Minnesota Water Damage Restoration
To begin with, water damage mitigation is a specialized field that requires special protective measures, specialized equipment and testing capabilities as well as certain engineering controls to protect you and your property. Most restoration contractors know how to perform simple drying and site cleanup. Experienced companies know how to provide restoration services that protect not only the structure, but also your health.
Water and Flood Damage
Water damage can be the starting point for many serious problems that can affect a building, damage personal property and present serious health risks to occupants. To restore property and protect health, a professional restoration contractor must carefully manage the project. He has to be knowledgeable in several disciplines… stopping bacteria from spreading, preventing mold growth, preventing secondary damage and saving the structure and its many contents. Additionally, he must be able to communicate to the water damage victims and insurance company representatives with confidence and authority. Water damaged structures can be the perfect breeding place for mold. Poor indoor ventilation can also cause molds to thrive. Wet building materials and humid indoor air are mold’s best friends.
Experience Matters
Often, a less-experienced restoration company will compound problems during water damage by not understanding the proper steps and precautions that must be taken and how critical the “Time Factor” is. The EPA says, “Stop the water leak quickly and begin restoration during the first 24 hours. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth”.
While mold requires high humidity and/or wet surfaces in order to grow, it also requires a food source. Indoors, many molds grow on leather, paper and some building materials. Molds can also grow and thrive on bio-film such as cooking grease.
The most effective way to prevent mold growth on water damage losses is to begin the drying process quickly. Restoration companies who are aware of possible mold growth problems usually know how to dry structural materials with heat, air movement and by lowering the indoor relative humidity. This is an effective way to dry a building because material removal is minimized and mold growth is retarded.
Knowing how to determine exactly what is wet during a water loss is a critical part of the job. If areas of moisture are overlooked, molds and bacteria can grow. To protect your property and health, all of the moisture must be found and dealt with. A Professional Minnesota Restoration Company uses moisture sensors, as well as infrared technology, that are capable of “reading” wallboard, masonry and wood to find hidden moisture that is often impossible to detect any other way.
