The process of water-logging requires quite an excessive amount of water. Usually occurs when a premises is flooded by excess rain or sewage and is difficult to contain.
Depending on the nature of the water type (white, gray or black water), certain precautions should be taken when handling waterlogged furniture.
Can Furniture Damaged by Water Flooding be Saved
One of the main concerns when a flooding occurs is the extraction of moisture in a property. A second-hand concern is the safety of the residents – is there foundation damage, and is there water damage on load-bearing walls?
The third, and, likely most important aspect of water damage restoration is the preservation and cleaning of furniture. Flooding can affect everything in a property, including furniture and important belongings.
GCD Restoration focuses on restoring and preserving as much as possible when dealing with flooded properties. Sometimes it’s possible, other times affected items should be discarded out of concern for health safety and preservation.
When Should Furniture be Discarded
Parting with loved items is not always easy, especially if they hold sentimental value. However, when dealing with health and safety, sentiment and nostalgia comes second to life preservation.
When your property has been exposed to white water flooding it is possible to preserve furniture which has been submerged as long as it has not been under water for too long. This process takes time and can be expensive, but it’s possible if you are adamant on keeping that couch or arm chair that grandpa likes to sit in.
It’s when furniture has been exposed to gray or black water that it’s advisable, and sometimes, mandatory to be discarded. What makes these types of water so dangerous is their content.
Gray water is the type of water you receive from dishwasher or sink discharges, most often occurring when plumbing has been disturbed and there is a lose upper-sewage connection. This type of water contains quite a lot of bacteria and should be considered average in danger.
Black Water…
..is the most dangerous type of water. It’s what comes out of your sewage when there’s a back up. It is considered extremely dangerous and should be avoided by residents. If carpets, furniture, wall paper have come into contact with this type of toxic sludge, then they should be discarded. Our outstanding carpet cleaning services won’t help in this case.
It’s extremely difficult to clean fully and most of the times full restoration is required. This is especially true for textiles and porous materials. Sometimes even wooden floors have to be replaced if the sewage has seeped down to the floor backing.
What makes furniture restoration even more difficult is the type of material they are made out of. Some natural fibers don’t take well to the cleaning that’s required for their restoration. So, out of safety and health concerns, these types of furniture are discarded by GCD Restoration’s team Free of charge.
When can Waterlogged Furniture be Saved
Furniture can be saved when it has not stayed in water for too long. Prolonged exposure, even if it’s in white water, creates an environment perfect for mold development.
Our restoration team will assess the viability of a restoration based on several pieces of information, like:
- Has the furniture been subjected to any other water type (black and gray);
- How long has it stayed in water;
- Is there mold growing inside of it;
- Is there any other type of damage on it;
- What type of materials is it made of.
Considering these will determine if it’s viable to preserve furniture, or it’s simply more economically viable to discard it. Sometimes it’s best to just part with the old and get new, though the last call is the customer’s to make.
How GCD Restoration Saves Waterlogged Furniture
We use a variety of techniques and specialized, industrial dehumidifiers to extract moisture. Usually affected furniture is subjected to dehumidification, within a specially sealed room.
Extracting all moisture from your property is paramount for the mitigation of mold and fungi development. Leaving even a small portion of it inside your furniture will introduce undue attention to these areas of your house and may lead to serious property complications.
After water has been extracted completely and the property is bone dry, we use humidity detectors for your furniture. This gives us a precise understanding of what condition they are in.
Sometimes water leaves furniture almost intact, other times serious renovation is required. We have sub-contractors who can deal with that, and if you request it, we can put in contact with them.
What are the Health Risks of Renovating Waterlogged Furniture
While there is no set example of this, there are some implications to restoring furniture which has had water in it. On one hand there is the possibility of bacterial infestations, on the other hand the textiles themselves may be affected seriously and furniture may not be the same.
We specialize in good health promotion and we do our best to protect you from pathogens, mold, fungi and bacteria. It’s especially relevant when dealing with flood water – with specialize in water damage mitigation, restoration and property preservation.
GCD Restoration as Trusted Source of Flooding Repair Solutions
As an industry leader, we aim to always provide the best restoration solutions. When we believe that furniture is dangerous and should be removed, you will know. However, whenever possible, if at all, if we can save it and make it safe for you, we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Give us a call at (650) 835 4447 and get a free estimation on post-flood property and furniture restoration.
