There’s nothing more crushing than opening the door to the foul smell of water damage in your property. Most of us have felt that horrible feeling in the pit of our stomachs as the trauma sinks in. This is where water damage restoration can absolutely give you peace of mind and take the pain out of the cleanup.
From water-saturated ceilings, burst pipes flooded basements, mold and rot, water damage can cause havoc in your home if the treatment isn’t spot on.
In this guide, we’re going to give you a step-by-step process to restore your water damaged property, plus some tips on how to choose the right expert to help you with your water damage restoration.
It’s a brilliant question. If you have a small water spillage, then yes, it’s always worth having a go and following the 5 step process, which we’ll outline later.
However, if it’s anything bigger, it’s critical you get certified professionals in. Why? Because they have the skills and equipment to make sure they’ll not only fix the water damage problem but also make sure it doesn’t come back again.
From industrial driers, dehumidifiers, infrared moisture, and leak detection to chemical cleaners, it’s incredibly difficult for an amateur to do the job a water damage restoration expert can. Also, a professional will also be able to help you with your insurance claim.
So, when you asked, “can I take care of water damage by myself?” it’s worth bearing this in mind.
Sadly, not all water damage experts are born equal. We’ve put together a checklist you can use to judge if you have the right expert for your job.
Make sure they have the right equipment for the project. We will look at this in more detail later with a sample of equipment to look out for.
[maybe an article on the classifications?]
So now you can check out the professionalism of your water damage renovation specialist. It’s time to dive into getting your home back to the way you want it.
This is usually conducted quickly, as water damage can be pervasive. Your contractor will usually look at two major factors:
Assessing Which Of The 3 Categories Of Water Is Polluting Your House According to IRMI, there are 3 categories of water:
The engineer will create and cost out an appropriate plan depending on the category of water damage and type of water contaminating the site.
At this stage, your supplier will also measure up and gauge how long it will take to the water to dry and create a plan to remedy the water damage.
The time it takes depends on the category of water and size of the water damaged area. On average, it takes about 3-5 days to dry out a property using industrial strength equipment. We’ll discuss more about the equipment used later on.
As we mentioned earlier, domestic tools and cleaning products are not as effective as the industrial equipment that a water damage restoration company can quickly bring to project.
The first step is to find out where the water is coming from and then to dry out the water damage with a humidifier. It’s essential to stop it spreading fast.
Some of the types of equipment used in this include:
Now that the equipment is drying out the property, it’s time to clean up the water-damaged house or business.
During the water damaging process the property will have been contaminated. This means that anything that’s been damaged needs to be thrown out. Even if something is dry but can hold a lingering contaminant, that should also be removed as well.
Your health and the health of your family are paramount, so it’s never a good idea to skip this step. You would be surprised what can fester and remain even after disinfecting. It can be horrible getting rid of possessions that you love but think of it as a fresh start as it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Once all the hazardous material has gone, it’s time for a deep clean. Specially designed cleaners are used by the water damage restoration experts to sterilize your house.
This is a critical stage, as if it’s not done thoroughly then mold and other harmful bacteria can come back to haunt you.
How Do I Repair A Water Damaged House?
Once everywhere is dry and sterilized, it’s finally time to start the repairs. This is when the water damage restoration contractor will hand over the job for repairs.
Usually arranged back to back, renovations are done in the following order.
You’re now on the home stretch. Everything is dry, sterile, and repaired. It’s time to paint and decorate and bring your home back to life.
If you’ve been working with the right water damage restoration company, the time it takes from them finishing the cleanup to the repairs should have been reduced significantly.
“Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.”
Drake
Water damage is always traumatic, but with the right professional expertise your home could be back to normal in no time.
In brief, we have seen how to choose a great water damage restoration company and a 5 step process to get you back on your feet quickly.
If you have water damage in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area, here at GTA Restoration & Cleanup, we offer a 24/7 emergency water damage restoration service.
If you’re in Toronto and the GTA, including Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and more, why not call us. You can get us by clicking here!
https://gtarestoration.com/blog/house-winter-water-damage-and-how-to-pre vent-it/
https://gtarestoration.com/blog/does-your-insurance-cover-water-damage/
https://gtarestoration.com/blog/prevent-spring-house-floods-from-melting-sn ow-and-spring-rains/
For non-emergencies use our contact form
24-hour Emergency Services – Water, Fire, Mold Damage in the GTA When the unexpected happens, it does not just damage your property, it causes chaos in your schedule, budget, and the day-to-day life of your household or office. GTA Restoration remedies this situation with a quick, well-equipped, and effective response team that extends reliable and affordable assistance for your indoor emergencies at any given time of day or night. From broken plumbing to mold and asbestos issues, our property damage specialists in Greater Toronto can assess, address, and restore the surfaces and corners of your home or building and leave you with less worries, stress, and expenses.
Head Office:
12 Upjohn Road,
#1A
Toronto,
ON, M3B 2V9
Hours: Open 24 hours
Downtown Office:
250 Yonge St,
#1 A
Toronto,
ON, M5B 2L7
Hours: Open 24 hours
Call us today to find the best product for your situation.
Head Office:
250 Consumers Road,
#1015
North York,
ON, M2J 4R4 Monday-Friday9am-5pm
Downtown Office:
250 Yonge St,
#2201 Unit A
Toronto,
ON, M5B 2L7 Monday-Friday9am-5pm