Flood Damage and Restoration

If you live in a flood zone, you are all too familiar with the affects of flood damage. You may already have a wet vac and fans on hand from the last time you had a flood. The whole secret to preventing damage is removing the water as quickly as you can and dying out wood and other materials completely and thoroughly. Rain storms and rising river and ocean waters are the biggest culprits of flooding. And this water is not considered clean. It actually rates as a category 3 and is considered black water, which means that it contains contaminants. There are three categories that water damage falls into. Category 3 is what I just described above. Category 1 is the most mild and is referred to as clean water. It is often the result of a tub or sink overflow in the home. If properly removed and the area dried, there could be little to no water damage. Category 2 is a little more serious, but not as serious as category 3. It is called grey water and is typically the result of a sump pump leak, or your washing machine or dishwasher overflowing. But for the sake of flooding, we are going to discuss category 3 damage and how to deal with it.

Each category is broken up in to four classifications based on absorption. Class 1 refers to a slow rate of evaporation with little moisture absorption. Class 2 is a fast rate of evaporation where the entire room is soaked through carpets and cushions, and the water may have rise up to 24 inches on the wall. Class 3 is the fastest rate of evaporation and typically from down from the ceiling and soaks through the entire room and Class 4 soaks through hardwood, floors, concrete and plaster. It is called a specialty drying situation. In the case of flood damage, you will most likely be a Class 3 or 4, and most like need professional help to repair and restore you home and belongings. In the meantime, you can save certain items and structures by acting quickly. Mopping up wet areas or using a wet-vac is a great plan of attack. The sooner you can get the water out the better. But remember to wear rubber boots and to ground your wet-vac before stepping into any of the water that has permeated your home. If you use a mop, make sure to wear rubber gloves to squeeze the mop. Big fans are great for drying floors and a dehumidifier is great for removing moisture from the room. If the carpet is really soaked through, it may be best to just remove it. If you can do it safely, it would be a good idea to put it outside. For area rugs, removing them quickly is the key to saving them and the underlying floor. This will also prevent mold. Drapery that is sitting in the water should be removed, and if you can move furniture out, it is a good idea as well. Be sure to turn off the circuit breakers to prevent electrical shock in the affected room or rooms.

A flood damage restoration team is the best plan of attack because they can deal with contaminated items so that they do not contaminate other rooms. Remember, that if you do remove items to place them in plastic bags before dragging them through the res tof your house. The team will come in and do a thorough assessment, often finding damage that you didn't realize you had. Thermal image testing is a great technique used to detect areas of damage that could potentially become worse or can develop mold, which in of itself, is a whole new problem.If you have black water, which most likely you do, in the case of a flood, keep your body and face away from it. You do not want to come into contact with it, as it can make you very ill. After the water is removed, the rooms, furniture and anything that was in it needs to be decontaminated.

This is why you should leave it to the professionals, like Superior Restoration in San Diego. They can clean up the mess and keep you and your family safe from bacteria. Water is one of the biggest carriers of bacteria that can cause serious illness. Whenever there is flood damage restoration involved, it is best to protect yourself before saving your home. A good restoration company will offer you a financial plan to help it be more affordable and some insurance companies cover this type of damage. Superior Restoration in San Diego helps make restoring your home easy and safe so that you can get back into your home and start living again. But remember, that if you live in a flood zone, be prepared by having dry-vacs, mops, fans and dehumidifiers on hand. Regularly check your foundation for cracks and your windows for areas that could leak. If you can prevent water from coming in you can save yourself a lot of time and money. But, a flood is sometimes a major disaster and no amount of planning can prevent the onslaught of water that comes in. When it happens to you, do what you can immediately and call the professionals to get you back on your feet.