Post-flood cleanup tips
Before you do anything,
document your damage with photos and/or video. Check with your insurance company to see if that’s enough. If you have to remodel, these photos also will serve as a roadmap for any contractors who put it back together.
When removing drywall,
cut it as straight as possible and remove it at two-foot or fourfoot marks to be most efficient. Drywall comes in four-foot sheets and you want as few cuts as possible. Taking a twofoot section off of your wall means you can make a single cut in a sheet of drywall for replacement.
Use bleach water in a spray bottle
to prevent mold from growing on walls or floors. Be sure to wear rubber gloves, a protective mask and eyewear to avoid injury. Wear old clothes when you do this — bleach will fade any clothing it touches.
When removing baseboards and drywall,
remove the insulation behind it because it’s wet, too.
Deal with anything wet as soon as possible.
Clothing, bedding and linens that have gotten wet should be laundered in hot water as soon as possible.
Don’t give up on wood furniture immediately.
Remember, wood is natural and it might survive flooding. Furniture such as a table could be taken outside so the sun can help dry it.
If you remove carpeting,
be careful with sharp carpet tacks glued to the floor. You’ll want to take those up so no one gets cut.
Rugs may not be salvageable.
Before having any cleaned, make sure they’re completely dry.
Remember that water can be anywhere.
Remove electrical outlet covers to see if water seeped in behind them. You don’t want a shock when you plug something in. Also, anything in flooded cabinets would have floated and shifted, so open doors carefully. You may not mind if a can of green beans falls out, but you don’t want a teacup from your grandmother’s china to fall out and break.
Check credentials and references
of any contractor you hire. Angie’s List, the Better Business Bureau and the Greater Houston Builder’s Association (ghba.org) all can help. If a contractor offers references, call them.