A Complete Guide to the Water Damage Restoration Process

What is Water Damage Restoration?

Water damage restoration is the process of returning a property’s condition to its original state before water intrusion. It typically involves assessing the extent of damage, removing standing water, sanitizing, reconstructing, and thoroughly drying affected areas to prevent mold growth. 

While water damage restoration usually doesn't require certification, it should ideally be performed by a water damage restoration specialist who is equipped with the right knowledge and specialized tools needed for effective restoration.

Why is Water Damage Restoration Important?

Water damage affects around 14,000 individuals in the US per year, while faulty water systems also cause Americans to waste nearly 1 trillion gallons of water annually. Proper water damage restoration is important because it helps prevent further structural and environmental damage, health risks, and costly repairs.

Water damage and structural damage are closely connected and the presence of one often indicates the presence of the other. Walls, ceilings, and even floors can collapse due to water damage. Neglecting water damage repair or not responding to it quickly enough can also pose long-term health risks from mold, bacteria, and pests. 

Minimizing the importance of water damage restoration not only diminishes the skill, knowledge, and experience required to do such work, but also significantly endangers the lives of building occupants.

What are the Major Causes of Water Damage?

Knowing what caused the problem you’re supposed to fix is just the first step to solving it. For water damage restoration specialists, being familiar with the major causes of water damage can help them easily locate the source when inspecting a property.

The major causes of water damage include the following:

• air conditioning unit condensation

• natural disasters (e.g., fire) and rainy weather

• rubber or PVC water supply lines 

• broken household appliances

• clogged drains and gutters

• septic tank and sewer backups

• burst or leaking pipes

• old or faulty water heaters

• damaged sprinkler systems

• water overflow from toilets 

• inoperative sump pumps

• inefficient roof water drainage

Aside from knowing where to look, water damage restoration specialists should also know what to look for. Water damage can still be present in areas that don’t contain or seemingly haven’t been affected by any of the major causes listed above. Therefore, restoration specialists should be able to spot the signs of water damage right away.

What are the Signs of Water Damage?

One of the main protocols of the water damage restoration process is the ability to spot the signs of water damage proactively.

The signs of water damage include the following:

• swollen or warped materials

• cracks on the ceiling or wall

• peeling or bubbling paint

• musty or damp odors

• sagging or soft spots

• structural damage

• puddles of water

• mold or mildew

• water stains

Water Damage Restoration Process

Specialists typically perform the whole water damage restoration process in 5 easy steps:

1. Conduct a Water Damage Inspection

A water damage inspection or water damage assessment is conducted by the specialist to identify the water source, the water contamination category, and the water damage class. This process can be streamlined with a checklist to carry out the assessment systematically and provide comprehensive documentation. 

After identifying and stopping the flow of the water source, the specialist will identify the water contamination category:

Identifying the water contamination category will help the specialist decide on the scope and type of decontamination needed later on. The third part of the inspection is the identification of the water damage class:

Wet porous materials include carpet, gypsum board, fiber-fill insulation, Concrete Masonry Unit (CMU) and textiles. Low evaporation materials include plaster, wood, concrete, and masonry. Identifying the water damage class is important because it indicates the extent of drying and dehumidification needed later on.

2. Remove Standing Water via Extraction

Especially crucial when a property has a flooded basement, removing the standing water (also known as stagnant water) is done through extraction. Extractors include industrial vacuums and submersible pumps.

After all standing water is removed, surface water can be extracted through portable wet/dry vacuums. The specialist may also use a moisture meter or infrared thermal camera to uncover hidden pockets of saturation behind walls or underneath floorboards. Residual surface water may also still be present even after vacuuming.

3. Dry and Dehumidify Affected Areas

Similar to water extraction, the specialist will also use equipment such as heavy-duty fans (including air movers) and commercial-grade dehumidifiers to dry and dehumidify affected areas. Aside from using these tools, the specialist may also open windows and doors to increase air circulation.

However, drying and dehumidification will generally take longer than water removal, especially if water damage is Class 3 or 4 and requires removing parts of walls and/or floors.

4. Clean and Sanitize All Surfaces

Before mold cleanup, the specialist needs to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) such as an N-95 mask, gloves, googles, rubber boots, and disposable clothing or protective overalls. Similar to both extraction and dehumidification, the specialist will also use equipment such as a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum, an air scrubber, and other types of negative air machines during sanitation. If water damage is Category 3, all surfaces will need to be cleaned with an antimicrobial solution.

5. Repair and Reconstruct if Necessary

In the final part of water damage restoration, the specialist will remove unsalvageable parts (e.g., drywall below the flood line, low to medium density trim boards, carpet padding). Carpets can be deep cleaned, though they will more than likely need to be replaced.

In some cases, wooden trim boards may be reused and drywall can be repaired, if the water damage isn’t Class 4 or Category 3. However, reconstruction may also be necessary, especially if the cause of the water damage is a natural disaster.

Although the process can be very complex at times, following some basic water damage restoration protocols can help ensure a thorough and effective restoration approach.