Unwanted Groundwater from a Storm in Your Downtown Knoxville Home? Try Cleanup and Restoration By SERVPRO

11/13/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Can Salvage Hardwood Flooring after a Flooding in Downtown Knoxville

Flood Damage in Downtown Knoxville Kitchen Gets Fast Cleanup

When it comes to significant water loss,  the damage left behind by flash floods and storms is among the most devastating a homeowner experiences.

Along with the excessive moisture, flood damage in a Downtown Knoxville kitchen, for example, can bring severe loss from just a half an inch of water. When this happens, acting fast makes a difference in how much damage occurs to the furnishings and structure.

Move Items Out If It Is Safe
Groundwater can have a host of contaminants in it, and anyone not wearing protective gear should avoid aspiration or contact with the water.  Before groundwater enters the house, pick up items off the floor and move furnishings away from the room to another location in the house. Pack out food items from the pantry and porous items that could absorb floodwater.

Testing Before Cleanup
SERVPRO technicians can test the water to determine the nature of bacteria or contaminants, so they use the proper cleaning agents. Typically, this step is not needed. In a kitchen affected by groundwater, they scope the floor with moisture detection equipment to ascertain if the subfloor requires attention both before and after water extraction. Technicians move out toe kicks to get underneath cabinets and may move appliances during water extraction. This action ensures that no water is left behind.

Drying Tile Kitchen Floor
Depending on the type of flooring, different methods for drying apply. Glued-down tile tends to lose adherence when exposed to water and may require removal, while ceramic and other types of inlaid tile fare better. The SERVPRO technicians use drying mats that they move frequently and evenly dry the floor in the case of hardwood flooring in the affected area. This method works to suction out moisture from the joints of the boards.

Disinfection and Deodorization
After drying, hand cleaning and disinfection of all water-affected surfaces commence restoring the kitchen to its pre-flood loss condition. If any unpleasant odors remain after drying and cleaning, the technicians apply any necessary deodorization applications.

SERVPRO of Rocky Hill / Sequoyah Hills / South Knoxville at (865) 862-8907 stands ready to assist local property owners with any size flood damage and restore their home "Like it never even happened."

Places to go in Downtown Knoxville