How To Rebuild After A Flooded Apartment? - The Ultimate Guide
The first thing most homeowners jump to thinking about after a flooded apartment is getting their house back to looking good. They start planning the redecoration of the space rather than restoring damage, which should really be the top priority. It's not just a matter of re-painting, replacing carpets, and removing water- your first step should be to make your home safe again. Whether you are dealing with leaking appliances, broken pipes, or even water damage after a fire, they can all cause major issues.
You have no time to waste when dealing with water damage repairs because mold can start developing in as little as 24 hours. Water creates the perfect environment for poor indoor air quality, as well as a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and viruses. If flood restoration isn't done right away the contamination can affect your home's structural integrity, not to mention your family’s health.
Living in an apartment usually means you will need to do minimal property maintenance yourself. One area where liability and responsibility can be confusing is water damage. It can be a tough issue to navigate, from determining fault to knowing what problems are covered by insurance. We will cover all you need to know about cleaning your house from floodwaters, getting the right insurance, and preventing water damage in your home, in this article.
Actions To Take After A Flooded Apartment
There are several things you can do to stay safe in your home after flooding and water damage. Be mindful of items that were in touch with flood water as well as air quality, since both can affect your health. This can help safeguard you from injuries and bacteria. You will want to find a contractor that has plenty of experience restoring water-damaged homes. A good contractor with lots of experience in apartment renovation NYC after flooding will simplify the process and take some stress off you in what already is a difficult time.
1.Assess The Damage
Begin by documenting the flood damage with pics and video for when you file an insurance claim. Contact your insurance company or companies to start your claim promptly. Your homeowner's insurance doesn't cover the water damage in case the house floods. A homeowners policy should cover other storm damage to your siding and roof.
2. Do The Cleaning
Next, you will want to clean your apartment and be sure to wear protective clothing such as rubber boots and gloves when you re-enter your home. Turn off the power if it's safe to do so. You should have your cooling and heating systems as well as outlets checked by a specialist as well, in case they have been damaged by floodwaters.
3. Remove The Rubble
All damaged flooring (Including tiling, carpeting, laminate, and hardwood) should be ripped out, as well as the subfloor. Carpets can serve as a food source for mold and their subflooring will be wood or wood composite, which is also sure to be soaked through. Your best bet is to get rid of it all and replace it.
4. Dry It Out
Most walls are made out of drywall and studs, and both of these will grow mold if there is moisture so your contractor will need to open up your walls so they can dry out completely. Unless your contractor removes at least 1 foot of drywall above water level, all the way down to the floor, you will get mildew and mold. This can also lead to poor air quality and further damage to your home's structure from rot. You’ll want to be extra careful cleaning out your modern kitchens since cabinetry can hold a lot of damage.
5. Double-check For Damage
Be sure to check drawers and other parts of your home for standing water. The base of your kitchen cabinets behind the toe kick may trap and hide some standing water, make sure to check here during your kitchen renovation NYC. However, it may also have water trapped in the base, If you have a kitchen island. You can drill openings in the base of the toe kick to release any trapped water and get air circulating. After your contractor removes all the insulation and drywall the cavity will need to stay open so it can fully dry out. This can take weeks.
6. Sanitize Everything
Get a broom and a shop vac and clean everything out completely. You can hose down the solid surfaces with clean water to help wash down growing bacteria. But don’t use power washing or get the leftover drywall wet. Once everything is fairly dry, you’ll need to use a sanitizer to kill the bacteria.
7. Secure Your Home
Debate methods to secure your home from water damage in the future and prepare a home emergency kit. It’s always a good idea to utilize flood-proofing materials and techniques. You should evaluate your flood insurance to guarantee you have suitable coverage and understand how flood insurance works.
8. Test Air Quality
Lastly, you should have an air test inside your home to check its quality and find out if it matches outdoor conditions and if is it safe to come back. You don’t want to risk coming back into your home too early and putting your health in danger. There is a multitude of health hazards associated with flood water damage, and we are sure you want to avoid any and all of them.
Rebuilding After Apartment Flood FAQ
How To Clean A Flooded Apartment?
