Strength of Flood Restoration Best Measured in Salvaging Upholstered Furnitures

Aug 14
10:25

2015

Ma. Theresa Galan

Ma. Theresa Galan

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Usually, flood-soaked upholstered furniture should be thrown away unless it is an antique or very valuable. While flooding can happen for many different reasons, it can leave your home in a damaged state. However, it may still be possible to rescue your furniture.

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Unfortunately,Strength of Flood Restoration Best Measured in Salvaging Upholstered Furnitures Articles by its very nature, it is easy for upholstered furniture to absorb contaminants from flood waters. Again, before investing a lot of money in it get a cost estimate to evaluate if it is worth saving.

This is the challenge that may trigger some challenge on how to start it right. If there was only slight flooding and the furniture did not sit in water for too long, begin by separating upholstery fabrics and other colored items to prevent or stop any chance of color bleeding. It should be dried completely to prevent mold and mildew from forming which happens if it is more than 20% wet.

When faced with flood-damaged upholstered furniture, your options are limited. If the water reached the upholstery, the fabric may be stained or watermarked. If the chair or sofa was in water for several hours or more, mud and silt may have penetrated the fabric and padding. The padding will hold the water, causing mildew to grow inside and out. Finished wood surfaces will become cloudy. If water penetrates the finish, the wood will mildew. Joints in the frame may loosen. The furniture also may be contaminated with sewage, pesticides, or industrial chemicals that were in the floodwaters. It may be best to discard the upholstered furniture.

If you decide to restore upholstered furniture, you must strip it down to the frame. Springs may or may not be salvageable depending on the type and how they are attached to the frame. "S" springs attached with metal clamps can be cleaned and disinfected. Coil springs attached to a webbing hose of burlap or rubber may be more difficult to assess. Burlap webbing can mildew and will probably need to be replaced. A reupholsterer can tell you if it will cost less to purchase new coil springs or clean and reattach all the existing springs to a new base.

The reupholsterer can also estimate the cost of replacing springs, padding, fabric and labor. Use this estimate to decide whether to buy new or reupholster damaged furniture. Consider the quality of the frame itself and any sentimental or monetary value (restoring an antique may be worthwhile).

If you want to keep it owing to its high worth, it is best to have it cleaned only by a professional. The upholstery cleaning may involve stripping it down to its frame. Springs and webbing may have to be replaced depending on the extent of water damage. 

Seek the right pros, check out Auckland Flood Restoration team for reliable assistance that will make you believe