Water damage isn’t as dramatic as a fire but it can be just as damaging. Left untreated it can lead to a number of serious problems, from mold and mildew to compromised frames and foundations.
Porous materials like carpet and insulation will shrink and warp while paper products, photographs, books and more will become stained and mildewed. Even worse, category 2 water that comes from a leaking appliance or sewage can turn into category 3 water which poses significant health risks.
Water Removal
Water damage can be caused by natural disasters like flooding, burst pipes and other plumbing issues, appliance malfunctions and more. It affects surfaces, possessions and structures in your home and can have both immediate and long-term consequences. It can also devalue your property and lead to serious health hazards for you and your family.
After your home is safe to re-enter, you can begin the cleanup process with the help of professional remediation contractors. They will have the best equipment to safely remove standing water from a space. This can include industrial-type wet vacs and submersible pumps.
They will also have specialized fans that will blow air out of the space to speed up the drying process. This can help prevent mold and mildew growth in the affected areas. Any materials that are still waterlogged and unsalvageable should be removed because they can develop mold weeks after the flood. This can create health hazards for you and your family as the fungus and bacteria that grow in these materials can cause skin irritation, coughing and wheezing.
Structural Repairs
Unlike fire damage, which destroys everything in its path immediately, water spreads and slowly soaks through carpets, photographs, papers, fabrics, wood flooring, drywall and other materials. Left unchecked, the results of water damage can become catastrophic and extremely expensive.
As time passes, wood can rot, electrical systems may get fried, and foundations can crack or shift. Often, untreated water damage causes a house to be valued much lower than it should and even renders it unbuyable.
Structural repairs require a unique approach, which only experts are capable of providing. Perfect’s strong lineage in construction and refurbishment equips us with the skills and knowledge to provide our clients with innovative and boutique structural repair services. In addition to repairing the immediate consequences of water damage restoration College Park, our experts can help you plan for future renovations and upgrades to your home or business that will improve its comfort and functionality. We also offer pre-purchase inspections to advise potential buyers of any issues that might impact their ability to occupy a property.
Mold Remediation
Mold growth can result in all sorts of damage, including rotting foundations and buckling floors. This is expensive to repair, and it can cause your home’s resale value to plummet.
The first thing to do is to try to prevent the development of mold after water damage by increasing airflow. This can be done with floor fans, wet/dry vacs, and dehumidifiers. It is also important to fix any leaks as quickly as possible and to dry out all soaked materials.
Once the affected areas are dry, they can be cleaned and disinfected. This involves scrubbing contaminated surfaces with detergents, and in some cases, mold spores can be killed with biocide or fungicide solutions. Porous materials that have been contaminated with mold may need to be discarded, since the mold can infiltrate and fill empty spaces and crevices of the material. Remediation guidelines are based on square footage of the impacted area and type of mold, but professional judgment should always play a role in remediation decisions.
Cleaning
When water damage occurs in your home, the first thing you should do is turn off all electricity sources. Then you should remove anything that you can’t live without and find a safe place to store them. You should also take a moment to assess the extent of the damage. Water spills and flooding can corrode electrical outlets and ruin carpets and other fabrics. It can also lead to mildew growth, dry rot and weakened structural integrity of walls, ceilings and floors.
Within just a day, even small leaks can create extensive damage. They will quickly soak into furniture, rugs, upholstery and walls, and begin to cause mold development. Leaving this type of problem unattended can result in severe health risks, as toxic mold releases spores that can aggravate allergies and respiratory problems. It can also release toxins and bacteria into the air, which is why it’s so important to have your home professionally cleaned as soon as you notice any signs of water damage.
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