Category: Flood & Water Damage

Assessing your home for flood damage can be overwhelming. Here are some of the dos and don’ts of flood repair, and some tips on when to call a professional.

Floods can cause devastating damage to your home. From contaminating drywall and wallboards to destroying plaster, insulation and wood structures, flood damage is a serious issue and can take a significant amount of time to fix.

While it’s tempting to take a DIY attitude to after-flood repair, there are some things that are best left to the professionals. Here’s a list of dos and don’ts when dealing with the aftermath of a flood, along with tips on when to call for help.

What to know before you clean

Before you’re able to assess and repair the damage, make sure the area is safe for you and your family. Call a professional when dealing with unsafe electrical issues and structural damage.

The Dos of safety assessments:

• Do look for broken power and gas lines. Smell for gas, and check for foundation cracks and damage to the exterior of the building
• Do safely turn off all water and power
• Do check for major structural damage before entering the home

The Don’ts of safety assessments:

• Don’t stand under sagging ceilings or walk on sagging floors
• Don’t use your electrical appliances. If the ceilings are wet, don’t turn on lights or fans.

What to know when you start cleanup/damage repair

After you’ve assessed the flood damage, you’ll want to fix any safety hazards first. While some projects are doable by yourself, serious damage to plumbing, walls, and flooring should be dealt with by a professional.

Dos of initial cleaning:

• Do make sure your running water is drinkable, as pipes may have been damaged in the flood. To check for clogs, flush your toilet before use.
• Do identify any unstable areas in your home, such as cabinets that could fall down due to damage.
• Do remove any debris and any water trapped in the walls. You’ll also want to open all the windows and doors to help with ventilation. To dry flooded areas, you can use any combination of a wet vac, shop vac, fans, dehumidifiers and moisture drying materials (called desiccants). This is a good time to reach out to a professional cleaning crew to ensure your house is thoroughly dried.
• Do patch up holes in the walls and roof temporarily with plastic sheeting and tarps. You can also repair floors and roof sections with 4x4s at this stage.

Don’ts of initial cleaning

If your basement is flooded, don’t drain it too fast. Sudden changes in pressure could lead to your foundation collapsing.

• Don’t try to repair structural and electrical issues yourself. Call an expert. Another good tip is to avoid connecting a generator to your house’s untested power system.
• Don’t use a regular, household vacuum when trying to dry the area and remove mud.

What to know once all major issues are handled

Once you’ve finished all the serious repairs, you can focus on the secondary issues. Make sure to stay safe and hygienic during this phase of the cleanup. Wear protective clothing (such as boots, mask, and rubber gloves) and wash your hands often.

Dos of secondary repairs

• Do throw out all wall coverings (such as wooden panels) to avoid any undetected mold. You’ll also want to remove any drywall, finished ceilings and insulation that’s been damaged by the flood.
• Do thoroughly disinfect your home and throw away any exposed food or medicine, including canned goods. Make sure all hard surfaces are cleaned with hot water and soap or detergent. Finally, wipe down and dry any wooden items.
• If you have furniture that can’t be moved, do put wood blocks or aluminum foil beneath the legs of your furniture to lift it up off the floor.

Don’ts of secondary repairs

Don’t throw out all your damaged floor and wall coverings. You’ll need a piece of the damaged items to show your insurance assessor

• Don’t keep any permeable material, like foam rubber or padded furniture. This type of material should be thrown out after a flood.

Know when to ask for help

It’s definitely possible to do many repairs on your own after a flood, but some jobs are best left to a professional. It may seem cheaper to repair flood damage on your own, but supplies and machine rental costs add up quickly. For serious damage and quality cleaning/drying services, it’s best to reach out to a trusted pro, like Touch With Care.

Flood Damage Restoration: DIY or Call a Professional?

A ceiling leak needs to be taken care of quickly and carefully. Check out our step-by-step guide on how to repair water damage to your ceiling.

Ceiling leaks are often easy to spot, but difficult to treat. Water damage to the ceiling is caused by a variety of issues, including burst or leaky pipes, a toilet or bathtub that overflowed, or a leaky roof.

Ceiling leaks come in two categories – slow leaks and large leaks. Slow leaks can start with a trickle and often lead to yellowish-brown stains and mold. Large leaks are more obvious and can cause structural damage to the ceiling. In both cases, it’s important to catch the causes early and know what to do. Check out our step-by-step guide to treating ceiling damage.

Step 1: Locate and fix the cause

When dealing with a leaky ceiling, it’s important to find the cause of the leak as soon as possible. Plumbing issues and leaky roofs are the most common causes of water damage.

