Flooding can happen at any moment, from natural disasters to a burst pipe. Unwanted water can easily penetrate any commercial or domestic building that is not adequately protected, making flood damage even more devastating, so ho can we carry out water damage restoration?
When homes are flooded and lives upended, treasured possessions such as family heirlooms, photos, and other keepsakes become more cherished. These valued objects may be saved with basic water damage restoration techniques, if untouched by sewage or chemicals.
Safety after a flood
Get as many people to dry ground as possible and avoid walking through flood water. It not only risks containing a number of bacteria and pathogens which will make you sick, it is also difficult to see hazardous and dangerous objects which may have been washed up with it.
NEVER touch sources of electricity after a flood.
- Personal safety is always the highest priority when entering buildings damaged by waterdamage.
- Check for structural damage before re-entering your home to avoid being trapped in a building collapse.
- Keep power off until an electrician has inspected your system for safety.
- Turn off the gas. Be alert for gas leaks.
- Look before you step. After a flood, the ground and floors are covered with debris, including broken bottles and nails. Floors and stairs that have been covered with mud can be very slippery.
- Take photos of any floodwater in your home and of damaged items for insurance purposes.
- Call your insurance agent to file a claim and report the damage as soon as possible. Homeowners insurance usually covers losses caused by wind, storms, or broken water pipes, but not surface flooding.
- Rescue the most valuable items, but never attempt to salvage belongings at the expense of your own safety.
- Wear long sleeves, sturdy shoes or waterproof boots and plastic or rubber gloves during cleanup.
- Wash your hands often with soap and clean water or use a hand-cleaning gel with alcohol in it.
- Mould can form within 48 hours; you will need to work fast. The goal is to reduce the humidity and temperature around your treasures as you proceed to clean and dry them. If you do encounter extensive mould, use protective gear such as gloves, goggles, and an N100 face mask, available at most DIY stores.
Water damage restoration companies
A flooded building can feel impossible to deal with. From water extraction and risks of contaminated water to mould growth and water damage, it can feel difficult to even know where to begin following a flood emergency.
However, this doesn’t mean that all hope is lost. There are many water damage restoration contractors ready for any emergency and their flood cleaning services are run by a teams you can trust and reach 24 hours a day. Many are contracted with your insurance company, so as soon as the peril is recorded with your insurance company, one of these professional water damage restoration services will be in touch.
Their flood damage restoration service will bring your building back to as close to pre-flooding condition as possible, meaning that you don’t have to deal with the inconvenience of arranging one service after the next – they will project manage from start to finish, minimising downtime, disruption and costs.
Having a team on-site as quickly as possible, ready to efficiently and expertly carry out flood cleanup services is absolutely essential to having your flooded commercial or domestic returned back to you in its original form.
Cleaning and disinfecting the area and the contents, the water-damaged building will be fully restored and you can return with a lot less stress to deal with.
Commercial buildings can be home to a number of hazards, tricky areas to tackle and have a lot of high value items that need flood damage restoration services as soon as possible.
Handling commercial buildings that have been flooded requires experts who know which key areas need dealing with first to prevent future problems for the business. Understanding the value of the stock, equipment and further contents is also essential to getting the best possible results from the commercial flood damage restoration process.
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