News of a serious flood is something most people in Southern Ontario associate with places far away from here.
However, in July 2013 the news hit close to home. The Greater Toronto Area was particularly hard-hit by a severe rainstorm and flash flooding. It was Ontario’s most costly natural disaster to date and serves as a stark reminder that there is no such thing as a flood-proof area.
Whether it’s because of a severe weather event or a broken dishwasher leaking all over the kitchen, Decon Environmental Remediation is prepared to help you address all types of water damage in your home or office. We can also work directly with your insurance company to lighten your load when recovering from a flood.
Health Concerns After A Flood
After a major flood, whether or not there has been a confirmed sewage back-up, stagnant flood waters should always be treated as contaminated water. Full protective gear is required for anyone involved in a cleanup effort. This includes gloves, masks and waterproof boots that are higher than the level of the flood waters. Thorough washing of hands and any clothes worn during the cleanup is essential.
When the cleanup is completed, the next major concern after a flood is mould contamination. Some species of mould are serious mycotoxins that can cause serious damage to your health. That’s why it’s important to make sure that your flood recovery plan includes sufficient time for all excess moisture to be removed before rebuilding.
Protect Your Home From Further Damage
If you check carefully, you’ll probably find a clause in your home insurance policy stating that you must do whatever you can to prevent further damage to your property after a disaster. Some steps you can take after a flood include:
- Keep children and pets clear of the affected area until it has been deemed safe.
- Save the most valuable (financially or sentimentally) items first.
- Patch any holes in the roof, walls or windows.
- If it safe to remain in your home and the weather permits, leave doors and windows open for improved air circulation.
- If items are beyond salvation, make a list of damaged and lost items, and take pictures if possible. This will be helpful later for an insurance claim.
The next most important thing to do is hire a professional property damage restoration company to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible.
Did you know?
Painting over mould will not kill or seal it up. Just because you can’t see mould, doesn’t mean that you don’t have it.
Decon Environmental Remediation can help detect and treat mould problems
How Decon Can Help Address Water Damage
Decon Environmental Remediation will start by removing all water, slowly so that the walls aren’t further damaged by pumping out the water too quickly. We will then remove all carpets and padding to dry the floors under them completely. Anything that can be salvaged from your home will be with our advanced flood recovery techniques. Our methods are so effective, even materials generally written off after a flood, like hardwood floors, can sometimes be saved. Finally, we will disinfect and decontaminate your home to prevent the growth of mould and any other harmful bacteria.
Picking up the pieces and restoring your home or office after the widespread damage of a flood is traumatic. Decon has the compassion and competency to get you back on your feet quickly. We have seen enough flooding in Toronto and Southern Ontario to know exactly what to do to help you. Rest assured, we will restore your building and you will once again feel safe and sound.
We decided to do some extensive renovations to our house and because it was built around the time that may contain asbestos materials, we decided to do some testing. After going through countless companies to qualify their credentials for the project, Decon Environmental was selected out of all the companies that were on the short list. Aside from the qualifications that must be met such as Insurance specific to abatement, licensed/certified workers, and the standard procedures specific to the type of abatement of a project, we based our decision on additional factors. The experience and expertise that Angela brought to the table was very valuable. Her understanding and compassion for home owners faced with this material when trying to upgrade their homes was very welcoming. She was able to provide a wealth of information to educated us to protect ourselves. She was the only consultant that actually got down to the ground in her work attire to try to take out a piece of under laying tile from the floor vent that was underneath a layer of ceramic tile to confirm our suspicion of another area that may contain asbestos. This showed her dedication and willingness to help us quickly in determining the scope of the project. Dealing with Angela as a point person made the process more streamlined and seamless.
We were extremely happy with our decision after seeing how the team on site worked. Looking at Juan and his crew work together showed the experience that they had in dealing with these materials. What impressed me was the sheer process in setting up the containment. Juan simply rambled off instructions to his crew and without any questions, they got to work. It was almost as if it was rehearsed. That made our decision even more comforting that we chose the right company. If I were to use a word to describe their work, it would be “surgical”.
All that being said, we hired a 3rd party consultant to perform an inspection of the setup, pre-lockdown inspection and aggressive air sampling at the end of the project. Throughout each stage, the consultant was highly impressed with the results of what he saw. This was the final piece of the puzzle and confirmed our decision of choosing the right company overall.
The experience in dealing with Decon has been very positive. Their work is professional and precise, but their ability to bring it down a notch to personalize the experience is what sets them apart from the rest of the field.
