What the job actually includes
Most people picture a crew with a wet-vac. The vacuum is the easy part. What decides whether you end up with a clean repair or a mold problem six weeks later is what happens inside the walls, under the flooring and in the cabinet toe-kicks where water hides. A complete restoration moves through these stages:
- Source control. Stop the water, or confirm it has stopped. If a plumber or roofer is needed, we coordinate one.
- Inspection and moisture mapping. Thermal imaging and moisture meters show how far the water travelled, which is almost always farther than the visible stain.
- Extraction. Truck-mounted and portable units pull standing water out of carpet, pad and hard floors.
- Controlled drying. Dehumidifiers and air movers run until readings reach a measured dry standard. See structural drying and dehumidification for how that works.
- Cleaning and treatment. Affected surfaces are cleaned, and antimicrobial treatment is applied where the water category calls for it.
- Repairs. Drywall, baseboards, flooring and paint are put back. Larger rebuilds are covered on our reconstruction page.
Why Florida gives you less time
Florida air is already carrying a lot of moisture before a pipe ever bursts. Wet drywall and carpet dry slowly in that air, and the EPA's guidance is to dry water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to keep mold from taking hold. In a Florida summer, with the AC fighting the humidity, that window can close quickly.
Construction plays a part too. Most Florida homes sit on concrete slabs, so water that gets under laminate or vinyl plank flooring has nowhere to drain and can sit against the slab for days. Drywall wicks water upward from the floor, which is why a leak that looks like an inch of water can leave damp drywall well above the baseboard.
The three categories of water
Restoration standards (IICRC S500) sort water by how contaminated it is, and the category changes what can be saved:
- Category 1, clean water: a broken supply line, overflowing sink, or water heater. Many materials can be dried in place if we get there quickly.
- Category 2, gray water: dishwasher or washing machine discharge, some appliance leaks. Carries contaminants; more cleaning and some material removal.
- Category 3, black water: sewage, flood water from outside, and long-standing water. Porous materials it touched are generally removed. See sewage cleanup and flood cleanup.
Clean water doesn't stay clean. The longer it sits, the more it degrades, which is one more reason speed matters.
Know the cause? Start on the right page
This page covers water damage in general. If you already know where the water came from, these pages go deeper on that specific problem:
- Stain or drip on the ceiling: ceiling and roof leak repair
- Water around your air handler or under an AC closet: AC and HVAC condensation leak damage
- A pipe, supply line or water heater that let go: burst pipe repair
- Water that came in from outside: flood cleanup or storm and hurricane damage restoration
What to do before our crew arrives
- Shut off the water at the main valve if the source is a pipe or fixture.
- If water is near outlets, cords or the electrical panel, turn off power to that area only if you can reach the breaker without standing in water.
- Take photos and video of everything before anything is moved. Your claim starts here.
- Lift furniture legs onto foil or wood blocks, and move rugs, electronics and documents to a dry room.
- Don't use a household vacuum on water, and don't run ceiling fans if the ceiling is wet or sagging.
Water Damage Restoration: common questions
How long does water damage restoration take?
Drying a clean-water loss usually takes about three to five days of equipment time, though dense materials, hardwood and larger losses can take longer. Repairs come after the space tests dry, and their timing depends on what needs replacing.
Do I need to leave my house during restoration?
Usually not. Most families stay home while equipment runs. We'd recommend staying elsewhere if the loss involves sewage, a kitchen or only bathroom is out of service, or someone in the home has a respiratory condition.
Will homeowners insurance pay for this?
Sudden and accidental water damage, like a burst pipe, is often covered. Damage from flooding, long-term seepage or poor maintenance often isn't. Every policy is different; our insurance claims page explains how we document losses for adjusters.
Water Damage Restoration near you
We provide water damage restoration in all 29 Florida metro areas we serve: