Professional Water Damage Restoration Guide - How Old Are Your Water Spots?

One of the more common issues a property can sustain is water damage. As water damage restoration experts, Paul Davis is aware of the issues that water damage produces, especially when it isn't in sight. Your residence has pipes running throughout it, this includes the inside of your walls and ceilings. If these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can gradually deteriorate your walls and ceilings. One of the more difficult parts to this is checking whether the water damage is new or old.

It's challenging to verify how old the the damage caused by water is for these areas that aren't visible. Though, you could have a pipe that's been slightly leaking for a period of time but because it's been concealed, you don't have a timeline. There's no way to check the precise time of the problem, but there are some methods to estimate the age of the water damage.

Tips On Water Damage - Evaluate its Age

By following the steps listed below, you can determine the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences such as a downpour. Water spots and damages can take some time to pop up if it's a slight leak. If you reside in an older home, the water damage spots could have been there for some time. So it's essential to keep track of the spots you see while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences such as a downpour. Water spots and damages can take some time to pop up if it's a slight leak. If you occupy an older home, the water damage spots could have been there for some time. So it's essential to keep track of the spots you see while indicating whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You'll be able to indicate whether the damage caused by water is new or old just by feeling it. An older spot is going to be squishy since the material has taken in a fair amount of water. A newer spot is going to be wet, however, the material will feel solid.
  • Look for Rings: If you see just a darker spot with no rings around it, this shows that the water damage is new. Older water damage will have rings around it, and just like a tree, the more rings shows the age. Discolored rings exhibits that the area has been soaked, dried, soaked, dried, etc.
  • Examine the Materials: It's fundamental to know about the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things such as thick paint or tiles can actually trap the water. If this is the case, even a water spot that's small can indicate the buildup of water has been around for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: If you see that bacteria, or mold, is there, the damage caused by water has been present for approximately two to three days.
  • Decomposition: Your material won't decay from the first occurrence of water damage. So when there has been decomposition, this indicates your material has been vulnerable to consistent standing water or flooding.

Contact Paul - Your Expert Water Damage Restoration Technicians

If you're having water damage issues, Paul Davis is here to assist you. It's crucial to take care of any leaks on your property prior to the damage becoming more extensive. Our water damage restoration experts can detect dripping pipes and fix your property back to normal conditions no matter the size of the job. Reach out to us now at (403)342-4666 and franchise near you is there to assist you.