Monday, July 11, 2011

Picking Up After Water Damage...

One of the most important things for many people after suffering from flooding is to actually be able to get back to normal life as soon as possible. However, the steps for water cleanup after a flood can often be both lengthy and frustrating.

Flooding, such as a flooded basement, is one of the most devastating events that can happen to your home, and its consequences are both far-reaching and can be difficult to repair. Therefore, it is very important that you are both patient and thorough when dealing with water damage and arranging for that to be repaired.

First Response

Once the flood waters have subsided and you have checked the damage that has been caused, you can proceed on with the water cleanup process. If you have an insurance policy in place which you intend to use to claim back some or all of the expenses for repairing the damage, then always make sure you photograph every room and every item that has been damaged. 
Your insurance company will normally take it from there when it comes to repairing the damage.

However, if you are going to be dealing with the consequences of water damage yourself, then your next step will be to dry out your home sufficiently for repairs to be carried out. The dehumidifiers may well need to be in your home for some time, and damp meters should be used to check on the progress of water levels in your masonry and timber.  Your suppliers should be able to give you an indication of what levels are safe for you before you start carrying out repairs.

Carrying Out The Repairs

If your insurance company is arranging for all the repairs from the water damage, then mostly, you shouldn’t have to get too involved once the repairs start taking place. However, it may also be a good idea to check that the providers employed are using materials which have been especially-designed for flood-damaged properties.

On the other hand, if you’ll be carrying out the repairs yourself, then it is always best to run those plans past a professional to make sure they are suitable. Moreover, they may also be able to give you some advice of what specifically you should be looking out for. And if your utilities have been affected at all, it is also best to ensure that a gas, electricity, or water engineer have checked everything before your repairs are carried out.

When you’re buying the materials for your water cleanup repairs, make sure they are suitable and are designed for water-damaged properties, as although the water may have been removed, it is likely that the flood will have left some salt deposits which may reveal themselves later.

Conclusion

Once you’ve seen that the floods have retreated and it is safe to start working, making sure you’re carrying out the water cleanup in the right way or that your insurance company is kept informed at all steps of the process is vital, because it will give you the best chance of having the most successful repairs carried out.

No comments:

Post a Comment