What are the First Steps in Repair if You are Flooded? We will talk About this Today.
Earlier we wrote about where to call and what to do if your neighbors flooded you . Let's assume that the flood victim did everything correctly
Earlier we wrote about where to call and what to do if your neighbors flooded you . Let’s assume that the flood victim did everything correctly: assembled an expert commission, drew up a report, assessed the damage and won all the courts, but how to restore the apartment after the flood? Compensation for damage is great, but what will be the first steps in repair? We will talk about this today.
We wait until it dries completely.
After flooding is detected, it is necessary to eliminate its causes and get rid of the water as soon as possible. If possible, take wet things out to dry.
If misfortune has caught us in the summer, then the apartment will dry for about two weeks, if in the winter – about a month. In the summer, we open all the windows and doors wide open. In the winter, we make sure that condensation does not form. The use of heating equipment will be extremely useful in the cold season .
The first rule to remember: do not start repairs until the walls, floor and ceiling in the apartment are completely dry. The same applies to the wiring. In the best case, after complete drying, it will work as before, in the worst case, it will require a complete or partial replacement, including chasing the walls.
We do not recommend testing the functionality of electrical wiring by trial and error; it is better to use the services of a specialist.
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General principles of repair
After drying, the paint may crack, the plaster may peel off, the tiles may fall off, etc. It is not necessary to clean the remaining finishing material that remains in place. The principles of repair are as follows:
- We only clean what peels off easily.
- Dry the base thoroughly.
- We put the base. It is advisable to treat it with special means that protect against mold and fungus.
- We carry out finishing works: painting the surface, gluing tiles, etc.
Floor covering
One of the most common problems after a sudden flood occurs with laminate . It may partially swell, which will raise the question of replacing it completely. The swollen laminate must be removed and replaced with exactly the same in color and connection method (tongue and groove). This is often difficult to do, since the same model may not be available. The same applies to parquet boards.
The online store “A+ Restoration” gives everyone the opportunity to choose the necessary floor covering. It will be a big plus if you remember the name of the model or at least the manufacturer.
Drywall, fungus and wallpaper
There is an opinion that if the walls or ceiling are finished with plasterboard , then mold will definitely appear behind it. This opinion is wrong, since it does not always appear. To minimize the likelihood of mold, you can use heat guns, hair dryers, heaters, etc.
If fungus forms, it is necessary to clean the surface and treat the base with special protective agents.
If the wallpaper pasted to the plasterboard has not fallen off, you can leave it alone, if it is able to pass moisture. Dry the surface with heating equipment.
Ceiling lamps
Lights with closed shades accumulate water, and the lamps inside them explode. If flooding can happen again, it is better to keep this in mind and use chandeliers and lamps with open shades.
Stretch ceilings
A terrible picture awaits the lucky owners of stretch ceilings. Yes, such a ceiling can withstand up to 200 liters of water and protect other materials in the apartment from getting wet, but in order to do something with it during a flood, you must definitely call in specialists.
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In most cases, the ceiling can be restored, even though the canvas is stretched. Repairmen will carefully drain the water through the corner, dry the canvas with a heat gun, after which it will take its original shape. If you drain the water using a puncture, the ceiling will have to be stretched again and the canvas will have to be completely replaced.
We hope our simple tips will help you cope with this difficult situation!
