Water Damage in Austin
There are few things more beautiful than water. From the popular rainfall and wave sounds on relaxation tracks to the bodies of water present in any peaceful landscape poster or fantasy artwork, water is a key player. Water makes up a large part of our culture, with words such as “flow” and “liquidity” filtering into many non-water subjects ranging from art to banking–even our bodies are two-thirds water. However, buildings are not made of water, and while they are built to withstand rain and storms under usual conditions no building is made impervious to floods and broken pipes.
The gentle nature of a babbling brook or a calm lake may be what comes to mind, but water can be very destructive. Water is one of very few forces that can wear stone smooth given enough time. Anything in the path of raging water will not stand. Man-made structures exposed to forceful water, or even peaceful water over a longer period of time, will need specialized repair if they are to survive.
A broken pipe can cause subtle damage such as a bubbling in the wallpaper or a lifting and shifting of the tiles. Mold exposure can cause long-term illnesses in families that aren’t even aware they are effected if water trapped deep inside the wood and insulation of the home is allowed to remain and only the visible flood damage is addressed. If there is sufficient water in the studs or foundation of a structure, the entire building can crumble slowly until there is nothing left to save.
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A few towels are all that’s needed in most cases when a toilet overflows or the bathtub splashes over on to the bathroom floor. If the water is any larger than a simple spill or the origin of the water is unknown, call a professional. By the time a drip appears from the ceiling to indicate a leak in the roof, that water has already saturated the wood, drywall and any insulation between the missing shingle and the dining room table where the drip first plopped. Simply fixing the shingle and leaving the rest to dry out without proper attention could result in mold or wood-rot costing thousands of dollars and the family’s health.
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While Austin is a generally dry city, water damage can still be a reality. In fact, being used to a dry climate it is more likely that residents of Austin will be less prepared when severe water damage does occur. Any homeowner in the Austin area with a water problem requiring more than a few towels should call water damage restoration experts who can clear, repair, restore and even use “steam team” techniques to make sure the underlying structure stays strong and the family can breathe safely.