What Does Water Damage Restoration Entail?

5/18/2020 (Permalink)

A pipe burst can produce clean or dirty water depending on the type of pipe.

Some amount of water damage is unavoidable in the wake of a home flood that has resulted from a pipe burst or another issue. Immediate steps must be taken to stop the water and to begin the restoration process. So, what should you expect? First, you need to contact a team of water damage cleanup professionals. This cleanup crew will:

1. Perform a Damage Assessment
When the experts arrive on the scene they’ll begin by inspecting the damage and coming up with a plan of action. If water is still flowing into the area, they’ll stop it and also assess the safety issues such as water contamination level.

2. Extract the Standing Water
Next, the water will be extracted from the affected area with large, powerful wet/dry vacuum units. The crew can then move your belongings out of the area to guard them against further damage. Your flooring, walls, and ceilings, along with the general humidity of your home will be assessed.

3. Dry Everything
After the standing water is removed, it’s necessary to dry the affected area and its contents as much as possible. You may not realize just how much is wet; everything from flooring to drywall to furniture can suffer water damage. The professionals will use industrial-grade fans and dehumidifiers to remove all moisture. They’ll also check for signs of mold.

4. Clean and Sanitize Everything
A pipe burst can produce clean or dirty water depending on the type of pipe. Even materials that haven’t been affected by mold or dirty water can emit a foul odor and require cleaning. The professional remediation team will clean, sanitize, and remove the odor of any salvageable materials. They’ll also dispose of the unsalvageable.

5. Restore the Area and Contents
Finally, the restoration will begin on the affected area and its remaining contents. Such restoration will entail the tear-out and installation of materials such as flooring and drywall, possibly even parts of the room’s basic structure or frame.

Flooding in your Austin, TX, home can be devastating, whether from a pipe burst or water line blockage. The quicker the process begins, the less damage that will occur.