In situations where customers call us in regards to water damage on a wall, that later reveals extensive wood rot from the interior, they’re now dealt with a much more serious issue than they ever thought. As an example, we completed a water damage restoration job in a back bedroom of a row home in Center City Philadelphia. The home was only a few years old, and the rear was comprised of stucco. When the initial cut was made into the drywall, the rot was so bad that we could see the stucco from the interior of the room. This resulted in not only an extensive mold job, but also forced the customer to have the stucco completely pulled down and replaced, since it wasn’t properly installed by the builder.
In another example, we did a home where the siding was improperly installed and the same situation and result came about. So what can you do? If you’re a new home owner purchasing a brand new construction home, don’t get fooled into thinking that you’re not susceptible to these kinds of damages just because your home is “brand new.” Remember, a home built in the 1920’s was built out of stone and brick and meant to last. Most new construction homes today are built of wood and other cheap products and are meant to be a profit.
Another tip, is not to ignore an issue and allow it to fester into a major one. This is something I continually preach. Small water damage or mold growth problems will eventually become huge issues if left untreated and completely ignored. And if you’re planning on remodeling or upgrading, a lot of these issues start with poor choices of contractors, so it’s vital that your vetting process is very thorough.
