Structural drying refers to the process of removing excess moisture from building materials and structures, such as walls, floors, ceilings, and other components, following water damage caused by events like flooding, leaks, or storms. The goal of structural drying is to prevent or minimize further damage, such as mold growth, decay, or structural instability, that can result from prolonged exposure to water.
What are the steps in the drying process?
Regardless of the size of the building, the nature of the environment or the materials involved, there are four principles that remain consistent across all flood or water damage remediation procedures:
Water removal:
Refers to the removal of excess water, helping to increase the chances and effectiveness of the structural drying process.
structural drying with Air Circulation:
Without adequate air flow and evaporation, water will persist in saturating the surface, resulting in reduced evaporation rate. This condition ultimately slows down the drying process and can encourage the development of rot or mold. A crucial aspect to be considered in this procedure is awareness of what is potentially being dispersed.
- Before installing air circulation and drying equipment, it is imperative to test surfaces for the presence of asbestos and carry out appropriate cleaning. This prevents the possibility of leakage or cross-contamination into the environment. If the presence of mold is identified during water extraction, air circulation must be temporarily stopped until the mold is adequately removed using air purifiers.
- If not done correctly, a simple piece of air circulation equipment can turn a water remediation project into a complete facility-wide mold cleanup operation.
Air Circulation:
In the absence of adequate airflow and evaporation, water will persist in saturating the surface, leading to a reduction in the rate of evaporation. This condition ends up delaying the drying process and can encourage the development of rot or mold. A critical point to be considered in this procedure is the awareness of what is potentially being dispersed.
Before installing air circulation and drying equipment, it is essential to test surfaces to check for asbestos and carry out appropriate cleaning. This prevents the possibility of leakage or cross-contamination into the environment. If the presence of mold is identified during water extraction, air circulation must be temporarily interrupted until the mold is adequately removed using air purifiers. If not done correctly, a simple piece of air circulation equipment can turn a water remediation project into a complete facility-wide mold cleanup operation.
structural drying with Temperature:
Maintaining a consistent temperature and operating within ideal ranges for dehumidification equipment are critical to optimizing drying efforts. Generally, we aim to maintain the temperature between 75 and 90 degrees to speed up the evaporation process and extract moisture from building materials. This helps make steps two and three of the process more efficient. Activating the air conditioning or introducing excessively cold air into the drying chambers tends to slow down the drying process. Likewise, rising temperatures can impair the effectiveness of dehumidifiers, highlighting the importance of finding an appropriate balance.
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We work for you, our customer. That means, we will help you to maximize your coverage and fight to ensure you get the most from your insurance claim.
Our team has extensive experience, uses industry standard pricing through Xactimate, and will work directly with your insurance adjuster.
What is the structural drying standard of Iicrc?
The standard says that no matter what EMC you get from materials in the house, you cannot leave a material in an EMC that supports microbial growth – and 16% is documented to support growth. It also says that an acceptable dry standard is within 10% of what the other similar materials in the home were before the loss.
REBORN RECOVERY SERVICES is committed to creating an excellent customer experience during a stressful repair and recovery process. We prioritize communication and education every step of the way, which has resulted in satisfied customers for many years.
For fast and effective water damage services, including structural drying in Fairfield and the surrounding areas, call (800) 620 4186 or 24/7 emergency call (203) 429 4640 and let us help you restore your property with stress free and exceptional customer care.
