t completely eliminate all smoke odors but it will give you a good start and reduce the time required to complete a thermal fogging of the home.
That brings us to thermal fogging itself. Just as the smoke particles penetrate deeply into the pores of hard surfaces and is then trapped, an effective way to remove the odors is to complete a thermal fogging. Thermal fog replicates the penetration process, only instead of smoke a deodorizing mist is sent into the surface. The fog then attacks the smoke particles and neutralizes them. One complaint with thermal fogging is that although the smoke odor is removed, it is replaced by the chemical odor sued in the thermal fogger. This will dissipate reasonably rapidly but until it does the strong smell may cause distress.
Another product that may be used as part of a smoke restoration is an ozone treatment using an ozone generator. The ozone treatment produces an oxidizing agent that creates an aroma similar to that of a rain storm. The process breaks up the smoke particles eliminating the smoke odor from the room. Clothing and household furniture can be put through this type of ozone treatment by placing them under a tent while the ozone generator is operating.
Removing smoke odor from clothing will be possible through laundering although the success you have will depend heavily on the amount of smoke damage that has been done to the fabric. The majority of clothes can most effectively be restored by using a warm water wash with either a non-built liquid detergent or a low phosphate powder detergent and a liquid chlorine bleach. Tests have shown that the best results can be achieved after the equivalent of 5 washes. One or two washes won’t be enough to give you the level of cleaning that you are seeking.
All of the smoke damage cleaning products needed for a proper smoke restoration can be found quite readily and don’t need a lot of training to use. However, for the best results in performing the restoration it is advisable to talk to the fire restoration experts before taking any action. In most cases, even then, leave it to the people who do that kind of work for a living.
For more reading on this subject:
Smoke Damage Restoration Steps
Smoke is the result of partial combustion of the fuel that feeds the fire and forms as visible particles in the air during the fire. These particles are absorbed into just about everything they come in contact with and linger long after the fire has been extinguished in the form of stains or odor. It doesn’t matter whether the surface is a hard surface such as a floor, wall or ceiling or a soft surface such as clothes, carpets or blankets smoke will get into everything and must be dealt with for any hope that it will be removed again.
Smoke damage cleaning products will include chemical cleaners such as the ones that are available from Winsol . For soot stains that have accumulated on the walls and ceilings you would need a dry chemical sponge to begin the soot removal process.
Some chemical products are available as air neutralizers that help you to eliminate the smoke odor from hard surfaces and textiles, speeding up the restoration process. It won’t completely eliminate all smoke odors but it will give you a good start and reduce the time required to complete a thermal fogging of the home.
That brings us to thermal fogging itself. Just as the smoke particles penetrate deeply into the pores of hard surfaces and is then trapped, an effective way to remove the odors is to complete a thermal fogging. Thermal fog replicates the penetration process, only instead of smoke a deodorizing mist is sent into the surface. The fog then attacks the smoke particles and neutralizes them. One complaint with thermal fogging is that although the smoke odor is removed, it is replaced by the chemical odor sued in the thermal fogger. This will dissipate reasonably rapidly but until it does the strong smell may cause distress.
Another product that may be used as part of a smoke restoration is an ozone treatment using an ozone generator. The ozone treatment produces an oxidizing agent that creates an aroma similar to that of a rain storm. The process breaks up the smoke particles eliminating the smoke odor from the room. Clothing and household furniture can be put through this type of ozone treatment by placing them under a tent while the ozone generator is operating.
Removing smoke odor from clothing will be possible through laundering although the success you have will depend heavily on the amount of smoke damage that has been done to the fabric. The majority of clothes can most effectively be restored by using a warm water wash with either a non-built liquid detergent or a low phosphate powder detergent and a liquid chlorine bleach. Tests have shown that the best results can be achieved after the equivalent of 5 washes. One or two washes won’t be enough to give you the level of cleaning that you are seeking.
All of the smoke damage cleaning products needed for a proper smoke restoration can be found quite readily and don’t need a lot of training to use. However, for the best results in performing the restoration it is advisable to talk to the fire restoration experts before taking any action. In most cases, even then, leave it to the people who do that kind of work for a living.
For more reading on this subject:
Smoke Damage Restoration Steps
A Whole House Dehumidifier
Humidity in the house can cause problems and high humidity can result in conditions that allows mold to take hold. This can then lead to respiratory problems stemming from mold allergies. Early and decisive steps should be taken to reduce the humidity throughout the house or business and the best way to do that is to install a whole house dehumidifier. These units will also be necessary if there has been major flood or water damage that has inundated the majority of the lower floors of the property.
You can set up a whole house dehumidifier in either the home or in an office and let it run quietly in the background. They can be bought either as stand-alone units or as an installed unit that is connected to the ducted air conditioning in the home.
The aim of a dehumidifier is to remove the moisture content from the air and a whole house dehumidifier is simply a larger scale unit that is capable of working over a larger area. The stand-alone models would be suitable for a large, open plan room that will allow the dehumidification to operate within one large room. The integrated units would be more suitable for humidity problems within a large number of rooms.
Although the smaller of the whole house dehumidifiers won’t have quite as large a coverage, although up to 2200 square feet is a large area in itself, the smaller units are usually mounted on wheels and can be moved easily from room to room.
An example of one of the smaller units is a Santa Fe RX Whole House Dehumidifier which is capable of removing up to 86 pints of moisture per day. It is a stand-alone unit and can be moved from room to room. It’s probably ideal for an area such as a library that might be experiencing problems with mold in books.
In comparison an integrated unit that gives you the option of being
professionally installed into a ducted air conditioning system or left as a stand alone unit would be something like the Comfort Plus 300 Desiccant Dehumidifier. This unit is designed to remove moisture over an area of 4000 square feet. If you’ve been beset with mold problems throughout a large house or a series of school classrooms or similar sized area, something like this is ideal. Units such as this one can be run independent of the temperature. With some units the temperature is too low for the dehumidifier to operate.
After a major disaster such as flood water damage that has left large levels of moisture in the home it is necessary to begin removing the moisture from the area as quickly as possible. A whole house dehumidifier, or even a group of them working in conjunction with each other, is the kind of unit that you will want to use. They can be hired from many reputable hire companies for any period you require them.
In many cases you won’t want to have to buy a whole house dehumidifier unless the dampness problem is something that can’t be solved simply. In the end it may be cheaper to buy the dehumidifier and have it operating quietly in the background than spend thousands more on a major repair job.
You can set up a whole house dehumidifier in either the home or in an office and let it run quietly in the background. They can be bought either as stand-alone units or as an installed unit that is connected to the ducted air conditioning in the home.
The aim of a dehumidifier is to remove the moisture content from the air and a whole house dehumidifier is simply a larger scale unit that is capable of working over a larger area. The stand-alone models would be suitable for a large, open plan room that will allow the dehumidification to operate within one large room. The integrated units would be more suitable for humidity problems within a large number of rooms.
Although the smaller of the whole house dehumidifiers won’t have quite as large a coverage, although up to 2200 square feet is a large area in itself, the smaller units are usually mounted on wheels and can be moved easily from room to room.An example of one of the smaller units is a Santa Fe RX Whole House Dehumidifier which is capable of removing up to 86 pints of moisture per day. It is a stand-alone unit and can be moved from room to room. It’s probably ideal for an area such as a library that might be experiencing problems with mold in books.
