Determining the Age of a Water Spot - Water Damage Restoration

Restorations for water damage is a typical issue for any property, and every now and then the issue is obvious and other times it isn't. Things such as overflowing toilets, sinks and bathtubs are typical problems associated with water damage and you know there is an issue when this occurs. But plumbing lines run all over your property, and this involves places you can't see like between the floors and inside the walls. It's safe to say that a pipe leaking in an unseen space can occur. It's an irritating obstacle since you can't see what's going on and you won't know until the water damage appears.

It's hard to check how old the water damage is for these areas that can't be seen. Though, you could have a leaky pipe that was slightly dripping for a period of time but because it's been hidden, you don't know how long. There's no sure way to find out the precise time of the problem, but there are ways to approximate the age of the water damage.

A Step-by-Step On Damage Caused by Water - Evaluate its Age

You can obtain an estimated time frame of your water damage by following these steps:

  • History of the House: An older residence may already have some previous damage produced from water, so it's effective to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea as well, since, if you have a modest leak, it can take some time for a water spot to surface. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when figuring out whether your water damage is new or old.
  • History of the House: An older residence may already have some previous damage produced from water, so it's effective to keep track of what's there and to note if the damage alters overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea as well, since, if you have a modest leak, it can take some time for a water spot to surface. Taking note of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when figuring out whether your water damage is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: You can touch the spot, because this will disclose a lot about the age of the water damage. A newer spot will be wet but your ceiling or drywall will still be strong, while an older spot will be mushy and soft since your material would have taken in a good amount of moisture.
  • Look for Rings: Remember how tree rings determine the age of the tree? The same approach can be used for water spots. An older water spot will have rings around it. They will also be discolored since the spot gets wet then dries and gets wet again then dries again, etc. A newer spot will be darker with no rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: Learn about the material around your property, since water and moisture can become trapped by tiles and thick paint. So if water spots show up through these types of materials, this means the buildup of water has been lingering for a period of time.
  • Mold Inspection: When mold has had time to colonize, this means the damage generated by water has been there for approximately two to three days.
  • Deterioration: If your materials deteriorate from damage produced by water, this is usually the issue of consistent flooding or standing water. Decay usually doesn't happen from the first case of a leak.

Get an Experienced Water Damage Repair Specialist

No matter the degree of the damage generated by water, Paul Davis is here to help out. Our team of expert water damage repair contractors can resolve the issue and have your home back in good condition. Remedy the issue today before it gets in a worse condition and call us at (902)567-3377 to find a local franchise near your location.