How to Restore Your Commercial Building After Water Damage

12/28/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage in Brentwood, TN

What's Involved In The Water Damage Restoration Process?

Many people don't realize that water cleanup is a significant component of fire cleanup and smoke cleanup until a fire ravages their property. In fact, water can cause more damage than the fire itself. It's essential to get the water damage remediated as soon as possible. The longer water and moisture remain in the building, the more loss will occur. 

Ceiling Damage
Ceilings should be one of the first parts of the building that should be checked for damage. Soaked ceilings can be dangerous due to their risk of collapsing. Water damage remediation professionals will probably be required for this job.

Wood Damage
Since wood is a porous material, anything made of wood (e.g., floors, doors, cabinets, furniture) will soak up water and quickly damage. Badly soaked wood should be removed; it's probably not salvageable.

Drywall Damage
Drywall is very porous so that it can soak up water quickly. You can try to dry it, but some drywall pieces will probably require replacement. Fortunately, you can often cut out the damaged areas and patch them instead of replacing an entire wall.

Cleanup
All affected articles must be removed from the building. Water cleanup and disinfection must begin immediately and be completed thoroughly.

Floors
There's a good chance that you'll have to replace most of the flooring, especially the carpet. Carpet can get soaked quickly. The water can seep into the padding and even all the way to the subfloor. You'll have to replace all of these affected materials in this case.

Mold
The water and humidity resulting from a building fire can be challenging to clean well enough to prevent mold growth. Mold can begin growing within 24 hours of water exposure, so you don't have much time to get the area completely dry. A detailed inspection should be performed before and after restoration to ensure there's no mold; it can easily hide.
If your Brentwood, TN, building sustains a fire, water cleanup could require more work than the fire and smoke damage restoration. The restoration process must begin as soon as possible to avoid further damage.