The basement is one of the most important parts of your home. It’s a place where you store all your valuable possessions and memories, and it can be a great place to hang out with family and friends. When water rises in the basement, it quickly becomes an overwhelming situation that might cause panic for many people.  This article will give you some helpful tips and tricks. We’ll show you how to prevent a flood from happening and the steps that should be taken if one does occur.

First, we’re going to address prevention methods.

These are things that can be done before a flood actually happens in order to minimize the chances of it occurring at all. For example, make sure there are no holes or cracks in any walls or floors of your home near water sources like pipes or drains. You might also want to invest in an emergency pump for your sump pump system if flooding has been a recurring problem for you over time. If prevention is not possible, then let’s talk about what needs to be done when a flood does occur.

How to Minimize Damage when Flood occurs?

First, you should make sure to turn off the electricity in your home after shutting off the main line and covering any open water sources with sandbags. This is extremely important because it prevents electrical shock hazards and will also prevent additional damage from occurring (such as electrocution or fires). You should also remove all animals and humans from your home for safety reasons.

Once the electricity is shut off, you should contact your insurance company to file a claim ASAP.

Then call a restoration company that will take care of everything for you – including removing any standing water that has accumulated in your basement. The sooner they arrive onsite, the less damage will be done to your property. If there are materials that may have been damaged by the flood waters, make sure they are kept far away from anything flammable or combustible (like gas lines) before cleanup begins. You can also opt to donate damaged items like furniture if it’s not salvageable, but make sure to keep receipts since this is considered casualty loss and can often help lower your tax burden.

If any of the items in your basement are severely damaged, make sure to remove them immediately before mold or other fungi has a chance to begin growing. You should also keep all doors open and fans running throughout the house to ensure that any moisture is removed effectively before you start using your home’s utilities (such as air conditioning) again. Finally, contact all family members and friends to let them know what happened and how they can help if necessary (for example, by taking care of pets while you’re busy with cleanup).

Causes of Basement Flooding

1. Broken pipes, malfunctioning sump pumps, storm surges

2. Water supply lines, lawn irrigation systems

3. Swollen rivers and streams

4. Overflowing lakes and ponds

5. Leaking roofs or gutters

6. Sudden snowmelt

7. Power outages

8. Heavy rainstorms

9. Water main breaks

10. Groundwater seepage

11. Natural disasters

12 Rapid Weather Changes.

How much does it cost to fix a flooded basement?

Depending on the extent of the damage and the materials that need to be used to fix it, flood damage restoration can cost anywhere from $800 – $4000. However, this number is often negotiable with flood cleanup companies since they utilize their own experience and expertise in flood damage repair.

If you want more information about what to do when your basement floods or how much it costs to clean up after a flood, contact a professional water damage restoration company for help.

How do you get rid of mold in a flooded basement?

You can purchase mold removal products at your local hardware store, but it’s important to understand that even the best mold removal product is not able to completely kill all types of mold. It can only prevent their spread and growth by removing the water source.

It’s also recommended to hire a professional restoration company in order to efficiently remove any standing water and to make sure the mold has been completely eliminated. With their tools and knowledge, they can eliminate mold effectively without damaging any of your property in the process.

Can you fix a flooded basement by yourself?

No! Do not attempt to clean up or dry out your damaged basement or any items in it without the assistance of a professional restoration company. This could lead to further damage due to incorrect cleanup methods and will also increase the cost for repair since there’s often several steps that need to be taken when working on this type of project (such as getting rid of the standing water, sanitizing all surfaces and materials, and rebuilding in order to restore normal conditions).

Final remarks

Do not attempt to clean up a flooded basement yourself if you do not have experience with this type of work. Contact a restoration company for help and never try to fix your damaged basement out of pocket in order to save money because in most cases it will only cost you more than if you were to hire a professional from the start. Contact A1 Water Damage Restorations. We have years of expertise in the sector, and our goal is to offer you with the greatest service feasible.

