A Guidance to Discover the Age of Water Damage

Water damage restoration is a common problem for any house, and every now and then the problem is noticeable and other times it's concealed. Things such as flooding bathtubs, toilets and sinks are common problems linked with water damage and you know there is a problem when this happens. But pipes run all over your property, and this involves areas you can't see such as inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a pipe leaking in a hidden area can occur. It's an aggravating problem since you can't see the leak and you won't notice it before the water damage appears.

Yet, when you notice water spots on your ceiling or damage to your walls, these are the sure signs of a leaky pipe or condensation generating the issue. Because the space is concealed, though, it's challenging to ascertain how long the problem has been at hand. While there isn't an approach to know exactly how long your water damage issue has persisted, there are some ways to indicate whether the water damage is new or old.

Find Out the Lifetime of Your Water Damage

You can obtain an estimated age of your water damage by taking this step-by-step process:

  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any outside influences such as heavy rain. Damages and spots derived from water can take months to materialize if it's a slight leak. If you reside in an older house, the water damage spots could have been there for some time. So it's fundamental to take note of the spots you observe while determining whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: An old residence could already have some previous damage caused from water, so it's important to keep a record of what's there and to note if the damage alters overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a great idea too, because if you have a small leak, it can take months for a spot to appear. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when finding out whether your water damage is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: Go ahead and touch the spot- this will disclose a lot about the age of the damage caused by water. A newer spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be durable, while an older spot will be spongy and squishy since your material would have absorbed a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: Outlining rings around your water damage spot shows age. Remember it like a tree- the more rings it has, the longer the damage caused by water has been lingering. Different shadings of the blemish is useful since it shows that the area gets soaked, dries, gets saturated, dries, etc. If it's a new spot created by water, the area will be a single stain with no rings.
  • Examine the Materials: It's important to be aware of the materials that make up your ceiling or walls, since things such as thick paint or tiles can trap moisture. If this is the case, even a small water spot can indicate the accumulation of water has been around for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to settle in, this implies the damage caused by water has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Rot: Your material won't deteriorate from the first occurrence of water damage. So if there has been deterioration, this indicates your material has been exposed to persistent flooding or standing water.

Contact Paul - Your Experienced Water Damage Restoration Contractors

No matter the size of the damage caused by water, Paul Davis is here to assist. Our team of expert water damage restoration contractors can resolve the problem and have your residence back in great condition. Remedy the issue today before it gets even worse and call us at (519)685-9595 for a local franchise near your location.