THE HORRORS OF FLOODING

Most families enjoy swimming and boating along with setting up sprinklers and kiddie pools in the yard for fun. Water is nice to have easy access to, enjoyable during the heat of summer as a way to cool down for children and adults alike. That is, until you experience a flood, which is a completely different experience than the leisurely use of water for fun and recreation. A flood can be a traumatic experience as you realize what the weight of water is and exactly how misplaced flood water can cause excessive damage to your home.

Water Damage

Water damage in a home is an absolute horror. The damage goes beyond what you may expect from a visible inspection as the water soaks in and lingers in places beyond your line of sight. You know the insulation inside your walls can hold moisture, but if you aren’t a contractor you may not be aware there are expansion joints in the concrete of your home’s foundation from which water can’t escape. Not only does the water erode the structural aspects of your home as it remains in nooks and crannies, but in fact continues to cause further damage.

Mold Removal

The worst damage unresolved flood water causes is mold growth. You probably don’t realize this, but mold spores already exist in all organic material and become active with the introduction of moisture. Therefore, mold begins to grow once water is introduced into your home. Therefore, mold removal is a big project which requires access to areas which were meant to remain sealed, so as to allow the water to evaporate. Then the section of house which was removed has to be rebuilt.

Beyond simply accessing the mold damage, mold has to be properly treated in order to be completely removed. Bleach kills the mold, but is suspended in water. Because bleach evaporates faster than the water it is suspended in, more mold can and will grow after a basic bleach treatment. Specialized solutions designed to stop mold growth are necessary to prevent future outbreaks.

Flood damage is not to be treated lightly, as the damage goes far beyond what the eye can see. The drywall obviously needs replacement as does the inside of the walls, but also deep inside the foundation of the building. It requires an experienced professional to understand the extent of the damage and treat it properly to prevent further problems and more expensive repairs in the future.