Disaster restoration services. Local care with nationwide deployment teams.
24/7 Hotline (855) 700-1080
General Contractor Lic. CA 1040785
Building owners in Berkeley suffer flood damage on a regular basis. Whether you’ve been affected by a natural disaster or a localized catastrophe such as a building flood, Critical Control is standing by to respond 24/7.
When a storm, flood or burst pipes cause water to enter a house or structure water damage is more often than not. Sometimes the damage is evident and obvious. Other times, it’s more subtle or unreported.
It’s more complex than just drying the interior of the building to repair water damage. Modern techniques for water damage repair such as Critical Control, can often reduce damage that would normally have required total structural replacement.
Water Damage Restoration Guidelines are in place and you can call a Professional
A lot of times, property or home owners attempt to deal with water damage using DIY solutions found on the internet. This is a mistake. The management of water damage is by following established guidelines. These guidelines require the knowledge and skills of professionals. These guidelines can be available in the IICRC Standard Reference Guide, or Professional Water Damage Restoration book. This guide is required to ensure professional standardisation of instances involving water damage to structures or homes, as well as the associated risks.
Critical Control, a restoration firm, is able to use IICRC guidelines to determine the extent and type of each project’s damage.
These guidelines are essential for water damage professionals. There are certain situations that require us to bring in an Indoor Environmental Professional (IEP). An IEP is a professional who has the training to assess the health of a building and collect samples, conduct lab tests, and then advise us on the category of water damage.
This is crucial in cases where the building’s inhabitants could be at risk, are a chance of adverse health consequences, or the occupants have a desire to know the contaminants that are suspected or any other reason to raise concerns about contamination.
Restoration of water damage projects are classified according to category and class based on the severity of the invasion of water.
The water that enters the building was classified based on its contamination. Category 1 is water that comes from a clean source like an unclean sink or tub, or burst water supply.
Category 2 water contains significant levels of contaminants and can cause illness if it is ingested or contacted. These sources can be water that is not obvious as a risk like the discharge from washing machines or spills from toilets.
The water in the category 3 is classified as extremely polluted. It may contain pathogenic, toxic, or any other hazardous substances. Most often, this is due to contamination from the backflow of toilets from the trap for toilets or a flood of seawater from rivers and streams, or any other source of water that comes from the exterior of the building. This water can contain pesticides, heavy metallics or toxic substances.
It is also possible to use the IICRC’s courses to determine how much water has entered your property. This system is basically an outline of how much saturated a structure or residence is.
The lowest level of water absorption and the greatest amount of water is categorized as Class 1. This is when water is in contact with less than 5% of building materials that absorb water. This is because the majority of materials that are affected by water don’t absorb or hold water. Concrete or plaster, masonry and finished/coated wood are just several examples.
Class 2 is a term used to describe water absorption and intrusion. It means that anywhere between 5 and 40% of the combined ceiling, floor, and wall are made of low-evaporation materials like plaster, concrete, wood or bricks and mortar.
Class 3 means that about 40 percent or more of wall, floor, and ceiling surfaces are porous such as carpet, insulation, fiberboard and so on. and other materials that don’t take in a lot of water, such as concrete or plaster haven’t been negatively affected.
Water has been absorbed by materials such as concrete or plaster and wood, which are classified as Class 4. This means that it requires longer drying times and special drying methods.
Physical extraction, dehumidification and evaporation are three ways to get rid of water from a structure. The elimination of water that is liquid is at minimum 500 times more efficient than merely having to put up with dehumidifiers or air mover. The faster the structure can dry, the more efficient. Both extraction and dehumidification methods are affected by how much of the material is extracted.
Water damage professionals utilize a variety of extraction techniques. We use a variety of equipment, such as subsurface extraction tools and self-propelled tools.
The remaining moisture is dried with high-velocity air movers after as much water as possible has been removed.
Submerged objects absorb water and moisture when it’s wet. The substance gets wet or damp as a result.
Saturation is defined as the point at which it becomes impractical for the air to contain any moisture. Higher humidity means that the air is closer to saturation.
In the evaporation stage in which water molecules are ejected from a liquid state to a gaseous state. This process is known as evaporation.
This means that the object has stopped absorbing moisture from the air. The saturation point is the point at which evaporation begins. When saturation is reached, the drying process begins.
High-efficiency air movers dry the object on two sides during the evaporation phase. They create strong airflow which is directed by a filter system.
A fan that moves air can move between 10 and 20% more air than a fan, or even a regular household fan.
Air movers dry the object about 10 times faster than in normal conditions, when there isn’t any air mover.
Airflows that are high-velocity dry the surface and absorbs the moisture pulled out by the airflow.
One of the most essential elements in any water damage restoration work is heating. To dry out the materials that have been affected by water, we employ various types of heaters.
Electric Heaters: These heaters may be used to dry jobs that require multiple heat sources. You can run multiple heaters at once because of their many power ratings.
It is also possible to turn off or turn off the electric heater while the job is being done, without affecting other heaters. This means that you can lower one heater, while increasing the wattage of another one to improve efficiency, and decrease your cost of energy.
Electric heaters are very common in restoration projects since they emit virtually no emissions and require minimal amounts of water. The only downside is they take longer to warm up, which means that they require more time for the drying process overall.
Hydronic Bioler (TES) These boilers are extremely efficient at quickly heating up yet releasing very little emissions. They can be run on propane or natural gas.
Hydronic boilers are different from electric heat in that they do not utilize forced-air for distribution of heat. Therefore, it may be difficult to evenly heat an area using these kinds of heaters. They also run at less temperature, which makes them perfect for drying tasks which require ceilings and walls to be left in place.
When electric heaters cannot be used, hydronic boilers can frequently be employed. They can produce radiant heat and can keep your drying area warm without the need for an electric source.
