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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Timeline of Destruction for Water Damage

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

Don't let water damage ruin your home or business. Call the pros at SERVPRO! 

A little water isn't going to hurt anything. WRONG!! When water damage is left untreated, the structure of a home or business starts to deteriorate over time. Here is the timeline of destruction if the water damage goes untreated: 

Within Minutes 

  • Carpets, padding beneath flooring, subflooring becomes saturated. 
  • Furniture on wet carpets starts to leach and stain. 
  • Wood/wood products start absorbing water. 
  • Personal belongings may be completely destroyed. 

Within Hours 

  • Humidity makes the odor noticeable. 
  • Particleboard cabinetry and furniture distorts and the integrity of the material weakens, crumbling over time. 
  • Dyes from non-colorfast fabrics bleed (clothing stored together, upholstery, etc.). 
  • In 48 hours or less, clean or grey water can deteriorate to black water, and areas that experience water intrusion clean water can rapidly become toxic. 

Within Days 

  • Mold becomes visible and causes musty odors 
  • Allergen sensitivities can be caused by microbial organisms. 
  • Wood may severely warp and cup, making most wooden floors unsalvageable. 
  • Painted walls blister and wallpaper begins to peel away. 
  • Structural wood within home, such as framing, begins to swell and split. 

Within Weeks 

  • Home is hazardous to human health and must be evacuated. 
  • Mold infests organic materials, rendering it unsalvageable. 
  • Drywall crumbles while the home’s structural integrity declines. 
  • Damage to the foundation becomes apparent. 
  • Home may be salvageable but may need to be gutted down to the studs. 

Within Months 

  • Damage to the foundation may be significant. 
  • The cost of repairs is likely more than the value of the home. 
  • Damage that could have been prevented over time (i.e., neglect) disqualifies the owner from insurance claims. 
  • The home may be unsalvageable 

Remember, just because it "looks dry" doesn't mean it is dry! 

SERVPRO of Fort Dodge 515-515-4009 

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