How to Choose the Right Technician to Restore Your Flood Damaged Property

(PRWEB) March 12, 2010

Following a spate of wet weather drenching Australia, Jena Dyco International, the leading Australasian trainers in carpet and upholstery cleaning and restoration, are stressing the importance of selecting a IICRC qualified restorer to tackle flood damaged homes.

Jena Dyco International Director Jenny Boymal said “It’s important to make sure that flood damaged properties are properly restored. Any moisture remaining in flood damaged properties can lead to problems with mould, which can have very serious health hazards.”

Jena Dyco International has been training restorers in compliance with internationally recognised Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) guidelines as well as the Australian recognised competency PRM008 Mitigate Water Damage for the past twenty years.

Ms Boymal has warned all those who have experienced flooding to their homes take precautions when it comes to choosing a restorer for flood damaged properties.

“Restoring flood damaged property is a detailed and lengthy process, and involves much more than stationing a blower or dehumidifier at the front door.

“When it comes to selecting a technician to restore your flood damaged property, there are a number of factors to keep in mind,” said Ms Boymal.

Jena Dyco International has advised that the following criteria should be taken into consideration when hiring a water damage restorer.

•     Are they IICRC qualified?

All professionals in the industry should hold the IICRC Water Damage Restoration certification. The IICRC Water Damage Restoration qualification certifies a technician is trained in industry best practice to ensure full restoration.

•     What’s their timing like?

The time frame in which a technician completes a water damage restoration job is a key factor to its successful completion. If a technician has not begun extracting and drying the affected area within approximately 72 hours (note: this time may differ depending on the situation), there is a possibility that not all affected items will be restored.

However, this is not to say that if a company does not arrive within 72 hours of flooding that they are unprofessional. Keep in mind that when a large storm hits a region there are often delays in accessing a number of properties. If you are unsure of the extent of the damage, it is best to request an insurance assessor to inspect the property to confirm whether the carpet or flooring is restorable or not. After all, it is more important to have someone who understands restoration work on the scene than to have the job done quickly and incorrectly.

•     Are they monitoring the job?

It is important for a professional water restorer to monitor the job so that they know when to remove equipment or alter equipment requirements of the job. A technician who is monitoring a job properly will undertake regular inspections and use moisture meters to measure the levels of moisture in all areas of the property, including walls, carpets and subfloors.

•     How should you know when the job is finished?

Simply touching the surface of your carpet with your hand to see if it is wet does not measure moisture content. Following flood damage, moisture is often trapped in subfloors and walls, and drying only the surface of the carpet fails to dry this moisture.

Ms Boymal stressed the importance of having any property that has experienced flood damage assessed, as any moisture that is left can lead to serious mould problems.

“Trapped moisture can end up leading to mould growth, which can have serious effects on the health of anyone living or residing in the property.

“Anyone with allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions are more likely to be sensitive to the effects of mould, however the severity of the health affects to anyone exposed to mould should be taken seriously,” Ms Boymal said.

To find a IICRC qualified water damage restoration technician in your area, please call Jena Dyco International on 03 9815 0175.

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