As a result, we wish to provide a secure environment for your house after the damages have been repaired so that it can be restored back to its original condition without any concerns about safety hazards that may have existed before restoration work was completed.

A1 Water Damage Restorations

Address: 2173 S Wabash St, Denver, CO 80231, United States

Phone: +17202966122

If you’re like me, you’ve spent hours and hours trying to figure out how to tell if a drywall is water damaged. I mean it’s not as easy as just looking at the walls right? You can’t always see the damage, which means sometimes people will install new drywall over old water damaged boards thinking they are good as new! But even worse than that is when people don’t know they have water damage until there’s already mold or mildew growing behind their wallboard. Gross! In this article, we’ll walk you step-by-step through how to tell if a drywall is water damaged. And I promise that it will be easy!

What is Water Damage?

Before we get started, let’s talk about water damage in general. When a drywall absorbs too much moisture from the air or from a standing source of water, it experiences water damage. As the boards swell with moisture, they are weakened to where they can no longer support themselves. The most common signs of water damage are bulging walls, popping nails and paint bubbles. But don’t worry if you see any of these signs because we will show you how to tell if a drywall is water damaged below!

Here are the most common signs of water damage to look for:

• Bubbles in the paint – This is a very easy and popular way to tell if a drywall has experienced water damage. It happens a lot with popcorn ceilings because they absorb a lot of moisture from shower steam.

• Sagging walls – If your walls don’t seem to be holding themselves up anymore, this could be a sign of water damage.

• Weak drywall nails – If your drywall nails are popping out of the wall every time you push on them, consider adding more screws around the perimeter. This is another common result from too much moisture in your walls!

• Undersized holes in your wallboard – This usually happens when people attempt to repair drywall that is already damaged. They try patching the hole with new drywall, but it shrinks around the edges creating an ugly gap.

• Mold or mildew in your walls – Yuck! If you’ve discovered mold or mildew growing in your walls this likely means your walls are dry enough to paint, but there’s still some water damage remaining.

• Warped boards – If your boards are buckling or curling up at the edges, you definitely have water damage!

How To Tell If Drywall Is Water Damaged

Luckily for us, it is actually pretty easy to tell if a drywall has experienced water damage. If the drywall is bulging, popping nails or covered in bubbles, it’s likely there was some water damage at one point. But if you want to be 100% sure that your walls are ready for paint, just run these quick tests on them!

Test #1 – Touch Test

This is my personal favorite because it’s so easy! Simply grab a loose piece of drywall and firmly touch both its top and bottom edges. If the board flexes, doesn’t return to shape immediately or feels moist, all of these are signs of water damage.

Test #2 – Peel Test

Grab a corner of a board and pull upward with a slow steady force. If you notice any flakes coming off, or if the board doesn’t feel sturdy, this indicates a potential water damage problem.

Test #3 – Ring Test

The ring test is more of a professional method of discovering water damage because it requires a screwdriver and hammer. 🙂 First use your hammer to poke some small holes in the drywall. Next grab a screwdriver and try to pry a few boards out of the wall. If any board doesn’t immediately pop back into its original position, it’s likely there was water damage!

Test #4 – Flashlight Test

This is another common test that professional drywall finishers use to determine if their walls are ready for paint. Simply hold a flashlight behind a wallboard and look for any shadows on the other side. If you see any, there is likely some water damage left in your drywall that could interfere with paint adhesion later on down the road!

So… What Now?

If you have been able to determine from one of these tests that there is water damage in your drywall, you need to decide what to do with it. It may be tempting to simply paint over the bulging walls, but this is only going to cause more problems down the road! If there’s any chance that your walls are holding some moisture, leave them alone until they have had time to fully dry out.

Waterproofing Drywall: How Does It Work?

In order to properly treat water damaged drywall you have to first figure out what kind of damage it has. Drywall can be repaired from minor water damage, but a complete wetting will require a different approach. If your drywall was wet long enough that there is surface mold or mildew growing on the wall, then chances are the wood has been damaged as well. In this case you will need a different form of treatment before the walls can be painted.

