Controlled Demolition Techniques Streamline Water Removal

No matter what causes flooding or leaking, swift removal is critical when water invades your home. Fast water extraction in Concord prevents progressive deterioration of building materials, weakening of structural supports, and secondary damage from mold and mildew growth. Frequently, the extraction necessary is challenging or impossible because water invisibly fills cavities within various building materials. Fortunately, Lightspeed Restoration of Pleasant Hill offers proven pre-extraction scoping and staging solutions that assist our technicians in accessing and extracting the water.

Trapped Water and Moisture Hiding Spots

Liquid water flows from higher to lower levels if nothing impedes its movement; it has no defined shape until it moves into a non-porous container or is “dammed” permanently or temporarily in a confined space. Water from a plumbing rupture, overflow, or roof leak moves downwards, flowing over steps or slopes and trickling through cracks and crevices. It is vital to follow the water trail for successful extraction.

  • Standing Water

Leaks and ruptures release fluids to collect as standing water in the following cavities lined with non or semi-porous materials:

  • Above ceiling materials (tiles, drywall, lath and plaster)

  • Sandwiched between walls and confined by baseboards 

  • Below flooring planks or tiles

  • Under cabinets, dammed up behind toe kicks.

  • Inside cinder block cells and various other recessed spaces

  • Absorbed Water

Eventually, water contained within the above common building materials begins to soak through protective surface finishes and absorb into semi-porous materials, causing them to break down and crumble and mold to gain traction. In addition, water encountering naturally porous materials (insulation is a great example) or semi-porous materials will saturate these items on contact. Structural components such as the following can swell, distort, corrode, weaken, and eventually collapse when saturated: 

  • Wood framing

  • Subflooring

  • Metal fasteners and supports

Quickly Scoping Hidden Water and Moisture

Identifying where the water went is crucial. Wet building materials can begin disintegrating immediately, and mold growth starts within 24 to 48 hours of spores absorbing water. 

Moisture detection and metering technology and infrared imaging help Lightspeed Restoration of Pleasant Hill professionals rapidly find the bulk of unseen and inaccessible water. We map the locations, trace migration, and then devise a plan to release the backed-up water for extraction and create access to wet materials for effective structural drying. 

Controlled Demolition to the Rescue

When Concord homeowners first learn that we recommend partial demolition as a staging step for water extraction and drying, it can feel overly aggressive and disruptive. Unfortunately, merely mopping up the visible water and crossing our fingers, hoping that the trapped fluids eventually dry out, are not water extraction best practices. 

Precise and Planned Demolition

It is nearly certain that a water damage waiting game results in building materials and structural supports weakening or even collapsing, giving microbial damage-free rein. A “surgical” approach to removing barriers to efficient extraction and drying is essential. Typically, controlled demolition only affects and removes materials the Lightspeed rebuilding crews can restore rapidly after the water extraction and drying. Proven controlled demolition strategies include:

  • Poking weep holes in a sagging ceiling, starting at the room edges and moving towards the middle to prevent a cataclysmic “waterfall” effect

  • Drilling holes near wall bases, usually after removing baseboards, to drain fluids and provide access for hose-connected extraction technologies that extract water and/or blow warm, dry air inside to complete drying

  • Pulling off toe kicks to release water for extraction from fixed cabinets

  • Performing flood cuts several inches above the waterline between wall studs, tearing out the wet materials and allowing the trapped water to drain and structural drying efforts to reach damp areas.

  • Drilling small holes in hardwood to facilitate evaporation and/or using specially designed floor mats to concentrate extraction targeting saturated subfloors

  • Pulling up sections, planks, or tiles of flooring to allow water extraction and facilitating eventual drying techniques

Lightspeed Restoration of Pleasant Hill uses proven tactics, such as controlled demolition, while adhering to industry standards during water extraction efforts in Concord. Contact us at (925) 430-5584 for a professional water damage assessment, extraction, drying, and restoration plan.

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