If you have a leak in the roof that is causing water to come into the house, the first thing you need to do is prevent any problems from spreading to the interior. Use buckets and cans to collect water from a leak to avoid damage to the flooring and walls. Do your best to determine that you are in fact dealing with a roof leak instead of a pipe issue up in the attic. This way, you know just who to call to have the problem fixed as soon as possible.
Door Installation/Replacement
The doors and windows of a house also can create significant energy losses. An auditor will check the state of the doors and windows to ensure that they're sealing properly when shut. Likewise, they'll verify that the doors and windows operate well enough to provide insulation value. Many audits also include infrared scans to see where air may be leaking in or out of the house.
Drywalls
It may not be possible to save some of the materials in your home if they have soaked up water. Drywall for instance, is very porous and it absorbs water very well. It's also hard to dry out once it's wet. It's quicker and easier just to cut out the wet portion of drywall and replace it with new drywall once your home is dry. Upholstery may be a problem too. Setting your couch in the sun can speed drying and discourage the growth of mold. However, if your couch was soaked, it may be better to throw it out and get a new one. You have to be especially careful with carpeting. It may seem dry on the top and look okay, but if the pad underneath it stays damp for very long, mold will grow unseen. The mold could give your home a bad odor and irritate your allergies. Your contractor can help you decide which items are best to discard rather than save.
Carpeting
As long as there is standing water in your home, the humidity will be higher than normal. This creates the perfect environment for the growth of mold. After flooded water has been removed with a wet-vac, your floor needs to be thoroughly dried out. If your carpet is soaked down to the pad, it may need to be removed completely. There's a chance water has pooled under flooring and behind walls. A water damage contractor can bring in commercial water extraction equipment to pull water out of fabric, from behind walls, and out of carpeting.
In some areas, good landscaping design is important for fire protection. In dry climates or areas that are vulnerable to wildfires, you want to make sure that your landscaping is designed with a buffer-zone that helps to stop wildfires before they get to your home and cause damage. Keep plantlife minimal and spread out and use hardscaping to add attractive fire breaks to your landscaping design.
Driveways
Irrigation Systems
There are some areas of your home that may be more vulnerable to fires and should have the appropriate sprinkler systems installed. The first area where you may want to have a fire sprinkler system installed in your home is the kitchen. You want to have sprinkler systems installed in other areas to ensure that your home is protected and that there is a safe escape route if there ever is a fire.
This is the first process you should deal with. Mitigation is aimed at stopping the water, preventing more damage, and cleaning up. When a company comes to your house for water mitigation, they will look at the damage and create a plan of action. That plan will include what the mitigation service will do to get any standing water out of your house, dry your house out, and keep more damage from happening. The mitigation service can also help to make sure that your house is secure. That includes doing things like covering windows and doors so no one can get into your house. The service techs will also separate the salvageable from the unsalvageable. As they do that, they can clean up anything salvageable.
Gutters
Inspect and routinely clean your gutters. Clogged gutters will force water that builds up to go down the side of your home, which can damage the foundation.
Siding
The exterior finishes of your home can be more vulnerable to damage due to fire. You want to consider updating them if you live in an area that is vulnerable to wildfires or adjacent buildings that are too close for comfort. More fire-resistant materials like metal siding are a great solution for homes that are more vulnerable to fires. More fire-resistant materials inside for interior design can also help reduce the risk of fire.
Residential Roof Repair
Any part of your home is susceptible to water damage, but the roof is especially susceptible due to its location. Also, water-related problems with the roof can very quickly lead to water damage in other parts of your home. You should be well-versed on your roof and water damage if you want to stand a good chance of preventing water damage, spotting water damage, and knowing what to do if you end up with water damage on your roof. Here is a guide on roofing water damage that you should read as a homeowner.
Residential Roof Replacement/Installation
Using Professional Roof Installation Services For Your House - Home Damage Guide: Do's and Dont's For Emergency Situations
Passive technologies often yield the best dollar-for-dollar savings in a home energy audit. Consequently, the state of the insulation in a house matters. The auditor will check what insulation is present and how well it covers problematic areas. For example, they'll check the upper-story ceiling to see if it has sufficient insulation to prevent energy losses through the attic and roof. An auditor may also recommend removing the existing insulation and replacing it with a product that offers better insulating value.
Caulking
If you are continually fighting mold growth on the caulking in your bathroom, then the only way to be rid of it is to cut it out and replace it. It's nearly impossible to remove all of the mold spores from the caulking and cleaning it with bleach will temporarily kill off most of it, but then it will just regrow from the spores left behind. The only way to truly get rid of the problem is with new caulking.