This family made a desperate call for help when water started coming in from their ceiling that needed emergency plumbing. We immediately sent two of our best, Armando and Vinni, to the property to start inspection.
When we arrived we immediately took tests to see if their home had asbestos or lead. These results usually take a day or more to come back, but luckily we got them the very next day. As the results were negative, we followed protocol and covered the kitchen in plastic so nothing damaged it while we were investigating the leak. We then opened up the ceiling by removing the drywall. Next, we removed the insulation so we could view the pipes. The cause of the leak was a hole in the pipe. We called our plumber and he came and fixed it. Holes in pipes generally have only a few causes. The main problem being corrosion. Corrosion can happen simply from extended use. It can also happen when 2 different metals are touching in a pipe and it creates an electrical field. When this happens it speeds up the corrosion process.
Once the leak was fixed, we started removing the other problems. The laminate flooring had started swelling from the water and was seeping underneath. The linoleum underneath the laminate flooring was getting wet as well. We had to remove the flooring to dry the kitchen and to make sure there was no mold forming underneath the linoleum.
As there was none, we moved on to drying the house. We set up dehumidifiers which had it dry in five days. Dehumidifiers are devices that lessen the level of humidity in the air. They work by drawing air from the room over a coil that is cooled to a cold temperature. When the air goes back out it is warm, with little to no moisture in it. This dry air draws the moisture out of the wet materials. When everything was dry we restored the home to it's original condition up to the drywall. The owner did the renovation themselves from there.
Let's talk about drywall. We provide drywall services, but if something goes wrong and you decide to remove or insert your own drywall, here are some tips on how to do it safely. The number one thing you always want to do first is, before demolition you need to test for asbestos and lead. If it comes back positive, you will need professional help. If it comes back negative you can start demolition safely. Before you start removing drywall, you want to check for any outlets or switches on the drywall you are removing. If there are some, remove the covers and turn off the electricity, so you don't get electrocuted by accident. You will also want to turn off the plumbing as a precaution in case you break a pipe during demolition. These tips will protect your house and yourself from harm during demo.
On most water damage insurance claims, we renovate what had been taken apart for the restoration. Some of the renovation we do includes, new drywall, paint, flooring, carpet, etc. This is considered basic renovation. In this instance we did not fully renovate, because the owners wanted to partially renovate their house on their own
The owners were happy they called us as soon as they realized there was a problem. They were able to use the kitchen again only days after they called us. Flood problems can happen to anyone, so always be on the lookout for signs that you have flood damage in your home. Some possible signs are bubbly paint, mold, or swelling in your flooring and baseboards.
If you would like to learn more about how Fast Affordable Restoration can help you in your San Diego County location, request a free estimate or give our team a call. We are an IICRC Certified Firm qualified to handle water damage, fire restoration, smoke removal and more. So reach out today and let us take care of that flood damage for various parts of your home!
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Certified experts in repair, mitigation, remediation of water, mold, fire, and smoke damage.
10620 Treena St #230, San Diego, CA 921311134 D St Suite B, Ramona, CA 92065845 15th St, Ste 325, San Diego, CA 92101
