Water Damage and Mould Cleaning: The Professional Approach

Experienced Water Damage & Mould at your Melbourne Property? Call the Experts 1300 305 030

One of the first things that happen when there is an indoor flooding is the question of who covers the costs – is water damage covered by home owners insurance or by owners corporation? Or do you have to go out of pocket? With more than twenty years in the water damage remediation industry we’ve seen all sorts of flooding indoors and we know the best course of action for yourself regarding insurance claims and getting your home back to normal after a flood. Our first goal however is to restore your property to pre-loss condition so that we can hand back your home in new condition. When it comes to water damage and indoor flooding we know the complications that can arise if not properly remediated. One of the biggest concerns regarding water damaged carpets is the growth of mould. We’ll outline the best way to clean up after water damage and how we get rid of mould.

Water Damage Cleaning

We know that when it comes to water damage, the best course of action is immediate action. Water damage cleaning requires technicians who have experience operating water cleaning machinery including moisture meters, water extraction units, carpet drying fans, dehumidifiers and more. Combined with the right water damage technicians and certified equipment, restoring your home after an indoor flooding will be a smooth process. At Kleen-Tech we use our proven method to ensure the area is safe to commence works. First, we identify the source of the leak and amend this ourselves or use our professional contractors to attend to the cause of the flood. We then secure the area and move any large items such as furniture and all belonging away from the water damaged area. By using our moisture meters and equipment we can assess how saturated the carpets are and what remediation works will need to be carried out. Generally for large floods or overflowing sewage the carpets and underlying structures need to be replaced. If there is a flood with water only and no contaminants, we can remove the carpet, dry it, stretch it and replace it. We also determine whether the underlay and any floating boards need to be dried and replaced too. By using air blowers and dehumidifiers combined with time and plenty of cold ventilation, the damaged area can be restored to pre-loss condition. We conduct further moisture tests and assessments during the course of the drying to ensure that water is eliminated to the safest level possible.

Mould Cleaning

When it comes to mould, we don’t leave anything to chance. Mould can develop over time in areas that have low ventilation, moisture, humidity and low levels of light. Sometimes after an indoor flooding event where your carpets get saturated below the surface hidden from the eye. If the water is not effectively removed that moisture will remain underneath and provide the right conditions for mould to grow. Below we outline how our IIRC Certified Mould Technicians get rid of mould in your property.

Step 1: Inspection And Damage Assessment By A Professional

Before any work can take place, the first step to an effective remediation is an initial assessment of the mould damage. Since mould colonies will often begin growing out of sight – favouring dark and damp areas – specialised equipment is often required to locate all the mould and pinpoint the water source causing it to prevent future recurrence. During this period professionals will also work quickly to determine any objects that will be salvageable or that will need to be condemned.

Step 2: Containing The Mould

Professionals will use various containment procedures to prevent the mould spreading and potentially causing damage to the structure or objects in the home. These measures may include physical barriers to the mould and negative air pressure to prevent spores from spreading during the cleaning process.

Step 3: Air Filtration

The professionals at Kleen-Tech utilize powerful air filtration units during the mould remediation process to capture microscopic mould spores in the air, assisting the containment of mould by preventing its spread.

Step 4: Removal Of Mould And Mould-Affected Materials

The amount of mould that has grown and the types of surface it has grown on will heavily affect the specifics of the remediation process. Depending on how much time the mould has had to grow, removal of infested materials such as drywall and flooring may be necessary – again illustrating the importance of time when you do find mould in the home. However, anti-fungal and antimicrobial treatments will be used to kill off the mould colonies where possible to salvage whatever materials possible.

Step 5: Cleaning Contents And Belongings

During the initial assessment, professionals will act fast to isolate salvageable mould-affected belongings and furniture. During this phase of the clean-up they will then treat any belongings affected by mould with a variety of cleaning techniques and products to ensure they are returned to their previous condition wherever possible.

Step 6: Removal And Restoration

If any materials need to be removed such as drywall or carpets, it is during this phase that these will be replaced. Depending on the extent of the removal necessary, this can range from minor repairs and simply replacing some carpet and drywall to major repairs involving reconstruction of entire sections of the home or business.

Water Damage and Mould Cleaning in Melbourne

Did you know that here at Kleen-Tech we have more than twenty years experience with water damage restoration and mould cleaning? If you live in Melbourne or any surrounding suburb, call the professionals on 1300 305 030 on a 24/7 basis to discuss your water damage and mould concerns. We offer dispatch within the hour to any area in Melbourne as long as support before, during and after the job.