Have you experienced a flood inside your house? That’s a traumatic experience for most people, and it can happen unexpectedly. Learning from that horrible experience, you would want to be more prepared for any flood damage, right?
In this article, we’ve compiled 6 key tips that will help you with flood damage restoration. We understand how frustrating and dangerous the aftermath of a flood is. Our team wants you to have the knowledge to work around this scenario.
In case you need a professional to help you with flood damage repair, Royal Restoration is your trusted company to call. Without further delay, let’s dive into these tips.
Table of Contents
Tip1 – Stop the water if you can
There are two entry points for water to come into your house. First, it can come from the inside, meaning it could come from a leaking pipe or a broken dishwasher. Second, it can come from the outside, meaning there’s an overflow of water from the drainage outside your house. Either way, how can you stop water from coming into your home?
If it comes from the inside, what you could do is try fixing the leak by wounding a rubber strip around it. You can also try turning off the main entry point of water inside your house.
If it comes outside your house, you can place sandbags outside your door to prevent water from going inside. You can also modify the elevation from the base of your house towards your front yard or patio. The elevation of the ground must be away from the house. This way, water dripping from the downspouts will be directed away from your house.
Tip2 – Turn off any appliances or the electricity of your house
If you think the incoming storm will be strong, or the flood water already wet some of your appliances. It’s safer for your family and pets to turn the electricity off inside your home. This ensures everyone’s safety, away from getting electrocuted.
By doing this, you’re also reducing the possible water flood damage to your property. Live appliances soaked in flood water can cause electric shock. It also poses a risk of fire, in case the damage intensifies.
Tip 3 – Proper documentation of the incident
Safety must be your top priority before entering back into your house after the flood. Check all the possible things that can fall or shatter before making your first step inside. Some of the things you need to look into are your roof, glass windows, walls, appliances, electrical wiring, flooring, and the overall structure of your house.
While doing that, you also need to take photos of your house and the flood damages done to your property. This is necessary for you to claim your insurance company. They will need some proof that your house has been badly damaged from the storm or flood.
Also, this helps get an estimate for you to know how much damage a flood causes to your property. Royal Restoration can help you with that since we offer a free estimate service for water damage restoration.
Tip 4 – Call out for help
After securing your and your family’s safety, you can start making phone calls to important people who can help you out. If you’re renting a property, then the first person you need to call is your landlord. They have certain steps to take during these situations, so you should inform them as soon as possible.
If it’s your house damaged by a flood, then the first person you need to call will be your insurance agent. Ask them about the necessary steps you need to do to file a claim for the incident. They can also refer you to flood damage repair companies within their network. Royal Restoration can be your best company to call for your water damage restoration request.
Tip 5 – Start cleaning up
There are different stages for water damage restoration, yet a flood damage cleanup is always the first step. Cleaning all that debris, mud, and dirt after the flood is exhausting. There’s no joke as to cleaning up all this mess since it can lead to further water damage and mold problems.
If you’re overwhelmed by the amount of cleaning to be done, you can always hire a professional to help you. They have the right equipment and skills for this tedious cleaning process.
You will also need to remove all those standing waters since it can cause more damage to your floors and cabinets. Use a sump pump to efficiently remove them. Cleaning and water removal is a simultaneous process for this stage
Tip 6 – Make a list of all flood damage repairs
It’s stressful to see those water damages done to your house. It entails cost, time, and effort to restore everything to normal. To make that systematic on your part, you can make a list of all the needed repairs to be done.
Some of the usual things you need to repair or replace after a flood are:
- Drywall
- Furniture
- Cabinets
- Flooring
- Electrical wiring and appliances
- Glass windows and doors
- Ceiling
- Leaking pipe
These are a few things you will likely repair or replace after the storm. If the water damage is not too much on any of these things, repairing them will be workable.
How can flood damage be reduced?
To prevent flood damage to your house, you need to make sure this doesn’t happen in the first place. Check all the pipes and entry points of water in your house. Investing in a sump pump can also be good, especially if your area is prone to flood.
Removing water fast is also essential to preventing further water damage. Use your sump pump to remove those standing waters on your floors. Use wet vacuums to remove water from your fabrics, wooden furniture, and upholsteries.
Most of all, have a plan for dealing with floods. Being prepared is your best defense against floods and storms.
Hire a Professional
When the water damage is too much, or you don’t have the right equipment and skills, it’s best to hire a professional. Royal Restoration can help you with flood water damage repair and restoration. Our team is trained and bonded to serve you on this matter.
Repairing flood damage has been part of our service for more than a decade, and we can guarantee your satisfaction. We have a systematic plan for dealing with fire, water, and storm damage problems.
Should you need a free quote or advice, feel free to reach out.