In comparison an integrated unit that gives you the option of being
professionally installed into a ducted air conditioning system or left as a stand alone unit would be something like the Comfort Plus 300 Desiccant Dehumidifier. This unit is designed to remove moisture over an area of 4000 square feet. If you’ve been beset with mold problems throughout a large house or a series of school classrooms or similar sized area, something like this is ideal. Units such as this one can be run independent of the temperature. With some units the temperature is too low for the dehumidifier to operate.After a major disaster such as flood water damage that has left large levels of moisture in the home it is necessary to begin removing the moisture from the area as quickly as possible. A whole house dehumidifier, or even a group of them working in conjunction with each other, is the kind of unit that you will want to use. They can be hired from many reputable hire companies for any period you require them.
In many cases you won’t want to have to buy a whole house dehumidifier unless the dampness problem is something that can’t be solved simply. In the end it may be cheaper to buy the dehumidifier and have it operating quietly in the background than spend thousands more on a major repair job.
More reading about dehumidifiers
Flood Restoration Tasks
By necessity a flood restoration is going to be a long process simply for the time it will take to dry everything out. For this reason it is important to be organized through the entire restoration process so that the job continues to move forward and not be allowed to get caught up in unnecessary delays.
There are some basic tips that you should follow immediately following a flood. These are the sorts of things you can take care of before help arrives.
There are some basic tips that you should follow immediately following a flood. These are the sorts of things you can take care of before help arrives.
- Identify where the water is coming from and, if possible, stop it.
- If you can, reduce the heat inside the property to below 65 degrees to reduce the possibility of mold or mildew from taking hold.
- Make sure all of the electrical appliances in the home are switched off.
- Get as much of the furniture as you can up out of the water.
- Remove as much of the water from the property as you can.
- Remove all objects off the floor, including rugs and carpets if possible.
- Stay clear of sagging ceilings because there is a risk it will collapse.
A house that has suffered a flood will take some time to get back in order. The job should be left to the flood water restoration experts, although the tasks laid out above should help get them off to a fast start.
A big problem with cleaning up after a flood is that the flood water may have contained toxic chemicals and so there are very real health risks involved with working in the aftermath. What may be dealt with here is gray water or sewage. The flood restoration professionals will not enter the site unless wearing proper protective clothing such as overalls, breathing apparatus and gloves. You should be taking the same precautions.
Although you may have begun the process of water removal, your flood restoration expert will start their work by removing the remainder of the water. This is a vital first step because the sooner that task is completed the less chance toxic mold will have to grow. Industrial wet vacuums, whole house dehumidifiers and drying chemicals are all part of the water restoration professional’s arsenal. Opening all the doors and windows to let fresh air in won’t hurt either.
It will be necessary to remove all valuables and personal objects from the home so that they can either be stored or restored. You clothing will also have to be removed and cleaned because there is little chance that it will have gotten through the incident without getting damp. Where there is dampness, mildew is likely to follow.
The types of things you can expect to get done by a flood water restoration expert includes:
- Emergency water removal
- Drying of structural materials such as supports, beams, walls, cavities, ceilings and floors.
- Cleaning and sealing contaminated ducting.
- Mold remediation.
- Carpet removal, restoration and reinstallation.
- Upholstery and fabric restoration.
- Odor removal if necessary.
- They should also be able to identify and prevent further problems that may not be immediately apparent.
Your job as the homeowner is to oversee the entire restoration project and ensure that the water restoration carries on without any pause or delay. It is in your best interests to get the job done as quickly as possible so that you can get your life back to normal. If there are delays in the drying stage then you may be in for even greater damage than there would otherwise have been.
Ceiling Water Damage Repair
Water damage to the ceiling is the kind of problem that can begin as a minor inconvenience only to grow into a major problem if left unchecked. It is often caused by a leaking roof or eating plumbing from upstairs bathrooms. You find that water slowly runs along the rafters or down beams to the surface of the drywall ceiling and then becomes visible through a seam or corner. You might first notice a slight yellow or brown discoloration on the surface of the ceiling.
Changing the ceiling after damage is not quite as daunting a task as you may first imagine it to be. It may be a little more difficult than changing a wall after damage but only because gravity will be adding complexity to the task. In this case it is possible to make minor repairs to fix a damaged ceiling without fear of the whole thing falling on your head. Any major repairs should be made by a professional.
The moment you notice any change in color to the ceiling is the first moment that you should start investigating either the ceiling itself or the space behind the ceiling. You don't want to leave the ceiling water damage, which may only be a small problem when you first notice it, because if you ignore it, it will grow to become a major problem, perhaps even a disaster if the damage becomes so bad ceiling caves in.
The first step to take in performing a ceiling water damage repair is to find the leak and fix it. Once the leak is fixed you will have to get in behind the ceiling to assess the damage that the water has caused. This might involve removing the insulation to let it dry out. If you have caught it early enough it may be possible that you won't have to replace the ceiling drywall, it may simply need to be re-fastened, taped and plastered.
You may not be so lucky and the damage to the ceiling might mean it needs to be replaced. In this case the repair job may be similar to that of a regular drywall repair. This means cutting out the part of the drywall that is damaged, drying out the space behind the ceiling and then replacing it with a new piece of drywall. The important part of the repair is to make sure that everything behind the ceiling is completely dry. This includes the insulation and the beams and rafters in the roof.
In a lot of cases with a water damaged ceiling it won't be possible to clean the brown or yellow water stains without taking any further action. Instead you will have to use a stain sealer which is an oil based stain covering paint. Once the paint is dry complete the drywall replacement and then apply a couple more coats of ceiling paint.
All of these ceiling water damage repair tips assume that you already have a lot of experience in performing home handyman tasks. If this is not the case your best solution is to call in a water damage professional who will be better equipped to deal with the problem properly.
More information about water damage.
Hardwood Floor Water Damage
Drywall Water Damage
Water Damage Restoration For Floors and Walls
Changing the ceiling after damage is not quite as daunting a task as you may first imagine it to be. It may be a little more difficult than changing a wall after damage but only because gravity will be adding complexity to the task. In this case it is possible to make minor repairs to fix a damaged ceiling without fear of the whole thing falling on your head. Any major repairs should be made by a professional.
The moment you notice any change in color to the ceiling is the first moment that you should start investigating either the ceiling itself or the space behind the ceiling. You don't want to leave the ceiling water damage, which may only be a small problem when you first notice it, because if you ignore it, it will grow to become a major problem, perhaps even a disaster if the damage becomes so bad ceiling caves in.
The first step to take in performing a ceiling water damage repair is to find the leak and fix it. Once the leak is fixed you will have to get in behind the ceiling to assess the damage that the water has caused. This might involve removing the insulation to let it dry out. If you have caught it early enough it may be possible that you won't have to replace the ceiling drywall, it may simply need to be re-fastened, taped and plastered.
You may not be so lucky and the damage to the ceiling might mean it needs to be replaced. In this case the repair job may be similar to that of a regular drywall repair. This means cutting out the part of the drywall that is damaged, drying out the space behind the ceiling and then replacing it with a new piece of drywall. The important part of the repair is to make sure that everything behind the ceiling is completely dry. This includes the insulation and the beams and rafters in the roof.
