Few things can wreak havoc on your mobile home quite as well as the elements can. Tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods are just a few of the weather-related disasters that occur around the world every day. If you’ve already experienced one of these giants, you probably know just how destructive they can be.
SAFETY FIRST
Obviously, the most important thing when taking care of water damage is safety. Flood waters are often contaminated with sewage and other dangerous things that could be harmful to your health. Decontaminating everything in the house properly is extremely important. In addition, using gloves and/or masks is always advisable.
DIY – RIP IT OUT
The longer damp materials sit in your house, the worse the damage will be. Mold and mildew will start appearing fairly quickly. And along with them come less than pleasant smells. However, before you start tearing out something like drywall, it’s important to find out how deep the floodwaters were. That way, you’ll know how much of the sheetrock you should be removing.
DRYWALL
A moisture meter is a handy tool that will help you find out the dampness of anything that has been flooded. They can be found at nearly every home improvement store. The optimal moisture reading for sheetrock is 5-12%. And generally, anything above 17% should be removed.
For the most part, you should be able to rip out the sheetrock yourself. All you’ll need is a utility knife, and something like a hammer. For best results, you should remove any damp or wet sheetrock and any insulation.
Keep in mind that removing drywall isn’t a job you want to do half-heartedly. Any wet insulation or sheetrock will make for big problems down the road. Shifting, weakness, mold and bad smells are just a few of the possibilities.
After you have completely removed all wet drywall and insulation, your house should dry out for at least 48-72 hours, before you start subsequent repairs.
CARPET
Another material in your mobile home that tends to get very waterlogged is your carpet. Ordinarily, carpet is easy to pull out on your own. Locate the carpet tack strips around the perimeter of the room. Once you pull or cut the carpet off of those, the rest of the job is simple. Like the walls behind your sheetrock, the floor underneath should dry out for a few days, with fans circulating the air.
WHEN NOT TO DIY
As far as not DIYing it, it generally depends on how much experience you have. If you know what you’re doing, the sky’s the limit. But for inexperienced folks, you want to be cautious about what you try to do on your own. After all, your life is more important than saving some money while repairing your mobile home. Roof-related problems can often be dangerous, especially if the roof is wet.
Furthermore, the actual frame of your mobile home may need parts of it replaced. This is definitely not something you should attempt on your own. In this case, a professional opinion and professional help is what we would suggest.
Electric problems from flood damage is an area where you may want to avoid doing things by yourself if you don’t know much about it. Electricity can be very dangerous to work with. And adding water to your electric problems only increases the danger. Safety around anything electrical during mobile home flood repair is very important.
In general, it’s wise to get help with anything flood repair related. Having a “flood-fix-up party” is a fantastic idea. Consider asking your neighbors and friends for help. Then, return the favor by helping around your neighbor’s property. We’re sure it will be very much appreciated.
We’ve all heard the saying, “there’s safety in numbers,” and flood repairs are no exception. Flood repairs can sometimes be dangerous, so having extra people is advisable.
WHEN IN DOUBT, HIRE OUT
As we mentioned previously, the most important aspect of flooded mobile home repair is your safety. It won’t matter if you fix your home completely by yourself if you end up injured because of it. So, if you’re at all concerned about the safety of something, STOP! Do your research, and consider hiring out.
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