What Everyone Must Know About Flood Damage Remediation in Tallahassee

3/22/2020 (Permalink)

When flooding affects an area near your home, contacting SERVPRO is your best recourse. Call us right away after an event for best results.

The Aftermath of Flood Damage in Your Tallahassee Home

Flooding is an issue all over Florida and requires special care and consideration to rid your home of any damage effectively. After mopping up the water and removing any debris, it is crucial to start searching for hidden moisture and possible contamination within your home in conjunction with cleaning and deodorizing. Common places that you may find moisture and damaged materials are in walls, trim, and flooring.

Having flood damage in your Tallahassee home is not the time to panic, but the time to take a systematic approach to restore your home to preloss conditions. You may be able to clean up the sludge and debris left by the flood. Still, you may often need professional assistance to ensure your home recovers from the flood and mitigate secondary damage such as warped flooring and dangerous mold infestations. 

Public health officials consider floodwater contaminated water, categories 2 (gray), and 3 (black) water, which should be dealt with safety in mind. For instance, if the flood exposed carpet to contamination, carpet padding is usually removed and replaced. The carpet itself may be salvageable after a thorough cleaning and disinfecting. Other types of flooring, such as hardwood, tile, and laminate, may require water extraction through portable extraction devices. In some cases, when moisture is trapped under the flooring, it may need to be lifted and cleaned underneath before putting the flooring back down. 

When floodwater reaches the drywall in your home, it is vital to make flood cuts in the wall since moisture can readily travel through the material, resulting in extensive damage such as mold growth and your walls deteriorating if not adequately removed and restored. SERVPRO technicians typically cut several inches above the visible water damage. Technicians use a stud finder and to determine where to cut. They then use a rotary saw, Kett saw or reciprocating saw to cut through just the drywall, making sure to avoid plumbing or electrical cords. After removing and disposing of the affected drywall, they replace it, to make it "Like it never even happened."

For 24/7 assistance after a flood or any other disaster, contact SERVPRO of North Leon County at (850) 536-6599.

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