Flood Restoration Basics: What You Need to Know

Water can do a devastating amount of damage very quickly—the average homeowner’s claim for water-related damage is upwards of $10,000! Unfortunately, many homeowners make mistakes during the flood restoration process that leads to even costlier repairs.

The experts at Matrix Mitigation Services, a leading water damage restoration company serving all Northeast Georgia, aims to help homeowners minimize water damage by understanding it. Below, they provide an overview of flood restoration basics.

Flood Restoration Basics: What You Need to Know

What Is Flood Restoration?

Flood restoration is the practice of removing water from a property and repairing any damage. It also serves to reduce humidity back to safe levels and prevent secondary damage, such as mold or mildew growth.

Flood restoration is an involved process that requires advanced equipment to perform properly. It begins with mitigation to prevent further damage and then moves to removal, drying, disinfection, repairs, and other restoration tasks.

Types of Flood Water

The flood restoration process is directly affected by the type of water involved and the contaminants it may contain. Flood water can be classified in one of three ways:

• Category 1 – Clean: Category 1 floods involve mostly clean drinking water and may come from facets and water supply lines.
• Category 2 – Grey: Category 2 floods involve potentially contaminated water that could cause illness or discomfort. Greywater often includes “used” water and may come from drains or appliances.
• Category 3 – Black: Blackwater is the most dangerous type of floodwater and involves unsanitary water that may contain harmful pathogens. Blackwater comes from backed-up sewage and floodwaters.

Keep in mind that these categories refer to the danger of the water, not the extent of flood damage. Even clean water can cause significant water damage.

Flood Classes 

Experts divide flood damage into classes based on the total amount of damage they cause:

• Class 1 floods cause the least amount of damage and only impact a single room. Materials in the affected space absorb little to no moisture.
• Class 2 floods involve damage to the carpet and pad with water levels up to 24 inches on the wall.
• Class 3 flood damage involves significant damage from water absorption and affects all the walls, insulation, and subflooring of the room.
• Class 4 water damage describes situations that require more drying time and special water removal methods. 

Common Causes of Water Damage

Many things can cause water damage, but some of the most common causes of residential water damage include:

• Blocked or clogged drains
• Broken pipes or sewer lines
• Natural disasters/flooding

Depending on the cause, damage may be minor to severe. Either way, it’s important to call a professional quickly so they can mitigate the worst of the damage and start working on repairs.

What to Expect from Water Damage Restoration Services

Water damage always presents differently, and so every restoration project is also different. Depending on the nature and scope of the damage, a water damage restoration company may:

• Dry surfaces with large fans and vacuums
• Use advanced tools to detect hidden moisture
• Fix damaged flooring, walls, and insulation
• Disinfect affected areas and remove mold
• Reclaim possessions that the water damaged

Some water damage restoration companies will also help with the insurance claims process to help speed things along.

About Matrix Mitigation Services

Matrix Mitigation provides 24-hour emergency flood restoration services across Northeast Georgia, including inspections, water removal, and restoration. Their experts specialize in fast, effective, and safe water damage restoration and have experience working with all major insurance companies.

Contact Matrix Mitigation today at (855) 541-1010 or follow them on Facebook for more helpful water damage restoration tips.