What Can Your Business Expect After Storm and Flood Damage?

4/30/2022 (Permalink)

Flood damage in Burlington, MA.

After the floodwaters recede, businesses and commercial properties in Burlington, MA, are frequently left with a disaster. If the water is immediately removed, you can often save a fortune in damage repair. However, construction materials and many items that get soaked require a tear-out and replacement.

What Is a Flood?

A flood is defined by the NFIP as an excess of water that:

• Covers land normally dry.
  
• Partially or completely spreads across at least two acres.
  
• Impacts at least two properties.
  
  

If a pipe bursts in your building and causes water damage, that’s covered by your standard commercial insurance policy. If it meets the insurance definition of a flood, that requires a separate flood policy.

What Happens Right After the Flood?

You need a local storm restoration expert to immediately respond with commercial water extraction equipment. Every hour the water sits inside, it’s soaking into absorbent construction material and other items, such as carpet and furniture. The restoration technicians will tear out wet materials that are beyond repair and expose any hidden areas that are impacted by the flood to prevent black mold growth.

What If It’s Insured?

You’re set! As soon as you call your Burlington, MA, storm damage experts, they’ll contact your insurance company and get pre-approval to squeeze the water out fast! Insurance companies are losing money while the water sits there, so they like to work with preferred vendors who have a proven track record of quality work and reasonable rates.

What About Uninsured Water Damage?

If you don’t have flood insurance, ask the restoration company if they have a “restore versus replace” policy, which can return a building to its original condition for a fraction of the price. If possible, they’ll use a flood cut to save considerable cost on replacing the wallboard. This exposes enough area between the walls to allow large air movers to do their job, along with removing impacted insulation.
It’s best to not even wait for the flood to end. Once everybody’s safe, call the experts and get the ball rolling. Fast service means reopening much sooner.