Man looking at water damage in cabinets

What to do About Cabinet Water Damage

Man looking at water damage in cabinetsOh no! The worst has happened – your kitchen cabinets are full of water. Not only is the contents of each cabinet wet, but your cabinets themselves aren’t looking good. Water damage is a serious threat to your cabinets, especially wooden ones. However, there is sometimes nothing we can do to predict a leak.

If you find yourself in the position of contemplating what to do about water-damaged kitchen cabinets, read on.

Step 1: Empty your kitchen cabinets

Be sure to empty the contents of all affected cabinets, and surrounding ones too. You never know if the leak might spread to other cabinets. Keep food that was stored in glass or plastic containers, because they should remain unaffected by the water. You should throw away any food in cardboard boxes or paper bags, as the water will have penetrated these.

Step 2: Dry your kitchen cabinets

Once your cabinets are empty of food and any other contents, be sure to get them as dry as possible with thick cotton towels, followed by paper towels. After this, your cabinets should feel dry to the touch, although you might still see evidence of water damage if they are made of MDF or other types of wood.

It is important to dry your cabinets as soon as possible to reduce the chance that they will need replacing. Wet cabinets can become a breeding ground for mold to grow and spread throughout the kitchen, which is unhygienic to say the least!

Furthermore, leaving your wooden cabinets wet will only increase the chance that irreversible water damage will cause the material to crumble. In this instance, you will need to prepare to replace your kitchen cabinets.

Step 3: Remove cabinet doors

This might feel like a waste of time if you have already dried your cabinets, but removing the doors will allow for more air flow and reduce the chance of mold growth.

Removing the doors from their hinges will also reduce the weight being taken by the shelving and flat surfaces, meaning they are less likely to crumble under the water damage.

Step 4: Fully dry with dehumidifier

Once your cabinets are free of water and their doors are off, you can get some high-volume fans and a dehumidifier to target the rest of the moisture. Your cabinets might take around 24 hours to dry under the influence of a few fans and one dehumidifier.

Step 5: Assess the damage

When your kitchen cabinets are fully dry, you will have a few options. If they are made of particle board, the chances are that the water damage has caused them to crumble and you will need to replace them with new units.

If your cabinets are warped with visible water damage, but are still sturdy, you can try screwing in some boards to act as braces to help straighten them out.

If your cabinets are ready to be used again but are still sporting water stains, you can try sanding down the finish before removing the stains with a combination of oxalic acid and water. You will need to brush a couple of coats onto the stains before neutralizing the acid with a solution of baking soda and water.
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Written by Jack Vale

Structural Drying

Phases of Structural Drying

What is Structural Drying and When Do You Need It?

This December has been one of the warmest on record, however, the Farmer’s Almanac predicts our winter will be incredibly cold. We’ve previously given you tips on preparing your pipes for below freezing temperatures (link to Frozen Pipe blog), but if you experience a burst pipe during a below freezing weather event, we want you to understand how remediation works, including the phases of structural drying. Read on to learn how Classic dries your home or business to prevent mold and reduce damage to your building’s structure, which can include warped or rotted wood, warped sheetrock, electrical component damage and more!

Preparing your Home for a Cold Winter

Almost a year ago, most of us in North Texas can agree that we were not expecting the winter to cause damage to a lot of our homes and businesses. To keep the damage as minimum as possible for your properties, we at Classic Construction recommend getting ahead of the freeze with your at home generators to keep your power in case of rolling brown-outs. Insulating your pipes will be the other highly recommended preparation to keep your pipes from freezing and causing much unwanted structural damage to your property. Keep those weather and natural-cause notifications on during these colder months to stay ahead of any storms and keep your property safe from harm.

Causes of Trapped Moisture

Moisture problems tend to occur when excess moisture becomes trapped in a part of a building that should be dry. It can happen to any building and structure regardless of age. Some common mistakes that can lead to moisture issues are improper structure building, leaks in foundation, and damaged or aging pipes. These problems can be avoided by incorporating moisture controls into building designs such as proper gutter systems, condensation drainage systems, humidity controls, and an annual check up on pipes that might be cracked or leaking due to age. The key is to try to control moisture as best as possible so that it doesn’t accumulate where it can do potentially harmful damage.

The Structural Drying Process

Stop Mold In Its Tracks
Water damage should be remediated as quickly as possible to prevent mold growth.

Extracting water is typically the first step of the structural drying process, followed by testing for mold damage and asbestos. If either of those are detected, they will be professionally removed. You might think that after extracting all of the water and any mold that the areas in the building or home may be dry, but water content can still be quite high – to prevent more mold growth, dehumidification is necessary to be certain that any excessive water vapors are collected. One of the final methods in one of the most common structural drying processes is to maintain a constant temperature in the affected area(s) – too hot and the dehumidification process may not be effective, too cold and mold may begin to grow once again. Although there are more approaches to structural drying, these are the most common strategies you can expect when experiencing structural drying on a property.

