Today’s newly built homes and classic Augusta beauties both rely on trim work to emphasize and highlight the architecture. Window casings, door trim, chair rail, crown molding, and baseboards can be reused to create a cohesive look.
Trim is any kind of decorative piece that covers up gaps and edges areas to give them a cleaner look. Clever builders make the most of the available tools. For example, crown molding that runs along the very top of walls can also be used along the tops of kitchen cabinets to hide the upper soffits. These details can be added to elevate modest builder’s grade cabinets to the next level.
This millwork is often made of lightweight wood such as pine or hemlock. Nowadays, detailed designs can even be made of inexpensive, pre-primed plastic. Either material will give the room a nice, crisp, finished look.
But this feature of your home is easily damaged. Excess water on trim and window sashes typically could come from water pooling on the bathroom floor, splashes near the sink, or even excess humidity. And wet trim can lead to damaged drywall, weakened floors, and mold.
Water Damage Restoration In Augusta
Risks To Wood
Water damaged wood can be difficult to repair. Even though most wood finishes protect the surface from an occasional splash, even well maintained wood will be damaged by excess water. If you see white spots, stains, swelling, roughness or streaks, search for the source of water.
Man-made woods like MDF, plywood, and wood composites can crumble and fall apart when exposed to water. Extended time will dissolve the glues and adhesives. The moisture will be absorbed unevenly and can create swelling, cracking and an environment for mold to grow.
Veneer is another use of wood. This technique glues a thin sheet of real wood over man-made wood. Some cabinets use veneers, but these are prone to water damage. Rumsey Restoration has lots of experience in making these repairs invisible.
Since wood is a natural, organic material, mold will use it as a food source in a damp environment. If your wood trim was exposed to too much water, take action now. Mold can start to grow in less than 48 hours.
Proper Drying Is Key
If your home has had water damage to the walls or windows, drying is the first step. Our water damage restoration pros will start with industrial fans, air scrubbers and dehumidifiers. After placing the machines in the optimal location for your room shape, the fans might run for up to 72 hours.
While the trim must dry completely, they can’t be too aggressive or wood can break or shift from drying to fast. The water damage restoration professionals will use moisture meters to measure the amount of humidity still in the materials, patience is required until all the moisture is removed.
Then the team will make repairs or “splice in” replacement pieces. The trim will be sanded, primed and painted to perfectly match the rest of the home. No one will be able to tell what is original and what is repaired.
Windows Are Especially Vulnerable
Next time that it rains heavily, take a walk and check on all your windows. If you find drips, condensation, or discoloration in the area, you have issues. Address the cause and fix any damaged pieces right away. If you wait too long, you might have to replace the entire window.
Baseboards Show Signs Of Water Damage
Since baseboards are at the lowest point on the wall, they are susceptible to water damage from excess water on walls and from the floors. In addition to peeling paint and visible stains, You also need to look at the junction between wall and baseboard. If it is not flush and in good contact with the drywall, there is water damage.
You have one of two problems: warped baseboards or warped walls. Both are indications that there is more damage to discover as the team removes the trim work. Use this clue to help our team get to the cause of your problem. Don’t let the wet trim lead to ruined sheets of drywall and hidden mold.
Augusta’s Water Damage Restoration Experts
When you’ve had excess water in your home, sometimes the resulting water damage is more extensive than they first appeared to be. Have some experts investigate your situation, looking for damage to your walls, cabinets, and trim. Rumsey Construction and Restoration has been serving South Carolina with superior construction and disaster restoration services for over thirty years.
When in need of water damage restoration, the Rumsey Construction will develop a specific plan for your situation for the most efficient restoration possible. The Atlanta team is available right now to talk. Or you can chat live, get a quote, or see a portfolio of before/after photos on our website.
