Storm Damage & Drying Wet Ceilings
Wet ceilings are extremely difficult to dry out. Most wet ceilings are due to roof damage, pipe leaks and storm damage. Express Restoration’s highly trained technicians will inspect the water damage to find the underlying water problem. After the technicians have detected the specific water source, they will devise a drying plan that will target the water problem and begin the water mitigation process.
Some of the problems encountered during this process are mold growth and saturation to the insulation in the ceiling. Drying the ceiling is crucial because of the weight that the insulation carries if entirely saturated. Insulation that is wet must be removed. Our technicians will design a temporary ceiling after removing all wet material such as insulation and sheet rock.
We will design a drying plan after removal of insulation and sheet rock. This process includes temporary walls, a temporary ceiling, and a drying chamber to save salvageable materials of the affected areas. To enhance the drying process, the technicians will place Dehumidifiers and Air Movers in the drying chamber. After placement of the equipment, the technicians will monitor moisture using meters and hydrometers to detect moisture and record those results with moisture logs to adjust equipment for optimal drying. Once the dry goals are met, the technicians will then pull equipment to allow construction to put the home to a pre-loss condition.
Process to Dry Wet Ceilings:
- Inspect Water Damaged Ceiling
- Find the Source of the Water
- Devise a Drying Plan
- Removal of Water Saturated Insulation and Sheetrock
- Construct Temporary Ceiling, Temporary Walls, and a Drying Chamber
- Place Dehumidifiers and Air Movers
- Monitor Moisture with Meters and Hydrometers
- Recording Moisture using Logs
- Meet Dry Goals
- Removal of equipment
- Contact Contractors to put the home to a pre-loss condition
Drying attached cabinetry and furnishings
During a water mitigation and restoration clean-up, often times the built-in attached cabinets and furnishings are affected. Most common areas where this occurs is in the kitchen or bathroom cabinets. Other affected areas include attached cabinetry such as hutches, window seats, and book cases. These furnishings can be salvaged if dried quickly and completely.
Once a trained professional water mitigation and restoration representative completes a thorough assessment of affected area, the drying process must begin as soon as possible to prevent further damage to the cabinets.
One key fact to consider is the type of materials the cabinets are made. Most kitchen and bathroom cabinets are made from plywood or particle board and are highly sensitive to water or moisture causing swelling and cracking to occur.
The following is a step by step approach that Express Restoration uses to quickly and completely dry wet cabinets. In some cases where visible damage has occurred or if the cabinet is made from solid wood, removing the built-in cabinets or furnishing might be necessary which adds to the cost of restoring or replacing them. However, in most cases, typical water removal systems can preserve the cabinets without removing them from the attached structure.
- Damage assessment and notation of affected areas including built in attached cabinets and furnishings using moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras
- Identify cabinet materials
- Develop a drying plan
- Consult with owner and insurance claims adjuster to obtain authorization to perform services
- Removal of toe kick panel at the base of the cabinet or baseboard trim
- Drill holes below the toe kick or baseboard line
- Insert air hoses in holes in order to pump hot dry air into the void spaces under the cabinet to create air flow and speed up the drying process
- Place Dehumidifiers to evaporate moisture from the air to avoid secondary damage from condensation forming on walls, counter surfaces, and windows
- Place Air Movers to speed up the evaporation process
- Monitor moisture readings every 24 hours to assess drying process and make adjustments to the drying plan
- Remove drying equipment once drying is complete (usually 3 to 5 days)
- Replace toe kick and baseboard trim to the base of the built-in cabinetry
In most cases water damaged cabinetry can be salvaged if dried quickly and completely and is usually covered by your insurance policy.