What are the different types of water damage?

From small tap leaks to large sewage backups, water damage can be very minor or cause large devastation. Accordingly, there are several different levels and classes involved in liquid destructions.

There are three categories describing the type of liquid involved:

• Category 1 – this is liquid from a clean and sanitary source, such as faucets, water supply lines, toilet tanks, drinking fountains etc. However, category 1 can quickly degrade into category 2.

• Category 2 – this category of liquid is referred to as grey water, it is described as having a level of contaminates that may cause illness or discomfort if ingested. Common sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflows, flush from sink drains, and toilet overflow with some urine but not feces.

• Category 3 – this is the worst classification and consists of unsanitary liquid that could cause severe illness, or death if ingested. It is referred to as ‘black water’. Sources include sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, toilet overflow with feces, and stagnant liquid that has begun to support bacterial growth.

Water damage is also divided into four classes of destruction:

• Class 1 – the lowest class and easiest to deal with. Generally it refers to a water damage where only part of a room or area was affected, there is little or no wet carpet, and the moisture has only affected materials with low water absorbance rates such as concrete

• Class 2 – this level affects an entire room, carpeting or cushioning and the wetness has wicked up with walls at least 12’, and there is moisture remaining in structural materials

• Class 3 – in class 3 ceilings, walls, insulation, carpet and sub floors are all saturated and the liquid may have come from overhead

• Class 4 – this class is labeled as specialty drying situation, which means there has been enough liquid and time to saturate materials with very low absorbance such as hardwood, brick or stone.

Do I have to leave the drying equipment running?

It is better to let the equipment work around the clock for a designated amount of time to achieve the best results. However, in some cases the equipment can be shut down to minimize distractions and provide a suitable working environment. Should this be necessary we highly recommend coordinating withyour project manager before shutting down the equipment so they are able to make any necessary adjustments to ensure the structure is dried properly. We specialize in proving tailored solutions based on our experience and expertise and whenever possible will schedule working hours to suit our client’s needs without compromising the restoration process.

What happens if the power goes out or a fuse blows?

Can I move the drying equipment around?

What happens to my belongings affected by the loss?

What is visual mold and why do I need to test it?

The most obvious sign of a mold problem is visual mold. Visual mold is mold that you can see. When mold is visible it means mold growth reached a critical level and it can start to pose a health risk. Visual mold is usually tested using swabs. The surface supporting the mold growth is swabbed and the swabs are sent to a third party lab for analysis. The analysis will determine what type of mold is growing. This in turn will form the foundation for the scope of work outlining the remediation process.

How does mold testing work?

A certified mold inspector, trained in appropriate sampling methodology will perform the necessary testing. There are two types of mold tests, air quality testing and surface swabbing. Air quality testing is used to determine the type of mold and amount of airborne contamination. It is often used in conjunction with sample swabs. Air quality testing is often used when building inhabitants are suffering from health problems which may be association with fungal exposure, but when no obvious evidence of mold growth is present. First a sample of the outdoor air is collected – since mold spores are everywhere, the outdoor sample acts as a control to measure the indoor samples against. If the indoor air samples which are taken at several different location throughout the building report higher levels of mold, or types of mold that aren’t present in the outdoor samples then a mold problem may exist.

Surface swabbing occurs when visual mold is present. Samples are collected from visibly moldy surface by scraping or cutting the material with a clean tool. Or by wiping the area with a sterile swab or stripping the suspected area with clear tap. The samples are places in sterile plastic bags which are sent for testing. The surface samples are used to identify the specific mold types present.

All mold testing, analysis and reporting is done by an independent third party lab.

The fire department put out the fire, but now we have water in the property. What should we do?

First, we recommend you move any important personal belongings away from the wet surface. If it’s possible try and move the water to an available drain. If the water damage is minor and the surface is inorganic, like concrete, you can try to wipe the water, ventilate the room and let it dry on its own. If the water damage is large, or organic surfaces such as drywall, wood, laminate, carpet etc. have been affected you should consider calling a professional restoration company like Restoration Aid. A professional restoration company will be able to minimize the damage quickly, and dry and restore your property professionally mitigating the risk of further structural damage or mold growth. Additionally, they may be able to help clean up the residual fire and smoke damage.

The fire wasn't very big, and only affected a small area, can we clean it ourselves?

When cleaning up after a fire it’s extremely important to establish what materials were burned, and the identity and quantity of oxidized particles in the air. This will help determine which cleaning agents should be used, as well as the proper dilution rates to achieve optimal results. Additionally, some cleaning solutions must be applied with special equipment. Moreover, smoke residue can travel large distances and effect surface unrelated to the fire source or area. If you are considering dealing with a fire cleanup on your own, please consult a professional first, they can help determine the air quality and if it’s possible to clean it yourself or if you should have expert help.

How do I know if I have an Asbestos problem?

Asbestos was widely used as building material in Canada until the 1980s. If your building or house was constructed before then, chances are that some parts of your building or house have asbestos in them. Left undisturbed, asbestos is not a huge concern. Asbestos becomes an issue if you are planning any sort of demolition or renovation, or if you have had a loss such as a fire or flood that requires demolition. If you have any concerns or suspicions about asbestos we highly recommend contacting a professional hygienist. They are trained to conduct asbestos testing and surveys of your property and will present a special report outlining any asbestos risks and recommendation for removal if necessary.  

Does asbestos abatement require specific training?

Yes! Due to the hazardous nature of asbestos, any asbestos abatement must be performed by trained and certified technicians who are required to follow very strict removal and disposal guidelines.

Should I have the air quality monitored during the abatement project?

Yes, air quality monitoring is always recommended when dealing with air borne particles that pose a health risk. Given the extremely hazardous nature of air borne asbestos particles it is particularly important to make sure the air quality is monitored throughout the entire abatement project.

Is the estimate for the repair included in the estimate for the remediation project?

Generally there are two types of estimates; emergency and repair. Depending on the nature and scope of work that needs to be done the estimate for the repair is usually provided at the end of the project. This is done because the scope of work and demolition that needs to be done during the emergency portion of the job can change as the work progresses and damages that weren’t initially seen become apparent. These changes will have an impact on the repair estimate.

I want to make some changes to my property, can I do this during the repair?

Definitely, however, if your repair is covered by insurance, insurance companies generally finance repair work to restore the property to its pre loss conditions. If you want to make significant changes or upgrades to your property you are more then welcome to do so, but personal investments may be required.