During the past few months, the Brisbane area has experienced rather serious flood damage. Many homeowners have begun the task of cleaning up their homes and endeavouring to return their homes to their previous state.

However, water damage is not only a problem that has occurred in the recent Brisbane and Queensland floods. A leaky tap, faulty dishwasher or a misbehaving washing machine can be a cause of water damage to anyone in Australia!

Here are some tips that may help you get along your way with the cleanup process.

If your water damage is coming from a source, for example, a leaking pipe, it is best to cut off your water supply temporarily. Wherever your leak is coming from, do your best to block it off. Of course you can't stop a natural disaster like a flood but within reason do your best to halt the water inundation.

Assessing the Damage

Assess the extent of the damage.  Most household leaks can be easily fixed yourself. In light of recent events such as flood damage however, certain fixes, such as wall damage, soaked carpeting etc may require the hiring of professional services.  Before entering or starting work in a flood damaged or water damaged area ensure all power is off!

Cleaning and Drying the Area

• First thing is first. Get fresh air flowing through your home.  You can do this by opening windows and using fans (when safe).  Not only will this reduce any smells caused by mold and the like, but will dry the area as quickly as possible.  A smart idea is to use waterproof extension cords to power your electrical items.
• Depending on the extent of water damage, a dehumidifier may come in really handy.  A dehumidifier basically takes the moisture out of the air.  Ensure you check the tank often as it may need to be emptied.  You may be doing this for some time until the area is completely dried out.
• If you have already experienced mold and mildew, you can treat those areas by vigorous scrubbing with either a mild detergent or bleach added to a bucket of warm water with a small scrubbing brush or sponge.  For water damage to walls, we recommend painting them with a mold resistant primer (once they have dried out of course), and follow with your desired paint.

If you have ceiling tiles such as in a basement, underneath the water damage, check to see if they have been damaged by the water.  If so, you will need to dispose of them and replace them. Builders Direct have a range of tiles that you can buy online or from our Gold Coast showroom.

Warnings and Tips:

If you feel your water damage is severe, call a water damage professional.  Just ensure you clean up the area as much as possible so that no further damage can be done, and where applicable find the cause of the water damage to stop any more water entering the affected area.

If contaminated water is involved, do not turn on fans, call a water damage professional straight away.

Special Offer for Flood Victims

Until June 2011 Builders Direct are offering all products from our range of carpets , flat pack kitchens and kitchen appliances to victims of the recent floods at guaranteed trade prices. To qualify for this offer Builders Direct reserve the right to view a copy of your electricity statement showing your were impacted by the floods. If you buy online please enter in the message area that you are requesting the FLOOD DISCOUNTS special offer.