Water intrusion is one of the biggest threats to any commercial property. Storm damage can cause a failure in a building’s gutter or other water management system, allowing water to pool in unintended places. A similar threat is also posed by something as seemingly innocuous as a pike leak, frozen pipe or a ruptured water pipe.
Once water invades a building it can quickly damage documents, furniture, equipment, and electronic devices. Not only can it interrupt normal operations, but a significant water event can also be a very serious safety hazard. Left unchecked even a seemingly small amount of water can have very costly consequences.
To answer this very important problem, Building Services Inc. is proud to offer rapid response flood and water damage restoration services to a wide range of commercial properties. Our large service area includes New York City, Queens, Bronx, Long Island, New Jersey. Connecticut, Brooklyn, and Staten Island.
Threat Of Water Damage After A Flood
Building Services technicians act quickly to effectively assess the cause and severity of the water problems. This includes assess the scope of the water damage, as well as the related timeline. In some cases, water may have been pooling unnoticed. In general, the longer the water is present, the worse the damage is to the surrounding building. It also increases the chances of mold and corrosion issues.
Initial Damage
Typically occurs within minutes to hours. As the water starts to spreads through a property it saturates everything in its path. This can include absorbing into walls, saturating flooring and underlayment, as well as inundating upholstery, and personal belongings. Any electronic devices in the water’s path are at high risk for severe damage.
The First 24 Hours
Drywall can start to swell and degrade. Certain metal surfaces will start to tarnish. Any saturated wood furniture might be prone to swelling and cracking. Paper products and documents with soy or other water-based inks will start to degrade beyond use. In warm conditions, a musty “Wet-Basement” odor might be noticeable.
Within 48 Hours to 1 Week
Mold and mildew start to develop and release spores into the air. Doors, windows, and wooden structural components start to warp and swell. Certain types of metal can start to corrode and rust. Furniture becomes infested with mold and paint starts to blister. Some areas, like bathrooms and waste disposal areas, can develop severe biohazard contamination.
After a week the restoration costs and time start to increase dramatically. This typically calls for total removal and replacement of materials. In many of these cases, structural components of the building are so badly compromised that they need to be removed and rebuilt.
Flood Damage Recovery And Restoration Process
At Building Services, we know that time is of the essence after a water event. Once we have assessed the extent of the damage, we can get to work removing salvageable items to prevent further loss. This phase of the process typically includes coordinating with your insurance provider. If a pipe rupture was the underlying cause, we will also need to turn off the water.
At that point, we can start with water removal. Fortunately, we have access to commercial-grade equipment that can quickly alleviate the presence of water. This phase of the process might also include making some basic repairs to things like rooflines, water management systems, clearing floor drains and repairing pipes.
After the water has been dealt with and any future flooding has been prevented, we can start the process of thoroughly drying any affected areas. To do this we use specialized equipment to force dry air into damp areas. This might also include strategic placement of dehumidifiers or desiccants. The key is to lower the humidity of a damaged area to prevent further damage and limit the potential for mold development.
As we go through the process, we make a point to carefully document everything. This ensures that you will have everything you need for processing your claim through your insurance provider.
After all urgent repairs have been completed, we make inspect the rest of the property to make sure it is free of contaminants. This might include inspecting air ducts and HVAC systems for mold, as well as testing that they are operating correctly.
If more long-term serious repairs are needed, your dedicated account manager can coordinate with local contractors and other service professionals to prevent a future water event.
The Threat Of Mold After A Flood Or Water Event
Microscopic mold spores naturally live in the air around us. When they find a wet or damp surface they can adhere and start the process of germinating into an active colony. Some type of mold are “Toxic” and know to be harmful to the human respiratory system as well as causing other medical complications. Yet even a strain of mold that isn’t considered toxic can cause a severe problem for everyone in the affected building.
Building Services Inc. includes mold inspection testing and mold remediation in our diverse menu of disaster relief services. Our technicians have the experience and the equipment you can trust to deal with mold problems on any scale.
Mold Prevention Is Crucial
Restoration, Rebuild & Repairs
Once the threat of mold and flooding has been eradicated, the time has come to put things back to how they were, better than before. Our construction team are compromised of skilled and experienced technicians who will restore the area completely. From drywall repairs from tear-downs, to painting, wallpapering, trim, floors, lightning and more; our team will perform any major repair or construction work in the various areas of your business or home.