Plumbing

If the cause isn’t obvious, check the bathroom caulk, which can wear away, letting water drip through the walls. Pipes can also sweat in the winter or summer. Fixing any plumbing issues is an essential first step if this is the cause.

Leaky roof

If you’re dealing with a leaky roof, take a look at the shingles. Damaged shingles are a common cause for leaks and should be fixed quickly.

Step 2: Dry out your ceiling

Make sure to dry out your wet ceiling and the wood joists inside quickly to limit mold growth and water damage. Regular house fans are an option, but they can take days or weeks to fully dry the ceiling. To prevent water damage to your ceiling, your best bet is to use a high-volume fan and a structural drying dehumidifier. The right equipment can shorten the drying process from about six hours to a full day.

A moisture meter is a great way to ensure the ceiling is fully dry.

Step 3: Repair the damage

If your ceiling only has minor damage, you can usually repair the area without having to replace the drywall or plaster. Simply remove loose debris by scrubbing the area with a brush, then wipe it with a clean, damp cloth and air dry.

Any small cracks can be fixed with plaster or drywall mud. Gaps that are less than half an inch wide can be fixed using a putty knife. Wider gaps should be filled in and then sanded smooth.

For major damage, the affected area will have to be cut away and replaced. Box cutters or drywall saws are an effective tool for cutting through drywall ceilings. Once you’ve taken the damaged drywall off, cut a new piece smaller than the hole and make sure to screw it into the joists. Seal the gaps by taping the joints. If your ceiling has plaster, you’ll have to replace the backing material (or lathe) and apply new plaster in thin layers. Make sure each layer is dried before applying more plaster.

Step 4: Seal and paint the damaged area

The last step is to paint the damaged area. Start by using a sealing primer. Not only will this stop the ceiling from soaking up paint, it’ll also cover water stains. Once you’ve applied at least two coats of primer and let those coats dry, you can start applying your top coat.

Repairing ceiling damage – minus the stress

Fixing water damage to your ceiling doesn’t have to be an overwhelming job. If you’re quick to find and fix the cause, dry the area properly and repair it well, your ceiling should look like new. For a major leak, it’s a good idea to call in an expert to ensure your ceiling is repaired properly

Need a restoration specialist? Touch With Care’s highly experienced team is prepared to act quickly across Toronto and Mississauga. We respond within the hour to limit the possibility of water damage, electrical dangers, the growth of mould and bacteria, and structural harm to your home or business. Contact us when disaster strikes.

Water damage restoration is costly and time-consuming. Here’s how to prevent leaks and water damage.

Water accounts for half of all Canadian home insurance claim costs, beating out theft and fire. The threat of water damage comes from both inside and outside the home, but there are plenty of preventative steps you can take to keep your home safe and dry!

Here are the best ways to stop flooding and leaks in their tracks and avoid expensive water damage restoration!

1. Keep an eye on your roof

Roof leaks can start small and unseen, leading to extensive damage over time. Attic insulation becomes wet, leading to rot and mold growth, in addition to a weakened roof structure. Have your roof inspected occasionally and repair damaged or missing shingles as soon as possible. Rubber and asphalt shingles generally last a minimum of 15 years, so if your roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, it’s best to replace it.

2. Clear gutters and downspouts twice a year

Leaves, twigs, pine needles and other debris can build up in your gutters, leading to clogged and sagging gutters, mold growth, a leaky roof or water damage. It’s recommended to clean your gutters twice a year, usually in the late spring and then again in the fall. Besides removing large debris, flush your gutters with a garden hose to remove smaller particles and check your downspouts for blockages. Rusted, sagging or cracked sections of the gutter should be repaired to prevent water damage to your home.

3. Small leaks hurt big

Ten percent of homes have water leaks that waste more than a bathtub full of water every day. And it’s so easy to underestimate how much these silent leaks are costing you. The City of Toronto says a nail-sized hole in your plumbing can cost you $60 a day, while a leaky toilet can run you up to $85 a day. An easy way to catch these leaks is to track your monthly water bill, as a sudden jump with no corresponding increase in water use can signify a problem.

Check plumbing and appliances for leaks, especially washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, and other water-using appliances. Pay close attention to their hoses and replace brittle or broken ones quickly. It’s also a good idea to periodically pull your appliances away from the walls or cupboards and look for signs of water damage in the surrounding area.

4. Use flood detection devices

Zigbee-powered flood detection sensors detect moisture and wirelessly alert you to leaks and flood damage in real-time, avoiding any water damage restoration efforts. You can install them near water heaters, under appliances, or in basements or bathrooms.

