Water damage is one of the worst thing’s a homeowner could ever face, especially when it comes to your records and publications. While furniture and appliances have the small glimmer of being saved, anything dealing with paper does not have a high chance of surviving in case of emergencies.
While many of our documents are in digital form, there are still some important papers that remain in print form, like your irreplaceable pictures, contracts, maps, etc. Water may appear harmless, but when it comes to your texts, if left unattended, these items can result to rot, deterioration and eventually irreparable damage. That is why in the next articles we are going to touch base on how to potentially save your valuable paper-based items.

We are going to start with loose paper sheets and small compilations. Now what could that consist of? Well, contracts or licenses would be the most important things to come to mind, but basically anything that is not bounded. Loose paper sheets can be dried individually using the air-flow method, either through a low-powered hand blower or through a dehumidifier.

If that is not the route you want to approach you can also restore the papers in bulk using freeze drying methods. Documents which are still wet can be frozen using standard household freezers, and then thawed out at a later time. And if you want an even simple approach each sheet of paper can be laid out on top of a paper towel, a plain white one so that it will not bleed on the other papers, and dried using an air blower. Dirt and grime can be removed using clean water.

Always remember that when handling loose papers extra care needs to be used because they are at risk of tears and smudge, or any other kind of further damage.

Water damage is never an easy thing to deal with, especially when it comes to expensive wooden floors. Well, for starters, it all depends on the amount of damage that has occurred. If the damage is minimal, it probably needs only a small repair; but if the damage is big, like a flood, you may need to replace the entire wood floor. Just keep one thing in mind – do not ignore the damage, because eventually that will require the replacement of your wood floors.

At the first sign of water damage you need to remove the entire floor and take it outside. Dry it outside below the sunlight, or you can use the fans to dry the entire floor. This process may take a while, but do not let time go to waste. While you are waiting for the floors to dry you can take this opportunity and check the sub floor. Nine times out of ten the sub floor is severely damaged, and may need to be completely replaced. Also, keep in mind that the surrounding area around the wood floors is dry, because if you let one area wet for 48 hours, the mold will begin to grow, and will only spread from there.

If you want to prevent wood floor water damage, we suggest you laminate your floor. Many people do not laminate their floors because they are scared of the price, but it is usually inexpensive and a breeze to install.

We all know that every homeowner has to take care of his or her home, to maintain it, and keep it in mint condition; but what happens when events that you can’t control strike your home? We may not know when a flood is about to strike, or when your basement will be flooded. There’s nothing worse than coming home from vacation, like Memorial Day weekend holidays, and being greeted by an inundated home.

Water damage will most likely give birth to mold, and mold carries toxins which are hazardous to your health, so whenever you are experiencing water damage, you should take care of it as soon as possible. And when you’re taking care of damage always remember that it does not come cheap. That is why water damage insurance can always help you offset the cost.

Many homeowners underestimate how high the costs of water damage repair are, and if you cannot repair the damage immediately, the costs will only multiply. So be sure to protect your home from water damage using insurance because it can mean the difference between keeping your home, or losing it.

Here’s something you don’t see every day – a water damage company using infrared cameras. Some water extraction companies use infrared because they help detect surface temperature differences in your property. How do they work exactly? Well an infrared camera produces a thermal image that shows temperature variations on surfaces, this makes spotting the moist areas all the more easier. Although they do not technically indicate moist areas, they do signal warmer and cooler areas, which can indicate the presence of moisture.

Infrared cameras can be especially useful when scanning large properties, it just helps the company be extra careful. Materials that appear cooler to the IR camera are usually due to an evaporative cooling effect on the surface, cooler temperatures inside walls being conducted to the surface, thermal bridging where heat or cold are transferred from one area to another via an object or material, or reflected heat or cold from another source.

You should also keep in mind that cooler readings do not necessarily mean that moisture is present. The most innocent of things can explain the change in temperature, like the air conditioning hitting a specific area more often. Non-porous materials that do not allow evaporation and reflective materials that do not allow accurate temperature information to be transmitted to the camera can result in an inaccurate reading of the temperatures.  If an area is suspected of having moisture because of the reading, a check-up is followed using a moisture meter.

