The 4 Phases of Structural Drying

3/15/2022 (Permalink)

When water enters a building, it seeps into all sorts of nooks and crannies and absorbent materials.

Structural drying of a building after a flood is crucial to prevent further damage. When water enters a building, it seeps into all sorts of nooks and crannies and absorbent materials. Without drying the building properly, excess moisture will cause mold growth and even lead to structural damage. 

Structural drying occurs in four vitally important phases — water removal, evaporation, dehumidifying the air, and maintaining temperature. Calling professionals to dry a building as soon as possible after a flood, storm, burst pipe, or leaking roof is the only way to prevent serious water damage problems down the road.

Please read on to learn about what is involved with structural drying.

What is Structural Drying?

Structural drying refers to the process of removing all water from surfaces. After that, professionals use extraction tools to eliminate all excess moisture from structures. The result is that the structural materials are returned to their original state and level of dryness before the water event. 

Four Structural Drying Phases

The structural drying process occurs in four phases. It is an effective and proven process for drying out a residential or commercial property after being flooded.

Phase 1: Water Extraction 

The primary drying phase of structural drying involves extracting all excess water from wet surfaces. Apart from water pumps, specialist equipment can suck an incredible amount of water from carpets, upholstery, and soft furnishings. Getting this first step right dramatically speeds up the evaporation and dehumidification phases because there is less moisture to remove.

Phase 2: Evaporation

Increasing airflow considerably enhances the water evaporation rate from hard and porous surfaces. Although opening windows will boost air circulation, professional high-velocity air movers are required to remove moisture content from structural framing before it can do more damage. 

In some cases, it may be necessary to create openings in baseboards and moldings for the evaporation process to force damp air out from unseen places. 

Phase 3: Dehumidification

The third phase in the structural drying process involves air drying. In other words, you must remove water vapor from the air. When water dries from porous materials, it doesn’t just disappear. Instead, it creates a humid environment in the building. Without dehumidifiers in the drying process, moisture gets absorbed into absorbent materials. 

The dehumidification process prevents mold growth, ensuring minimal risk of secondary damage to the structure. 

Phase 4: Temperature Control 

Maintaining a constant ambient temperature is one of the most crucial phases to help speed drying times. It’s a fact that water vapor evaporates faster in warm temperatures. So, by keeping the air temperature between 70°F and 90°F, you save hours of drying and return your building to a dry condition in the fastest time possible.

In Conclusion 

Structural drying is crucial after a severe water event. Flooding creates a damp indoor environment that can lead to secondary damage like mildew, mold, and rot. Therefore, using tried and tested drying procedures is vital. 

Has your property suffered water damage after a flood, storm, or plumbing disaster? If so, call SERVPRO of North Irving for Dallas mold restoration. We have many years of experience in minimizing the severe effects of water damage on a building’s structural integrity. 

Call us anytime day or night at (972) 986-7677.