Structural drying services in Adelaide
Professional structural drying to protect your property
Prevent further damage with Flood Fixers!
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Professional structural drying to protect your property
When water damage strikes, simply removing surface water isn’t enough. Flood Fixers’ structural drying services in Adelaide target the hidden and trapped moisture left behind in sub-floors, wall cavities, ceiling spaces, and beneath cabinetry. If structural materials are not properly dried after a flood and water damage event, rot and mould can set in, causing further ongoing costly damage to your property!
Focus on water and moisture not so obvious
Whilst it’s easy to focus on the obvious signs of water damage during a flood event, such as wet carpets, wet flooring and wet content items, the focus should always be on the water and moisture that is not so obvious. In most cases, during a water damage event, there will be moisture underneath the wet carpet in the sub-floor; there will be trapped and hidden moisture inside the wall cavities, hidden moisture inside ceiling cavities and underneath cabinetry. We need to detect and correctly dry this trapped and hidden moisture to avoid further ongoing mould and building issues to the property.
The importance of professional structural drying
If a water-damaged property is not effectively dried and remediated after a water damage event, there can be unwanted ongoing issues within the property. Correct, professional structural drying is vital to eliminate the following problems after a water damage event.
Mould contamination and ongoing bacterial growth
Lingering moisture creates an ideal environment for mould and bacteria, which can harm indoor air quality and health.
Bad odours and unwanted smells inside the property
Trapped moisture can lead to musty odours that are difficult to eliminate without proper drying.
Swelling and buckling of skirtings and cabinetry
Waterlogged materials often swell or buckle, compromising the look and integrity of your cabinetry and trim.
Cupping and permanent damage to timber floors
Timber floors can absorb moisture, leading to cupping and warping that may be irreversible if not quickly dried.
Wood rot and damage to timber framework
Prolonged moisture exposure causes wood rot, weakening the timber framework and leading to costly structural repairs.
The structural integrity of gyprock ceilings and walls can be compromised
Moisture infiltration can weaken gyprock walls and ceilings, making them susceptible to sagging, crumbling, or collapse.
Rising damp and ongoing moisture issues
Moisture can spread upwards through walls, causing damp spots, peeling paint, and ongoing water damage.
Increased risk of termite infestation due to moisture
Moist conditions attract termites, increasing the risk of infestation and damage to wood structures.
Increased overall repair costs
Leaving moisture untreated can escalate repair costs over time as the damage spreads and worsens.
Potential for electrical safety issues
Moisture can seep into wiring and electrical systems, posing a risk of short circuits, shocks, or even fires.
Moisture detection
The professional team at Flood Fixers is well-equipped to find and detect even the smallest amount of moisture within a water-damaged Adelaide property. With the latest thermal imaging technology and sensitive high-tech moisture detection instruments, our team can moisture map your property and find even the smallest amount of raised moisture, no matter where it is. Once we have moisture mapped and outlined all the moisture, including the hidden moisture, we can work on the best way forward to dry all water-affected areas of the property, including the structure.
Why quick action matters to prevent trapped moisture
Correct structural drying of a water-damaged property is time-sensitive; if left too long or if not dried fast enough, mould will begin to thrive in this ideal moist environment. Even worse, if an inexperienced restoration company does not dry your structure correctly and your property is left with raised moisture, future costly repairs can be required to rectify the damage to your property. The team at Flood Fixers have the experience, the latest thermal imaging, and the most up-to-date drying equipment to ensure that the structure of your property is correctly dried and remediated to avoid any future mould or building issues.
Introduction to structural drying for various materials
When a property experiences water damage, it’s not just surface materials that are affected; moisture can penetrate deep into a range of structural components. Each material requires a precise drying approach to prevent issues like mould growth, swelling, and structural weakening. Flood Fixers specialises in identifying and drying the hidden moisture within these areas. All these materials need to be correctly dried after a water damage event to avoid future issues with your property.