Well we are aware that this may sound bias, coming from a water extraction company, but when it comes to water damage, you really do need to call in the professionals; and keep in mind, the longer you wait, the more damage that is done. We know that when you come home and you realize that your home has been ransacked by water, you may begin to panic. Your mind may draw a blank, and you won’t remember that you know just the people to call in case that occurs – Super Restoration.

In the United States alone, damage accounts for over 25 percent of all home insurance claims, with more than 37 percent homeowners admitting to loss of property due to extensive water damage. Extensive water damage can always be avoided, the trick is just noticing the signs before it is too late. While some times there aren’t tell-tale signs because the attack is immediate and sudden, like a flood, there are instances when water damage can be avoided, like a leaking ceiling, or a dripping water sink.

Now you’re probably thinking “those things happen in my home all the time, and no water damage has occurred yet.” You said it right there, yet. A leaking ceiling can turn into a weakened roof, and a dripping sink can lead to a damaged floor board. You’ll regret not addressing the problem earlier once you are knee deep in  restoration bills because of all the damage that those “harmless” household problems developed into. So what are the first signs of water damage? Drippy faucets or shower heads, water stains on the roof or walls, damp surface areas, unusual humidity or coolness in a particular room and a distinct odor of mildew. If any of the above have, or are currently taking place in your home it is time you call a water extraction company.

A common misconception among homeowners is that the only time a water damage company is needed is when a flood or a similar disaster occurs, which is not the case, at all. The smallest leaks can turn into the biggest problems, that is why they need to be addressed by a water extraction company immediately. Water damage companies help you identify the source of the leak and help restore your property to its pre-incident state. Keep us in mind the next time you notice your dripping ceiling.

We kept our promise and are continuing our soot series, because we know just how helpless you may feel if you’re ever faced with soot. Remember do not under any circumstances clean it off with water, although that may be your first instinct. Water will only smudge the soot, and create a bigger mess than what you started with. Now let’s dive into the process of cleaning it off your walls:

1. Deck yourself out with all the appropriate equipment – safety glasses, face masks, gloves, and protective clothing. Also, ventilate your room to prevent any airborne dust particles from continual circulation.
2. Using your chemical dry sponge (that we mentioned before) wipe down the walls from top to bottom. Do not rub, instead use steady swipe movements.
3. Again wipe down the wall with a clean chemical dry sponge. To save money just use a razor to remove the first dirty layer of the sponge. The reason you wipe it down again is to remove any soot particles that are not visible.
4. Purchase soot cleaning solution, and for every 4 ounces mix it with one gallon of water in a bucket. Fill an additional bucket with plain water. Gather regular sponges, and dampen them using the solution. Wipe down the wall using them, and regularly rinse them in plain water to remove excess soot.
5. Using towels, dry the walls using the same downward motion as before. If soot comes off on your towels wipe the walls again with the damp spongers.

Helpful hint: Change sponges regularly to avoid excess soot.

Super Restoration may focus on water damage and water extraction, but we do pay special attention to the aftermath of fires.

Most people don’t know what soot is, but they recognize it when they see it. Soot is the damage caused by smoke on the surfaces of your home, and on your possessions.  In the upcoming articles we are going to teach you how to clean soot off of various locations, the first being off the kitchen cabinets.

1.     First things first, do not, under any circumstances use any wet methods to remove the soot. It will only spread it and leave a permanent stain when wet.

2.     If the soot was from a small fire then you can complete the following steps; but if it was from a large fire, you may want to consider hiring the professionals. Not only do they have protective equipment and can handle large-scale jobs, the inhalation of soot particles is dangerous.

3.     Cover any areas that do not have soot. This will require you to put down newspapers in case it falls on the floor, cover and tape the areas that do not have soot, and tape off the doorways to other rooms. Don’t forget to cover the fridge.

4.     Vacuum up as much soot as you can. So that you won’t scratch the cabinets hold the vacuum head attachment about a quarter of an inch above the surface. Change the bag frequently, and be careful when removing the used ones.

