As the weather gradually starts to warm up, it usually means that we’ll experience some rainy weather over the next few months. All those rain showers will ultimately make for lots of spring flowers, but in the interim, can also wreak havoc on your home. Weather-related flooding is one of the biggest causes of water damage, and it’s important to take action right away if it happens to you.
If you experience flooding in or around your home, there are a few steps you should take right away. Visually inspect your home for signs of structural damage such as floors which have settled or bulged, or walls that have developed cracks. If there does not appear to be any structural damage and the home is safe to enter, your next step is removing standing water and beginning the cleanup process.
Any standing water inside the home needs to be removed as quickly as possible, and the interior floors and walls need to be thoroughly dried. A company which specializes in water damage restoration will have the equipment necessary to get this done in the quickest, most efficient manner, allowing you to move forward with the cleanup. The biggest advantage to using professionals is time—mold can begin to grow in less than 24 hours, and standing water can weaken foundations, so the quicker it is removed the better. In addition, a company that is experienced in water damage restoration has the knowledge to help you get back to normal as quickly as possible. Even though the visible water may be gone, you need experts to make sure that the interior spaces of your home such as interior walls, subflooring, and crawlspaces, are all moisture free as well. Leaving moisture in any of these spaces can weaken the structural integrity as well as providing an ideal spot for mold to form.
