How Does Water Damage Restoration Work?

There’s no worse feeling than entering your home or commercial building and discovering water damage - or getting the phone call giving you the news. 

Once the immediate panic and distraught subsides, you’re left picking up the pieces and seeking to undo as much of the damage as possible in an effort to salvage the building. So, how does water damage restoration work?

The first step involves assessing the damage and removing as much water from the building as possible. Then, a combination of drying, dehumidifying, cleaning, sanitizing, and repairing the structure is in order.

Learn more about the process below including costs and next steps so you can get your building back to its original glory. If you’re ready to get started today, explore our water restoration equipment and set yourself up for success! 

How Does Water Damage Restoration Work?

So, how does water damage restoration work? Whether you’re in the midst of trying to salvage your building right now or are considering learning how to start a water restoration company, we’ll walk you through the process below.

Initial Inspection and Damage Assessment

First, you need to know what you’re dealing with. Trained professionals will start by identifying the source of the water intrusion - be it a burst pipe, flood, or roof leak. Then, the water will be categorized based on its contamination level:

• Category 1: Clean water
• Category 2: Grey water
• Category 3: Black water

This helps determine the necessary approach and the level of protective measures needed to get started on the project. 

There is also a classification system for the level of damage itself, which involves evaluating the extent of water penetration and identifying affected areas. These range from Class 1 (minimal absorption) to Class 4 (deeply held water in materials like plaster or concrete).

Water Removal and Extraction

Once a plan is in place it’s time to start removing any water that’s currently in the building. Standing water is the most pressing concern, as it can cause significant structural damage and lead to mold growth if not promptly addressed. 

This requires the use of powerful pumps and vacuum systems to remove large volumes of water quickly. Specialized equipment like submersible pumps or wet/dry vacuums may be used for smaller, hard-to-reach areas.

This is perhaps the most important step, as saturated building materials can weaken the structural integrity of walls, floors, and ceilings. The quicker the water is removed, the less damage will occur, and the faster the property can begin to dry out. That’s the next step.

Drying and Dehumidification

The drying and dehumidification step is essential for eliminating any remaining moisture that has seeped into building materials and furnishings. This helps prevent warping, swelling, and mold growth.

Industrial-grade dehumidifiers and high-speed air movers are strategically placed throughout the affected area to promote rapid drying. Meanwhile, the moisture levels are monitored through a meter to see how effective the measures are.

Now, how long does water damage restoration take at this stage? It all depends on the extent of the water damage and the materials involved. However, a good estimate is anywhere from a few days to several weeks.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

Even after the water is removed and the building is dry, the work is far from finished. So, how does water damage restoration work after the initial effort has proven effective? At this point, it’s a matter of cleaning and sanitizing the space.

This is just as important as previous steps for removing any contaminants and prevent potential health hazards. While it’s necessary across the board, it becomes even more important when dealing with grey or black water which contains harmful bacteria, chemicals, or other pollutants.

All affected surfaces, including walls, floors, and personal belongings, are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized using specialized cleaning agents and antimicrobial treatments. 

Porous materials like carpets, rugs, and upholstered furniture may need to be professionally cleaned or, in some cases, discarded if they’re too contaminated.

Odor removal is also part of this process, especially in cases where mold or mildew has started to develop. Air scrubbers and fogging equipment are used to neutralize odors and improve indoor air quality. 

The goal is to make it impossible to tell there was ever a problem - both visually and olfactory.

Restoration and Repairs

Last but certainly not least, there may be actual repair work needed for the building. This could be something as simple as replacing drywall and reinstalling carpets. 

Or, it could involve more extensive reconstruction, like rebuilding entire rooms or sections of the property that were severely damaged. Other common repairs include new flooring, repainting walls, or replacing fixtures and furniture.

Most of the time, you’ll want to outsource this work to a professional. However, if you have construction experience and don’t mind handling these repairs yourself, good on you!

