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Water and Its Destructive Properties | SERVPRO® of West Forsyth County
4/20/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of West Forsyth County wants to be there for you for every catastrophe, big or small. Once or twice in your lifetime, you may experience a large, life-changing disaster, but you could experience many small disasters.
A leaky faucet is something you will likely see in your time as a homeowner, but you never want to underestimate the destructive effects of water. An average household leak can waste up to 10,000 gallons of water in a year.
Water damage progresses rapidly, seeping into floors, walls and soft surfaces. It’s crucial to address the issue right away to produce the best results.
Here’s what you need to know about the timeline of water damage:
If you live in a house, there is a one in four chance of a flood damaging it within a 30-year period in a high-risk area. Forsyth County, like every area in the United States, is vulnerable to flash flooding at any point. For example, in 2021, Winston-Salem saw extensive flooding after remnants of Hurricane Ida hit the city.
The first 24 to 48 hours after flooding or water damage in your West Forsyth County home are crucial. Certain items will immediately fall victim to water’s disastrous effects.
Soft furnishings and upholstery will soak through, and wooden structures can swell from the moisture. Personal belongings like books and photographs are especially vulnerable to warping beyond repair. In addition, mold can begin to develop within this timeframe. Quick action is essential.
SERVPRO of West Forsyth County's expertise and “restore vs. replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. If any materials cannot be successfully restored, this will be communicated to you. These materials are typically removed as soon as possible to expedite the drying of all restorable materials.
After the first 24 hours, water damage will progress further and quickly. Mold can spread like wildfire with excessive moisture. As mold sets in, it can even damage the home’s structure.
Additionally, porous surfaces, such as wood surfaces and walls, will become increasingly compromised, and metal surfaces will start corroding.
Make an effort to avoid letting moisture fester for so long because some effects may be catastrophic and even irreparable. As time goes on, the costs and efforts to restore the structure will increase significantly, and the risks associated with structural damage are greater.
SERVPRO of West Forsyth County’s restoration process begins with the first call, preferably within the first 24 hours. Our process normally starts with a thorough extraction of water. This helps prevent the spread of water in the structure and reduces drying time.
Mostly likely, floors, furniture and other belongings in your house will require cleaning, sanitizing and deodorization following a water damage incident. After the bulk of the water has been removed, our specialists will use industry-leading drying equipment to remove the moisture you can’t see. This is important, because even the tiniest bit of excess moisture can promote mold growth.
After these initial steps, your home may need restoration work to get your property back to its preloss condition. This step could include minor repairs or rebuilding entire areas of your home.
We can simplify the restoration process by handling both the initial damage mitigation and rebuilding the affected areas. SERVPRO of West Forsyth County will keep you up to date on every step and have you back in your home or business in no time.
Regardless of the type of water damage sustained, SERVPRO of West Forsyth County has the tools and teams to help your home or business recover. Contact us 24⁄7 when you need a dependable team to help you recover at 336-946-1131.