• When drywall gets wet, it sags and disintegrates. You will see peeling and/or paint bubbles as the water wicks up the drywall. When drywall is saturated with water, the insulation behind the drywall also gets wet. 
• If water touches wood structures in your home/business, they can begin to swell. The longer water is present in your home/business, the more likely it is that hardwood floors will become warped and damaged. Long-term water damage causes wood to rot. 
• Water seriously affects particle board, a material commonly used to build cabinets, bookshelves, and desks. The glue holding particle board together dissolves, causing it to crumble. 
• Water-soaked carpet ‘delaminates’ or separates from its backing. The carpet is then unsalvageable. 
• Water damage can cause electrical problems by shorting-out electrical systems. This can damage electronic equipment, create shock hazards, and even cause fire. 
• Given the right temperature and humidity level, water damage can cause mold to grow within 48 hours. Mold can be dangerous to your health and will only spread and worsen over time.

Cleaning up small spills yourself is fine. However, when large amounts of water flood your home, it spreads easily, often getting absorbed into parts of your home/business that are not visible to you (for example: the backs of walls, the sub-floor, insulation). That is when professional water mitigation technicians and equipment are needed to detect and resolve your water damage. 

When water sits within your home/business, it can continue to spread – compromising the structural integrity of your home – and dangerous mold can grow. For further information on the dangers of mold, check out [link to Mold educational blog post]. Most importantly, if the flood water comes from a contaminated source (like a sewage backup), it is an immediate health threat. In this case, avoid any contact with the water and call us immediately.

The water mitigation process comes before the restoration process. The mitigation process is to prevent the water disaster situation from becoming worse. First, the source of water must be identified and stopped. Typically, the home/business owner or a plumber does this. A professional company then identifies where the water has spread to within the home/business, which materials have become wet, and how wet those materials are. To take these crucial moisture readings, the company usually must do some controlled demolition – removing some building materials to fully investigate the extent of the water damage. For further information, check out [link to educational blog post about Mitigation vs. Restoration].

Water damage restoration comes after the initial water mitigation process. Once further damage has been prevented, your home/business can now be cleaned, dried, and rebuilt to its pre-damaged condition. Water damage restoration follows the following timeline: [link to Mitigation Timeline]. For more information on water damage restoration, check out [link to educational blog post about Mitigation vs. Restoration].

Dehumidification is the process of removing water from the air. When water has damaged your home/business, we heat the air, causing water to evaporate from the water-damaged materials. This dries the materials but fills the air with water. When the air is full of water, we then use dehumidifiers to dry the air. If the evaporated water remained in the air, it could cause further damage to your walls, floors, furniture, and other items in your home. In this way, dehumidification effectively prevents further damage to your home.

It depends on several factors: how large the damaged area is, the type of water (clean vs. contaminated), how long the water sat within the building, where in the building the water is, and the types of building materials affected. For example, wood dries more quickly than concrete. Drying generally take 3 to 7 days. To ensure your safety, we dry a building until we reach the industry’s dry standard.

If the damaged area of your home/business is not critical to your living/working, then you may continue to use your property during the restoration process. However, please consider that the equipment we use during the drying process can be noisy and creates a lot of air movement which may make your home/business unusable for a time. If your bathroom(s) and/or kitchen are damaged, your home/business will likely not be usable until restorations are completed. If your home/business is not usable during the restoration process, we document this in full and petition your insurance company to cover alternate living expenses until the restoration is complete.

• Generally speaking, water-damaged organic materials are not salvageable. These include drywall, particle board, delaminated carpet, carpet pads, and most types of insulation. 
• Wood that has warped due to water damage may be salvageable, but is usually replaced 
• Generally speaking, inorganic materials are salvageable. These include concrete, glass, stone, metal, plastic, sheet vinyl flooring, and tile. However, in the case of tile, if water leaked through the grout (the sealant connecting the tiles) down into the wood sub-floor, the tiles would unfortunately need to be ripped up (to access and dry the sub-floor) then replaced with new tiles.

During the drying process, we set up our equipment to facilitate as much evaporation of moisture from the affected materials as possible. This pulls the water from the materials into the air. We then vent clean dry air into the affected space to replace the contaminated, humid air. We also use commercial dehumidifiers. Once the drying process is complete, the humidity level in your home/business will return to normal.

Yes! Our professional equipment is made to safely run continuously without overheating. We strategically place the equipment to promote optimal drying, so please do not move the equipment.

Please don’t! Our technicians set up the best drying conditions for your property. Because much of the drying process relies on replacing humid air with dry air, it could be disrupted and slowed if you open doors or windows during the drying process. Please consult us before opening any doors or windows, using a dehumidifier, or using the air conditioner. These could all affect how we dry your home/business.

No, you are free to choose the restoration company that best fits your needs. Here at JCL Restorations, our commitment is to you, our client. We are not affiliated with any insurance company.

Our job is to restore your home/business to its pre-damaged condition. When replacing damaged items, your insurance company will pay for items of comparable quality. We work hard negotiating with your insurance company to secure the best possible services for you. However, after large water damage has required us to remove significant unsalvageable portions of your home/business, this can be an opportune time to remodel and update. If you wish to upgrade certain items, you may need to pay the difference out of pocket.

Yes! Not all, but many types of water damage can be prevented. Over-the-ground flooding caused by acts of nature cannot be prevented. However, many plumbing issues, foundation seepage, water damage from broken downspouts, frozen pipes, and other causes of water damage can be prevented. 
Regular maintenance and inspections of your home/business are the key to prevention.

Here are 5 preventative steps you can take each month: 
• Make sure your appliances (e.g., dishwasher, washing machine, and water heater) are working properly. Check all their hoses and water connections. 
• Check under your kitchen and bathroom sinks for any signs of corrosion. Make sure pipe and water connections are tight. 
• Check your toilets for any signs of leaking. 
• Monitor your water bills. A sudden, unexplained increase in your water use may be caused by a leak. 
• Make sure everyone using your home/business knows where the building’s water valve is and how to turn it off.