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Water can create serious problems for a property, and it only intensifies with time. Each issue results in more time and money the homeowner spends to correct the problem and ensure the home is structurally sound and safe to inhabit. Here’s the timeline of what happens during serious water infiltration in the home.

Minutes

As soon as water infiltrates a home, it starts to spread contamination. Flooring and furniture become soaked and damaged, and drywall soaks up water from the floor like a sponge.

Hours

Within hours, the water-logged furniture begins to swell. Humidity levels rise, and unpleasant odors become noticeable. Any dyed fabrics will bleed or become discolored

Days

It only takes a few days for fungi and mold to start growing. Solid wood starts to warp, and hardwood floors are typically ruined by this time. Paint may blister, or wallpaper may begin peeling off the wall. The home’s wood structural components will start to swell and may split.

Weeks

Homes exposed to water for weeks, such as an unnoticed broken pipe behind a wall, will have more widespread mold issues. The property may need to be evacuated due to health risks, and people with allergies or respiratory problems may have difficulty breathing.

A common mistake that many people make is cleaning and drying only the visible surfaces after a leak. They neglect any water or moisture that may be trapped within the walls or underneath floorboards, giving mold ample space to grow undetected. 

There are many factors that contribute to the speed of mold growth including temperature, humidity and type of surface affected. Any and all indoor mold can be a potential threat to your health and should be promptly removed, regardless of the appearance or species. Common mold-related symptoms include headaches, fatigue, rashes, allergic reactions, and other respiratory problems. 

1. Assessment of Damage

After first confirming the property is safe to enter, the first thing a fire damage contractor must do is perform an assessment of the damage sustained in the fire and ensuing water intrusion. This typically involves assessing how far the flames and smoke have penetrated into the structure and how extensive any clean up is likely to be. This step also involves assessment of the contents inside of the property to determine what should be discarded and what can be packed out and restored. At the end of a thorough assessment, the restoration company will have a better idea of the scope of the work, how long it will take and can begin formulating a cost estimate.

2. Security of Property & Debris Removal

After the assessment has been performed, the next step is securing the property. This includes installing fencing around the property, removing debris around the perimeter, and boarding up openings in the structure, as well as tarping or sealing off parts of the roof to protect what's left of the property from the weather. If certain areas of the property were not impacted by the fire, then it's important for restoration professionals to ensure that this area is sealed off from the area that was impacted to minimize any cross contamination.

3. Demolition, Water Removal & Dry Out

The goal during this stage is to prevent further damage due to mold or corrosion by removing water and drying out the property. Personal property will be removed from the interior of the structure. Damaged drywall, flooring and other materials will be removed down to the studs as necessary. Water extraction crews will work with commercial equipment to dry out the structure. Roof tarps will be maintained during this stage to prevent further intrusion of water.

4. Clean Up & Smoke Removal

This is the most intensive part of a fire damage restoration job: clean up. This step typically involves a lot of manual labor to properly clean smoke and soot from interior and exterior surfaces. In many cases, every inch of the affected area will need to be cleaned. Following proper clean up, deodorizing agents are used to fully remove any lingering smoke odors. If water damage restoration has also been performed, it may be necessary to sanitize or apply antimicrobial chemicals to halt any subsequent mold growth. Off site, any contents that have been packed out are also likely being restored to pre-loss condition. Clean up also involves duct cleaning to remove any soot, smoke or debris that may have settled in ducts.

5. Construction & Restoration

The final step in returning the property to pre-loss condition is performing any necessary fire damage repairs or to rebuild fire-damaged areas. In the case of a fire, parts of the structure may be completely unsalvageable during the initial assessment, and therefore have to be removed and replaced. This may include: rebuilding and replacing the roof, replacing electrical, replacing and painting drywall, replacing flooring materials, replacing interior counters, fixtures, etc. to bring the property back to pre-loss condition.

Damage from the following situations commonly caused by storm events or natural disasters are generally covered by most homeowners or auto insurance policies, but you should read your insurance policy or speak with your insurance agent or insurance company for more specific information.

Falling objects:  If a tree on your property falls on your house, you can file a claim for the damage under your homeowners policy. If it falls on your vehicle, you can file a claim under your auto policy if you have comprehensive coverage.  

Roof damage or collapse:  Homeowners policies generally cover only the portion of a roof that was damaged by, or collapsed from, falling objects, rain, snow, or wind. 

Biohazard materials come from biological substances including microorganisms, plants, animals, and their byproducts. They have the potential to spread disease and pose a threat to human or animal health. Potential biohazards abound in the medical field and those handling them must act with caution.

Here are some examples of biohazards:

• Human bodily fluids: Blood, blood products, amniotic fluid, or other bodily fluid that can transmit disease.

• Animal waste: Droppings that may contain viruses and bacteria, carcasses that may contain disease-carrying flies or rodents and bedding materials from infected animals.

• Medical waste: Tissue samples, lab cultures, microbiological waste including viruses and bacteria, byproducts from autopsies and surgeries, sharps, and IV tubing.

• Pathological waste: Waste biopsy materials, anatomical parts, and unfixed human tissue.

• Mold and fungi: Spores can become airborne and cause respiratory, neurological, and other illnesses.