Water damage cleanup: Why entrust the work to pros?

Clearing the flooded area

Experts can intervene as soon as the water damage is under control. They ensure there is no risk of electrocution or structural collapse. One of the first steps is to determine the type of water involved: clear, grey, or black. This will influence subsequent procedures, such as whether to evacuate occupants during the work. This is sometimes necessary for grey water damage and always for black water damage. 

Types of Water

Good to know: Clear water can become grey if not removed within 48 hours after the incident. Grey water can become black if not treated within the same timeframe. 

Once the water is extracted, it’s crucial to remove furniture, carpets, rugs, curtains, and other debris. You should also move any items that moisture can damage. 

Precise damage assessment

Specialized companies don’t need to destroy everything to assess the situation. They use precise tools, such as hygrometers to measure the moisture content of materials and thermal cameras to delineate affected areas. Professionals then evaluate the contamination level of materials and structures, considering the building’s history. Sometimes, older damage is hidden behind coverings. 

Several types of materials can be dried, while others must be discarded based on their level of contamination. Isolating the affected area is sometimes necessary to prevent contamination from spreading to the rest of the house. The same goes for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, where high-efficiency (HEPA) filters are installed. 

Deep drying and cleaning

As soon as possible, post-disaster cleaning professionals install dehumidifiers to reduce the relative humidity to less than 50%. Wet furniture and materials, such as wood, cardboard, and carpets, must be dried quickly, within 48 hours, to prevent mould growth. 

To dry and clean walls and ceilings, it’s necessary to remove mouldings and suspended ceiling panels. Openings are also made at the bottom and top of walls or around floors to allow air circulation. Dehumidifiers and fans remain in place until the procedures are complete. This ensures further mould prevention. 

In affected areas of categories 2 and 3, non-removed materials are cleaned using broad-spectrum biocides. These products destroy viruses, bacteria, and other harmful agents present in contaminated drinking water or stagnant hot water (cold water too). 

Final restoration after water damage

When measuring instruments show that humidity and mould levels are normal, restoration work can begin. It can be entrusted to a general contractor or the company that performed the decontamination, if they have the necessary licences. This depends on the agreement between the owner and their insurance company. 

Consult our capsule Water damage and Insurance: Are you covered or not? to learn more about different coverages, including those related to septic tanks, watercourses, and surface water. For example, long-term degradation is excluded from insurance coverage. 

How to choose a cleaning company?

Look for a company that adheres to the highest standards: 

• S-500 Report from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) 

• ACC-82 Standard from the Canadian Construction Association, which governs certain construction materials 

• CSA Standard – Z317.13-07 from the Canadian Standards Association 

• BNQ 3009-600 Standard from the Bureau de la normalisation du Québec for mould cleaning 

Find a specialized post-disaster cleaning company near you among the CAA-Quebec Approved Residential Suppliers. You even enjoy a discount if you’re a member.