See What Really Happens During a Northampton Commercial Water Damage Restoration

11/25/2024 (Permalink)

For commercial water damage restoration in the Northhampton area--contact SERVPRO. We are Faster to any size disaster™.

Large Loss Water Damage and the SERVPRO® Remedy

SERVPRO of Hampshire County was recently called upon to address a significant commercial loss of considerable scale. We’re Faster to any size disaster™; our restoration team tackled extensive water damage across several floors, focusing on drying, material removal, and equipment management to restore the property to its original state. Over several days, we addressed issues from damp drywall to soaked floors and ceilings. Here's an overview of the work completed and the transformation achieved.

Initial Assessment & Extraction

Upon arrival, we witnessed extensive water damage to this Northampton apartment building. We began by assessing the damage caused by water in the affected areas. The fourth floor, which had significant water exposure, was the first area to be tackled. With water affecting both the hallways and 13 apartments, we immediately stationed dehumidifiers and air movers in place. Areas were clearly marked, and equipment was set up to begin the drying process. The third and second floors were also addressed, with extraction taking place in apartments #315 and #215, as well as the fitness room on the ground floor.

Moisture Monitoring & Equipment Setup

By the second day, our team had placed even more drying equipment in critical areas. We removed carpet tiles from hallways for disposal, checked moisture levels in various units, and adjusted equipment placement as necessary. We met with the property manager to review drying strategies, ensuring the right equipment was in place for continued progress.

Material Removal & Drying

Several units required complete material removal due to extensive water damage. Units #306, #415 and #450 had walls, ceilings, and floors that were beyond repair and thus required complete extraction. The work included:

• Basement & Common Areas Unit #306: Floors were removed, and the bathroom wall was also damaged, requiring equipment placement to facilitate drying.
• Unit #415: All affected walls were removed, and contents were manipulated to the kitchen side. Plastic was used to cover walls, baseboards were detached, and all affected flooring was removed.
• Unit #450: Debris was cleared, screws and nails removed, and wall cavities were cleaned with a HEPA vacuum.
• Hallways: Drywall was cut 24 1⁄2 inches up from the floor in affected hallways, and the carpet in these areas was set for replacement. We placed Ram board over carpets in hallways 1 and 2 to protect them during the remediation process.

In the basement, we installed additional air movers and dehumidifiers to help with drying, especially in cooler areas where moisture readings were higher. We also created containment areas to help control airflow and aid the drying process. The gym on the ground floor received its final moisture checks, and we removed all drying equipment there.

Daily Progress Updates & Equipment Adjustments

Throughout the restoration process, our team consistently checked and adjusted equipment. Dehumidifiers (DH) and air scrubbers were monitored regularly to ensure that moisture levels were on track. We made daily adjustments to the placement of these units and removed any unnecessary equipment from dry rooms. For example, in Unit #306, equipment was removed as the materials dried, while in Units #403–#416 and #450, we continued monitoring moisture levels and removed affected floors, ensuring all spaces were addressed. Subfloors in several rooms, particularly bathrooms, showed moisture readings at 40%, which led to additional floor removals.

Challenges Faced

While the project proceeded smoothly, we encountered a few challenges, including:

• Missing Dehumidifiers: A few rooms lacked dehumidifiers at the beginning, which we quickly addressed by bringing in additional units.
• Temperature Variance in the Basement: Cooler temperatures made it harder for equipment to work efficiently in certain areas, necessitating more air movers and dehumidifiers.
• Battery Issues with Documentation: In Unit 405, our camera battery died during documentation, but we made sure to capture all required images in the remaining units.
• Unforeseen challenges illustrate the value of having a well-trained and nimble SERVPRO team; we surmount all obstacles to secure the desired results.

Final Cleanup & Equipment Removal

As we neared the end of the restoration, we conducted final cleanups and adjustments to equipment. Rooms marked as dry were cleared of air scrubbers and dehumidifiers. All equipment was packed up and removed from the building. We also completed the DocuSketch documentation to visually track the entire restoration process, ensuring that all areas were thoroughly photographed before, during and after the completed restoration. The documentation provides our client with evidence of the damage and restoration to the insurance carrier.

Flooring and Final Adjustments

Flooring removal was one of the last steps, particularly in areas with severe damage. We removed incorrect floor planks and returned excess materials, including buckets of glue and boxes of planks. The last of the equipment was packed up, and the property was ready for the next phase of repairs.

What's Next?

The restoration team began wrapping up the drying and material removal process. The property is now in a much better condition, and final repairs are being scheduled. In the coming days, more detailed work will be done on drywall and flooring to complete the restoration and bring the property back to full use.

Conclusion

Through a combination of strategic drying, careful removal of damaged materials, and diligent equipment management, we've transformed this commercial establishment from a water-damaged property into a much more stable and drier environment. With the hard work of our SERVPRO team, we've ensured that the property is now ready for the next steps in its recovery process. Keep an eye out for the next update as we finalize repairs and bring the property back to life! "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO of Hampshire County