Water Damage Repair – Indicate the Age of Water Damage

Water damage repair is a common problem for any property, and sometimes the problem is distinct and other times it’s ambiguous. Things like overflowing bathtubs, toilets and sinks are common problems related to water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. But pipes run all over your property, and this includes areas you can’t see like inside the walls and between the floors. Unfortunately a leaky pipe in an unseen space can occur. It’s an annoying problem since you can’t see what’s going on and you won’t know until the water damage appears.

Yet, when you recognize damage to your walls or water spots on your ceiling, these are the sure signs of a pipe that’s leaking or condensation causing a problem. Since the area is concealed, though, it’s tough to determine how long the problem has lasted. Although there isn’t a way to know exactly how long your water damage problem has persisted, there are some ways to diagnose whether the water damage is new or old.

Discover the Lifetime of Your Water Damage

Listed below are a few steps you can take to evaluate the age of your water damage:

  • History of the House: Keep a record of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your location like a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take some time to pop up if the leak is small. If your residence is an older home, the water damage spots may have been there for some time. So it’s fundamental to take note of the spots you perceive while finding out whether this is old water damage or old water damage.
  • History of the House: Take note of any spots on your ceiling or walls and take into account any strong weather you had in your location like a heavy rain storm. Water spots can take some time to pop up if the leak is small. If you live in an older home, the water damage spots may have been there for some time. So it’s fundamental to take note of the spots you perceive while finding out whether this is new water damage or old water damage.
  • Touch the Spot: You can feel the spot, because this can disclose a lot about the age of the damage produced by water. A newer spot will be wet but your drywall or ceiling will still be strong, while an older spot will be mushy and spongy since your material would have absorbed a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: Having rings around your water damage spot reveals age. Remember it as if it was a tree- the more rings it has, the older the damage produced by water is. Color variations of the spot is also helpful since it indicates that the area gets soaked, dries, leaks, dries, etcetera. If it’s a brand new water spot, the area will be a single blemish with zero rings around it.
  • Examine the Materials: Get to know the material around your property, since water can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if spots caused by water show up through these types of materials, this means the buildup of moisture has been there for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: If mold has had time to inhabit the area, this indicates that the damage produced by water has lingered for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: If your materials decay from damage generated by water, this is usually the outcome of regular flooding or standing water. Rot usually doesn’t occur from the first situation of a leak.

Get an Expert Water Damage Repair Specialist

If you’re having water damage issues, Paul Davis is here to assist you. It’s crucial to remedy any leaks in your residence prior to the damage becoming more serious. Our water damage restoration experts can detect dripping pipes and fix your property back to normal conditions no matter how big or small the job is. Reach out to Paul today at 945 S Floyd St., Louisville, KY 40203 | 502-583-1668 and a local franchise is there to assist you.