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If water damage is going to occur, it usually starts from the point of entry. In homes with tile or vinyl floors surrounding a kitchen area, the grout lines may become an invading route for water seeping in from cracks or damaged areas in the flooring or sub-flooring. If this is not immediately repaired and water begins to pool up on the floor below, wood rot can soon become an issue as can other types of permanent damage. Hardwood floors are particularly sensitive to moisture exposure so if you find standing water after a flood has passed through your home, act fast to remove it and begin drying procedures right away. Let’s take a look at some of the most common causes…

Will water mess up hardwood floors?

The short answer is yes, but it depends on what caused the water damage in your home. If you have a hardwood floor between your kitchen and the outside patio or porch, there’s a chance that it will be damaged if standing water creates puddles between them. The same holds true for any wood flooring in your house when exposed to too much moisture.

Most of the time though, major problems with flooding are associated with natural disasters like hurricanes, tornadoes, or massive storms that can cause devastating damage to homes. Floods are also often induced by burst pipes or overflow from faulty appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, and even furnaces. When this is the case, sometimes fast action is taken once the waters recede to salvage what can be saved of hardwood floors, cabinets, and other aspects of the home.

Even with quick intervention, however, there are times when it is too late to save wood flooring or similar products. If flooding has occurred in your basement for example, especially over a period of days or weeks with no noticeable cause, you may have an issue on your hands that will require professional restoration services to deal with. There are also cases where severe water damage itself has caused the need for the complete replacement of certain building materials like wallpaper or carpeting instead of simple repairs. When this happens, homeowners often wonder how much all this will cost them so let’s take a look at some related information…

How much does water damage cost?

The average damages caused by flooding in the US are calculated at $7,500 so many people will turn to insurance companies for help with this. Most policies today cover some type of water damage but only if it can be proven that certain conditions were met before the damage occurred.

If you’re dealing with water seepage or leakage during a storm, for example, there’s no guarantee that your home owner’s coverage will apply. Floods, heaving rains and other natural disasters may fall under special policies instead so expect to pay more than average out-of-pocket costs if this is what happened. It is also important not to act too quickly on any repairs yourself since some types of water damage require drywall extractions and others before floors can even be touched. If you attempt to take care of your water problems on your own, you might make things worse and end up with a home filled with toxic mold.

If however, you do have a clear explanation for how water damage occurred, there are many restoration services available that deal with homes in every state. Just be sure to hire an established company that can provide proof of insurance, better pricing options, and the ability to handle all kinds of jobs from start to finish. They may also bring hardwood floor specialists into the picture if they see a need for this type of professional advice at any point during the process.

How much does it cost to repair hardwood floors?

In most cases when the wood is found underneath flooring materials like carpet or vinyl, it is relatively easy to clean and restore. If water damage has caused wood floors to warp or bend, however, replacement may be the only option.

As mentioned before, hardwood flooring services can also save your floors once they have been exposed to water for as short as a few hours as long as the right procedures are followed. The longer you wait though, the more likely it will be that certain parts of your home’s structure will need major renovation instead. This includes carpentry work that would normally involve drywall installation and other steps but now might require additional help from restoration specialists like those found on our site.

Flood damage in the United States is defined by federal law (the 1968 Disaster Relief Act, amended in 1970 and 1988) as damage of any origin sustained by a physical object, structure, or surface when submerged or partially submerged underwater. The key ingredient that defines flood damage is the presence of water—so if your car falls into a swimming pool, it’s not considered flood-damaged even if every mechanical system fails.

Flood damage can be caused by heavy rain, coastal storm surges, melting ice caps, broken dams or levees, powerful rivers expanding their channels through erosion or overtopping their banks—or even tsunamis within lakes formed by dam collapses. Most people think of hurricanes causing floods along coastlines… but torrential downpours in the heart of the continent also result in floods that are just as devastating.

The different kinds of flood damage will be discussed in more detail below… with examples to show how they might affect your particular situation.

What type of flood damage do you have?

If you aren’t sure what kind of flood damage has occurred in your home, car or business, it’s important to find out before taking any action on insurance claims or FEMA assistance applications. Contact a local expert from a reputable water restoration company for an assessment and estimate. They should be able to tell you exactly what kind of flooding happened—and if there was any sewage backup present. In many cases, sewage contamination is worse than the original water flow because sewage contains more of the elements that adversely affect human health… and it must be treated by more advanced, costly equipment.

