Trust SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby & Our Process

6/28/2017 (Permalink)

Trust SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby & Our Process

Why can you trust our flood damage process?

First let’s talk about the actual process of taking a home severely damaged by flooding and returning it to the same shape it was in prior to the flooding. That seems like an impossibility for many people when they call us and you can hear it in their voice. But believe it or not, these types of situations happen all the time and we’ve dealt with thousands of them. For any water damage loss, there is a formula, a plan, and a strategy that can be implemented to get it fixed. While that formula requires tweaks based on the actual situation we run into, it follows these general guidelines:

Step 1. A complete onsite analysis

No job can begin without first understanding the impact the flood has had on the home, its contents and its structure. Many people call us and ask how much it’s going to cost to cleanup flood damage in their home. They want a dollar number. It’s impossible to say without first seeing the damage. But once we have had a chance to see the flood damage firsthand, we can not only give you a clearer picture of the cost but also explain the exact steps we’ll take to remove the water and debris as well as clean and dry the home.

The best part for you as a potential customer is the initial meeting and assessment is free and there is no obligation on your part to move forward. We view the initial meeting as an opportunity to earn your trust. The one thing we know before we even arrive is that we are fully capable of handling your flood damaged property. But you don’t know that. So we want to build trust with you and are willing to do so at no cost or obligation to you.

Step 2. Surface & item removal

In many instances, especially with grey water from a flooding, certain areas of the property as well as soaked items must be thrown out. This is called the demolition phase of the process and it allows us to remove sections that can’t be salvaged and access the interior surfaces that were also damaged. Depending on the category of the loss, we may have to use hazardous material disposal bags and have our technicians in complete protective suits from head to toe.

Step 3. Moisture removal

You probably already know this, but perhaps the greatest immediate threat after the flooding has subsided is black mold. What most fail to realize is just how quickly that becomes a threat to your home or business. Usually you have about 48 hours (depending on the environmental conditions present in your property). And the only way to stop mold is to get rid of the environment it needs to grow. And that boils down to getting the excess moisture out of the walls, floors, ceilings and other areas of your home that were damaged in the flood. We show up at your house with all of the various water removal systems we may need so that we can begin that timely process immediately. We can get the majority of the water out very quickly, at which point the remaining steps are designed to get the moisture out that is trapped within the surfaces of your home. But before we move on, we take one additional step….

Step 4. Mold prevention

The crucial step we take at this point is to get the surfaces even wetter. Well, technically what we are doing is spraying down the areas that are wet with an application that prohibits mold growth. It’s absolutely vital to a successful outcome but something many aren’t aware is even necessary. The inhibitor gives us a narrow window to complete the next phase of the flood damage cleanup process.

Step 5. Drying of the structure

Perhaps the most difficult and time consuming part of the process is getting the last couple of percentage points of moisture out of your home’s surfaces. We use an array of drying equipment that can dry various types of surfaces quickly, and we monitor the drying phase to ensure we’re moving quickly but also to make sure we don’t over dry. What many homeowners don’t understand is that every surface in their home needs some moisture. And without it, those surfaces either begin to fail or at a minimum lose their visual appeal. So not only do we need to remove the excess moisture quickly, we need to leave some moisture in each surface.

Step 6. Reconstruction

The final step, which will either be done by us or a sub-contractor, is the work of replacing the sections that were removed in step 2. This can take some time but the goal is always the same: make sure the home is in the same shape it was before the flood when we are finished.

Hopefully this quick walk-through of the process gives you some knowledge that you can then apply to the entire ordeal. It is our sincere hope that you will entrust us with the very big job of making sure your flooded home is restored correctly. As stated above, we believe that we have the team, experience, skills and tools to ensure that is the case!

Water or Flood Damage In Your Home? Call SERVPRO of Oldham/Shelby to speak to a Mitigation Specialist today. 502.241.6861