Water damage is a serious problem that homes, and businesses often experience, it is important that property owner know about the different stages of water damage. Many owners fail to know that this problem does not only entail damage of the property substrates, but also cover the occurrence of microbial and fungal growth, which can be quite hard to eradicate once it occurs.
Should this problem occur in your home or office, it is important to know the different stages of water damage.
The first stage of water damage is when the water begins to spread from the source – horizontally or vertically, causing damage to your walls, ceilings, floors, and its contents. At this stage, there should be immediate action to reduce the cost of repair and cleanup. If you delay action, cost of repair, and clean up time will increase drastically.
If by this point, the damage is not contained, the water flows freely and affects materials that encounter it. At some point in this stage, saturation takes place as gravity pulls moisture deeper into the materials or floors.
In the second stage, materials readily absorb moisture and start to become saturated and show swelling, cracking, or warping in the case of furniture or hardwood materials. If these materials remain wet for a long period of time, irreversible damage can occur.
The third stage sets in when high humidity begins to cause damage to the affected property. When moisture begins to evaporate, it saturates the air, which can lead to damage of your photos, paintings, and books. Some signs of high humidity include the formation of condensation on walls and ceilings sagging.
The damage caused by high humidity can be mitigated by controlling humidity levels using high-powered dehumidifiers. At this stage, immediate action must be observed to deter the growth of microbes and fungi.
The fourth stage is when high humidity is not controlled, this leads to the growth of fungi, microbes, and other microscopic organisms. When fungi damage occurs, it affects the quality of indoor air. Moist environments encourage the growth of these harmful organisms.
As these harmful organisms can cause serious health risks, reducing the damage at this stage is a top priority. Controlling three factors is the key to deterring their growth, these are temperature, air circulation, and relative humidity. When these factors are controlled, it will set in an environment that will dry up wet contents. This can also confine the water damage to the original area where it first occurred.
The fifth and last stage involves the spread of microbes and other microorganisms to other areas that are not originally affected. Mould and mildew, for example, can spread from the affected area to another if microbial growth is not hindered. At this stage, it is important to involve a professional air quality tester and a water restoration contractor to make a comprehensive plan and address the issue.
Water damage restoration can be costly if you do not act as quickly possible. Irreplaceable items will increase as well if you do not address this issue immediately. Call AllAces Cleaning & Restoration on 1800 00 1010 if your property is damaged by water.