How Long Does Water Damage Cleanup Take?

11/23/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage in Oak Ridge, TN.

How Long Does It Take to Clean Up Water Damage?

Water damage cleanup can take anywhere from two to 10 days. You should account for the type of building materials and sources of water, such as bursting pipes, leaks, or flooding. The extent and duration of the damage may also prolong the cleanup process.

The Building Materials

Certain building materials require special consideration. Hardwood floors, in particular, can prolong the duration of cleanup when there are several factors involved:

• Water permeating the polyurethane coating
• Damaged planks
• Sanding, scraping or retrofitting of solid hardwood
• Wet plywood subfloor
• Moist concrete under the subfloor

Hardwood flooring should be dry all the way down to the concrete prior to restoration. Other building materials must also be completely dry before being repaired or replaced.

The Type of Water Damage

The source of the water that has caused the damage can add steps to the cleanup process.

• Category One water from bursting pipes is clean and only needs to be dried.
• Category Two gray water should be dried and disinfected.
• Category Three black water requires removal of solid waste, drying, and disinfection.

Once you fix the broken pipe or the other source of damage, call a restoration service. 

The Extent of the Damage

Extensive damage due to flooding will probably take longer to restore than a smaller area affected by a backup, broken pipe, or leak. Account for the square footage exposed to water when estimating the length of the restoration process. 

The Duration of the Damage

The longer building materials have been exposed to water, the more extensive the restoration process. Standing water that goes unnoticed for hours or days can lead to more severe secondary damage.

Regardless of the conditions in your home in Oak Ridge, TN, you can count on the expertise and equipment of restoration professionals. Call a plumber to fix burst pipes and hire a residential restoration company to eliminate water and mitigate secondary damage.