SERVPRO can't stop the flood but we can stop the damage!

2/22/2019 (Permalink)

Flood damage does not solely present damage from the water alone but also what is present in the water.

Having a fire in your home can be prevented, and the risk lessened with adequate precautions. Other types of damage are similar and can be controlled to some extent with a bit of effort on a homeowner's part. Flooding and the damage that it causes, however, is extremely uncooperative, no matter what efforts you put forth. 
 
 Floods of slower moving water create fewer risks to motorists and those who are outside, as knowledge of them is more widely known. Flash floods can sweep cars away because they are powerful enough to do so. The amount of damage these types of floods can create in a home can be catastrophic. Both types of floods can create bio-hazard risks in a home. If a home has been flooded, it must be cleaned to a sanitary state again before people live in it again. 
 
SERVPRO cleaning and restorative work must target biological presences and microbial organisms, chemical compounds, and structural damages. Flood damage does not solely present damage from the water alone but also what is present in the water, and sometimes this can include structural damage caused by objects being forced through a home during the flood. At times, these can include damage to electrical wiring in addition to waterlogged outlets. Chemical compounds can include various mixes of salts, fertilizers, sewage (which can also be biological), motor fluids (gasoline, oil, brake fluid), and run-off from local factories. 
 
Gutting a home is often needed to restore a residence to suitable conditions. Furnishings can be cleaned to acceptable levels unless they have been submerged for extended periods of time. This is especially true of compressed wood products. Solid wood furniture is not as easily damaged, although instead of swelling and crumbling, this type of furniture is more likely to crack in places where two pieces of wood were fastened together. Fabric that covers upholstery can harbor pathogens such as mold and bacteria, and care must be taken when cleaning these items. Special brushes may need to be used to preserve raised patterns while still cleaning the piece adequately.