It was a sorry sight with the carpets saturated, high watermarks all over the downstairs wall with the paintwork bubbling and peeling where the water had poured down the walls. It was the first time that Robert had seen Carlite plaster as thick silt on the floor that had been simply washed off the walls by the constantly flowing water. There was water everywhere.
What We Did
Our team went straight over to the property and took site photographs for the insurance company before settling in to sweep out the excess water. The property needed drying urgently, but before all this could be done, the downstairs needed to be completely stripped and the electrics isolated for safety. The damaged and waterlogged kitchen was ripped out, along with the carpets and other floor coverings. The furniture was removed, much of it ruined.
Drying Out
The client informed the insurance company. We installed dehumidifiers to dry the property out. The plaster on the walls needed hacking off in the worst-affected areas so the brickwork had a chance to dry out. It took 6 weeks.
Refurbishment
Eventually, the property was dry enough to refurbish and bring it back to its former glory. The walls were re-plastered, electricians came in to rewire the cottage, the floor needed new screed from where it had been broken up to help the drying process; this involved the installation of a complete new damp proof membrane throughout.
A new kitchen was installed, and finally, the house was repainted. It was a lengthy process but one that was thankfully for the client covered by the insurance company, where the staff were helpful and constructive throughout the project. The photos show the utter devastation that was caused by the leak.
