Winter Flood Damage to Columbus Residences

12/15/2017 (Permalink)

Cracks in the structure of your home can let in water at a fast rate. Contact SERVPRO if you are facing flooding, for remediation efforts.

SERVPRO Technicians Arrive Quickly to Start Drying Out Your Flooded Home

Columbus homes are no stranger to adverse weather conditions. Especially through the late fall and winter, things can quickly change between heavy snowfall and torrential rains over the course of a few hours. The rapidly changing conditions means that often the coldest times of the year present the most significant threat of flooding for those living in the lower-lying areas of the city and neighboring suburbs.
 
If this describes the placement of your home, you have likely taken precautions to prevent water intrusion and flood damage to your Columbus residence. Unfortunately, at this time of the year, conditions are not ideal for these preventative measures to be as impregnable as they might otherwise be. A good example is the materials used to construct your home’s foundation.
 
Most modern construction efforts have not differed dramatically from homes constructed decades ago. Concrete blocks and other masonry units prove to be the most cost effective and longest lasting solutions for contractors, but they are not without substantial drawbacks when adverse weather strikes. The joints of these concrete masonry units use mortar, which over time can be weathered away by the presence of water and wind. The erosion leaves cracks that can be penetrated by rising flood waters, allowing an avenue to get into your home’s basement, and a reason to call us at SERVPRO.
 
The rise and fall of temperatures can cause foundation walls to flex, as well. The flexing is a result of footers poured underneath the walls moving as the ground freezes and thaws. Over time, this causes a weakening of the joints and can result in stair cracking through the mortar as the footer resettles. These new openings become a direct point of entry for water to come in.
 
Water removal efforts need to be started right away, even in the midst of the water still coming into your basement. There are short-term patches our SERVPRO team utilize (such as the application of hydraulic cement) that can prevent further water penetration so that the removal and drying processes get completed. After removal and restoration processes are complete, the focus can shift to repairing the weakened wall that allowed the flood inside.
 
Do not hesitate to call us at SERVPRO of South Columbus for any emergency like this you might have. Our rapid response team mobilizes quickly, which can be critical to mitigating your losses. Call us anytime at (614) 863-1392.

For more information regarding the city of Columbus, click here.