5. Know where your main water shut-off is

In the event of a main pipe bursting, large amounts of water can flood your home in minutes. Knowing the location of your home’s main shut-off valve will let you react quickly and limit the amount of water damage. Make sure every member of your family knows where it’s located as well, along with your toilet shut-off valves.

Protect your home

When it comes to preventing costly water damage restoration, defense is the best offense. These tips will help prevent damage to your home from harsh weather events or defective plumbing.

Need a restoration specialist? Touch With Care’s highly experienced team is prepared to act quickly across Toronto and Mississauga. We respond within the hour to limit the possibility of water damage, electrical dangers, the growth of mould and bacteria, and structural harm to your home or business. Contact us when disaster strikes.

Got water damaged floors? As experts in water damage repair, here’s a guide on how to approach the clean-up, by floor type.

If not handled quickly, water damage can destroy your floors and get into the sub floors. Regardless of your floor type, the first step in any water damage scenario is to find and fix the leak quickly. Once that’s done, follow our water damage repair guide to see how to properly repair any type of flooring, from hardwood and laminate to carpet.

Dry it out

No matter what type of flooring you have, it’s vital to fully dry the area before repairs can begin. If you’re dealing with large pools of water, use a wet vacuum, then put dehumidifiers and fans in the room for a couple of days. In mild cases, this will be enough to fix the damage.

Hardwood floors

First, identify all signs of water damage, such as cupping, dark spots, bulging or buckling. If only a few boards are affected, you can most likely nail or screw them back in place.

If the damage is more serious, use matching wood and replace the individual floorboards. For excessive water damage, you may have to cut the affected area out using a saw. Once this is done, use a pry bar to remove the floor planks.

If you’re dealing with solid wood floors, make sure you replace the boards first, nail them to the floor, then sand both the new and old flooring. This way, they’ll match perfectly before you stain them. Once you’re ready to stain your wood floors, apply several coats, then several more coats of polyurethane finish.

Some damage is so bad that it’ll actually cost less to remove the entire damaged floor instead of trying to repair the area.

Laminate Floors

While laminate finish is water-resistant, when water does get in through a leak, the internal materials will absorb the water, leading to swelling and separation beneath the finish. If you’re dealing with major flooding, like a basement flood, you’ll have to replace the entire laminate flooring.

For mild to moderate flooding, the water damage repair process is a little simpler. You may be able to salvage some flooring sections. Once the floor is dry, you’ll be able to examine the damage and determine how much needs to be repaired. If you’re dealing with smaller damage, you can simply replace the affected boards.

Carpets

An upside to having carpets is that they can handle a large amount of water, though it’s important to dry out your carpets quickly to stop mold and mildew growth. Your best bet to salvage your carpets is to rent a carpet cleaning machine, which will extract the water fairly quickly. This may also be a good time to call in a professional floor care company.

Once you’ve dried your carpets, have them professionally cleaned. At this point, you’ll have an idea of whether or not you’ll need to replace the carpets.

Tile Floors

While it’s true that tile is water repellant, significant flooding can cause water to seep in through the cracks in the grout and cause damage to the subfloor.

After your floors are dried well, access the damage. If the subfloor is fine but some tiles are loose, simply lift the tiles from the floor with a standard head screwdriver. When replacing the tiles, make sure to match the new grout to the old grout as closely as possible.

Vinyl and Linoleum Floors

Once you’ve dried your floors (try using fans and increasing the temperature on your furnace), identify which sections need to be replaced. First, cut out the damaged portion with a utility knife, then use a screwdriver to pry the tiles off the floor.

Watch out for damage to the subfloor. Once water gets in, the wood can swell and shrink when it dries.

Repairing damaged subflooring

First, use a circular saw (set to 1 inch depth) to get rid of the damaged portion. Next, take out any protruding nails using a pry bar, then vacuum any debris. If you notice the area under the subfloor is still wet, dry it fully.

You’ll want to use 2 x 6 lumber as your floor frame, which will support the new subfloor. You can use a piece of ⅝ inch CDX plywood as the new subfloor, just make sure to cut and measure it carefully. Leave a ⅛ inch gap between the subfloor and the new plywood. This will allow for expansion.

Your last step is to use galvanized 8d nails (deck screws would also work) to fasten the new plywood to the framing.

Don’t make it complicated

Flood-damaged flooring can be difficult to deal with, but if you take the right steps and dry it thoroughly, you should be able to salvage your floors. For excessive flooding, consider reaching out to a professional to ensure quick and effective water damage repair.

