Life goes on even after experiencing a devastating flood in your home, and restoration is a must. Water damage caused by flooding can be extensive, and it may require you to renovate some severely damaged areas of your house. Otherwise, you might have to deal with molds and mildew, which cannot be eliminated unless your home is completely dry.
Surfaces such as carpets, floors, baseboards, and walls might need replacement after flood damage. If you need to renovate your house after flood and water restoration, here are some tips for you.
Focus on your basement
In most cases, the basement and crawl space often have moisture problems. Immediately after water damage, restoration is the best time to repair your basement to prevent any future problems. Some renovation ideas include installing a sump pump, a french drain, or perimeter drainage tiles. Ensure you rip out the materials damaged by water. If you have insurance, it becomes easy to cover the cost of renovating your basement completely to make it moisture-free.
Repair your interior walls
Flooding and moisture problems mainly affect the walls of your property. Signs of water-damaged walls include swollen and bubbling paint, damp, moldy, or cracked walls. After you clean and deodorize the wall frames, get water-resistant materials for replacements. Avoid materials like fiberglass wall insulations that are prone to water damage.
Extruded polystyrene foam boards are better for insulation. You can replace your drywall with a cement board that does not absorb water; therefore, you don’t have to worry about mold growth. Also, opt for polyvinyl chloride-based boards for the baseboards rather than wood trim to ensure that your walls stay dry even if the carpet gets wet.
Replace the flooring
House flooding is very harmful to your flooring, and the water damage might force you to replace it. You can clean and dry it, but moisture might still be trapped inside, depending on the type of flooring. Opt for flooring materials that handle moisture better. Ensure you renovate as early as you can because even the toughest tiles can give in to water damage if you let it sit for days. Avoid water damage-prone materials like wood, laminates, and carpets. It is best to raise your flooring off the concrete to ensure moisture does not affect your actual flooring surface.
Repair windows and exterior walls
After water damage, it is essential to check your windows and exterior walls. That is especially of the house flood was caused by hurricanes or a storm. If you are in a hurricane-prone area, you need to use hurricane-rated windows as replacements. Check your exterior walls for water damage. Waterproof bricks and solid bricks exteriors are the best materials for protection against harsh weather elements.
Take your time to upgrade your home.
After water damage is the best time to renovate and upgrade your home for the better. Use high-quality building materials that are water-resistant and can last for longer. That reduces your chances of doing the renovations in the future. It is best to use the help of restoration experts who are knowledgeable in such kinds of renovations.
The final words
Repairing your home after water damage means upgrading it and improving its shortcomings at the same time.
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