Water Damage Renovations

home remodeling articles and tips

by John Candalino

Few things are as upsetting to home owners as water damage restoration jobs; who would think that an innocent leak unnoticed for a few hours could result is so much damage? It happens more often than you’d think - a bad windstorm may loosen or remove shingles from your roof, extreme cold temperatures in the winter could burst your water pipes or a minor clog could become serious while you’re away for the weekend.

Even small amounts of water can add up to large amounts of corruption over time, so early detection is crucial. Water always flows downward, so a bad enough leak from the roof can eventually lead all the way to the basement and damage floors, ceilings and walls the whole way down. Not only will the moisture affect the structure of your home, but carpeting, drywall, insulation and any electronics in its path may also be ruined.

Left unchecked, excess moisture inside the home from a leaky pipe or roof can cause secondary issues like mold to populate and become airborne. Mold can seriously impact the health of your family. In instances of severe flooding, a mold remediation service may be required over and above dealing with the primary water damage.

Since the full damage from a leak is often obscured, dry wall, insulation, carpeting and plywood may need to be removed to assess the entire situation; in many instances these items cannot be removed without being damaged even further in the process.

Once the affected area is as exposed as possible, you can gauge the full extent of the damage. Taking photos at this point is a great idea, whether you need to submit them for an insurance claim, warranty repair or to get an estimate from a local general contractor or a remediation specialist.

Your costs will include disposal of the damaged materials and potential hazardous waste, installing replacements as well as locating and correcting the initial cause of the leak. Depending on the origin of the problem and the extent of the damage you may have no choice but to hire professionals to repair the leak and clean up the damage.

While water damage repairs and renovations are costly, they’re also necessary to protect the investment in your home as well as the health of your family. You can save money by completing the visible portions of the renovations yourself, but make sure qualified professional contractors have determined that there are no lingering structural damage or remediation problems. The pros have tools, training and experience to make a qualified assessment which is often backed up by a service warranty should you hire them to do the job.

Whatever the cause of the original water damage, you can take this as an opportunity to restore or completely revive the look of the area. It may even inspire you to consider remodeling the rest of your home.

John Candalino has a lifetime of professional experience in the building trades. He provides common sense advice and information on topics such as fire restoration and plumbing repair on Homescape Improvement.

Home Improvement:
home improvement contractors