In order to determine if the wood has been damaged from water, simply take a screwdriver and pry a few pieces out of the wall. If any pieces come out without much effort then there is likely significant wood damage that needs to be addressed. To treat any remaining moisture in the wood, simply use a spray bottle with bleach and water solution and saturate the drywall from behind.

After a few days of sitting saturated like this you should notice that the mold or mildew has stopped growing on your walls. If not, then give it another day or two until the solution has had time to work. This isn’t needed for minor water damage, as the bleach should dry out within a day or two.

This being said, if your walls have been wet long enough to cause significant wood damage, then you should really consult a professional before attempting to paint over the affected areas. Before painting, your walls will need to be cleaned and dried out thoroughly by professionals with dehumidifiers. If not, the paint is likely going to peel off within a few months time!

Water Damage Restoration Services

If you have water-damaged drywall or stains, contact A1 Water Damage Restorations. We have years of expertise in the sector, and our goal is to offer you with the greatest service feasible. As a result, we wish to provide a secure environment for your house after the damages have been repaired so that it can be restored back to its original condition without any concerns about safety hazards that may have existed before restoration work was completed.

A1 Water Damage Restorations is 24/ 7 service. Call us today for free estimate or to schedule your same day service cleaning.

Address: 2173 S Wabash St, Denver, CO 80231, United States

Phone: +17202966122

Living near the coast might seem like a dream, and it is. It’s scenic! But there is also evidence that coastal living leads to good health.

If you do live along the coast, however, you are susceptible to hurricanes.  These natural disasters can have serious consequences, so you should take every precaution that keeps your family safe (and sane).  The last thing you want is for a hurricane to ruin the lives of your loved ones.  They aren’t fun and games!  Hurricanes are very scary and destructive storms, and you should do everything in your power to keep yourself safe.  Take the following advice, and never forget:  Be prepared!  Here is a Hurricane Survival and Preparedness Checklist that will help you prepare for the worst but hope for the best:

First things first – know your situation.  If there is a possibility that you might be in the path of a hurricane,  the best thing to do is purchase  a  hurricane survival  kit  and store it somewhere safe.  You should also pick up any important medications and make sure your emergency kit has backup copies of all your important documents (birth certificates, financial documents, etc.).  

Check in with your utility company to see what services will be available if a storm does hit.

What to do BEFORE, AFTER and DURING Hurricane?

 Here is  a  Hurricane Survival  and  Preparedness  Checklist:

BEFORE the Storm Stay updated.

• Know the latest storm projections and obey all official notices about evacuation orders, curfews, etc. Your most important actions will likely take place in the first few hours after a hurricane strike.  
• Make sure you have an emergency kit ready to go at home, in your automobile, and at work.  You should include enough supplies for each person for 3-days with food and water (If possible, have twice as much!)
•  Also have enough first aid supplies and  other  medicines  for the duration of the emergency.  Non-perishable food items that do not require refrigeration are best because they can be taken in an automobile without any special preparation.
• Make sure to stock up on all necessities such as:
• Flashlights,  Batteries  and  Candles  (If you use candles, please don’t leave them unattended!)
• A battery powered radio is also a great way to get updates about the hurricane and receive news concerning local conditions when power is out.  
• Keep your important documents (birth certificates, photographs, etc.) in a safe place off-site  or make sure  they  are  backed  up  in  a  secure  location.
• Fuel up the car and keep it filled with gas at all times. Make sure to include a full tank of gas in your emergency supply kit as well.
• If possible, text your family members and let them know that you are safe, or send a message on Facebook or Twitter if you feel comfortable doing so.   Take pictures of your property when the storm clears out so there is an ‘after’ photo for any insurance claims made later.

