RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL DISASTER RESTORATION SERVICES

After water damage in your home, stair carpeting is generally not removed for safety reasons. Exposed tack strips or staples, especially on steps, can be dangerous. However, there are situations where removing carpet from stairs is necessary to prevent damage to hardwood steps underneath, or in the case of sewage contamination. Removing tack strips is not advised, as this may damage the hardwood or the subfloor. Extreme caution must be used whenever the tack strip is exposed or when the carpeted stairs are damp. If carpet left on the stairs is unsalvageable, it will be removed when new carpet is installed.

Excess moisture caused by leaks or flooding in your home — especially in typically damp environments like your kitchen, laundry room and bathrooms — creates the perfect breeding ground for mould or mildew. To control and reduce the risk for mould growth in these areas, you must properly maintain your plumbing system and monitor appliances that use large quantities of water, such as dish washers and washing machines. Small amounts of indoor mould are unavoidable and usually harmless. In damp environments, however, mould spores can more easily reproduce and cause more serious and difficult to remove mould problems.

Depending on the extent of damage, your insurance representative can help you answer this question. Ultimately, however, this is a decision you must reach on your own. Some things you may want to consider are safety concerns, odours, electricity, and disruption as a result of the equipment, work and noise that may be necessary to complete the restoration process in your home. If vacating your premises during the process, consider forwarding your mail to your temporary residence; stopping your newspaper and other deliveries; notifying your utility company, cable company, etc., of the temporary suspension of services during the restoration process.