Dealing with the aftermath of water damage at home can be devastating in more ways than one, leaving you with plenty to repair, replace, and holes in your wallet. Whether it’s from a natural calamity like storms or due to a faulty plumbing system that you overlooked, taking action as soon as there are no threats in the surrounding area is crucial.
In addition to renovating the house to fix damaged items or furnishings, it’s a good idea to consider how you can improve your space and improve its resistance against water damage from floods.
With that in mind, the list below is a simple rundown on what you can do when giving your home the fix-me-upper it needs after experiencing a flood:
Tip #1: Salvage The Dry Areas Of Your Home Immediately
Once the storm calms and there’s no risk of experiencing another flood, then it’s time to move quickly by putting a professional restoration team on speed dial. However, that doesn’t mean you can rest easy while waiting for the experts to reach your home.
When the repair company is on the way, it’s best to salvage what you can along the accessible parts of your home to minimize the extent of its damages. This is also the time to ensure that there is no electricity dipped underwater by cutting it off from your central breaker, or else the water damage can quickly worsen into catastrophic heights.
Another way to control the damages before the experts arrive is to dry your valuables immediately, so long as the furniture is not sitting in standing water.
Tip #2: Improve Your Basement’s Flooring
Once the professionals are there to inspect your home, some of the best renovations to start with include giving your flooring a much-needed overhaul. After all, water damages often destroy the quality and integrity of your flooring the most, rendering carpeting and wooden flooring virtually unusable.
Seeing as the extent of the damages often impact basement floors, you don’t have to worry about giving your entire home an upgrade. Start by swapping your basement flooring into something that can withstand areas that have high moisture levels, such as concrete, vinyl tiles, Marmoleum, or ceramic.
Avoid materials that easily get damaged by water like carpets, hardwoods, and laminates.
Tip #3: Take A Look At Your Interior Walls
In addition to your flooring, your interior walls are likely blemished from the flood too. A professional will handle cleaning off the contaminants and deodorizing the frames, though it’s best to replace it altogether with water-resistant framing using extruded polystyrene foam boards.
Other materials will soak up water like a sponge, while the recommended material is better as it provides better insulation, minimizing risks of warping, and developing mold.
The Bottom Line: Dealing With The Aftermath Of Disasters With A Professional
Experiencing water damage can cause major inconveniences for you and the family, especially if the flood has filled your basement. There is plenty of clean-up and repairs to think about, and time is golden when it comes to fixing water damages, which is why it helps to have a reliable damage restoration company in New York that can heed to your emergencies 24/7.