Water is a vital resource; however, when it hangs around where it should not, such as inside your walls or floors, it is dangerous to your office. This means that you have a problem with persistent moisture. This is nothing to shrug off because it can impact structural integrity and create a breeding ground for mold growth, which can put your business establishment on the fast track to major deterioration. Since water damage often starts out small and remains hidden for some time, business owners occasionally miss the early signs, and this is exactly why you need to know when a problem is serious enough to require the skills of a restoration expert.
Visible and Physical Clues of Dampness
To see if moisture is present, start by looking at the walls and ceilings. If you notice that there are discolored spots or stains that keep coming back, this means that water is flowing or trapped in these areas.
Next, check areas that are not near windows for any paint that is bubbling, cracking, or peeling. If you spot this, moisture is pushing its way through the wall material and making the paint separate from the drywall or plaster.
If you notice any of these signs, press on the area lightly. If the drywall or wood feels spongy, soft, or warped, you must get expert help straight away because your building is in some serious trouble. This material is saturated with water and has lost its structural integrity.
Musty Odors
A musty odor that will not go away is a clear sign of hidden moisture. You can try to use some of the best cleaning agents that money can buy, but it will not matter. This smell is a flashing warning sign of mold or mildew, which thrives in places that are dark and damp like a basement or bathroom. Because mold spores are airborne and can cause health issues, a lingering musty smell means the water damage has been present long enough for mold to develop and grow.
If you can smell it strongly in one area, such as in the basement, a bathroom, or near plumbing lines, but you cannot see the source of the dampness, the chances are high that water is trapped. At this point, it is critical that a restoration company should use their moisture meters to locate the source.
Small Changes to Interior Finishes
You may notice small changes to interior finishes in your office. For example, if you have hardwood floors that buckle or swell closest to a wall, water may be coming up from the subfloor or making its way in from an exterior wall or a nearby pipe. Since this damage gets worse over time and often results from slow, continuous leaks, you must hire an expert who can dry the structure completely before you can even think to replace the damaged materials.
Do not allow these issues to go unchecked. Protect your Bellingham, MA business by contacting J Brian Day for commercial restoration services.
