Coping With Water Damage after a disaster
March 31, 2010
If your business or home has experienced flooding due to a storm, a pipe break, roof leak or any other reason, your action taken could help to avoid you having many more problems in the future. Residents all throughout the New England area have experience significant property damages due to due flooding over the last three days. Many communities such as Cranston and Providence are in considered a FEMA declared disaster zone.
Whenever a building has been flooded, mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours of the water damage. Therefore, it is vitally important that you act fact to prevent further devastation. Be sure to get a hold of your insurance company so that a report can be filed and do not neglect to document the damage using both written notes and photographs.
In the case that the flood happened a while before you noticed it, you should call in a consultant so that the extent of the damage can be assessed. Often times these contractors can help by taking the damaged materials out of the affected area such as dry wall, so that repairs can be made to the underlying area. Be sure that the contractor you hire is actually experienced in water damage restoration as these are the only type of professionals who know how to thoroughly remove the water, repair the damage and dry the area out so that microbiological contamination cannot start to grow.
Professional water damage remediation companies, once called, will do a visual assessment of the damaged area and will let you know what course of action must be taken to remedy the problem. If you have a substantial amount of flooding, then you will likely call in a local Providence flood damage cleanup company or other local company depending on where you reside. If mold contamination is suspected either by your reporting of having symptoms or by visual indication, the source of the mold will be located and it will be determined what route it took to end up where it is. If the source of the water has been present for an extended period of time, you can expect some type of structural damage that must be dealt with.
If your home is located in an area that is subjected to flooding, be sure to carry adequate flood insurance. Many people falsely believe that their regular homeowners insurance will cover flood and water damage, but the fact is, you need to take out a separate policy in order to be fully covered. It should also be noted that flood insurance must be purchased at least 30 days prior to making a claim.
Protect Your Home from Natural Disasters
March 23, 2010
Any homeowner knows how important it is to keep one’s home safe from natural disasters. While you can be given some level of advanced warning for things such as hurricanes, other disasters such as earthquakes hit out nowhere. Of course certain areas are more prone to particular natural disasters than others. One wouldn’t expect to be hit by a tornado if one lives in the Tropics. Similarly, those who inhabit very cold regions have little to fear from hurricanes. Still, the world’s weather patterns are changing and it would be irresponsible for any homeowner to ignore the very real threat posed by natural disasters.
If one has lived in an area for a while then they will already be familiar with the types of natural disasters that they can expect to have to deal with. If one is new to a neighborhood then it is always a good idea to ask questions. Remember that, while there are some general precautions, each type of natural disaster will have its own precautionary measures.
As seen in the news recently, earthquakes can be particularly devastating. There is little that one can do if one’s home is already built, unless one is willing to go through costly structural renovations. If one lives along a fault line then this may be a necessity rather than an option. Barring overall collapse of the structure, the greatest danger from an earthquake is from falling items. Therefore, everything in the household should be securely fastened. This includes any pictures or other items hanging on walls. Bookcases, cabinets and other such furniture can be secured by means of bolts or l-brackets. Even the water heater should be fastened to a wall.
To protect one’s home from storm damage, one should always ensure that the house is in good order and that there are no leaks. Check the roof to make certain that there are no loose areas. Trim any branches that may be close to the home and which could become missiles in high winds. A good investment is storm shutters for the windows, and even the garage door. Gutters, drains, and anything that forms part of the drainage system should be properly cleared so that there will be no blockage of water causing a back-up on the property.
No one can say for certain when a natural disaster is likely to hit, although some areas are luckier than others. While one may not be able to completely prevent any damage from occurring to one’s home, one can at least keep it to a minimum. Anything else can be dealt with by a reputable restoration company.
Wet Basement From Flooding Determine the Cause
March 16, 2010
Most wet basements are caused by surface water which does not drain properly away from the foundation of the house. The source of this water can come from roof water if there is no gutter, or from roof water if the gutters are plugged as well as from excessive watering of nearby gardens and shrubbery. Another common cause is from rainwater runoff coming from nearby yards, walks or driveway-especially if the landscaping forces the water to drain toward the house instead of away. If water is directed toward the home, the water will puddle up and sooner or later, soak into the ground and become a source of a wet basement.
Sometimes damp basements are caused by other things, such as the major flooding that has occurerd in the Boston area. A home that is built on a down slope or on the base of a hill is very vulnerable because surface water has a better chance of soaking into the ground and following the laws of gravity to reach the foundation. The foundation will block this water for a while, but sooner or later, the pressure from the water will cause cracks in basement walls and the water will make its way inside. Rivers that are close by can overflow during a heavy storm-especially in the spring time, which can directly flood a basement as well as contribute to groundwater build-up which can eventually seep into a basement. Some homeowners can live in a new home for years and not experience groundwater seepage due to drought. However, when a particularly heavy rainstorm moves into the area and adjoining rivers and creeks swell and overflow, they may be suddenly faced with a basement full of water. Cleaning up from the water damage is a major challenge for homeowners and business owners alike.
There are drains installed around the outside of a house under the basement floor to get rid of subsurface water and to eliminate the build-up of ground water. If these drains get clogged they will not handle the water. These drains can also be damaged during landscaping projects without the homeowner being aware of it.
If you find that your basement is becoming damp and you cannot determine why, take a look at all of these possible reasons. You may need to call in a contractor who can check everything in order to find where your problem originates from. You should also consider installing new gutters and long downspouts that are directed several yards away from your home. Be sure to be aware of your property lines so that you do not direct your unwanted water onto a neighbor’s land that may cause him problems as well.
spring weather brings on flooding conditions
March 8, 2010
The spring and summer are typicall the most favored season of the year. It brings good weather that allows people to have barbeques and go to beaches. This season makes it great for people that have been stuck inside from winter to get out of the house and take vacations. As nice as this season is it can also bring the worst storms of out of all the seasons. Strong storms can form resulting is flooding that can cause intense damage to communities. Flooding is the most common and devastating disaster to occur.
Large storms can create flash flooding which can hit communities in minutes with devastating force. In the emergency of flash flooding if there is time make sure that important documents and personal items are moved to upper levels of the home. If there isn’t enough time to gather items get to higher grounds as quick as possible. In some case the location of a home can put it at risk during stormy weather. If homes are located near a body of water such a lake or river heavy rains can cause water levels to raise leading to floods. Intense floods can cause erosion and damage properties. Excessive amounts of rain can also cause mud slides. Mudslides start off slow, but can pick up speed with tremendous force in an instant. These mudslides can sweep away homes and vehicles. Heavy rains can overflow drainage systems flooding homes and other properties. Flood waters can be backed up into basements and crawlspaces. These overflowing waters can back up sewage waters in which can lead to sewage damages. Heavy rains can also flood streets making hectic difficult driving conditions. Excessive amounts of rain and high winds can also damage roofs leading to water damaged attics. Clogged gutters can allow rain runoff to puddle around the foundation of the home which can lead to a water damaged basement. If properties are damaged by water it creates a higher risk of mold forming. In the event homes or business are damaged by water it is important to check if mold have formed. Mold can form and spread within forty-eight hours of a water loss.
It is important to be safe and aware during severe storms that can pose a threat of flooding occurring. Watch the television or listen to a radio to keep updated on a storm. Remember if you have to go into flood waters go through standing waters and not moving waters. Also test the security of the land with a sturdy stick or pole to ensure the ground is safe to walk on.
