The Basics of Structural Drying

Disasters like flooding are uncontrollable. And floods can cause a great deal of damage to your home and business properties. However, it is not the only source of water that destroys a structure or building.

When water enters a structure, it rapidly soaks up whatever it touches. Paper-based materials, carpets, electrical wiring and even the strength of your walls and flooring are at risk when it comes to the havoc floods may leave behind.

Mops and electric fans, however, might not be adequate for drying but a certain technique to follow. The best course of action in this circumstance is to know the basic steps in structural drying. If things get out of hand, get the help of a remediation team to undertake structural drying.

What Is Structural Drying

Keeping your building or home to its normal or ‘dry’ state may seem impossible after water damage. It is unimaginable how you can make things dry again, leaving them spotless and damage-free. But there are always solutions to problems. Through structural drying, you can do so.

Structural drying is a technique to remove moisture from water-damaged properties. When the elements of a structure were soaked in water, it could leave a devastating effect. Mould and mildew, for example, can wreak havoc on walls, ceilings and floors and could negatively impact health. However, using the proper drying procedure will help you achieve your goals.

Structural drying has four steps: water removal, evaporation, dehumidification and temperature or humidity management.

Water Removal

Water removal is the first step in structural drying. However, keep in mind that flooding from storms is not always the culprit in devastation. You need to identify the water source if you observe it keeps coming back drenching parts of your property even when there is no flood.

Also check for the following to determine the source of flooding and moisture:

• Leaky roofs
• Burst pipes
• Damaged dishwashers
• Flooding tanks in the boiler room

If the carpeted area has been drenched with water, it is recommended to remove it and have it dry somewhere else to expose the floor and see further damage. But if it will compromise the floor due to damaged carpet adhesion, better to leave it there and use a high-powered water extraction machine or use air movers to dry it out.

Evaporation

Most objects aren't completely dry after removing the water in the structure. The elements and objects become damp because water molecules haven’t completely gone up. Basic science tells us that evaporation does a lot in removing water. However, in a flooded situation, you can’t expect the natural course of evaporation to speed up drying.

Water damage restoration experts use high-powered fans, blowers and air movers to dry up a damp or wet structure. You can also do the same if you’re doing a DIY approach, but this task should be left to the water damage restoration service as they know where to focus the machines.

Dehumidification

The dehumidification process involves removing excess moisture from the structure. Water is a silent killer. Even after you thought nothing’s left after evaporation, the excess water seeps into structural materials, making the surrounding filled with moisture. This moisture, blended in the air, is absorbed by the materials, leaving more problems to correct.

As mentioned, mould and mildew thrive on moisture. If you skip the dehumidification step, moulds can cause damage to structure and health. So, never allow mould to grow and prevent water damage from pushing through using effective dehumidification.

The water restoration industry recommends using two types of dehumidifiers for effective structural drying. These types have specific functions that will help you select the one that fits your purpose.

• Refrigerant dehumidifier—moisture is removed from the air using the refrigeration process inside the dehumidifying machine, drawing the water from the air, condensing it using special coils. The evaporated moisture passes through a condenser, which collects wastewater, but the air that is pushed back into the room is dry and warm.
• Desiccant dehumidifier—uses a silica gel desiccant to absorb moisture. This sponge-like material draws in moisture and holds it until it evaporates. Thus, the air carried outside is now dry.

Humidity Management

In order to reduce recurring moisture and potential secondary damage, humidity and temperatures within the structure should be managed as soon as is practicable. Although a rise in humidity might occur at the start of a project, recurring increases can signal that a change is required.

The drying rate also progresses through three different but parallel stages: a stage of constant drying rate, followed by two stages of dropping drying rate. Airflow velocity is one of the most crucial elements affecting surface evaporation, particularly during the constant drying rate stage. In most cases, a constant, swift breeze is required to speed up the drying of wet surfaces.

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Failure to follow the basic structural drying will lead to a more complicated situation. The proliferation of mould and mildew through neglected moisture management will affect your property severely. The metal structure will rot or corrode, and wooden frames and planks on the attic, ceiling, drywall and floors will rot eventually.

If it isn’t viable to conduct structural drying on your own, bringing in water damage restoration professionals is your best solution. Aside from their skill and knowledge in handling flooding and water remediation situations, they also have the proper equipment to carry out their jobs.

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