Water damage can be an owner’s worst nightmare, causing significant damage and posing serious health risks. Inspection and testing for dampness and water damage can be a complex process, and filing an insurance claim may be complicated, but professional assessment and documentation can speed up this process. Understanding the water damage assessment process is crucial in mitigating the risks, keeping your family safe, and restoring your property effectively. You want to get things repaired, cleanup up and back to normal as soon as possible, you need a comprehensive water damage inspection with our expert Nationally Accredited Technicians.
While property owners may be able to conduct some visual inspection of water damage, hiring a professional for a thorough and comprehensive inspection is highly recommended. Our certified technicians have the expertise and specialised equipment necessary to detect moisture and accurately assess water damage. We follow industry standards and best practice to ensure thorough assessments and reliable results. This ensures that your property is thoroughly assessed and appropriately repaired, as well as improving insurance claims and reducing the risk of further damage.
The first step involves a thorough inspection of all effected areas to determine the source of dampness and water intrusion. Common sources include roof leaks, plumbing issues, foundation cracks, condensation, floods, and more. As water spreads quickly, nearby areas are also closely examined including roof cavities, sub floors, crawl spaces or basements, adjacent walls or levels, and more. Identifying the source is crucial for preventing further damage and to begin the drying process, as well as planning for effective repairs.
It is essential to determine the type of water damage in the building as potential contamination is a key factor in the restoration process. This protects the health of all occupants and those professionals assisting with the cleanup and repair to your property. Any water damage or leaks should be avoided until assessed by a professional. There are 3 types of water contamination defined by regulatory and industry standards.
Category 1 – White Water. Free from contamination and easily cleaned. Typically from leaking pipes or taps. If not resolved promptly, this can quickly become contaminated water.
Category 2 – Gray Water. Slightly contaminated by things such as soaps or detergents but not considered toxic. Typically from washing machines, dishwashers, or kitchen/bathroom drain pipes.
Category 3 – Black Water. Highly contaminated, toxic, and extremely hazardous water. Typically from flood events, toilet backflows and sewage pipe problems. This water is very dangerous and should be avoided until deemed safe by a professional.
Determining the extent and degree of water damage is essential in evaluating insurance claims and restoring your property. Water damage can be obvious or hidden and insidious. Moisture can soak into subfloors, wick up drywall, and spread into studs and framing. Infrared thermal cameras helps to zero in on damaged areas, revealing hidden pockets of moisture, while electromagnetic moisture meters detect dampness in various materials. This allows our expert technicians to identify hidden water damage that might not be visible to the naked eye. We also assess the air quality within the property as excessive humidity and moisture levels may increase the problems associated with water damage.
Our expert technicians use advanced equipment and industry experience to create an accurate and comprehensive moisture map of your property. Moisture mapping provides a visual and coloured floor plan representation of inspection findings including the source of intrusion, location of moisture, and the extent of the damage. This serves as a critical guide for repair crews and is a vital piece of damage documentation for insurance claims. Insurers typically require a lot of detail about any flood or water damage and a comprehensive moisture map completed by an industry professional increases the likelihood that your insurer will approve your claim.
Our certified Technicians will also classify any property damage to assist with the remediation process and provide the necessary information required to make an insurance claim. This includes:
- Pre-existing Damage – Damages that were present prior to the water damage occurring.
- Primary Damage – Damages that are a direct result of water that impacts your property.
- Secondary Damage – Damages in the aftermath of a water event such as sagging drywall, warped flooring, and dangerous mould growth.
Areas subjected to dampness and moisture are prone to mould growth. Mould thrives in damp environments and can pose serious health risks to the property’s occupants and repair crews. Our expert technicians provide mould inpsection within the affected areas searching for visible signs of mould, musty odours, and other signs of mould growth. If at risk of a serious mould infestation, our certified inspectors are here to help with a comprehensive mould assessment of the property. For further information see our Mould Inspection Services.
The final step in the assessment provides a detailed outline and action plan. This provides an accurate overview of damages and recommendations to repair your property. Comprehensive documentation includes digital floor plans, property data points, incident information, photos and findings, moisture mapping, and more. This detailed report provides the documentary evidence required for your insurance provider and gives you piece of mind to move forward in restoring your property and keeping your family safe.