After a hurricane hits a home, a person should take photographs of the damage immediately after the storm is over. They should also get an appraisal of the damage. This will be for insurance purposes, as well as for inspectors. Some damages may take time to show up right away, so people should keep a vigilante eye out for any damages that were not caught in the first initial assessment. Salt water is the worst type of composition that can cause erosion of pipes, electrical wires, and systems. Any type of water that sits for a long amount of time will eventually start to cause damage. This includes water on carpets and floors. There are many building elements on a home that should never have a lot of moisture on them, which includes plaster, insulation, wood, electrical devices, and wall boards. Steel is another proponent that should never be wet. Water damage from hurricanes and floods can cause thousands of dollars to correct. Hurricane Katrina caused massive amounts of water damage with the six feet flood waters that corroded pipes, wiring, roofs, flooring, walls, and foundations of homes that cost in the millions of dollars. Many homes were purposely demolished due to the extent of damage was just too irreparable. Taking care of water damage as quickly as possible to a home after a hurricane is crucial.
Hurricane and water damages will need to be surveyed by an inspector as soon as a hurricane is over. The sooner the damages can be fixed, the less odds it will be that a home ends up becoming inhabitable. Once water has saturated a home, it can be very hard to correct it. Many foundations and roofs of a home will need to be replaced.
Documenting Water Damage
There are many components on the exteriors and roofs of a home that will need to be documented as soon as possible:
Flat roofs- Flat roofs will damage more quickly than any other type of roof in a hurricane. The flat roofs leak much easier due to the stress of the wind.
Walls- Water damage to walls will need to be documented with pictures of the water that is dripping down the wall, which can leave large water stains, and ruin the foundation.
Foundations- Damages that have been done to the foundations of a home will need to be assessed and photographed. Water damage to the foundation of a home can cause walls to collapse.
Window frames- Window frames will also need to be assessed for water damage. Leaky frames can cause windows to fall out.
Doors and frames- Doors that are damaged by water will cause unnatural bulking that will make it hard to open and close doors. Many frames and doors will need to be replaced on a home.
Panels and electrical systems- The electrical systems and wiring in a home will all need to be assessed for water damage. As well as lighting systems, conduits, and computer controls.
Wood paneling- The wood paneling of a home that has been damaged by a hurricane can cause the wood to peel off. Just as the bark can easily come off of a tree when wet, the same thing can happen to the wood paneling on a home. Keeping wood dry is important.
Paint and coating- The paint and coating of a home will need to be photographed and assessed for water damage.