reduce the cost of water damage restoration

There are four stages of water damage, each more serious than the last. The restoration process for each stage is more aggressive than the last. If you think that there might be some water damage in your home and are interested in identifying what stage it is, the following guidelines will help. Additionally, the necessary restoration process for each is included.

Stage 1 Water Damage and Restoration

Stage 1 water damage is almost invisible. You know that a lot of water has seeped into the home or flooded a certain area. You cannot see most of the damage, but you suspect that it is there. A damage contractor can peer inside your walls, under your roof and at the floorboards overhead in the basement. Signs of mold and mildew during his or her investigation are stage 1 water damage, and the best way to treat it is to dry out the affected areas and treat them with a chemical that kills the mold/mildew spores. A more aggressive approach is to remove the affected wood and replace it with treated lumber to prevent future damage.

Stage 2 Water Damage and Restoration

Stage 2 water damage looks like bubbled, peeling paint or humps in your flooring. It indicates that there is more serious damage than what you can see. Restoration at this point requires the damage contractor to pull away the affected areas and look for any more damage underneath. All of these areas can be individually restored and replaced without affecting surrounding structures.

Stage 3 Water Damage and Restoration

In this stage, your ceilings, walls and floors "squish" when touched and the bubbling and cracking has gotten worse. There may be discolorations where the water damage has begun to rot through the building materials and insulation in your home. Water damage restoration requires pulling down more than just the affected areas that you can see and touch because water has collected and pooled, creating the squishy areas.

Stage 4 Water Damage and Restoration

By far, this is the worst possible level of water damage. Ceilings and walls have rotted completely and fallen inward in sheets and chunks. You can smell the rot. Floors are incredibly dangerous to walk on, and people can fall through. Your home has to be gutted before it can be properly restored. If it is bad enough, your home may be condemned and pronounced unlivable. 

The Bottom Line

You will want to catch water damage early and begin restoration as soon as possible. Doing so means you will spend less to restore the integrity of your home and you can still occupy it while damage contractors do their work. Waiting for a more opportune time could mean the leveling of your home, and then you have more to worry about than just water damage restoration.