How Can SERVPRO Dry Cabinets and Cavities in Your Pine Beach Home after Flood Damage?

4/17/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Toms River's drying equipment at the bottom of a carpeted stairway from water entering this Pine Beach property.

Do wet cabinets dry naturally?

Flooding brings floodwaters into your home and spread throughout your Pine Beach property leading to wet walls behind cabinets and fittings. These areas are particularly challenging to dry because of space limitations and the multiple layers of cabinet backs and drywall. The low ventilation level typically means fittings dry slowly without intervening with equipment and could become hotbeds for microbial growth activity. Drying times are typically longer when cabinet design includes a back. Often drying the wall and the cabinet requires drilling small holes to allow for adequate ventilation and air-flow.

What makes wet cabinets and walls slow to dry?

• The type of paint, either flat paint or glossy, can slow down drying. Flat paint is generally the quickest.
• Cabinet design, mainly whether cabinets include backing.
• Laminated cabinets can be tricky to measure due to the vapor barrier.

Is cabinet disassembly necessary for drying efficiency?

Fittings with water exposure and flood damage in your Pine Beach home are often time-consuming to disassemble. SERVPRO technicians generally opt for drilling vent points into the cabinet walls and using a venting fan to drive air into the cavity. One area that may be useful to drill into is the cabinet toe kick located at the cabinet's bottom. To remove the toe kick, remove the base molding to circulate air into the cavity. With proper care and attention, base molds are reusable so long as they do not sustain permanent harm during removal.

What methods are useful for walls with high exposure to moisture?

• Drill additional holes at the top of the wall to allow full ventilation.
• Insulation in exterior walls can often be savable by drilling additional holes.
• Take extra care to avoid loosening sheetrock, which may be weak due to water exposure.

Cabinet drying typically takes longer but is essential to recovering your home from flood losses. Call SERVPRO of Toms River at (732) 349-9898.