Cavity Extraction Limited Flood Damage Recovery

Flood Damage FAQs

1. My house has flooded is it true that dehumidifiers won’t dry it out?

Dehumidifiers will work to remove any moisture from within the property, however the water that has seeped into wall cavities during a flood will have made the cavity wall insulation wet. The dehumidifier will not reach beyond the inner surfaces of the walls.

 

2. How do I go about ensuring that my house is dried out after a flood?

To ensure that fabric of the house dries and any damage is rectified the wet cavity wall insulation and indeed any other materials that retain water must all be removed. It is normally the case that fixtures and fittings such as carpets and décor are removed in the clean-up but a full survey of the materials inside the structure of the property need addressing too.

 

3. I still have problems, who can help me sort out damp and mould in my home following a flood?

Cavity Extraction Ltd specialise in clean-up after flood damage. We use technology such as thermal imaging and borescope investigations to assess what the human eye cannot see. We can pinpoint ongoing sources of wetness and damp, such as cavity wall insulation, corroded wall ties etc., before drilling holes in walls. Once identified our equipment is the most efficient on the market at removing the debris and wet materials and returning the wall cavities to a dry and structurally sound state.

 

4. How long will it take to remove the cavity wall insulation?

Once we have identified the walls that are affected and depending on the volume of cavities that need extracting our job is done within days. An average three-four bedroom semi-detached family home will be two days from start to finish. 

 

5. Will the cavity wall insulation need reinstating once my property is dry?

This depends on the suitability of your home for cavity wall insulation, we do not install insulation but we can advise against building regulations what is right for the integrity of your property.

 

6. How much does it cost? Will the cost be covered by my insurance company?

The number of wall, cavities affected and the level of flood damage will dictate the costs. Your loss adjustor and/or insurance company are best placed to advise on what your insurance should cover. In theory any damage cause by the flooding that needs making good should be covered and therefore the cost of removing wet cavity wall insulation materials.

 

7. I have already paid for flood repairs and no one mentioned that the cavity wall insulation may need removing who should I speak to?

If you have problems with on-going damp as a result of flood damage you should go back to the insurance company in the first instance and any contractors that completed work. If an assessment of the cause of the ongoing damage is needed we can offer thermal imaging diagnostics to support your case, find out more here. 

 

8. Why wasn’t I offered this as part of my flood repairs?

The problems with cavity wall insulation materials are not well documented or understood and this is a problem we come across often. We are working with the insurance industry on sharing understanding and best practice to address this issue.

 

9. I live on a flood plain should I have the cavity wall insulation removed now to ensure this isn’t an issue should we be flooded?

The suitability of your property for insulation installation should have taken the location and flood risk into account but there are cases where this has not been done. In the first instance we would advise contacting the company that surveyed and installed your property to ensure that it has not been completed incorrectly. We can offer advice and diagnostic reports should you face a challenge, call us for free advice on any of the numbers below.