Call for Free ConsultationOver the weekend, we were called by the property manager of a commercial building. He told us that an employee had come into the office to do some work and discovered that the toilet had overflowed and 4 to 5 offices had been flooded. It sounded like the water had been running for quite a while. The property manager was looking for a free estimate so he could determine what cost to expect to extract the water.
What he didn’t realize is that the water had not only soaked the floors, but the walls too. How does this happen? Drywall is absorbent because its sides are covered in a paper similar to cardboard. The core of drywall is gypsum and because of how porous drywall is, it can soak up the wall two feet or more. Lets say the water was extracted from the wet carpet and it appeared that the walls were only a tiny bit wet. What you can’t see inside the wall is trapped moisture that cannot evaporate. If there is insulation within the walls, that’s all the more reason to be concerned. Not only is the R-value of wet insulation compromised, it is a breeding ground for mold and it can lead to a whole host of airborne illnesses and structural damage.
As mentioned, this property was a commercial buiding where many people work and where customers visit every day. What was evident was that the water needed to be cleaned up from the floor. What wasn’t evident was the potential for future problems and possible airborne illnesses. Blowers, dehumidifiers, air scrubbers and all the necessary tools were provided by the water damage technician with recommendations for preventing mold and mildew growth. The property manager was grateful he called Best Quality Restoration for the technician’s expertise and this reflected on his relationship with the building owner.