A flood is one of the most dreaded calamities by any homeowner. In just a few minutes, a flood can cause thousands if not millions of dollars worth of damage. This is not to mention the possibility of living scores of people homeless, injured, or even at the morgue soon or later after the flood subsides. The good news is that these days, weather alerts and warnings are available to help anticipate such potentially disastrous occurrences. In some places, people are advised to evacuate their residences or beef up safety measures a few days before an upcoming storm. All the same, floods can also be caused by water originating from many miles away.
Now, just to be clear, floods from rainwater are not the only cause of water damage. Water damage could stem from burst pipes in the home, gradual moisture buildup, melting snow, and a range of other sources. If your home suffers water damage, you will most likely need to renovate while replacing some systems, furniture, and other belongings. If your home suffers water damage, you need to renovate and repair it as fast as possible and this can be achieved by hiring a team of experts from thegibco.com.
1. Contact a Renowned Water Damage Restoration Team
As soon as the flood is over, this is the number one thing to do. You’ll need to deal with a reputable water restoration team to ensure that your house is in the greatest possible condition once the renovations are completed. As the guys from Disaster Plus indicated, a renowned water damage restoration pro will help take much of the stress as soon as you give them a call. To ensure your peace of mind, they will advise you not to panic and work to respond as fast as possible to your call.
The group should be qualified, certified, and well-trained. The staff will also take the required measures to get your home back in shape as fast as they can. The house will be deodorized, cleansed, and dried after any damaged structures such as floors are removed. This is to ensure that no further problems arise as a result of the harm in the future. An expert restoration company will also have experience dealing with home insurance companies, so you won’t have to stress knocking doors at your carrier’s offices.
2. Dry the House Soonest Possible
As you wait for your restoration team to arrive, one of the first steps you can take is to try and empty any water from your home. You can use buckets or other containers assuming you don’t have a water pump or the situation doesn’t require one. This can help reduce the extent of water damage if done early enough. To ensure your safety, check to see there are no electrical hazards nearby. Start by turning off the electricity supply in your home at the central breaker box. Before the restoration pros get there, you can also consider salvaging what you can from the rubble.
3. Make Sure the House Is Mold Free
Contact an inspector and have them evaluate the house for mold before performing any big renovations. Mold has a reputation for spreading quickly and being dangerous. If the test results come back positive, you should have all mold in your home removed. This will stop them from spreading and causing more damage to your home. On the other hand, if the findings are negative for mold presence in your house, you can go on with the remodeling. However, you must ensure that the house is entirely dry.
4. Stomp out the Flooring
The water is most likely to have caused damage to your floors. In fact, you should think about having them removed and replaced with water-resistant floor. If your flooring was, for example, a carpet, it might be dried and replaced. However, if the problem has been persistent or the carpet has been damp for several days, removing it is the best solution. Also, keep an eye on your basement; it could have sustained more damage from the water than the rest of the house. Consider getting your flooring down there replaced, especially if it isn’t waterproof. Depending on the extent of the damage, the same should be applied to the rest of the house.
5. Toughen Up Your Walls
Water damage can result from a variety of events, including flooding, plumbing failure, or any other natural disaster. Now, depending on the damage type, degree, and frequency of these tragedies, you must consider how to fortify your walls so they can better withstand future occurrences. Consider using polystyrene foam boards for insulation or replacing your drywall with cement boards. The latter tends to have a higher level of water resistance.
6. Have a Fresh Layer of Paint on the Walls
Apart from the floor, the paint on your walls will be unappealing when the damage is done. As dazzling as they were before, they will now appear dull and unappealing to the sight. This is why you should consider applying a new coat of paint to them. If the damage was only minor, you don’t have to repaint the entire house. A room with one damaged wall, on the other hand, would appear better if the entire room was repainted. Painting simply the damaged areas can give your home an unusual and odd appearance. Using water-resistant paint may be a very good option.
7. Repair Any Damaged Home Systems
Water damage affects more than just the walls and floors. The electrical system, as well as the HVAC system, may need to be repaired or entirely replaced. After you’ve remodeled and modernized the walls and floors in the house, you should take a close look at these systems. Make sure you get professionals to evaluate the electrical and HVAC systems and determine whether they are in excellent working order. If not, get them fixed.
8. Update Appliances and Pieces of Furniture
If the damage was caused by floods, you’ll most likely need to purchase several new electrical gadgets. The good news is that you may now obtain fresh and improved models than you previously had. Because you’ve already messed up your finances, it’s wise to hunt for energy-efficient versions. If you’re unsure whether or not there will be more water damage, consider having them raised. You’ll also need to replace any furniture that has been ruined by the water, particularly any wooden items that have been drenched. You can, however, acquire these products in stages to avoid overstretching your budget.
And there you have it. Water damage restoration doesn’t have to be an extremely stressful task. The above tips can help make it easy for you to renovate your home after an event of water damage.
