Friday, July 27, 2012

The Difference Between Commercial and Residential Carpet Drying

View of new carpet when walking upstairs
(Photo credit: Shana Lee)

It's easy to forget that commercial property can be affected by water damage just the same as residential properties, but there are some differences that do need to be considered when dealing with flooding in a commercial properties.

One major difference is the carpeting that is usually used in the buildings. Residential properties generally have carpet that is laid over padding. This means that not only does the carpet get damaged, but also the padding. The restoration process in a residential property usually involves removing the carpet and then removing the underlying padding and finally the tack strip. The carpet can then be dried, and possibly the padding to although in many cases it might be unsalvageable depending on how long it has been underwater. In a commercial property, this process is somewhat different. The carpet is often glued directly to the floor with no padding. This is good, because the carpet padding is usually the worst affected part, but on the other hand it makes it difficult to get to the underside of the carpet and ensure proper drying.

It is common for commercial properties to make use of air movers to dry carpets, but this only deals with the surface of the carpet and meanwhile the underside could become the perfect breeding ground for mold. That is why it is best to call in a professional waterdamage restoration company who will be trained to deal with these situations rather than rely on your usually janitorial or cleaning service. Professionals will ensure that air movers are used for extended periods of time – often an additional 24 hours or more after the surface area is dry so that the underlying moisture is also sucked out and dried. They will make use of moisture meters to ensure it is dry. The last thing you want is mold forming and making your employees or customers sick.

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