If you’re dealing with water damage in the basement of your home, you’ve got a lot of different concerns that need to be addressed. The first concern is going to be whether the damage is fresh and if the source of the damage has been stopped.
For example, if your basement has water damage from a sewer backup that has been remediated, then you can move forward with cleanup and restoration. If, however, your basement was damaged by something like a rainstorm or a flood that’s still ongoing, you’ll need to wait until the water stops and recedes or can be cleaned up properly. Then, you’ll be able to consider restoration.
So, step one — stop the water.
Then, assess the situation. If you can, carefully remove any personal belongings or furnishings so that they don’t sustain further damage. If the area is heavily flooded and unsafe to enter, just wait for the professionals. Don’t enter the water or touch anything electrical. If there is standing water or if the electrical outlets are wet or have been damaged, you could risk serious electric shock.
DIY Cleanup: Yay or Nay?
A lot of people wonder whether they should try to remedy the situation themselves. Some just think it’ll be a matter of throwing out the damaged items and cleaning up with some bleach, and then putting things back.
It all depends on the extent of the damage. If the water damage is minor, and you are able to attend to it right away, that’s probably fine. If, for example, you have a basement with extensive water damage, or if it is something that has been left untreated, you’re going to want to call water damage restoration professionals. They will help ensure that the damaged items are removed and structural damage is repaired properly. If mold is suspected, they can have it a mold testing company test and recommend how to follow up.
Even if you opt to do the cleanup yourself in the end, you’re always better to start by calling water restoration experts to provide you with an assessment of the situation and approve that this is, in fact, a good course of action. Some professionals may even offer to advise on what you can do and what you should leave to them, helping you get the best of both worlds—the right cleanup at the right price because you’re taking care of some of it yourself.
Sooner is Better
If you have water damage in your basement, whether it’s new or old, or even if the event causing it is still going on, you need to address the issue as soon as you possibly can to prevent any further damage. Usually, water damage in the basement can be remediated without a lot of difficulty. Unfinished basements, of course, are easier to clean and restore, but a finished basement will accrue more damage cost if ignored.
Basements are notorious for water damage. Make sure that you’re able to identify the source of the damage and check with your home insurance provider to see if that type of damage is covered. If it is, the deductible might be cheaper than the cost of repairing the damage out of pocket.
Whatever you do, don’t put this off until you have “more time” because that gives things more time to get worse and that can quickly go from being a hassle to a health hazard.
To see what a water damage restoration team can handle, visit Clarke Contractor’s water damage restoration web page to learn more about this type of service.