To keep buildings and homes dry that have been damaged by flooding, we use Low Grain Refrigerant (LGR) Dehumidifiers.
The LGR Home Dehumidifier is capable of removing 170 pints of water in a damp structure that is severely affected by water damage every 24 hours.
The dehumidifier in your home can remove water from the air in the same way as an LGR Refrigerant Dehumidifier. It can remove the 99 percent or more of the airborne mold spores by eliminating condensation.
Hardwood floors damaged by water have to be cut up to ensure repairs can be made beginning with the subflooring and moving upwards.
The damaged subflooring first needs to be removed and replaced. Next, the hardwood boards damaged must be replaced or sanded. When the repairs are finished and the floor is finished, it should be sanded, refinished and polished to ensure a uniform appearance.
If you have experienced flooding in your house, it can be a stressful and costly experience. Even if the water has been eliminated from the region immediately, there’s an opportunity that you’ll have to replace your flooring eventually.
After investing time and money in restoring your home back to its pre-flood condition, it would be depressing to discover that the final results leave an unsatisfactory impression.
It is essential to assess the extent of damage as soon as possible. The first step is determine if the affected area needs to be replaced. There’s a good chance that the carpet will be maintained and cleaned after it has dried and this will eliminate some of the worries about the growth of mildew and persistent odors.
If the damage from water is severe, it is possible that you’ll notice stains on your carpeting. In certain instances the only option to get rid of the stains is to replace the flooring. An odor that is persistent and strong may also be the reason to replace your carpeting. It’s time to change your carpet and padding in the event of this.
Next, determine if your floor can be professionally dried before you decide to repair it or replace it. If you have a reputable company perform the cleaning, you’ll have a better idea of just how bad the water damage was. Our company will assess the carpet and decide if it should be replaced or salvageable. Be aware that some methods used for drying can also harm the carpet further when it is already in poor condition.
Some of the considerations that will determine whether or whether the padding and carpet require replacement are:
Can your carpets be dried or cleaned professionally?
The carpet’s ability to remain clean is affected when the padding beneath it has been damaged. Although your carpet might have dried quickly, the possibility of mold growth is present if the padding under isn’t dried too.
A professional carpet cleaning service is the best way to ensure that your carpet is dry and clean after an event of flooding. After the company completes their task, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about the condition of your carpet and determine whether or not you need to change it.
The extent of damage will determine the kind and method of drywall repair. Repairing water damage can be as easy as removing a portion of drywall and cleaning the area and then putting it back.
On the other hand of the coin serious damages could necessitate a total reconstruction of the wall, which could include the wall studs as well as fiberglass insulation.
Drywall that has been damaged by water often contains mold spores that can’t be removed easily. Most of the time, the drywall will have to be replaced. We utilize moisture testing tools to determine the amount of the moisture. This helps us identify damaged areas and limit costs to the only damaged ones.
Water can also cause structural damage because it causes the wood to expand or shrink. It is easier to break wood if it is moistened by water. If the water remains for a long period of time, it could cause an abundance of rot in the wood that can cause it to crack easily.
This problem can be avoided by homeowners and building owners immediately taking action to repair structural damage from moisture-related issues with their property after a flood or other water-related damage.
There are numerous reasons why water damage could affect the foundation of a home. Although not all water problems can lead to structural damage, it is important to correct foundational issues as soon as possible to prevent further structural damage.
Foundation water damage can result in a myriad of problems depending on how it’s dealt with. It could cause serious structural damage if the issue isn’t addressed quickly.
Roof Water Damage
Damage to the roof can result from natural disasters as well as foundation water damage. As well as the possibility of roof leaks, roof damage can also cause problems with the walls or the foundation of a house or building.
Leaking roofs can be extremely costly and can have significant drawbacks. The roof’s leaks could lead to mold growth that could be fatal. A leaking roof may also harm the roof truss system and cause structural damage to the roof.
Leaks in your ceiling could cause your rafters’ to degrade and become soft if you don’t take action immediately. Roof water damage can also result from electrical issues that can cause the possibility of an electric fire. All of these are excellent reasons to get roof water damage repaired quickly following a flood , or any other unexpected damage.
If your HVAC system begins to fail or brand new equipment becomes inoperable, it can cause the structure of your house. You are putting your business and home at risk by not having HVAC. It is possible for mold to grow and result in a range of health issues that are very serious.
If you have pipe water damage, it is likely to be from a pipe that has burst in your home. Once you have determined that there has been a leak, it’s important to get professional help to stop the water and ensure it doesn’t cause structural damage.
Burst pipes can cause a lot of damage. The water can get into your home through damaged pipes, causing severe damage. It could cause structural damage.
Stop the water supply and then call an expert IICRC-certified specialist at a water restoration firm like Critical Control as soon as you spot broken pipes or water damage.
Water damage cleanup and repair costs will vary depending on how much square footage you have. National Flood Services has the following breakdown of pricing for each square foot:
Are water damages covered by homeowners’ insurance?
The homeowner’s insurance policies are generally used if the damage is sudden and not intentional. According to the Insurance Information Institute, homeowners insurance policies can cover repair or replacement of a broken window, but not when the damage is a result of neglect.
Neglect is defined as damage to an object or surface that is caused by the weather, lack of maintenance or general deterioration. The Insurance Information Institute in the USA declares that homeowners insurance does NOT cover neglect-related damage.
If the water damage results from an event that is a flood, it will not be covered under homeowner’s insurance. A flood policy is mandatory. In certain areas the flood policies are demanded by mortgage companies. Flooding can happen due to storms, flooding ground, overflowing bodies of water or overflowing or surging bodies like streams, lakes, rivers and oceans.
Disaster restoration services. Local care with nationwide deployment teams.
24/7 Hotline (855) 700-1080