Guide to Commercial Water Damage Restoration

4/4/2023 (Permalink)

Water damage causing leakage from ceiling

Plenty of people assume water damage is the same, whether in a residential or commercial space. However, not all water damage is created equal. If your business experiences the unfortunate blow of water damage, contacting a mold remediation company that specializes in services for commercial spaces is key.

What Is the Difference Between Commercial Versus Residential Water Damage?

Flooring is one of the major differences in commercial and residential water damage. Homes often have plush carpets with padded underlay. Commercial spaces favor low pile carpet. This often makes the water removal process in a commercial space much easier than a residential space, where there are more layers of flooring to tear out.

Commercial buildings often have complex equipment setups that can add a challenge for mold remediation services. Plus, depending on the type of commercial space in question, there are likely by-laws and industry standards to cohere too – particularly in the realm of healthcare, food, childcare, and education.

Be Prepared for Water Damage and Make a Rapid Response

Facilities may differ in size and setup, but no matter what business you’re in, you need to be aware of the risk of water damage. Any unwanted water intrusion, whether from a catastrophic weather event to minor roof leaks, can affect the integrity, quality, and value of a commercial building.

Make sure the maintenance team pays close attention to the roof, window sealant joints, flashings, and other envelope elements as a preventative measure. Carefully maintaining the roof, windows, and other parts of the building can reduce the likelihood of water damage, but plenty of unexpected events can occur to create water damage that even the most prepared business leaders cannot avoid.

In the event of water damage, enact a rapid water emergency response by quickly shutting down water supply lines. If necessary, safely shut down any electric or gas supply lines. Contact emergency personnel as needed.

Water Damage Restoration Process

When water damage hits, the faster your commercial enterprise contacts a water removal company specializing in mold remediation services, the faster you’ll be back up and running safely. A removal company will go to the scene to evaluate the property and to contain and prevent further damage.

From there, the contractors will extract any standing water so the water damage restoration process can begin. In many cases of water damage due to flooding, building materials such as drywall, carpet, and carpet padding will need to be removed and discarded. This demolition happens before drying out the building, so that the final dry-out can be optimally effective. Drying processes generally take a few days.

If mold growth is a concern, the water damage restoration company may apply antimicrobials to destroy existing mold or to prevent mold from growing. Finally, moisture testing will be done to double-check dryness. Construction services can resume as needed to return the commercial building to normalcy, including any electrical, heating, cooling, and plumbing work.

How to Select a Commercial Mold Remediation Company in Western Lancaster County

Selecting a water damage restoration company and mold remediation services to clean up and restore your commercial building after a disaster is a big decision. SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County can help you restore your commercial property as if the damage had never happened.

SERVPRO of Western Lancaster County PA has highly trained water damage technicians who are ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to respond immediately to flood or water damage at your western Lancaster County PA commercial property. We use advanced inspection and extraction equipment to find water and remove it as quickly as possible. The scientific drying principles we use provide validation and documentation that your property is dry, and the job is complete.

There is never a convenient time for flooding or water damage to strike your business. When an emergency arises in your business, give us a call at 717-665-1270 and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.