It is the process of repairing a house or property to its pre loss condition. Damage to the property could be because of an overflow, flood or any other water damage event. The water damage restoration process involves several key procedures like loss assessment, categorization based on the water contamination levels, decontaminating and drying the structure, monitoring of the process and completion of the process. There are two large certifying bodies, namely the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) and the RIA (Restoration Industry Association) that recommends standards for water damage restoration. The S500 damage due to water guide is the benchmark tool that is used by companies that specialize in restoration of water damage.
Professional Water Damage Restoration
Professional water damage restoration contractors understand the best methods to use when it comes to handling the problem and restoring a property to pre-loss condition. For more complex flood related cases, they use high tech water extraction equipment to clean. With the help of this equipment, they get all the water in the affected area out and then trace the cause back to the main reason why the damage occurred so that the problem may be resolved. Water damage repairs can be quite expensive, especially if your property was effected by heavy flooding or your pipes had a severe leak. But professional water damage restoration contractors can restore your property to its old charm without burning a hole in your pocket.
Loss Assessment and Categorization
Loss evaluation is the first and the most important step in water damage restoration. The assessment has to be correct so that an appropriate response can be taken. In restoration the damage caused by water, technicians and the insurance companies must work together and understand what is damaged and how to go about restoring the damage. Identifying the source of the damage, documentation of damage, and accurate estimates are mandatory for a proper water damage restoration.
Categorization is based on the contamination levels of the water source. The categories are listed below
1. This is water from clean sources like pipes, sinks and toilets without faeces or urine.
2. This is water that has some contaminants like water from a dishwasher, washing machine or toilet with urine.
3. This is water that is highly unsanitary and is capable of causing illness or death if ingested. Sewage water, water from toilet with faeces , standing water with microbial growth and floodwater are some examples.
Decontamination and Drying
After the evaluation is complete, the process of drying and decontaminating begins at the site. Based on the extent of damage, damage caused due to water can be classified into 4 types. Class 1 Damage- When loss is restricted to a small area and less water has been absorbed by materials. This results in slow evaporation rate. Class 2 Damage - When the damage is to the entire room and carpet area. Class 3 Damage - When the entire area is saturated with water and Class 4 Damage - when there are many deep saturation pockets. Decontamination and drying is a key stage in Water damage restoration and equipment like blowers, dehumidifiers, scrubbers and subfloor drying equipment have to be used. Decontamination has to be done if contamination has been detected in the area. Decontamination may be done for the entire area or in specific pockets where contamination has been detected.
Monitoring and Completion
Monitoring the restoration process of damage caused due to damage is critical to achieve the desired results. One has to be proactive during the monitoring process. Checking if the drying equipment is setup properly, assessing if the personnel involved are qualified for the job and checking if the equipment are in working order are all part of the monitoring process. Necessary steps are to be taken if anything wrong is spotted during the monitoring process. The entire process of water damage restoration would be classified as complete only once the humidity, temperature and the moisture content is as per industry standards. Upon completion of the water damage restoration process, the drying equipment can be removed.
Water damage Affects
Keep in mind that the source water may have originally been fairly clean and sanitary, but it can quickly come into contact with unsanitary contaminants and become Category 2 or 3 water.
Water damage usually affects not just the immediate area but also the home's contents. Water damage restoration technicians must also deal with furniture, drapes, carpets, electronics, books, and other contents affected by the water. Some of these contents will be moved before the water gets to them in an attempt to prevent damage, others will need to be dried, cleaned, and decontaminated, and others still will be damaged to the point where they must be discarded.
Drying and Cleaning Process
Finally, the drying, cleaning, and decontaminating process begins. During this time, equipment such as blowers, scrubbers, subfloor drying equipment, and dehumidifiers are put into place and left for several days with the drying process monitored to ensure that the all equipment is placed appropriately and working as it should. Humidity levels, temperatures, and moisture content of affected areas are monitored with additional drying continuing as needed. In addition to drying, cleaning, decontaminating, mold inhibitors may be used to prevent mold from growing. Deodorizers may also be required. Even if the water damage was from a Category 1 water source, contaminants in carpets and the underlying carpet pad can quickly lead to a foul odor.
Additional Repair Required
Depending on the extent of the damage, additional repairs may be required. For example, if the drywalls and carpet were damaged to the point where they need to be replaced, those repairs will take place once the underlying areas are dry. Finally, once the home is dried out and restored to its pre-loss condition, the water damage restoration job is complete.
In this process of repairing your home to its pre-loss condition after a flood, overflow, or other water damage event is known as water damage restoration. During the water damage restoration process, several key procedures take place: loss assessment, categorizing water based on the water source's contamination levels, drying and decontaminating the structure and its contents, monitoring the process, and completion