If your home or business has been flooded from any source, contact a local water damage restoration company immediately for help with eliminating the immediate threats to your property’s safety and health, restoring its value by restoring items to their original condition if possible. Then take steps to minimize chances of repeat incidents in the future—see suggestions below under Preventing Flood Damage. You may also want to read about flood insurance options available for homeowners at Insuring Natural Disasters.

The consequences of flood damage are not taken lightly, so it’s important for you to understand all aspects of this kind of loss… how it might affect you personally… what you’ll need to do if you want to make an insurance claim or FEMA assistance application… and how to avoid flood damage in the future.

Flood Damage Causes…

Water has always been a constant factor on planet Earth—including its atmosphere… oceans, rivers, seas… and all the creatures living within them. That’s why meteorologists can’t explain why some parts of this huge blue marble are getting wetter year by year while other regions are drying out. However, there is no doubt that flooding caused by heavy rainfalls is increasing at both the national and global levels, putting people’s homes and businesses more often than ever before at risk from water-driven disasters.

According to a National Geographic study, “In recent years, global warming has contributed to an increase in the number and magnitude of floods.” The study points out that global warming increases evaporation, resulting in more intense downpours. A warmer atmosphere also means higher maximum temperatures during the summer months—so it’s not surprising to find flooding happening with greater frequency throughout the year… even in wintertime.

Flood Risk Factors

It should come as no surprise that some parts of the world are more prone to flooding than others—and that a great number of those flooded regions have been expanding over recent decades as the population continues to increase. To name just two examples, Florida is among the most vulnerable states in America… and Bangladesh is one of the most flood-prone countries in the world.

According to weather experts, tropical storms are increasing in size and strength because warmer ocean temperatures accelerate evaporation rates, resulting in heavier rainfall amounts when these storms move inland. On top of that factor, global warming affects wind patterns around Earth’s surface. With stronger winds comes an increase in wave height which contributes to faster coastal erosion during tropical storms with higher waves that can lead to risk for coastal communities worldwide.

So you bought a new home and everything was going well. Then one day, or evening rather, it is raining heavily outside and you just come back from work. You walk into the kitchen and notice that your freshly polished concrete is already soaked in water! What happened?

You open your front door to find out not only the floor of the entranceway is wet, but also the hallway leading to your bedroom and even in some cases, in your room itself! Oh no! Your nightmare begins. This is because there was so much rain in such a short period of time that water leaked through all parts of your house soaking almost everything inside. All this mess could have easily been avoided if only you had waterproofed the concrete before polishing it.

What is water damage?

Water damage is when moisture/water gets into your home, office, or building causing it to deteriorate. It also brings in unwanted guests like molds which can cause illnesses to the people living in that space. This happens because not all the walls are properly waterproofed and cracks have appeared, letting water in.

So why should you waterproof concrete before polishing?

Concrete is porous in nature so when left untreated, it will easily absorb whatever it comes in contact with including water. Water mixed concrete results in a higher chance of having cracks on your floor which would then lead to leaks. Leaks are the reason for most instances of water damage which cause permanent harm to your property if neglected.

Should you water fresh concrete?

It is not advisable to water fresh concrete for at least 3 days. However, it really depends on the mix design and its compressive strength. Also, the curing method and weather conditions should be considered in order to ensure that there’s no risk of ‘rainout.’

If you absolutely must water your freshly poured concrete, then wait 48 hours after finishing the pour before completing any kind of surface finishing work such as brushing or polishing. If you want to add color to your concrete flooring, then add only 5 percent by volume of thin-set or curing compound when you add water during watering-in procedures. This will help prevent potholes but don’t expect a lot of color depth contribution from the thin-set if using darker colors; we recommend using a color hardener for deep color contribution.

Only water your freshly poured co-concrete if absolutely necessary, like seepage of water up to 2 feet (0.6 meters). If there are excessive rains before the curing process is completed, you have no other choice but to air-dry the concrete by covering it with plastic or tarps that allow for maximum airflow. You can also use fans to speed up the evaporation process if you don’t want to cover the entire area being air-dried. However, not everyone has this luxury so be sure not to pour concrete during rainy seasons if possible.

