Purpose of a flood cut

10/10/2018 (Permalink)

After a storm rages it is likely that your home will experience a bit of flooding. When this happens, you will probably hear the water professionals from SERVPRO you hire talk about making a flood cut. A flood cut is a mark that is made 12 inches above the spot where the water damage stops. Specialists tear out everything below the flood cut to stop the spread of contamination and prevent mold growth. Here are some common questions about this process.

1. What Circumstances Require a Flood Cut?

Any time there is damage that cannot be dried with a fan, professionals are probably going to use a flood cut to be on the safe side. Insulation cannot be dried, so if there is wet insulation, the wall has to be cut out and the insulation removed. If the water is contaminated by storm-related debris or sewage, the wall must be discarded. If tests show any harmful microbes, the affected area must go.

2. Why Does the Flood Cut Have To Be a Foot Above the Damage?

Water damage from flooding does not like to stay politely in its place. What technicians can see with the naked eye may only be the beginning of the story. Placing the flood cut 12 inches above the visible water damage ensures that everything affected is remediated.

3. Is There Any Way To Save the Wall?

If the water damage is minimal and no insulation is affected, it is possible that quick removal of water and fast drying techniques can allow the wall to be salvaged. The water in question must also be clean. If it is contaminated at all, the wall has to be replaced.

Call SERVPRO of Warren County at (513)932-3649