Unfortunately, basement floods are something that every homeowner will need to deal with at one point or another. Whether it’s a mild case of moisture seeping in through the walls or a full-blown flood with knee-deep water, basement floods are inconvenient, unwelcome and can be pricey to repair. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of dealing with a basement flood then there are a few steps to follow, which will help get the situation under control. Apart from calling Triad Basement Waterproofing to help you deal with a basement flood, here’s a few tips on what you can do to get your home back to its original dry, warm and comfortable state.

Be Prepared Ahead of Time

If you live in an area that is prone to heavy rains or heavy snow melts, check your basement often for standing water or unexpected moisture. The sooner you catch a leak, the easier it will be to control and your home won’t suffer extensive damage. Be aware of basement flooding warning signs so you know what to look for.

Act Quickly!

It’s important to act as soon as possible after discovering a flooded basement. Check the area for live electricity. You should be aware of what currents are running directly through your basement and if there is electricity running through the flooded area then shut off the fuse to that part of the house. Never stand in water while touching something that has a live electrical current running through it.

Find Out Where The Water is Coming From

It should be pretty obvious where the water is coming from. It may be coming in through a window, through the floor seams, a crack in the wall or through the floor. If you can catch the water in a bucket or deflect it somehow try to do that before you start cleaning up. Otherwise water will continue to make its way in while you are trying to mop up and dry off your basement.

Remove Water Damaged Items

If there are any items on the floor that have already been damaged by the flood pick them up and dry them off as best you can. Hang rugs and carpeting to dry, towel off any other wet items and set them in an area with ventilation so they don’t catch mold or mildew. Create a clutter free area so you don’t have to work around multiple items.

Remove the Water

The best tools for removing a large amount of water from a flooded basement are a vacuum capable of sucking up water or a pool pump. If neither of these is available to you then a plain old bucket and dustpan will also work. If you are using a wet vacuum or a pool pump don’t drain the water back into your backyard but direct it into a sink or another drain. The same goes for the dustpan and bucket. Use the empty dustpan to scoop water into the bucket and dump the water down a drain.

Mop up the Residual Water

After you have scooped out the majority of the standing water in your basement it’s time to soak up any residual moisture. Use a mop and continuously wring out the mop into a bucket until you’re not getting much water out of it. The basement will still be wet, but the standing water should mostly be gone.

Use Fans to Air Out & Dry Area

The thing about concrete is that it’s porous, which means that even if you collect and mop up any water from flooding the floor is still retaining more water than you may think. Run fans in the room for a day or two until the concrete floor is completely dry.

Spray With Disinfectant

Your main concern after a flood is to prevent mold and mildew from forming. Mold is a huge health hazard and spraying a disinfectant is an important step to prevent it. Lysol is a good choice because it kills mildew and freshens up the area. Generously spray the floor and walls with a disinfecting spray for a day or two to make sure there is no mold growth after the flood.

Attend to Furniture and Other Materials That Came in Contact With the Flood

Towel dry any furniture that may have gotten wet from the flood and make sure to spray it with a disinfecting spray that kills mold and mildew. If any cloth furniture came in contact with the water and absorbed it, unfortunately you may have to toss them out unless you find someone to wash and re-upholster them.These are a couple of do-it-yourself tips that you can initially take to quickly dry off and disinfect your basement after a flood. After you have secured the area contact the experts at Triad so we can come in and fix the leak so you don’t have to deal with any future floods. We offer services ranging from concrete and crack repair to basement waterproofing so future basement issues can be avoided!

Are your concrete surfaces looking old, worn or dirty? Whether you have concrete surfaces indoors or outdoors that are in need of refreshing, the look of dull concrete can affect the overall aesthetics of any home and irritate homeowners to no end. Many people will decide to rip out the concrete and have it completely redone from start to finish, or they will buy concrete mix and try to pour it on top of the old surface. The first option of starting fresh is not a bad idea, but it is completely unnecessary. The second option of pouring new concrete on top of old concrete is a very bad one. This doesn’t work as well as you would expect it to, because concrete does not contain bonding agents and it will not adhere to the surface beneath it. This results in crumbling and an even bigger headache for the homeowner. This is where concrete resurfacing comes in. What is concrete resurfacing? Simply put it’s a thin cement based overlay with special bonding agents that is poured over existing concrete. Here’s a quick guide that will fill you in on all the benefits of concrete resurfacing.

1. It’s Economical & Doesn’t Break Your Bank Account
In comparison to other solutions that fix worn out and cracked concrete, resurfacing is very cost efficient. The overall cost can be up to three times less than ripping up and replacingold concrete. You save money on the cost of materials and labor while still achieving the look of a brand new surface. Concrete resurfacing can also be used to repair old surfaces as well as hide damage, so you get more for your money. Whether you need a garage floor, basement floor, patio, deck or pool coated, concrete resurfacing saves you time, money and it leaves your surface looking brand new!

2. It’s Easy to Apply & Saves Time
Resurfacing products are self-leveling, which means that there isn’t an extensive amount of work necessary to create a smooth and level surface. The main thing that needs to be done is to make sure that the resurfacing product is spread around the entire surface. Instead of spending time and money on trying to repair cracked concrete or ripping out an old surface and having it re-poured consider concrete resurfacing, which upgrades the look and hides any prior imperfections or cracks.

3. It Allows for Different Designs & Colors for more Aesthetically Pleasing Finishes
Do you want a marble floor without paying the price of actual marble? Or maybe you prefer sandstone, brick, granite, or a specific color? The beauty of concrete resurfacing is that it can be tinted with special colorants or stamped with patterns or finishes. This allows you to customize your concrete floors and achieve the design and ambiance you’re specifically looking for without paying the price of the expensive materials.

4. Increases Resilience to Future Wear & Tear
The materials used in concrete resurfacing are very durable and some can even be stain resistant. Triad’s heavy-duty epoxy-based systems not only upgrade the look of the floor you are resurfacing, but they also increase resiliency to stains, tire marks and hide minor imperfections. One of the best things about concrete resurfacing is that your new surface has the potential to last much longer than your existing concrete surface did.

5. It Can Increase the Value of Your Home
The benefits of concrete resurfacing go above and beyond the basic idea of upgrading a floor. It becomes an investment for the home, because it fixes cracked, damaged and worn out floors to make them look brand new while adding a customized design aspect, which in turn increases the value of the home. Concrete resurfacing is also often sealed and has the potential to last longer since it protects from daily wear and tear. You can even add non-slip coatings to your new floor so that it is safe to walk on regardless of how wet it gets.

If you are considering fixing or replacing your concrete floors don’t rush into any final decisions before thoroughly researching all your options. Maybe tearing up your old concrete really is the best option, but chances are that concrete resurfacing will be able to repair and completely renovate your surfaces efficiently at a lower price. Triad offers a variety of colors and concrete coatings to choose from for your resurfacing needs and we also offer waterproofing for a completely dry and warm home. Contact us for a free estimate or for more information and check out our website to familiarize yourself with our other services!