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.

• 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.

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.

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