5.     Pick up a professional soot removal sponge at your local hardware store. They are chemically treated and used dry. Begin your process at the top of the cabinets, and work your way down the cabinet using long parallel strokes. Do not scrub. When it is black on all sides use a razor blade to cut down to a clean level. Do not try to rinse it out with water, that will ruin the sponge.

6.     Once you’ve done the most you could do with the sponge, you can use a water-soluble citrus cleanser/degreaser. Follow the instructions on the package, and in order to avoid streaking, wash the cabinets from the bottom up. Continue washing until there is no more soot.

7.     Now that you’re done rinse well with water, and dry thoroughly.

Also don’t forget to use proper protective equipment, e.g. goggles, dust mark, and gloves.

Many may think that the process of water damage is done once the water is out of the property, but that is only the beginning. After that inspection and sanitation are required to make sure everything is mold and mildew free. This is why hiring professional services for water removal undertakings is highly recommended.

The Dos and Don’ts of Water Damage

-       Try and dry things up as quickly as possible.

-       Remember that the humidity level rises if the temperature is high; this retains the moisture in the air needed for mold.

-       Use dehumidifiers.

-       Make sure all doors and windows are opened to allow the air to circulate in your house while you dry out all the excess water on the floor and furniture.

-       Keep all closets and drawers open so that they can dry out.

-       For any decorations like carpets, remove them from the wet floor and dry them in the sun.

-       Hire professionals to finish the job, and do it as soon as possible.

The effect of the water damage will be greater the longer you allow moisture to spread. So make sure to quicken the drying out process by performing the steps above, and anything else you can think of.

The Big Don’t:

-       Avoid electrical appliances. Leave that to the professionals.

Preventing mold from building up in your bathroom can seem like an impossible task. We mean, it’s always a possibility, and the thought of it actually occurring is just plain disgusting. One of the only ways to prevent is to meticulously clean your bathroom very frequently, but who has the time, or the motivation, for that?

That’s why we’re about to let you in on our little secret. It may not completely make you stop cleaning your bathroom, but it will lengthen the time between cleaning sessions. You can go from cleaning once a week to cleaning every month, depending on how frequent the bathroom is used.

Our secret weapon, believe it or not, is a squeegee. “But, how can a squeegee ever help me?” is probably what you’re thinking. Well, if you use it every time after you shower then there is mold has nothing to hold on to. Keep the squeegee in the shower, and after every time the shower is used wipe down every wall of the shower. Wet the tiles of the shower wall and use your squeegee to wipe it down, working your way horizontally across, and moving down. Make sure you miss no space! And when you reach the end of the wall, make sure to take the water out at the ledge, but be careful with the caulk at the end, you don’t want to remove it.

After you remove the water, the wall will dry in approximately 30 minutes. Once you walls are dry, and water is taken out of the equation, mold will not be able to grow without a humid surface. This small little routine can prevent you from scrubbing the tiles on the wall when you’re cleaning! Mold can also arise from water damage, make sure you hire our water extraction services the next time a problem arises.

We all know that once storm season hits then water damage rates skyrocket. The only silver lining in this, if there is one, is that at least it won’t catch you by surprise. You will already be prepared for upcoming storms with a couple of our helpful tips.

-Have realistic expectations. Many people underestimate the power of a storm, and thus they are not prepared for it. If you are both mentally, and physically, prepared for the size of a storm, and the damage it will cause, then everything else falls into place after that.

-Protect your appliances and furniture. If there is any way you can raise our appliances and furniture then you should because water damaged materials are not only expensive to replace, they are also dangerous to you and your family.

-Prepare your home structure. If a big storm has been announced you should take all necessary precautions to prepare your home. You should board up the property, or shrink-wrap it.

-If you have the option of evacuating the premise because a big storm is approaching you should, because storms are extremely dangerous to withstand. Do not forget to turn off the electricity, water and gas systems in the property before leaving.

-And finally, invest in the right kind of insurance. If you are in an area where flooding takes place make sure to purchase a homeowner insurance that covers flooding and water damage.