You would think that water damage repair would be a fairly simple process. After all, you wipe up the water, lay a towel down over whatever’s left and that’s it, right?
Well, maybe so for smaller spills, like a glass of water. But when you consider major problems like a burst pipe in your bathroom, a flash flood in your neighbourhood, a hole in your roof, or a backed up sewer that empties into your home. Believe it or not, water damage can actually be more destructive to a home or business than a fire!
The reason is simple…..where a fire does it’s damage right away, water does its initial damage, and then there are the after effects, issues that, if not treated properly, can be fruitful and multiply, causing numerous additional problems and adding thousands of euro to the repair costs.
If you’re reading this while standing ankle deep in water in what used to be your family room……turn off the electricity! Water and electricity do not mix. Not even a little bit.
You’ll want to begin by moving all furniture and loose items out of the damaged area. These can be cleaned up and repaired elsewhere and won’t hinder the water extraction process.
Then you will need to extract the water and remove it from the premises. Water extraction and removal is the process of removing the excess water through use of wet-dry vacs or pumping equipment. Once that is done, you will still need to remove the remaining moisture from carpets, hardwood flooring, and any other surfaces. This is done through the use of high velocity fans, air movers, and dehumidifiers, placed strategically around the damaged area. They should be moved periodically to insure complete coverage of the area. It may take up to several days to thoroughly dry all surfaces.
You’ll now want to clean and disinfect all carpets, hardwood flooring, and any other surfaces, as well as check basements and crawlspaces for remaining water. Dark and damp places are a breeding ground for mould, which can release toxins into the air causing health issues from mild allergic reactions to lung disease and even death. Mould remediation is a difficult process and should be handled by a professional.
Once all surfaces have been dried out, you can begin to ascertain what sorts of structural repairs are required.
Advance Maintenance Ltd provides a totally free insurance claim management service for all building insurance claims from quotation to completion
- Arrange a site visit within 24 hours of your call
- Ensure your property is secured and the repairs addressed as soon as possible.
- Assess the extent of the damage which has been caused.
- Meet with the Loss Adjuster appointed by you insurance company
- Prepare a detailed specification of Proposed Remedial Works.
- Negotiate costs with the Loss Adjuster for the consideration of the Insured.
- Draw up a repair schedule and time frame for restoration work to be carried out.
- Carry out repairs as agreed with the Loss Adjuster.
- Project manage all reinstatement works until completion, at no extra cost.
Call us today on 086-2604782 or drop us an email at info@amltd.ie
