Stopping and Preventing Flood Damage in Nashville

3/31/2018 (Permalink)

Preventative Measures Can Go a Long Way to Preventing Any Future Damage to Your Home

Nashville residents deal with rain and flooding every storm season. Most homes do not have to deal with much water, some flood every year, and a few have to deal with more water than they ever expected.
 
For a few of them, it is the flood damage under Nashville homes that cause both short- and long-term problems. Crawlspaces are usually just a space under a home that provides a place for spiders, rats, and other pests. After more than twenty years supporting our neighbors, SERVPRO knows that some homes are at risk even when the owners think they are high and dry.
 
Floodwater can penetrate every crack in a concrete wall, and if the groundwater is already high, it can seep up through the ground. Depending on how high the water is outside the home, water in a crawlspace can remain for days.
 
Even if the water in a crawlspace drains swiftly, it does cause some damage every time a heavy rain strikes a home. Installing a sump pump provides a way to begin removing water soon after it begins to collect, but preventing water from entering, to begin with, is a much better way to deal with the problem.
 
Encapsulation closes off the crawlspace from outside moisture. It not only protects the crawlspace but if the flood water rises high enough, it penetrates into the home through the sub-floor. We start with finding every crack and seep in the walls and seal them with hydraulic cement. After they fill every crack, our technicians cover each wall with masonry cement. These two compounds together form an excellent seal against further water intrusion.
 
Next, SERVPRO technicians cover the floor and walls with thick sheets of polyethylene as a vapor barrier. We stretch these sheets into place and use polyurethane caulk or foundation tape to secure them.
 
Once we have the crawlspace sealed off, we remove moisture from what is now an enclosed environment. Our technicians do this by installing one or more dehumidifiers. Each device can draw 25 gallons of water from the air. It not only reduces humidity to a normal level but lowers the risk of mold spores expanding and growing into a mass that can cause further damage.
 
Encapsulation can also reduce utility costs. Depending on the size of the crawlspace, some homes could see their heating and cooling bills reduced by as much as eighteen percent.
 
Protecting a home from flood damage takes much more than just pumping out water and drying out carpets. If you have floodwater in or under your home, SERVPRO of South Nashville is here to help. Call us today at (615) 331-0200.

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