If the water is clean, like from a washing machine or heater, affected areas are much less concerning and pose little risk of becoming bio-hazardous. If the water is black, like sewage, anything it touches will immediately become a potential bio-hazard. With this type of water damage, the home will require decontamination.
How Long Does It Take To Fix A Flooded Apartment?
The time that water damage repairs take to complete will depend on how severe the ruin is and how long the affected material takes to dry out. If you are dealing with a single room, or maybe two, it will most likely take 72 hours to a month for dry out plus another 1-2 weeks to repair all of the affected areas. It's very hard to estimate how long the drying time will take, some may last as little as two days, others a few weeks, but on average it will take about 5 days.
What To Do When Your Apartment Floods?
You are probably wondering what to do after apartment floods. Take the actions below and check our kitchen remodel steps to take all the worry out of the equation.
1. Check Damage
2. Deal With Insurance
3. Dry It All Out
4. Start The Demo
5. Clean And Sanitize
How Long Does It Take For Water To Damage Walls?
Floodwaters within 1 to 24 hours will bulge and break drywall, swell and crack furniture, and metal surfaces will start to tarnish. Within 48h up to 7 days, the damage will compound. Mildew and mold inside your home will experience growth and spread. Doors, flooring, and windows will swell and warp, and metal will rust and corrode. After more than a week of persistent water damage, structural issues, bio-hazard contaminants, and mildew and mold growth may pose serious risks to your family and you.
Do Walls Need To Be Replaced After Flood?
If it is wet, remove all drywall. All wall surfaces hinder drying so they should be removed and tossed, even in houses where the flood water has not actually reached the walls. New wall surfaces can be made once the structure has been dried and cleaned. Remove the wallboard, plaster, and paneling to the flood level at the very least. Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet. If saturated by polluted floodwater, it can be a permanent health risk and should be removed.
Does the Ceiling Need To Be Replaced After Water?
A ceiling may not have been in contact with flood water, but it can still be damaged by humidity. Check to see if the drywall has swelled or pulled away from the framing. If it has, a replacement will probably be necessary. If areas of the ceiling are drooping, carefully make a few small holes at the low spots to empty the gathered water. If flood water was in contact with a drywall ceiling, you should remove and change it. If the ceiling is plaster, it will dry out but will likely slump or break, so it should also be removed and replaced.
How Long Does It Take For A Flooded Floor Damage To Dry?
Generally, it takes around 72 hours for any affected area to dry up thoroughly, but this only applies on a room-to-room basis. big areas affected by water damage take longer to dry. Regardless of what caused the water damage, you need to follow precise protocols to reinstate your house to its pre-damage state. It can take up to several weeks for wood flooring to fully dry. The humidity in the room and the amount of water that was on the floor can lengthen the process.
What Should I Replace After A Flood?
Replace affected carpet and rugs because of contamination. Carpet padding should always be replaced. Mattresses and upholstered furniture should be discarded. An expert should inspect gas and electrical elements that were underwater before use. Flooded heating ducts should be either washed or replaced. Replace filters and insulation inside furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators, and freezers if they came in contact with flood waters. However, it is usually more affordable to replace this equipment. Replace flooring that has been intensely infiltrated by flood water or sewage.
Apartment Flooding Who To Call?
The property itself is your landlord’s responsibility. Notify them as soon as possible so they can send maintenance workers your way. Call and email to guarantee your note gets through. Remember to leave your information like your full name, address, and unit number along with details about the flooding. Do not postpone notifying your landlord-even if the flooding was your fault or the outcome of a widespread natural disaster. Flooded homes can become unsafe within a short period of time. It’s best to report the concern immediately, even if the landlord cannot start repairs right away. You will need professional help with rebuilding your apartment and Atmosphere Kitchen & Bath are just the company to help, so don’t hesitate to contact us.
Reach Out to Atmosphere Kitchen & Bath For Help
In this blog, we tried to simplify the process of rebuilding after your apartment floods and line out the exact steps you would need to take in the aftermath. If you need help with designing, building, and remodeling after a flood in your apartment, we’re here for you. Atmosphere Kitchen & Bath is your design & build boutique company that will guide you through this process, from conception to completion. Hiring a professional team that has experience in handling this type of situation can greatly reduce your stress and make the rebuilding phase go on without a hitch. Contact us today and we’ll get right on your project!