In a lot of cases with a water damaged ceiling it won't be possible to clean the brown or yellow water stains without taking any further action. Instead you will have to use a stain sealer which is an oil based stain covering paint. Once the paint is dry complete the drywall replacement and then apply a couple more coats of ceiling paint.
All of these ceiling water damage repair tips assume that you already have a lot of experience in performing home handyman tasks. If this is not the case your best solution is to call in a water damage professional who will be better equipped to deal with the problem properly.
More information about water damage.
Hardwood Floor Water Damage
Drywall Water Damage
Water Damage Restoration For Floors and Walls
Hardwood Floor Water Damage
Repairing water damage on a hardwood floor is a task that may be necessary from time to time on a small scale with intermittent spillages or minor leaks. Alternatively you may be faced with major water damage following flood or a large body of water that has saturated your hardwood floorboards.
Repairing Minor Hardwood Floor Water Damage
If you have discovered a minor leak that has allowed water to seep onto your hardwood floorboards, there may be a single spot that has become damp and discoloured compared to the rest of your floor. In this case there are some simple steps that you can take to repair the hardwood floor water damage.
Firstly, make sure you have identified the source of the water damage and fixed it completely. Any later repair work will be for nothing if you do not seal the leak or repair the pipes from where the water is coming.
Next, you may be faced with a spot that is discoloured and possibly swollen and cracked. The wood grain has become affected by the water damage and has reacted. Dry out the affected area until it is completely dry before beginning any restoration work on it.
Begin by sanding back the affected area starting with a coarse sandpaper before moving back to a finer grit. Once the area has been sanded back and the stain edges are smooth treat the area with a wood sealant that matches the rest of the floor. Following one coat of sealant it may be necessary to sand it back before adding another coat.
Some kind of blending process may have to be done so that the damaged area winds up looking the same as the original floor.
Major Hardwood Floor Water Damage Repair
When a lot of moisture has been absorbed by a hardwood floor the most common result is that the wood expands. When the boards expand they become wider and one of two things might happen, you might have a buckled floor or you may have a floor that is cupped. In either case you are left with a seriously uneven floor.
In order to restore the water damaged hardwood floor without having to pull up the entire floor and replace it you can use a process known as
desiccant dehumidification. This is carried out by bringing in a desiccant dehumidifier which if very effective at reducing the humidity level in the air. The desiccant dehumidifier can be run under sealed conditions to completely remove the moisture from the area. In this case you are removing moisture from the floorboards.
Running a dehumidifier for an extended period will help to reduce the swollen floorboards and counteract the cupping or buckling that has taken place. As the moisture is drawn out of the air it will also be drawn out of the hardwood floorboards and they will shrink back to their normal size. Effectively you want the top surface of the floorboards and the bottom surface to be balanced in moisture content.
Repairing Minor Hardwood Floor Water Damage
If you have discovered a minor leak that has allowed water to seep onto your hardwood floorboards, there may be a single spot that has become damp and discoloured compared to the rest of your floor. In this case there are some simple steps that you can take to repair the hardwood floor water damage.
Firstly, make sure you have identified the source of the water damage and fixed it completely. Any later repair work will be for nothing if you do not seal the leak or repair the pipes from where the water is coming.
Next, you may be faced with a spot that is discoloured and possibly swollen and cracked. The wood grain has become affected by the water damage and has reacted. Dry out the affected area until it is completely dry before beginning any restoration work on it.
Begin by sanding back the affected area starting with a coarse sandpaper before moving back to a finer grit. Once the area has been sanded back and the stain edges are smooth treat the area with a wood sealant that matches the rest of the floor. Following one coat of sealant it may be necessary to sand it back before adding another coat.
Some kind of blending process may have to be done so that the damaged area winds up looking the same as the original floor.
Major Hardwood Floor Water Damage Repair
When a lot of moisture has been absorbed by a hardwood floor the most common result is that the wood expands. When the boards expand they become wider and one of two things might happen, you might have a buckled floor or you may have a floor that is cupped. In either case you are left with a seriously uneven floor.In order to restore the water damaged hardwood floor without having to pull up the entire floor and replace it you can use a process known as
desiccant dehumidification. This is carried out by bringing in a desiccant dehumidifier which if very effective at reducing the humidity level in the air. The desiccant dehumidifier can be run under sealed conditions to completely remove the moisture from the area. In this case you are removing moisture from the floorboards.
Running a dehumidifier for an extended period will help to reduce the swollen floorboards and counteract the cupping or buckling that has taken place. As the moisture is drawn out of the air it will also be drawn out of the hardwood floorboards and they will shrink back to their normal size. Effectively you want the top surface of the floorboards and the bottom surface to be balanced in moisture content.
An illustration of a cupped wood floor
Once the floor has been properly dried and the moisture is removed from the surrounding area, the floor can be sanded back and refinished so that it is returned to its original smoothness again.
If the hardwood floor has become so buckled that it has come completely away from the subfloor to which it was attached it may be necessary to call in a hardwood floor installer to reattach the planks.
In all cases when dealing with repairing hardwood floor water damage the key to a successful restoration is to completely remove the moisture that caused the original damage in the first place. No matter how carefully you carry out your restoration, if you haven’t fixed the origin of the water the problem will return and cost you even more of both your time and money.
If the hardwood floor has become so buckled that it has come completely away from the subfloor to which it was attached it may be necessary to call in a hardwood floor installer to reattach the planks.
In all cases when dealing with repairing hardwood floor water damage the key to a successful restoration is to completely remove the moisture that caused the original damage in the first place. No matter how carefully you carry out your restoration, if you haven’t fixed the origin of the water the problem will return and cost you even more of both your time and money.
Here are some more water damage restoration articles
Drywall Water Damage
The way you deal with water damage to your drywall walls will depend largely on a number of different factors. The first thing that must be determined is the amount of water involved in the damage, the more water damage there is affecting the drywall the greater will be the repair required.
The sort of water involved in the drywall water damage will also play a big part in the action you will be required to take. There are three standards that measure the cleanliness of the water that has invaded your home: black, grey and clear.
Black water is highly polluted water, usually involving sewage contamination but can also contain pesticides or toxic organic substances. If your drywall is affected by black water you will have to completely replace the wall and very likely the supporting structure underneath as well.
Gray water can carry microorganisms that are harmful to the health, possibly causing illness. Gray water may come from dishwashers, washing machines or sump pump failures. Walls that are affected by gray water can be treated without having to resort to complete wall removal.
Clear water damage usually originates from leaky pipes, rainwater or sink overflows that do not contain contaminates. Drywall water damage that involves clear water can be treated without having to remove the drywall.
Drywall Water Damage Repair
Drywall that has been affected by water damage will become quite noticeable very quickly because the paper backing tends to bubble or wrinkle. It should be repaired after first identifying the cause of the initial water damage. There’s no point in repairing a water damaged drywall without fixing the source of the leak because within a month or two you’ll find yourself back exactly where you started.
If the water damage is not extensive you should simply cut out the affected area of drywall in a square or rectangle shape. Neatness counts at this point because you are going to be replacing the damaged drywall with a new piece.
Once the water damaged drywall piece is removed check the wall cavity for signs of water or, if there is insulation in the wall, test the insulation to see if it is wet. If the insulation proves to be wet, you will have to remove and replace the insulation as well, which may require a larger hole.
