Drying Out Flood Damage in West Monroe

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO preserves and restores flood damaged building materials in West Monroe homes.

Techniques for West Monroe Storm Damage Mitigation

Flooding is common in Louisiana, and West Monroe is no exception. Levees break, and there are not enough sandbags in the state to keep water out of your home if enough comes rolling down the street or through your backyard.

SERVPRO cannot prevent flood damage in West Monroe, but our restoration teams can help remove the water and dry out your home. The process needs a professional service since no matter what size your home may be, there are some common issues that many people never consider.

In even the worst flooding, the water recedes after a few days. Many of our neighbors here gave up on wall-to-wall carpeting years ago and rely on area rugs. They are efficient and easy to hang over the fence to dry. The problem that lots of folks forget about is the water that finds its way between the floorboards and hides underneath. The water can eventually rot the wood, causing dips, soft spots, and other problems.

SERVPRO developed a method that finds the source of the water and removes it without disturbing the floor or the homeowner too much. One of our inspectors pulls up a board or two near the wall or where a large piece of furniture usually rests. That gives us access to find the water and then use a hose attached to a pump or an extraction wand to draw it out.

After removing the water, the inspector uses an air content meter to determine the moisture level of the air and the wood of the sub-floor. If either tests high, our IICRC certified team members attach a hose to an air mover and then force warm, dry air into the affected floor space.

Another issue is the space behind the walls. Floodwater can force its way behind drywall or wood paneling and then remain after the rest of it recedes. This water can also rot the wood of the wall framing and soak into other building materials.

Our teams can dry out this space by removing the wallboard at the bottom of an affected section of the wall and then drill several holes behind it. This procedure allows water to drain and gives our techs access to use an air mover to force warm air inside and speed up drying. Once the area tests normal we can have the holes patched and the wallboard replaced.

Drying out these areas requires professional training and equipment. If you are struggling with the results of a flood, call SERVPRO of Monroe / West Monroe at (318) 345-5121 today. We are here for you.