How to Repair Your Home After the First Floor Floods

Renovating a home can be an exciting experience, but repair work? Not so much. When your home is damaged by the destructive nature of water, it can be frustrating and may feel as if you’re taking a few steps back on adding value to your home.

However, the repair process is essential to get your home back to its original state — or better. When you have a flooded floor—what to do? When it comes to water damage, first floor floods are not an uncommon ordeal. To rectify the situation, you will need to call in professionals who provide drying services and fix flood damage.

Depending on the reason for the flood, you may also need to have drywall, insulation, and flooring repaired or removed. But let’s not jump too far ahead. Here’s a step-by-step guide to rebuilding after a flood after the first floor fills with water. .

The 12 Main Steps to Repairing Your Flooded Home

How you react in the first few moments of noticing your home is flooding may decide how much damage it sustains. Here are 12 critical steps to help you minimize and rectify damage to your home when the first floor floods.

1. Identify the Cause of the Flood

When homeowners think of a flooded first floor, natural disasters probably come to mind. However, the first floor can flood for many other reasons, such as the following.

• Burst pipes
• Faulty washing machine hose
• Leaking appliances, such as the water heater
• Overflowing dishwasher
• Overflowing toilet or blockage in the sewer system
• Pipe left on while the drain is covered or blocked

2. Stop the Flow

If you can identify the source of the water and can turn it off, do so. For example, you may cut the water supply in the home, turn off the dripping or leaking faucet, or plug out the water heater. If you must wade through water to do this, call the professionals and wait outside to prevent possible electrocution.

3. Cut the Power

If you can make it to the fuse box without passing through water, then turn off the power to the affected areas in the home. This will also help to reduce the possibility of electrocution. If you cannot make it to the fuse box without passing through water, call the professionals, and wait outside.

4. Inspect for Damage

If the flood was caused by natural disasters, then do a thorough inspection of the home and call the relevant authorities to resolve the issue. Here are some of the things you should keep an eye out for.

• Damage to electric, gas, sewer, and water lines.
• Structural damage, such as cracked foundations or warping.

5. Document the Damage

While you wait for the professionals to arrive, be sure to document the damage in the home as best as possible. This may be necessary for insurance purposes. Make notes, take pictures, and even take video footage where possible.

6. Call the Insurance Company

The best time to call the homeowner’s insurance company is right away, especially if the first floor flood is due to natural disasters. Phone lines to the company may be busy, so the sooner you call, the further up the line you are on their waiting list. If you are unable to reach your local agent, consider calling headquarters.

7. Hire Water Restoration Professionals

Some insurance companies will send out their own licensed contractors to survey the damage, quote an estimate for flooded house repair, and provide disaster cleanup and restoration services. However, in cases of an emergency, you may be asked to find your own contractors. You will then be reimbursed after the work is completed.

8. Remove the Water

As soon as you receive the go-ahead to remove the water from your home, get started. If the problem is widespread in your community, companies may have their hands full. So, get a head start on repairing flood damage doing some of the work yourself.

Rent a sump pump or wet vac to begin drying water out of the home. Note: avoid plugging these machines into sockets that were in the affected area, especially if the water rose to the level of those sockets.

9. Remove Wet & Damaged Items

There is no point in drying the area only to leave wet items inside. This would only provide a breeding ground for mold and harmful bacteria. Removing the carpeting and drywall will require professional help. However, you can remove soaked furniture, rugs, clothes, and appliances on your own.

If any food came into contact with the water, you must throw those out as well due to possible contamination.

10. Dry the Area

Unfortunately, removing the water and wet items does not make an area dry. To ensure the area is truly dry, you must use a dehumidifier. If only one small room is affected, a personal dehumidifier should do the trick until the professionals arrive. Commercial-grade dehumidifiers, however, are larger and far more powerful.

11. Replace Material

Unlike United Water Restoration, many contractors who provide drying services do not replace the drywall, insulation, and carpeting they may remove from your home. As a result, you may need to call in another team of contractors to replace and re-install these items when rebuilding a flooded home. This should also be covered by your insurance company.

12. Ventilate

Provided that opening the windows won’t let more moisture in, it’s a good idea to air out the home. Also, open drawers and cabinets. Ventilating will help to reduce the moldy smell that may begin to form while you wait for the drying and repair process to be completed. If you are unable to open your windows, then consider installing HEPA air filters to improve the air quality in the home.

Additional Tips

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind when inspecting and repairing your home after the first floor floods.

• Sometimes during a natural disaster, the lights go out. This may make it seem safe to venture into flood waters in or outside of your home. However, whenever possible, always turn off the fuse box.
• When documenting the damage to your home, take notes, and photograph the area from multiple angles. If possible, immediately back the photos up to cloud storage online as the device may later become lost or damaged.
• Clear water does not always equal safe, clean water. Water could be contaminated with chemicals and sewer material. Because of this, it’s important to wear protective gear when it is possible to enter the home. This may include gloves, water boots, and waders.
• Water increases the weight of items around the home, so take care when moving rugs, furniture, and other heavy items to reduce injury. If possible, enlist the help of others and follow best practices for safe lifting.
• If the flooding was due to natural disasters and you have lost windows and doors in the process, be sure to safeguard your home by boarding them up. This keeps out both burglars and wildlife.
• Preventing mold growth is crucial to maintaininga healthy living environment after a flood. Mold spores can start growing within 24-48 hours in damp conditions, so it’s essential to ensure your home is completely dry. Use dehumidifiers and fans to expedite the drying process and consider applying mold-resistant treatments to affected areas. Regularly inspect hidden spaces like behind drywall and under flooring for any signs of mold and mildew. If you notice any, call professionals immediately to prevent the spread and ensure thorough remediation.
• Having the right flood insurance is essential for covering the costs associated with water damage. Review your policy to understand what is covered and ensure it includes comprehensive protection for your home. When filing an insurance claim, document all damage thoroughly with notes, photos, and videos. Contact your insurance company promptly to begin the claims process andkeep all receipts for repairs and replacements. Knowing your policy details and being prepared can significantly ease the financial burden and stress of dealing with flood damage.

If your home has recently had first floor floods, United Water Restoration has the tools, the skills, and the team to provide drying services and repair work. We don’t believe in leaving any job unfinished, so once your home is dry and cleared of all contamination, we will begin the process of restoring your walls, flooring, and any other damaged area.

To get started, call us at 1-800-430-5838 or find a location near you to get immediate assistance. Our emergency services are available statewide, 24 hours per day.