Likely but Unexpected Outcomes in Monroe Homes after Water Damage

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

When responding to water damage incidents in Monroe, our SERVPRO technicians use the proper drying techniques.

What Water Restoration Procedures SERVPRO Takes in Monroe Homes

When you realize a broken pipe or a roof leak in your Monroe home, there are some things to expect. Wet floors, walls, and contents are all typical outcomes. However, water damaging a resilient floor such as tiles or the development of significant physical changes such as carpets stretching beyond the usual dimensions are not the likely expectations you have after water damage incidents. Several other puzzling things can develop in the course of the restoration.

Involving Monroe water damage professionals whenever a water-related incident affects your property is essential since any unusual issue can be dealt with accordingly. SERVPRO also facilitates inspections to reveal hidden problems. 

Specific puzzling issues include:

• Stretched carpets 
• Water penetrating tiled surfaces
• Gradient moisture leaves materials wetter at the core

Carpets are installed to fit the dimensions of a room perfectly. Therefore, if you notice folds or wrinkles that imply the carpet is suddenly larger after a water intrusion, you may not understand the outcome. Carpets are made from different materials, and moisture exposure causes many problems. One of these issues is reducing their tensile strength by up to 50% when wet. However, stretching does not occur automatically because a carpet is wet. Other actions such as subjecting the carpet to significant physical forces such as heavy foot traffic or dragging heavy furniture or appliances over its surfaces cause such changes. Rigorous drying procedures can also lead to such stretching. Our SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians take various precautions when handling cleaning to avoid adverse outcomes.

When you notice wet structural materials, it is common to consider the wetness as uniform or at least the concentration to be heavier at the surface, where exposure starts, compared to the core of the material. However, sometimes the moisture concentration may defy norms. A moisture gradient can form whereby materials are wetter at the center than the surface. This pattern can interfere with water restoration procedures since moisture from the core areas keeps replenishing the dried sections as the surfaces dry. Therefore, drying efforts may seem inexplicably unfruitful. Alternatively, you may think that there is minimal moisture because of the dryness close to the surface. Our SERVPRO crews probe wet areas thoroughly before starting restoration. A simple tool like a moisture meter with probes to penetrate porous surfaces helps establish the amount of wetness involved and its spread patterns through a material. 

Water Damage in Unexpected Areas

Materials in a house can be broadly categorized as porous and nonporous. When the porous materials absorb moisture, it triggers changes from within, thus leading to damage. Most nonporous materials are resilient to moisture exposure. That is why areas such as bathrooms, laundries, or kitchens where water is constantly used have tiled floors and walls to withstand moisture exposure. However, sometimes water reaches beneath tiles causing significant deterioration. Typical reasons for such penetration include grout deterioration or cracks and gaps between the tiles.

Another standard expectation after water exposure is a high likelihood of reversing damage, especially when action is taken in the early stages. However, for composite materials such as laminated wood, swelling or deterioration of the glues holding the materials together leads to permanent damage. 

If there is water beneath tiles, you have to demolish the area to deal with the wetness and remove deteriorated materials. SERVPRO uses advanced technologies to counter these problems by improving extraction, limiting moisture migration, and controlling the drying process.

Some specialized resources for these tasks include:

• Drying mats 
• Drying chambers
• Cavity drying equipment

SERVPRO of Monroe / West Monroe is ready to help with any issues after water damage in your property. Call us at (318) 345-5121.