🚨 Case Study: Mitigating Multi-Level Water Damage in a Hilton Head Island Home
A recent emergency call on Hilton Head Island, SC, illustrated the complexity and urgency required for water damage mitigation in high-end coastal properties. A severe water intrusion incident, originating from a compromised supply line in an upper-level utility space, quickly led to significant saturation across multiple structural planes.
The Technical Challenge: Multi-Level Saturation
The event severely impacted expansive first-floor hardwood flooring, sub-surface framing, and caused water migration into the enclosed crawl space. The rapid moisture absorption inherent to the humid Lowcountry environment mandated immediate, IICRC S500-compliant water mitigation. Without this swift, specialized action, the property faced costly secondary damages, including material failures (like hardwood buckling and delamination) and elevated microbial growth (mold).
Our Scientific Mitigation Strategy
Kingsley Water Damage and Fire Clean Up mobilized our 24/7 team to address this complex structural drying challenge. Our process prioritized scientific, non-destructive techniques:
- Non-Destructive Moisture Mapping: We began by utilizing thermal hygrometers and specialized meters to conduct non-destructive moisture mapping. This delineated the precise boundaries of saturation, including hidden moisture within wall cavities and under flooring.
- Targeted Drying Protocols: We deployed targeted drying protocols using commercial-grade LGR (Low-Grain Refrigerant) dehumidifiers to aggressively reduce the humidity ratio. For the valuable hardwood floors, we implemented positive pressure drying systems and specialized floor mats for controlled moisture extraction, often allowing for material salvage.
- Achieving EMC: Every step was focused on ensuring the structure was efficiently returned to safe, equilibrium moisture content (EMC) levels, effectively terminating the potential for long-term damage.
Independent Advocacy and Documentation
As an independent firm, a key component of our service involves meticulous documentation. We recorded all drying metrics and protocols, providing the homeowner with the necessary data to ensure their insurance claim fully covered the technical scope of work. This advocacy guarantees the Hilton Head Island property received the complete and correct restoration required without compromise.
If your property on Hilton Head Island requires scientific water damage mitigation, don't rely on less experienced firms. Contact our IICRC-certified technicians for immediate, emergency structural restoration.
