This summer has brought significant rainfall and flooding to communities across Saskatchewan and Alberta. While many homeowners are primarily focused on removing water and cleaning up visible damage, one of the biggest threats often develops after the floodwaters are cleared.
Water can quickly find its way into flooring, walls, insulation, crawl spaces, and other building materials, creating the perfect conditions for mold growth to happen fast. Acting quickly after a flood can make all the difference in protecting your home, preserving your belongings, and preventing costly repairs down the road.
Whether your basement experienced several inches of water, or your property suffered minor leaks and seepage after a heavy storm, here’s what you need to know.
Floodwater doesn’t just damage what you can see. Moisture often travels into hidden areas of your home where it can remain trapped for days or even weeks if not properly dried.
Depending on the severity of the flooding, water can affect:
Even if standing water has been removed, lingering moisture can continue causing damage long after the initial flood event.
If your home is safe to enter and local authorities have indicated it is safe to return, taking action as soon as possible can help in reducing any additional damage.
Start by documenting everything! Take pictures and videos of all affected areas before any cleanup begins. This documentation can be extremely valuable if you are planning to file an insurance claim.
Next, if weather conditions allow, increase ventilation throughout the home by opening windows and exterior doors. Fresh air can help reduce indoor humidity while cleanup begins.
If it is safe to do so:
Avoid entering flooded areas where electrical hazards may exist and never attempt to cleanup if the structure has sustained significant damage until it has been deemed safe.
One of the most common misconceptions is that mold can take weeks to develop. In reality, mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours when moisture is present and temperatures are favourable.
Building materials, such as drywall, wood, insulation, and carpeting, provide an excellent source of food for mold once they become wet. Since much of this growth occurs behind walls or beneath flooring, homeowners may not realize mold is developing until they notice a musty smell, discolouration, or worsening indoor air quality.
The faster moisture is removed and materials are properly dried, the greater the chance of preventing mold growth.
Unfortunately, not everything exposed to floodwater can be safely cleaned or restored.
Carpet that has been saturated, particularly by groundwater or sewage contaminated floodwater, is often not salvageable. Carpet fibres, padding, and adhesives trap moisture deep within the material, making complete drying and decontamination extremely difficult.
Drywall acts like a sponge, absorbing water deep into the material. Fibreglass, cellulose, and other insulation materials lose their effectiveness when wet and often remain damp inside wall cavities, creating ideal conditions for mold growth.
Sofas, recliners, mattresses, box springs, and other upholstered furniture absorb large amounts of water into foam and fabric layers. These materials are extremely difficult to disinfect and dry completely, especially if contaminated floodwater is involved.
Items such as pillows, stuffed toys, books, curtains, clothing, paper documents, cardboard boxes, and stored fabric items may not be recoverable if they have been heavily saturated or contaminated.
Some clothing and textiles can be professionally cleaned depending on the type of water damage exposure, but many porous items should be discarded for health and safety reasons.
Solid wood furniture may often be restored if drying begins quickly. However, engineered wood products such as particle board, MDF (medium-density fibreboard) furniture, laminate cabinetry, and pressed wood shelving frequently swell, warp, and lose their structural integrity after prolonged exposure to water.
A professional assessment can help determine which materials can safely remain and which should be removed.
Flood damage restoration involves much more than simply drying visible surfaces. Professional restoration companies, like our team at got mold?™, use specialized equipment and moisture detection technology to identify hidden water that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
Our restoration services at got mold?™ can include:
Professional drying also helps ensure that moisture trapped behind walls, beneath flooring, and inside structural materials is properly addressed before any repairs begin.
Flood recovery doesn’t end when the water disappears!
Hidden moisture can remain inside your home long after surfaces appear dry, quietly creating conditions where mold can thrive. Acting quickly during the first day or two after flooding occurs gives you the best opportunity to minimize damage, protect your belongings and avoid more extensive repairs in the future.
If you’ve recently experienced flooding, the got mold?™ team can help assess moisture, identify hidden water intrusion, and develop a restoration plan that gets your home safely back to normal. Whether you’re working directly with your insurance provider or simply want peace of mind that your home has been dried properly, early action can make all the difference.
Fill out the form and our Team will get back to you within 24 hours.
Fill up the form and our team will get back to you within 24 hours.
.webp){kind=small}