After a flood there is of course visible evidence but water and water damage can be quite deceptive. Water can and does seep into any structural cavities where it lies undetected and stays saturated for some time as these areas are not exposed to the drying effects of moving air. Detecting commercial water damage in South Jersey often requires the use of quite sophisticated moisture measuring devices. Undetected moisture will cause significant damage, at best there will be odors at worst the materials can completely deteriorate and mold can take hold.
Once the rain stops and the flood waters subside there are a few things that flood victims can do that will keep property damage to a minimum and reduce health risks.
When water reaches the point where it exceeds its natural boundary then flooding occurs. Flood water races over all kinds of surfaces; picking up various forms of contamination as it does so. This water, contaminated with such things as animal spoor, oil from the road surfaces, pesticides and fertilizers from soil runoff all pose a significant risk to humans as well as infrastructure.
There are a few things that property owners can do to mitigate commercial water damage in South Jersey area but first it is important to stress that caution must be exercises before going into a building which has been flooded and proper protection is mandatory.
Caution: make sure the electrical service has been turned off and that the structure of the building has not been compromised. Rodents and reptiles often seek shelter during a flood so keep your eyes open for these hazards as well.
Protection: When you enter a flooded building make sure you are fully protected. Wear a respirator, rubber gloves; protective clothing and eye goggles. Make sure the area you are about to enter is well ventilated.
When you enter the building do so with knowledge of what has to be disposed of. Any porous items such as carpets, drywall, particle board and even documents should be thrown away if they are soaking wet.
As there will be pockets of saturation you should remove all the damaged dry wall and baseboards. If you can approximate the high water mark, everything below the mark for about a foot above it should be thrown out. If the floor is anything other than concrete it should be exposed for cleaning, drying and final disinfecting.
With the potential dangers and problems it is always best to bring in a team of professionals in repairing and restoring commercial water damage in South Jersey.