Once you have satisfied yourself that the wall cavity is dry, cut a replacement piece of drywall so that it is a snug fit. It may be necessary to install a backing piece if timber behind the drywall hole, screwing it to existing studs to support the new piece. Secure the new piece of drywall in place and tape the seams applying plenty of plaster over the top. Allow the plaster to dry before sanding back and finishing it to match the rest of the wall.
More Water Damage Articles
Basement Water Damage
Deodorize A Water Damaged Carpet
Repair A Water Damaged Carpet
Conduct Your Own Water Damage Restoration
The sort of water involved in the drywall water damage will also play a big part in the action you will be required to take. There are three standards that measure the cleanliness of the water that has invaded your home: black, grey and clear.
Black water is highly polluted water, usually involving sewage contamination but can also contain pesticides or toxic organic substances. If your drywall is affected by black water you will have to completely replace the wall and very likely the supporting structure underneath as well.
Gray water can carry microorganisms that are harmful to the health, possibly causing illness. Gray water may come from dishwashers, washing machines or sump pump failures. Walls that are affected by gray water can be treated without having to resort to complete wall removal.
Clear water damage usually originates from leaky pipes, rainwater or sink overflows that do not contain contaminates. Drywall water damage that involves clear water can be treated without having to remove the drywall.
Drywall Water Damage Repair
Drywall that has been affected by water damage will become quite noticeable very quickly because the paper backing tends to bubble or wrinkle. It should be repaired after first identifying the cause of the initial water damage. There’s no point in repairing a water damaged drywall without fixing the source of the leak because within a month or two you’ll find yourself back exactly where you started.
If the water damage is not extensive you should simply cut out the affected area of drywall in a square or rectangle shape. Neatness counts at this point because you are going to be replacing the damaged drywall with a new piece.
Once the water damaged drywall piece is removed check the wall cavity for signs of water or, if there is insulation in the wall, test the insulation to see if it is wet. If the insulation proves to be wet, you will have to remove and replace the insulation as well, which may require a larger hole.
Once you have satisfied yourself that the wall cavity is dry, cut a replacement piece of drywall so that it is a snug fit. It may be necessary to install a backing piece if timber behind the drywall hole, screwing it to existing studs to support the new piece. Secure the new piece of drywall in place and tape the seams applying plenty of plaster over the top. Allow the plaster to dry before sanding back and finishing it to match the rest of the wall.
More Water Damage Articles
Basement Water Damage
Deodorize A Water Damaged Carpet
Repair A Water Damaged Carpet
Conduct Your Own Water Damage Restoration
Odor Removal
The aftermath of a fire regardless of its size will always have one particular kind of result. Fire damage smell will always be a distinctive result of a fire thanks to the smoke that soaks into every crack and crevice that it comes in contact with. One aspect that will feature prominent in any home restoration, whether it’s a fire restoration or a water restoration, is the need to remove odor from the living space. Odor can arise from many origins such as smoke odor after a fire or a damp mildew odor following a flood. Following a disaster there may be contaminates brought in from outside.
No matter what the kind of odor removal is required, there are some basic principles that will be involved:
1. Remove the source of the odor.
2. Clean the affected surface or material.
3. Treat the surface with a penetrating counteractant.
4. Seal the surface that is being restored if possible.
When there is an odor coming from the carpet it’s a pretty good be that it signals the presence of mold or mildew in the carpet. When the carpet has become wet for one reason or another, such as not being properly dried after washing, the organisms can grow. There are a few simple solutions that can be tried using common household products to remove mold or urine odors from the carpet.
Baking soda is a very popular substance for use in removing odor. The reason why baking soda works is that it is composed of sodium carbonate and it’s this that actively eliminates the odors. White vinegar is another effective odor eliminator through the acidic nature which will kill the bacteria as it contacts it. Similarly lemon will work in much the same way as vinegar. The acid content of lemon will help to counteract the odor in a carpet.
These three products are also simple but effective methods of removing most pet odors from the house, including the odor of urine. Baking soda mixed with water and sprayed over a urine stain will neutralize the odor and will play a big part in cleaning the stain.
Smoke odor removal is another matter altogether. In this case we will talk about cleaning smoke odor following a house fire. During a fire the smoke particles tend to permeate all hard and soft surfaces, moving into the objects themselves where they are trapped, giving off a constant smoky odor long after the rest of the damage has been cleaned up.
To remove the smoke odor you have a number of options at your disposal. Firstly you will need to air out the room as completely as possible to remove as much of the residual smell as you can. It may be necessary to carry out a thermal fogging procedure which will send in purifying mist into the pores of the surfaces affected by the smoke, neutralizing the odor.
Alternatively, you might try using an Ionic Air Purifier which will work constantly to trap and remove odors from the room while releasing purified air back into the room. Some of these air purifiers feature a high-efficiency particle filter (HEPA) which is a very effective filter to use on solid particles.
No matter what kind of odor is plaguing your home, there is usually a simple and effective method for counter-acting it. Usually it is not necessary to go out and spend a lot of money on expensive wonder chemicals that claim to clean and freshen.
No matter what the kind of odor removal is required, there are some basic principles that will be involved:
1. Remove the source of the odor.
2. Clean the affected surface or material.
3. Treat the surface with a penetrating counteractant.
4. Seal the surface that is being restored if possible.
When there is an odor coming from the carpet it’s a pretty good be that it signals the presence of mold or mildew in the carpet. When the carpet has become wet for one reason or another, such as not being properly dried after washing, the organisms can grow. There are a few simple solutions that can be tried using common household products to remove mold or urine odors from the carpet.
Baking soda is a very popular substance for use in removing odor. The reason why baking soda works is that it is composed of sodium carbonate and it’s this that actively eliminates the odors. White vinegar is another effective odor eliminator through the acidic nature which will kill the bacteria as it contacts it. Similarly lemon will work in much the same way as vinegar. The acid content of lemon will help to counteract the odor in a carpet.
These three products are also simple but effective methods of removing most pet odors from the house, including the odor of urine. Baking soda mixed with water and sprayed over a urine stain will neutralize the odor and will play a big part in cleaning the stain.
Smoke odor removal is another matter altogether. In this case we will talk about cleaning smoke odor following a house fire. During a fire the smoke particles tend to permeate all hard and soft surfaces, moving into the objects themselves where they are trapped, giving off a constant smoky odor long after the rest of the damage has been cleaned up.
To remove the smoke odor you have a number of options at your disposal. Firstly you will need to air out the room as completely as possible to remove as much of the residual smell as you can. It may be necessary to carry out a thermal fogging procedure which will send in purifying mist into the pores of the surfaces affected by the smoke, neutralizing the odor.
Alternatively, you might try using an Ionic Air Purifier which will work constantly to trap and remove odors from the room while releasing purified air back into the room. Some of these air purifiers feature a high-efficiency particle filter (HEPA) which is a very effective filter to use on solid particles.
No matter what kind of odor is plaguing your home, there is usually a simple and effective method for counter-acting it. Usually it is not necessary to go out and spend a lot of money on expensive wonder chemicals that claim to clean and freshen.
Finding Disaster Restoration Companies
Disaster Restoration
Any building that has suffered structural damage from outside elements, whether natural or otherwise will require some kind of restoration work. When the disaster that has struck the home is something like flood, hurricane or other water damage the need for a disaster restoration is more urgent. Ideally there should be steps taken to begin drying out the rooms within the first 48 hours.
