When water damage happens, a property owner needs to act quickly. Within an hour, bacteria and mold can start growing. The longer you wait to call a professional, the more extensive your water damage will be. Water remediation is the process of cleaning, sanitizing, and restoring materials that have been affected by water damage. It is a necessary step to get your life back to normal and help prevent long-term damage to your home or business.
A Water Damage Remediation Fort Lauderdale restoration company will work in two phases. The first phase is mitigation and the second is remediation. Mitigation focuses on stopping water damage before it starts. Remediation, on the other hand, is a vital part of the process that repairs the damage once it has already started.
The first step of remediation is an inspection to assess the extent of your property’s water damage. The experts will use different inspection techniques based on what kind of water has caused the damage. For example, water that has come from a clean source like a fountain or toilet is considered category one. However, if the water has come from a contaminated source, such as a sewage backup or overflowing washing machine, it is categorized as category two or grey water. This is why your professionals will wear protective gear and follow strict procedures when handling the contaminated water.
Once the team has assessed your water damage, they will begin extraction and drying of the area. This can include removing and discarding items that have been destroyed by the water. This is also a crucial time to identify any structural damage that may need to be addressed. Structural drying involves running industrial equipment for several days or longer to ensure that the moisture levels in the space have returned to normal.
Once your home or business is free of any residual water, the experts will sanitize all affected surfaces and personal belongings. They will use a variety of specially formulated products and industry-leading equipment to do this. The experts will also use sanitizing agents that are OSHA approved to make sure everything is safe and sanitary.
This step of water remediation is also when any items that are beyond repair or restoration will be replaced. This includes drywall, insulation, flooring, and even some furniture. These items need to be replaced quickly as the standing water can cause them to warp, rot, or become a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Water damage restoration specialists will remove the damaged items and replace them with new materials to restore your home or business to its original state.