Home Improvement Advice for Disaster Recovery

Tips Do it Yourself Tips for Disaster Recovery

If a building smells bad it probably is hazardous. Never use deodorants or masking sprays to make a building smell good. Always wash your hands when in contact with flooded or fire scenes. Do not smoke or eat during clean up procedures.

When the floodwaters subside many sockets and connections will have been covered in silt, water and contaminants, this may cause arcing, heating, risk of failure, fire. Sockets may need to be opened, cleaned, dried or replaced. Make sure all power is off before you attempt this. Useful tools are WD40 spray - water repellent or Electric field detectors.

Always lift furniture off wet floor, it stops stains from furniture damaging carpets and prevents wooden feet absorbing moisture and causing swelling cracks. Wrap feet of furniture in tin foil or place on non-absorbent material ie. plastic.

Use your logic. If a product is said to be a 100% germ killer, it could harm you, your body works because it's full of necessary and beneficial bacteria which are not immune from the effects of disinfectants.

If you do come across material which you consider may be asbestos wear a mask, keep it wet, control its potential to contaminate if safe to do so and ask for help.

Your home may be your greatest asset. Your insurance should cover you for professional assistance and restoration. Get it! Make sure your contractor is professional, competent and insured.

Always wash your hands before smoking and eating, remember what you touch can easily enter your mouth and infect you.

Never use masking agents to cover the smell of soot, but do clean and neutralise remember soots can cause long term corrosion and odor can reappear.

Water damage can and usually does have long term health and damage consequences if not remedied properly. Key areas of concern are - Has the property been decontaminated and dried properly before building and redecoration?