Slight Flood Damage Can Cause Secondary Water Damage

6/19/2018 (Permalink)

Water Damage from Flooding Can Expand Without Treatment

There are many different projects that homeowners and landlords can do to save substantial amounts of money. There are a few that should be left in the care of expert professionals. One of these is flood damage. Flood damage, once it has begun to occur, escalates and spreads in extremely expensive ways. The longer you wait to clean up flood damage, or any water damage, the more expensive it becomes.

Flood damage creates risks such as secondary water damage that do-it-yourselfers accept, even if they don't want to, or realize they are doing so. Secondary water damage is multi-faceted and can affect almost every area of a home or business which has had water or flood intrusion. Secondary water damage includes mold growth, bacterial colonies, fungi, and other infectious pathogens developing, and also structural problems with decay and other changes to the materials used in the structural components of the home or building. Flood damage is much more hazardous that clean water from a leak within your home, to begin with, but both can create substantial amounts of secondary water damage.

In addition to the health risks posed by living pathogens such as mold and fungi growing and eventually releasing spores into the air you and your family breathe, structurally, your home or business can suffer, as well sewage backup is often a result of flooding.

Warping of hardwood flooring is a common occurrence, but the buckling and curving of stairwell treads can also happen. This deterioration can create a dangerous climb up the stairs, and can make coming downstairs especially perilous. Door frames can also crack, or swell causing the closing of doors, both interior and exterior, impossible, creating security risks for your family and your possessions. Cabinets can also become warped and panels can buckle and crack. Doors and drawers can swell, sealing them shut, or keeping them from closing correctly. Other flooring types commonly found in bathrooms and kitchens, such as tile and linoleum, can lose their adhesive and mold can begin to grow on their undersides.

All of this is preventable when trained, and experienced professionals are employed to carry out IICRC approved measures to clean up flood damage. It only takes a tiny amount of leftover water to allow the problems above to develop, but SERVPRO the professionals at SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh have that training. Along with that, we have the equipment and the experience to deal with any level of contamination from flood water. To prevent secondary water damage, and to clean up current flood damage, call SERVPRO of Bellmore / Wantagh at (516) 809-9600, 24/7.