The quickest and safest way to get the job done is to call in disaster restoration experts.
It can be difficult to work out who is the best qualified to do the job for you, with any number of shonky operators willing to take advantage of victims of water damage. There are some qualifications that you should look for when seeking a disaster restoration contractor.
Any building that has suffered structural damage from outside elements, whether natural or otherwise will require some kind of restoration work. When the disaster that has struck the home is something like flood, hurricane or other water damage the need for a disaster restoration is more urgent. Ideally there should be steps taken to begin drying out the rooms within the first 48 hours.
The quickest and safest way to get the job done is to call in disaster restoration experts.
It can be difficult to work out who is the best qualified to do the job for you, with any number of shonky operators willing to take advantage of victims of water damage. There are some qualifications that you should look for when seeking a disaster restoration contractor.
- Your insurance company will have a reliable list of contractors to choose from. Seek their help in selecting someone well qualified.
- It’s always a good idea to check out the potential contractor with the Better Business Bureau.
- Disaster restoration experts who are certified by reputable trade organizations such as the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) or RIA (Restoration Industry Association).
- Make sure the person you are hiring is insured, licensed and bonded.
The main thing that you’ve got to look for is a well organized company that will take control of the disaster restoration for you. They should be able to offer a complete plan of action including the removal and storage of any belongings that may be salvageable, dealing with the insurance company and offer alternatives on what can be saved and what can’t.
They will be required with all aspects of disaster recovery including the complete property damage restoration. In the case of a flood or major water damage there will be the need to be able to deal with water damage restoration involving the associated problems of water damage carpet cleaning, carpet repair and carpet restoration. They will also have to provide knowledge of furniture restoration such as how to deal with a water damaged couch, rug or table. As well as restoring or repairing the furniture that was damaged in the flood, your disaster restoration contractors will have to be able to perform a complete water extraction that will remove all trace of water, vital if there is to be no later problems with mold and mildew.
On the other side of the disaster scale will be a disaster involving fire. The restoration knowledge will be a little different with expertise required in smoke damage cleanup and removal, smoke damage repair and smoke odor removal.
These days with modern technology making its way well and truly into the family home, there will also be a need for a disaster restoration contractor to be able to perform a full electronics restoration. This may include a data recovery on your computer and the security system if it is integrated into the home. Not all services can provide these features so it is important to find this out first.
It will be important that the disaster restoration contractors are able to secure your premises while they are working on your home. In cases or flood or fire, it may be difficult to secure the home so the contractors should be able to provide you with a solution to deal with the problem.
Fire and water damage repair is a specialized field that requires specific attention to detail and professional knowledge. Make sure you take the necessary care in finding a disaster restoration expert who is up to the task to ensure that your misery is not extended to the cleanup.
More advice about disaster restoration companies is available at:
Black Mold Removal
A mold damage restoration can be a major undertaking. Apart from the fact that it is very frustrating to find water leaking or flooding into your house every time it rains, there is a more insidious problem that can make its presence felt if there is no immediate water cleanup soon after. Mold will quickly take hold in any damp environment, quickly establishing itself from airborne spores that will grow on any cellulose-based material.
For the most part, and for most people, molds are not a big health problem. However, they do produce allergens that can cause allergic reactions. Either touching or inhaling mold or mold spores is enough to get have an allergic reaction. Black mold is a particularly serious problem because it produces a toxic substance called mycotoxin which can be a potential health hazard.
Mold spores are ubiquitous, so basically, getting rid of all of them is not really an option. If you are going to conduct a thorough job of black mold removal, the best you can do is to kill the existing black mold and then ensure that the conditions in which black mold spores grow are not available.
Essentially, black mold removal involves 4 important steps and can be summed up by the following actions: Contain, Kill, Remove, Protect. In other words, contain the mold to as small an area as possible, kill existing mold that is visible, remove the mold that has been killed and protect the surfaces that have been cleaned as well as creating conditions to prevent more mold growth.
Black Mold Removal Tips
For the most part, and for most people, molds are not a big health problem. However, they do produce allergens that can cause allergic reactions. Either touching or inhaling mold or mold spores is enough to get have an allergic reaction. Black mold is a particularly serious problem because it produces a toxic substance called mycotoxin which can be a potential health hazard.
Mold spores are ubiquitous, so basically, getting rid of all of them is not really an option. If you are going to conduct a thorough job of black mold removal, the best you can do is to kill the existing black mold and then ensure that the conditions in which black mold spores grow are not available.
Essentially, black mold removal involves 4 important steps and can be summed up by the following actions: Contain, Kill, Remove, Protect. In other words, contain the mold to as small an area as possible, kill existing mold that is visible, remove the mold that has been killed and protect the surfaces that have been cleaned as well as creating conditions to prevent more mold growth.
Black Mold Removal Tips
- Do not simply paint over the black mold. This will not kill the mold, it will continue to grow and will become an even bigger problem.
- Do not attempt to kill black mold be using bleach. Bleach is ineffective against black mold. It may initially remove the mold but it is not a long lasting solution.
- Wear a complete protective covering when carrying out your black mold removal.
- Keep the area that is being cleaned well ventilated at all times. When you disturb the black mold there will be mold spores dispersed into the air. A well ventilated room will allow the mold spores to be carried away.
- Once the mold is killed and removed ensure that the conditions that allowed the mold to grow in the first place are changed. In other words, remove any sources of dampness.
The Safest Method of Black Mold Removal
Call in a mold remediation specialist. Professional mold removal specialists are equipped to remove large infestations of toxic black mold from homes. They are people who do this kind of thing for a living and if you feel that you will be out of your depth and will be needlessly risking your health by attempting the job yourself, then the best idea would be to call in an expert.
Mold removal also involves a complete inspection of the area to ensure that all affected areas have been identified. Black mold growth doesn't only take place in places that are easy to see. There are plenty of hidden surfaces that may be covered with mold. Professional mold remediation guys know what to look for and where to look to confirm that all black mold has been successfully removed.
However, there are many people who prefer to do the mold removal themselves, but there are some basics that should be taken care of.
Do It Youself Black Mold Removal
When carrying out your own black mold removal, it is a good idea to wear protective clothing that includes a Tyvek suit, gloves and a face mask. While working in a room that has been infested with black mold, try to get as much fresh air into the room as you can. The whole idea is that you want to come with as little contact as possible with the mold spores.
To remove black mold, use a fungicide spray directly on the black mold to kill the mold growth completely. Wipe the affected surface down completely with the fungicide solution until the entire area is free of growth. Once the black mold has been killed and removed, the room and the surfaces must be completely dried to ensure there will be little chance of re-infestation.
More information about mold detection and treating mold damage:
Cleaning Mold From the Ceiling
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Mold Damage in Books
Prevent Mold Damage
The Risks Linked To Basement Water Damage
Finding out that you have a problem with water lying around on the floor of your basement should concern you above the fact that it will result in a degree of water damage to the walls, floor and any belongings being stored down there. Basement water damage will inevitably affect the rest of the household because it will create a damp atmosphere that will forever be permeating upwards into the house.
