Why does rain get inside a house in a short storm?
Rain enters when it lands on the ground faster than the soil and drainage can take it away. Water then runs toward the building, sits against the foundation and finds the gaps at doors, vents and low walls.
Grading that slopes toward the house, gutters that overflow and downspouts that discharge at the foundation all send water to the building. A short heavy storm can fill the low points around a house quickly, and the water then moves against the wall until it finds an opening.
Crawl spaces and slab edges are the usual entry points for flood water in a house. A crew checks both, along with the threshold of each exterior door, to see how the water got in before it plans the cleanup.
Is flood water cleaned differently from a roof leak?
Flood water carries silt, debris and sometimes contamination from the ground, so it is cleaned with more care than clean rain from a roof. The steps are removal, cleaning of the surfaces that stay, and drying to readings.
Water that has come up from the ground is handled as the more serious case. Porous materials that it has soaked, such as carpet, pad and lower drywall, are normally removed. Hard surfaces can be cleaned and kept if they dry to readings.
The crew tells you what it is doing at each step and why, so you can make an informed decision about the materials that may be saved or replaced.
What moves the cost of a heavy rain water job?
The depth and duration of the water, the number of rooms and levels it reached, the materials it soaked and the access to the wet area decide the job. The price is explained and approved before work starts.
Water that has been in a room for a few hours is a different job from water that has sat for days. A crawl space with standing water, a finished basement or a garage that has taken water under the door each need their own plan, equipment and drying time.
The amount of contents that must be moved, and whether the floors can be lifted, also affect the job. The crew explains these factors on the first visit and gives you a written scope to approve before the work changes.
How long does a flooded floor take to dry in humid weather?
In humid Mississippi air a floor and its subfloor can take longer than the surface suggests. The crew runs the drying equipment until the moisture readings are back at dry levels, and it does not stop when the floor only feels dry.
The subfloor under a wet carpet can hold water after the surface is dry to the touch. Humidity slows the air's ability to pull that moisture out, so the dehumidifiers may run for longer than a homeowner would expect.
The crew takes readings at the start, during the drying and at the end, and writes them down. That record is what tells you the floor is ready to be rebuilt.
What should a homeowner do in the first hour after water comes in?
Get people to a dry level, cut the power to wet areas if the panel is dry and reachable, and move valuables and furniture out of the water. Photograph the water and the damage before anything is moved, and then call.
Pick up items that can be lifted safely and move them to a dry room. Do not walk through standing water that is near wiring, and do not use a household vacuum on water, because the motor and cord can fail.
Keep a note of when the water came in, where it came from and what you saw. Photographs taken from the same spot over time are useful for the repair and for any paperwork you may file later.
