Flooding and Unforeseen Secondary Damage

8/31/2020 (Permalink)

Flood and water damage cleanup in the Upper Cumberland is both time-consuming and labor-intensive, but not completing the job properly can lead to problems later on. Secondary damage like black mold and drywall issues will eventually rear their head, and can be even more dangerous than the initial flooding.

Primary vs. Secondary

When you’ve experienced a flood or burst pipe, it may be easy to spot the initial damage to your property. Things get wet and need to be dried out, while water needs to be removed as quickly as possible. Secondary damage occurs over time and can have a variety of causes, including the following:

• Improper initial cleanup
• Unseen damage
• High humidity preventing evaporation
• Poor airflow through the site
• Hidden standing water
• Weakened pipes that burst at a later date
  
  

This continuous and slowly-evaporating moisture can lead to mold and other problems that can be more difficult to repair.

Warped Views

Hardwood flooring is especially susceptible to poor drying times. Water seeps into small micro-fissures in the wood grain and can lead to cracking and even warped floorboards. These pieces will need to be replaced, which is a costly venture when trying to match board color and width.

Other furniture can suffer from poor drying as well, including countertops forced out of shape thanks to rotting or warping supports. Without proper ventilation to allow moisture to evaporate effectively, there are many components that will need to be replaced.

Moldy Moulding

The greatest danger exacerbated by lingering moisture is black mold. This toxic substance will grow in the darkest spots of your home before you even realize it’s there. Often times drywall is the culprit, since it absorbs wetness easily but can hide it within walls, well out of sight.

In the Upper Cumberland, humidity is going to be a problem whenever you attempt to keep things dry. Invest in a dehumidifier to lessen its intensity. Whenever you have water damage from flooding or burst pipes, take the time to adequately air out your home to make sure water evaporated effectively, stopping the spread of black mold in its tracks!