Water damage can be serious business. Whether it is caused by a severe thunderstorm, excessive flood water, a burst pipe, sewage backups, plumbing leaks, or some other natural disaster, water damage can leave a property in ruin, destroy valuables and other belongings, facilitate mold growth, and, in the case of commercial buildings, can halt business operations and lead to unplanned downtime.
Restoring your property back to its original state is of the utmost importance, and a water restoration company like HL Restoration can get the job done for you. This guide will teach you the basics of water restoration and remediation services, including costs and the processes that are involved in getting your property back into perfect condition.
What Are Water Damage Restoration Services?
So, what exactly is it that water restoration professionals do? In short, a great water damage repair and restoration team will restore your property to its pre-damaged state in an efficient and professional manner. At HL Restoration, we strive to restore your property as quickly and effectively as possible. If left untreated, water and flood damage can cause numerous problems to both the property itself and human health.
In an effort to restore your property to its original condition, our water restoration services typically include the replacement of damaged walls and flooring, repairing damaged roofs, and, if needed, mold and bacterial remediation. After these processes are completed, we will test the moisture and humidity levels of the property to ensure that everything is back to where it should be.
Water restoration services are not to be confused with water mitigation. Although HL Restoration offers both water restoration and water mitigation services, restoration is the more comprehensive of the two. Mitigation is simply the process of removing excess water from the property and making sure that everything is properly treated and sanitized.
Water mitigation services do not include the process of restoring the property back to its original state. This is something to keep in mind when determining which service is best for your predicament.
The Water Damage Restoration Process
The previous section was a brief overview of what is involved in a water restoration service. In this section we will go into detail about the water restoration process that is employed by HL Restoration.
Removal of Standing Water
The first step in any water restoration service is water removal. All standing water must be taken care of before any other damage occurs, and we cannot repair the property unless all of the water is gone. At HL Restoration, we use industrial-grade, state-of-the-art water extraction equipment and pumps to remove all of the excess water that has pooled in your property. Typical vacuums and pumps just won’t do the trick.
The type of equipment we use depends on how severe the damage is. Our professionals will thoroughly evaluate damage to determine the best course of action for the water extraction. If the water in your property is not removed as quickly as possible, then mold and bacteria will grow. This makes water restoration a time-sensitive process.
Drying the Property
Once the full water extraction has been completed, the next step is to completely dry the property. The water vapor that is left over after the absorbent surfaces and standing water has been properly extracted is dried using dehumidification (equipment including desiccants if needed). If the dehumidification process is not done properly, excess moisture in the air can facilitate bacterial and fungal growth, as well as other health concerns.
Cleaning and Sanitization
Water damage is typically grouped into three different categories. These are clean water, grey water, and black water. Clean water is fairly typical and refers to common water damage, such as that caused by an overflowing sink or bathtub.
Grey and black water, on the other hand, can be hazardous to human health if people come into contact with it or any residual traces it leaves behind. Grey and black water can be filled with toxins, chemicals, sewage, bacteria, and other contaminants. Yet another reason why water clean-up and restoration should be left to the professionals.
In an effort to combat the toxicity and harmful effects of grey and black water, we clean and sanitize all personal belongings to prevent unwanted bacterial and fungal growths. Clothing, carpeting, and drapery receive antimicrobial treatments and air scrubbers are used to remove moisture and particles from the air.
Comprehensive Restoration
Once all of the moisture has been taken care of and everything has been properly sanitized and deemed safe, the full restoration of your property can begin. Most of the time, this involves replacing insulation drywall, carpeting, and hardwood flooring. Sometimes, if the damage is severe enough, we will even completely replace the walls and repair roofs and ceilings.
How the Cost of Water Restoration Services is Determined
Needless to say, water restoration and remediation is not an easy undertaking. It can be a long and arduous process, and it can be expensive. In this section, we will discuss how the cost of a service is determined. The following are several factors that will contribute to the overall cost of a restoration service.
Type of Water
The aforementioned water type (clean, grey, or black) is one of the most important factors that determines how expensive a restoration service will be. Naturally, jobs that involve clean water are less expensive than jobs that involve grey or black water.
Extent of the Damage
Of course, the more work there is to be done, the more expensive the service will be. If all that is required is a dehumidification of your property, then this will be much cheaper than if there was extensive damage done to the property. The size of the affected area is taken into consideration as well. Restoring an entire basement or floor of a building will be much more expensive than restoring a bathroom.
Additional Restoration Work
As we mentioned before, excessive water damage can lead to all sorts of other issues, chief among them being mold and bacterial growth. If a large amount of mold or bacteria is present, then a separate mold remediation service may need to be performed as well. In addition, depending on the severity of the damage, entire walls may have to be replaced, as opposed to just the insulation drywall.
How You Can Minimize the Cost of Service
First and foremost, you need to contact a professional restoration company as soon as possible. The quicker that the restoration process is underway, the less likely it is that further damage will occur. If possible, you should turn off the power to the affected area, and, if the water damage was not caused by some sort of natural disaster, shut off your water supply. This will also help prevent further damage before the professionals arrive.
It is also important that you fix small issues as they appear. What appear to be small plumbing issues can turn into far greater concerns if they are left alone for too long. Oftentimes, a plumber can prevent severe water damage by nipping these minor issues in the bud before they turn into serious problems.
Utilizing Your Insurance Company to Pay for Restoration Services
In the event of a major disaster that leads to serious water damage to your property, make sure to call your insurance provider, so that you can file a claim. At HL Restoration, we are flexible and will work with all insurance companies, that way your property can receive the proper attention that it needs.
Keep in mind that you may need to review your responsibilities under your insurance policy for cleaning up your property and preventing further damage from occurring. Make sure to discuss any questions you have with your insurance representative or claim adjuster.
Why You Should Choose HL Restoration for Your Water Restoration Needs
Emergency water restoration is an urgent and time-sensitive issue. Our team of restoration professionals here at HL Restoration is at your beck and call twenty-four hours a day. With state-of-the-art equipment and a team that has been qualified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), we go above and beyond to ensure that your property is restored to a state that is better than its original condition.
In addition to water restoration services, we also specialize in mold remediation, fire and smoke restoration, biohazard cleanup, construction defect repair, and storm restoration. No matter what the issue is, we have got you covered. If you are looking for a professional water damage restoration company, look no further than HL Restoration.