AFTER the Storm

• Give your home a visual inspection  to make sure  there  are  no  immediate  safety  issues.  If there are, make necessary repairs quickly.
• Take pictures of your property when the storm clears out so there is an ‘after’ photo for any insurance claims made later.
• Check in with neighbors to see what their needs are and if they need assistance.
• Get back to normal as soon as possible.   Restart utilities (including gas) as quickly as you can once it’s deemed safe to do so by officials and begin clean-up efforts within 24 hours of the storm passing through to prevent mold growth or flood damage from worsening due to standing water.  You should clean and sanitize  your  home  as  soon  as  possible  after the storm.

DURING the Storm Stay inside.

• If there is no safe place to stay due to flooding, then go directly to your designated shelter location identified by officials during an emergency (this may be a local school or other public facility).
• Close all exterior doors and windows including garage doors if you can get them closed.   If you cannot get them closed, cover them with a blanket or mattress to prevent wind from entering through the opening.  Install any window guards at this time if you have not already done so.
• If you have a basement, go downstairs  to  a  small  interior  room. Be sure to avoid rooms with windows and / or unbraced walls.
• Get away from windows – Go to the center of your house on an inner wall if possible.   The National Hurricane Center suggests a 3 foot distance between you and outer walls or glass windows  during high winds for safety purposes.   Do not stand near large furniture items that could be picked up by wind gusts like dressers, tables, couches or beds as they have the tendency to become missiles when hit by flying debris and wind-borne objects during hurricanes while inside buildings.
• Get out of vehicles and move away  from  windows  and  glass  edifices  (i.e.  shopping  malls,  restaurants) as these are likely to shatter and break in high winds.
• Stay away  from  roofs  and  walls  as  damage  can  occur to roofs  if they are too close to the eye of the storm and it is temporarily lifted off of its foundation.  
• For your pets, bring them inside a building or secure your pet in an outdoor kennel if you cannot bring them into your home. Do not try to put animals outside for their safety as this will only increase the risk of injury or death from flying debris and high winds.
• Keep children and pets away from windows during the storm If they cannot leave, cover the windows with a blanket to prevent glass shattering inward if there is a power outage.
• Do not use candles or open any light source that can ignite flammable gases in a hurricane-prone area as this increases your risk of fire damage and injury when high winds occur. Instead  use battery powered flashlights while indoors and avoid cooking appliances like ovens or gas stoves until it is deemed safe to do so by officials once the storm has passed through.  

Calling Professionals to help with Water Damage

If you suspect that your home has been damaged, or if it is flooded and you cannot return to it safely without putting yourself in immediate danger, hire a Professional contractor  to  assess  the  damage  as the experts know exactly what to look for when trying to determine if your home has sustained hurricane damage. Flood damage professionals are equipped with high-tech tools like moisture meters  and infrared cameras  which allow them to analyze storm damage from water leakage more effectively than an untrained homeowner can.  

Once a qualified contractor has examined your home, they can provide you with better storm damage and flood damage restoration estimates which will allow you to make more informed decisions about repairs.

The average American spends more than three quarters of their life inside their home. This means that there are many different types of damages that can be found in your home, and not all of them will be easy to spot. In this blog post, we discuss 10 common damages you must repair in your home as soon as possible!

1. Replace your old, leaky faucet

Your faucet may not be the most exciting thing to talk about, but it’s one of those things that needs constant maintenance. If you haven’t replaced your old leaky faucets in a while or they are showing signs of wear and tear like rusting metal parts or hard-to-use knobs, then now is time to replace them.

2. Fix the squeaky door hinges

Another important thing to keep up on is door hinges. They are often overlooked because they don’t seem like that big of a deal, but without them your front and back doors will creak as you open and close them!

To fix this problem all you need is some oil or lubricant for the squeaky hinge pins. You’ll have those doors opening smoothly in no time!

3. Install a new toilet seat to avoid embarrassing accidents

Have you ever had an embarrassing accident in the bathroom? You don’t want to be the person who has an accident in their pants. It’s not just a problem for children. Adults can have accidents too, and it doesn’t matter if they are male or female. The toilet seat is one of the most common causes of these accidents because it has to be lifted up to sit down on the toilet bowl. If your toilet seat is old, worn out, or broken then there is a good chance that this will happen more often than you would like.