The toughest part of your basement water problems may be that you don't even realise you have a problem with water damage in the basement. This is certainly a possibility if the basement is not in constant use. It may be a storage room, or it may be locked up and only ever visited once or twice a year. If what you are unwittingly dealing with is basement water seeping onto the floor from an unidentified source, then it may be months before it is discovered.
In the meantime, you may have experienced some annoying little disturbances in the household and could never pinpoint their origin. Mold growing on walls, ceilings or even in corners on the floor may have started to give you cause for concern. But damage to the surfaces of your home may not be the most upsetting aspect of this. Left unchecked the growth of mold can trigger health problems, particularly if the member of the family suffers from a mold allergy. When there is undetected water lying in the basement, no matter how diligently you remove mold it will either come back somewhere else or it will be growing unseen in dark nooks or crannies around the house.
A Simple Task That Will Minimize Basement Water Damage
It may not be possible to predict when or if you are going to fall victim to a leak in the basement but it is possible to minimise the damage that it can cause to your home and to your family's health. The first step you should take is to at least go down into the basement on a semi-regular basis. If the greatest risk to the non-detection of water in the basement is because you never go down there, then by simply walking down a flight of stairs you may be avoiding a huge water damage bill.
So, your simple task is to look for the water damage in your basement.
Problems Caused by Basement Water Damage
There are a lot of negative outcomes that are experienced with basement flooding apart from the fact that it is an inconvenience that is expensive to repair. Research has revealed the following impacts:
Property value may depreciate when it is found that the basement may be prone to frequent flooding. Respiratory problems are linked to houses that prove to be chronically damp. The building foundations and structure is weakened due to frequently being damp. Repeated claims due to a flooded basement can lead to increased insurance premiums.
More information about basement water damage can be found in the article:
Water Damage In the Basement
The toughest part of your basement water problems may be that you don't even realise you have a problem with water damage in the basement. This is certainly a possibility if the basement is not in constant use. It may be a storage room, or it may be locked up and only ever visited once or twice a year. If what you are unwittingly dealing with is basement water seeping onto the floor from an unidentified source, then it may be months before it is discovered.
In the meantime, you may have experienced some annoying little disturbances in the household and could never pinpoint their origin. Mold growing on walls, ceilings or even in corners on the floor may have started to give you cause for concern. But damage to the surfaces of your home may not be the most upsetting aspect of this. Left unchecked the growth of mold can trigger health problems, particularly if the member of the family suffers from a mold allergy. When there is undetected water lying in the basement, no matter how diligently you remove mold it will either come back somewhere else or it will be growing unseen in dark nooks or crannies around the house.
A Simple Task That Will Minimize Basement Water Damage
It may not be possible to predict when or if you are going to fall victim to a leak in the basement but it is possible to minimise the damage that it can cause to your home and to your family's health. The first step you should take is to at least go down into the basement on a semi-regular basis. If the greatest risk to the non-detection of water in the basement is because you never go down there, then by simply walking down a flight of stairs you may be avoiding a huge water damage bill.
So, your simple task is to look for the water damage in your basement.
Problems Caused by Basement Water Damage
There are a lot of negative outcomes that are experienced with basement flooding apart from the fact that it is an inconvenience that is expensive to repair. Research has revealed the following impacts:
More information about basement water damage can be found in the article:
Water Damage In the Basement
Food Safety After A Fire
When your house has had a fire go through it there are more things to worry about than simply what can and can't be cleaned and how you should go about it. Safety measures should also be followed and one those measures involves food.
Food that has survived a fire should be treated with caution because it will have been affected in some way. here are some tips about how to proceed when it comes to the food that is left over after a fire.
Food that has survived a fire should be treated with caution because it will have been affected in some way. here are some tips about how to proceed when it comes to the food that is left over after a fire.
- Food in cans or jars may look as though it has been unaffected by the fire, however if it was in close proximity to the heat of the fire there is a strong possibility that it has been rendered inedible. The heat from the fire can activate bacteria that spoils food. If the heat has been hot enough it is possible that the can has split and the food will be unsafe to consume anyway.
- Food that is stored in permeable packaging such as cardboard, plastic, paper, etc. should be thrown away regardless of the possibility of heat damage. Toxic fumes will in all likelihood have contaminated the food. It doesn't matter if the packaging was unopened, toxic fumes can still permeate the packaging and contaminate the food within.
- Raw fruit and vegetables that were stored outside the refrigerator should be discarded because these, too, will have been contaminated by fumes. Even food that is stored within the refrigerator or freezer may have been contaminated although you can still attempt to eat it if you wish. If you notice an unusual flavor or odor to the food when it is prepared you can assume that the seals were not airtight and the food should be thrown out.
- It is possible that some of the chemicals that were used to fight the fire came in contact with food in the house. These chemicals contain toxic materials that cannot be washed off the food. Food that is exposed to these chemicals should also be thrown away. This includes all goods that are stored in permeable containers and screw top jars. Cans and cookware should be decontaminated before they are used.
Deodorizing A Water Damaged Carpet
Most carpets can withstand water damage for up to three days. Naturally, responding to a flooded carpet as quickly as possible is critical to effecting a successful restoration, but if you can't get to it within a day, there's not necessarily cause for dispair.
If you get the carpet up off the floor your first stage is to begin the drying process. Once you have worked out the state of the water that has damaged your carpet, then you can decide whether it is worth the effort to proceed. Sometimes water is simply too dirty or unsanitary to bother with a restoration and cleaning service.
There are essentially three classes of water. First there is clean water which is water that contains no debris, possibly from a leaking pipe for example. The prognosis for the wet carpet is that it can be saved. The next type of water is grey water. In this case the water is not necessarily clean but it also doesn't contain hazardous materials. The wet carpet may have been damaged from a washing machine oveflow, for example. The carpet can be saved in this case too.
The final type of water rating is black water. This may have come from sewage backup or runoff water. The carpet must be handled with caution and everything that has come in contact with the water should be discarded.
For the carpet that is being saved the carpet should first be dried and then sanitized. After it has been sanitized it will have to undergo a deodorization process. In this process there are some basic steps that should be followed. First you have to remove the source of the odor, then clean the carpet before sealing the carpet so that it is protected against further spills.
Using a deodorizing solution from the local supermarket will do the job or you could try using water with a 20% plain white vinegar mix. Follow this up with a thorough carpet shampoo and then make sure there is plenty of ventilation where the deodorizing took place to completely dry out the carpet again.
When you are performing a carpet deodorization you ant to achieve the following 7 things:
If you get the carpet up off the floor your first stage is to begin the drying process. Once you have worked out the state of the water that has damaged your carpet, then you can decide whether it is worth the effort to proceed. Sometimes water is simply too dirty or unsanitary to bother with a restoration and cleaning service.
There are essentially three classes of water. First there is clean water which is water that contains no debris, possibly from a leaking pipe for example. The prognosis for the wet carpet is that it can be saved. The next type of water is grey water. In this case the water is not necessarily clean but it also doesn't contain hazardous materials. The wet carpet may have been damaged from a washing machine oveflow, for example. The carpet can be saved in this case too.
The final type of water rating is black water. This may have come from sewage backup or runoff water. The carpet must be handled with caution and everything that has come in contact with the water should be discarded.
