Which Companies Help Residents with Water Intrusion?

10/13/2020 (Permalink)

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How does water impact a structure?

A water intrusion event can affect the structure of your Knoxville home. These effects are twofold. The first is by absorbing into building materials and weakening them. Sagging or warping is a vital sign of a weakening structure. Some materials, such as multi-ply woods, may begin to break apart or visibly bend. The second issue with water intrusion is mold growth. Water contains microbes that can spring to life in the presence of organic materials, moisture, and warmth. Conducting responsible property repair then must cater to both these aspects of water intrusion. SERVPRO technicians can dry your structure while controlling indoor humidity and temperature to prevent mold growth.

Is hot air necessary for drying a structure?

Higher temperatures boost the amount of moisture that the air can hold and are an essential part of water damage repair in your Knoxville home. However, sometimes temperature controls may be inefficient. For example, a wet garage may have insufficient insulation to hold temperature and running heating equipment for long sessions could be cost-inefficient. While air-movers can provide a short, sharp supply of hot air, these equipment are less useful when drying semi-porous materials like concrete or lumber. SERVPRO technicians can opt to use desiccant dehumidifiers in the property, which function efficiently in cold temperatures. There are many factors that a technician considers when restoring your home. Pre-testing and monitoring are essential methods in putting together a drying strategy.

What occurs during a pre-test of a wet property?

• Technicians identify various building materials and consult on the best equipment, methods, and options for drying.
• Penetrating and non-penetrating moisture meters can help restoration technicians understand how much water materials absorb
• Site-specific factors are noted during a pre-test to ensure that the drying strategy is suitable for your home's architecture and assembly.

Is property repair worth it?

When a structure becomes wet, it may be tempting to consider replacing large amounts of building material or contents. No matter how bad things look, restoration techniques often return a home to its preloss condition. In general, cleaning or drying materials in the house is cost-efficient, whereas replacing them may become expensive. Restoration is generally far less inconvenient for a homeowner than demolition and re-installation, creating noise and taking significant time to order replacement materials. Using a bullet-proof drying and cleaning strategy generally offers a solution that causes the minimum homeowner inconvenience.

What are the expensive aspects of water repair?

• Resurfacing or refinishing some or parts of the home which take significant time for layering and installation
• Controlled or uncontrolled demolition and packing, hiring dumpsters, and disposal of large amounts of mortar, drywall, or plaster
• Replacing construction materials entirely. Especially for more expensive, resilient materials like tiles or marble constructs

When does replacement outweigh restoration?

It is not always viable to return a water damaged Knoxville home to its preloss condition through cleaning and drying the structure and contents. Often materials or contents that have long-term water exposure require replacement. Equally, cheaper items that are readily available and relatively easy to install can usually be replaced. A carpet pad, for example, can be dried and cleaned. However, these are typically made from sponge or polypropylene, which is an inexpensive material to place. SERVPRO technicians often stock carpet pads alongside drying equipment and cleaning equipment since, in many restoration services, these parts of the floor assembly are replaced. Replacing a carpet pad can extend both the carpet and the subfloor's life, making it an excellent example of when replacement outweighs restoration.

What is the impact of water on concrete floors?

• Steady absorption into the concrete which can lead to cracking
• Powder staining on the surface of the concrete
• Mold and microbial growth which can expand and lead to exponential damages

Can restoration costs get out of control?

The water damage restoration cost is generally fixed in an estimate verbally produced during an initial inspection before receiving an adjuster's confirmation. There are rare circumstances when complications arise while restoring a property. These complications generally occur in older buildings when potentially harmful materials are present such as lead-based paint or asbestos. Lead and asbestos dust can be hazardous if inhaled. The S500 from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certifications (IICRC) recommends that technicians avoid disturbing lead or asbestos in a property. It may be necessary to use a qualified abatement professional in these circumstances to lengthen the timespan of restoration.

Bringing back your home to its preloss condition is a professional job. Contact SERVPRO of Rocky Hill / Sequoyah Hills / South Knoxville at (865) 862-8907 now.