Water damage restoration is the process of repairing a building or property to its original condition after water damage. Water damage could be the result of any type of overflow of water including floods or busted pipes.
There are many different factors involved in the entire procedure including assessing the loss, categorizing the water contamination levels, decontaminating the structure, drying the building, and monitoring the process. In order to ensure the work is completed properly there are two available standards in place that water damage restoration companies utilize which are the IICRC which stands for Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification and the RIA, standing for Restoration Industry Association.
Evaluating the loss is the most important factor in water damage restoration. The evaluation must be accurate in order to provide the correct response in the clean up. To ensure the restoration is done properly, insurance companies as well as restoration companies must work side by side to learn what damage occurred and the best way to restore the building or structure to its original shape.
Each time water damage has been done it must be categorized on the contamination levels of the water source. The categories include Category 1 which occurs from clean sources such as sinks and toilets that do not include urine or feces. Category 2 is for water that contains contaminants such as from toilets with urine or dishwashers and Category 3, which is water that is unsanitary and may cause disease or death if ingested such as standing water with microbial growth or toilet water with feces.
Decontamination and drying is the next step in water damage restoration once the evaluation has been completed. According to the findings in the evaluation, the drying and decontamination will differ. There are four types of classifications when it comes to the damage caused by the water, thus different methods will be performed to restore the area according to if the water only did minor damage or if the water was contaminated and needs extra work in order to restore.
Class 1 Damage is when the loss is only found in a small area and less water has been absorbed into the walls, carpet, and other materials.
Class 2 Damage occurs when the damage is to an entire room and carpeted area.
Class 3 Damage is when the entire home is saturated with water.
Class 4 Damage occurs when several deep saturation pockets are discovered.
The area will need to be dried prior to decontamination efforts. The equipment used in this process includes blowers, dehumidifiers, scrubbers and sub-floor drying equipment. If contamination is determined, the area will need to be treated until completely free of contaminants.
Monitoring the process to its completion is very important to ensure the drying process is completed in a timely manner and that all testing is done properly to find contaminants. Due to the seriousness of water damage restoration and the process needed to ensure the safety of not only the family but also the community and environment, it is best to speak with a professional.
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