Acting Fast After Water Damage Water Timeline

6/3/2019 (Permalink)

The longer you wait, the more damage is done.

It's important to act fast after you experience water damage in order to keep secondary damage to a minimum.

 Within Minutes of the damage: Water quickly spreads throughout your property, saturating everything in its path and water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and your belongings. Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets. Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.

The First 24 hours: Affected drywall begins to swell and break down. Metal surfaces affected most likely will begin to tarnish. Furniture begins to swell and crack. Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain. A musty odor can appear.

Within The First Week: Mold and mildew most likely will grow and spread. Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp. Metal begins to rust and corrode. Furniture warps and shows signs of mold. Paint begins to blister. Wood flooring swells and warps. Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week: Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive. Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants

The longer you wait, the more damage will occur, which becomes more costly.