Any amount of water on your floor can lead to some damages, that much is true. Even less than an inch of water can ruin a carpet, seep under linoleum and cause warping or buckling and lead to some damages to the walls. The longer the water lays on the floor, the more damages that can be caused, and the bigger the water damage restoration project will become. Careful removal of the water is the first step you must take, but it will not be the end.

After thoroughly drying the floor- and that process will depend on the flooring material involved, you must assess the damages that are left behind. Is the floor buckled or otherwise damaged? If the amount of water was extensive or left on the floor for a long period of time, there may be structural damage to the sub-flooring to contend with. Minor water damage restoration projects may simply involve cleaning up and a quick shampooing of the carpet, but if there are more extensive problems, then you may need to consider hiring outside, professional help.

If the floors are grooved or buckled now, you will have to pull up the covering and replace part of the floor's foundation (sub-floor) for safety. If you have some construction experience, you may be able to handle this part of your water damage restoration project yourself, but if not, you will have to hire someone.

Once the reconstruction is completed, the finishing touches of water damage restoration can be added. Again, this will depend on both your experience and your budget. If you can install your own carpeting, then by all means go for it, but if you have never done such a project it is not worth saving installation costs in order to learn-as-you-go. If you ruin your carpet in the process, how much money will you have saved? Consider the area of the home, the amount of traffic in and out and what that room is used for. Consult a flooring expert who can give you tips on your best choices. Use your computer to find this information if you are afraid that you will be pressured into buying more than you can afford- your water damage restoration project does not have to break your bank.

The floor is not the only area you must check for damage. Remember to check the walls, and do not stop at just the lower inch or two. Check for damages at least one foot from the ground, especially in the case of a dry wall. If the wall is sound, then a simple cleaning may be all that you need - not water damage restoration. But there is a chance that you will have to repair or replace some of it, which will mean repainting or repapering as well. Drywall and paneling are both tricky materials to work with, so you might want to consider hiring a handy man for that portion of the repair- once your wall is restored to structural soundness you can work on bringing it back to cosmetic appeal.