Water Damage Restoration – A Complete Guide

Water is one of the most common culprits behind property damage. Floods, leaks, and plumbing disasters can cause severe structural damage, as well as excessive humidity, mold growth, and wood rot. This is when water restoration becomes so essential. When homes experience this damage, experienced professionals follow proven water damage restoration steps, from initial assessment through final repairs. Every step works towards restoring your home’s strength and stability, and the safety of each occupant.

What Is Water Damage Restoration?

Water damage restoration is the process of returning a water-damaged property to its pre-damage condition. It involves extracting water from the area, drying and cleaning the space, addressing mold growth, sanitizing the affected places, and rebuilding or repairing the damaged structure.

Why Is It Important?

Restoring a house to its original condition is essential after water damage; it brings back structural integrity and safety for everyone inside. It prevents extensive structural damage, eliminates the likelihood of mold growth, and protects your family’s health. The sooner this process begins, the better; it’s essential to preserving your belongings, safety, and property value. It also saves you money on expensive repairs later.

Benefits of Water Damage Restoration

Water damage restoration has several benefits for your home. It gives you:

• Structural stability: Water damage restoration restores your home’s structure integrity and makes it stable.
• Safety: Water damage restoration also rebuilds and repairs damaged or weakened home structures and removes bacterial growth, making your home a safer place to live.
• Reduced mold growth: Timely professional water damage restoration addresses developing or spreading mold problems.
• Cost savings: Fixing water-damage issues sooner rather than later saves you money on extensive future repairs.

Causes of Water Damage

Water damage can be caused by various reasons. The most common ones include:

Flooding

Flooding is a leading cause of water damage in homes and commercial buildings. This is often due to heavy rainfall accumulating in your basement or crawl space, which can affect your home’s foundation, safety, and structural integrity.

Leaking or Burst Pipes 

Leaking or burst pipes are also a common cause of flooding in homes, particularly in basements where water lines and appliances are often installed. In some cases, a crack or leak in the pipe can be so subtle that by the time you notice accumulated water, it’s already too late.

Clogged Gutters and Drainage

Clogged gutters and drainage pipes are a major cause of water damage. When gutters are clogged, your home is more susceptible to leaks, foundation issues, basement flooding, and mold growth.

Plumbing Issues and Appliance Leaks

Plumbing issues are a very common cause of water damage. Most property owners overlook minor plumbing issues and appliance maintenance, but leaks, burst pipes, and appliance failures can quickly escalate.

Foundation Cracks

Cracks in your foundation allow water into your building’s structure. As water moves through, the cracks widen, allowing more water to enter over a short period. This weakens your home’s structure and increases the risk of significant health issues, including mold growth, foul odors, and excessive humidity.

Water Damage Restoration Steps

Restoring a water-damaged property is a professional, comprehensive process with many critical aspects. Here’s how it works:

Inspecting Water Damage

The first step is to schedule a detailed inspection of your property. Professional water damage restoration specialists will identify the damage, develop a comprehensive repair plan, and outline preventive measures to help your property handle water leak mitigation.

Water Removal

The restoration process begins with water removal. Professional experts use powerful pumps and industry-leading extraction equipment to remove water from your home, preventing its spread throughout the structure and your living spaces and reducing drying time.

Drying & Dehumidification

After the water is removed, the specialists use heavy-duty drying equipment to clear the moisture from the area. Dehumidifiers are also used to speed up the drying process and ensure that your property is restored to its original moisture level.

Cleaning

Water damage often brings bacteria and debris, especially if it’s caused by rainfall. The cleaning process includes sanitizin and deodorizing the floors and walls. At this stage, any property damaged beyond repair is removed, and salvageable items are cleaned and sanitized with specially formulated products.

Repair & Reconstruction

When your property is completely dry and accessible, you can implement repairs and reconstruction of the damaged structural areas. Depending on the severity of the damage, the repair work can include anything from minor repairs to rebuilding the entire area. A qualified company should develop a personalized, cost-effective plan to save time and money.

Finishing

After cleaning and reconstruction, the specialists conduct a final inspection of your property to ensure everything meets quality standards. The finishing can include additional steps, such as painting, sealing, insulating, encapsulation, and waterproofing.

Water Mitigation vs. Water Damage Restoration

Water mitigation and water damage restoration are often used interchangeably. However, they have different meanings and describe a variety of services. Water mitigation focuses on immediate emergency services that stop the flow of water and prevent further damage. Water damage restoration follows, including cleaning, drying, and repair. Unlike water mitigation, which only focuses on stopping the water, restoration aims to restore your property to its original, pre-loss condition.

Tips for Future Water Damage Prevention

Protecting your home is all about being proactive. So, here are tips to help you prevent water damage in the future:

Cleaning Gutters

Keep your gutters clean, unclogged, and free of debris, as clogged gutters can impede proper drainage and increase the risk of flooding and water damage. Clean gutters also help direct water away from your foundation and protect against potential damage.

Fixing Leaks On Time

Property owners often ignore small leaks and dismiss them as normal. While leaks may be normal, never ignore them; they can quickly lead to more serious damage. You’ll want to fix any leaks as soon as possible, as this is key to keeping your foundation dry.

Maintain Appliances

A common cause of water damage is faulty appliances. Regularly check appliance hoses, including those for washing machines and dishwashers, because you might not notice a problem until it’s too late. Even something like your water heater needs regular inspection, or replacement if it’s past its expected lifespan.

Plumbing Checks

Keep your plumbing fixtures properly sealed and insulated in the attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Water pressure in your pipes should be at a safe level to reduce stress, avoid leaks, and prevent bursts.

Waterproof Basement

Moisture in your basement can indicate water damage, and ignoring it can lead to more serious issues in the future. Keep your basement completely waterproofed with sump pumps, interior and exterior drainage systems, and dehumidifiers.

Prevent Freezing Pipes

Keep your home warm and well-insulated, especially in unheated areas, to prevent pipe freezing. Insulate exposed pipes and maintain a consistent thermostat setting. You can also let a small, steady trickle of hot and cold water run from the faucets to prevent freezing when needed.

Clean Roofs

Regularly clear debris from your roof and trim overhanging trees. Keep the gutters and downspouts clean to enable proper drainage. If your roof is old, inspect it for cracks and loose shingles to prevent water intrusion during rainfall.

Proper Landscaping

Proper landscaping is an expert-recommended way to prevent water intrusion in your foundation. Slope your yard away from the foundation and manage downspouts with extensions or splash blocks to ensure water is directed away from your property.

When to Seek Professional Help

Many homeowners wait until it’s too late to call for professional water mitigation or restoration, resulting in more extensive damage and costly repairs. If your home is compromised by water damage, it’s time to call for professional help. Even a small leak or a tiny crack is a good enough reason to call for professional help, and our team at OKC Restorations is ready to step in. We have the tools, materials, equipment, and training to help you, so reach out to our team today.

Summary

Water damage is a nightmare for all homeowners. However, calling for professional help at the right time can reduce your stress and save you money. You don’t have to wait for water to destroy your home in order to call for help. OKC Restorations can inspect your home and provide reliable water damage restoration services if damage has already occurred. Schedule an inspection today.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)