After a flood, not everything is salvageable – and while your Ann Arbor flood damage contractor will help you save as much as possible, there may be things that can’t be recovered.

What’s Salvageable After a Flood?

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, you should always use extreme care when you’re handling water-damaged items. They say:

“Use great caution in handling your heirlooms, which can be especially fragile when wet. Separate damp materials: remove the contents from drawers; take photographs out of damp albums; remove paintings and prints from frames; place paper towels between the pages of wet books.”

Items that are porous, organic or absorbent have to be completely dried within 48 hours of coming into contact with water – any longer than that, and you risk them growing mold. That includes:

Wood
Drywall
Fiberglass insulation
Carpet
Fabric
Paper
Upholstered items

If mold begins to grow, you may need to discard them. That’s why it’s so important to get in touch with an Ann Arbor flood damage expert immediately after flooding occurs. (It’s even better if you can find someone who’s also an expert in mold remediation services.)

The type of water damage also determines what’s salvageable after a flood. There are three general categories of water that causes damage:

Clean water. Clean water comes from a sanitary source, like your tap or a pipe that’s carrying clean water to your home.
Gray water. Gray water is iffy – it comes from a source like your dishwasher or washing machine after it’s been run.
Black water. Black water is dangerous and unsanitary. It can cause serious illness or death. Black water comes from sewer backup, flooding from rivers or streams, or toilet overflow.