SERVPRO of Grapevine / NE Tarrant Co outlines five factors that indicate water damage-induced structural damage

11/24/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: Did you experience water damage in your home or business? Here are the signs that it's damaging your property structures.

Water can cause so much damage to your property within hours, and it gets worse every moment it's left unchecked. Even tiny drops of water can damage the structure of a property, requiring expensive repairs.

The team at SERVPRO® of Grapevine / NE Tarrant Co shares 5 top indicators of water damage to a property's structure.

1. Flooring damage

Water can permeate wooden, cement, and even tiled floors. If water gets into your floor and isn't dried out, it can lead to cracking or collapsing. This situation may be more difficult to notice if you have a carpet covering the floor. 

The dishwasher and refrigerator are also high-risk places for floor water damage since these appliances are prone to leaks.

2. Roof leaks

Water damage to the roof can be challenging to detect since the roof damages are often obvious. The damage will only become evident when it has worsened, resulting in missing shingles, stains on the ceiling, roof tears and cracks, or rusted roof flashings.

You should repair roof damage as soon as you notice it to protect your property from further damage from the elements.

Also, make sure to look for water damage in your attic. Your rafters risk rotting and softening if the leak is fixed only after some time. Leaky roofs can also lead to electrical circuit issues, damaging the wires or, even worse, causing electric sparks.

3. Wood damage

Whether you've recently experienced flooding or something smaller, like a pipe break, direct contact with the water can ruin the wooden components of your property, like your floor.

To repair swollen, water-damaged wood, start letting it dry by placing it outside in the sun, in a well-ventilated space, or by placing electric fans blowing air over it. Once the wood has dried, you can figure out how bad the damage is and then sand and oil it.

4. Cracks

A crack can indicate that your property's foundation is shifting due to water damage. Small hairline cracks are often not a big deal since the foundations of most properties contain a few.

However, keep an eye out for tiny cracks on the floor and between the ceiling and doors. Large horizontal fissures across walls indicate that your building may have structural issues due to water damage.

5. Presence of mold

Mold is a major indication of water damage and can damage your property's structure. Typically, mold can grow within 24 hours after water damage and can damage your drywall, ceiling, and attic.

Besides apparent water damage incidents, mold typically appears in areas with a lot of moisture, like the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry rooms.

What should you do?

It's essential to hire a water damage professional to handle water damage incidents so it's done correctly.

Also, hire a water damage specialist if you notice any sign of structural damage due after a water damage incident. They have tools like moisture detectors that can locate moisture on any structure, from concrete to wood, so that it can be appropriately restored.

Get professional water damage restoration services in Grapevine

SERVPRO of Grapevine / NE Tarrant Co offers professional water damage restoration services for homeowners and businesses in Grapevine. They have years of experience and the right tools to do the job efficiently to ensure no water is left behind.

When you hire SERVPRO of Grapevine / NE Tarrant Co, you can rest assured that you won't have to deal with any form of structural damage, as they will expertly dry off any moisture. They can also fix your damaged ceilings, drywall, and other Structural damages.

Call SERVPRO of Grapevine / NE Tarrant Co at (817) 595-2506 to get a free quote.