Table of Contents
Overview : Escape of Water Restoration
A significant escape of water beneath a kitchen floor caused extensive hidden damage to a residential property. Disaster Care carried out specialist drying, monitoring and restoration works, helping return the home to a safe condition through a structured programme of mitigation, decontamination and drying.
The Situation
A washing machine hose became kinked and loosened, allowing water to escape beneath the kitchen floor before the issue was identified.
Although much of the damage was hidden, the incident required specialist assessment and drying to prevent longer-term deterioration and ensure the property could be safely restored.
The Challenge
Hidden water damage can continue to affect a property long after the initial leak has stopped.
Key priorities included:
- Identifying the full extent of moisture beneath the floor
- Preventing secondary damage to structural timber
- Monitoring drying progress throughout the restoration
- Providing reassurance and clear communication throughout the claim
Delivering an efficient programme of works while minimising disruption for the homeowner was essential.
The Response
Working in partnership with the Home Field team, Disaster Care delivered a structured restoration programme.
The plan included:
- Initial damage assessment
- Installation of mitigation equipment
- Ongoing moisture monitoring
- Treatment of affected timber with anti-fungal protection
- Mechanical drying following strip-out works
- Decontamination cleaning and mould remediation
- Moisture testing of floor joists to confirm successful drying
- Continued project management throughout the process
Mitigation works were carried out over an initial 15-day period, after which strip-out works were completed. Disaster Care then returned to undertake decontamination cleaning, mould remediation and a programme of mechanical drying, with regular inspections ensuring progress could be monitored at every stage.
The Outcome
Disaster Care’s involvement spanned 20 days, comprising 15 days of mitigation works followed by five days of mechanical drying. Including the intervening strip-out works undertaken by the policyholder, the overall restoration programme was completed in just 27 days.
Final moisture readings confirmed the property had returned to pre-incident moisture levels, providing confidence that all hidden moisture had been successfully addressed before reinstatement.
Customer Impact
Reflecting on the experience, the homeowner commented:
“My insurance company were extremely helpful. They got the ball rolling in getting a disaster team out to assess the damage and leave some dehumidifiers to soak up the moisture.”
They also praised our ongoing inspections and restoration work:
“The same disaster team were sent out again to check on the progress. During the visit, they treated the timber with anti-fungal chemicals and used a probe device to test the floor joists to make sure no water snuck in.”
At Disaster Care, every restoration project is about more than repairing buildings. It’s about helping people recover quickly, safely and with confidence.