The process of removing water from home or business office and restoring it to the previous condition is called the water restoration process. Restoration after water damage must be done as soon as possible because standing water can help bacteria and mold to grow.

What is water damage restoration?

Cleaning water from home can be a challenging task because it is not easy as drying visible water. The material present in the house can absorb the water beneath the surface as they are porous.

Required Restoration depends on the category of water damage that happened and it can range from vacuuming to complete rebuilding of projects.

Sometimes, just drying and cleaning won’t help in materials like carpets, drywall, and fiberfill because they require complete removal. When porous materials seem to be dried, they still tend to grow bacteria and mold and cause significant problems if they are overlooked.

IIRCR:

IIRCR is INSTITUTE OF INSPECTION, CLEANING, AND RESTORATION CERTIFICATION. This regulatory body set standards for restoring water damage from materials to the pre-damaged condition. Certified members from this organization can make sure if the damage is restored thoroughly or not. You should hire trained members that are certified from this organization to ensure your house is properly dried, cleaned, and restored. Certified technicians from IIRCR can help you with:

  • Fire damage
  • Floor water
  • Mold removal
  • Sewage backup
  • Storm damage
  • Repair services and
  • Referrals to plumbers

Process of Water damage restoration: (1)

The beginning of restoration is very critical when the damage occurred due to pipe burst, flood damage, and damage of water heater. Restoration of water is completed in five steps. It starts from inspection to complete restoration to the previous condition. Every step is important and ensures that all the water is pollutants are completely removed.

Steps of water damage restoration:

Every step has a special purpose to confirm if the process is done properly.

  1. Inspection and assessment of the place
  2. Removal of water
  3. Drying and dehumidifying
  4. Cleaning and sanitization
  5. Repair and restoration

Here is the detail of water damage restoration steps:

Step 1. Inspection and assessment

Trained professionals perform a detailed assessment of the place where water damage occurred. During the inspection, the specialist will categories the damage that occurred after inspection. The porosity of the material is checked by experts to assess how much absorption has happened. Hygrometers, moisture detectors, and moisture scourers are used to measure the level of absorption and damage and determine the work required. According to the assessment, they will categorize the damage from 1 to 4. They also identify if the water from water has stopped or not. After a detailed inspection, a restoration company will give you the estimated cost needed to repair your home.

Step 2. Water removal:

The second and the main step is removing standing water with extraction. It must be cleaned quickly as standing water can continuously cause damage to your items. Extraction of water is very critical in case of a flooded basement because standing water in the basement for soo long can cause severe mold to grow. Extractors are used to remove water. Extractors are high vacuumed pumps that are designed to absorb water quickly. Various types of extractors are used to remove standing water:

  • Submersible pumps
  • Truck-mounted vacuums
  • Portable Wet and dry pumps.

When all the standing water is removed via extractors, additional inspection is done by a specialist to determine the moisture level that is remained and check if carpets require complete removal.

Step 3. Drying and dehumidifying:

The process of drying and dehumidifying takes place by trained professionals when water is physically extracted via extractors. INDUSTRIAL QUALITY AIR MOVERS and DEHUMIDIFIERS are used for drying purposes from materials that still hold water. They are also used for materials that were challenging during extraction. At this stage, your home seems to be dry but some material still contains water and wet when touched. These materials can further get damaged and lead to breaking, warping, or growing mold. This damage can be protected by complete drying and dehumidifying. After drying, the specialist will check the moisture level on the floor and walls to determine whether your home is completely dried or not so the process of cleaning can begin.

Step 4. Cleaning and sanitizing

The most required step is the cleaning of the home in the restoration process. Restoration companies try to save your property as possible. Cleaning and sanitization should be performed by experts to make sure your house is all safe. Cleaning can be done by different methods:

  • Wipe or spray cleaning
  • Wet cleaning
  • Dry cleaning

Abrasive, foam, and immersion techniques can be used to ensure every item is cleaned thoroughly. Mold remediation steps can also be involved if necessary. Experts have PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) to clean hazardous materials. Equipment includes an N-95 respirator, waterproof clothing, and gloves. After cleaning, the specialist will dispose of the damaged materials that were removed during cleaning.

Step 5. Complete restoration

It is the final step of restoration. During this process, specialists turn your home to the previous condition it was before the deterioration happened. Completely damaged materials are fixed or replaced. The process of restoration can be simple and critical depending on the level of damage that occurred. Sometimes, processes require simple steps such as drying the wall and cleaning of carpet, but sometimes it is crucial when complete reconstruction of your home is necessary.

Cost of water damage restoration:  (2)

Water damage restoration requires water removal from the house and fixing the damage that occurred. The water restoration step involves two separate projects, one is extraction and cleaning of water, while the second one is structural repairs of roof, wall, and floors. The average range of water damage restoration ranges from 2,000 dollars to 5,000 dollars. The national average cost for restoration is 3,000 dollars, while the minimum cost is 1,000 dollars and the maximum cost is 8,000 dollars.

Best water damage restoration companies 2021:

  1. PuroClean
  • It is the best company overall.
  • Provide 24/7 hotline emergency service
  • They also provide documentation if necessary.
  1. ServiceMaster Restore
  • It is the best company nationwide
  • Provide all kind of services for water damage restoration
  • An emergency team of this company is ready to help you 24/7

References:

  1. https://www.waterdamageadvisor.com/water-damage/water-restoration/
  2. https://www.fixr.com/costs/water-damage-restoration