Balancing Preservation with Effective Water Damage Recovery
When water invades your home or business, it is understandable that your instinct is to save and preserve as much as possible. Water damage restoration in St. Louis demands carefully balancing preservation with practicality to ensure the project progresses. An often misunderstood yet essential choice for achieving balance is controlled demolition.
The Role of Controlled Demolition
Delays in water extraction and structural drying of 24 to 48 hours or more risk progressive deterioration of building materials and significantly increase the likelihood of mold growth and damage. Often, the most effective way to speed water removal and accelerate drying is to open up building cavities that otherwise trap the liquid water and absorb moisture. Although tearing out materials might seem unduly destructive, accessing hidden water for rapid removal and drying enables skilled technicians to clean and sanitize quickly, preparing affected surfaces and spaces for repairs, rehabilitation, and rebuilding.
Controlled Demolition Methods Used in Water Restoration
The professional water damage restoration team from Sansara 24/7 Restoration & Remodeling adheres to industry standards developed by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The selected strategies match the specific circumstances of each job, are limited and targeted, and are designed to support extraction and structural drying while preserving unaffected materials. Common methods include:
- Weep holes were punched through the ceilings to release trapped overhead water, preventing collapse.
- Drain holes cut or drilled beneath baseboards to evacuate water from wall cavities.
- Removal of kick-plates to access water trapped beneath fixed cabinetry.
- Flood cuts that remove saturated drywall several inches above the waterline, allowing drainage and airflow, setting the stage for straightforward replacement with full drywall panels.
Each area or material considered for one or more techniques is selected based on moisture levels established by skilled technicians using sensitive tools that measure moisture (probes and detectors) or temperature gradients (infrared imaging). Technicians outline water migration routes to their ends, ensuring moisture lingers.
Restoration Requires a Stable Foundation
For Sansara 24/7 Restoration & Remodeling, every cut or removal is part of an overarching plan with rebuilding in mind. Once we meet drying goals, technicians repair or replace materials efficiently, restoring the property’s appearance and function while ensuring it is entirely dry and stable.
Sansara 24/7 Restoration & Remodeling provides expert water damage restoration to St. Louis properties. Call 636-812-3838 for a prompt assessment and a recovery plan that may include controlled demolitions, in line with industry standards for a successful outcome.
