Our Water Damage Restoration Process
Water damage restoration in Greenbush follows a clear, step-by-step process. Knowing what to expect removes the uncertainty that makes a bad situation feel worse. Here is exactly what happens from the moment you call us through the day we hand your home back to you, fully restored. Emergency right now? Skip the reading and call (207) 857-7378. We answer 24/7.
Your Call
When you call (207) 857-7378, a real person answers. Not a call center. Not a recording. Not a robot.
We ask a few quick questions: What happened? Is water still flowing? Is anyone in the home? Can you safely reach a water shutoff valve?
Based on your answers, we give you immediate guidance to stabilize the situation while we dispatch a crew to your location. For Greenbush addresses along Route 2, Military Road, and the surrounding areas, we typically arrive within 60 minutes.
If you need to shut off your water and do not know where the valve is, we walk you through finding it on the phone. If electricity is a safety concern, we guide you through turning off the breakers to the affected area.
You are not on your own between the call and our arrival. We stay with you.
On-Site Assessment
When we arrive, the first thing we do is a full assessment of the damage using professional instruments.
Thermal imaging cameras show us temperature differences behind walls and under floors. Wet materials register at different temperatures than dry materials, even when the surface looks fine. This lets us see moisture that is invisible to the naked eye.
Calibrated moisture meters measure the actual moisture content of specific materials: drywall, wood framing, subfloors, concrete, and insulation. These readings tell us exactly what is wet, how wet it is, and what needs to be addressed.
We walk through your home systematically and map every affected area. This mapping serves two purposes:
1. It guides our extraction and drying plan so we do not miss hidden moisture.
2. It creates the documentation your insurance company needs to process your claim.
We explain everything we find as we go. You see the thermal images. You hear the moisture readings. You understand the scope before any work begins.
Water Extraction
With the assessment complete, we begin removing standing water.
For significant water volume (flooded basements, multi-room flooding), we use truck-mounted extraction units that can remove thousands of gallons per hour. For smaller areas, portable extractors handle the job.
Carpeted areas get special attention. Water saturates carpet padding far more than the carpet itself. We use weighted extractors that press deep into the carpet and pad to pull out water that surface extraction misses.
For hardwood floors, we deploy floor mat drying systems that create suction through the joints and flutes of the wood, extracting trapped water from underneath without removing the flooring.
Extraction is not mopping. It is the controlled, rapid removal of water from every accessible material in your home.
Demolition and Material Removal
Water-soaked materials that cannot be effectively dried in place need to come out. This typically includes:
– Saturated drywall. We use a technique called flood cutting, where we cut the drywall at a controlled height (usually 12 to 24 inches above the visible water line) to remove the wet portion while preserving the intact drywall above. This saves significant cost on reconstruction.
– Wet insulation. Fiberglass insulation inside wall cavities that has been saturated does not dry effectively in place. It holds moisture against wood framing and creates ideal conditions for mold. It gets removed.
– Carpet padding. In most cases, wet carpet padding cannot be salvaged and is replaced. The carpet itself can often be saved if it was clean water and we get to it quickly.
– Buckled or delaminated flooring. Laminate flooring that has absorbed water and separated is not salvageable. Hardwood that has cupped or buckled may be savable with professional drying.
– Any material with visible mold growth. If mold has started, the affected material is removed under containment.
We do not remove more than necessary. But we do not leave wet material in place and hope for the best. Hidden moisture is the single biggest cause of mold problems that show up weeks or months after a water event.
Structural Drying
This is the phase that separates professional restoration from DIY cleanup.
We set up commercial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers throughout the affected areas. Here is what each piece does:
– Commercial dehumidifiers pull moisture from the air. The intake draws in humid air from the room, condenses the moisture back into liquid (which drains away through a line), and pushes out hot, dry air at around 90 degrees and 22% relative humidity. This creates the dry environment that draws moisture out of wet building materials.
– Centrifugal air movers (sometimes called “snails”) direct focused airflow along walls and floors. They are positioned to push air across wet surfaces, kicking moisture out of the materials and into the air where the dehumidifier catches it.
– Axial air movers produce higher volume airflow across broader areas. They are used for open floor spaces and large rooms where coverage matters more than focused direction.
– Injectidry wall drying systems are used when wall cavities still contain moisture after insulation removal. Small ports are inserted into the wall, and warm, dry air is pushed directly into the cavity. This dries the inside of the wall without removing additional drywall.
We monitor progress daily using calibrated moisture meters and hygrometers. Every day, we take readings on affected materials and record them. This daily log shows the drying curve and tells us exactly when each area has reached its dry standard.
Equipment does not come out until the numbers say it is done. Not when it looks dry. Not when it feels dry. When the instruments confirm it.
Typical drying time for a residential water loss in Greenbush is 3 to 5 days. Larger events or situations with limited airflow may take longer.
Antimicrobial Treatment
After drying is complete, every affected surface gets treated with antimicrobial agents. This kills any bacteria or mold spores that may be present on surfaces that were wet.
For jobs involving contaminated water (sewage, river flooding), antimicrobial treatment happens at multiple stages: during demolition, during drying, and again after drying is verified.
Clearance and Documentation
Before reconstruction begins, we conduct a final moisture verification. