Introduction (i)
After there has been an accident in your house related to water, such as the bursting of a pipe, floods, or water heater, it is critical to repair it. The water damage restoration process consists of five steps starting with inspection and analysis, and end up pretty much back to its undamaged and albeit brand new form.

Every step carries equal weight and missing one of the steps that might trigger you to have to go through the entire process again. It is important to make sure that any area from which water was leaking or seeping through has been closed out. The typical steps involved in the restoration of water damage are as follows:

Inspection and analysis:

All the water restoration companies do a thorough analysis of the damage caused by water leakage. During this step, the expert will classify the damage to later help ease the process of repair and restoration. Initially, they will calculate the absorption coefficient of the affected materials to determine the amount of water they have absorbed in the respective time. They have specialized equipment such as moisture detectors or scourers, which determine the amount of damage caused and the work required to fix it. Depending on their findings/analysis, they will rate the damage on the scale of Class 1 to Class 4. During this step, they will make sure to pinpoint the source of water and will seal it completely later on. The source of the water leakage will then be classified as Category 1, 2, or 3. After this step is completed, you’ll be informed about the time and cost of the repairs.

Draining of water:

The following step in the process of water damage restoration is the draining of water using a water extractor. Still, water is destructive to your property and with time will decrease the quality and stability of the area it is piled up in. For this reason, it should be disposed of immediately. This step becomes additionally important if the affected area is the basement since water can lead to the growth of mold or algae. These companies deploy water extractors during this process. They act as a vacuum cleaner and pump all of the water out of the place and out in the open where it is easy to drain. However, there are other methods to drain water out as well such as:

  • Portable dry/wet vacuums
  • Submersible pumps
  • Truck-mounted vacuums

Once the water is drained out of the area, it is again inspected to check which materials are damaged and whether they need replacing.

Dehumidification and drying:

Once the second step is completed, the water damage restoration company will begin the process of drying out the space using commercial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers. To the naked eye, the materials or space might look dry, however, if you touch it, you will be able to feel the moisture. So, for this reason, dehumidifiers are used to completely dry-off the affected area. While the machines are doing their job, the experts monitor the humidity levels of the walls, floors, and ceilings to ensure complete dryness for the next step to begin.

Sanitizing and cleaning:

The water damage restoration professionals carry out a thorough job in the cleaning of the area keeping in mind to save any material that possibly can be saved. This cleaning should always be done by trained professionals who follow the safety and sanitization guidelines of areas affected by water leakage. Cleaning can be done in many ways, such as:

  • Dry Cleaning
  • Wet Cleaning
  • Spray and wipe cleaning

During the cleaning process, these experts use materials such as abrasive, foam, and immersion to ensure that every material is as thoroughly cleaned as possible. If there is a mold deposit, a remedial process for that will be initiated as well.

Repair of the affected areas:

This is the final step and involves the restoration of the affected area. The purpose of this step is to provide all the necessary repairs and embellishments to return the place to its previously unaffected state. The damaged materials will either be repaired or replaced. The whole process can be simple or complex depending on the damage caused to the materials and the size of the area affected.

Cost of Water Damage Restoration (ii)

The process of water damage restoration can have variable costs and normally ranges somewhere between $2000 to $5000, with an average of $3000 is spent in the United States on the extraction of greywater resulting from a flooded toilet, which might include the repair of drywall and ceilings.

Water Damage Restoration Companies (iii)

ServiceMaster Restore

This is one of the top-rated companies in America and provides both commercial and residential services. Their scope of services includes water extraction, cleanup, drying, and dehumidification. Water damage resulted from pipe leakage, roof leakage, flooded basements, water contamination, greywater backups, and natural disasters, etc., can be handled by ServiceMaster Restore. After performing each step, they make sure that it was carried out successfully for the sake of customer satisfaction as well as to proceed to the next step.

Amerestore

Founded back in the late 80s, Amerestore provides services in states such as Florida, Gulf Coast, as well as the East Coast. They are best suited for residential projects. In addition to water damage restoration, their scope of services includes cleaning services. Another advantage of hiring this company is their 24/7 support which is ready to deliver whenever you want them to. All of their experts are IICRC certified and follow the guidelines for safety provided by them. Compatible work relation with the majority of the insurance companies, Amerestore charges the cost of the repair directly to your insurance company. However, the repairs need to be first approved by the insurance company. To get a quotation or even if you have a query, you can log on to their website or visit the local Amerestore location if they are available in your area.

 

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