3 Ways Secondary Damage Can Affect Your Home After a Flood

8/30/2021 (Permalink)

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3 Ways Secondary Flood Damage Can Affect Your Home

The aftereffects of a flood at your Rhoadsville, VA, home can be devastating. Estimating repair costs, sorting through damaged items and gathering data for a flood insurance claim are just a few things you might be dealing with. However, even as you try to handle the aftermath, water damage could be creating issues that you may not notice until days later. From black mold to warping and discoloration of your home's surfaces, secondary damage can exacerbate your flooding woes.

1. Mold growth

After a flood, the high humidity in the area can cause rapid mold growth on walls and other surfaces. Black mold is especially common after flooding, and if you encounter this issue, it is wise to call in a storm cleanup and restoration company to remove it. This can prevent the spores from spreading to other areas, where it may take hold out of sight.

2. Warping

Once flood waters recede, items with porous surfaces, such as wood, can retain moisture and warp. This damage may not occur right away, but over time, you may notice the effects in hardwood floors and wooden furniture. Your countertops may also suffer discoloration if they were constructed with a porous material, such as polished concrete.

3. Musty or Wet Odors

Secondary damage, such as unpleasant odors left behind from dirty water, may not be noticeable until days or weeks after a flood. These odors can linger in furniture, carpeting or even in your home's interior walls, where insulation may be wet and rotting. Restoration technicians have specialized equipment that can help them locate the source of these wet or musty odors and eliminate them.

The immediate effects of a flood in your Rhoadsville, VA, home can be difficult to deal with. However, problems that may crop up days or weeks afterward, such as black mold and wood rot, can be equally hard to handle, and being aware of them may help you be more vigilant about their presence once flood waters recede.