For the carpet that is being saved the carpet should first be dried and then sanitized. After it has been sanitized it will have to undergo a deodorization process. In this process there are some basic steps that should be followed. First you have to remove the source of the odor, then clean the carpet before sealing the carpet so that it is protected against further spills.
Using a deodorizing solution from the local supermarket will do the job or you could try using water with a 20% plain white vinegar mix. Follow this up with a thorough carpet shampoo and then make sure there is plenty of ventilation where the deodorizing took place to completely dry out the carpet again.
When you are performing a carpet deodorization you ant to achieve the following 7 things:
- masking
- absorbing
- pairing
- disinfecting
- digesting
- oxidizing
- sealing
As well as using a deodorizing chemical you may also have to resort to more heavy duty methods to get the carpet smelling fresh and clean again. You might have to make use of such things as thermal foggers or ozone units.
Water Damage In the Basement
One of those sinking feelings in the pit of your stomach will threaten to overwhelm you when you discover that the basement has a problem with water damage. It could be because of a long-undiscovered leak which could have been causing untold damage for a long time, or it could be caused by the creation of an environment that is overly humid.
In either situation you could find yourself sitting on foundations that have become structurally dangerous or there could be mold or other fungus growth taking place, breeding a potential health risk.
The basement may be damp because of moisture soaking through the foundation, it doesn’t necessarily have to have come from a leaking pipe.
The first step to repairing any water damage in the basement is to identify exactly what it is that’s causing the moisture in the first place. A leaking pipe will be the easiest contributor to identify and fix. Not so easy will be identifying that the daily activities of you and your family are causing a build up of humidity which is then collecting below the floor. The indicator that this is happening could be a mysterious recurring growth of mold or mildew.
It may be necessary to reassess how the water runs in the garden directly outside the basement. If the water is not running off away from the house it is possible that it is soaking into the ground and on into the basement through the walls. In this case it will be necessary to put in additional external drainage to move the water away from the house.
Lowering Humidity In the House
There are a number of ways to fix the humidity in your basement. Firstly, install ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathroom if they don’t already have them. These two rooms are the most humid of any other room in the house.
If ventilation is installed already, ensure it is directing the air out of the house and that it hasn’t become blocked. If you have a clothes dryer it should be vented to the outside of the house.
A poorly operating air conditioning system can fail to remove humidity which may be a contributing factor to a build up in the basement. Call a contractor to check your system to confirm it is operating properly.
If the basement becomes damp from humidity in the warmer months it may be necessary to have a dehumidifier running in the basement. It’s best to run the dehumidifier in a closed room to stop humid air from outside the house from entering the basement.
Water Damage From A Leaking Pipe
If the water damage is noticeable on the ceiling of the basement or on the walls directly below a bathroom it may indicate that the water pipes have been damaged. In this case your best course of action is to call out a plumber.
Water damage that consists of considerable mold growth can best be solved by calling a professional who specializes in mold remediation.
Naturally, the most certain way to solve a problem with water in the basement is to call out a reputable water damage restoration expert. Water restoration professionals are equipped to locate the cause of any moisture as well as being experienced in repairing damaged walls or ceilings and preventing water damage in the future.
In either situation you could find yourself sitting on foundations that have become structurally dangerous or there could be mold or other fungus growth taking place, breeding a potential health risk.
The basement may be damp because of moisture soaking through the foundation, it doesn’t necessarily have to have come from a leaking pipe.
The first step to repairing any water damage in the basement is to identify exactly what it is that’s causing the moisture in the first place. A leaking pipe will be the easiest contributor to identify and fix. Not so easy will be identifying that the daily activities of you and your family are causing a build up of humidity which is then collecting below the floor. The indicator that this is happening could be a mysterious recurring growth of mold or mildew.
It may be necessary to reassess how the water runs in the garden directly outside the basement. If the water is not running off away from the house it is possible that it is soaking into the ground and on into the basement through the walls. In this case it will be necessary to put in additional external drainage to move the water away from the house.
Lowering Humidity In the House
There are a number of ways to fix the humidity in your basement. Firstly, install ventilation fans in your kitchen and bathroom if they don’t already have them. These two rooms are the most humid of any other room in the house.
If ventilation is installed already, ensure it is directing the air out of the house and that it hasn’t become blocked. If you have a clothes dryer it should be vented to the outside of the house.
A poorly operating air conditioning system can fail to remove humidity which may be a contributing factor to a build up in the basement. Call a contractor to check your system to confirm it is operating properly.
If the basement becomes damp from humidity in the warmer months it may be necessary to have a dehumidifier running in the basement. It’s best to run the dehumidifier in a closed room to stop humid air from outside the house from entering the basement.
Water Damage From A Leaking Pipe
If the water damage is noticeable on the ceiling of the basement or on the walls directly below a bathroom it may indicate that the water pipes have been damaged. In this case your best course of action is to call out a plumber.
Water damage that consists of considerable mold growth can best be solved by calling a professional who specializes in mold remediation.
Naturally, the most certain way to solve a problem with water in the basement is to call out a reputable water damage restoration expert. Water restoration professionals are equipped to locate the cause of any moisture as well as being experienced in repairing damaged walls or ceilings and preventing water damage in the future.
Cleaning Mold From the Ceiling
Mold thrives in any moist, warm environment with rooms such as bathrooms or kitchens a perfect place for it to grow and spread quickly. It is not only unsightly but can become a health risk as it spreads by releasing spores and these spores can affect breathing. Mold will grow on any organic material and, given the right conditions will do just as well on non-organic material.
A danger for your home when you’ve got mold growing in one or many rooms is that it actually consumes the object that it is living on and can release an acid that will permanently mark the wall or ceiling. Whether your ceiling is made from ceiling tiles, sheet rock or wood, mold is just as likely to begin growing with rooms that are often moist, such as the bathroom, the most susceptible.
Black mold is the most common type of mold that will grow on the ceiling and it can be identified as black spots of varying sizes dotting the ceiling in clusters.
Cleaning a Mold Damaged Ceiling
It is important to appreciate the danger mold poses to your health, so before you start cleaning the mold from the ceiling, ensure you have taken necessary safety precautions and have put on gloves, goggles and a face mask.
In the room you will be cleaning, close off any accesses to other parts of the house such as doors or vents. Open the window to allow the room to dry out.
An initial wash of the ceiling with a mild detergent and warm water will start the cleaning process. A quarter of a cup of bleach mixed with a quart of water can be used to follow the clean up and, if necessary, can be repeated after allowing the first application has dried. After the second application the ceiling should be allowed to dry out completely.
There are alternative products available to the bleach solution mentioned above that will remove the topical mold and also kill the remaining spores. It might be worth seeking out one of these products to be comfortable that you have thoroughly cleaned the room.
To safeguard against the return of mold in the room, all water leaks should be repaired so the environment isn’t constantly moist. If there are no leaks, it might simply be necessary to introduce more ventilation into the room. Finally, a regular clean of the bathroom to remove or kill and stray mold spores should be carried out regularly.
Make sure that if you are going to be painting the ceiling you have completely removed the mold. Painting over mold will not solve the problem and the mold will simply return in full force. It is possible to buy paint with mold prevention chemicals already mixed into it. I have actually painted such a product on the ceiling of my bathroom and have never had a problem with mold in that room.
