Timeline of Destruction With Water Damage

3/22/2022 (Permalink)

Don't let water damage ruin your home or business. Call the pros at SERVPRO!

A little water isn't going to hurt anything. WRONG!! When water damage is left untreated, the structure of a home or business starts to deteriorate over time. Here is the timeline of destruction if the water damage goes untreated:

Within Minutes

• Carpets, padding beneath flooring, subflooring becomes saturated.
• Furniture on wet carpets starts to leach and stain.
• Wood/wood products start absorbing water.
• Personal belongings may be completely destroyed.

Within Hours

• Humidity starts to make the house stink.
• Particleboard cabinetry and furniture distorts and the integrity of the material weakens, crumbling over time.
• Dyes from non-colorfast fabrics bleed (clothing stored together, upholstery, etc.).
• In 48 hours or less, clean or grey water can deteriorate to black water, and areas that experience water intrusion clean water can rapidly become toxic.

Within Days

• Mold becomes visible and causes musty odors
• Allergen sensitivities can be caused by microbial organisms.
• Wood may severely warp and cup, making most wooden floors unsalvageable.
• Painted walls blister and wallpaper begins to peel away.
• Structural wood within home, such as framing, begins to swell and split.

Within Weeks

• Home is hazardous to human health and must be evacuated.
• Mold infests organic materials, rendering it unsalvageable.
• Drywall crumbles while the home’s structural integrity declines.
• Damage to the foundation becomes apparent.
• Home may be salvageable but may need to be gutted down to the studs.

Within Months

• Damage to the foundation may be significant.
• The cost of repairs is likely more than the value of the home.
• Damage that could have been prevented over time (i.e., neglect) disqualifies the owner from insurance claims.
• The home may be unsalvageable

Remember, just because it "looks dry" doesn't mean it is dry!