While it is commonly discussed that building structure can be restored from water damage as long as the restoration technicians are called right away. However, what many may not realize is how to restore their wet content, or if it can even be restored.

There are numerous factors in which determine whether or not personal items can be restored from water or flood damage. Here is a list of the factors that may provide some assistance to understanding as to deciding whether or not an item is salvageable:

Type of Water Damage the Item has Retained

 If the water was cleaned when it had come into contact with the item, there is going to be a higher chance that the item can be saved. This is because it does not contain any dangerous contaminants that are harmful to the surface of the content. Although it is possible to restore an item with contaminated water, there is also a chance that it may not be restored to its original condition.

Amount of Water Damage Incurred in the Item

The time, in addition to the amount of water that has penetrated the affected item is another factor in determining whether it is salvageable or not. This is why it is important to call a water damage technician right away for immediate cleaning. Finally, the longer the item is left to sit in the water, the more water will penetrate the affected surface. In addition, porous materials will soak in water faster than non-porous materials. However, if the drying process is started immediately, there is a higher chance that the item can still be saved.

Type of Damaged Material

Any materials containing holes or made of spongy material, such as wood, fabrics, and paper are harder to restore than others. There is also an increased chance for mold growth to occur within the item, which may then deem it unsalvageable. An example of this would be wooden furniture. The fabric and wood will quickly soak up any moisture, making it prone for mold to permeate within the cushions. In contrast, non-porous materials including aluminum, porcelain, glass, etc. have a higher chance of being restored as the majority of water will simply run off their surfaces. In addition, bacteria are not able to root themselves into the hard, slippery surfaces, allowing for an easier cleanup process.

Replacement Cost of Content

 Sometimes, the cost to restore an item is more expensive than what the item is actually worth. This may include items that have no high monetary or sentimental value. Should the need occur to replace any water-damaged materials, an evaluation should be performed with each item in order to calculate the total cost to replace the content.

In other cases, it is not always guaranteed that the restoration services will restore the content to their original conditions. In these cases, the consideration of replacement is necessary.

Water restoration technicians are always available to help you determine whether an item can be restored or not. A flood damage restoration company will be able to effectively dry out all property; therefore, they would be the most helpful in assessing the incurred damage to the item. RestorationMaster is qualified and trained to use advanced equipment and products when it comes to restoring content. Contact your local provider today if you need help with content restoration or water extraction.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.