This mold damage clean up advice assumes that the mold damage is not too extensive and that you can tackle the job yourself. If, however, the mold damage has become completely out of control, it may be necessary to call in a professional who specializes in this kind of damage clean up.
Other mold damage articles:
Prevent Mold From Taking Hold In the Home
Restoring the Home From Mold Damage
Repair Mold Damage In Books
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
A danger for your home when you’ve got mold growing in one or many rooms is that it actually consumes the object that it is living on and can release an acid that will permanently mark the wall or ceiling. Whether your ceiling is made from ceiling tiles, sheet rock or wood, mold is just as likely to begin growing with rooms that are often moist, such as the bathroom, the most susceptible.
Black mold is the most common type of mold that will grow on the ceiling and it can be identified as black spots of varying sizes dotting the ceiling in clusters.
Cleaning a Mold Damaged Ceiling
It is important to appreciate the danger mold poses to your health, so before you start cleaning the mold from the ceiling, ensure you have taken necessary safety precautions and have put on gloves, goggles and a face mask.
In the room you will be cleaning, close off any accesses to other parts of the house such as doors or vents. Open the window to allow the room to dry out.
An initial wash of the ceiling with a mild detergent and warm water will start the cleaning process. A quarter of a cup of bleach mixed with a quart of water can be used to follow the clean up and, if necessary, can be repeated after allowing the first application has dried. After the second application the ceiling should be allowed to dry out completely.
There are alternative products available to the bleach solution mentioned above that will remove the topical mold and also kill the remaining spores. It might be worth seeking out one of these products to be comfortable that you have thoroughly cleaned the room.
To safeguard against the return of mold in the room, all water leaks should be repaired so the environment isn’t constantly moist. If there are no leaks, it might simply be necessary to introduce more ventilation into the room. Finally, a regular clean of the bathroom to remove or kill and stray mold spores should be carried out regularly.
Make sure that if you are going to be painting the ceiling you have completely removed the mold. Painting over mold will not solve the problem and the mold will simply return in full force. It is possible to buy paint with mold prevention chemicals already mixed into it. I have actually painted such a product on the ceiling of my bathroom and have never had a problem with mold in that room.
This mold damage clean up advice assumes that the mold damage is not too extensive and that you can tackle the job yourself. If, however, the mold damage has become completely out of control, it may be necessary to call in a professional who specializes in this kind of damage clean up.
Other mold damage articles:
Prevent Mold From Taking Hold In the Home
Restoring the Home From Mold Damage
Repair Mold Damage In Books
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Mold Detection and Treatment of Clothes
Mold is the common term used to describe a downy or furry growth on the surface or organic matter, caused by fungi, especially in the presence of dampness and decay. These microorganisms feed on living organisms or dead organic matter.
In order to prevent the growth or spread of mold growth you have to deny the spores the moisture content they need to germinate.
The mold microorganisms need organic materials for the nutrients to grow and so, any material that was once living, including wood, paper, clothes such as cotton, linen and leather are susceptible. It doesn’t really stop there, either. Inorganic materials such as some plastics can also come under attack from fungal growth.
You need to get rid of mold because it will permanently damage the materials upon which it is growing. It will stain textiles as well as structurally weaken them, paper will be stained with spots known in the industry as “foxing” and leather will be permanently marked. Inorganic materials can be etched by organic acids produced by the fungus as a by-product of their presence.
Removing Mold From Your Clothes
The ideal scenario is that you catch the onset of mold growth early on in its life. As soon as that moldy smell becomes noticeable from the cupboard it is essential to pull all the clothes out and closely examine them for signs of mold. Remember, mold will cause deterioration in the material that it is growing on so the longer you leave it, the more chance your clothes will not be salvageable.
When the mold has been identified there are some steps you can take to remove both the mold and the mold smell.
Firstly, when you deal with mold you should use gloves and a protective mask or goggles. Take the clothes outside and then brush the loose mold growth off each item. When transporting the affected clothes you should be careful not to disturb the mold because you don’t want to spread mold spores through the house.
After the clothes have been brushed off, leave them in the sun to dry so that the heat from the sun will kill any remaining mold that is still in the clothes.
It may be necessary to wash the affected areas in a weak bleach solution although if you’re dealing with colored clothing you may want to substitute the bleach for a lemon juice and salt combination. After the clothes have been given a thorough clean with these disinfectants, they should be laundered as you would normally do and then put out to dry in the sun. Ensure that the drying process is completed to avoid a regrowth of mold.
A fungicide spray can be used on the clothes to remove any trace mold odor that may persist. Care must be taken with respect to the different materials that you are trying to remove the mold from. Materials such as silk, nylon and wool can be damaged when applied with chlorine bleach.
A product such as Moldergent, which is a 100% organic mold cleaning detergent, can be used in the laundering process. This type of product has been specially formulated to remove mold and mildew from clothes.
As mentioned earlier in the article, at the first sign that the clothes in your wardrobe have been affected start the mold restoration process immediately. The process is not too burdensome and the longer you delay cleaning and drying your clothes the more chance that they will be ruined beyond repair.
In order to prevent the growth or spread of mold growth you have to deny the spores the moisture content they need to germinate.
The mold microorganisms need organic materials for the nutrients to grow and so, any material that was once living, including wood, paper, clothes such as cotton, linen and leather are susceptible. It doesn’t really stop there, either. Inorganic materials such as some plastics can also come under attack from fungal growth.
You need to get rid of mold because it will permanently damage the materials upon which it is growing. It will stain textiles as well as structurally weaken them, paper will be stained with spots known in the industry as “foxing” and leather will be permanently marked. Inorganic materials can be etched by organic acids produced by the fungus as a by-product of their presence.
Removing Mold From Your Clothes
The ideal scenario is that you catch the onset of mold growth early on in its life. As soon as that moldy smell becomes noticeable from the cupboard it is essential to pull all the clothes out and closely examine them for signs of mold. Remember, mold will cause deterioration in the material that it is growing on so the longer you leave it, the more chance your clothes will not be salvageable.
When the mold has been identified there are some steps you can take to remove both the mold and the mold smell.
Firstly, when you deal with mold you should use gloves and a protective mask or goggles. Take the clothes outside and then brush the loose mold growth off each item. When transporting the affected clothes you should be careful not to disturb the mold because you don’t want to spread mold spores through the house.
After the clothes have been brushed off, leave them in the sun to dry so that the heat from the sun will kill any remaining mold that is still in the clothes.
It may be necessary to wash the affected areas in a weak bleach solution although if you’re dealing with colored clothing you may want to substitute the bleach for a lemon juice and salt combination. After the clothes have been given a thorough clean with these disinfectants, they should be laundered as you would normally do and then put out to dry in the sun. Ensure that the drying process is completed to avoid a regrowth of mold.
A fungicide spray can be used on the clothes to remove any trace mold odor that may persist. Care must be taken with respect to the different materials that you are trying to remove the mold from. Materials such as silk, nylon and wool can be damaged when applied with chlorine bleach.
A product such as Moldergent, which is a 100% organic mold cleaning detergent, can be used in the laundering process. This type of product has been specially formulated to remove mold and mildew from clothes.
As mentioned earlier in the article, at the first sign that the clothes in your wardrobe have been affected start the mold restoration process immediately. The process is not too burdensome and the longer you delay cleaning and drying your clothes the more chance that they will be ruined beyond repair.
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