4. Clean out the gutters and downspouts to prevent water from getting into your home

You’ll have to clear out the gutters and downspouts on your house at least twice a year. This will keep water from damaging your home’s exterior, basement, or crawl space!

To avoid this problem in future years all you need is some lumber (a ladder), an old towel for cleaning up any messes that might happen along the way, a few screwdrivers with different size heads, duct tape for securing seams if necessary, and about two hours of time.

The best time to do this chore is after it rains so you can see what needs to be done quickly before things get worse!

5. Fix any cracks in the foundation of your home before they get worse

As a homeowner, you should be aware of any cracks in your foundation. These can lead to bigger problems if left unattended and cause serious structural damage to the home.

To fix these cracks before they get worse, it would probably take two or three hours on one of those days where you’re feeling really motivated! You might need some lumber (a ladder), an old towel for cleaning up messes that may happen along the way, a few screwdrivers with different size heads, duct tape for securing seams if necessary, and about $30-$40 worth of concrete patching material. The best time to do this chore is when it’s dry outside.

6. Replace all your light bulbs with LED lights for energy efficiency and lower power bills

LED light bulbs are the most energy efficient and cost-effective way to replace all of your old incandescent light bulbs. They also last up to 10x longer than traditional light bulbs, so they’ll be around for years after you purchase them. You can even get a rebate from the government!

The best part is that it doesn’t matter if you have an electrician or not – just unscrew one bulb at a time and screw in an LED replacement. It takes less than 5 minutes per room,

7. Replace your front door lock

Replacing your old lock with a new one is not something that should be left undone. A simple lock can make it difficult for burglars to break in, and help you sleep better at night.

There are many types of locks available on the market today – some more expensive than others but all will work just as well if installed correctly by an expert. If your old lock does not match the rest of your door hardware (handle set or hinges) then replacing them both could save you money down the line when repairs become necessary because they’re part of a matching set which would need to be replaced together anyway!

8. Repair a broken window pane

It’s better to replace an entire window pane, but if you can’t do that then just get a glass cutter and measure the size of your old broken window. You can buy replacement panes at any home improvement store so it won’t be hard to find what you need!

9. Check your roof for any damages or leaks

roof damage or leaks should be fixed right away because water can cause a lot of problems in the home. You may not notice any leaks for a while, but eventually it will all catch up to you and you’ll have mold, mildew or even worse!

You might want to think about getting an inspection before buying your new home so that there are no surprises when you move into your new place. For example if someone has had pets on the roof then they could definitely damage your gutters and make them leaky which isn’t good.

10. Check for Termites, especially if you live in an area that’s prone to them.

If you live in or near an area that is susceptible to termites, then I would recommend hiring a pest control company. You can also call the department of agriculture and forestry for information on where they distribute pesticides so you’ll know which ones are safe around children and pets. They often have some really good advice about what type of treatment might be best depending on your specific needs. The industry has come a long way since we used toxic chemicals with DDT!

Nowadays there are many non-toxic treatments that only kill the pests but not other animals, people or plants nearby.

About A1 Water Damage and Restoration, Denver

A1 Water Damage Restorations is a leading flood and damage restoration service in the Denver Metro and Golden Area. We offer integrated damage and disaster recovery services. Our comprehensive services are designed to offer optimum restoration of property, both residential and commercial. With a proven track record of quick response and diligently delivered services, Flood Restoration has evolved as a reliable choice for restoration after the damage caused by water, fire, wind, mold or other catastrophes. We have a team of skilled and trained professionals who handle restoration work with expertise. Our professionals are dedicated to providing smooth and excellent service.

 

Floods are one of the most devastating natural disasters that can happen to your home. If you have a flood, it is important that you act quickly and contact a water restoration company to clean up the mess before mold sets in. Flooded homes need specialized equipment for cleaning because traditional cleaning methods will not work.

