Dealing with water damage in your Orlando home is stressful and overwhelming. Knowing what to expect from start to finish when hiring water damage services helps ease some of that stress.
Initial Inspection and Assessment
A water damage technician will come to your home to inspect the affected areas and determine the cause and extent of the damage. They will check for standing water, moisture in walls and floors, etc., and use moisture meters to detect wet areas that not be visible. The technician will also check for mold if the leak and moisture have been ongoing. This inspection helps them determine the necessary steps for the water extraction and drying process. You expect the inspection and initial assessment to take 1-2 hours. After the inspection, the technician should provide you with a verbal or written summary of their findings and next-step recommendations.
Water Extraction
Once the inspection is complete, the water extraction process begins. It involves removing standing water using special equipment like subfloor drying machines, pumps, vacuum systems, and dehumidifiers. Proper water extraction is crucial because any remaining moisture leads to mold growth. The water extraction process typically takes 24-48 hours. However, if the water damage is extensive or there is many moisture absorbed into porous materials like drywall or wood, it takes longer. Your restoration team should keep you updated on the progress throughout.
Drying and Dehumidification
After most of the initial water has been removed, commercial dehumidifiers and air movers are used to dry out the remaining moisture and bring humidity levels back down. It prevents mildew and mold growth. The drying and dehumidification process takes anywhere from 3-5 days up to several weeks depending on the severity of the initial water damage and how long moisture was left unattended. Again, your water damage team should closely monitor conditions and update you on progress.
Mold Treatment
If existing mold growth is detected during the initial inspection, remediation services are necessary. This involves cleaning contaminated areas using EPA-approved solutions, physically removing moldy materials, and taking measures to keep spores from spreading. Heavy mold growth could require more extensive remediation.
Restoration and repairs
Once drying is complete, water damage repairs like replacing soaked drywall and warped floorboards, painting, etc. are needed. Your Orlando water damage company handles many restoration needs in-house or works with general contractors. The restoration process aims to get your home back to a pre-water damage state. The extent of necessary repairs depends on factors like the water source, how long it was left untreated, and the materials impacted. Restoration and repairs generally take 5-30 days but vary widely case by case. Your project manager should provide timeline estimates.
As DamageControl services wrap up, expect a final walkthrough of the affected areas with your restoration project manager. This is an opportunity to inspect all their work, ask any outstanding questions, and officially sign off on the project. Don’t hesitate to point out any remaining concerns or areas that don’t seem 100% restored. Most reputable water damage companies aim for complete client satisfaction and will quickly address any issues before considering the job officially completed.
