Post-Vacation Water Damage Surprise From Your Spokane Garden Sitter

7/20/2017 (Permalink)

Water Damage Surprise

When homeowners take a week or two off during growing season, they often hire a local youngster to take care of watering chores. Watering done too enthusiastically, especially near a foundation, threatens basements and crawl spaces with damage. Call SERVPRO® if your welcome home gift is a wet basement.

A local teenager agreed to keep your flower and vegetable gardens maintained while you and your family traveled out of state. He accidentally ran a soaker hose next to your foundation overnight, causing water damage to your Spokane bungalow. Engaging a local restoration company with experience drying out a partially finished basement is the first thing you need to do. Our certified and licensed team fits the bill.

SERVPRO offers full-service restoration, able to manage the range of tasks necessary to dry out cinder block, drywall, paneling, and all types of flooring. Technicians measure moisture levels in all of the structures and components, assigning appropriate drying goals to each. Carpeting receives thorough water extraction, taking care not to stretch or pull fibers away from the backing. We assess tile, laminate or hardwood floors, using our powerful wet vacuums for surface water and drying mats if subfloor moisture is a concern. If necessary, we pull up portions of the floor coverings to expose the moisture we need to remove.

Cinderblock lines the entire foundation, and the crew scans for hidden water trapped in cells. A low impact, high result method to release water drills holes in the mortar joints, but we also search for openings at the top of the blocks to pull water out with flexible tubing. Sheetrock or paneling in the finished area add a layer or more and increases the number of recesses where water hides. SERVPRO uses advanced technology to locate pockets of moisture, removing portions of the wall covering if required to reach and extract the water.

Air movers and dehumidifiers continue decreasing the moisture level, aimed under the carpeting and between the foundation bricks and paneling or sheetrock via tubing or through slots we create by removing pieces of the material. Restoration is the goal, but if crumbling, saturated drywall or separating pressed wood is a problem, we suggest replacing some materials.

We also assess furnishings and personal belongings, taking them to a dry area in the basement or outside. Before you commit to off-site drying, we discuss what items you want to be selected for special drying treatments and keep a complete inventory of what we remove for further processing.

Rely on SERVPRO of Spokane County to develop a water damage restorations plan that returns your sense of home and peace of mind. Call (509) 487-4700 day or night to schedule an assessment.

Click here to learn more about the city of Spokane.