Flood Damage Repair: What Are My Options?

Natural disasters can be both unforeseeable and unpreventable. When it comes to flooding, even if you’ve been a victim of naturally caused water damage in the past, there is no 100% effective way for you to prevent flooding in the future. While there are a handful of measures that you can take in order to soften the blow—such as raising any wiring, circuit breakers, or sockets a foot above ground level—Mother Nature doesn’t stop for anyone, and your preventative techniques may not be enough.

Take Action as Soon as Possible

While it may help to stay mindful of ways that you can soften the blow, it’s just as important to be aware of your repair options for after the damage takes place. When it comes to the actual flood damage repair, the quicker the flooded building is ventilated, emptied, and dried, the less overall damage will occur, and the safer it will be. Whichever repair option you choose, it is important to act swiftly.

So, what exactly are your flood damage repair options? If your home or office can be salvaged, your typical options for repairs are either a do-it-yourself cleanup, or taking the time to call in a professional. To see which path is right for you, follow these tips

Assess the Damage

You could assess the damage yourself, or you could call in a professional to evaluate the severity for you—if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area, you can call Vital Restoration at 650-262-4545 for a free estimate. Either way, it’s important to take in the whole picture before starting your repairs.

Before going inside the home or office, evaluate the damage to the exterior. Is the foundation still solid? Is the structure sagging? Depending on how bad the flooding is, the work cut out for a successful restoration can be much more than simply pumping out the water. If the structure is safe, go inside. Check for hazardous wires, check for a gas leak, and turn off all utilities.

When deciding whether or not you want to take on the repairs yourself, it is important to know that the most serious type of water damage is called “black water,” and while this water isn’t actually black in color, you should not take it lightly. Black water is completely unsanitary, full of harmful bacteria, and typically found in cases of flooding. As this stagnant water sits in your home, it acts as a breeding ground for the bacteria and can cause hazardous fungi and mold to grow. If not taken care of properly, serious health problems can occur.

Make the Choice

If you feel capable of tackling the flood damage repair on your own, go for it. If not, call a certified, experienced professional to take care of the job—such one of our water damage repair contractors at Vital Restoration. Even if you chose to do it yourself in the beginning, but you are unsatisfied with the results later on down the road—or the full water damage clean up was way more work than you expected it to be—it’s never too late to call a professional. At Vital Restoration, we offer 24-hour emergency response.

Ventilate, Dry, Sanitize

Whether you choose to arm yourself with window fans and your trusty bucket, or you call in the experts, equipped with their state-of-the-art tools—including industrial extractors, wood floor drying systems, sub-floor drying systems, air movers, and power disinfectants—for a more thorough, guaranteed success, the idea is pretty much the same: get your air ventilating to remove the airborne contamination and unwanted moisture, dry what is wet, remove any mold, and sanitize.

Depending on how severe the damage is, you may need to replace carpeting, walls, and furniture to make sure that all bacteria and mold is extinguished. If your home or office is in need of full flood damage repair, call Vital Restoration