Figuring Out the Age of a Water Spot – Water Damage Repair

A common issue that a lot of residences deal with is some form of water damage. As water damage repair professionals, Paul Davis is aware of the complications that water damage produces, especially when it can’t be seen. Your home has plumbing running throughout it, this includes the inside of your ceilings and walls. If these pipes leak or have condensation on them, they can slowly corrode your walls and ceilings. One of the more frustrating parts to this is determining whether the water damage is new or old.

It’s difficult to check how old or new the the damage caused by water is for these areas that aren’t visible. After all, you could have a pipe that’s been slightly leaking for awhile but because it’s not in plain sight, you don’t know how long. There’s no sure way to find out exactly how long the problem has persisted, but there are some approaches to approximate the age of the water damage.

Discover the Lifetime of the Damage Caused by Water

You can obtain an estimated time frame of the damage produced from water by taking these steps:

  • History of the House: If your property has any spots caused from water damage, it’s important to keep a record of them when determining whether your water damage is new or old. Additionally, you’ll want to be observant of any storms that could bring hidden water damage to the surface like a downpour. Know your property, since smaller leaks can take a while to surface, and if you understand what’s new and what’s old, you’ll be able to pinpoint your issue faster.
  • History of the House: An old residence might already have some previous damage caused from water, so it’s effective to keep a record of what’s there and to note if the damage changes overtime. Keeping track of the weather is a good idea as well, since, if you have a modest leak, it can take a while for a water spot to surface. Keeping track of your water damages can save you a lot of hassle when determining whether the damage caused from water is new or old.
  • Touch the Spot: If the water spot is old, it will be mushy and soft since during the time of the leaking water, your ceiling or drywall has taken in a good amount of water. You’ll feel moisture with a newer spot but the area won’t be soft to the touch.
  • Look for Rings: You know how rings on a tree reveal the age of the tree? The same method can be used towards spots generated by water. An older water spot is going to have rings around it. They can also be shaded differently since the spot gets saturated then dries and gets saturated again then dries again, etcetera. A newer spot will be darker with zero rings circling it.
  • Examine the Materials: It’s vital to know about the materials that comprise your ceiling or walls, since things such as thick paint or tiles can trap moisture. If this is the situation, even a small water spot can mean the buildup of water has been remaining for a while.
  • Mold Inspection: Bacteria, or mold, development usually implies that your water damage has been present for nearly two to three days.
  • Decay: If your materials decay from water damage, this is typically the result of repeat flooding or standing water. Rot typically doesn’t happen from the first case of leakage.

Get Help from a Professional Water Damage Restoration Contractor

The measure of your water damage doesn’t matter, Paul Davis is here to help. Our team of expert water damage restoration contractors can resolve the issue and have your property back in good condition. Fix the issue now before it gets worse and contact us at 989-894-4450 for a local franchise near you.