How to Restore a Basement From Water Damage

Basements can grow mold after water damage.

Basements are notorious for incurring water damage. Pipe leaks, floods and other circumstances can lead to extensive problems in the basement. For example, water can lead to mold spores, which can be hazardous to the health of everyone living in the house. Fixing water-damaged areas and removing mold will help restore your basement to a safe environment.

Begin work on the basement within 24 to 48 hours of the water damage. The longer the water is allowed to sit in your basement, the more damage it will cause.

Things You'll Need

• Mop
• Sump pump
• Dehumidifiers and fans
• Wet/dry vacuum
• Protective gear
• Water
• Bleach
• Scrub brush
• HEPA vacuum

Instructions

1. Remove any remaining standing water. Depending on the amount of water, this can be as simple as mopping up the remaining puddles. In large-scale water damage cases, you may need to rent a sump pump from a hardware or home improvement store to pump out the remainder of the water.

2. Ventilate the basement area by opening any doors or windows that are safe to open. Install fans in these exit areas to encourage the flow of fresh air. Activate dehumidifiers in the basement to help all material dry out.

3. Dispose of any soft materials that have been severely water damaged or have begun to grow mold. This can include ceiling tiles, mattresses, carpet, furniture and papers, among other materials. It will be impossible to clean mold and water damage from these surfaces.

4. Vacuum all solid surfaces, including walls, solid ceilings and floors, with a wet/dry vacuum to remove excess water. Inspect all surfaces for mold--if you find any, continue to the next step.

5. Wear protective gloves and a respirator when cleaning mold infestations--mold can be hazardous to your health if it contacts your skin or lungs. Apply a 50/50 mixture of bleach and water to mold-infested hard surfaces and allow it to work for 30 minutes. The bleach will kill the mold.

6. Scrub moldy surfaces with a scrub brush dampened in your water and bleach mixture. Clean until all visible signs of mold are gone.

7. Vacuum the entire area with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) vacuum after mold cleanup. This vacuum will help to eliminate excess mold spores in the air and in the surfaces, helping to prevent the mold from returning.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have to use a sump pump to remove standing water in your basement, make sure the pump drains to a safe area away from your home, or else the water can leak back in.

• If valuable soft materials such as antique furniture or documents have been water damaged, consult a professional restorer. Some professionals may be able to restore these materials, so long as the damage is not too severe.

• Run humidifiers and fans until the moisture in the basement is completely removed. This may take days or weeks but keeping the area well-ventilated will help to slow or stop mold growth.

• If mold growth covers more than 10-square-feet of your basement, or if you have difficulty or doubts about restoring a basement, consult a professional restorer or contractor with experience dealing with water damage.

• Cleaning up large mold infestations can be hazardous to your health, and trying to restore a basement without professional help can result in more damage.

References

• Environmental Protection Agency: Water Damage---Cleanup and Mold Prevention
• Bob Vila: Water Damage Cleaning
• Bob Vila: Mold Basics