WATER DAMAGE REPAIR - Structural Restoration / Drying

• What to do if you require water damage repair for your structure
• Cleaning tips after water damage to your contents
• Types of water damage

Water damage repair and professional structural drying and restoration services require superior processes and specially trained staff. Amtec Disaster Recovery takes pride in providing the best possible services coupled with the most advanced equipment available to get the job done properly.

Property owners sometimes overlook unseen water damage. Plasterboard panelling can absorb water as it has a paper lining, which is in contact with the timber frame. This means the frame will also absorb water. With high humidity, mould can form on the frame, the plasterboard and the backing of any carpet. If mould forms on carpet and plasterboard, they have to be replaced. The timber frame also needs to be cleaned and sanded to remove the mould.  Note that even concrete slabs can absorb water. All these are areas where secondary damage can occur to your home or business premises.

Amtec has a system for rapid structural drying. There are four parts to the system.

1. Extraction – remove the water

Removing water as a liquid is far more efficient than changing liquid to vapour with air movers and removing the vapour with dehumidification. Amtec has specialist methods designed to remove the maximum amount of water from carpets and underlay. These methods, using the latest tools, require more time onsite, so initially the cost for water removal may be higher. However, these methods can reduce the number of equipment rental days because they are more efficient. Removing carpet underlay may not be necessary using Amtec’s water damage repair structural drying techniques.

2. Air flow for evaporation

Once as much water as possible has been physically removed, the rest is evaporated using high-velocity air. We use new types of air movers that provide higher air movement at lower amperage and are specifically designed for rapid structural drying. In the past, air movers were designed to be inserted underneath the carpet. Today's air movers sit on top of the floor and face the wall at a 45-degree angle. In a 4x4 room there could be four air movers using with the new rapid drying methods, compared with two in the older method. More equipment is used to dry the structure quicker.

3. Dehumidification – remove the evaporation

Dehumidifiers are used as the next stage in the evaporation process. The moisture being put into the air by the air movers has to be removed, or secondary damage will occur. Without dehumidifiers, materials such as plasterboard would absorb moisture out of the air. Drying would be delayed and mould growth could occur. New, low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers can remove more moisture from the air than ever before.

4. Temperature control

Maintaining proper temperature is critical for rapid structural drying. Warm air holds more moisture than cool air; therefore, warm air will increase the rate of evaporation. However, there are variables to consider.

• Refrigerant dehumidifiers are most efficient between 22-30 degrees Celsius.
• The dehumidifiers and air movers generate heat that can easily increase temperatures to above 30 degrees. Usually within the first 24-48 hours, because of the cooling effect of moisture evaporating from the structure, temperatures are simply maintained. Keeping the temperature of the affected area between 22-30 degrees for the first 36-48 hours can assist drying enormously. Drying chambers can be used to contain the warmer temperatures to the affected area.

The advantages of rapid structural drying

• Focuses on complete rapid structural drying, not just carpet and underlay.
• Saves property owner and insurance company time and money on overall water damage repair.
• Healthier, safer and less inconvenient for the occupants.
• Minimises the need for deconstruction of the property and replacement of costly structural materials.
• Less disruption and stress to the property owner.
• Reduces the potential risk of mould contamination by drying the structure faster.
• Most properties and contents can be dried within 3-4 days.

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