Water damage is one of the most serious things which can happen to your home. To ensure that you will act in the fastest way possible, you need to have a clear idea of what has to be done exactly for your house to be restored. Here is a brief guide to the different types of water damage and the methods for remediating them. Make full use of it to protect your home.Types of Damage Based on CategoryClean water damage occurs when the water is clear and does not contain contaminants. In this case, the water usually comes from a burst pipe. Even though the health hazard for people is practically non-existent, you must act immediately to dry the flooded area or mold can grow quickly.Grey water is an indicator of slight contamination with microbes. It may come from the washing machine or from the toilet bowl. Cleaning should begin immediately provided that cleaners wear protective gloves, masks and goggles.Black water is heavily contaminated by all kinds of dangerous microorganisms and possibly chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides. Black water flooding usually occurs in case of a natural disaster or serious damage to the sewage system. This type of water damage must be handled by professionals only as it is extremely hazardous.Levels of Water DamageClass 1 destruction is when there is a small amount of moisture within a restricted area. Usually, only porous materials such as plywood are affected. As long as the area is dried quickly, only minor water damage repair will be necessary.Class 2 destruction is present when the water has affected the entire room and has reached a level of twelve inches or higher. It has penetrated various structural materials, but not too deeply. In this case, the repair can involve removing wet sections of damaged materials like drywall and filling the holes with special sealant. This method has the best chances of working when the drying is quick.Class 3 water destruction is when the walls, ceilings and floors along with the carpet and insulation are saturated with water. Professional inspection is necessary to determine if the house can be salvaged, which is most often the case, what kind of repair is needed and how much it will cost. The solution typically involves replacing the flooring, the wall and ceiling drywall panels and the insulation.Class 4 destruction is when the water has saturated even non-porous materials such as stone. The most serious type of water damage typically occurs when the house has not been dried quickly. It is worth noting that sometimes the delay is due to technical reasons such as uncertainty whether the structure is safe enough for the restoration crew to get in. Again, expert inspection is required for determining if and how the house can be saved. If the foundation is mostly still intact, for example, repair may be an effective solution.Is there a way to prevent water damage? Proper house maintenance is essential. While an insurance cover for flood may not be a prevention method, it will help you deal with the consequences of the disaster.
