Water Damage Restoration: Immediate Actions and Long-Term Solutions

Many people do not realize that water damage can be catastrophic. Walls can crumble, floors can buckle, ceilings can fall, and furniture or cabinetry can be destroyed. So, when faced with water damage, there are the immediate actions that should be taken and then there are the longer-term solutions that should be addressed. This is what we want to discuss today in our blog article: facing water damage and restoration, immediately and longer term.

Immediate

How to address water damage immediately depends on where the water is coming from and if the damage is ongoing. If the water is continuing to enter the building, then initial efforts are to stop it if possible. Sometimes this means shutting off all water in the building. However, if water is entering from outside, this is more complicated.

So, the first order of business is to determine where the water is coming from. If it is coming from a damaged roof, then it might be possible to tarp off the roof faster than repairing or replacing the roof.

Once water is stopped—if possible—the next immediate solution is to try to soak up or pump out water and save furniture or built-ins if possible. This will vary depending on what type of building is affected. Temporary heaters and fans and dehumidifiers may be needed to dry out rooms and prevent mold.

Long-term

The longer-term solutions require solving the problem so that whatever caused the water damage does not reoccur. Sometimes these solutions are much bigger projects like repairing a foundation or changing the slope or drainage outside of the building.

There may be a problem with the building envelope that needs repair such as a new roof or new windows.

So, briefly, when water damage is occurring, one wants to stop the water, if possible, limit the interior damage, or keep it from getting worse, and then repair the overarching problem so that it does not reoccur. 

Westerly Restoration provides building envelope and restoration services in Vancouver, BC, and throughout the lower mainland.

If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us about building envelopes or restoration, please call us at (778) 881-2877 or use the convenient form on our Contact page.