Dealing with water damage is never a pleasant experience. But in some instances, the water damage restoration process may be straightforward if the damage is not too extensive. Your best bet is to reach out to The CleanUP Guys, like Property Care And Preservation: Watertight Homes who will break it down for you and explain in detail the water damage restoration process into manageable steps, including the necessary mold remediation.
Inspection and Assessment
Before any water damage restoration can be performed, the extent of the water damage must be assessed. This is where a team of professional water damage restoration technicians comes in. They will assess the degree to which the affected area must be dried and cleaned. The thoroughness of this process is vital to a successful water damage restoration project. At this point, you should also remove or shut off any appliances which may have been affected by the water. Only trained and experienced specialists are capable of doing this correctly without missing any hidden spots.
Water Removal
Once the extent of the water damage is covered, the water removal process begins. This is where the water damage restoration process becomes most important and necessary. The first step in this process is to dry out any affected areas. The best way to do this is with damp-proofing agents and sealants. These drying agents help speed up drying time by acting as a barrier between the affected area and outside moisture. They also allow for a more effective and thorough drying process to take place.
At this point, you may be wondering: how effective is water removal? The truth is that it depends on the type of material affected by the water. Some materials can be salvaged after being soaked in water, while others cannot. For example, carpeting must be replaced if it has been soaked in water. If your property has incurred severe damage from water, the process may be too expensive to handle without professional help.
Drying and Dehumidifying
Once the water has been removed, the affected area must then be dried and dehumidified. This step completes the drying process, and it may need to continue for several days or weeks until all moisture has been removed. Unlike many neighborhoods in Chicago, your property will not become a breeding ground for mold if you allow this stage of the water damage restoration process to occur properly! Moisture levels need to be monitored during this stage because even though the house might seem dry, some materials could be wet to the touch.
Cleaning and Sanitizing
The affected area must also be cleaned and sanitized. This can be done using various bacteria-fighting chemicals and other services from professional water damage restoration technicians. The sanitizing process is vital as it will kill bacteria and other microorganisms that may have been present in the affected area. If the property is too wet, a post-wet treatment (PWT) may need to be performed. This will help to ensure that any mold growth is killed off before it has a chance to spread throughout your property. It is advisable to let professionals work it out by themselves because they have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for the job.
Complete Restoration
Depending on the extent of the damage sustained, this step may or may not be necessary. However, once the affected area has been thoroughly dried and cleaned, installing new or replacement materials is a good idea. New window panes, carpeting, tiles, or any other damaged materials will need to be installed here. For instance, if you have wood flooring, it might be damaged, so you will need to replace them with a new one.
How Long Does Water Restoration Take?
Unless you want to sleep in a water-stained bed or live with ruined furniture and clothes for months, there’s no way of putting off water damage repair. The good news is, even if you don’t have the time or experience to tackle it yourself, there are plenty of qualified professionals out there who can take care of the job for you!
The average professional water restoration company spends 24 to 48 hours on emergency response in a flood disaster. Following this time, they start working on safety and health issues. They also begin to set up a plan to contain the water and remove it. Then there’s a cleanup process that may take another 72 hours. Finally, depending on how long it takes for the water to dry out, it can take weeks or even months for the restoration company to complete all necessary work.
Get Effective Restoration
Water damage restoration is a relatively straightforward process. The steps outlined above can help create the perfect environment for the water damage restoration process. However, if your property has been severely impacted by water, we recommend that you call in a professional service such as The CleanUp Guys to handle the situation. You may perform some of these steps yourself, but professional help will always be better than saving money by doing it yourself!