Why a quick response is priority #1
The destructive power of water can destroy homes and commercial buildings.
What are the dangers of a delayed response?
Whether it’s an isolated problem, or a complete inundation, most people are desperate to return to their home or business as soon as possible after the damage has occurred.
The difference between a small problem and a very large, ongoing problem is time.
A quick response to water inundation is ideal in most cases. It can take just two to three days of wetness before mould and bacteria starts growing. And this type of contamination can be difficult to isolate and destroy.
A quick response can reduce the cost of building restoration in the long run. It can also prevent secondary damage to valuables and items of sentimental value such as photos, books and artwork. Or, in the case of a business, important paperwork and stock.
We recommend that the correct remediation process is put in place within 24 hours of a flood or seepage.
What should a home or business owners do first after their premises have had water ingress*?
Before the job of restoring a building begins, there are a few tasks that need to be done first.
- Make sure it’s safe
Safety is the first consideration before starting to fix water damage. If a building has been totally flooded, the basic walls, floors and roof structures may have been compromised.
For professionals, safety googles, rubber gloves and boots, masks and protective clothing, are must-haves during the assessment stage and as the job progresses.
It’s also important to check that electricity is turned off around the affected area.
- Stop the source of water
If water is coming from a leaking pipe, tap or air-conditioner, turn off the water source.
- Contact the insurance company
Water damage can be expensive. It’s important that home and business owners contact their insurer quickly to check that they’re covered. Once they have the go-ahead, the claims and repair process can begin.
Usually once the claims process begins, the insurer will send out a loss adjuster. Following their assessment, they’ll appoint a qualified building company to start repairs.
Fixing the damage
It’s crucial that buildings are dried-out as quickly and effectively as possible. This help to prevent new outbreaks of mould or bacteria developing in the first place.
Restoring a property is most often best left to the experts.
All insurance builders use specialised equipment to dry and restore a home or business. But not all companies have the experience or technology to deal with every project effectively.
Some approaches can make things worse
According to the, Advanced Buildings’ Restorations Manager (NSW):
“A common approach is to bring in the industrial fans and blowers straight away.”
“Unfortunately, this can makes matters worse. It’s a bit like blowing on a dandelion – you know the ones that you used to make a wish on when you were a child? Once airborne, the dandelion seeds can travel far and wide.”
“Unless the affected area is properly contained, microscopic mould spores can be distributed throughout a building, beyond the initial problem site. This increases the remediation time and cost. “
Fans are also not always effective at drying deeper water damage to water, carpet and furniture.
The most effective treatment is a combination of approaches that include:
- An understanding of the built structure and the mix of materials being dried. To aid drying, some materials need to be stripped from surfaces as paint and floor adhesives can prevent moisture being released.
- Thorough inspections and measurements of the sub-structural materials to make sure nothing is missed.
- Isolation of contaminated areas to minimise spreading the problem.
- Effective water extraction processes including high-powered pumps.
- The employment of specialised drying and cleaning equipment and chemicals to minimise mould and bacterial contamination and odour.
Why it’s important to employ the experts
It’s important to have qualified professionals working on your home or business.
The key ingredients to choosing the ‘right’ service providers are:
Because even a simple water inundation can become a big problem, having building and restorations experts who have had extensive experience in these types of jobs is important.
On any restorations job, you need to ensure the tradespeople working on the job are trained on the latest techniques and using up-to-date equipment.
In Australia, The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) provides accredited courses for tradespeople in building and restorations. By undertaking these courses, workers gain the specialist knowledge they need to make sure their work is top-notch.
Advanced Buildings – the company you can trust
- Advanced buildings have a 24/7 make-safe and restorations service. We make the process as smooth as possible.
- Because we provide a complete, integrated service, we can handle a job from start to finish.
- Our team undertake regular and rigorous IICRC and on-the-job training to ensure a high level of workmanship and service.
- We take on-the-job safety Our safety officers support our team with training and equipment to prioritise workplace safety on every project.
* Water ingress is “the term used to describe the permeation of water into the structure of a building.”
For more information on our 24/7 services, or advice on how to deal with water damage and mould in your home or commercial buildings, contact us on 1300 878 687.