First steps in repairing to repair a home after a flood

After a flood, you often have a substantial repair job to get your house back to a livable condition. Here are some tips to get your house back to normal as soon as possible. 

Remove the water quickly

Once you get access to your house it is important to immediately start draining or removing water. The long water stays in any area the more it will soak into the materials and this can increase the chances of causing weakening and structural damage to the home. If the volume of water is too big to remove with mops and absorbents towels then you can hire a water pump and/or floor heater which can start to drive the water out of your home as quickly as possible.

Clean the surfaces that have been in contact with flood water

Flood water brings not only the water but also the top soil and any items that have been sitting on top of the soil when the flooding starts. This material is often biological and can bring with it mold spores and other items that can start to decay in the home. Even small amounts of material that are contained can end up causing mildew and mold as well as leading to rotting in damp items such as towels. This can create a bad odor in the home and lead to health problems such as asthma and allergies. It can be worth using a bleach or antifungal agent to help stop future growth in the house. 

Get a professional assessment of the damage

While some of the flood damage may be immediately obvious, such as sodden carpets or swollen floorboards, but you may also have less visible damage to the house. Before you start repairing the damage it is a good idea to understand all of the jobs that you need to do. If you don't get a full assessment beforehand it is all too easy to get the superficial repairs done, then need to get the same area removed to access deeper damage and end up spending more for the flood repairs overall.

If you have recently had a flood in your home, the first priority is to remove the excess water and clean the home. Once the home is clean and dry you can get a professional repair service to assess the state of the home and help to plan all of the repairs the home will need.