Water Damage Restoration

Professional Water Damage Restoration Services

The professionals at Restoration AZ are ready to restore your home or business following water damage. Call us now on (602) 584-8180.

Water damage – whether caused by rainwater, sewer problems, a washing machine or dishwasher malfunction, or a broken pipe – can cause devastating damage. While flooding and other water events can be sudden, moisture associated with water damage can cause multiple issues that tend to worsen over time. 

Without proper water damage restoration services including water extraction, drying, and decontamination, the long-term negative effects of water damage can cause both building structural problems and health concerns. 

That’s why it’s so vitally important to take water damage seriously. Whenever water damage occurs, your first priority should be to undertake effective water damage restoration services within the first 24 to 48 hours after the damage occurs. The faster you act, the more you can mitigate the potential long-term negative impacts of water damage. 

How Does Water Damage Restoration Work?

Water damage restoration is the process of restoring your building to the condition it was in before the water event occurred. It’s important to act quickly when engaging water damage restoration services as water-damaged buildings are prime targets for mold and bacteria growth, ultimately leading to worrying health issues including illnesses and allergic reactions. 

Cleaning up after an indoor water event is a more challenging endeavour than it may initially seem. Far from simply removing excess water, cleanup must focus on porous materials within the building that may have absorbed water following the water event. Even when porous materials seem to be dry and unaffected by the water event, they may still be prime breeding grounds for the growth of harmful bacteria and mold that can cause serious problems if left untreated. 

Depending on the severity of the water damage incurred, cleanup can include drying, vacuuming, and even partial or complete building restoration. Some materials like drywall, insulation, and carpeting are particularly porous and may require complete removal if damaged beyond repair. 

Regulatory Body Certification

The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) provides certification and sets the required standards for water damage restoration service providers. As a regulatory body, the IICRC ensures that its members are properly able to ensure complete home restoration services following a water event. Its focus is on setting standards that guarantee the safety of both your building and its occupiers following water damage. Only IICRC-Certified members can achieve the appropriate standards set by the industry to ensure that your building is safe, clean, and completely dry to rend it livable once again. 

Water damage restoration specialists can provide restoration, cleaning, drying, and mold removal services following water damage caused by flooding, sewer problems, fire, burst pipes, or storms and other catastrophic weather events.

The Restoration Process Following a Water Event

The water restoration process involves five crucial steps. The process begins with a thorough building inspection before visible water is removed, followed by dehumidifying and drying, and then sanitizing and cleaning, finishing with the complete restoration of your building to its pre-water damaged state. Every step of the process is critical, and all must be completed to ensure that drying and decontamination are properly achieved. 

Step No.1: Assessment and Inspection

The restoration company will begin by carrying out a thorough damage assessment at the location of the water damage. Part of the inspection process involves the water restoration specialist making assessments to classify and categorize the damage that’s occurred. While checking the impacted area they’ll observe the porosity of materials to determine the severity of water absorption in the area.

Using moisture scourers, hygrometers, and other moisture detecting equipment, the company will be able to calculate the level of damage and make an estimation as to the amount of restoration work required. Depending in their findings the damage will be classified as being between Class 1 and Class 4.

The water damage inspector is also responsible for both identifying the water source to ensure invading water has stopped, in addition to measuring contamination levels of the water. The water will then be given a rating of Category 1, 2, or 3.

On completion of the inspections, you’ll be advised by the water restoration company as to the approximate costs and time required to restore your property, in addition to payment options.

Step No. 2: Removal of Water

The removal of standing water via water extraction is the next part of the restoration process. It’s vitally important that standing water be removed from the property as quickly as possible because it can deteriorate and cause even more damage to your home. Carrying out immediate water extraction from a flooded basement is essential to prevent the growth of mold. Extractors are used by water restoration companies to remove water during the extraction process. These are extremely high-powered vacuums and pumps, specifically designed to absorb both surface and standing water quickly and efficiently from your building.

There are various types of extractors used to remove water from a building, and these might include –

• Truck-mounted pumps,
• Submersible pumps, and
• Portable wet/dry vacuums.

Following the extraction of standing water, further inspections will likely be carried out to ascertain remaining water levels and to determine whether the hardwood floors and/or carpeting should be removed.

