Resource
Preventing Secondary Water Damage
The damage that develops after the water event, and how monitoring keeps it from happening.
What counts as secondary damage
Secondary damage is caused by moisture that remained, not by the original water event. Swollen subfloor, delaminated flooring, corroded fasteners, blistered paint and microbial growth all fall into this category.
Humidity is the mechanism
Water evaporating from wet materials raises humidity throughout a space. Dry materials in adjacent rooms then absorb that moisture, expanding the affected area without any water ever touching them.
Control the environment
Dehumidification, containment of the work zone and continuous equipment operation keep humidity from moving the problem around the building.
Monitor rather than assume
Logged readings at fixed points show whether conditions are actually improving. A plateau signals trapped moisture that needs a different approach.
Finish properly
Closing walls or installing flooring before verified dryness is the most common source of repeat damage. Verification is the last and least skippable step.
This guide is general information for Scarborough property owners and occupants. Conditions at your property should be assessed individually.