Basement Restoration: What to Do After a Flood

Descending down the flight of stairs into your basement to the sight of standing water on the floor, stuff floating everywhere, and soaked carpets and sofas is a homeowner’s nightmare. What happens in the next few days can throw even the most organized household into complete disarray. 

The worst water damage isn’t what you immediately see in the ruined furniture and family heirlooms. It’s to the structure itself. Basement flooding can seriously destabilize a house’s foundation. The steps you take immediately after the flooding to restore the basement are critical.

Unfortunately, cases of basement flooding are common in Toronto. Every year, homeowners lose precious belongings to water damage. The causes of flooded basement emergencies include:

At first sight, the damage doesn’t look that serious. But wait a few days when the musty smells start and you realize how bad it can get. That damage can be prevented by acting fast. 

When you first notice that your basement has flooded, your immediate reaction is that of shock. It is important that you don’t panic. In a panicked state, you can take steps that may jeopardize your safety.

Here’s what to do:

You obviously want to quickly drain the basement. Before that, though, you want to make sure it is safe to step into that water. 

Water conducts electricity. So if the water has risen above the level of your electrical outlets, it may now be carrying a live electrical current. This presents a lethal electrocution danger. 

Switch off the power supply at the fuse box. Better yet, call an electrician to come and assess everything for you.

Carpets, clothing, furniture, and even books can all be saved if they don’t stay wet for too long. So your first basement restoration action should be to salvage what you can from your soaked belongings. Put everything out to dry. 

If it’s cloudy or raining outside, take the stuff to your garage and use a heavy-duty fan to circulate dry air. Better yet, call for professional help. Speaking of that:

Besides dealing with the source of the flooding, draining the water is the most important step in basement restoration. Assess the size of the task that confronts you and decide if this is something you can do on your own.

You can deal with a wet floor, but more than two feet of standing water is a sign you need immediate professional help. You likely don’t have the right tools – like a submersible pump, anyway. 

Most flooded basement clean-up and restoration contractors in Toronto promise they will be at your property within an hour after calling them. Only after removing the water can you properly assess the damage, dry the basement and take steps to deal with the after-effects of the flooding.

Drying the basement is the next critical step in the restoration process. Before you bring in the dehumidifier and heavy-duty fans, take out every movable item that can hold moisture, including your wooden furniture. 

You want to make sure the basement is dry within the first 48 hours, so act fast here. Open the windows to let in dry air from outside. To quicken the drying process, bring in several large fans and a humidifier.

Acting fast to dry the basement may prevent mold colonies from forming. But you can take steps to forestall the mold growth. Removing it after it has taken root may be impossible, meaning all infested items will need to be discarded.

There are safe plant-based antimicrobial agents that you can use to treat your drywall and furniture to prevent mold spores from forming. If you aren’t sure about how to do this, seek professional help.

It may be weeks before your basement is completely dry and you can redecorate again. Between the flooding or water damage event and when you can redecorate again, there should be a point where you can call for professional help. 

Seeking professional help early will shorten the restoration process. More than that, it can prevent more costly damage to the building structure and help save some of your belongings. So if the basement clean-up and restoration job seems beyond you or your limited equipment, call for qualified help . 

Assured Basements’ basement restoration team ready to respond to any water damage or basement flooding emergency in Toronto.   Contact us here  to request help.