You may have experienced water damage from floods, burst pipes, or leaks, but whatever the cause, the recovery process should be similar.
Depending on the severity of your water damage, you could be dealing with excess water on the floors of your house, structural damage, mold, internal damage to walls, paint or wallpaper, or ruined floorboards.
If you have severe water damage, all of this may seem overwhelming, but you should know that you can recover from water damage, and it may be a good time to do that renovating you’ve been putting off.
Get In Touch with Your Insurance Company
The first step after experiencing water damage would be to call your insurance company to determine the value of your losses and you can get an idea of how much money you could be receiving to help with repairs.
However, you should bear in mind that the insurance company probably won’t turn up for a matter of days, so there are things you can do in the meantime. Just make sure you take pictures of the extent of the damage for your insurance company.
Turn Your Electrics Off
As you may know, water and electricity don’t mix well. By turning off the electrics around your home, you’re taking safety precautions and preventing further damage.
Examine Your Home for Structural Damage
If you notice sagging floorboards or drooping ceilings, you may have suffered structural damage. Try not to panic about this, but you may want to vacate these areas in case of collapse or any further damage.
Clean Up as Best You Can
If you have water across your floors, you can start getting rid of it straight away – mops and towels are a must! If you’re elderly or simply unsure of how to do this effectively, there are companies that can provide professionals to help at any time.
After any water residue has been cleaned up, you can start assessing your property for water damage on walls, ceilings, or floors. If you’ve hired professionals, they’ll likely come with dehumidifiers and other equipment to help dry out your home.
Following this, you’ll need to sanitize the area. You may think it odd to use more water after you’ve just cleared the area from water damage, but sanitizing your home is vital after water damage.
Depending on where this water came from, it may be contaminated with bacteria and toxins. Removing any remnants of bacteria is a crucial step before you begin redecorating.
Replace Any Damaged Floors, Walls or Ceilings
It’s an idea to get your house inspected by professionals, so they can assess the extent of damage and recommend what needs replacing or repairing.
Based on this information you can then go ahead and replace any walls, floors, or ceilings that are damaged beyond repair – hopefully with the money from the insurance company!
Final Thoughts
Water damage can be a stressful ordeal, but companies like All Flood & Fire Cleanup and Restoration can make the process much easier! By providing expert assistance and professional advice, we can ensure that your repair and restoration processes are stress-free and dealt with in the best ways.
