From Crisis to Recovery: A Rocky River, Ohio Water Damage Restoration Case Study

9/19/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is available around the clock to restore your space after a disaster occurs. Check out this Rocky River water damage restoration case study.

Back in August of 2022, the SERVPRO team was called to help with a water damage restoration project. It started with an unknown source of water in a Rocky River, Ohio home that affected a mostly finished basement. The damage was quite extensive, as it impacted the lower walls, fixtures, floors, and belongings of the home.

After the cleanup was complete, we thought it was beneficial to create this Rocky River water damage restoration case study so that readers could get a better understanding of how SERVPRO took the space from a state of crisis to a state of recovery.

Details About the Damage

When we spoke to the homeowner’s son, we learned that there was around a half an inch of standing water above the ceramic floors. We discovered the rest of the issues upon entering the home.

Here is what we learned about this Rocky River home:

• There was an organic odor present
  
  
• Mold had formed, measuring less than 10 square feet, and was seen most significantly under a floating floor in the laundry room
  
  
• The sump pump had questionable functionality
  
  
• Previous water damage had occurred (which is what helped us diagnose the problem accordingly)

With all of this information at our disposal, we were able to develop a plan for water damage restoration. In this photo, you can see the equipment we brought in to dry out the space after we cleared out the impacted flooring and drywall.

Our team also suggested that a plumber should inspect the area and diagnose any issues with mechanical systems to identify the source of water intrusion and avoid future issues.  

Developing an Appropriate Water Damage Repair Plan for This Rocky River, Ohio Home

Based on the damage, the basement of this Rocky River home was treated as a Category 3 (CAT3), which is a severe case that involves contaminated water. This means that the water can be harmful to humans and animals. The damage was also given a title of Class 2 with an estimated drying time of three days. We were glad to have the opportunity to step in and provide water damage restoration services, making this Rocky River home safe again.

We carefully treated the following areas to restore their functionality:

• Recreational room and its closet
• Hallway and area at the bottom of the stairs (including another closet)
• Bathroom
• Laundry room 

The team at SERVPRO used our water damage repair expertise to evaluate the scene and treat the issues accordingly. Several days of work included debris disposal, protective equipment usage, containment measures, the covering of surfaces, and air scrubber setup.

Additional Notes on This Rocky River Water Damage Restoration Project

SERVPRO always prioritizes team and home safety, and this is demonstrated through our processes, observations, and notes. Taking notes allows us to give the homeowners a full analysis of what we did and a basis for a plan moving forward.

Here are some key notes we collected during this Rocky River, Ohio water damage restoration:

• The homeowner and the investigator suspect a foundation issue, with signs of moisture in the crawlspace. The investigator made cuts to access areas, removed walls, and found mold behind them. Actions were taken to mitigate the issue.
  
  
• HVAC systems were turned off during the process of this Rocky River water damage repair.
  
  
• Detailed actions were carried out, including removing tiles, drywall, and fixtures, and cleaning various surfaces and equipment.
  
  
• Monitoring indicated that most of the structure was drying well, but the crawlspace still showed moisture intrusion, which might be linked to a sprinkler system issue.
  
  
• The structure remained dry, except for a small area near the bathroom/hallway where a dehumidifier purge line malfunctioned. Equipment was rearranged in the basement.

Taking these factors into account, further steps involved moving a granite countertop to facilitate work in the crawl space and carrying out final cleanup and fogging to address any remaining issues.

Choose SERVPRO for Your Water Damage Restoration Services

SERVPRO takes pride in being the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration for many cities and communities. Our water damage restoration services are available 24/7 for your convenience and we’re ready to help when you need it.

Whether you have experienced a Category 3 flooding event or something more minor, our team has the experience needed to diagnose an appropriate treatment plan that will restore the function of your property.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for taking the time to read our Rocky River water damage restoration case study. For more information about how we can help you with water damage restoration services, be sure to contact our team today!

Facts & Stats: National & Ohio Water Damage

4/11/2023 (Permalink)

We are "here to help" handle your home and business's water damage restoration needs!

It's no secret that April showers are the start of Ohio's rainy season. Despite the name, April is only the 4th rainiest month in Ohio, with May, June, and the rainiest, July rounding out the top three.

As we work our way through the wet season, it's important to understand the facts of water and storm damage.

National Water Damage Facts & Stats

- 14,000 people in the US are affected by water damage every day.

- The average insurance claim to repair a water damaged home is $11,605.

- 99% of US counties experienced a flood from 1996-2019.

- 98% of US homes will experience water damage in their basements at least once.

- Even the smallest leak can increase the average water bill by 10%.

- In 2020, almost 20% of home insurance claims were due to water damage and freezing.

Ohio Water Damage Facts & Stats

- In Ohio, 540,863 properties have more than a 26% chance of being affected by severe flooding in the next 30 years.

- In 2021, at least 142 people died in flooding incidents, 64 of which were driving.

