Blog Post
What to do in case of emergency water damage
Once a leak or a flood has been resolved in your home or office, unfortunately that doesn’t mean that your troubles are over. Water damage from a burst pipe, gradual leak, or natural flooding will need a treatment plan to restore your space to safe, liveable conditions.
Here at One Stop Restoration of FL in Orlando, we help homeowners and property owners navigate the after-effects of a water emergency with these restoration steps!
Step One: Making sure that the source of the water damage has been addressed
In the case of a flood, house fire, or burst pipe, you can be pretty sure that no more water will be entering your space once the storm has passed or the emergency crew has finished their job. But, if water damage is the case of a leaky roof or ongoing plumbing issue, our first order of business will be to stop the water source definitively.
Step Two: Working with your insurance company
If you’re not sure what you need to do to file your insurance claim, we can help. We make sure to take proper documentation throughout the restoration process to be easily shared with your insurance company.
Step Three: Determining the level of contamination
Because water damage can be a health risk, we need to know what we’re dealing with before we start the restoration process. Sewage backup or flood water will require us to take special precautions to make sure our crew is safe.
Step Four: Removing all damaged items
Our first order of business in the water damage restoration process is clearing the space of items that may be damaged or need to be removed to facilitate the drying process. This includes furniture, appliances, artwork and decor, and anything else that was in the water damage zone. Some of these items will need to be disposed of, while others may be salvaged.
Step Five: Starting the water extraction process
One of the most time-sensitive parts of water damage restoration is starting the water extraction process. Here in Florida, mold is a real menace, and can start to grow within 48 hours of a flood or plumbing issue.
Our team will come with high-powered air movers and industrial wet vacs to start removing moisture right away.
Step Six: Removing hazardous waste
In the case of a sewage backup or natural flood, there will be residue that needs to be removed from surfaces, fabrics, wallpaper and whatever else it has come into contact with. This will also require a professional-grade sanitization process to eliminate bacteria and other biohazards as well as proper disposal so as to not endanger anyone else in your community.
Step Seven: Reviewing and repairing your electrical, gas, and plumbing
Depending on the extent of your water damage, you may be dealing with secondary issues such as electrical failure, and gas line and plumbing problems. So, our next step will be to take a thorough look at the wiring and plumbing in the affected area. We want to make sure that any potential problems are fixed before we go about replacing drywall and painting.
Step Eight: Removing and replacing structural materials
One common mistake that we see property owners make is to simply paint over water damage stains in the ceiling or walls or replace patches of carpeting or hardwood that have been affected. But this doesn’t address any underlying issues that the water damage may have caused with the structural framing of your walls, joists below your flooring, or other crucial elements behind the drywall.
We’ll make sure to check for damage in these hidden areas so that you don’t experience sagging, crumbling or mold issues in the future.
Step Nine: Painting, cleaning, and returning to normal!
Clearly, dealing with water damage requires a thorough approach that ensures that your home or business is moisture-free, structurally sound, and safe from biohazards. Once we’ve gone through the steps to guarantee that those three boxes have been checked, then we can go about making your space liveable again! This will include replacing drywall, painting or applying wallpaper, installing light fixtures, and bringing back your restored or new furniture and decor.
We’ll also ensure that the space is sparkling clean and sanitized: no lingering construction dust or musty smell to deal with! And, after we’ve cleared out, you can return to normal life without worrying about whether your water damage problems will resurface.
One Stop Restoration is Orlando’s trusted water damage team!
Dealing with water damage can be a stressful situation, especially if you have no idea where to start. The good news is, the only step you have to take on your own is giving us a call. From there, we’ll take over the water damage restoration process with care, safety protocols and professional-grade equipment. Before you know it, this whole ordeal will be behind you!
One Stop Restoration offers water damage services in Orlando and surrounding areas including St. Cloud, Kissimmee, Horizon West and more.
