If you have a fire or water emergency, please call us now at (888) 650-0013

To have the optimal experience while using this site, you will need to update your browser. You may want to try one of the following alternatives:

Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration
1-888-650-0013

Water Damage’s Impact on Different Materials

3/4/2016 (Permalink)

It doesn’t matter where you find it. The day you detect water damage in your home is never a fun day. Between removing valuable items, figuring out the source of the damage and actually remediating the water damage, it’s no wonder the process can be such a massive headache for homeowners. Luckily, SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea can help. With our fast response time and superior remediation services, we make sure that the water damage removal process always runs smoothly. 

Part of what makes finding water damage so stressful is the unknown impact the water can have on different materials in your home. That’s why SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea created a list of the effects water damage can have on various home materials. Take a look! 

Flooring

The type of flooring you have will affect the water damage’s impact on your home. Here’s a breakdown of how different flooring options can influence the extent of water damage done to your home: 

Concrete:

While you may not be choosing concrete over carpeting or hardwood floors, concrete is at the base of many homes and lying underneath your carpet. Unfortunately, this material is very unpredictable when water hits it and lets moisture travel far in to those wet areas. In fact, concrete tends to release moisture slower than most other building materials. This is why a remediation company like SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea should evaluate the on-going concrete drying process and try a variety of drying techniques to make sure the material is completely dried. 

Wood: 

It’s important to know that wood is a semi-porous material that, and depending on how much damage there is, it might lead to full removal of the material. Heavy amounts of water can penetrate behind or underneath solid wood flooring. If this happens, the material should be removed in order to expose pockets of saturation and create thorough cleaning and sanitizing. 

A homeowner in Mission Viejo recently contacted us after they noticed that their wood flooring was buckling in their family room. They first contacted their plumber, who detected the buckling was caused by a slab leak underneath the flooring. He suggested that they call SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea to take care of the water damage caused by the leak. 

After receiving the call, we sent our Project Manager, Uriel Valencia over to the home right away. While the damage was more extensive than what the homeowners originally thought, Uriel knew it was a job that SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea could definitely handle. 

Our team of technicians started to get to work immediately. They removed the wood flooring and drywall in the family room, kitchen and office. They then set up some drying equipment to make sure everything was dried thoroughly and correctly.

While the damage was more than what the homeowners’ originally expected, they were happy with our work and knew they had made the right decision in calling SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea for help. 

Laminate: 

Laminate flooring comes in many different types and grades. Depending on its abrasion class (AC) rating, certain laminated flooring can resist different levels of water damage impact. Some grades have high levels of waxes and oils, which can slow down the moisture absorption. However, many laminate flooring that have water damage can lead to deterioration, which is never a good thing. When a large amount of water penetrates under laminate materials, it most likely will have to be removed. 

Vinyl:

Interestingly enough, the elements that make up vinyl do not actually absorb water. However, if for some reason the water penetrates underneath, the vinyl will need to be removed and dried properly under the surface. 

Walls

Another common area to find water damage is within the walls of your home. Whether it’s a pipe burst or flood, the impact water damage can have on different materials in your walls can be tremendous. Here’s a breakdown of those materials: 

Drywall:

Drywall is a porous material, which makes it very susceptible to water damage. While it loses its structural integrity when saturated, it can be regained if dried properly by a water damage remediation company like SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea. 

Drywall is one of the most common places we find water damage in a home. Unfortunately, this water damage can have a huge impact on the home if not taken care of promptly and properly. 

We recently received a call after normal business hours from a homeowner in Placentia, who noticed a leak in their upstairs bathroom. While other companies may only work nine to five, we are available nonstop, so when we received the evening call, we sent our Project Manager, Jonathan Arcila out to the house immediately.  

When he arrived at the home, Jonathan set up initial drying equipment right away, so that the affected drywall and flooring could start drying out before any removal occurred. The next day, our team of technicians began the remediation process. 

We ended up having to remove a little bit of drywall in the ceiling, but fortunately, we were able to save the rest of the drywall and all of the flooring with the help of air movers and fans. 

The homeowners were very happy with our work and loved that we did everything in our power to save the home. They never realized how big of an impact water damage could have on drywall and were pleased with how we handled the situation. They also told us they’d give us a call with any other water damage needs. 

Bricks: 

Because bricks and stonework are typically found on the exterior of a home or fireplace, this type of material is usually exposed to outside forces like wind-driven rain and water vapor. The movement of water in and out of these materials is always considered before a company like SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea starts its drying process. To reduce the amount of water absorption in these areas, consider water drainage, water repellents and treatments, as they can help lower the impact of water damage on these types of materials.  

Insulation: 

Insulation is another porous material, which means when water saturates it, the insulation must be dried or replaced, depending on how much water damage there’s been. 

The way insulation works is that it traps air and tiny air bubbles to keep your home nice and warm. When moisture or vapor hit, the insulation can lose its ability to resist heat transfers. In short, this means that moisture exposure to insulation can hinder its ability to keep your house warm. That’s why it’s so important to have a professional like SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea come out to inspect and remove the water damage done to the insulation in your home. 

Windows & Doors

On a warm day, sometimes there’s nothing better than having a window open and feeling the nice breeze come in your house. However, on a cold day, both windows and doors have the capability of transporting water, whether it’s rain or just vapor, into your home. So can these areas be impacted by water damage themselves? Maybe. 

Depending on what elements make up your doors and windows, its materials can range from semi-porous to non-porous, which will affect how much impact water damage has on those areas of your home. No matter what, it’s always important to try and eliminate outdoor water from coming into your house Be sure that when your windows are shut, there is no air escaping from the outside.

It’s pretty easy to see that water damage impacts all different materials and surfaces in your home, whether they are visible or not. That’s why it’s so important to regularly check your home for leaks or floods. The sooner you detect it, the easier it will be to fix it. But you shouldn’t try and fix it by yourself. Give SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea a call today for any of your water damage remediation needs! 

Other News

View Recent Posts