Water Damage Timeline Demands a Quick Response 

When you need water damage restoration in St. Paul, it is essential to rely on professional help from a company that specializes in comprehensive water removal, drying, and cleanup. The team from Lightspeed Restoration of Twin Cities East Metro is trained, equipped, and ready to respond 24/7. Our skilled efforts swiftly halt current water incursion, remediate harm already suffered by building materials and contents, and repair, rebuild, and restore your property in accordance with industry standards. 

Water Damage Spreads Rapidly

It is a mistake to underestimate the effects of water inside a property. Water is one of the most destructive forces when it invades spaces unprepared to withstand its corrosive power. Even small leaks or minor flooding can wreak havoc on your home’s structure, finishes, and contents. Just like rivers carve out canyons, water flowing, seeping, and absorbing inside your home can erode, weaken, and ruin everything it touches.

Some materials are more sensitive than others. They withstand water’s corrosion briefly or not at all before the damage becomes permanent. Here are some general estimates of the timeframes for restoration imposed on common building materials and contents after water damage:  

  • Immediate Damage

  • Books, documents, and papers begin deterioration immediately after water exposure. Water damage restoration professionals recommend fast removal and specialized attention (freeze drying and sublimation) as soon as possible (including storing below freezing to stop the harm until devising a water damage restoration plan) of these materials.

  • Laminate flooring, constructed of engineered cellulose and covered in paper-like decorative “pictures,” starts to warp and come apart within minutes to hours.

  • Immediate to 24-Hour Damage

  • Drywall can swell, crumble, and lose its shape.

  • Insulation gets soggy, reducing its effectiveness and acting as a sponge that continuously rewets adjacent materials.

  • Carpeting and upholstery absorb water like crazy, with glues dissolving and fibers delaminating rapidly.

  • Dyed fibers begin bleeding into surrounding materials, causing staining.

  • Metal fasteners like nails and screws start oxidizing (tarnishing or rusting), which compromises structural stability and deposits corroded metal fragments that can discolor surfaces.

  • Wood framing and floors absorb water and begin warping or even buckling (dislodging boards and pulling out nails, screws, and bolts). 

  • 24 to 48 Hours

As all of the above happens, organic materials, including wood, fabrics, and paper, can become breeding grounds for mold in as little as 24 to 48 hours.

  • A Week or Longer

Without speedy interventions from a reputable company like Lightspeed, the prognosis for water damage restoration is grim. Major structural damage will require significant demolition and reconstruction if a week or more passes. Contents will, by and large, be ruined and will cost a great deal to replace. Tragically, many items are irreplaceable, adding grief, guilt, and regrets to a St. Paul homeowner’s water damage burden.

Trust Lightspeed Restoration of Twin Cities East Metro to deliver fast and efficient residential water damage restoration in St. Paul. One call to us at (651) 459-2662 sets up the assessments that provide data for the plan needed to remove the water before permanent damage occurs.

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