How does water damage carpet?

12/2/2024 (Permalink)

One goal of water damage restoration is to preserve and protect the structure.  One concern is water saturated carpet and pad.  Delamination is the most frequent type of damage to carpets when exposed to water.  Delamination is a mode of failure for composite materials and steel. In laminated materials, repeated cyclic stresses, impact, and so on can cause layers to separate, forming a mica-like structure of separate layers, with significant loss of mechanical toughness.  Delamination is caused when the latex adhesive holding the primary backing to the secondary backing is damaged.  Good carpets have higher quality of latex and may suffer less damage even after hours of exposure.  While at your home our SERVPRO® service professionals will inspect the flooring to ensure proper mitigation can take place. 

Water damage to glued down carpeting often causes bubbling due to loss of adhesive.  If it is a small area that has bubbled, the carpet might be restored.  Otherwise, the carpet may need to be replaced.  Again SERVPRO service professionals will be able to determine the status of the flooring.

Mildew usually refers to molds that grow in wet buildings.  Natural fiber carpets are especially prone to mildew odor damage.  Saturated carpets should be dried properly and treated with a mildew deodorizer.

By responding quickly and drying  the carpet thoroughly, SERVPRO professionals can help mitigate these secondary damages following any water loss.