The amount of content in a space can delay water damage mitigation

10/13/2021 (Permalink)

Basement filled with content

We get the call from a homeowner that they have water in their basement from a pipe break. They innocently inform us that "there is a lot of stuff in the basement." We get there and we cannot even walk into the affected area because it is filled with boxes, plastic containers and other content. 

Unfortunately in these situations, we are limited in what we can do. We will need to have someplace to move the content to for the duration of the mitigation and rebuild (if necessary). It is not unusual that if the basement is that filled, there may not be anyplace to move the content. We may need to call to have an onsite storage container brought to the house. This may require a permit from the city. We will also need to have additional staff to move the large amount of content. It is not unusual that we would need to order a dumpster as well, since delays in removing the content can and will contribute to further damage to the structure (drywall, trim and flooring) as well as to the content. 

Another issue may be that if the insurance coverage is limited, there may not be enough coverage to cover all of the expenses in this situation. 

If you find that your basement is looking a bit packed, you might want to schedule a garage sale to get rid of some of the content. You should also schedule a call to your insurance agent and discuss the extent of coverage you have for the basement to make sure there are no surprises. 

At SERVPRO if DeKalb county, we have seen it all!!