Salvaging Personal Belongings

6/14/2018 (Permalink)

Water Damaged Chair Gets Cleaned

One of the most common topics after a client suffers water damage, is how and what can be salvaged and restored. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer.  Every water damage is unique and case by case. Once we have received notice of your water loss and the source has been stopped, our SERVPRO specialists will identify the source to begin the restoration process.

Here are some things to consider:

Identity the Type of Water Damage

Determining what type of water has damaged your personal belongings is part of our inspection process.   In the restoration industry we categorize water as clean water, a category 1, gray water is category 2 and black water is category 3. 

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks has the Esporta technology that cleans all these water damage categories including category 3 contaminated water. 

Porous vs Non-Porous Materials

Porous materials such as fabrics, wood, and paper are very good at retaining water. Porosity also means the increase in the chance of other dangers like mold growth, and even damage beyond repair or restoration.  Here in lies the case by case scenario.  Porous materials such as marble, metal, and porcelain - among others - usually have no problem in being restored because bacteria and mold are not usually able to root to their surface.

The Amount of Time the Water has Saturated Your Belongings

Another factor that will come into the equation of determining what can and cannot be saved is how long the materials have been wet.  The longer a porous item sits in water, the more difficult to bring it back to its preloss state. The perfect example of this is wooden furniture. Belongings that are left damp or wet and exposed to the elements are at a greater risk for mold growth and may not be salvageable.   Acting quickly and calling your local SERVPRO as soon as you discover the water damage is key to restoration success.

Restoration or Replacement Costs

SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks will always try to restore your water damaged items to their preloss condition unless they are beyond restoration. 

We know that your belongings are what help to make your home a home.  Our restoration helps to save you and your insurance company money, not to mention prevents landfill pollution.  If restoration is not an option, then replacement is usually the next option.

When you hire the professionals at SERVPRO of Elizabeth City/Outer Banks, you know that your water damage has been assessed and your belongings have been analyzed for the best course of action to help make it “Like it never even happened.”