Storm damage clean up is essential after extreme weather, and knowing what to do is key.
When an extreme storm comes through, outside of a few things, there isn’t a lot you can do to prevent storm damage. Unfortunately, there is typically no single type of damage that must be addressed or fixed after severe weather. There could be commercial or residential water damage due to flash floods, structural damage caused by down tree limbs, mold damage, and even smoke or fire damage if lightning occurred.
There’s a lot to tackle between structural drying, mold damage evaluation and remediation, standing water or tree limb removal, and leaky roof repairs. Addressing these issues immediately is essential to avoid further damage. Property owners need a storm damage clean up and restoration company to respond immediately when severe weather hits.
But what does the storm damage clean up process look like? Continue reading to learn more.
What is storm damage clean up?
When extreme weather hits your area, there are many different problems you will likely have to deal with, depending on the type of storm. For an intense snowstorm or blizzard, there could be concerns about a leak or two in the roof or collapsing under the weight of snow and ice. You could be affected by a flood and the accompanying residential water damage when there’s a torrential downpour. You may even be worried about sewer backups or mold damage.
Whatever your situation, hiring a trusted team of experienced and knowledgeable professionals who can elevate standing water, remove fallen trees, repair water damage, remediate mold issues, restore your roof and other structural elements, and clean the debris from your home and yard is essential.
The restoration portion will begin once the water, tree limbs, and other debris are removed, and the other necessary processes have been completed. This will likely include mold removal in areas where any water damage was severe. It’s important for these professionals to look for signs of water damage to ensure they get all the mold removed.
Storm damage clean up requires in-depth training, certification, and lots of experience to provide quality storm and flood damage restoration services to a home or business. These processes need proper cleaning products, equipment, and protective gear to ensure the job is done correctly, effectively, and efficiently. Finding a trusted and reputable team with everything needed to get the project done right.
Storm Damage Clean Up: Essential steps you should take
Most property owners may not be aware of the basic steps required during the storm damage clean up process. Before hiring a restoration company, it’s good to know the general process to understand what to expect.
Here are some of the essential steps when it comes to storm damage clean up:
- Ensure the property is safe from gas leaks and electrocution — After extreme weather rolls through, there is a good chance the storm negatively affected the electrical and gas lines. As always, you and any professional should prioritize safety with any project!
You should never walk into a building after a fire until the proper authorities have cleared it for reentry, and the same goes for properties affected by storm damage. The appropriate authorities must deem the area safe before anyone walks the premises. Depending on the type of storm, there is a huge potential for electrocution issues and gas leaks, so it is necessary to have the property secured before anything else. - Call your insurance provider — Another important step in the storm damage clean up process is to let your insurance company know that storm damage has affected your property and that you will be submitting a claim.
They may send an assessment agent out to your property to survey the damage and determine the level of a claim that you can file. Before your restoration company starts the clean up, the adjuster should visit your property. - Document the damage — In addition to your insurance assessment agent’s visit, you need to document any of the damage that has occurred before clean up. Take pictures and videos of everything. The more documentation of the damage you have, the stronger your case will be for your claim with your insurance company.
It’s also essential to hold on to all of your receipts and any documents given to you by other companies. Everything will eventually need to be sent to your insurance to support your claim. - Contact a trusted damage clean up and restoration company — Storm damage clean up, water, debris, mold removal, and related projects are never a DIY project for the average property owner. It requires access to the correct cleaning products, equipment, and manpower.
When homeowners entrust the job to a professional, they can rest assured that it will be done correctly and that their property will be safe to live in once again. Storm damage is usually quite extensive and requires the skills of an experienced professional.
Storm damage clean up: 5 steps the professionals take
As explained above, professionals should always be the ones to tackle severe storm damage clean up because of their expertise. The experts’ processes are involved and complex, but, generally speaking, the pros will take these three steps when dealing with a storm damage project:
STEP 1: Assess the damage
The average property owner does not usually have the necessary eye to assess the damage thoroughly. A professional knows exactly what to look for (even in hidden areas you might not suspect). Here are some of the things an expert will keep their eyes open for:
- Damaged shingles — Pitted, broken, or bruised shingles are a common sign of hail damage.
- Lifted or missing shingles — Shingles close to the roof’s edge could be loose or missing.
- Damaged gutters — Gutters may become dented and loosened in a storm. During this time, they may be filled with leaves and granules from your asphalt shingles.
- Broken frames — Window frames could break in a storm (use caution when examining these to avoid a cut from broken glass).
- Shattered or cracked panes — It’s not uncommon for windows to break during a severe storm due to hail or strong winds blowing debris.
- Cracked tile — Ceramic, concrete, or slate tiles may split or crack due to hail or flying debris.
- Dented siding — Similar to shingles, aluminum siding is susceptible to dents and dings.
- Siding chipping or discoloration — Some siding is vulnerable to chipping or cracking. Additionally, constant exposure to extreme weather can lead to discoloration.
- Attic leaks — If you are missing shingles, don’t be surprised if water is seeping into your attic. Darkly colored trusses, joists, and insulation are all signs of water damage that a pro will notice.
- Basement leaks — It’s not uncommon for basements to leak during heavy rains or flash floods.
- Ceiling and wall water spots — If you notice a water stain on your ceiling or walls or other water damage signs, double-check your attic for leaks.
Once your professional has a clear understanding of the storm damage affecting your property, they will create a plan of action that’s best for your home.
STEP 2: Begin cleaning up storm debris
Once the team assesses the damage and you’ve documented it for insurance purposes and get their go-ahead, it will be time to start cleaning up the property. Depending on the severity of the weather, the professionals may have a lot of work ahead.
Common messes to be dealt with storm damage include tree limbs, leaves, trash, broken patio furniture, and even hazardous waste on the property.
STEP 3: Drying process
Next, the professional team will remove water. Using the latest drying technology that only pros can access, your crew will remove visible and non-visible water, stopping the spread of moisture in its tracks. The sooner this process starts, the better because this step in the process minimizes damage to the property and prevents mold growth.
STEP 4: Mold remediation
Once the bulk of the water is removed, your experts will apply an EPA-approved antimicrobial treatment to all affected areas, discouraging bacterial reproduction. The solution deodorizes as it is sanitized.
STEP 5: Reconstruction services
The last step is to restore your property to its pre-storm condition. Your professional contractors will restore affected flooring, walls, ceiling, structural elements, and woodwork to their original condition, matching your memory of it before the severe weather hit.
Let Restoremasters help with your storm damage clean up!
While Utah isn’t part of “tornado valley,” certain instances require storm damage clean up from a professional company, and Restoremasters is here to help.
Whether you’re dealing with structural damage, floods, wind damage, mold issues, residential water damage, fire and smoke damage, vandalism, and more, our team of knowledgeable professionals is here in your time of need, regardless of the time or day.
For more than 20 years, we’ve been helping families and businesses along the Wasatch Front with any emergency and non-emergency disaster needs. With over 100 years of combined restoration experience, our small, family-owned company offers personalized service that sets us apart from the bigger guys.
We pride ourselves on high-quality work, prompt communication, and great customer service. We know that quick responses and superior results are crucial in these situations, which is why our team is dedicated to providing that level of service. We are proud of our reputation, so that you can expect high-quality results and reliable communication, regardless of the day or time.
You can find us throughout the Wasatch Front, and we are available to service areas like Bountiful, Murray, Toole, West Valley, Lehi, Springville, Provo, Herriman, and many other surrounding cities.
To experience the Restoremaster difference, contact the Restoremasters team today. We’ll help restore your home or business the way it should be done.
