Home - Structural Drying
When dealing with a flood, one of the first steps is to extract the water from your home or business you must remember the importance of performing structural drying. Typical errors in drying include removing water that is visible. Once this is done, most people proceed to repair the damage without properly drying out the affected areas. Structural drying is the process of locating and drying all hidden water in hard to see or reach areas (walls, ceilings, floors, etc). If the water damage drying is not done properly, trapped moisture will eventually lead to larger problems. These may include mold forming which leads to many health risks and hazards. You will also have foundation degradation over time due to rotting material which is susceptible to water.
Structural Drying After Water Damage Services
Not all water damaged properties require a full tear out of wet materials. If caught early enough, often building materials such as insulation, drywall, or flooring can be saved. Make sure to ask your Water Damage Removal Technician about how we analyze and determine when non-invasive methods can be incorporated.
Don’t delay, find out if you are eligible for non-invasive drying! Get a free inspection today!
The main importance of structural drying is to ensure that there is no trace of water left behind from the emergency. This is important to ensure no structural deterioration is caused by the remnant water, and it helps prevent any future mold growth (which thrives on moisture). Through proper structural water damage drying methods, you are able to eliminate any future problems to your home or health.
Why hiring basement structural drying companies is so important
When deciding on how to help you recover from water damage, you can choose a traditional plumbing company, a general contractor, or perhaps you are willing to tackle the water damage drying yourself. Here are 3 important questions to ask yourself and strongly consider before making a decision:
Is your contractor properly licensed?
There are different classes of water damage, different types of long term side effects, and an entire science to how water affects your home in an emergency. Only through proper training and experience in water damage remediation can a contractor ensure proper service is provided.
Is the emergency being approached properly?
Water damage is a very time-sensitive matter. Through rapid drying techniques and proper equipment use the overall drying time can be reduced quite significantly. As a result, you end up saving thousands of dollars in future reconstruction costs.
Are you really saving money doing it yourself?
Without the proper tools, finding all sources of water and properly drying the premises would require extensive tear out of floors and walls. Despite the upfront cost savings, the overall project costs will far surpass the savings non-invasive techniques provide.
Water damage drying companies that have IICRC trained technicians understand how water damage affects your home in areas you can’t even see. We understand the long term secondary effects of water damage and can spot hidden pockets of water and properly dry out your property right through to the foundation.
Air Movers and Negative Injection Mats
Dehumidifiers and Air Filtration Devices
Structural Cavity Drying System
Structural Drying Explained
Importance of Hiring Professional Water Damage Drying Equipment Services
Structural Drying is the process of getting past the outer layers of the house and attacking moisture right inside your infrastructure. In order to determine the right equipment for the job, you must determine the Category and Class of water damage you are facing. Category defines the type of water you are dealing with while class determines the severity of the flood as far as water penetration amount and level. Understanding the difference between Category of Flood and Class of Flood will directly affect the methods and equipment needed to successfully perform the water damage drying service. A good reputable basement drying company would practice non-invasive methods to dry out your subfloors, walls, venting and other areas you have no regular access to. Using specialty equipment and moisture meters the technician is able to inspect and confirm the drying process is successful.
Category of Flood
Category 1 (Sanitary Water)
- broken water supply lines
- tub or sink overflows with no contaminants
- appliance malfunctions involving water-supply lines
- melting ice or snow
- falling rainwater
- broken toilet tanks
and toilet bowls that do not contain contaminants or additives
Category 2 (Grey Water)
- dishwasher or wachine machine discharge
- overflow from washing machines
- overflow from toilet bowls with urine but not feces present
- hydrostatic pressure seepage from the outside into the home
- broken aquariums
- punctured water beds
Category 3 (Black Water)
- sewage
- toilet backflows that originate from beyond the trap regardless of color or content
- all forms of flooding from seawater
- ground surface water
- rising waters from rivers / streams
- wind-driven rain from hurricanes
- tropical storm waters
Special Circumstances (WARNING)
If you know that any of the following is present in the affected areas, you should not enter the affected area without PPE (Proper Protective Equipment).
- asbestos
- lead
- mercury
- pesticides
- arsenic
- polycholorinated
- biphenyls (PCBs)
- solvents
- fuels
- radiological residue
- caustic chemicals
Class of Flood
Class 1 (less than 5% CSA)
Less than 5% Combines Surface Area of walls, floors, ceiling are directly affected by the water.
Class 2 (5% to 40% CSA)
5% to 40% Combined Surface Area of walls, floors, ceiling are directly affected by the water.
Class 3 (40% or more CSA)
More than 40% Combined Surface Area of walls, floors, ceiling are directly affected by the water.
Class 4 (40% or more CSA)
More than 40% Combined Surface Area of walls, floors, ceiling are directly affected by the water. Penetration time is prolonged and complete or near complete penetration to all surrounding areas has occurred.
Depending on the category and class of flood you are dealing with, specific equipment is needed to handle the different types of incidents. There are Invasive methods (disruptive) and non-invasive methods (aggressive). While invasive methods are more direct and destructive, they are sometimes necessary where salvaging the existing content and material is no longer an option. When salvaging content is a potential option, the non-invasive methods should be practiced as they directly help reduce the overall costs of the service. Refurbished / restored items often cost a fraction of the replacement cost. Only a properly trained IICRC certified technician has the knowledge and expertise to determine which method and which tools are needed to perform proper water damage drying. Efficiency and experience will directly result in cost and time savings to you. By hiring a certified licensed technician you are ensuring the most effective and economical job for your type of flood is performed.
Stop the Mold. Call Now!
We take pride in our work. Here is a collection of pictures showcasing our team utilizing different types of water damage drying techniques. Call now to experience the Flood Tech Difference.
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