How to Clean up a Flooded House (Brisbane Floods)
Queensland, Brisbane, Toowoomba, Floods Disaster
15 Jan 2011
As you know, these are tough times for many Queenslanders. We cannot imagine how hard this must be for the flood victims Queensland and New South Wales.
Picture of Goodna Flooded. Notice the Ipswich Motorway in the Background.
We have prepared these tips that can be referred to when cleaning a flood damaged property. Please be aware that this is general advice only and may not be suitable for all situations.
CLEANING TIPS
- Flooding caused by rising rivers is generally considered to be category 3 water which means it may contain pathogens. Make sure you are protected if you are directly exposed to the water. Use a full body suit, rubber gloves, gum boots and suitable breathing filter masks.
- Check with your doctor as to what immunisation your may need. Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B and Tetanus are all risks.
- Use insect repellent
- Use protective gloves, shoes and gum boots
- Drink lots of water
- Photograph everything in your house before your touch it and catalogue everything for insurance purposes.
- Carpet and underlay affected by category 3 water (from the river) will need to be removed. Also remove any carpet smooth-edge (gripper strips). Leaving smooth-edge installed in the property causes a hazard. The rusty nails in the smooth edge can cause problems such as tetanus.
- It is easier to cut out carpet in metre wide strips rather than removing the carpet from the whole room in one hit.
- Make sure you tag the power box so that it won’t a get switched on. Have a licensed electrician to service your property.
- Termites may become a risk. Engage the services of a licensed pest inspector.
- In most cases fabric items generally cannot be saved
- Load all the waste on the kerb for the council to collect
- Pressure clean or hose the house out
- Use disinfectant use as per label instructions
- Your building / house may need to be inspected to ensure there are no structural problems
- Keep the house well ventilated to prevent mould growth
- Watch out for snakes or rats
- Wipe off mould of any surface before it starts to establish. This can be done with 80% white vinegar and 20% water solution with microfiber cloths / blocks.
- Remove plasterboard and insulation
- If you need to find a professional to clean your property, hire a restorer who is trained in water damage restoration. Water damage restoration is the name of the industry that does this type of work. Look out for how long they have been in business and also their qualifications. IICRC certification in water damage restoration is a plus.
- Your property may need to be dried structurally. It is advised you seek a professional opinion about this.
Carpet Smoothedge can cause a hazard if left exposed
Global Care Charity Response New Life Restorations are supporters of the Global Care who are currently reaching their database of 4000 volunteers to help out in this tragic disaster. Part of their initiative includes sending out “back to school” packs to help families get back on their feet. |
 Picture of Warwick Floods 2011 |
Has your House been affected by QLD flooding?
Are you ready to commence the rebuild of your house? Are you really?
- Wet Concrete
- Wet Brick work
- Wet Tiles
- Wet Studs
- Wet frame work
- Wet timber
If your property was affected by the floods and has not been professionally dried, then it is likely that you are suffering from one or more of the above.
What can you do?
Ask your builder to have the moisture levels of your property tested. For a fee of less than $400 New Life Restorations Pty Ltd can test the moisture levels of your property and provide you with an assessment of the moisture levels in your property. Dependant on the outcome of the testing, we can also provide you with solutions to treat and or dry your property should the need arise.
How long will it take to dry my property?
The natural drying process will dry a majority of properties; however this process can take months! Dependent on the size of your property, we can have your property professionally dried in a matter of days / weeks. This will save you time, effort and money and providing you have a builder engaged will enable them to commence to task of putting your house back together sooner rather than later.
What if my property is not dried correctly?
You will run a major risk of secondary damage! Moisture that is captured in your slab, bricks or frame work will be absorbed by any building product that is laid over the top. Moisture is a natural source of food for both mould and bacteria, once you have mould and bacteria growing in the confines of your property you run a major risk of irreparable damage to your property as well as a significant health risk to the occupants of the property.
Please consider the long term health effects of mould spores and mould mycotoxins off gassing.
A moisture reading from a property on March 7th showed that the property had only reduced its moisture levels to 30% WME in building components (less than 16% is acceptable). It therefore required further natural drying which may take 8 to 12 weeks. After this time, there is no guarantee the moisture levels will drop to a suitable level.
Why?
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Hygiene
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Health and Safety
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Airborne pathogens
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Mould on Surfaces
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Odours in my house
The water entering the properties was not “Clean Storm” water. That pathogens and micro-organisms carried with the flowing water reclassify it as “Black Water”. Black water is a term used to describe “contamination levels” being carried in the water.
The best way to understand “Black Water” is picture raw sewage. Black water contamination can cause an influx of viruses and other pathogens into your property. To rid your house or building of these is not as simple as high pressure cleaning with chlorine or bleach spray. Items in your house which are porous may retain these micro organisms. If you simply sheet over these items you may trap these microorganisms and create a perfect environment for reproduction.
