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What To Expect When You Bring In Water Restoration Professionals After A Flood

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When your home is flooded, you'll probably need to call in flood restoration professionals to help clean it up. Part of the problem is the length of time water is in your home. You can't force floodwaters to recede on your schedule. There's a good chance water will be in your home for a few days at least, and that is plenty of time to cause significant damage and mold growth. Here are a few things you can expect the water damage professionals to do when they start work on your house.

Assess The Situation

The first step is to determine how to proceed. When your home is flooded with water from outdoors it is considered contaminated. The water could have bacteria, parasites, and dangerous chemicals in it. Many of your belongings may need to be thrown out rather than restored due to the contamination.

The restoration professionals will advise you on what you can save and how to go about cleaning and preserving the things that don't have to be thrown out. Furniture, drapes, and carpet may need to be discarded. Parts of the house such as flooring and drywall may need to be taken out and replaced as well.

Pump Out The Water

Before work can begin, the water must be removed. This can be done by pumping out standing water and using an extractor to pull water out of hidden places. This needs to be done thoroughly since water hides behind walls and under cabinets. No water or moisture can be left behind or your home will continue to have problems with mold and bad odors.

Once all the water is removed, it's time to tackle the dampness and humidity so the home dries out. This can be done by using large industrial fans and dehumidifiers. Construction and restoration work will begin once your home is dry.

Replace Damaged Building Materials

Some building materials are thrown out when they're soaked, especially if the water is contaminated. Drywall is a good example of this. Drywall swells when it is wet so the surface becomes bumpy. It is removed and replaced with new drywall so the surface of the wall is smooth and ready for paint. Sub-flooring and fiberglass insulation between walls may also need to be torn out and replaced.

Anything that is damaged from the water or that runs the risk of developing mold is removed from the home and replaced with new materials. When the construction work is complete, the crew will paint the area so your home looks just as good as it did before the water damage.

Cleaning up water damage can take several days. You'll probably need to stay out of your home until the work is complete. When your home is restored, bad odors are removed too, so there is no lingering musty smell in the air.


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