13 Steps to Restoring Your Home After a Flood
After a flood, most homeowners in a homeowners’ association (HOA) are concerned about how to get their house restored quickly. However, it’s not just a matter of clearing the home of water, repainting, and replacing carpet—the most pressing issue is safety. Read on to learn what you should do before evaluating your HOA home for potential water damage and 13 steps for restoring your home after a flood.
Check In With Your HOA
Before evaluating your home for potential water damage, confirm your community is safe to access. If your HOA does not have a response plan that details next steps after a flood, check in with your community manager directly or reach out via your association’s app or website. Reasons your community should have ways to communicate after a flood:
· To inform residents of the state of the association
· Provide details on road conditions to and from the community
· Offer methods in which residents can access their homes
Learn More: Natural Disaster Preparedness Guide
13 Steps to Restoring Your Home After a Flood
HOAs in flood-prone areas and in coastal communities are most at risk for flooding. Florida hurricanes, Texas hurricanes, and Louisiana hurricanes have all been known to cause significant flooding for millions of homes. If you own a home in an HOA that’s in a flood zone, it’s highly likely that your homeowners’ insurance requires you to carry flood coverage. To properly restore your home after a flood:
1. Call Your Insurance Company
One of your first calls after a hurricane should be to your insurance company. Find out exactly what you’re covered for, and try to schedule the first available appointment for an adjuster to come to your home and assess any damages. In the meantime, make sure to document any damage and take pictures.
2. Promptly File All Claims
Work with your insurance representative and adjuster to promptly file all insurance claims. Properly and promptly filing your claims will ensure that you receive compensation sooner. Be sure that your adjuster provides you with a proof of loss statement, which is an official form from the insurer detailing the scope of damage to the property. If there is any additional damage in the weeks following the flood, continue to work with your adjuster to modify your claims.
Nonprofit organizations like Associa Cares offer support after a disaster. Click here to request assistance.
3. Hire a Clean Up Company
Any water in your home needs to be pumped out. All debris and anything that’s been saturated must be removed. If there is sewage waste, it requires extra precautions and professional help. Call a pro.
4. Find a Contractor
Hiring reputable contractors is critical. While your community manager may have a network of trusted vendors, your insurance claims adjuster may also be able to provide you with recommendations for contractors with experience clearing water-damaged homes. As you consider bids for repair jobs, do your due diligence before signing a service contract.
5. Hire a Licensed Electrician
If water rose as high as your electrical panel, outlets, and/or switches, or if it got into fixtures or appliances, a licensed electrician is necessary. Prioritize safety and hire a licensed electrical contractor before turning the power back on.
6. Schedule an HVAC Specialist to Assess Equipment
Flood waters can cause damage to heating and cooling systems. A professional HVAC specialist can assess equipment, including heat registers and ducts, for hazards.
7. Replace Flooring
All damaged flooring, including laminate, hardwood, carpet, and tile, should be removed, as well as the subfloor. Laminate and hardwood floors absorb water, swell, and warp. Water-damaged carpet and under-pads can serves as sources for mold and soak through. While tile doesn’t absorb water, its wood substrate can dampen and lead to mold.
8. Open Up Your Walls
Most walls are made of wood studs and drywall. Both will grow mold if there's moisture. So the studs can dry out, a professional contractor must open the walls.
9. Remove Drywall
For optimum results, remove at least one foot of drywall above the water line, all the way down to the floor. Keeping affected drywall in place increases the chances of mold and mildew accumulation.
10. Remove Insulation
Saturated batt insulation leads to poor air quality, mold, and mildew, and can cause your home’s structure to rot. Ensure your contractor has expertise in removing insulation properly.
11. Let the Wall Cavity Dry Out
After the contractor has removed the drywall and insulation, keep the wall cavity open so it can dry out completely. This can take weeks. With a moisture meter, a professional can determine if the moisture level is within safe limits to start rebuilding.
12. Test the Air Quality
Use an air quality monitor to test the air of the home. These small devices can detect various air contaminants, including particulate matter, radon, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and volatile organic compounds, and may notify you when levels become unsafe.
13. Replace Walls and Flooring
Once the home has been cleared of debris and conditions are safe to do so, it’s time to restore flooring and walls. Make sure to involve the following parties, so that rebuilding efforts are properly executed:
· HOA to confirm applicable architectural guidelines are followed
· Homeowner’s insurance agent for claims processing
· Professional contractors to execute expert work
Preparing for a Flood
Restoring your home after a flood is easier if you prepared your home and belongings before the flood. Check out our “Homeowner 48-hour Pre-Storm Checklist” to learn what to do leading up to a hurricane, tornado, excessive rainfall, or other flood disaster.