Flooding is one of the most frightening experiences any homeowner can have, and it’s especially terrifying when you’re in your home. When water enters your basement it can quickly destroy everything that’s important to you — even if you’ve been diligent about keeping up on your flood insurance payments.
If you do choose to clean up after a flood, there are several steps you should take to ensure your property is structurally sound. If not, you could be in for some serious problems later.
Step 1: Stop The Water With A Sump Pump
First things first: make sure you’ve got an adequate sump pump in place. This is a large-scale device used to keep water from entering your home through the foundation. These are usually electric pumps mounted near the bottom of the basement floor, but they can also be powered by battery or solar panels.
If you don’t have a sump pump installed, you should get one immediately. You’ll need it to pump water out of your basement before you can begin working on the rest of the project. Once you get your pump, turn it on and check the batteries every day to make sure it’s working properly. You should also replace the batteries at least once per year.
Step 2: Check For Mold And Other Damages
Once you’ve made sure you have a functioning sump pump, you’re going to want to look around your basement thoroughly. Inspect the walls for signs of damage and mold growth. Look for holes where moisture has seeped in. Also look for water stains on ceilings and floors. If you see these things, you know you’ll need to remove and replace some damaged drywall.
A good way to determine how much work will be needed is to measure your wet wall thickness. This is done using a tape measure and can tell you how many inches of drywall you’ll need removed. If you find that you have to remove more than 4 inches, you may need to consider hiring a professional contractor.
When inspecting your basement, keep in mind that if you found any cracks in the walls, you’ll need to fix them. Even if they’re small, you still want to patch them with waterproof material. Cracks in the foundation can cause a lot of problems down the line, so you want to make sure they’re fixed right away.
Step 3: Repair Drywall That’s Been Damaged By Moisture
Once you’ve confirmed that your basement isn’t leaking, you can start repairing all of the damaged drywall. Start by ripping off as much of the old drywall as possible. Use a hammer and nails to pry off chunks of drywall and then use a utility knife to cut along the perimeter so you can remove it easily.
Next, lay down new drywall using the same pattern that was on the previous layers. It’s best to use fiberglass drywall sheets because they’re more resistant to water intrusion. Then, apply a primer and let it dry completely before applying your final layer of drywall.
To finish the job, sand the seams between each sheet of drywall so they blend into one smooth surface. This will help prevent future leaks.
Step 4: Replace All Of Your Furniture
Furniture is another thing that gets destroyed during floods. In fact, furniture is one of the biggest culprits behind flood damage. After you remove your drywall, you want to remove all of the broken pieces of furniture and replace them with new ones.
You can do this yourself or hire a professional to come in and do it for you. Either option is fine; just make sure you have enough time to complete the process.
Step 5: Test Your Basement To Make Sure There’s No More Damage
After you’ve completed all repairs and replaced your furniture, you should test the basement again to make sure it’s safe. This step is necessary because you’ll never know what might happen once the water recedes.
To test the integrity of your basement, fill up buckets with water and put them outside over night. If water comes back inside the next day, you need to address the problem.
Step 6: Fix Any Leaks That Remain
Even if you think the flooding has stopped, you should still do something to seal up any remaining gaps. This is particularly important if you live in a cold climate or if you have other issues that could lead to further water damage or mold growth.
While it’s tempting to leave the gaps open until the last minute, doing so risks letting more water in. Instead, you should try to seal up the leaks as soon as possible. This can be done with caulking, which is commonly available in hardware stores.
These are the some common steps that will help in cleaning of the place even after the attack of the flood. The person can plan to take care of the basement floods when it rains. This will reduce the chance of the problems and the place. If still the problem arises then they can take the actions.
Finally, you should contact a professional to repair your sump pump. This is an essential part of keeping your home safe from the damage caused by floods. Without it, you risk having to deal with flooded basements for years to come.
By following these simple steps you can avoid spending thousands of dollars on new drywall and furniture while protecting your home against future damage.
