What To Do If You Have Damaged Building Materials

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

It is critical that the water does not sit for too long as it can start to cause secondary damage. call SERVPRO, we can help you.

What Should You Do If Your Building Materials Have Been Damaged?

If you have water damage like swelling wood in your home in Chicago,IL, you might be wondering what your next step should be. In some cases, building materials will need to be replaced. Depending on the extent of the damage, however, you may be able to save some of the wet materials. If your home has been damaged, here are some steps you can take to begin restoration.

1. Make Needed Repairs

In order to prevent any further damage, a water pipe repair might be necessary. Be sure to have this done before you begin work on repairing or replacing any building materials. If you begin replacing materials before addressing the source of the problem, you will only be wasting your time.

2. Determine the Amount of Damage

Not all damaged materials need to be treated in the same way. If a supply line in your home has broken, the water will likely have caused more damage to areas closer to the line than those further away. If this is the case, only some of the materials will need to be replaced.

3. Replace Materials With Extensive Damage

Any materials close to the source of damage will more than likely need to be replaced. For example, if the supply line underneath your kitchen sink has broken, your cabinets may have swelling wood that cannot be repaired. The subfloor underneath may also need to be replaced.

4. Allow Materials With Light Damage To Dry

For materials that haven’t suffered significant damage, allowing them to dry might be sufficient. Some types of wood, as well as drywall, can be saved, depending on how much water damage has been done. Using a humidifier can help with this.

In case of damage to your home, it is a good idea to use water damage repair services. They can help you determine how much of the area needs to be repaired and can replace any swelling wood or ruined materials.