Cleaning up After Flood Damage in Palmetto Bay

5/11/2016 (Permalink)

When flooding happens and you experience flood damaged of your Palmetto Bay Home , the water is capable of wreaking havoc on your house’s structure.

Cleaning up After Palmetto Bay Flood Damage

When your home floods and you experience flood damage, the water is capable of wreaking havoc on your house’s structure. It can also destroy personal belongings and damage the health of the environment inside your home. A lot of contaminants can be found in flood waters, plus plenty of mud. Expensive items can get ruined, even with just an inch of water, such as wallboard, carpeting, furniture, and appliances. A storm that is more severe or a flood which is deeper can add water damage to systems which are more expensive such as the air conditioner and heater, ducts, private sewage, roofing, utilities, well systems and the foundation of the home. Cleanup is a long and complicated process after a flood. The following are areas of your home where flood damage can cause severe damage:

Electrical System – Ensure that your electrical system is turned off right away. It will need to be inspected and repaired by a professional electrician before you can turn it back on. The wiring has to be totally dried out, even behind the walls. Convenience outlets, switches, the entrance panel, light outlets and junction boxes which have been under water could have mud in them.

Basement – If water has entered the basement and it is full or almost full, let our professionals handle it. You do not want to attempt to extract the water yourself. If you drain this area too fast, the pressure on the outside of the walls will be more than the pressure inside the walls. This can make the floor and walls crack and collapse. This is why hiring a professional restoration company is your only solution.

Private Sewage Systems – If a sewage system has flooded, it can be a very hazardous situation. It can lead to a back-up of sewage in your home, a lack of sanitation, and contaminated drinking water until it is fixed. When saturated soil or flooding conditions continue, a private sewage system can’t properly work. These systems require aerobic regions to lower the levels of chemicals and living organisms, so when the soil is flooded or saturated, these hazardous materials can get into groundwater and your drinking water.

Walls and Ceilings – Wallboard acts as a sponge and will need to be removed. If it has been contaminated by floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and needs to be replaced. Paneling and plaster can many times be saved, but we must circulate air into the wall cavities to dry the sills and studs to prevent mold. All insulation has different treatments. Styrofoam could just need to be hosed off, while fiberglass batts should be tossed out if they are muddy, but can be reused if thoroughly dried. Blown-in or loose cellulose needs to be replaced because if it holds water too long, it can lose its fire retardant and antifungal abilities.

Flooring – When you have wood sub flooring, the covering such as carpet, vinyl or linoleum, will need to be removed so that the sub flooring can thoroughly dry out, which could take several months.

For expert help, contact SERVPRO of Cutler Bay by calling them anytime at (305) 278-8484. They will have the experience and equipment to dry your home out as fast as possible.