Water Damage Restoration in Southwest Florida
Our water restoration experts can repair water damage and ensure you’re living or working in a safe environment.
Our Team is Here to Repair and Restore Water Damage
With two convenient locations in Southwest Florida, one in Fort Myers and one in Naples, our team is ready to handle your emergency water damage and intrusion needs. The unexpected can happen in the blink of an eye, whether it’s from a burst pipe, flooding, or a leaky roof. The aftermath of water damage can be devastating and costly if not addressed promptly. This is why water damage restoration is so crucial in ensuring the safety and integrity of your home or business.
Water can seep into walls, floors, and ceilings, causing structural damage and creating an environment for mold growth.
Water Damage Sequence
Water damage can occur very quickly, or it can happen slowly over time. If water damage is left untreated, it can spark a slew of structural and hazardous health issues. Here’s how the sequence of events takes place from water infiltration all the way to restoration and repairs.
Immediate Water Spread
- Water migrates across the floor
- Flows to lowest levels first
- Saturates carpets and walls
Material Saturation
- Drywall absorbs water
- Wood swells and warps
- Insulation becomes soaked
- Flooring delaminates
Structural and System Impact
- Electrical hazards
- HVAC contamination
- Ceiling sagging
Microbial Growth Timeline
- Begins within 24-48 hours
- Mold spores activate
- Air quality declines
- Musty odors develop
Secondary Damage
- Corrosion of metals
- Staining and discoloration
- Damage to belongings
Water Restoration and Repair
- Rebuilding walls and flooring
- HVAC electrical repairs
- Painting and finishing
Our Water Damage Restoration Process
As a company, Fireservice has been credentialed by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), a global non-profit organization for the Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Industries. This company-wide certification, as well as our technicians’ individual IICRC certifications as Water Damage Restoration specialists, ensures you that we uphold the highest standards established for our industry.
We begin your water damage clean-up with a visual inspection and an infrared moisture assessment to ensure we address both the obvious and hidden damage.
We remove furnishings, floorcoverings, and damaged structural pieces as needed and employ top-of-the-line extractors, air movers, air scrubbers, and dehumidifiers from our arsenal of over 1,200 pieces of equipment from trusted manufacturers to dry out your space.
Replacing ceiling tiles or drywall. This requires immediate attention as gravity might take its toll on damaged sections.
Cut and replace sections of drywall (ensuring the insulation behind it is thoroughly dried out). Generally, if drywall has swelled or sagged 3/8 of an inch or more from the baseline, you need to replace the entire sheet.
Caulking and painting walls as needed.
Replacing tile, vinyl, or wood floors that were affected.
We also handle sewage clean-up from septic tanks or back-ups from the city or county. Our trucks are designed to extract 88-90 gallons per minute, creating an efficient and seamless mitigation process.
Fireservice is a licensed and registered General Contractor and provides remodeling and construction services to help you restore your home to, or better than, its original condition.
Common Causes of Water Damage
It doesn’t take much for internal water leaks from faulty construction or mechanical failure to cause a great deal of damage:
- At one drip per second, a leaky faucet can waste over 3,000 gallons of water in a year.
- A 1/8-inch-wide pipe crack can leak 250 gallons of water per day.
- A damaged washing machine hose can leak up to 10-12 gallons of water each minute, causing more than 12,000 gallons to spill into your home within 24 hours.
Water damage from external sources is usually sudden, and often devastating. Coastal homes in Naples, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, or one of our service areas are prone to natural flooding from severe thunderstorms and hurricanes. The force of wind-driven rain, especially on our barrier islands of Sanibel, Captiva, and Marco, can penetrate the tiniest of cracks in a wall.
FAQs: Restoring Water Damage
Why is it important to identify and restore water damage?
Water damage can wreak havoc on a property, causing structural issues, mold growth, and health risks for inhabitants.
What should I do if I experience water damage?
If you have been assured by our professionals or a general contractor that your home or building is still structurally sound, you may want to employ any of the following measures, take time to suit up in protective clothing, rubber boots and gloves, goggles, and an N-95 mask.
Take Photos: Before, during and after damage clean-up.
Ventilate affected areas in an effort to retard mold growth. Open windows and doors as weather permits to maintain moderate temperatures.
Throw away any porous items that have absorbed water.
What can I expect after the water damage restoration process?
After the water has been removed, the remodeling process will begin, and the site will be restored back to its original state.
Will my homeowners insurance cover water damage?
In most cases, homeowners’ insurance will cover water damage. Fire, water, and mold damage are typically filed under your homeowner’s insurance and storm damage is typically a combination of both homeowners insurance and flood insurance. It’s best to check with your specific insurance provider before a disaster strikes.
How can you tell if there is a leak behind a wall?
Look for signs or water spots, musty odors, bubbling pain, and weak adhesions.
How can I prevent future water damage?
Prevention strategies include:
- Regular Maintenance: Inspect roofs, plumbing, and drainage systems routinely.
- Install Water Alarms: Detect leaks early with water leak detectors.
- Flood-proofing: Implement flood barriers and drainage improvements if you live in a flood-prone area.
How long does the restoration process take?
The duration of the restoration process varies based on the extent of damage, but generally:
- Minor damage might take a few days to a week.
- More severe damage could take several weeks, especially if reconstruction is necessary.
Do You Need Water Damage Restoration Services in Southwest Florida?
Fireservice Emergency Disaster Response has been restoring water damage for 50+ years. We specialize in water removal and remodeling to help restore the structure to its original state.
With local offices in Fort Myers and Naples, our 24/7 dedicated emergency response teams are on the road to you in less than 5 minutes to remediate, restore, and remodel in high-stress situations.