Costs of Restoring a Building After Water Damage

With a better understanding of the process, you might be wondering - how much does water damage restoration cost? There’s no way to know for sure as it mostly depends on the extent of your building’s damage. Here are all the factors at play:

• Extent of Damage: The larger the affected area and the more severe the damage, the higher the costs. Minor leaks affecting a single room will be far less expensive to address than widespread flooding.
• Type of Water: Clean water incurs lower costs compared to grey water or black water , which requires more extensive safety precautions and sanitization processes.
• Materials Affected: Restoration costs increase if water has permeated through walls, floors, and ceilings, especially if materials like hardwood or carpeting need to be replaced. Mold remediation can also add to the overall expense.
• Labor and Equipment: The cost of labor and the specialized equipment required for water extraction, drying, and dehumidification can add up. Hiring professionals typically costs more upfront, but can prevent long-term issues that could incur additional costs later on.

All that being said, water damage restoration costs can range from $2,000 to $8,000. It’s not uncommon for more severe damage to rack up bills in excess of $20,000 or more, though. If your building needs to be taken down to the studs, you’ll be in for quite the expense.

DIY Water Restoration vs Hiring an Expert: Which Approach is Right For You?

Given the costs of restoring a building after water damage, it’s reasonable to look into alternatives - like taking on the project yourself. But is this a good idea, or should you bite the bullet and leave it to a professional? We’ll help you weigh the pros and cons below.

DIY Water Restoration

DIY can be cost-effective if the damage is minor and the source of water is clean. Homeowners with the right tools and experience might successfully handle smaller leaks or localized flooding by promptly extracting water, drying the area, and addressing any superficial damage. 

However, DIY restoration has its risks. It can be tough to completely dry out a space without professional-grade equipment, leaving behind hidden moisture that fosters mold growth and structural deterioration over time. 

Plus, handling contaminated water without proper precautions can pose serious health risks. You need to think carefully about your comfortability with these concerns along with your abilities to properly address the damage.

Hiring an Expert

Hiring a professional water restoration service offers peace of mind, especially for significant water damage. Oftentimes, it’s worth the cost.

They have the necessary expertise, industrial-grade equipment, and a systematic approach to effectively restore a property. They can quickly assess the damage, prevent further deterioration, and thoroughly dry and sanitize all areas. 

Although it’s more expensive upfront, you may save money in the long run by preventing additional damage, reducing the need for future repairs, and restoring your property to a safe and habitable condition more quickly.

Get Started With Water Damage Restoration With SweepScrub Today!

If you decide you want to undertake the water damage restoration process yourself, you need to set yourself for success by sourcing high-quality equipment. Look no further than our collection here at SweepScrub.

From dehumidifiers and air movers to fans, air scrubbers, floor scrubbers, and more, we’ve got everything you need from trusted brands so you can get your building back to good as new. 

You don’t have to play the guessing game about what you actually need, either. We have comprehensive packages that streamline the sourcing process based on the extent of damage you’re dealing with.

Or, you can simply get in touch with our customer service team for a personalized recommendation. So, reach out today and take the first step toward restoring your building!

Parting Thoughts on How Water Damage Restoration Works

So, how does water damage restoration work? As you can see, there are quite a few moving pieces involved in this process - from the initial assessment to water extraction, drying and dehumidification, sanitizing, and rebuilding to prevent further issues.

Each of these phases is important to ensuring the building not only looks as good as new but is safe to inhabit. The severity of the damage, type of water, and response time all affect the timeline and cost of restoration.

Our blog has additional resources on how to clean indoor concrete floors, how to clean a warehouse floor, how to clean rubber gym floor, how to clean commercial tile floors, how to clean commercial kitchen floor, how to clean a commercial freezer floor, factory floor cleaning, and more.

Remember, Sweep Scrub is your one-stop shop for commercial cleaning. From water damage restoration equipment to industrial floor sweeper machines, commercial floor scrubbers for sale, and even industrial floor sweeper scrubbers, we have all the equipment you need. 

Don’t waste any time when it comes to restoring a building after water damage. Act fast and source the equipment you need to get ahead of the problem at SweepScrub today!