Essential materials requiring targeted drying
- Concrete sub-floors
- Gyprock walls
- Timber & MDF skirtings
- Cement sheeting
- Timber sub-floors
- Timber wall frames
- Timber joists, bearers & rafters
- Cement rendered and masonry walls
- Hebel walls
- Yellow tongue sub- floors
- Particle board sub-floor
Specialised structural drying techniques for different materials
Nothing dries structures more effectively than our heat drying process. Typically, structural materials contain less moisture as they are less porous than carpet or underlay, for example. However, the moisture within these structural materials can be tightly held and difficult to remove; we refer to this as bound moisture.
Heating the materials
The most effective way to remove this bound moisture is to heat the materials using our heat-drying Adelaide process. This additional heat will dramatically increase the evaporation rate of the moisture within these structural materials. The structural materials will then dry as the moisture evaporates deep within the material. It can take some time to properly dry bound moisture from waterlogged structural materials; however, our latest heat drying process is the fastest and most effective way to dry and remove this bound moisture
Drying concrete sub-floors
It is vital to ensure the concrete subfloor is completely dry. Drying concrete sub-floors is an excellent example of structural drying. In a situation where the carpet has been flooded or water damaged, of course, the carpet and underlay will need to be dried; however, it is vital also to dry the concrete subfloor underneath to avoid any future mould or structural issues within the water damage property. Likewise, even if the carpet is not restorable and removed, the concrete subfloor will still need to be completely dry before installing new flooring.
Drying gyprock walls
Mould can grow inside wall cavities if walls are not properly dried. Often, water and moisture will rise up gyprock walls to a height of up to 400mm during flooding and water damage to property. We refer to this as wicking. Especially when you have saturated carpet and underlay, the moisture will rapidly wick up the gyprock walls.
Removing moisture from the wall cavity
Mould can quickly start to grow inside the wall cavities if this moisture is not removed and properly dried within a short timeframe. The dark, damp space inside the wall cavity is an ideal breeding ground for mould. Once mould starts growing inside the wall cavity, it will continue to grow unabated for years, creating major health risks inside the property. This is a perfect example of why proper structural drying after a water damage Adelaide event is so vital.
Structural drying of timber wall frames
Water damage and raised moisture in timber wall frames can affect the property’s structural integrity. Wall frames are the skeleton of a building and must be thoroughly dried and remediated at all costs. If timber wall frames are left wet for too long, mould will set in, and the frames can quickly rot, compromising the house’s or building’s structural integrity.
Prevent leaking pipes in the wall cavity
If a pipe leaks inside the wall cavity, the damage to the timber wall frames can be quite significant, as the water may have been dripping and leaking for a long period of time before being detected. In cases such as this, intensive structural drying and remediation may be required.
Preventing long-term damage from hidden and trapped moisture
Trapped moisture must be located and dried to avoid ongoing issues. Drying and remediating trapped moisture within a water-damaged property takes experience and expertise. Water and moisture can become trapped underneath cabinetry, inside wall cavities, underneath timber sub-floors, and in all kinds of hard-to-access areas during a water-damage Adelaide event.
Protecting your property with comprehensive moisture removal
In some water damage restoration situations, some materials may need to be removed to allow airflow to the affected areas. For example, if there is trapped moisture underneath kitchen cabinetry, the kitchen kickers may need to be carefully removed to direct airflow underneath the cabinetry to facilitate structural drying.
Contact Flood Fixers for expert structural drying in Adelaide
Regarding comprehensive water damage recovery, structural drying is essential to prevent long-term issues like mould growth and structural weakening. The experienced team at Flood Fixers is equipped with advanced moisture detection and heat drying technology to dry even the most hidden areas of your property thoroughly. We ensure that every structural component, from timber frames to concrete sub-floors, is thoroughly dried and restored.
Call the professional team at Flood Fixers today for fast, effective structural drying in Adelaide.