Flood Damage Restoration:
Damage Control: What to Do If Flood Strikes? Considering the fact that you can’t predict the future, you can only try to do your best, and in the fastest way possible, when a flood occurs. What’s done is done, and now it’s time for damage control. The first thing to do is move out of that space, whether it’s your home or your office, and be careful when cleaning and estimating the damage, because floors and walls may get so damaged that they can even pose a threat to your life. Take a deep breath, relax, and try to think clearly – let’s see what we can do about it, together.
Don’t Waste a Second – Act Quickly
The more you wait, the bigger the damage. When that flooded space is cleared and empty, you need to put yourself together, and you need to stop thinking about how unfair this situation is. It’s completely normal to feel desperate, but if you start fixing things up right away, your life will get back to normal very quickly. Talk to your friends and family, and seek their guidance, especially if you know someone who had some similar experiences in the past. Gather your rescue team, and prepare for hard work!
Decide on What You Are Throwing out, and Stay True to Your Decisions
The chances are, a lot of things are ruined. There’s no point in being emotional about this, since those are only material objects. Those object probably helped you cherish some dear memories, but you’ll surely replace them in no time. So, equip your team with large garbage bags, and start throwing things out. I’d advise you to get rid of absolutely everything that’s broken or ruined in some other way, and move on.
Conduct a Mold, Moisture & Air Quality Inspection
When there’s finally no garbage and water everywhere, and when it starts to look dry, it’s time to find out what kind of damage is done. It’s very important not to skip this step, because if mold starts to develop, you’ll have a lot of big problems concerning the quality of your life in the future, because the air your breathe may become polluted. This is the time when you need to consult a trained pro team, and let them inspect each and every room in order to make sure that you will be able to continue to live or work in that environment.
It’s Time to Replace All the Ruined Things
Only after you make sure that your home or office is safe, you can start working on its appearance. Start with those bigger pieces, like floors, walls and doors. If you’re not that into DIY projects, and you haven’t done anything like that before, I think this isn’t exactly the perfect time to start. If you don’t do it properly, you’ll just waste money on materials and tools. And you’ll have to call a handyman anyway. Speaking of handymen, you shouldn’t call someone you haven’t worked with before – you need someone reliable and capable. Consult your friends and family, and let them help you with your quest for an experienced handyman which will do the job perfectly.
Small Fixes, Repairs & Remodeling
All of this depends on how big the damage is. If you’re lucky, you’ll have to deal only with mold and moisture, but if that damage done is more severe, you should consider remodeling the place completely. Start with limiting your budget, and be realistic about it. I know it’s hard to see the bright side of things now. But this is a great time to make some changes you’ve always wanted to make. After you determine how much money you’re willing, and able, to spend; you should take a good look at the previously flooded space, and start sketching. It’s not a bad idea to consult an architect, so that you don’t tear down the bearing walls by accident.
Before you know it, everything will be over, and as good as new – maybe even better! You just need to be thorough and careful about any type of work you plan on performing. And there will be no room for mistakes. I hope that the info from this article will help you deal with your problems. Good luck!
