Professional expertise helps when flooding hits

For several months, my company has been involved in disasters and cleanups, primarily sewer and water pipe breakage.

Cleaning up after a flood or sewer backup is a very demanding job. Bacteria rates are high, specialized equipment and ex-pertise is often needed. This is one time where it is definitely smart to call a professional.

The cleaning company should be able to take immediate action and start the clean-up process. A professional disaster restoration specialist will know how to handle the problem in a safe and sanitary manner. The company should be able to give you an estimate for the cleanup.

When disaster strikes, do what you can to stop further damage, e.g. stop the running water, move your furniture to prevent damage, remove belongings from the affected area, board up broken windows, etc. The longer you delay, the greater the potential for further damage to your personal property.

Call your insurance company immediately. Please keep in mind that your insurance company will expect you to protect the building and its contents from further damage. Your insurance company may ask you what actions you took to prevent further damage.

If the mishap is not covered by insurance, ask the agent to refer you to a professional who specializes in that area. Insurance companies deal every day with competent professionals. When you call them, ask them for a bid that will itemize their list of operations and costs. It is very important to have a mutual understanding of all expectations.

The goal of the restoration process is to transform an abnormally wet, potentially damaged structure into an environment that can be reoccupied, of equal or better appearance and cleanliness than before the intrusion occurred, and to do so in the most economical and effective means possible.

The restorer begins this process by identifying all affected materials (what's wet). Water must be tracked from its initial source and diligently followed in every direction it migrated to in order to establish an accurate perimeter. Once that is identified, the restorer should document what type of materials affected, e.g. carpet, pad, sub-flooring, wall construction type, etc.

Affected materials are evaluated against three criteria to determine if they should be restored or replaced. The three criteria are cost, damage and contamination. After this evaluation, the restorer decided which materials should be dried and which should be replaced. The restorer will also decide which materials should be dried aggressively and which should be dried through more disruptive means.

Materials of higher value that do not show signs of permanent damage and are either uncontaminated or easily decontaminated are dried aggressively or focused drying. This process also is referred to drying in place.

Materials that have suffered damage, are contaminated and cannot be decontaminated, or are of relatively low value are removed from the area, rather than attempting to dry these materials in place. This process is referred to as disruptive.

The restorer will use high pressure air movers, industrial dehumidifiers and inter-wall drying systems to dry the building materials to manufacturers' recommended moisture levels.

Once the property is dry, the restorer should provide a written report with pictures to the property owner, which details the process they went through to get the property dry.

If you would like to share a cleaning idea or concept with the reading audience, call Ed at NWES (255-2266) or send them to the Bonner County Daily Bee, 310 Church St., Sandpoint, ID, 83864; Attn: What Would Ed Do?

Copy written by Edmond E. Madan, certified forensic, fire, flood, mold inspection and remediation contractor. Ed is the CEO of Northwest Executive and Environmental Services, LLC.