Pro Water Damage Restoration Guide

When you have backed-up bathtubs, toilets or sinks that flood, it's obvious that water damage restorations will be necessary. Still, your property can experience water damage in ways that aren't as apparent. Since you have plumbing running through your property, you can have a leaky pipe or a buildup of condensation between your walls or ceilings. It's an alarming incident because this isn't in view- you won't know until you have water damage, and then it's difficult to define how long the issue has lingered.

For these areas that can't be seen, it's challenging to check how old the water damage is. After all, you could have a pipe that's been slightly leaking for awhile but because it's been concealed, you don't have a timeline. There's no way to indicate the precise time of the problem, but there are approaches to approximate the age of the water damage.

Learn How Old the Damage Caused by Water is with This Guidance

You can gain some insight on whether the damage caused by water is old or new by using these tips:

  • History of the House: If your property has any water spots, it's fundamental to keep track of them when finding out whether damage caused from water is new or old. Furthermore, you'll want to be cognizant of any weather that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like heavy rain. Know your house, since pipes with a slow drip can take months to surface, and if you understand what's old and what's new, you'll be able to pinpoint your issue quicker.
  • History of the House: Keep track of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences such as heavy rain. Water spots and damages can take months to present themselves if it's a slight leak. Older properties might have some water spots and damages that were sustained previously. So it's fundamental to keep track of the spots you notice while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: If the water spot is aged, it will be squishy and spongy since during the time of the water leak, your drywall or ceiling has taken in a good amount of water. You'll feel wetness with a newer spot but the surface won't be soft like an older spot.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how rings on a tree reveal how old a tree is? The same approach can be used towards water spots. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They will also be shaded differently since the spot gets soaked then dries and gets soaked again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with no rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Materials such as thick paint and tiles can trap water and moisture, so if you have a spot produced by water seeping through one of these, this can mean there's been a buildup of water for a period of time. Knowing the materials can help you focus on your water damage problems more efficiently.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria growth normally means the damage caused by water has lingered for about two to three days.
  • Deterioration: Decaying material indicates that the damage caused by water is either a repeat offender or that it's extensive because there's standing water. A first case of water damage typically won't lead to rot.

Water Damage Restoration Contractors - Contact Paul Davis Today

No matter the degree of the damage caused by water, Paul Davis is here to help. Our team of professional water damage restoration contractors can resolve the issue and have your property back in great condition. Fix the issue now before it gets in a worse condition and call us at (403)342-4666 for a local franchise in your location.