What is “Water Damage Restoration”?
When water has intruded (or entered) your property, it can cause extensive damage. “Water Damage Restoration” is the hands-on, professionally-delivered service of restoring a property to its condition before the water intrusion, aka the “pre-loss condition”. In short, “water damage restoration” is the process of returning a home to its pre-loss condition after damage from water.
A Typical Water Damage Restoration Project
Many affected homeowners are facing this type of loss for the first (and hopefully the last) time in their lives. Unfamiliar with the process, a water damage restoration project can feel overwhelming.
Advanced Restoration has been helping homeowners through these situations for over ten years, and we believe a well-informed client is a happy client. To help homeowners experiencing water damage for the first time, we’ve summarized the general workflow into five major steps:
- Evaluation and Inspection
- Water Extraction
- Dehumidification
- Sanitation
- Repair and Reconstruction (if needed)
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Step One: Evaluation and Inspection
A water damage restoration professional will begin every project by conducting a thorough evaluation and inspection.
The goal of an inspection is to determine the damage’s water source, the contamination category, and the damage class. Why is that important? Determining the source of the damage will affect the method of treatment and repair, the coverage of expenses, and most importantly knowing the definitive source ensures the water damage is halted and prevents additional damage.
SOURCE: A trained and experienced water damage restoration specialist will be able to accurately locate and confirm the source of the damage during your evaluation. When the source is determined, the water damage restoration specialist will categorize the level of contamination.
CONTAMINATION LEVEL:
No/Low Contamination: White water, from a source inside the house such as water heaters, showers, tubs, sinks
Some Contamination: Gray water, from dishwasher or washing machine (water where bacteria is often present)
Hazardous, High Contamination: Black Water, from toilets, sewage, or water sources outside the home (high levels of bacterial or chemical contaminants)
DAMAGE CLASS:
There are two variables that will determine the damage class of your project – the type of material that sustained damage (porous vs. non-porous) and the percentage of your property that was affected.
Step Two: Water Extraction
If your property has any standing water, it will have to be extracted. Typically, this is done using submersible pumps and/or industrial vacuums.
Once all the standing water is extracted, portable wet/dry vacuums will remove any remaining surface water.
Additionally, a moisture meter may be used to detect residual moisture, and infrared thermal cameras may reveal unseen moisture under floorboards or behind walls.
Step Three: Dehumidification
Heavy-duty air movers, fans, and dehumidifiers will be used to dry and dehumidify moisture-affected areas. While water extraction is usually completed in one day or less, the dehumidification process can last several days.
Step Four: Sanitation
Sanitation will prevent the development or growth of mold and disinfect your property if the damage was by Black Water. For the sanitation process, the water damage restoration specialist will need to wear PPE (N-95 mask, gloves, eye protection, disposable clothing, etc.) for their own protection.
When performed correctly, this critical step will prevent mold growth, bacterial growth, and potential water damage-related health hazards.
Step Five: Repair and Reconstruction (if needed)
Finally, your specialist will complete your water damage restoration project with repairs or a rebuild, if any areas in your home were removed due to water damage. The extent of the damage removal will vary based on the contamination level and damage class.
When selecting your water damage restoration specialist, consider their rebuild/construction experience and results, especially if your property requires extensive intervention.
Advanced Restoration has been serving the Coral Springs, FL and south Florida areas for over 10 years. If you have or suspect water damage in your home, contact us to schedule a free in-home and non-invasive evaluation.
