University of Wisconsin-Extension
Be prepared to let flood-damaged walls, ceilings and floors
dry for several weeks. If restoration work is completed before
proper drying, mold and mildew will continue to grow. The
result may be structural damage to your home, the need to
repaint walls or replace new wall coverings, and discomfort
or illness to family members who have allergies.
Remove
all water as soon as possible from your home. Also remove
furnishings that are water soaked. Once water is removed,
the next step is removing moisture that has been absorbed
by wood, plaster and other materials.
If the
weather permits, open doors and windows to remove moisture
and odors. If the outside humidity becomes greater than inside,
close things up; likewise, close up the house overnight if
temperatures drop and moist air might otherwise be drawn indoors.
If windows are stuck tight, take off window strips and remove
entire sash. If doors are stuck, drive out door hinge pins
with a screwdriver and hammer, then remove.
Consider
using dehumidifiers to speed up drying when outside humidity
levels are high. If possible, rent commercial dehumidifiers,
which remove three to four times more water than home models.
When using dehumidifiers, shut windows and doors. If there
is severe flooding in your home, consider hiring a contractor
for water removal. Some companies can dry homes in less than
a week with commercial dehumidifiers and air movers.
Wash
out mud, dirt and debris as soon as possible with a hose and
mop cloth or sponge.
Start
cleaning from the top floor or upper limit of flooding and
work downward.
Remove
wallboard, plaster and paneling to at least the flood level.
Wallboard acts like a sponge when wet. If soaked by contaminated
floodwater, it can be a permanent health hazard and should
be removed. If most of the wallboard was soaked by clean rainwater,
consider cutting a 4- to 12-inch-high section from the bottom
and top of walls. This creates a "chimney effect"
of air movement for faster drying. A reciprocating saw with
a metal cutting blade works well, but use only the tip of the
blade and watch out for pipes, ductwork and wiring.
Plaster
usually does not need to be replaced, though it will take
a very long time to dry.
Some
paneling may be salvaged if allowed to dry slowly. You also
should remove and dispose of any flood-damaged insulation,
which will hold water for months after getting wet.
To clean
surfaces:
- Thoroughly
wash and disinfect walls, ceilings, exposed wall cavities
and studs.
- Use
a good disinfectant to prevent mildew build-up. One cup
of chlorine bleach mixed with a gallon of water works well.
For a soapier cleaning solution, add a half cup of mild
detergent. Wear rubber gloves.
- If
walls have already dried, work from the floor to the ceiling
to prevent streaking. (Dirty water splashed on dry walls
may be absorbed and become almost impossible to remove.)
Overlap sections, cleaning the ceiling last.
Before
the house has dried out, scrub floors and woodwork with a
stiff brush, plenty of water, a detergent and disinfectant.
Carpeting soaked by contaminated floodwater should be removed
and discarded unless it can be sanitized at a commercial facility
for a cost substantially less than replacement. Vinyl flooring
and floor tile may need to be removed to allow drying of subfloor.
Wooden
floors should be dried gradually. Sudden drying could cause
cracking or splitting. Some restoration companies can accelerate
drying time by forcing air through the fluted underside of
hardwood floorboards.
Assess
whether your floors can be repaired, replaced or recovered.
Consider your time and budget as you make any decisions. If
hardwood floors are damaged beyond repair, you may want to
forego the cost of replacement and instead cover them with
carpeting, vinyl or linoleum. Or you might lay a new floor
over the old, rather than replace it.
- Plywood
subfloors may have delaminated (separated) from excessive
moisture, causing buckling. Sections may have to be replaced
or have new plywood nailed over them. Consult a contractor
for this work.
- If
buckling or warping has occurred, drive nails where the
floor tends to lift or bulge. This will prevent further
damage. Badly warped hardwood floors usually can't be repaired.
Warped, wide pine board flooring, however, will often flatten
out after it has thoroughly dried.
- Plane
or sand floors level. Do not refinish until thoroughly dry.
To
remove surface mildew on walls or ceilings, use a mildew surface
cleaner (available at paint stores) or: scrub the mildew with
household detergent, then scrub with a solution of one-quarter
cup bleach to 1 quart water. Rinse well with clean water.
Once fully dry, apply a coat of paint containing an anti-mildew
agent.
To
remove surface mildew on floors and woodwork, use a phosphate
cleaning solution such as powdered automatic dishwashing detergent
or trisodium phosphate (4 to 6 tablespoons to a gallon of
water), available in hardware stores. Rinse with water, and
when dry, apply a mildew-resistant finish.
Additional resources:
Your county family living agent, your local emergency government office, the American Red Cross, the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Related publications:
"Repairing Your Flooded Home," American Red Cross/Federal Emergency Management Agency, 1992.
UW-Extension Publications-
"Removing Water From the Building Materials of a Water Damaged Home;"
"High Humidity After Water Damage and the Growth of Mildew and Mites."
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
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