How do you select a restoration expert when you have severe water damage in your home?

It can be very distressing and disturbing to restore your home after water damage.

Fortunately, Natural disasters like this do not happen evey day in our Valley.The chances of our vallety being flooded from rising water are very remote. However, water damage from sprinkler systems, broken pipes, blocked drains, malfunctioning appliances are far more common in the areas we live in.

Some water carries contaminants and should be considered hazardous, like sewage backups. In these types of situations contaminated porus materials should be removed and discarded. Non-porous surfaces can be cleaned and effectively decontaminated. A successful restoration project depends largely on timeliness and thoroughness of the initial emergency response. Excess humidity and moisture can lead to secondary damage of the building contents and to the structure, which may lead to mold and bacterial growth.

Responding to emergency water damage 24 hours a day is crucial to minimizing the damage caused by broken pipes and and other water intrusions. It is important to extract as much clean or black water from affected areas as soon as possible to avoid other complications. The consequences of an incomplete restoration project, including potential health effects and structural damage, are far too great to leave water damage improperly fixed.

A professional water damage restoration contractor will use modern diagnostic equipment, including penetrating and non-penetrating moisture meters and digital hydrometers combined with state-of-the-art infra-red thermal imaging cameras to track where water damage is throughout various levels of an affected structure. A qualified contractor must have the necessary capacity to the situation at hand, including a highly skilled and trained work force as well as the necessary drying and dehumidification equipment to complete the project in a timely manner.

Water can easily penetrate into structural cavities and assemblies creating trapped pockets of moisture. Improper drying, undetected moisture and trapped water can cause discoloration, warping, de-lamination, musty odors and microbial growth.
A quick emergency response and advanced drying equipment, such as Injecti-dry hardwood floor drying system, can often prevent cupping, warping and heaving of your expensive hardwood floors. Elaborate wall finishes, murals and built in cabinets can frequently be saved by an experienced contractor.

During an extreme cold snap, homes can lose their heating system operations because of a malfunctioning furnace, boiler or an electrical power outage. When this occurs it is not uncommon to see 10 to 20 broken pipes in a single residence. It is important to have large trailor-mounted construction heaters such as the Dry Air 0250central heating module available that can heat and thaw a home up to 8,000 square feet. Standing water from flooded crawl spaces can be effectively pumped out and dried using the same type of heating and drying equipment.

Restoring a disaster-damaged home or business is a complex and challenging process. There isn't just one criterion for selecting a certified restoration firm to restore your home or business. Several combined factors must be considered.

EDUCATION: Formal education in water damage restoration and advanced structural drying are a must. Certifications for properly trained and qualified firms and technicans are available through IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). Health and safety training including employee medical evaluations and respitory fit tests are mandated by OSHA.

INSURANCE: General liability, excess and polution coverage, incuding a microbial matter endorsement and workman's compensation coverage, are inportant for any restoration contractor entering your home.

AVAILABILITY: Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year emergency response availability.

REFERENCES: Check with friends, neighbors and other professionals to find a reputable restoration firm in your area.

The National Institute of Disaster Restoration lists some of the Do's and Don't to observe in an emergency water damage situation:
1. Do not operate TV's, vaccums, or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

2. Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mold and expanded moisture damage may result.

3. Do not leave wet fabrics in place, space them apart and dry as soon as possible.
Gary Gilman is the owner and president of SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning. Local experts-World Class Solutions
(800) 527-1253