Water Damage Progression

Water Damage Progression

The earlier water damage is addressed, the less damage occurs. Without the proper action, items including furniture, electronics, and more may be destroyed beyond any repair. The following timeline provides a guide to how quickly water damage can happen.

First Hour

• Water spreads expeditiously fast, spreading from one room to another drowning everything.
• Water is absorbed by your floors, baseboards, walls, upholstery, and belongings as the water enters your house.
• Permanent staining on carpets can happen as color on fabrics can bleed.
• Books, photographs and paper goods will be ruined.
• Electronics that are exposed to water can be damaged.
• Odors, especially smoke or pet odors, are then freed from the carpet.

First 24 Hours

• Drywall starts to break apart and crumble.
• Wood floors, doors, door frames, baseboards, cabinets begin to swell, split, or delaminate.
• Carpet delaminates.
• Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
• Sewage pollutants become airborne as bacteria starts to multiply.
• Expanding and splitting begin in furniture as it absorbs water.
• Staining occurs as dyes and inks from fabric and paper goods spread.
• Odors are increasingly less tolerable as they become stronger

48 Hours to 1 Week

• Areas affected by mold and mildew are no longer restorable.
• Windows, doors, and studs swell and warp.
• Metal begins to rust and corrode.
• The increase of drying cost goes up as furniture is soaking through and sometimes making it impossible to dry
• Paint begins to blister
• Health problems can rise as mold and mildew grow.
• Wood flooring swells and warps.
• Serious biohazard contamination is possible.

More Than 1 Week

• Due to health hazards, residents may need to be evacuated from the property.
• The cost and time increase tragically for restorations as replacing contaminated objects and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
• Serious risks to occupants climb as mold grows.
• Biohazard contaminants continue to escalate.
• Structural safety can cause dangerous issues.