Before

After

NE St. Petersburg Vacation Home Has Water Damage from Slow Drip

Florida is an international vacation hub, and it is not unusual for NE St. Petersburg condos to remain vacant for months between visits from property owners or renters on vacation. The Before Photo shows the water damage that a slow drip from a pressurized water line under the sink can cause significant water damage. The Before Photo offers the wall where the cabinet and sink were, and the sheetrock is deteriorated due to the long-term moisture exposure. The substrate appears saturated, and there is mold growth on much of the damaged area. 

The bottom of the cabinets was ruined by the water and had no prospects for restoration through drying. SERVPRO technicians carefully took the cabinet unit out of the worksite so the wall and floor could get the needed attention. SERVPRO techs have comprehensive training to inspect water damage visually. Still, they also use a host of equipment to define the water damage and mold remediation parameters needed in this type of cleanup and restoration service.

The technicians use moisture detection equipment to determine how far up into sheetrock the water wicked. This point is known as the "water line." Then the technicians measure a few inches over that point and cut off the damaged portion of the building materials. Fortunately for this NE St. Petersburg condo owner, the seepage did not occur under the kitchen tile floor. Only the cabinets and some sheetrock on the wall around the sink supply line required removal and disposal.

The mold growth seen around the area with the slow leak created the perfect mold damage environment. While the condo remained vacant and the leak active, the mold was relatively undisturbed and, with organic materials to consume, spread behind the wall. 

SERVPRO techs commit to restoring a safe and healthy environment for property owners and safely removing the mold-damaged building materials. The After Photo shows the area in the kitchen that had previous water and mold damage cleaned and dried. The only repairs needed will be replacing the sheetrock, installing cabinets, and hook up the water line to a new sink.  Because this SERVPRO location holds a general contractor license, it is easy for property owners to hand off the job of repairs and restoration to the same team that did the water damage cleanup and mold remediation. The surfaces affected by the mold have been cleaned using professional biocide and antimicrobial cleaning agents. This SERVPRO has a license for HVAC cleaning, and the technicians also suggested the ductwork receive a thorough cleaning due to the amount of time the mold spores were present within the home and had the potential to infiltrate the HVAC. Once completed, the condo was ready for the few repairs to bring it back to vacation-ready for the property owners and their visiting tenants.