Dubai rains: How to fix up water damage in your home?

Yesterday, the UAE faced the toughest storm residents have seen in over 75 years!

While the sun does shine all year round, this storm was one residents were completely unprepared for, and through this many of us have faced structural damages, leakages and power shortages.

Since the country has been down with flash flooding, getting around the city has become tough too and many residents are locked in trying to fix up their homes.

So, if you have faced damages - we can help!

We’ve rounded up certain things you could get done today to fix up the flood damages at home, and if you need an extra hand - Our Home Maintenance experts are always on hand to help you out!

Here’s everything you need to do:

Before diving into repairs, we highly recommend you assess the extent of the flood damage thoroughly.

Now this means taking stock of the affected areas, looking for signs of structural damage, water leakage, and mould growth. Although, make sure you are protected with gloves and safety gear before touching anything as rain water is often contaminated with chemicals and waste.

Once you’ve gotten a clear idea of what areas are damaged, we recommend starting with the ones that are easier to fix up than the harder ones that would require the help of professionals.

So, the first step in flood restoration is to remove standing water and debris from your home.

Depending on the severity of the flood, you may need to use pumps, vacuums, or buckets to remove the water from flooded areas. Now, if you have balconies or backyards, you might need the help of larger wet pumps and vacuums to pump out your pool, or the flooded water in the area and drain it.

Furthermore, you need to ensure you have disposed of damaged items and debris responsibly, by separating hazardous materials from salvageable belongings. This also means getting rid of anything that might be contaminated by rain water such as carpets, chairs, sofas, artificial grass, wallpapers or even mattresses. (Yup, it did get that bad for many people out there)

Next thing, once the water and debris have been removed, it's crucial to dry out the affected areas to prevent mould and further damage.

Start by opening doors and windows to facilitate airflow and ventilation - not only will this help dry up the space but also reduce the amount of moisture growing within the property.

You could use industrial fans, dehumidifiers, and ACs to speed up the drying process.

Now, into electrical matters - here’s what you need to do:

Before restoring power or using any air conditioning or HVAC (heating, ventilation and AC) systems, it's essential to inspect electrical and HVAC systems for damage.

You have to check that all the electrical outlets, wiring, and appliances are dry and free of water damage. If in doubt, have a qualified electrician or HVAC technician conduct a thorough inspection and make any necessary repairs or replacements to ensure safety.

Our team is at hand to help! Take a look at our guide on hidden home maintenance, and how our team can conduct a thorough inspection to avoid any issues in your home!

Get your space cleaned up - Sanitising and disinfecting:

Flood water often carries chemicals, waste and contaminants that can be dangerous for health, and hence we highly suggest sanitising your home after a flood.

You can clean the dried out spaced with a mixture of water and bleach (1 cup of bleach per gallon of water) to kill mould, bacteria, and viruses.

Onto restoration - here’s how you can restore damages temporarily:

Once the space is clean and dry, it's time to begin restoring damaged materials and belongings.

You can start by replacing water-damaged drywall, insulation, and flooring to prevent mould growth and structural issues. Get rid of wallpapers that might have been soaked with water and for any leakages through walls, avoid touching the paint or wall to ensure it doesn't crack.

And of course, if you have putty on hand, or sealers for windows, that does help temporarily seal up any leakages that could be happening through the roof or windows.

And if you have faced paint damage, did you know our Home Maintenance team is in partnership with Jotun?

We can repaint your property, bringing it up to standards as good as new!

Be it cracks in the walls, or even a large scale repaint, our team can sort it out for you as we are available 24/7, with a response rate of 24 hours. The team can take care of everything in a span of 3 days.

How can you prevent future flood damage?

While you can't control the weather, there are steps you can take to minimise the risk of future flood damage to your home.

We suggest you invest in flood-resistant building materials, and elevate critical HVAC systems and utilities. If you have any questions, you could always drop us a line!

Need any more help?

You know what to do - take a look at our Home Maintenance catalogue and book your slot in!