Photo courtesy Jody Halsted, iatraveler, Flickr

Preservation & Natural Disasters

10 Tips for Bringing Historic Properties Back

From a Flood

Before starting your cleanup, it is important to

take careful notes about damage to your home.

This is essential not only for insurance

purposes, but also to record important historic

features. Photograph any items removed for

cleaning or repair purposes to help ensure that

they are reinstalled correctly.

1. Document the damage.

Photo courtesy Jeff Baxter, Jeffry B , Flickr

Flood waters can carry dislodged architectural features, decorative fragments, and furnishings a great distance. Items found on your property may be extremely valuable to a nearby restoration project.

2. Create an inventory of found items.

Photo courtesy bclinesmith ,Flickr

The least damaging drying process begins

by using only ventilation. The most

effective way to do this is to open windows

and doors and allow the moisture to

escape. Fans can be used to speed

evaporation by moving interior air and

exhausting humid air to the outdoors.

Tip: Beware of using industrial drying

equipment to remove moisture at a very

fast rate. You are likely to cause

permanent damage to wood and plaster.

3. Ventilate!

Photo courtesy JARM13, Flickr

Rinse mud, dirt, and flood debris with fresh water as soon as

possible -- it is safer and easier to remove the mud while it is still

wet. Avoid using high pressure water on historic materials and

exercise extreme care, so as not to cause further damage.

Tip: Silt and mud will accumulate not only on the floor and

furnishings, but in interior wall spaces as well. Be sure to open

electrical outlets and mechanical areas and rinse thoroughly, and

check heating and air conditioning ducts and clean out any mud or

dirt before turning on the units.

4. Clean the mud while it’s still wet.

Be careful when pumping water out your

basement. If the water level is high, and you are

reasonably sure your drains are working,

groundwater levels may also be high and

pumping water out could result in either more

water coming in or a foundation collapse. It is

generally advisable to wait for high water to

recede on its own.

5. Beware of a flooded

basement.

Photo courtesy Matthew Keefe, M. Keefe , Flickr

Movement, particularly widening of cracks, is a sign of structural

instability warranting careful examination by a qualified structural

engineer or architect.

6. Keep an eye on cracks in the

foundation.

Photo courtesy Boston Public Library,Flickr

There are two reasons for this:

1) Flooding renders most insulation

permanently ineffective.

2) Saturated insulation holds water

which, if left in place, can perpetuate

high moisture conditions destructive

to wood, masonry, and steel.

7. Remove saturated

insulation.

Photo courtesy Anne Hornyak, anneh632 , Flickr

The what? Efflorescence is the unsightly white

residue found on brick, stone, or concrete walls.

It comes from impurities in the materials, but the

residue is not usually harmful and frequently

disappears naturally when it rains.

Tip: Stubborn efflorescence maybe removed

with water, detergent, and bristle brushes -- or

with chemicals.

8. Let the efflorescence

take care of itself.

Photo courtesy Don Shall, origamidon , Flickr

Drywall should almost always be replaced. Once it has gotten wet, it

becomes unstable, and can be dangerous for residents. (FEMA

recommends replacement because contaminants may make drywall a

permanent health hazard.) Plaster, however, is more unpredictable and

may survive without damage, while other times it must be replaced.

9. Check on your interior materials.

Photo courtesy Charles Dawley, Odalaigh, Flickr

Most wood will expand and warp

when wet and then return more or

less to its original form as it

dries, though it depends on a variety

of factors. Waiting for woods to dry

can mean the difference between

just needing to sand down your

historic floors and replacing them.

10. Let wood floors, trim,

and doors dry thoroughly.

Photo courtesy Rebecca Landis, smith.rickard, Flickr

Ten on Tuesday features ten preservation

tips each week. For more tips, visit

blog.PreservationNation.org.