Structural Drying

Structural drying is a procedure that takes out dampness and surplus water from the structural parts of a building after it has sustained water damage. This operation is vitally important in stopping not only mold from growing but also safeguarding the structure and the long-term health of its occupants. By removing water with effect and efficiency, structural drying helps maintain the integrity of the building. It quite possibly also saves the owners of the building money by cutting repair costs. If the building's structure has sustained damage, repair costs can mount, and excess water can cause paying property owners to spend even more.

Extracting moisture from all affected building areas, not just the surface, is what structural drying is all about. Regular drying methods might employ basic fans and dehumidifiers, but structural drying uses industrial-grade machines and methods like those listed below. (Each method has its own reason for being used, which I'll describe shortly.)  Air movers  Dehumidifiers  Moisture metersAnd what are these "structural drying" methods really accomplishing? They are systematically targeting and removing moisture from building components and assemblies that are critical in terms of future potential problems if moisture does not get removed first.

The process of structural drying involves using several specialized tools, including air movers, dehumidifiers, and sensors to detect the presence of moisture. Air movers help push air around wet surfaces so that the water can evaporate as quickly as possible. Dehumidifiers remove moisture from the air so that the air can take up no more water; this lowers the humidity around the wet stuff and pushes it toward the dryer state. The dehumidifying part of the air doesn't come from air movers but from the air that's moving faster among the molecules of water vapor in the dryer, hotter part of the air that's sticking to the surfaces windward from the air movers.

How long it takes to structurally dry a building after it has been affected by water depends on a number of things. One is how far into the building the water has gone—how much intrusion there has been. Another is how big the affected area is. A drying scenario could involve anything from a single room to a large portion of a building. Yet another factor is what kinds of materials the water has gotten into. Different building materials respond to wetting and drying in different ways. Drying estimates are also affected by some more fine-grained things, like the professional assessment of how much moisture is truly present and how well the materials involved are drying. Once a professional water damage restoration team starts doing its work, it does a kind of assessment (with the help of some impressive portable tools) to get the affected building and area into a safer and more structurally sound state.

Although you can perform some structural drying tasks yourself, it is much better to hire professionals for complete drying. They have access to industrial-grade equipment and the know-how to tackle hidden moisture problems that the average homeowner might not even think to look for. To be sure: If you or I were to attempt this drying job in a workmanlike manner, we would still fall well short of what is capable with the right tools and the right kind of mental processing that comes from a lifetime of professional experience.

Here are some signs that suggest you might need structural drying:• Water pooling in areas where it shouldn't.• Odors that you can't quite place but should be in your walls.• Floors are not as flat as they should be (or are so flat that they seem improperly glued).• Your walls or surgically-altered floors are not straight.• Your mold detection system has detected mold in your structure.If you notice these signs after a leak or flood, prompt action is required to prevent further damage.

Wet building materials are ideal for mold growth, so it is essential to eliminate surface and subsurface moisture during the structural drying phase. This is typically done by using a combination of dehumidifiers and fans (high-velocity air movers) to reduce the moisture content to safe levels. It is also necessary to control humidity at the job site, which at this stage may require the use of a portable dehumidifier (see next chapter for more on using dehumidifiers). Humidity has a direct effect on mold growth, not just on indoor air quality. I have seen many instances where conditions in the job site are perfect for both mold growth and poor indoor air quality simply because the job site is too humid.

Failure to perform structural drying can lead to residual moisture that causes extensive damage over time. The damage includes mold growth, which can lead to health risks and significant remediation costs. Moisture can also compromise structural integrity, weakening building materials like wood and drywall. Electrical systems can run into problems when waters don't get treated, leading to escalating repair expenses and safety concerns. Mentions of health and safety in relation to drying structures point to these issues.

When it comes to structural drying, there are certain circumstances that make it particularly necessary. These include significant water intrusion from sources like flooding, burst pipes, or severe leaks. Even minor water damage can threaten to leave significant amounts of moisture trapped within structural components, where it can do unseen damage for a long time. This is an area where the factor of time is particularly crucial: the longer moisture is allowed to remain trapped, the worse the damage will get. The type of water involved also dictates how rigorous the response needs to be: contaminated water necessitates a more careful and comprehensive drying and sanitation operation.

Homeowners insurance often covers the cost of structural drying if water damage stemmed from a sudden and accidental event, such as a burst pipe. However, not all policies are the same, and even if they are, the condition you thought was covered may not be when you read the fine print. The best solution here is to go over your existing policy with an expert to ensure that you have a comprehensive picture of what is and isn’t covered and for what specific reasons.