How Do Professionals Restore Kitchens?

The first step in any kitchen restoration is stopping the water source. If a pipe burst, a plumber may need to shut off the supply or repair the leak. You can turn off the main shutoff valve yourself if you know where it is. If you live in Euless, keep your shutoff valve location written down.

Once the water stops, the pros remove standing water. This usually involves pumps and wet vacuums. They also move furniture, rugs, and other items out of the way. Removing water quickly helps prevent further damage to flooring and cabinets. The pros also check for water trapped under appliances or inside base cabinets.

• Turn off the water at the main valve if you can
• Move rugs, chairs, and small appliances to a dry area
• Use towels to soak up small puddles only
• Open windows for airflow if weather allows
• Do not use electrical appliances near standing water
• Call a plumber for burst pipes or leaking valves

Some materials cannot be saved after water damage. Soaked drywall, swollen particleboard cabinets, and saturated insulation usually need to go. The pros cut out damaged sections and remove them. They also pull up water-damaged flooring if it is buckling or separating. This clears the way for a clean rebuild.

Cleaning happens after removal. The pros wipe down surfaces with antimicrobial solutions to kill bacteria and mold spores. They also clean inside cabinets that survived, including shelves and drawer slides. Any porous materials that cannot be cleaned, like cardboard boxes or paper, are discarded. This step leaves the kitchen safe to work in.

• Remove swollen cabinet doors and drawers
• Cut out wet drywall up to 12 inches above the water line
• Pull up laminate or hardwood that is cupping
• Discard wet insulation and fiberboard
• Wipe all hard surfaces with a disinfectant cleaner
• Let cleaned areas air out before rebuilding

The final phase is rebuilding. The pros replace drywall, install new insulation, and repair or replace cabinets and countertops. They also lay new flooring if the old one was removed. The work usually matches the original layout, but you can choose upgrades if you want. The pros do the carpentry, plumbing, and electrical hookups as needed.

Restoration also includes painting and finishing. The pros prime and paint repaired walls and ceilings. They reattach cabinet doors, adjust hinges, and install new hardware. Finally, they test that sinks and dishwashers work properly. The kitchen is then ready for you to use again, though you may want to wait a day for paint and adhesives to cure.