Fiberglass insulation with paper backing can, in most
situations, be successfully dried, using air injection
or other methods.
Sprayed-in or expanding foam insulation creates a very
effective vapor barrier that normally needs to be removed.
In some situations it is possible to successfully dry
if both sides of an interior wall are accessible, or
if an exterior wall is only wet on the interior side.
Plaster walls present a unique challenge. They dry
much slower than gypsum drywall, but the price to replace
plaster is quite high. Therefore, drying is usually
a more cost-effective and better option than removal.
Special techniques such as tenting and low-grain dehumidification
are used to effectively dry plaster walls. Raising the
temperature of the room also speeds the drying process.
A wall built with metal studs presents another challenge.
The bottom frame of the wall system is a C-shaped metal
channel with the opening facing up. This channel collects
and retains water. Excess water will need to be vacuumed
out of the channel to expedite drying.
Drying can be hastened by drilling small holes along
the bottom of the wall. Injector nozzles are inserted
and air is introduced into the wall cavity, greatly
reducing drying time. When the drying is complete, these
holes are patched or covered by baseboard. This process
is faster and less expensive than removing and replacing
walls.
PuroClean restoration professionals use principles
such as equilibrium drying, capillary action, vapor
pressure differentials, grain depression, psychrometrics,
laminar airflow, and boundary layer movement to efficiently
and effectively dry wet walls. The process may include
injection drying to put dry air inside walls, tenting
to reduce the amount of wet air in the affected area,
or managing the environment to promote effective drying
solutions.
Regardless of the circumstances - dealing with water
damage, fire/smoke damage, mold, or biohazard remediation
- call PuroClean Home Rescue (866-722-7876), the Paramedics
of Property Damage™. For all property damage situations,
these professionals are standing by. They will mitigate
the loss to prevent further damage and provide restoration
services to return the property to a pre-loss condition
as quickly as possible. All PuroClean offices have well-trained
professional Technicians who provide the latest state-of-the-science
services to all property damaged from water, fire, smoke,
mold, and other disasters.
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