Step No. 3: The Drying and Dehumidifying Process

Now that the water has physically been extracted from the building, a restoration company will immediately start the dehumidification and drying process using industrial quality dehumidifiers and air movers. This equipment will effectively dry out any materials that either still contain water or were difficult to access during the extraction process.

You may believe that your home is dry by this stage, but some materials may still be wet to the touch. These materials, if left untreated for a period of time, could well suffer additional damage like breaking, growing mold, or warping. Your water restoration company will work very hard to completely dry and humidify the impacted area to prevent this damage from occurring.

All the while through this entire process, a water remediation specialist will be monitoring moisture levels in the floors and walls of the affected areas to ascertain when your building is completely dry in order for professional cleaning to begin.

Step No. 4: Professional Cleaning and Sanitizing

All home restoration projects require thorough and professional cleaning. Your restoration company will simultaneously be working to preserve as much of your personal property as they possibly can. This specific type of cleaning should always be carried out by experts trained in the sanitization and safety requirements of water damaged buildings. 

The cleaning of your home may include any or all of the following –

• Dry cleaning,
• Spray and wipe cleaning, and
• Wet cleaning.

To ensure that each and every item is thoroughly cleaned, your restoration professional might use abrasive, foam, or immersion cleaning techniques. Mold remediation may also be included in this step.

Cleaning professionals use specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) when cleaning potentially hazardous materials, and this will typically include wearing waterproof clothing, protective gloves, and N-96 respirators.

Your restoration specialist will dispose of damaged materials that needed to be removed during the cleaning phase of the restoration project.

Step No. 5: Finalizing Restoration

The last step of the water damage restoration process is to finalize restoration. As part of this process your restoration specialists will return your home to its original state, the state it was in prior to the water damage occurring. Permanently damaged materials that needed to be removed will now be replaced or restored.

Depending on how extensive the water damage is to a building, your restoration project may be extensive, or simple. Restoration in some cases might require relatively easy repairs, like carpet cleaning or drywall repair, while in other cases the restoration work will be extensive, requiring the complete reconstruction of certain parts of your home.

The Difference Between Restoration and Mitigation

The terms ‘restoration’ and mitigation’ refer to two individual services required following a water incident. Water restoration deals with water damage while water mitigation focuses on prevention.

Water damage restoration is typically an emergency service and is carried out after water damage has occurred in a building. During a restoration process, specialists replace or repair materials that were ruined and ensure the home is returned to its former state.

Water mitigation services are designed to prevent further damage from occurring. The water mitigation company will be focused on preventing further damage and ensuring your personal belongings have been removed from the water source.

The difference Between Water Removal and Water Extraction

Both terms ‘water removal’ and ‘water extraction’ refer to the process of removing water from a building and personal belongings. These two processes typically occur alongside, or between, restoration and mitigation services.

It’s true that most homes will require water mitigation, removal, and restoration services, but not always. A small and temporary water leak that’s mitigated straight away will likely not need water restoration services because mold won’t have time to grow within that timeframe.

FAQs

Q: Do I need to leave my house during the restoration process?

A: Your restoration company will advise if it’s safe for you to stay in your home during the clean-up process, or whether you need to make alternate living arrangement. The stage and category of the water damage in your property will determine whether you will need to vacate your home during cleanup. Any reputable water restoration company will work with you to ensure you stay informed throughout the entire process. 

Q: How long will the water restoration process take?

A: Generally, the water restoration process will take anywhere between 72-hours and 2-weeks to complete.

How To Choose The Right Professional Water Restoration Service

Anyone requiring the services of a water restoration company needs to be assured that their restoration process will be completed in a quick and efficient manner, ensuring their home’s safety and longevity. The following tips may help in choosing the right professionals for your water restoration project –

• Ensure the company you employ is IICRC-Certified. The IICRC, which stands for Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, has very clear and defined standards to ensure water restoration work is carried out in a safe and effective manner. All IICRC-Certified companies are required to follow these standards.
• Once you have tentatively chosen a restoration company, ask for details about their processes, their response time, and what they expect from you as the occupant or homeowner during the restoration process. Their responses will help you make an informed decision as to whether this is the right, or wrong, restoration team for your requirements.
• Ask if the company has a claims process. Some professional restoration companies work directly with the homeowner’s insurance company during the claims process, making it a less stressful event for the homeowner.