Flood damage restoration is very labor intensive. The water must be removed and the home needs to dry out before repairs can take place.

If you are in need of water damage restoration or flood damage repair, we can help. We, A1 Water Damage and Restoration, specialize in water removal and drying out the contents that were damaged by flooding. If there is mold growth due to standing water, we will assess the situation and remove the mold with our state-of-the-art equipment.

What is flood damage restoration

Let’s talk about it in detail. Flood damage restoration is a service that specializes in restoring property after it has been damaged by flooding. It’s important to note, however, that the type of water damage restoration you need may depend on the degree of flood damage present and how quickly it was detected.

The cost for this type of service will vary depending on whether asbestos or mold had even begun to grow as a result from any structural damages caused by floods. This topic can get pretty complicated so let’s focus more on what happens during flood cleanup rather than pricing.

How does water damage restoration differ from flood damage restoration?

The most significant difference between water and flood damage restoration is the cause of the problem. Floods are due to natural causes whereas a leak or plumbing failure may be responsible for your flooded home.

One distinction that can help you identify whether it’s flooding or something else causing these damages, is if there was an accompanying storm when this happened. As with any other type of disaster, clean-up begins as soon as possible so mold doesn’t get a chance to grow in moist environments where they thrive. Mold removal should always happen before structural repairs even take place because improper construction could lead to future leaks and more problems down the line.

There are two different types of water damage restoration specialists: dry out or extraction. Let me explain about it.

 

1. Dry Out Service: The first step of a flood restoration is to dry out and make the home safe. This process can take anywhere from 24 hours to two weeks, depending on how far water has seeped into walls, insulation or electrical wiring. A professional will use dehumidifiers, industrial strength fans and high-powered air movers in order to remove standing water from your property. Once the surface damage has been made habitable again it’s time for repairs.

2. Extraction Services: Extraction services are often used when flooding damages an office building with multiple floors where one section may be flooded but not another part of the same building because of height variations between them. It could also happen if you have different levels in your house or office.

Does Flood and water damage different types of services?

Water damage: Water damages happen when there is water leakage from sinks, showers for bathtubs. Once the flooding has been removed, a professional will use dehumidifiers and industrial strength fans to dry out your property. Then they’ll repair everything that was damaged.

A Flood: When it rains too much in one area for some time and the excess of rainwater overflows into houses…that’s called flood! Floods are more common than water leaks which usually only affect one part of your home at a time. Extraction services can be used if you have different levels in your house or office building where one section may be flooded but not another because of height variations between them.

Water damages are usually less severe than that caused by floods because it doesn’t soak as much floorspace with standing liquid as does a flood. But also more expensive to repair since you need professional help getting rid of mold growth

What damage floods create?

Floods happen when there’s a lot of rain or snow melt in a short period of time. 

-Floods will destroy anything they come across while soaking everything else, even destroying non-porous surfaces like rock and concrete

-Damage to any type of carpet from mud, sand, dirt, oil stains etc., damaged flooring due to oily residue left behind by flood waters

 

What damage does the water leak create?

Water damages occur when pipes leak or burst inside your home. 

-Pipe leaks and floods will destroy anything they come across while soaking everything else, even destroying non-porous surfaces like rock and concrete

-Damage to any type of carpet from mud, sand, dirt, oil stains etc., damaged flooring due to oily residue left behind by flood waters

-Causing extensive structural problems like mold growth and wood rot.

About A1 Water Damage and Restoration, Denver

We provide both flood and water damage restoration service for all types of property and business no matter how big they are. Our company is the most trusted name in Denver, CO when it comes to such kinds of emergencies like leaky pipes, burst pipe under slab foundation repair, sewer backups & overflow as well as storm flooding! We’re always available 24/365 through phone call @ 720-296-6122, online chat and onsite visit so please feel free to contact us anytime. We Provide services to Golden, Aurora, Lakewood, Littleton, Centennial, Parker, Arvada, Westminster, Thornton and Boulder and nearby areas.