It is an unfortunate reality that many people underestimate the potential damage that water can cause even with a limited exposure time. Chemistry teaches that water can be either a base or an acid depending on environmental factors, which means that in highly acidic environments, the water acts as the base and in environments with low pH, the water is slightly acidic. The mutable nature of water allows water to carve through solid rock to create beautiful natural wonders, but this same ability can also destroy drywall, plumbing materials, and other common building materials. This point, however, is often forgotten when people are faced with water damage.
When it comes to water damage, many people just focus on the top layer of water and forget to do anything about the layers of water that have penetrated the subfloor or been absorbed by the drywall (also known as paneling). plasterboard and plasterboard) and sill plates that are usually due for double hitting that they do not understand the risks and do not have the proper extraction equipment. Wikipedia reports that gypsum board “is easily damaged by exposure to water” and “encourages mold growth.” While gypsum board is treated to make it more waterproof, if the gypsum board is punctured or if water, as in the case of water damage, collects around the unprotected area of the gypsum board, the Porous gypsum board will easily absorb and hold water. The longer this absorbed water remains inside the plasterboard, the more damage it will cause.
Unlike fire damage that leaves a visible and generally static damage path, water damage can be subtle and can manifest its destruction over a period of time. As opposed to the immediate destruction caused by fire, water, similar in many ways to stress, can slowly wear down the host until it requires extensive repair at a MUCH higher cost and over a MUCH larger area than would otherwise have been expected. required initial exposure. To treat. The subtle nature of water is what causes water damage to be regularly underestimated and therefore underestimated in real world case scenarios.
Unfortunately, despite the best intentions and valiant efforts of many honorable do-it-yourselfers, their efforts are in vain as they simply lack the necessary equipment for remediation and such equipment is not commonly available at your local rental store. At best, these individuals may have access to a commercial carpet cleaner that can effectively remove the top layer of water, but does little to penetrate the subfloor or remove absorbed water, so they will stop when the area feels dry and will leave a fan running. This method is very similar to the method employed by remediation professionals in the infancy of the water restoration profession, but it was soon sent to the pasture as it was quickly shown to be ineffective, at best, and a catalyst for decay and mold growth, in the worst case. .
The best way to combat water damage and prevent short-term and long-term devastation caused by water damage is to call a professional water damage restoration company as soon as the damage is detected. While the honorable DIYer will have a relentless urge to break down their equipment and help the professional water damage restoration company, the best way a DIYer could help the company is by disabling the source of the damage caused by the water (if possible), ensuring that the area is free of electrical hazards and that the affected area is free of debris and physical hazards (if possible) so that professionals can extract the water as quickly as possible to minimize time restoration.
The right time is essential for the fastest restoration. Now you know.