Charlotte Water Remediation: Reasons for Controlled Demolition

Unexpected Yet Vital Water Remediation Strategies

Homeowners in Charlotte seeking water remediation can feel understandably devastated when disaster restoration experts sometimes advise significant demolition as the first stage of recovery. Whether the water incursion was from a burst pipe, storm damage, a malfunctioning appliance, or a host of other crises, understandably, you were hoping for a rapid fix to the problem, not additional chaos. AdvantaClean of York County and South Charlotte recommends demolition only when necessary; we do not lightly take the added stress and disruption homeowners suffer during tear-out services. We explain why demolition is crucial to successful water remediation and how it provides a clean slate for restoration and rebuilding.

Water Remediation: Purpose and Challenges

• Find and Remove Water

Water remediation in Charlotte aims to reverse damage caused by moisture. The first step is to locate, release, pump, and extract water trapped in structures. Once liquid water removal is complete, we accelerate the evaporation of absorbed moisture from saturated materials. Directing warm, moving air at soaked structural components, often behind walls and deep within the framing, is crucial to preventing the continued deterioration of building materials and inhibiting mold growth. 

• Prepare Surfaces for Restoration and Rebuilding 

Cleaning and preparing surfaces for restoration requires removing irretrievably damaged materials. Sound rebuilding cannot occur on broken down or weakened substrates. 

Controlled Demolition: Purpose and Implementation

AdvantaClean work crews must open building cavities and provide access to multi-layered surfaces, trapping pooled water and permitting the absorption of fluids into porous structures to extract fluids and dry out spaces. Accessing the water-damaged areas requires various types of demolition that match the circumstances and can vary even within the same structure. Controlled demolition includes:

• Weep holes punched upwards in sagging ceilings, starting near the walls and moving carefully to the center to avoid collapse as the weight of the water diminishes gradually

• Removing baseboards and drilling or cutting drain holes inches above floor level to release water caught behind walls

• Flood cuts where technicians saw through drywall parallel to the floor up several inches above the water line, removing ruined materials, releasing trapped water, and opening the area for structural drying techniques

Note: Ceiling and baseboard level holes also create access for injection-style positive pressure drying systems or negative pressure water extraction systems

Reconstruction Follows Water Remediation 

After water removal and structural drying, AdvantaClean of York County and South Charlotte concludes the water remediation phase, leaving your home ready for:

• Reinstallation of salvaged baseboards, trim, and cabinets--hardwood is frequently resilient and reusable, saving money and retaining the ambiance of your home

• Rebuilding with new materials of any structural supports and framing torn out and inappropriate for reuse 

• Installation of new drywall and other materials need to bring your home back to pre-loss condition

All options are on the table during water damage assessment and water remediation planning. Controlled demolition performed by technicians trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) can be an essential tool. Expect our team to clarify why we use a demolition approach to deliver successful water remediation.

Trust the team from AdvantaClean of York County and South Charlotte when we recommend controlled demolition for your water remediation project. Call us at (803) 325-2100 for a prompt consultation on the emergency services your home needs.