Saving Attic Insulation from Water Damage in Oak Hill Homes

1/16/2017 (Permalink)

Water Damage Restoration and Salvaging of Building Materials

There doesn’t have to be a major storm for rainwater to start entering your home via cracks and loose tiles on the roof. If you have an old roof, which is in desperate need of a makeover, you might find that it becomes increasing vulnerable to the elements as the years pass. The problem is that it only takes a little leak for a crisis to occur in your roof and attic.

The power of water should not be underestimated. That tiny leak may be no threat now, but if you leave it untreated, it has the potential to eat away at roofing materials. This is why SERVPRO is keen to remind homeowners that routine roof maintenance is a great way to protect against water damage in Oak Hill.

The good news is that, even if the worse does happen, we can help you rescue and restore a water damaged attic.

Creating an Access Route
The most challenging part about working with attics is that they are quite awkwardly shaped. Some spaces are very tricky to get into, so the SERVPRO technicians have to use clever techniques to dry out dampness and clean the air. For instance, even in very small crawlspaces which don’t allow full physical access, they can insert fans and circulate fresh dry air, or tubes to achieve the same result.

Assessing the Damage
With the use of visual inspections, hypersensitive moisture readers, and pin-hole tests, the team can assess the extent of the damage. The primary aim is to determine how much of the structural materials has been affected by the leak. While water damaged sheetrock usually has to be removed and replaced, high-quality insulation can stand up well to moisture.

If it is carefully removed and dried out in a containment area with a controlled humidity, it is possible to save wet fiberglass insulation. However, whether or not you feel this is a worthwhile process is entirely your decision. Some homeowners prefer to get rid of all damp materials and start the restoration from scratch with new plaster, insulation, and sheetrock. If the water was contaminated and contains pathogens, chemicals, and other unhealthy agents, then replacement is the only option.

Removing Damp Materials
The removal of insulation and drywall is a relatively straightforward job, but it can produce a lot of dust and fumes. We may devise the construction of a containment perimeter to ensure that it does not spread throughout the house. Negative air movers can be used to keep the contaminated air inside the containment area until it can be neutralized and evacuated from the interior of the structure.

Where possible, we try to save and store fiberglass insulation which has responded well to drying and deodorization. Water damage in an attic takes many forms and affects many items if this crawl space is used as a large storage area for personal possessions.

SERVPRO of South Nashville is perfectly placed to respond to leaks, residential flooding, burst pipes, and chronic moisture problems. Call us for help 24/7 at (615) 331-0200.