Property damage can happen suddenly. A burst pipe can flood a basement overnight, a summer hailstorm can damage a roof, or a fire can leave a home requiring extensive cleanup and repairs.
Knowing what to do immediately after property damage can help protect occupants, limit additional damage, document the loss, and make the restoration process easier to manage.
This guide explains the practical steps Calgary property owners should consider following water, fire, flood, sewage, hail, storm, and other significant property damage.
1. Make Safety Your First Priority
Before worrying about repairs, photographs, insurance, or cleanup, determine whether the property is safe to enter.
Potential hazards after property damage can include:
- Fire.
- Smoke.
- Electrical hazards.
- Gas leaks.
- Structural damage.
- Standing water near electrical systems.
- Sewage-contaminated water.
- Broken glass.
- Fallen trees or debris.
- Damaged roofing.
If there is an immediate threat to people or property, contact the appropriate emergency service.
Do not enter an area that appears structurally unstable or otherwise unsafe.
2. Stop the Source of Damage When Safe
If the source of the damage is still active, stopping it can help prevent the loss from becoming more severe.
For example, a burst plumbing line may continue releasing water until the appropriate water supply is shut off.
Other situations may require a qualified professional.
These can include:
- Plumbing failures.
- Roof damage.
- Electrical problems.
- Gas-related problems.
- Structural damage.
- Sewer problems.
Only attempt to stop the source yourself when you can do so safely.
For active property damage requiring immediate restoration, see our Emergency Restoration service.
3. Document the Property Damage
Once the property is safe to access, document the condition of affected areas.
Photographs and videos can create a useful record of what the property looked like immediately following the loss.
Consider documenting:
- The apparent source of damage.
- Each affected room.
- Damaged walls and ceilings.
- Flooring damage.
- Standing water.
- Damaged furniture and belongings.
- Exterior property damage.
- Roof or siding damage visible from a safe location.
- Broken windows.
- Damaged equipment.
Take wider photographs showing the entire affected area as well as closer photographs showing individual damage.
Do not put yourself at risk simply to obtain photographs.
4. Contact Your Insurance Provider
If the property damage may involve an insurance claim, notify your insurance provider.
Provide the basic details of what happened and ask what information they require.
Useful questions can include:
- What information should I document?
- What is my claim number?
- Has an adjuster been assigned?
- What emergency mitigation should I arrange?
- What receipts and invoices should I keep?
- Are estimates required?
- What deadlines apply to the claim?
Insurance coverage depends on the individual policy and circumstances surrounding the loss.
A restoration contractor can assess and restore property damage, but insurance coverage and claim decisions remain the responsibility of the insurer.
Learn more about Insurance Restoration.
5. Request Professional Restoration
Significant property damage often requires more than basic cleanup.
Water can travel beneath flooring and behind walls. Smoke can spread throughout a building. Sewage can contaminate porous materials. Storm damage can create openings that allow additional water into the property.
Professional restoration can help determine the actual extent of the damage.
Depending on the loss, restoration may include:
- Damage assessment.
- Water extraction.
- Moisture detection.
- Structural drying.
- Removal of damaged materials.
- Cleaning and sanitizing.
- Smoke and soot cleanup.
- Mold remediation.
- Property repairs.
- Reconstruction.
The restoration process should be based on the actual conditions found at the property.
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What to Do After Water Damage
Water damage should generally be addressed as soon as practical.
Even when standing water has been removed, moisture can remain inside:
- Drywall.
- Insulation.
- Flooring.
- Subfloors.
- Wall cavities.
- Ceilings.
- Cabinetry.
- Wood framing.
If possible, identify where the water came from and whether the source is still active.
Professional water restoration may involve extraction, moisture detection, structural drying, cleaning, material removal, and repairs.
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What to Do After a Basement Flood
Avoid entering a flooded basement if electrical equipment, wiring, sewage, or other hazards may be present.
The source of the flooding is also important.
Basement water may result from:
- Burst pipes.
- Plumbing failures.
- Heavy rainfall.
- Drainage problems.
- Sewer backups.
- Groundwater intrusion.
Different sources of water can require different cleanup procedures.
Once the area can be accessed safely, professional assessment can determine the appropriate extraction, drying, cleanup, and restoration requirements.
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What to Do After a Sewage Backup
A sewage backup requires additional precautions because contaminated water may be present.
Keep children, pets, and unnecessary occupants away from affected areas.
Avoid direct contact with contaminated water and materials.
Professional sewage restoration may involve:
- Contaminated water removal.
- Removal of affected porous materials.
- Cleaning and sanitizing.
