Residential and commercial Water Damage

Old North State Restoration follows the IICRC S500 Standard for Professional Water Damage Restoration Fourth Edition

Repairing a water damaged property involves a process starting with a thorough inspection of the damage to the replacement of flooring, walls, and ceilings.

Step 1: Inspection – Each inspection determines a class and category of water damage. Defining the class and category of water damage helps outline the best means to restore the property. We will determine what the dry standard of each affected material is by taking a moisture reading of it in an unaffected area. This will define our drying goals. The property is evaluated for health hazards such as mold, asbestos, and lead paint that may need to be addressed. 

Classes of Water Damage

• Class 1 damage involves part of a room that has absorbed little moisture. It’s the least level of damage. Less than 5% of combined floor, wall, and ceiling are wet
• Class 2 damage has affected an entire room and has absorbed into carpeting and walls floor, 5% to 40% of combined wall, floors and ceiling are wet. 
• Class 3 damage has absorbed up into the walls, saturated most of the area, and may have come through the ceiling. Class 3 damage is considered the worst. More than 40% of combined floor, wall, and ceiling are wet
• Class 4 damage requires specialty drying due damage done to materials such as hardwood, stone, and concrete. Deeply held or bound water.

Categories of Water Damage

• Category 1 involves damage from a clean water source such as toilet tanks, broken pipes supplying clean water. Category 1 water damage can degrade into Category 2 or 3 if it sits too long.
• Category 2 involves damage from “grey water,” such as washing machine or dishwasher water containing detergents. It may also involve water containing urine from toilet overflows.
• Category 3 involves completely unsanitary water that can easily cause illness, disease, or death. Category 3 water comes from sewage, river flooding, and standing water that has begun growing bacteria and other microbes.
• Step 2: Water Removal and Demolition– Pumps and vacuums are used to remove water from a property. The type of equipment needed depends on the extent of the water damage. Water removal begins as soon as possible to prevent mold and bacteria growth. Non-salvageable materials such as furniture stained or delaminated carpeting, laminate flooring, or buckled hardwood flooring may be removed. Other demolition may be required to target air flow and dehumidification to void spaces such as insulated exterior walls, space under a bathtub, or under a staircase riser.
• Step 3: Drying – After all standing water and absorbent surfaces are vacuumed, drying and dehumidification begins. This step is important to clear up any remaining moisture after water removal. The process is documented by photos and moisture readings on a daily basis until the drying goals have been achieved. 
• Step 4: Cleaning – All affected salvageable personal belongings need to be cleaned and sanitized to prevent unwanted mold and bacterial growth. Carpeting, clothing, and drapery may be treated. Air scrubbers may also be used to remove particles from the air.
• Step 5: Restoration – The biggest step in the process is restoration. Restoration involves replacing materials removed or damaged by the water loss. A job may be as simple as replacing some drywall and painting. Larger losses may include replacing flooring, baseboards cabinets, ductwork, and insulation. The project manager will coordinate with the insurance company, homeowner and our sub-contractors to return the property back to a pre-loss condition as soon as possible. Routine water jobs take from a few weeks to a few months based on complexity and materials involved.

Acting Fast

• Whether a property has been flooded by broken pipes or a leaky roof, it’s important to remove all contaminated and non-salvageable wet materials in the property as soon as possible.
• Taking these materials out of a home reduces the ability of dangerous microorganisms to multiply and spread. Removing contaminated materials improves air quality in the home and makes the restoration process easier.