Some Ways to Avoid Creating Secondary Damages After Flood Damage in Your Shop

12/8/2019 (Permalink)

Preserving Ridgefield Historic Shops After Flood Damage

No business in any location finds it easy to withstand a flood, but the 19th- and early 20th-century charm of Ridgefield’s Main Street and Danbury Road shops depend on a professional rescue. The elegant or eclectic boutiques, restaurants, and markets offer practical, fun, fancy, and one-of-a-kind items displayed in unique spaces. Our highly-qualified crews of managers and technicians rise to the challenges presented by aging building materials that owners and patrons prefer restored rather than replaced.

How Flood Damage Affects Traditional Construction Materials

When flood damages Ridgefield historic buildings, the relatively straightforward strategies used with 21st-century building materials are unavailable or need significant adaptations. Many of the walls feature wooden lath and plaster rather than drywall. The predominant use of hardwood trim, floors, and framing impact how the water removal and drying process proceeds.

Containment of Contaminants

All flood damage projects require an assessment of the water category and a plan for efficient evacuation of contaminated debris and fluids. SERVPRO crews use rakes and shovels to hand-remove mud and silt, taking care to respect the structure. Pumps and extractors then collect the liquids for lawful disposal. We choose an EPA-registered disinfectant to sanitize surfaces after cleanup for safety and to avoid secondary damage from microbial infestation.

Fast Intervention Followed by Patient Implementation

We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. But expect the SERVPRO crew once on-site to take into account the stress both flood water and too-rapid drying can take on materials settled for a hundred or more years. We create a balance of air movement and heat to facilitate evaporation. Because wooden lath and plaster can swell and crack if temperatures rise too high or too quickly, our technicians focus on monitoring this balance during structural drying. We also make sure dehumidification maintains an appropriate pace with the air movement and heat. 

Security Measures

The solidity of plaster construction can help shed water, but depending on the individual circumstances of the original build, some weaknesses can emerge. SERVPRO planners might employ stabilizing strategies, especially with overhead structures. Braces and plaster washers can help keep the original surfaces steady as our crew continues with the steps needed to remove the water and reduce moisture to normal levels.

SERVPRO of Danbury / Ridgefield commits to preserving the historic character of your flood-damaged bistro or store as we use cutting edge techniques and equipment. Call us at (203) 791-0920 for a swift assessment and professional restoration.

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