Dealing With Category 3 Water Damage

8/16/2021 (Permalink)

The bathrooms in your commercial building in Washington, NC, need the labor of licensed and insured professionals.

Bathrooms in commercial facilities often experience more use than a traditional bathroom in a house. The increased activity can result in several common problems, including toilet overflow and category three flood water.

The removal process for such damage is risky, requiring the skilled labor of licensed and insured professionals. The team you hire will likely take a three-step approach to flood recovery:

• Remove excess water
• Disinfect the area and discard items
• Restore the facility

Dealing With the Immediate Problem

The primary concern is the removal of wastewater. However, if the flooding has not stopped, the team of removal specialists will need to find the source.

Once the primary issue is resolved, the crew can begin removing the black water from the facility. This is a job best left to professionals, and in many areas, the state requires it.

The team of professionals understands the risks of working with contaminated water. They will take every precaution to protect themselves and the people in the immediate vicinity, including those living in surrounding areas. You cannot simply dump wastewater outside or into a nearby sewer. There are protocols every mitigation professional must follow.

Disinfect, Discard, and Dry

After all excess flood water is removed, the company you hire can start the cleanup. Any items that touched the water will be discarded. It is doubtful that anything within the flood zone can or should be salvaged.

The team of mitigation experts will also start cleaning the space using disinfectants and deodorizers. Do not be alarmed when your facility begins to look worse. The mitigation company will likely remove portions of the wall and other building materials to eliminate the risk of spreading contamination.

The company you hire will also focus on drying the space. It will likely use fans, dehumidifiers, and air movers to help speed up the drying time.
Restoration

Once the facility is dry and sanitized, the restoration company will focus on rebuilding the property. The initial core focus will be on any structural repairs. Once the structure is sound, the company will replace drywall and flooring and make any other cosmetic repairs.

The goal of restoration is to make the facility appear as before. By using a reputable company, you will not be able to tell the difference between the building's pre-disaster and the repaired structure. The results should be seamless, allowing business owners to return to operations with total confidence.

Category three flood water is nothing to play around with. It is destructive and highly contaminated, and it presents a significant risk to people. While many business owners often prefer DIY approaches, such approaches are not possible and are ill-advised when dealing with black water. It is better to work with a restoration specialist with the appropriate knowledge and skills to handle the situation safely.