Water damage has a tendency to progress quickly—a small leak doesn’t stay a small leak for long if left untreated. Before you know it, a trickle of water can grow into a flood.
Minor water damage is much easier and cheaper to repair than extensive restorations, so it’s best to catch water damage as early on as possible. Got Rot is committed to restoring your home regardless of the extent of its water damage.
Our goal is always to keep our customers happy—communicating transparently throughout the process of repairing your home. If you are unsure what next steps to take when your home is suffering from water damage, contact us for a free consultation.
We know just how hard it can be to suffer from water damage. When your home is flooded and its structure is at risk, stakes are quite high and the situation can be anxiety-inducing. That’s why our team of experts is here to walk you through the process from start to finish, assessing your property before providing an estimate and project plan.
Types of Water Damage
There are a few ways to categorize water damage.
- Category 1: This water is clear and uncontaminated; it is clean enough to drink. Sources include sprinklers, rainwater, and more. Risks include electrical wiring.
- Category 2: Gray water is not safe for consumption and likely contains unsafe biological matter and high microorganism levels. Specialists should wear protective gear when handling gray water.
- Category 3: Black water, which is extremely contaminated water that has the potential to be life-threatening. Black water is home to pathogens, hazardous toxins, heavy metals, and/or pesticides. Full body protection may be necessary as well as special containers to dispose of contaminated materials.
How Do You Know If You Need Water Damage Restoration Services in Seattle?
Water damage can happen to just about any home, but Seattle residents have the area’s rainy weather to take into account. In fact, flooding is the state’s most costly natural disaster with an 80% chance that 10 or more floods will happen each year.
Whether your home is suffering from water damage caused by a flood, a broken water pipe, or something else, water damage needs to be addressed as quickly as possible. There are a few signs you can look out for to assess whether you need water damage restoration services.
First, check for any visible water that might be staining your walls or ceilings. Once the structure of your home begins to get wet and soak up water, it may seep through the walls or ceilings. You may also begin to see water pooling around the foundation of your home, which indicates the presence of underlying water damage.
You should also pay attention to any scents that develop within your home. Mold can begin to fill affected areas with a musky, damp, mushroom-scented smell. If you are able to smell water damage forming in your home, contact professionals like GotRot as soon as you can.
Restoration Methods For Water Damage
Once the water has done its damage, there are a few different restoration methods that can be implemented. Wood that is affected by dry rot or water damage will appear to be soft, spongy, fragile, and can even crumble when touched.
Because of this, wood that is beyond repair will need to be replaced. However, we are aware that in some cases, a piece of wood can hold sentimental value such as an antique piece of furniture. In cases like these, GotRot is happy to repair the wood instead.
Repairing Damaged Wood
To repair damaged wood, we begin by ensuring the wood is completely dry. This prevents future damage from occurring. We will then remove any wood that is rotten and beyond saving slowly and carefully before filling in the cracks with a wood hardener.
Once the wood hardener has been mixed with a wood filler and pushed into the wood’s dents, we wait for it to dry before sanding, priming, and painting.
Our team of experienced professional tradesmen have an average of 10 years of experience and can thoroughly assess your water damage situation to select the most appropriate next steps.
Structural Drying
Structural drying involves removing any standing water that might remain in your house, whether this is an entirely flooded floor or a puddle in a crawl space. Regardless of the amount of water, it will need to be removed before any restoration can occur.
Once all of the remaining water has been removed, all affected structures must be thoroughly dried to maintain as much of their integrity as possible. A dehumidification process and controlling the area’s temperatures can prevent the wood from taking further damage.
Drying Hardwood Floors
One of the most exciting features you can find in a home is a beautiful hardwood floor. However, water damage is a hardwood floor’s worst nightmare. These floors are uniquely susceptible to water damage due to being made of such a porous material.
If your hardwood floor is affected by water damage, properly drying it is of utmost importance. First, a team member from GotRot will evaluate your hardwood floor to assess whether or not it can be saved.
A hardwood floor that can be saved will be heat-dried from top to bottom using floor restoration panels once the standing water has been removed from the area.
Mold Removal
When water damages wood, it can begin to grow mold. Because of Seattle’s rainy weather, warm climate, and moist environment, it is the perfect breeding ground for mold to form. If your home has been impacted by water damage, there is a good chance mold has started to infect your home.
A mold issue needs to be addressed quickly, as many mold types can be hazardous to you and your loved ones’ health—especially children and the elderly, as it can lead to asthma attacks and lung irritation when breathed in.
Seattle mold removal and remediation can be completed as a part of your water damage restoration services. At GotRot, we specialize in dry rot caused by water damage or mold and are dedicated to maintaining your home’s integrity and keeping your family safe.
Dangers of Untreated Water Damage
Unfortunately, there are dangers to leaving water damage untreated. There are a variety of health concerns that come with failing to treat water damage, such as the previously mentioned mold issues.
While the chemical compounds of dry rot fungus are not toxic, there are many other molds and fungi that may contain toxins—called mycotoxins—and can cause serious illness. It is always best to have your water damage and mold situation assessed by a professional for your health and safety. However, the mold and fungus caused by water damage can put your home’s occupants in further danger.
The fungus involved in dry rot is one of the most destructive wood decay fungi in the world. It, and other molds and fungi, can cause structural damage to both carpentry and masonry. Because it is capable of spreading extensively before damage is even noticed, it can quickly infect a large portion of your home’s structural foundation.
Dry rot’s fungus uses a non-enzymatic mechanism to initiate the breakdown of wood’s cellulose, meaning it can leave your home incredibly fragile and brittle—increasing the risk of collapse.
What to Do if You Suspect Water Damage in Seattle
If you suspect your home may be the victim of water damage, it’s best to contact a professional to inspect your home. GotRot is proud to offer a free consultation, so call us today to request the water damage restoration services you need.
Our water damage restoration experts will inspect any affected wood on your property, from the interior to the exterior. After we complete our analysis, we will show you our findings and discuss potential options for treatment and restoration.
We pride ourselves in transparently and effectively communicating with our customers. We believe in honesty and keeping you up to date every step along the way. We will be sure to show you detailed images of the water damage so that you can understand just what needs to be done.
Once you have approved the estimate, we will begin the project of restoring your home. At the first sign of water damage, call GotRot for a free estimate to avoid the dangers of mold or even a roof collapse.