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Restoration for Water Damage – Which Activities are Essential?

The most critical activity after water damage has occurred is getting the space dried up. This involves pumping out any standing water and then removing waterlogged items such as furniture, carpeting, and drywall. Anything that can’t be dried out will need to be disposed of. Things like carpet may be salvageable depending on how extensive the water damage is. Once the water is gone and wet items are moved out of the space, the dry out can begin. Large blowers will be brought in to recirculate air and get the room dry so that restoration can begin. If the area is not dried out quickly immediately after water damage has occurred, the risk of mold growth is very high. No one wants to deal with mold growing in their home because it is both dangerous to family members and costly to remove effectively. Once the crew can be sure that the area is entirely dry, work can begin on getting your home back to its original state by replacing things like flooring, baseboards, drywall, and ceilings. Depending on the extent of the water damage, homeowners may also need to replace appliances and furniture that were casualties of the disaster.

If mold is found during the cleanup process (like in the case of water damage that occurred undetected over a long time frame, water damage that was ignored by previous homeowners, or repeat water damage from the same source), that will need to be removed as well. Mold remediation is always an essential activity because mold spores are in every home just waiting for the right conditions to grow. Once they start growing, they don’t stop. Mold can quickly spread through air vents, along walls, and into attics and basements, making your family very sick.

Other water damage restoration services like repair work on art, collectibles, and family heirlooms is not essential, but is a good idea to start right away if you plan on utilizing these services. Generally speaking, the sooner you get started on removing water damage, the more successful you’ll be at doing so, regardless of what the medium is. At the very least, take a soft dry cloth and wipe off the surface of any item that you plan on keeping – leather couches, framed pictures, wood tables, etc.  

Additional resources:
Water restoration essentials
How to recover from water damage
Prevent mold growth now
Steps to take after a flood
What kind of damage does water cause?
What should you do after a basement flood?
How to clean after water damage
Who do you call when there's water in your basement?
What is water restoration?