Sometimes when it rains it really pours. Rivers and creeks rise and homes get flooded. This year has been a terrible year for floods. We have had several severe floods across the nation. What is a home owner to do when their basement and first floor is saturated with flood water? Well, there is no easy answer to that.
Once flood damage occurs things like carpets, furniture, belongings, walls, floors and ceilings must generally be removed and replaced. There are two reasons for this. 1) Flood water is not clean. It is very dirty and will contaminate your home. 2) Things will mold. Black mold will grow on damp wet surfaces and can cause very serious health problems.
Many home owners are struggling with repairs. This article is going to specify on flood damaged walls and ceilings, which are generally made from studs, insulation, and sheetrock or paneling.
Here’s what you’ll need to begin with:
Rolls of plastic
Stapler with ½ inch staples
Hammer and pry bar
Dumpster or large garbage bags
Choose which room you want to repair first. Use the roll of plastic to close off the room, using ½ inch long staples to secure the plastic to the door frame and walls surrounding the door way. Do this so the dust created from demolition does not enter the rest of the house. Next, use the plastic to cover the floor for easier clean up. Put on a face mask and grab a hammer or pry bar. Tear out all wet sheetrock, or remove the damaged paneling. Gently slip the claw under the edge of the material you are removing and apply pressure. Bag up all debris and remove it from the residence.
Now here’s what you’ll need next:
Cordless Drill Hammer
If you have removed sheetrock from your walls or ceiling there will be several screws that remain in the studs. Use a cordless drill to remove all of the screws. Do this to prepare the wall for new sheetrock since the new sheetrock can not lay flat against the studs if screws are sticking out. If you removed paneling then there will likely be nails sticking out from the studs. Remove the nails using the claw end of your hammer so the new paneling or sheetrock will lay flat on the studs.
Next you will need:
Large garbage bags or a dumpster
Several rolls of R11 or R13 insulation for walls
Several rolls of R13 or R19 insulation for ceilings
Tape measure
Utility knife
Okay, the next thing to do is to remove all of the soggy insulation. Roll it up once removed and place it in large garbage bags. Secure the bags and take them to a dumpster. Tap in or remove any remaing staples in the studs. Measure the height or length of the wall or ceiling and then use a utility knife to cut new strips of insulation.
Next you will need:
Staple gun
¾ inch staples
Now, flip the paper flaps on the insulation over and place the flaps on the studs. Use the stapler to secure the flaps to the studs. Hang insulation between studs until the room or ceiling is completely insulation.
Lastly you will need:
New sheetrock or paneling
Sheetrock screws or finishing nails
Cordless drill or hammer
Hold the new sheetrock or paneling in place on the wall or ceiling, beginning in a corner. Make sure the piece is straight and level. Use the drill to insert screws through the sheetrock into the studs, or the hammer to tap nails through the paneling into the studs. Finish the wall or ceiling! This article was written in several phases because flood damage takes time to repair. Don’t expect to do this all in one day unless you are a professional contractor. It can be challenging. Take your time, doing on phase of the renovation at a time. Take care, good luck, and thanks for reading!