Water damage, whether it be from flooding or a storm, can be a difficult process to deal with. Luckily, SERVPRO of Cuyahoga South is equipped to handle all of your water damage restoration needs! From the drying process to reconstruction, we work with all insurances to get your home or business looking "like it never even happened."

How Water Damage Affects Your Home

11/14/2022 (Permalink)

Using our top-of-the-line technologies, we ensure that any and all moisture in your home is eradicated.

SERVPRO is “Faster to any size disaster,” and this quality provides many benefits for homeowners of waterlogged residences. When a pipe has burst apart, a tub has overflowed, or a drain backed up, your home needs to have that excess water removed as quickly as possible.

Homes in Independence, Solon and Strongsville that have excess water from disasters dry out best when water removal services from SERVPRO are the first part of the entire process. Pumping out any water that is visible upon our arrival helps us gain a better visual so we can more easily assess the extent of the overall damage.

Larger amounts of porous materials require more aggressive drying methods than materials that are less porous. Our experience benefits homeowners in many kinds of disasters that can damage a home.

Removing water starts the process, but then we need to move toward removing the moisture that has escaped into the air through evaporation. This moisture can find its way into every part of your home, and create problems later unless it is captured and removed. Dehumidifiers, heaters, air movers, and even open windows can work wonders when used together. Moisture meters provide us with a beginning reading of areas in your home that are compared to later readings, showing us our progress in drying out your home.

When dry, remaining problems can still exist, such as unusual odors. We can rectify this problem with odor control methods. Other problems that can remain behind include over-stretched carpeting, which we also have the ability to fix.

Because floors are always saturated in a situation where standing water exists, we take great care in ensuring that these surfaces are completely dry. This prevents warping of wooden floors and sub-flooring. Otherwise, walking in your home may soon become hazardous for your family and guests.

In situations that have left your home partially submerged, call us, SERVPRO of Cuyahoga South at (440) 237-0077.

We can begin water removal efforts so that your home is once again as it should be, perfectly dry. Accidents can occur at all hours of the day and night, and because of this, we are always available to take your call.

Salvaging hardwood floors from water damage in Northeast Ohio

While most insurance policies offer coverage for replacing floors, there are many situations where homeowners can save money by drying instead, especially with solid hardwood. Other types of flooring, including engineered hardwood and laminate, are more prone to structural damage, delamination, and other issues that make replacement preferable. Solid hardwood's durability makes it more salvageable and safer to reinstall. The durability saves you time and costs when it comes to reinstallation, staining, and refinishing.

If a sudden pipe leak causes water damage to floors in your Strongsville residence, professional disaster mitigation technicians at SERVPRO of Cuyahoga South can restore your flooring to its preloss condition. Commercial-grade equipment and eco-friendly, EPA-registered antimicrobial cleaners work in tandem to salvage floors, sub-flooring, and other structures in the home that are affected by water. Technicians work with both homeowners and insurance adjusters to handle damages and restoration per local, state, and federal regulations.

SERVPRO of Cuyahoga South works fast not only to save flooring, but also to preserve the layers of infrastructure that support it. Without proper mitigation, water damaged floors can become distorted and start cupping or buckling. These conditions can also become host to mold and wood rot that affect the safety and integrity of hardwood floors. After dispatching a team to your home, they can use wand extractors and back-mounted pumps to collect any remaining standing water. Thermal imaging and penetrative and non-penetrative moisture measurement tools can be used to assess the extent of damage to floors and subfloors. We replace non-salvageable planks as needed.

Desiccant dehumidifiers are often necessary to tackle the remaining moisture in hardwood planks due to hardwood's low evaporation rate. These types of industrial dehumidifiers collect moisture from surrounding surfaces by passing it over desiccant materials like silica gel. Heat then evaporates the collected water into an air stream, which vents outside of the home. If odors from water damage are evident, OSHA-approved cleaners and ultra-low-volume (ULV) fogging deodorizers can be used to eliminate odor-causing particles.

How Water Leaks Affect Your Home’s Value

Do you know that water leaks can highly affect the sale of your home? What's more, they can be a concern for new home buyers. However, most homeowners are usually unaware of the hidden leaks. With cracked pipes, leaking spigot, and broken seals, water will easily creep into some places it isn't meant to go. The end results will be more visible damages which include rot, damaged flooring, and blistered paint.

A minor water leak can increase your repair bills. But the good news is that you can easily prevent such situations. Noticing a sagging ceiling above your dining room table is easier. When looking for water damages you have to remember that these damages rarely turn up at the water source.

Some damages to expect

• Mold and mildew growth. With water leaks, you should also expect an unhealthy environment.
• Permanent water damages to carpets, wood, wallpapers, furnishing and paint. 
• Contaminated systems – including the ductwork. 
• Insulation and drywall which need replacement and removal. 
• If there is water trapped somewhere in your house, poor airflow will become a major problem.

Our technicians At SERVPRO of Cuyahoga South are always ready to check out problems and offer solutions to keep the value of your home up, and the your stress levels low!