Assessing the Damage From a Flooded Basement

5/27/2020 (Permalink)

Wet drywall due to water damage in a basement

Assessing the Damage From a Flooded Basement

No homeowner wants to experience a basement flood. Depending on the depth and category of the water, you may need to contact a water mitigation company in Smith Village, OK, to assist in restoration. However, once the water removal occurs, you need to assess the damage to figure out your financial obligations beyond insurance coverage. There are several items you should inspect.

• Flooring
  
• Walls
  
• Appliances
  
• Keepsakes
  
  

Flooring
If flood levels were high, you likely have significant flooring damage. True, many homeowners have slab basements with no floor covering, but disinfection may still be necessary. If you have carpeting and the water category was two or more, removal may be the best option. For tile floors, look for signs of cracking or movement.

Walls
While cinderblock or concrete walls may handle the stress of a basement flood, drywall is not so resilient. Check for signs of staining or damage to the surface. Remove all affected sections to ensure minimal risks of mold or bacteria. Wall material may not need removing if the flooding was from a clean water source and was not deep.

Appliances
If a flooded basement does not reach the bottoms of appliances, like washers and dryers, then you are fine to keep them. However, when depths submerge appliance components, you are better off replacing the machine because it is likely contaminated.

Keepsakes
Like appliances, discard keepsakes if the flood submerged them. While some items are salvageable in a clean water flood, those items exposed to gray or black water may be unhealthy to keep. However, you can look for specialty cleaners for heritage items or other sentimental pieces.
A basement flood is no fun. The cleanup process is often a headache, but having to sort through your belongings and throw away keepsakes may be disheartening. As with any disaster, the sooner you get to the mitigation and restoration process, the better. Keep a mitigation company on standby in case you ever experience a flood.