What to do After a Storm
PART 1 in AJO’s REBUILDING STRONGER SMARTER SERIES
Florida’s temperamental climate.
Storms that bring enough water and wind often cause damage to buildings, which must be treated as quickly as possible to prevent further problems.
Series 1 of AJO’s “Rebuild Smarter Stronger” focuses on the steps that should be taken when assessing hurricane damage to floors, walls, and roofs.
Scroll down to find out what you need to do for your house in the aftermath of a hurricane.
1.1 FLOODED FLOORS
If your house has been flooded, you need to act quickly to prevent the spread of mold, which can be toxic to your health.
Start by looking at what kind of flooring you have, and assessing whether it’s on a concrete slab or on wood joists, and whether or not there is a vapor barrier (plastic or felt sheet sandwiched underneath the finish floor).
1.2 FLOODED FLOOR EXAMPLE
If you have a concrete slab, it’s likely that your carpet, vinyl plank, or even hardwood has been installed on top of a felt or plastic underlayment. If your house has flooded, this underlayment is likely soaked through.
If that’s the case, it will need to be removed completely so that the concrete slab can fully dry.
1.3 SOAKED DRYWALL & BASEBOARD
If your house has been flooded, you need to act quickly to prevent the spread of mold, which can be toxic to your health. You can look at your walls to visually determine where flooding has occurred, and how high the water reached.
Drywall and baseboards, as well as wallpaper that have soaked through should be immediately removed and replaced, as they are perfect breeding grounds for mold.
1.4 DRYWALL & BASEBOARD EXAMPLE
Often, flood damage to walls will be visible as a line of dirt and muck that coats from the floor up. Other indications may be that the wall paint will have bubbles or ripples in it that squish down when you touch them.
Use a reciprocating saw, rotary saw, or even utility knife to remove the affected areas, or ask a contractor to help you. When the structural wall (whether wood studs or concrete block) is dry, install new drywall as soon as possible to protect the structural surface from further damage.
1.5 ROOF DAMAGE
Hurricanes can damage roofs, either by impacting them with objects such as trees, or by ripping off the roof cladding with wind. When a roof is damaged in a storm, the most critical action you must take is to remove debris and any rain-damaged materials, and then cover the roof with a tarp to prevent further damage to the interior of the building.
1.6 ROOF DAMAGE EXAMPLE
The photo above shows a white “TPO Membrane”, which is common for flat roofs. The right side of the building has had its membrane ripped clean off, exposing the sheathing underneath.
This sheathing must be covered immediately so that the elements don’t damage it further. The roofer or a certified mold assessor should verify that the sheathing is completely dry, as covering wet sheathing can cause foul odors and mold to build up inside the building.
1.7 AFTER THE STORM: SUMMARY
Hurricane Ian is only the most recent example of the damage and destruction torrential rains, storm surge, and flood waters can cause to buildings. We’ve outlined above some of the immediate assessments and steps to take to begin to treat and address damage as quickly as possible and prevent further problems.
In the next series, we look at permits and what you need to know and get before you begin re-construction to help you rebuild your Florida home stronger and smarter.