Is it OK to rain on new concrete?

No, never. You should not pour concrete if it is raining heavily. The reason for this is that rainwater contains high levels of calcium which reacts with the cement paste and forms gypsum within 24 hours of exposure to water (wet curing). Gypsum is white or pink, with powdery spots on your concrete’s surface.

Please watch out for these signs during the pouring process to avoid water damage:

Excessive steam coming out of moist concrete Does not cure evenly even after 2 weeks Water oozes up from porous areas of the newly poured floor

Contact a water damage restoration professional immediately if your home/office has experienced flooding because it will be much more difficult to remove excess moisture in places that have been flooded. Flooded surfaces are very fragile because of the pressure exerted by the accumulated volume of water.

Please be safe and protect your home/office from any type of damage! Follow these tips to avoid water damage in concrete structures.

Does homeowner’s insurance cover water damage in the house? Insurance does not cover any damage caused by leaking water, but there are ways to make a claim.

How can homeowner insurance be used to address a flooding issue? The most obvious way is through the standard homeowner’s policy coverage of fire and lighting. In this case, you would probably have been able to get reimbursement from your home insurer if the lightning caused a short circuit in your TV or air conditioner that produced smoke and sparks. However, even though it may be possible for you to file a claim against your homeowner’s policy for damage due to water seepage, many companies will refuse payment because they believe that this kind of situation falls into the realm of “water damage.”

What should I do if my house floods? You should Call a Restoration Company and always contact your home insurance agent or company as soon as possible after the water damage occurs. Make sure to take pictures of everything. Also, don’t dispose of any damaged items until you have received authorization from the insurer.

Can water seepage be covered under a homeowner’s policy?

The simple answer: No, it cannot. Most companies will not provide coverage for any kind of water-related claim under a standard homeowners policy (including claims that pertain to flooding and sewer back-ups). It is possible, however, to make a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy for fire and lightning if faulty electrical wiring causes a short circuit which leads to smoke and sparks – this falls within most companies’ interpretation of “fire.”

What is covered by homeowners insurance?

Homeowner’s policies typically provide coverage for fire, lightning, vandalism, and theft. However, water damage caused by flooding or leaks is not typically covered under a standard homeowner’s policy.

Can the leakage be recovered from the homeowner’s insurance company? There are some circumstances where this might be possible if you have an extremely good relationship with your insurer–and they believe that the leakage was due to bad workmanship on your part. You will need to put together a detailed presentation that shows what happened, when it happened and why it happened. Be prepared to sign any necessary waivers and release forms as well as pay any associated deductible or claim fees.

Is water leak damage covered by home insurance?

Water damage caused by a broken pipe or damaged water heater is typically covered under a standard home insurance policy. However, the cost of making repairs to your foundation will not be paid for by your insurer – this is considered a pre-existing condition and is excluded from most insurance contracts.

Does my home insurance cover mold?

You cannot recover damages for “mold” in your house under any circumstances if you have standard homeowner’s insurance. That said, there are some instances where you can receive compensation if there is an issue with the ventilation in your heating and cooling system.

Can my homeowner’s insurance company deny me coverage for flood damage due to an overflowing stream? No, most companies will not provide coverage for any type of water-related claim under a standard homeowners policy (including claims that pertain to flooding and sewer back-ups). If you do file a claim against your homeowner’s insurance policy, make sure that you put together a detailed presentation that shows what happened, when it happened and why it happened. Be prepared to sign any necessary waivers and release forms as well as pay any associated deductible or claim fees. 

When does my home insurance cover structural damage?

The same answer applies as above: Water damage caused by seepage is typically excluded from the terms of most standard homeowner’s policies.

What can I do if my home floods? You should always take the steps necessary to prevent water damage when you experience flooding. These can include:

·  Draining your home’s internal plumbing system by shutting off the electricity or gas supply in order to avoid electrical shock

·  Cleaning up any standing water found in your basement, garage, or other areas of your house that may become contaminated with hazardous materials (such as oil or gasoline)

·  Covering exposed surfaces with waterproof cloths to reduce future damage–this includes walls and floors; NOTE: Do not attempt to dry out wet carpeting, papers, or books yourself since they are likely to be susceptible to mold growth if they remain wet for too long. You should always contact a restoration company like us instead

House fires are always scary for homeowners, but did you know that your home can suffer water damage in many different ways? Water damage is the leading cause of building mold. The last thing on your mind when thinking about mold is probably fire damage, which is why it’s important to understand the facts about what caused the water damage and how this plays a role in fixing the problem.

