Do All Building Materials Need to be Replaced Following a Flood?

10/4/2021 (Permalink)

Swelling wood floor in North Beach, WA

Life can be good in North Beach, WA, so a flood is likely the last thing on your mind and certainly the last thing you want to deal with. In the event of a household flood due to a leaking supply line or broken pipe, you may wonder what to do and whether the home’s structure can be saved. Facing the prospect of swelling wood and water pipe repair can be intimidating and worrisome, but not all building materials need to be disposed of or replaced.

How Water Affects Building Materials

Whether structural materials are hopelessly damaged, depends on how fully, and for how long they were exposed to water. The following is what happens to various building materials.


Wooden studs - Swelling wood occurs when exposed to water, particularly if submerged
Subfloor - Absorbs water and may not only swell but may also begin to disintegrate
Sheet rock - May possibly be saved upon drying out, provided the source was clean water
Insulation - Absorbs and wicks moisture and may not dry out well


The Possibility of Mold

In addition to water damage, mold may take hold in any materials that are not dried out quickly. Drying is a critical stage of the cleanup and it may require the services of water mitigation and restoration professionals in North Beach, WA, who can bring industrial fans, if needed. They can also assess the need for replacement or the possibility of repair of various materials. Those exposed to clean water may possibly be dried out and reused, but those which have an overgrowth of mold may need to be disposed of.

As you can see, when a flood comes from a supply line or other clean water source
Chances are fair that the building materials might be saved. Once the water pipe repair and swelling wood are all resolved, you can breathe a sigh of relief as your family resumes its normal routine.