Commercial buildings have water damages exactly like houses. There are various differences between buildings and houses which have water damage.
The big difference between homes and businesses in the form of carpet which gets wet. Residential water damages generally have carpeting over padding. Not only is that the carpeting water damaged but the padding is soaked in several cases or wet. The usual procedure is to take out the carpet from the ground and get rid of the padding. Then eliminate the tack strip that holds the carpet down.
Commercial buildings normally have wet carpet that’s glued to the ground so there isn’t any padding. Although that’s good in 1 way, it creates another situation. The other issue is getting the base of the carpet that’s glued to the ground to dry.
Most carpet cleaners and cleaning janitorial companies use an air mover that blows on the carpet to dry the carpet. The problem is that the air mover is also known as a carpet fan only dries the surface of the carpeting. The problem becomes larger because unfamiliar to the house manager, carpet cleaner, and janitorial support the base of the rug is wet. The moisture beneath the carpeting (remember that the carpet is glued to the floor and no one can feel underneath the carpeting ) will be a feeding ground for mold and bacteria. Building management professionals will understand it’s a problem a couple of days later since they smell a foul odor. That odor is the development of bacteria and mold development.
Unless you’ve got a moisture meter to determine if the carpet is wet beneath, you need to assume that the carpet is dry by feeling the surface of the carpeting. As we’ve just discovered, that becomes a liability and opportunity for tenants and employees to complain and possibly bring legal actions.
Drying under the carpeting and preventing mold damage and bacteria growth is in fact quite easy. Bear in mind that mold normally (but not always) takes 36 to 72 hours to start to grow. There are molds that grow quicker, but this an average time period for most molds. This information tells us that we have some time to work quickly to prevent an issue. Please also remember that this process may be used by untrained and uncertified workers for wet carpet areas less than 3 feet x 3 feet. Any wet carpeting areas more than this will require an IICRC certified professional.
First, take the same air mover that you used to dry the wet region and keep the air compressor for another 24 hours following the carpet feels dry. You’ll have to purchase a moisture meter that will test the bottom of the carpeting After 24 hours the carpeting should read tender, but should not let it run the following 24 hours. The reason you can dry underneath the carpeting without taking up the carpeting is that through osmosis, drying the surface of the carpet will “suck” the moisture from the bottom of the rug to the surface. Removing the moisture will reduce the potential for bacteria and mold growth.
There are more differences between drying water damage in a home and at a commercial building like firewalls, computer programs, furniture that is complicated.
Hospitals and pharmaceutical companies and other sensitive manufacturing businesses have compounded issues.
The main point is to take care when employing a water damage restoration clean-up company. It’s best for commercial property direction to start searching now and creating emergency plans to be certain they have all needs covered. Planning your water damage restoration once the pipes burst isn’t the ideal way.
If your business was hit by hurricane damage or floods, employ a professional restoration company such as PuroClean South Portland to securely and quickly restore your facility to pre-loss condition. For water removal services and mold cleaning solutions, contact your regional PuroClean office or visit their website.
