Water damage can be a major problem for homeowners, and it's important to know how to tell the age of water damage in order to take the necessary steps to fix it. There are several ways to determine the age of water damage, including looking for signs of mold, checking for soft spots in the material, and feeling the water stain. Mold is one of the most obvious signs of water damage, and it can be a good indicator of how long the damage has been present. If you see any signs of mold, it's likely that the water damage is at least a few weeks old.
Another way to tell the age of water damage is to look for soft spots in the material. If you notice any soft spots in drywall or other materials, this could indicate that the water has been present for some time. The last signal you can use to estimate the length is actually touching the point damaged by water. If you are concerned about mold, it may be best to wear a mask and gloves when doing so.
Gently press on the spot to see how old it is. New water damage will not have had time to weaken the drywall or other material, so even though it will feel damp, it will still feel hard. On the other hand, older water damage points will feel soft and you can move them without much pressure or force. You can also determine the age of the damage by touching the water stain.
It is better to wear a mask and gloves when doing this in case there is mold present. Older water damage points will feel soft and you'll be able to move them without much pressure or force. You can usually touch and tell the age of the water stain. If the stain appears to be wet, you can assume that the damage or water leakage is fairly new or is at least a week old. Feeling the place that has been damaged by water is a good way to find out if the damage happened recently or if it has been there for a while.
Freshwater damage will be damp, but the material will remain firm and not soft. Damage from old water will create a soft, soft stain due to the amount of time the material has had to absorb moisture. Areas with freshwater damage will feel damp, but not soft. For example, if your drywall is damaged by water and feels soft, this indicates that the water has had time to soak and ruin the integrity of the material. In addition, this texture may indicate that the damage is old. Areas that have new water damage are likely to be moist but not soft.
If you touch water damage and the drywall is soft, the water has had time to soak and ruin the integrity of the material. This means that water damage is likely to be old. However, it is important to note that resistant materials such as tiles never soften at all. When it comes to water damage restoration, contact a professional company right away. Soft building materials will develop rings if there has been repeated water damage over an extended period of time.
Perform an inspection with these factors in mind to identify the age of water damage to your home or property under consideration. This is because the way each material shows signs of water damage varies with respect to its density or other physical aspects. Therefore, if you notice that a material has been stained with several rings, this may indicate old water damage. If you find that your residential or commercial property has suffered water damage, whether old or new, a large area or a small section, you should address the situation as soon as possible. Also in this case, you need to take into account the temperature and humidity of the location when calculating the age of water damage. Most homeowners insurance policies will cover water damage related to internal problems, such as a leaking pipe.
If you start to notice water damage in your home, it's better to take quick action, but sometimes it can be difficult to spot them right away.
