What Is a Flood Cut and Why Is It Done?

6/28/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding can cause severe damage to your building and may need flood cuts.

Restoration companies sometimes need to do a flood cut when flooding has occurred in a building. This guide will provide a brief overview of what a flood cut is and why it is done.

What Is a Flood Cut?

A flood cut is a cut made in drywall 12-18 inches above the flood line. Flood cuts are done in multiple situations:

• Wall is too damaged to repair
  
• Sewage water has come in contact with the wall
  
• Wall can not be dried without removing sections
  
• Wall contains insulation
  
  

Why Is a Flood Cut Done?

Sewer lines sometimes back up as a result of flooding. This can expose the surfaces in your building to contamination. Walls that have been damaged by sewage are not salvageable because the pathogens or bacteria may have been absorbed by the materials. Walls that contain insulation may also need a flood cut because wet insulation can not be dried out and still be functional as insulation.
A flood cut provides easier access to the area behind the wall, so that wet materials can be removed. It also aids in drying out framing and other wood materials behind the drywall. This faster drying process is critical for preventing mold growth.

When Is a Flood Cut Not Necessary?

If a wall is damaged by clean water, such as water from a broken pipe, and the wall does not contain insulation, a restoration company in Rocky Mount, NC, may be able to salvage the wall instead of doing tear out by using an injectidry system to dry the inside of the wall without cutting into the drywall.

Whenever possible, restoration companies attempt to save as much of your property as possible after damage from flooding. However, in some cases, this is not possible. Performing a flood cut can have multiple benefits for situations where the wall can not be completely restored.