What Is the Timeline For Water Damage Cleanup?

12/30/2018 (Permalink)

Unnoticed leak caused the ceiling to collapsed and covered the room with water and mold

Whether water damage results from bursting pipes or flooding, it is important to eliminate standing water and residual moisture as soon as possible. The cleanup process typically takes experts between three days to a week and a half to complete. Find out what to expect during a professional cleanup at a residence in Bixby, OK.

Average Cleanup Timeframe

Most homeowners should expect cleanup to take three to five days. The length will depend on:

• The extent of the residence exposed to water
  
• The contamination level of water
  
• How long water has been leaking or left standing
  
• The materials saturated by water
  

Homeowners should fix broken pipe or address the cause of damage as soon as possible. Afterward, professionals should remove all standing water, clean, and thoroughly dry the affected area. Avoid rushing the mitigation process, as attempting to rebuild or restore an area before it is completely dry may lead to mold growth.

Extenuating Circumstances

If wood flooring or other specialized materials are exposed to flooding or water from bursting pipes, it may take anywhere from seven to 10 days to complete the cleanup process. Hardwood floors may have to undergo several stages of cleanup, including:

• Drying the subfloor
  
• Sanding
  
• Scraping
  
• Retrofitting
  

The category of water involved can also prolong the duration of cleanup. Clean Category One water can simply be removed and the affected area can be dried. Contaminated Category Two gray water or Category Three black water calls for cleaning, disinfection, and drying. Porous contents and materials exposed to black water may need to be torn out and replaced.

Homeowners should hire a professional water damage restoration service to establish a schedule for cleanup, mitigation, and restoration. It may take less time to fix damage resulting from bursting pipes than to clean up flooding. The affected area must dry completely prior to restoration to prevent mold from forming.