Flood restoration is simply the process of restoring your home to its pre-loss condition. There are many different steps that you can take during the aftermath of flooding to minimize the dangers: Before flood waters strike, if possible, try to relocate any valuable items and furniture from the floor to the lowest floor or even higher. This is important because there is still moisture on the floor and this moisture can become a breeding ground for mold and mildew. The smartest thing to do is to stay indoors until the flood waters have receded.
If the floodwaters have not yet reached the attic or basement, you should open all windows and door to allow ventilation into the affected rooms. If this is not possible, open all windows and door as much as possible. It is very important that you open all of your windows and doors because any leftover moisture will cause mold and mildew to grow. You should also air out any rooms affected by the flood waters as much as possible to remove as much humidity as possible. If you cannot get air circulation into the room, you may consider opening the windows instead of turning on the air conditioning during this time.
Once you feel you have restored most of the room to pre-loss condition, you should consider repairing any permanent damage. One of the first things you need to determine is whether or not the damage is water-related or mold/mildew based. If the damage is mold/mildew, you will want to clean and remove the source of moisture. If the damage is water-related, you will either need to repair or completely replace the items damaged by flood water.
If the damage is due to water, you will also need to repair the structural integrity of the home. This can include repairing damaged drywall or padding. If the walls have been severely damaged by the flooding, you will likely need to remove the damaged drywall. Your carpeting can be replaced with carpeting that has been treated for mold/mildew resistance. If your walls have been damaged due to flooding, you may need to repair all or a majority of the wall surface so that as much water removal as possible is achieved.
There are many ways to dry out flood areas; however, the best way to dry out a flood damaged home is to use an HVAC specialist to do the drying. An HVAC specialist has special equipment and the knowledge to be able to quickly dry out damaged areas. They have the experience necessary to not only quickly dry the areas out, but also to also finish drying the area out completely. In some cases, even if the flood waters have completely dried out, the homeowner still may want to have the HVAC specialist finish drying the home.
Sewage cleanup is another major component of the flood damage repair and restoration process. Even if the homeowner has had a flood and the water levels have subsided, it is still important to complete the sewage cleanup. A complete sewage cleanup will involve the removal of all sewage from the home including sinks, tubs, showers, toilets and any other containers. The homeowner should have the sewer removed from the home no later than 48 hours after the flooding has ended.
All home contents are also included in the flood restoration process. Most insurance companies classify flood damage as being category three water. This means that regardless of whether the home contents are not damaged, the homeowner will be responsible for replacing everything in the home. This includes furniture, appliances, electronics, jewelry, antiques, etc.
As you can see, there is a lot that goes into the flood damage restoration and repair water damage restoration process. It is important to hire an experienced and reputable restoration contractor to do the work. They should be equipped with the proper equipment as well as trained professionals. By hiring a reputable company with experience in this type of flooding, homeowners can be rest assured that their insurance premiums will not be increased due to negligence on the part of the restoration contractor.