Flood Damage Resulting in Interior and Exterior Wall Drying
Express Restoration recognizes that drying flood damage and water damaged walls can be difficult. All homes are built uniquely with a variety of different wall materials. Our highly trained technicians will inspect your home and devise a plan that will dry the affected walls. Each water loss is different and the approach to repairing the damaged wall depends on the severity of the underlying damage.
In cases of flood damage, our aim is to save the original wall surface, but at times removal of all wet surfaces is required. Our company has long enough experience with multiple wall surfaces and can utilize different pieces of equipment to dry the wall and prevent further water damage caused by flood damage.
All homes have two types of walls: interior and exterior. Interior walls typically do not contain insulation such as fiberglass or foam. The only walls that would contain a type of insulation would be a sound barrier wall.
The process of drying the flood damage occurred interior walls may include:
- Use a monitoring device to detect how far the water has wicked up the wall
- Removal of base boards and trim
- Check to see if there is insulation or doubled sheet rock
- Drill holes under the baseline to determine a drying plan for the affected area
- Continuous air flow is used to dry walls by using Injector Dri, Turbo Vents and Snout Adapters
- After water mitigation equipment is placed, technicians will additional readings
- Every 24 hours technicians reassess the drying plan to make necessary adjustments
The process of drying the flood damage occurred exterior walls may include:
- Use a monitoring device to detect how far the water has wicked up the wall
- Removal of base boards and trim
- Check to see if there is insulation or doubled sheet rock
- Drill holes under the baseline to determine a drying plan for the affected area
- Continuous air flow is used to dry walls by using Injector Dri, Turbo Vents and Snout Adapters
- After mater mitigation equipment is placed, technicians will additional readings
- Every 24 hours technicians reassess the drying plan to make necessary adjustments
One problem that happens in water wall saturation is hidden mold. Mold can grow in walls and become a problem.
Our technicians are trained to identify mold growth and have a variety of options to treat the affected areas.
We use Microbial MicroBan a product that is used to treat affected mold areas. This disinfectant spray, once applied, will terminate the mold. Some areas that are extremely affected may need several treatments to eliminate the mold growth. Our product also deodorizes and disinfects to leave a clean fresh smell.
Quick Wall Drying Prevention:
- Less Time for Secondary Damage
- Prevent Additional Mold Growth
- Musky or Moldy Odors
- Additional Wall Repair
Less Demolition and Reconstruction
Drying Hardwood Floors After a Flood Damage
Wet hardwood floors are devastating to your home. Hardwood floors that have had water damage can have signs of separation to the planks, bowing or cupping. Express Restoration has provided services to a variety of different clients from residential to commercial with multiple types of hardwood surface.
Some types of the wood flooring are as follow:
- Hardwood with a Sub Floor
- Engineered Wood
- Free Floating
- Laminate
Wood flooring has different dimensions based on the woods unique qualities. Hardwood floors have a variety of thickness, width, and sub floors. Express Restoration’s trained specialist will conduct an inspection of the water damage and then design a special drying plan for your home or business needs. Depending on the water damage to the hardwood floors, the technicians can treat the affected areas in multiple ways.
One drying technique is to try to save the hardwood floors by applying Wood Floor Salvation Mats with truck mount vacuum to remove maximum water and moisture from the wood floors. After using the truck mount vacuum, the technician will then place the Salvation Wood Mat to create a continuous suction force that dries the hardwood floors without floor removal. Even though the intention is to save the hardwood floors, there is always the possibility that the hardwood floors are too damaged and removal is necessary to limit further damage and eliminate the possibility of secondary structural damage and mold growth.
Process to Dry Hardwood Floors after Flood Damage:
- Moisture Readings with Meters or Hydrometers
- Create a Drying Plan
- Removal of Furniture or Rugs to the affected areas
- Removal of base boards and trim
- Extraction using Salvation Wood Mats with Truck Mount
- Place Dehumidifers and Air Movers to affected area
- Monitor Moisture Levels every 24 hours
- Modify Drying Plan as needed if Drying Goal is not met
- If Dry Goal is met then Equipment will be removed
- If Dry Goal is not met then the technician will adjust the Drying Plan
- Monitor Moisture Levels until Dry Goal is met
- If the dry goal is not met then the technician may need to remove the affected hardwood
Another technique is the removal of all hardwood floors. The technicians will remove all of the hardwood floors surface and subfloors. Our technicians are extremely careful during this process and will construct temporary walls to protect unaffected areas. After all affected material is removed, the technicians will create a drying chamber using Dehumidifiers and Air Movers.
Process to Remove Hardwood Floors:
- Moisture Readings using Meters or Hydrometers
- Create a Drying Plan
- Construct Temporary Walls
- Remove Baseboard and Trim
- Drill Holes Below Baseboard line
- Remove Hardwood Floors
- Place Dehumidifiers, Air Movers, Injector Dry, and Turbo Vents in the Drying Chamber
- Monitor Moisture Readings using Meters or Hydrometers every 24 hours
- Recording Moisture Reads with Moisture Logs
- Meet Dry Goal
- Remove Equipment
- Contact Contractors to put the home to a pre-loss condition
When working with hardwood floors time is crucial. The longer that it takes to start the water mitigation process the chances of saving the hardwood floors decline. Typically, hardwood floors can be saved, but it depend solely on how fast the damage is found and the quick response of the mitigation team.
Delayed hardwood floor damage may result in costly secondary damage including:
- Safety
- Health Concerns
- Cupping
- Warping
- Total Replacement
- Mold Damage
- Less Time for demolition and reconstruction
When you have a water, fire, or bio-hazard emergency, contact us —Express Restoration has been drying wet moisture damaged hardwood floors for 14 years. Our trained professionals will devise a drying plan, which includes hidden mold growth that best suit your hardwood floor needs.