Need a restoration specialist? Touch With Care’s highly experienced team is prepared to act quickly across Toronto and Mississauga. We respond within the hour to limit the possibility of water damage, electrical dangers, the growth of mould and bacteria, and structural harm to your home or business. Contact us when disaster strikes.

Every home with a basement carries a risk of basement flooding. Here’s a quick overview on how to prevent it from happening.

When it comes to protecting your home from damage, one of the best places to start is to safeguard your home’s basement from flooding. So today, we would like to share with you our top five tips on how to help keep your basement from becoming flooded.

Figure your flood risk

One of the first things to do in preparing your home against flooding is to check how common flooding is in your local area. In Ontario, flooding is said to be one of the most costly natural threats that can happen year-round. Knowing the area your home is located in and any special circumstances — in which could make flooding a little more difficult — is key in preparing the best defense against flooding cause by weather.

Repair foundational cracks

Another great tip in keeping your home protected from flooding is fixing any and all foundational cracks. Small crevices can be filled with an appropriate sealant; while larger areas may need a professional to properly fix it. Regrading your yard can also help prevent flooding, as it can avert rain from building up around your home.

Correct or repair pipe leaks

A leaky pipe in your basement can seem minor; but if left unchecked, it can cause flooding in your basement. A leaky pipe can have a simple solution, such as tightening or fixing what is damaged. But if it is not corrected in time, the pipe could burst and produce even more damage. Simply mending and correcting small needed repairs can save a lot of time and money in the long run!

Maintain clean gutters

Eavestroughs or gutters are installed on a home to keep water away from the house. However, when your eavestrough is blocked by debris, the water can drain improperly and pool at the base of the home. This, in turn, can cause flooding in your home. Keeping water away from the house is the goal when you are trying to advert water buildup; this is where clean eavestroughs can be a key component in preventing basement flooding. Another tip is to keep your downspout at least two meters away from your home; this is to ensure it will drain properly and in the right area.

Consider sump pumps

A sump pump is a machine that takes out, from a home, excess water caused by a storm. The pump is only activated when water begins to fill it. Once the pump starts, it begins to automatically push out the excess water through a pipe, which leads outside away from the home. Many sump pumps work using electricity; so it is advised to have a backup generator in case of a power outage during a storm.

A flooded basement can be an unexpected interruption in your life. Being prepared can save you both time and money!

When disaster strikes, we restore with care

You want a professional to help you keep your home and property in great condition. As a family-owned business of emergency restoration experts, we, at Touch With Care, strive to give you the best service and information to keep your property in top condition! To learn more, contact us.

In Canada, spring can mean a lot of wet weather and big storms. Here’s a quick guide on how to make sure that water damage from a flood is the least of your concerns.

Unclog your drainage system

Your gutters, downspouts, and drains accumulate dirt and debris during the dry months. A clogged drainage system makes it hard for water to flow out of your roof, causing damage to the roof and gutters. Clogged drains increase the risk of water damage due to overflow from the roof and other parts of your home or condo.

Clean your eavestroughs and downspouts before spring begins to ensure that the water flows down without blockages and obstructions. Make sure your gutters and drains are in good condition and replace damaged or leaking parts.

Inspect your roof

Your roof is the part of your property that is most susceptible to flood water damage during storms. Check your roof (safely) for damaged or broken shingles and replace them. Make repairs to bulging and leaky parts to reduce the risk of flooding during storms.

Repair cracks and weak points in the foundation

Small cracks and damaged parts in the basement and foundation can increase the risk of water damage to your home. These cracks grow into holes that seep in water during floods. The high water pressure during floods widens the cracks and holes, causing structural damage to your property. Reduce the risk of damage and flooding during spring storms by repairing cracks and other weak points in the foundation and basement.

Seal all major openings

During storms, water can enter your home or property through the most unlikely places. Broken door and window seals allow water to enter, leading to flooding and property damage. You can prevent such leaks by checking the condition of the seals around your windows and doors. Look out for cracked caulking, broken parts, and loose screws and make repairs and replacements where necessary.

Install a backflow pipe in the basement

Sometimes municipal sewer systems can be overwhelmed by flood water during storms. This excess water may flow back to the sewer lines on your property, leading to flooding. You can mitigate such risks by plumbing the fixtures at the lowest points on your property. Install a sewer backflow valve at strategic points to divert backflow water away from your sewer lines and back into the main municipal sewer system.

Hire professionals

You can prevent spring water damage by conducting routine property checks and repairs. However, some tasks may require professional services. We are experts in residential and commercial flood prevention.

Contact our Mississauga & Toronto offices to get a quote.