water damage restoration

water mitigation, remediation and restoration all in one place

Mitigate water’s impact on your property, remediate damaged areas, and restore your building to its previous condition. Water and flood emergencies happen quickly and unexpectedly. If you notice signs of water damage, it’s important to act fast to improve your chances of a fast recovery.

We had a water loss at one of our airports here locally. We had actually just finished replacing their entire roofing system on one half of the building. We had been done for about three weeks and all of a sudden we get a random September hailstorm that came through. Because of the volume of hail that came in, that clogged the drain. The weight was too much for the drainage system to take and the whole thing just collapsed. So, it really wasn’t overwhelming for us, but it was for our client. They had just gotten everything rebuilt the way they wanted it, and this happened all over again. We had to come and help them understand that we’re there to help. Everything’s gonna be okay. And that we can still keep them in business while we’re getting this thing rectified. (gentle music) I was on site within 30 minutes, and then our crews were on site actually within 45. So we had a very fast response, which was crucial for them because we got most of the water extracted before it had a chance to really spread down on the first level. Both of our project managers who are on it, as well as all of our lead field technicians have IICRC-WRT training, which is water restoration technician certifications. And this is something that anybody who’s in water restoration needs to have, especially on the leadership side. And because of this training that they had, they knew what to do in this time of stress. They knew how to handle the loss going forward. The fact that we were able to keep them in business, we were able to keep their facility open. They had nothing but good things to say about that. Too, with this being the second loss that they had had in one year that was almost identical. We truly are the only partner they’re ever gonna need. They call us for reconstruction. They call us for tenant improvement work. And they call us for emergency services. Getting them back in their office, getting them back in their workspace, and not having so much interruption is what we take pride in. And seeing the smile on the GM’s face whenever we told ’em the good news that, hey, you’re gonna be able to stay open. You’re gonna be able to keep operating just like you are. That’s priceless. (gentle music)

Immediate Steps to Take if You Have Water Damage

Taking the appropriate steps in a water damage emergency will keep you safe and assist us in providing fast and efficient service to you. Here are some steps to consider when your property takes on water.

  • Safety: Always prioritize the safety of yourself and others. If it is safe to do so, shut off the electrical power supply and keep out of areas where the water level reaches sources of electricity.
  • Identify the source: Locate the source, such as a burst pipe, roof leak, or flooding by backtracking to where the wet areas start and stop. If possible, shut off the source of water supply to prevent further damage.
  • Document Damage: If it is safe to do so, take photos of the damage.
  • Contact us at First Onsite: Hiring a professional water remediation company is highly recommended to ensure the materials are properly restored.

First Onsite Water Damage Recovery Process

Our recovery process for water damage involves cleaning, sanitizing, repairing, and restoring the property to the state it was in before water damage occurred. Our process includes the following:

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Mitigation
first onsite water damage step 1 find the source
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Mitigation

Contain the water source to stop the immediate flow of water and ensure the site is safe to operate in.

Water Extraction
First Onsite Water Extraction Services
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Water Extraction

Remove any excess water as well as any water-soaked and damaged materials.

Moisture Mapping
First Onsite Water Damage Moisture Mapping
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Moisture Mapping

Deploy moisture-detection and drying equipment to remove water hidden within building materials or other areas.

Dehumidification and Drying
First Onsite Dehumidification
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Dehumidification and Drying

Begin the drying process to all affected areas with air movers & specialized dehumidifiers.

Disinfect
First Onsite Water Damage Disinfection
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Disinfect

Apply an EPA-registered disinfectant per the manufacturer’s guidance to protect the health and safety of the building’s occupants from potential mold growth.

Controlled Demolition
First Onsite Water Damage Controlled Demo
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Controlled Demolition

Manage the controlled removal of damaged drywall, flooring, or insulation that was exposed or damaged.

Restoration
Reconstruction and Restoration Services
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Restoration

Restore the affected area to pre-loss condition by replacing damaged materials like drywall, flooring, and insulation.

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Benefit of Hiring a Professional Water Damage Restoration Company

As one of North America’s leading water remediation and restoration service providers, we have a 24-hour emergency call center to quickly dispatch skilled teams to your area. With our comprehensive geographic coverage and flexibility, we scale for jobs of any size. Our teams are trained in water damage mitigation, remediation, and restoration, to ensure minimal downtime.

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REDUCE YOUR DOWNTIME WITH A PRE-LOSS PLAN

Creating a disaster response plan allows us to respond even more quickly and effectively. By meeting with you before any damage occurs, our teams can familiarize themselves with your property, identify important points of concern, and develop a customized plan tailored to your facility’s unique requirements. This preplanning helps us to equip you with the necessary resources to react rapidly when the need arises.

Pre-loss Partnership Program
  • Create a response plan for any disaster
  • Establish a point of contact dedicated to you
  • Speed up response time and the restoration process as well as reduce the amount of downtime
  • Get access to resources like storm preparation tips and information sessions

Let us help you prepare for the unexpected

When disaster strikes, knowing what to expect can make a world of difference. Discover what our specialists have to say about preparing for disaster, expediting recovery, and everything in between. We’re here to help, always.

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FAQs

Water or flood damage is often caused by broken or leaking pipes and other plumbing problems, heavy rain, hurricanes, floods, broken appliances, sewage backups, HVAC problems, and water making its way through cracks in the foundation.

It’s important to fix water damage as soon as possible so mold doesn’t grow, and structural problems don’t occur or get worse. Mold starts to grow within 24-48 hours after the initial incident. This fact, along with wet and damaged contents, means that water damage requires an immediate response.

Water damage can cause breathing problems, allergies, and infections, especially if the water is contaminated with mold, bacteria and other hazards. Knowing the category of water that has infiltrated your property will allow you to make educated decisions.

Clean water (Category 1), gray water (Category 2), and black water (Category 3) are the three types of water damage. Depending on the level of contamination, the steps that need to be taken to clean and disinfect the area are different.

If you suspect water damage, take immediate steps to ensure personal safety. Next, if it is safe to do so, identify the source, notify your insurance provider, and contact First Onsite.

Specifically, for water damage, mitigation refers to immediate actions to prevent further damage, remediation focuses on addressing specific issues and removing contaminants, and restoration aims to return the property as it was before.

It’s important to hire a professional when dealing with water damage. We use specialized equipment, such as air movers, dehumidifiers, and moisture meters, to dry and dehumidify your property after water damage. Our advanced technology helps locate leaks and determine flow rates. We will closely monitor the drying process to ensure the affected materials reach appropriate and safe levels.

Restoration companies prevent mold growth after water damage by quickly extracting excess water, drying, and dehumidifying the affected areas, cleaning and sanitizing surfaces, and applying anti-microbial treatments as needed.

While you may believe minor water damage is manageable with DIY methods, we advise hiring a professional team for water damage cleanup, especially in cases involving contaminated water, extensive damage, or potential mold growth.

At First Onsite, our technicians are certified through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). In addition, First Onsite has decades of experience on large-scale and residential projects.

Immediate water extraction and professional drying and dehumidification services are crucial to preventing mold growth. We do not recommend do-it-yourself-type procedures. Ensure safe removal by partnering with us. You’ll get a highly skilled, professional company with specialist knowledge and thorough training that will minimize potential health risks and protect against any further damage.