Six Tips for Reducing Future Flood Damage

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Would you invest a little now - as you restore your flood-damaged home - if you could

Choose any of these tips and if there is a NEXT TIME

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Stop the wicking - Leave a gap between the lower wall covering and the upper wall covering. Cover the gap with chair rail molding.
Move electrical outlets above flood level.
Replace wall covering on the lower part of the wall – leave a gap at the bottom – cover with a wide baseboard. Choices: Wood paneling, screwed on, can be easily removed before a flood. Solid wood or paperless drywall can get wet without being damaged.
Choose insulation for exterior walls that you can protect (or easily replace). Fiberglass batts and rigid foam boards can be removed before the flood. Separate fibrous lower wall insulation from upper wall insulation to prevent wicking. Caution: Closed-cell spray foam is very flood-resistant but may cause problems in some walls. Check with a professional before replacing fiberglass with closed-cell spray foam
Put your water heater, air conditioner, washer and dryer on platforms. Replace a range/oven combination with a cooktop and wall oven.
Choose waterproof floor-covering. Choices include ceramic or porcelain, tile; brick; solid vinyl flooring with chemical-set adhesives; stained concrete; terrazzo; solid wood planks.

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For a healthier-home recovery…

Keep the walls open till they are completely dry. Trapped moisture causes mold to grow. It’s bad for your house. It’s bad for your health.
Remove vinyl wallpaper from your walls. Vinyl wallpaper traps moisture in the wall. Caution: If there is mold on the back side , use an N-95 (or higher) respirator to protect yourself from the mold spores.

10/6/2012 7:29:59 PM

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