Water damage can take a serious toll on your home. If water damage is present in some areas of your home or if the water damage grows out of control, it could diminish your home’s structural integrity. Water damage can escalate into an emergency fast, especially if the structural integrity of your home weakens; this can be one of the more dangerous effects of water damage.
What Is Water Clean Up & Restoration?
A cleanup and restoration service is most likely the next step if homeowners run into water damage issues. The overwhelming nature of discovering water damage in your home, no matter how big or small, can cause instant panic and stress for homeowners. Thankfully, some companies specialize in handling water damage cleanup.
The process of water damage cleanup and restoration commonly includes the following steps:
Water Extraction
Water extraction is the removal of any standing water or sewage in affected areas in the home.
Removal and Disposal
This step involves the removal and disposal of all damaged and unsalvageable items in the affected areas of the home.
Structural Drying
Professionals will dry out affected areas with air movers and dehumidifiers.
Mold Prevention
Mold growth is one of the most dangerous effects of water damage for homeowners. At this point in the process, the water damage restoration company will disinfect the area to prevent the development of mold growth over time.
Rebuild and Restoration
Once the previous steps are complete, the home and its water-damaged areas can be rebuilt and restored back to their original condition.
How Water Damage Affects Your Home’s Structural Integrity
It’s important for homeowners not to take water damage lightly. Not all water damage can be seen on the surface, and deciding to neglect signs of water damage can have severe consequences—one of those consequences being the loss of structural integrity in your home. These are things to remember about water damage and how it affects your home’s structural integrity.
The Hidden Danger
Water damage can be so much more than what meets the eye. When water damage is sustained in your home, water can seep into your walls, floors, and foundation. This can create a whirlwind of future issues homeowners might not be able to see, possibly leading to compromised stability of your home’s structure.
Structural Risks
For homes with wooden structures, water damage can be much more of an issue. Wooden structures are much more susceptible to water absorption than other materials and can lead to warping, swelling, and even rotting. Because of that, prolonged exposure to water puts wooden structures and other materials at risk of structure collapse and could harm those in the home.
Foundation Issues
Water damage can also cause issues to your home’s foundation. The soil around the home’s foundation can become saturated due to poor drainage or flooding. This can cause pressure on the foundation’s walls and lead to cracks, shifts, and in worst cases, a complete failure of the foundation and compromise the home’s structure.
Common Causes of Water Damage
To better understand everything related to water damage, homeowners need to know some common causes. Knowing what can cause water damage will help get your home back in order faster. Common causes of water damage include:
- Frozen, burst, broken, or leaky water pipes
- Basement flooding
- Overflowing bathtubs, toilets, or sinks
- Clogged or malfunctioning drains
- Backups in the sewage or septic tank
- Dishwasher or washing machine overflowing or malfunctioning
- Flooding hot water tank
- Water damage in the home’s crawl space
- Sump pump failure
- Leaking roofs or windows
- Flooding from heavy rain storms
What Can Water Damage Lead To?
Another important aspect of water damage for homeowners to know is what water damage can lead to. Severe or neglected water damage and lead to:
Structural Instability
Water damage can weaken your home’s materials and can lead to instability across your home’s structure.
Health Hazards
Effects such as mold growth can lead to health issues such as respiratory problems and allergic reactions in members of the household.
Decreased Property Value
Structural damage and mold complications throughout your home can decrease the value of your property. This can create issues if the prospect of selling your home comes up in the future.
Increased Repair Costs
The delay or negligence of water damage can create compounding issues that will lead to costly repairs and restoration. If signs of water damage become prevalent, act immediately.
The Importance of Professional Water Damage Restoration
To keep your home in the best condition possible after signs of water damage, turning to a company like PureDry Restoration for home water damage restoration is the best thing homeowners can do. PureDry Restoration understands the importance of water damage restoration and because of that, they offer highly-rated services with great benefits. Noteworthy benefits include:
- 24/7 calling service with a live representative
- PureDry Restoration is on their way in 60-minutes or less
- Direct billing to your insurance
- A locally owned and operated company
- The highest-rated provider in the Seattle area
- Services such as removal, cleanup, and restoration
Contact a Professional
If water damage arises in your Seattle area home, don’t wait for it to affect your home’s structural integrity. Contact PureDry Restoration as soon as you can for your home water damage cleanup and restoration services.
