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The Destructive Timetable of Water Damage | SERVPRO® of North Lilburn
5/9/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of North Lilburn is your 24/7 water restoration expert. Call us right away if you need immediate service.
Small water spots or leaky faucets and hoses might seem unimportant in the moment, but underestimating the destruction that moisture and standing water can cause is a big mistake. The average household leak can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year.
Water damage starts slow and ramps up quickly, seeping into floors, walls and soft surfaces, and slipping through cracks in the foundation. It’s crucial to address the issues as soon as possible to achieve the best outcome.
Here’s some important information about the timeline of water damage:
If you live in a house, there is a one in four chance of your home being affected by flood damage in a 30-year period in a high-risk area near rivers and coasts. Knowing what to do next is essential in protecting your property.
The initial 24 to 48 hours after flooding or water damage is critical. Certain items will face immediate damage from water; drying and protecting your items timely is necessary to rescue them.
Soft furnishings and upholstery will soak through, and wooden structures can swell from the moisture. Personal artifacts like books, photographs, notes and documents are particularly vulnerable to warping and tearing beyond repair. In addition, mold begins development during this timeframe, so acting fast is essential in keeping your things safe.
At SERVPRO, our expertise combined with a “restore vs. replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving your precious and irreplaceable keepsakes. We stay in constant communication with you, especially when your items have been damaged beyond restoration. We will remove any damaged materials as soon as possible to expedite the drying and prevent the damage from spreading.
After the 24-hour mark, water damage progresses exponentially as each second passes. Mold can spread like a wildfire when excessive moisture is present.
In hot humid climates, mold grows even quicker and begins immediately with the onset of water damage. As mold sets in, it has the capability to damage the home’s structure, studs and drywall.
Additionally, porous surfaces such as wood surfaces and walls will absorb the water immediately, becoming increasingly compromised. Water damage and flooding will also start corroding metal surfaces and items at this time.
You want to avoid letting moisture sit for an extended period at all costs because some effects may be catastrophic or irreversible. With the passing of time, the costs and effort required to restore the structure increase substantially.
Even worse, as water sits and affects the home for long periods, the risk of structural damage skyrockets.
SERVPRO’s restoration process begins with the first call, ideally within the first 24 hours. We begin service work with thorough water extraction, helping prevent the spread of water and reducing the overall drying time.
Floors, furniture and personal belongings will most likely require cleaning, sanitizing and deodorization. After the bulk of the water has been removed, our specialists will use industry-leading drying equipment to remove the water you can’t see.
After these initial steps, we’ll perform an inspection on your property. Your home may require construction work to get it back in preloss condition. This step could include some minor repairs or even rebuilding entire sections of the home.
We simplify the restoration process by controlling the initial damage alleviation and the rebuilding/construction of the affected areas. Here at SERVPRO, we’ll keep you up to date with constant communication during each step, having you back in your home or business as quickly as we can.
Regardless of the type of water damage sustained, SERVPRO has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover. Contact us 24⁄7 when you need a dependable team to help you recover.