Are you in the process of getting new commercial construction done? Read on to learn about the process and what you can expect from the commercial restoration.
When floods occur, or the plumbing has a small leak, the restoration process can seem terrifying in commercial spaces. It is not a good omen when it happens in your home or business, but restoring buildings to their original form can be challenging when commercial services have to keep running for the tenants. Choosing the right commercial construction restoration services company can provide a little assistance.
The initial step in the restoration process is assessing the damage by a certified professional like a water technician.
First Category
The first kind of water damage is referred to as “clean” water. Generally, clean water comes from freshwater sources like fixtures, water lines, toilet tanks, garden sprinklers, and natural sources such as rain. Clean water does not pose any significant risks to tenants’ health, but it can quickly change if left unattended as it can mix with soils and contaminants.
Second Category
This category of water damage is also known as “grey” water and can be quite dangerous. It can carry microorganisms and chemicals, and temperature and temperature can greatly affect it. Grey water sources can include washing machines and damaged drain lines. This water poses potentially harm as it can cause sickness if ingested and can turn into third category damage.
Third Category
This type of water damage is the most severe and commonly known as “black” water. This water contains pathogens and unsanitary water arising from sources, including medical waste and sewage. This water includes all sea and groundwater flowing from natural floods due to contamination of ground.
Commercial Water Damage Detection
A certified professional or technician can assess the damage using various techniques like penetration, thermal imaging, and non-penetration techniques. It is crucial to determine how much moisture is there, especially in areas that aren’t visible like inside cabinets, inside walls, underneath the flooring.
Thermal Imaging
With state-of-the-art and up-to-date equipment, damage assessment teams can determine moisture levels behind walls with technology like thermal imaging. Thermal imaging can be helpful in smaller leaks, where it is harder to see water sources.
It is integral to determine moisture because to remediate your space properly, teams have to remove the water damage in highly specific industrial ways. These ways may include removing a certain amount of water above the moisture-damaged structures to dry out and eliminate future growth.
Process of Commercial Restoration Services
When the action plan is ready, the water damage team consults the property administration, business owners, and tenants to devise a plan that allows operations to continue and begin structural drying processes.
The restoration crew will use equipment like air movers, dehumidifiers, and heated air technology throughout this process. The drying method will rely on the building’s materials. The extent of the drying process can change significantly between high rise steel structures versus low wood-framed structures.
During the restoration processes, the water damage team will check if the client will file insurance claims and communicate with the insurance adjuster to determine the building owner’s amount of coverage.
Steps For Commercial Water Damage Restoration
- Examine and devise an action plan for drying
- Start the dry out as soon as possible; water extraction and structural drying will help to eliminate spread and future growth
- Determine the age of the building to do asbestos testing before the removal of affected materials
- Determine if insurance has been claimed, communicate and cooperate with insurance adjusters
- Incorporate the business needs in an action plan to work through daily operations, when feasible
- Begin getting rid of contaminated items; maintain picture and moisture logs for insurance coverage and claims
Next Steps
Once the commercial restoration services begin, the team is constantly adjusting and updating the process based on coverage and damage. All commercial restoration services follow a systematic and standard process. Although the process can frustrate the business owners, the building’s occupant, and residents, the focus should be on structural drying so that the team can start putting the building back into its pre-damaged state.
Good commercial restoration teams should be able to effectively communicate the major steps involved during the process to both owners and insurance adjusters to make the lives of all individuals involved easier.
