Toilet Overflow Damages 12 Rooms, Requiring Professional Water Removal and Structural Drying

One overflowing toilet caused water damage in a dozen rooms in this private residence. Once water breaks free of pipes, it migrates throughout a home, exposing building materials and contents to deterioration.

What Is the Danger When Fluids Become Trapped?

Residential construction features many cavities between interior and exterior walls and between walls that separate rooms. Most are gypsum boards, also known as drywall. Drywall is permeable, permitting fluids to pass through. When water hides in cavities, it causes severe issues, including:

• An environment conducive to mold growth
• Allowing pressure to build leading to collapse of ceilings or walls
• Moistening  materials so  paint blisters and wallpaper peels 

How Does Water Directly Affect Building Materials?

The materials also absorb and wick water, causing the manufactured components to break down. Insulation between walls soaks water and packs down, decreasing or losing its R-value. The video shows the damaged materials, including ruined vinyl tiles and destroyed walls.

Why Were the Walls Sawn About Two Feet from the Floor?

SERVPRO obtains training for our staff through the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). When we respond to intense water damage like that found in this house, we nearly always employ controlled demolition as a mitigation and remediation strategy. Flood cuts, as seen in the video, allow for the release of water, particularly important in a case where the fluids could contain contaminants such as human waste. The cuts ease removal of wet insulation and enhance the free flow of air critical for structural drying after flood water removal.

The team at SERVPRO of Braun Station is ready to respond to your water crisis round the clock at (210) 267-2159. Our training, experience, and tool ensure a safe and complete recovery, ready for the rebuild.