How To Deal With Water Damage In Your Attic

3/10/2020 (Permalink)

Few of us head up to the attic on a regular basis, so this space in a home is often completely ignored for months at a time. If your attic springs a leak, it can go on for quite some time before anyone realizes it. If you have discovered water damage in your attic area, you will want to take immediate action to avoid even more damage and the associated higher costs and stress.  

Here are some tips to help you deal with water damage in your attic:

• Assess. Your first goal will be to fully assess the issue. You’ll need to find out if there is a leak, and if so, to determine where the leak is coming from. It may be from damage to your roof or a burst pipe, for example. Make sure you are thorough in your assessment and be sure to take safety precautions. Stay away from light sockets, recessed lights, and other electrical systems until the electricity to the attic area has been turned off. Also, be sure to get an accurate idea of how widespread the damage actually is, paying special attention to wood that could be rotten or moldy. 
• Leaks. Find the source of the water issues and eliminate them before handling any of the damage. You may require the help of professionals here. Contact your homeowner’s insurance carrier at this point if it looks like repair costs will extend beyond your deductible. The carrier may decline to cover any damage, but it is better to be safe than sorry. 
• Repairs. Your repair job will be unique to your property, but there are some common repairs you can probably expect after your attic experiences water damage, such as:
• Structural Component Replacements. This can include anything from basic framework to floorboards. This process can be time-consuming since each board used needs to be checked carefully to ensure that it is in good condition. 
• Plumbing Component Replacements. If the source of your attic water damage was a plumbing issue, you will want to replace pipes or components that led to the event. If the main cause was the freezing and bursting of pipes, ensure that this never happens again by installing proper insulation. 
• Electrical Component Replacements. Lighting, light sockets, and electrical outlets may have been negatively affected by a water damage event. This kind of situation is not really something you can handle yourself unless you are an electrical professional, so be prepared to contact a reputable company to take care of this part of your repair project.
• Insulation Replacement. If your insulation was affected when your attic was damaged, you have a great opportunity to replace or upgrade your attic insulation.  
• Clean Up. The last step in the process of dealing with water damage in your attic will be the final clean up. Get rid of remaining items and residue, and wipe down surfaces with a bleach and water solution; don’t forget the Personal Protection Equipment here!

Your attic is a vital part of your home, even if you hardly ever visit it. This space protects everything underneath it, so it is important to make sure that you won’t experience damage from heavy weather and leaks to the rest of your house through your attic. If you need help with a major repair project of this kind, the SERVPRO of Northwest/South Grand Rapids is here to help! We are water damage and fire damage experts, and we handle mold prevention and remediation, too.