Apart from the force of water during floods, exposure to water alone is usually a big problem for many materials. As far as homes are concerned, there are many areas where water can cause damage, and among the most worrying are the walls of your home.

If your walls are made of materials such as wood and drywall, you may start to notice some discoloration after a flood. This means that the wall, or at least part of it, was exposed to water. This means that you have to take quick action to avoid more serious problems.

Remove Any Remaining Pools of Water

Before you start attending to your wall, the first thing you should do is eliminate the cause of the problem. This means you should inspect the areas around the wall, including above it, to ensure that there's no more standing water.

If there are pools of water, you should soak up as much of the water as possible and ventilate the area. If the water is left there, it can continue to cause further damage to your walls and other parts of the house.

Assess the Extent of the Damage

Discolored walls indicate that there has been some water damage. However, you need to identify if it's simply the paint that's damaged or the underlying drywall/wood as well. Look for signs such as:

• Warping
• Sagging
• Expansion (the material starts to separate)
• Buckling
• A moldy odor, etc.

You should also consider the possibility that your floors or ceiling might have suffered some damage as well. Therefore, you should look for signs such as stains on the ceiling, damaged laminate on your floors and other signs of water damage in these areas.

Plan How Restoration Will Be Done

The type of restoration that will be done depends on the material used for your walls and the extent of the damage. If you're dealing with drywall, the solution is usually to cut out the damaged section and replace it with another.

In the case of wood, a water damage restoration company can help to remove the water from the wood and restore it to good condition.

Consider Waterproofing

If the walls are in your basement, this will also be a good time to consider waterproofing. This will help to prevent future flooding and water damage to your walls. This means installing a better drainage system in your basement or applying a protective substance to your walls.

For more information, contact a company like Puroclean Certified Restoration Specialist.