After water damage, it can be difficult to repair and restore everything. But no worries, it can all be done with just a few easy steps of water damage restoration.
First, check out where the damage has been done, locate the source, and try your best to stop it or at the very least reduce its effect.
Go to every room and crook, check out the damage done very carefully, and assess what needs to be thrown away and what can be repaired, among other things. See if the home is habitable. If not, find a temporary shelter.
The next thing that needs to be done is to cut off your apartment’s water and electricity supply, so there aren’t any more mishaps. It’s best if you do this to stay on the cautious side without inviting any surprises.
Before moving or clearing anything, take photos and call the insurance company. That way, you won’t be cheated, and the expenses will be taken care of.
After the insurance company has visited and taken a good look around, get all the paperwork done as soon as possible so that work can be started and everything can be repaired without further delay.
Once all the legal work is taken care of, hire an esteemed professional to get the work started. Talk out everything with them, including an appropriate budget and a fixed amount of time which is valid. Once that is said and done, check with them if your home is alright to live in and, if not, find someplace to live.
Give the house some air to get rid of the humidity and mold. Supply as much air as possible to the building to ensure cross-ventilation so the damage can be reduced.
Distance all kinds of furniture, paintings, and other stuff from the walls, give them some space to breathe and let the air dry them as much as possible.
Check out the state of your furniture and see if repairs need to be done or do they need to be replaced. Wood is especially tricky to work with, so ensure you have it sorted out and thoroughly assessed.
Removing all carpets and rugs is probably best to ensure the flooring situation doesn’t get any worse. They should most likely be replaced.
Until the professionals start their work, get all your neat stuff in its proper state and put it away so that it doesn’t get soiled. Now, drain out all the standing water as much as you can.
Clear out all the debris like sand or other sediments from the walls so that you don’t trip over and it doesn’t get in the way.
All the stuff that you can see is not in a state to be used, get rid of it. It will make the contractors’ work a lot easier.
When the restoration starts, ensure the first thing done is that insulation is repaired. This way, electricity will be restored, and doing everything will be made a lot easier.
The next thing you talk about with the contractor is that all the stuff being done is thoroughly water-proofed with proper cautions so that mishaps like these have a lower chance of occurring again.
It’s best if you get all the plumbing checked out and repaired once to be on the safe side. If possible, get it all redone since having old puppies and stuff might have gone weak and be another reason for this.
After the construction has started, check if the foundation pillars are intact or can be done with just repairs. If not, do not take risks and get it all done again as a precaution merely. Check the status of the flooring and walls and see what needs to be done and if all that needs to be done again.
After water damage, check the drywall carefully and try to replace it at best, as drywalls are a severe issue. They can be repaired but will need tinkering often and are therefore advised to be torn out altogether.
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