Water Damage to Furniture

5/6/2022 (Permalink)

Many things happen when a water loss occurs. Flooding can be a very stressful, messy situation. Determining what, if anything, can be saved is an enormous task and it truly depends on the type of furniture you have and the magnitude of the water damage. Solid furniture is less porous and therefore has a better chance of being salvaged than particle board or upholstered furniture. If you do experience a water loss, SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Wilkes & Burke Counties can aid with the restoration of your items.

The SERVPRO® Way

Our first step in restoring furniture is the inspection. SERVPRO® will examine and assess the furniture, taking plenty of photos and documenting the damage. Any furniture that cannot be restored will be separated immediately and the salvageable items will be moved to a dry area to prevent further damage. Then the area would be properly sanitized and dried to the IICRC standards to avoid microbial growth and the like from forming. Additionally, the type of water also has influence over how the piece of furniture can be restored.

Wooden Furniture

As previously stated, wood is less porous, thus giving it a better chance to be salvaged. However, have you ever placed a cup of cool water on a wooden table, leave it there for a few minutes, and when you come back to it there is a ring of water left on it. Water takes very little time to penetrate wooden furniture. On a much larger scale, extensive damage to wooden furniture is easily accumulated within hours of a water damage. If the furniture has been saturated for more than a day, it may be permanently ruined and need to be thrown out. Wood furniture also contains glue and bindings that keep them together, if they are soaked from the water, they will need to be properly restored at length which is a time and labor-intensive process.

Upholstered Furniture

There is a certain difficulty that comes along with upholstered furniture, they must be first cleaned and then dried to professional standards. Often pieces can be gently pressure treated using high temperature water that kills any bacteria or other pathogens present. After cleaning the piece of potential harmful microbes, the piece is then properly dried using SERVPRO® equipment, such as an air mover and dehumidifier. Air movers are strategically placed to pass dry air over and through the furniture, as the moisture then evaporates it gets pulled into the dehumidifier.

Mattresses

Like with upholstered furniture, the fabric absorbs moistures and fosters optimal conditions for microbial growth. It is often recommended that a wet mattress is discarded, as is may contain hazardous material. However, if the mattress was exposed to water for a very short amount of time, it may be able to be salvaged. SERVPRO® would first start by cleaning the surface of the mattress, then resting the mattress on blocks, and placing in the sun to thoroughly dry. An air mover may also be placed to speed up the drying process. If odor is noticed, it may be an indication of mildew. Mildewed mattresses must be handled by a professional, like SERVPRO®, to properly sanitize it, if there is a possibility it can be salvaged at all. If the odor persists after cleaning, the mattress should be promptly discarded. Unfortunately, if the box-spring or mattress has been fully submerged or has been sitting in stagnant water for a long period of time, the only option is to replace it. Microbial growth is inevitable with a soggy mattress and there is a risk that it has absorbed contaminants.

SERVPRO® of Augusta South / Wilkes & Burke Counties has certified technicians equipped with training and expertise to get the job done right. We can make the damage to your home and furniture “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call at (706) 843-1990.