Structural Drying

1/21/2021 (Permalink)

Moisture content in structural components must be a concern in all water damage situations. After evaluation of carpet and pad, a careful evaluation of structural materials must be done. Replacement of structural components if damaged beyond repair will be much more costly than replacement of contents such as carpet and pad. Thus, consideration and inspection of any structural component that has the remotest possibility of being wet is vital. If moisture is detected, rapid drying of the structure must be the primary concern. The use of a hygrometer to measure air space moisture in attics and crawl spaces and the use of a moisture meter to measure the extent of saturation of porous materials is considered standard procedure in all water losses. The permeance of a structural component should be considered when determining drying procedures. Vinyl-covered drywall may require holes to be drilled into and air forced through them for drying due to possible vapor barrier. Wet baseboards act as a moisture barrier and should be removed to drill holes to speed up the drying process. Since this is the molding that covers the joint between a finished wall and the floor, when it is replaced it will cover the holes.