- Structural drying.
- Odour treatment.
- Property restoration.
The underlying sewer or plumbing problem should also be addressed by the appropriate professional.
What to Do After a Fire
Follow instructions from emergency authorities following a property fire.
Do not re-enter the building until appropriate authorities or professionals have determined that it is safe.
Fire damage can involve much more than areas directly affected by flames.
A property may also have:
- Smoke damage.
- Soot.
- Odours.
- Water from firefighting.
- Damaged contents.
- Structural damage.
Once safe access is available, restoration professionals can assess the different forms of damage and establish a cleanup and restoration plan.
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What to Do After a Calgary Hailstorm
Hail is a major property damage concern in Calgary.
Severe hail can affect:
- Roofing.
- Siding.
- Windows.
- Skylights.
- Gutters.
- Flashing.
- Exterior finishes.
After a significant storm, inspect the property from a safe location.
Look for obvious exterior damage as well as signs that water has entered the building.
Inside the property, check for:
- Ceiling stains.
- Dripping water.
- Damp drywall.
- Water around windows.
- Wet flooring.
- Attic moisture.
Avoid climbing onto a wet or damaged roof to inspect it yourself.
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What to Do After Severe Storm Damage
Calgary storms can combine hail, wind, heavy rainfall, and other severe weather.
A single storm can therefore create several forms of property damage.
Check for:
- Roof damage.
- Broken windows.
- Exterior damage.
- Fallen trees or branches.
- Water intrusion.
- Basement flooding.
- Interior ceiling or wall damage.
Stay away from downed power lines, unstable structures, damaged electrical systems, and other hazards.
Storm Damage Restoration Calgary
Watch for Hidden Water Damage
One of the biggest challenges following property damage is identifying moisture that cannot immediately be seen.
Water can travel through building assemblies before appearing somewhere else.
For example, a roof leak may enter through the attic, travel through insulation, and eventually appear as a stain on a ceiling.
Similarly, basement flooding can allow moisture beneath flooring or behind finished walls.
Professional moisture assessment can help determine whether the affected area extends beyond visible damage.
Address Moisture Before Rebuilding
Repairing walls, flooring, or other finishes before excess moisture has been addressed can create additional problems.
Water restoration generally follows a sequence:
- Stop or address the source.
- Remove standing water.
- Identify affected materials.
- Remove materials that cannot be restored.
- Dry remaining structural materials.
- Monitor moisture.
- Clean or remediate affected areas.
- Begin repairs.
The exact process depends on the property and type of loss.
Watch for Mold After Water Damage
Persistent moisture can create conditions that support mold growth.
This makes proper drying important following flooding, plumbing leaks, roof leaks, and other water losses.
Potential problem areas include:
- Behind drywall.
- Beneath flooring.
- Inside insulation.
- Wall cavities.
- Basements.
- Attics.
If mold is already present, additional remediation may be required.
Keep Records Throughout the Restoration
Property restoration can involve several contractors, insurance representatives, invoices, estimates, and repairs.
Keeping organized records can make the process easier to manage.
Consider keeping:
- Photographs and videos.
- Insurance correspondence.
- Claim information.
- Contractor estimates.
- Invoices.
- Receipts.
- Restoration records.
- Repair documents.
- Notes from important conversations.
A dedicated folder on your computer or cloud storage can help keep everything together.
Property Damage Checklist
If your Calgary property suffers significant damage, remember these basic steps:
- Make sure everyone is safe.
- Contact emergency services when necessary.
- Stop the source of damage when it can be done safely.
- Avoid contaminated or hazardous areas.
- Document visible damage.
- Contact your insurance provider when a claim may be involved.
- Request professional restoration.
- Keep photographs, receipts, invoices, and other records.
- Address moisture and contamination before rebuilding.
- Complete repairs and reconstruction once the property is ready.
Property Restoration in Calgary
Calgary properties face several seasonal risks throughout the year.
Cold winter temperatures can contribute to frozen and burst pipes, while warmer months can bring severe thunderstorms, hail, heavy rainfall, and localized flooding.
Being prepared and knowing what to do after property damage can make an unexpected situation easier to manage.
Calgary Restorations provides residential and commercial restoration services throughout Calgary, with additional service potentially available in Airdrie, Cochrane, Chestermere, Okotoks, Rocky View County, and Foothills County.
Need Property Restoration in Calgary?
If your home, rental property, business, or commercial building has suffered water, fire, flood, sewage, mold, hail, storm, or other property damage, contact Calgary Restorations.
Tell us what happened, where the property is located, which areas are affected, and whether the damage is still active.