Conclusion

Though it’s been a very warm December, this winter looks to be extremely cold according to forecasts. We’ve listed some tips on preparing your home or commercial property for a cold winter, how moisture becomes trapped in typically dry areas of a building, and what structural drying looks like when Classic Construction performs water remediation. If your building has suffered a leak, a burst pipe, or a flood, call us today! We’ll work with your insurance company to quickly and completely repair your property!

Water damage inside a commercial structure

Categorizing Water Damage

Water Damage Basics

Water damage inside a commercial structure
Untreated water damage can quickly move from category 2 to category 3.

Water damage comes in many forms and how it is categorized can effect the cost of the repairs. Simple puddling of water in front of a toilet or sink can usually be cleaned up with at home supplies like a mop but more extensive water damage like from a flood or storm needs to be handled with care by a professional. When water collects in larger amounts, it can lead to mold or bacteria that can be harmful to you and your family. It is important to contact your insurance company right away once your water damage hits a higher level on the classification scale. Classic knows how to handle all types of water damage repairs using our professional moisture testing to determine the severity and can even help you navigate the insurance claim process faster.

Category 1: DIY Water Damage Control

When making sure water damage is under control, first assess the damage by making sure the source has been completely shut off. Your next task after assessing the source would be to completely dry everything in the surrounding area as much as possible with your home supplies, this will allow you to start getting rid of any moisture that may be in your home as soon as possible. Once you clean and dry the area, make sure to remove and toss damaged porous materials and inspect for serious issues like mold.

Category 2: Water Damage with Possible Health Risks

Water damage comes in three different categories 1, 2, and 3. Each category represents a different kind of water and how that water can effect your home and family. Category 1 is the one you’d want to have, if you wanted water damage that is. It is called “clean water” and does not pose any risk to humans (or pets). Category 2 is known as “gray water” and can make you sick should you come in contact with it. If this type of water is in your home it is important to remedy it right away to prevent your family (and pets) from feeling ill and damage to your home.

Category 3: Contaminated & Unsanitary Water Damage

The most dangerous and scary water damage category of them all, Category 3 refers to damage that includes unsanitary elements like sewage, bacteria, stagnant water from a flood, and contents from a toilet overflow. It’s often referred to as “black water” and can cause serious illness or even death. Not only is this category extremely unsafe to your family (and pets) it can lead to damage in your home that can only be handled by a professional.

Here’s one thing to be careful of: Category 2 water damage can easily turn into a Category 3 if it wasn’t properly addressed by either you or the company you worked with. The difference isn’t just a health risk, but can cost thousands more to remove and repair.

Why & When Pros Can Help (insurance claims for water damage)

A flooded apartment unit
Flooding causes hidden water damage, including mold.

As harmless as water damage in Category 1 or Category 2 might seem, we highly recommend getting a second opinion from a professional. When our team comes to visit your home or property, we perform several tests and can take hundreds of photos that will help document your case and ensure that any insurance claims are well-documented. Many times home and business owners find the insurance claim process daunting and overwhelming, this is where Classic comes in. We have 90 years of dealing with insurance companies and have the expertise to handle your insurance claim with ease to get your home or business repaired quickly and properly.

In Conclusion

You’ve taken the right step by learning more about the different categories of water damage so that you can ensure that when you experience it, you’re ready to find the right professional to ensure that it’s addressed safely. We know that Health and Safety are important to you and our team shares those values.

With over 2,000 projects completed within the year, our team has seen and done it all – and with care. If you’re unsure about what water damage category best describes your situation, don’t hesitate to reach out to our fully-licensed team anytime. (972) 437-0909

Kitchen island affected by water damage is being dried using a strong powered fan.

How to Deal With Water Damage

If you are dealing with water damage, make sure you take care of it immediately with water restoration! Waiting can be devastating to your home and can cause additional damage that will end up costing you more. Water restoration is a specialized service that removes water and helps restore your home after water damage. Find out what you can do before a water restoration team goes out, what you can expect and ways that our team can help keep your home safe.

A house in Houston suburb flooded from Hurricane Harvey 2017What You Can Do

The first thing you need to do is to get in touch with an emergency service contact. Many companies will provide customers with emergency services which are available 24/7. Water damage is considered an emergency service because of the damage it can cause if ignored. 

The next thing that you can do is to provide our team or the team you may be working with all of your information such as your contact information, address, insurance information, information regarding the flood (when it started and what caused it). After all of the information is provided it is important that you let the team take care of the rest. 

What You Can Expect: If You Ignore

If you ignore water damage you can expect the moisture to create bacteria and mold growth. Certain materials can be severely damaged due to the bacteria or growth which will cause additional repairs or replacement. Something that is more concerning is that many times, people begin to experience allergic reactions or illnesses because of water damage exposure. 

What You Can Expect: Water Restoration

By being proactive and scheduling water restoration services you can expect the following to be done 

  1. Inspection Assessment 
  2. Water Removal
  3. Drying and Dehumidification 
  4. Cleaning and Sanitizing 
  5. Restoration and Repair

We understand that every water damage situation is different and some situations seem like they can be dealt with by yourself, it is best to trust professionals and schedule a water restoration service or quote before attempting anything yourself. If you have more questions and would like to speak to a specialist, contact us today!