Keeping Your Business Afloat After a Flood

 

Burst pipe? Roof leak after a California downpour? Drain backup? There are a lot of things that could cause a business to experience a water loss. The good news is, quick response by a restoration company in Bakersfield, like Alert Disaster Restoration, can have your business back up and running in no time.

First a foremost, it is important to act quickly if you have had a flood or water damage. The longer you wait, the worse the damage will be. Next, you should feel comfortable with the restoration process as it unfolds ? including the gear around the building, and how the crew will work.

The Process

Like we just said, there is not a moment to spare in a flood situation. As soon as a crew arrives, drying will begin. Any standing water will be extracted using high-power machines. Then, drying equipment like large dehumidifiers and air movers will be brought in and strategically placed around the space for optimum drying power.

As all this is happening, an estimator will take a walk through the property to get an idea of the reach of the damage. This is called a scope, and it will detail everything that needs to be repaired for your insurance company.

As the space is being dried, any surfaces not salvageable like damaged drywall or flooring will be removed. In the case of drywall, it may be possible just several inches or feet of drywall at the bottom of the wall will need to be removed and replaced, instead of entire walls. However, again, the longer water is left sitting, the more it can rise up the wall, creating more damage.

As the restoration process continues, everything that has had standing water will be thoroughly cleaned with a professional-grade antimicrobial to prevent mold and bacterial growth. Believe it or not, some experts believe mold can start to grow in a space where water has been sitting for just 24 to 48 hours; hot climates like California only further contribute to that risk.

Once the gutting is done and everything is dry and clean, replacement and any necessary reconstruction begins.

The Gear

There are a number of innovations in the industry that will help professional restorers determine the extent of the damage. If water has seeped into a wall cavity, technicians will be able to use special thermal imaging cameras to see temperature differences below the surface, offering an indication of where water might be present.

When the drying is complete, they can show you on that camera again the new temperature, which should match that of the rest of the wall. Restoration companies use a variety of technological tools like this to ensure a space is completely dry before packing up for the next job.

They can also use moisture meters to measure the level of moisture in flooring, walls, and elsewhere, to see how deep the damage goes, and to provide further proof with a new reading that the drying process is done at the end of the restoration project.

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