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After a flood, many homeowners are understandably concerned with getting their house back to looking as it was.  The reality is that restoration after a flood is more than new drywall, paint, and flooring.  Not only does flooding create the perfect opportunity for mold and mildew growth, but it is also extremely important to ensure your home's electrical system has not been affected.  We recommend ANY electrical (including the wiring inside the walls) that has come in contact with flood saltwater will need to be replaced entirely.  It is NOT sufficient to just replace the damaged outlets and wipe down/spray clean the wires.  Ocean water and salt spray can be particularly damaging due to the corrosive and conductive nature of the saltwater residue.  Salt + Wires = Corrosion, which can then lead to an electrical fire.  Electrical fires can even happen years after the flooding, if the affected wiring was not properly replaced.

 

Here is a list we have compiled to help with  the process of rebuilding your home after a flood:

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1) Make sure your electric service is turned off in the main panel before entering home.​  If you come across electrical equipment that has been submerged or is wet, DO NOT TOUCH IT.  Standing water can carry an electric current, and even if the power is out in your neighborhood you could still be at risk.  If you are unsafely able to access the main panel circuit breaker, contact a professional.

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2) Call your insurance company to get a claim started. This should be your first step so you can see what your insurance is going to cover.  You should document and photograph EVERYTHING before cleaning up (including serial numbers and brands of appliances).  The more information you provide your insurance company with, the easier the process will be.

***DO NOT BEGIN CONTRUCTION OR REMIDIATION UNTIL YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FROM YOUR INSURANCE COMAPNY.

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3) Clean Up.  You can hire a clean up company or do it yourself, but any water left behind should be pumped out.  Open windows and doors to allow air flow, run fans and dryers if possible (powered by a generator).  Any debris should be cleaned up, and all furniture, appliances, and belongings that got wet should be thrown out.  If there was any sewage contamination, extra precautions should be taken.

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4) Remove any damaged drywall (rule of thumb is remove at least 1' over the highest point the flood water had reached).  If there is insulation behind the drywall, this has to be removed as well.

 

5) Remove all flooring.  Ceramic tile, sheet vinyl, laminate, and solid wood floors should be removed because moisture and silt collects underneath them—and cause bacteria or mold to grow.

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6) Now that you have the walls opened and flooring removed, it is suggested to apply some type of antimicrobial (at minimum, CDC recommends 1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) to any affected wall and flooring.  Let everything dry out COMPLETELY before rebuilding.  This is a very important step to prevent future mold and mildew growth.

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7) For minor flood damage you still need to get required permits to replace any affected electrical..  Even if the homeowners are fixing most of the damage themselves, all electrical work will need to be permitted, and will need to be brought entirely up to code.   Per the city of St. Petersburg, any affected walls, fixtures, built-in cabinetry, windows, doors, roof, electrical, mechanical, or plumbing requires a permit for repair or replacement.  Minor water intrusion that requires the replacement of floor finishes (carpet, wood, tile, etc) does not require a building permit.  ***Permits for hurricane damage are being expedited by the county to speed up the recovery process. 

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8) For substantial flood damage we suggest you hire a LICENSED General Contractor.  Your General Contractor will pull 1 permit for the entirety of the repairs, and your subcontractors (electrical, HVAC, plumbing) will sign onto this same permit.  This ensures compliance with local Building Codes and Regulations..  It ensures that construction projects are brought up to code, meet safety, structural, and zoning requirements, and that the work will be inspected by the City/County.  Having the repairs permitted is crucial when it comes to getting/maintaining Homeowners Insurance, or even the future sale of your house.  

 

***To verify a license, visit myfloridalicense.com or through contractorsearch.pcclb.com.  You can search by contractor's name, company's name, or license number).  You should also get a COI (copy of insurance) from the contractor and request to have the property owner be the "Certificate holder".  The State of Florida requires all licensed General Contractors to carry a minimum of $300,000 in Bodily Injury and $50,000 in Property Damage or a Combined Single Limit of $300,000.  Electrical contractors should have at least $300,000 Per Occurrence – including completed operations & products. $500,000 Property Damage – including completed operations & products.

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9) Shoreline Electric works with several contractors in Pinellas County.  You can call our office at 727-685-0054 for further information.  Rebuilding can be a long process, but choosing to rebuild the right way is the best way to protect your home, which is one of your most valuable assets.