Benefits of Professional Water Damage Restoration

Twenty percent of homes suffer water damage to some degree each year. Some are from leaky windows or roofs during severe rainfall, some from flooding, but 92% come from appliance or plumbing failures. When this happens to your home or business, you need help and you need it fast. Water damage is progressive, so if it isn’t dealt with in the first 48 hours, some items could be beyond saving.

RestorePro has 24-hour emergency service every day of the year for water damage cleanup. Our service personnel are well trained and experienced in water mitigation, and we use the most efficient equipment and methods to totally dry your entire structure—not just your carpets—as quickly as possible.

Each instance of water damage is different, so every removal strategy has to be tailored to the circumstances. There are standards however, that are used to define criteria and methods to be used for assessment of the damage and establish restoration procedures. These six steps are crucial to any water damage restoration project.

Loss Assessment and Evaluation

This determines the degree of loss to the structure and contents. It can include site inspections, interviews, and instrumental measurements. The results aid the restorer in determining health and safety priorities and prioritizing mitigation and restoration actions. This preliminary evaluation can help the property owner identify high-value items and individual priorities during the mitigation process.

Categorization of Water in Water Damage

Water is classed three ways: “clean” or “white,” “gray” (minor contamination), and “black” (major contamination). The level of contamination of water in a damaged structure is ascertained in order to use the proper restoration and sanitizing method. Obviously, “black” water s more threatening, so those areas need attention first. The classification of water that has damaged your home will be used to develop an effective plan for removing and eliminating harmful contaminants that may be present.

Principles of Drying

There are four principle steps that occur during every drying job. First, excess water must be removed before the drying process can begin. The other three principles—evaporation, dehumidification, and temperature control all work together to promote drying. Existing conditions will have a significant impact on how humidity and temperature are managed during the drying process, but this is a crucial part of preventing mold growth after water damage.

Structure and Content Considerations

Structural materials and contents are examined for damage and necessary restoration measures. Water damage, especially in instances of flooding, can affect basements and crawlspaces. It can affect your building structurally by penetrating drywall and floorboards, damaging drywall and insulation. We will also look at your HVAC system to determine if it is affected by the water damage.

Monitoring

The water-damaged structure must be monitored starting with the initial loss assessment and evaluation and continuing throughout the restoration process. RestorePro establishes a moisture content or drying goal for affected building materials and contents. Daily monitoring procedures may include temperature and humidity readings, updating progress reports and checking the moisture content of structural wood and other materials with a moisture meter.

Final Inspection and Completion

A final inspection, including the implementation of completion procedures, is performed after mitigation is complete. During the final inspection and completion procedures, it is important to confirm that the structure and contents pose no health or safety risk and the job is completed to the owners’ satisfaction.

Make sure that your insurance agent and the certified water damage restoration professional communicate so that each are clear on the general policy provisions and procedures. Certified water damage restoration professionals generally divide insured losses into three phases: mitigation, coordination and restoration.

Restoring your property and possessions after water damage can be frustrating, but with RestorePro, an IICRC-Certified Firm, you can be sure that the job is conducted according to high industry standards, and finished as soon as possible.