Water Damage from Home Fires

In worst-case scenarios, your home suffers from both water and fire damage. This could be from a burst pipe or because firefighters had to use hoses to put out the flames. In either case, there will likely be significant structural damages to your home as well as extensive smoke and soot contamination. It’s essential to have knowledgeable experts assess the damage as soon as possible, preferably within 48-24 hours. Knowing whether or not your home suffered water and fire damage can help speed up the cleanup process and ultimately lead to a more effective solution for restoring your home.

Water Damage from Burst Pipes

A leaky pipe can cause significant structural damage in addition to needing assessments of electrical hazards. Depending on where the burst pipe is located inside your house, it could potentially destroy flooring, cabinets, and even ceiling tiles. To prevent this problem from occurring again, you’ll want to consider having emergency plumbing services fix or replace whichever part of your house’s system caused the burst pipe. They will be able to determine if it was an easy fix such as replacing a section of piping that corroded or if you need a total rehaul of your home’s plumbing system.

Water Damage from Sewage Backups

It’s not just burst pipes that can cause water damage. Unfortunately, sewage back-ups are another common form of water damage that happens inside homes. This is very harmful as fire or mold, sewage leakage can be dangerous because the waste will spread through your entire home until it gets cleaned up. If you have damages caused by sewage backup, make sure to schedule an appointment with professional mitigation services right after they inspect the area for safety purposes. They’ll be able to remove any existing wastes and sanitize the property before they make repairs to prevent future problems.

How much water damage is too much?

No matter how much water you think has entered your home, we recommend that homeowners always seek help from the pros. It’s their job to know what is and isn’t a safe amount of exposure to mold and other harmful contaminants like bacteria and viruses. While some leaks may not appear as severe as others, it can still be dangerous for those who suffer from asthma or weakened immune systems due to health problems such as cancer treatments, diabetes, and advanced age.

When you schedule an appointment with professional mitigation services, they’ll be able to inspect your home before they provide a solution for fixing your damaged property. This way you’re fully aware of just how extensive the repairs will be before any work starts. 

Even if you don’t have fire damage, water can still cause extensive structural problems for your home. Mold is a common outcome of all types of water damage that flood homes with moisture and humidity, which are just two components needed for mold spores to thrive. This is the reason why it’s essential to have professional mitigation services inspect all areas affected by floodwaters no matter how big or small the problem may seem. 

How long does it take for water damage to show?

It’s possible for you to see some types of water damage within a short period of time. For instance, burst pipes can appear almost immediately if leaking. It can even cause serious damage to your home if the water spreads to different areas and creates larger puddles that soak through walls or floors.

On the other hand, it might take a few days before you notice mold growth from water damage. Mold requires a humidity level % of 60 to grow, so keep an eye out for humidity meters when inspecting your property. While most professional mitigation services will usually have these devices on-hand during their repairs, make sure you do what you can at home as well by running fans throughout your property and turning on all available ventilation systems to reduce humidity levels as much as possible.

How quickly do professional mitigation services work?

When there’s water damage in your home, you can’t waste any time before having it examined by a pro. The sooner they’re able to access the problem, the better because you’ll avoid costly damages that will impact both your wallet and schedule. many professionals are available 24/7 for emergencies, If this happens, look for ways to turn off all of your property’s water systems so no more harm is done until someone gets there. By keeping all doors leading into wet areas closed and cutting off switches that control electricity near the water, you can prevent any further problems from occurring.

After they’re done inspecting your home, they will work on ensuring that the area is safe for you to return to before starting repairs. If you are unable to stay at home while this process is taking place, then it’s recommended that you arrange alternative living arrangements for yourself and your family in case anything goes wrong when working with wet materials. Sometimes mold can start showing up soon after cleanup even if all precautions were taken during the mitigation process because of how quickly it spreads throughout homes in damp areas where moisture lingers.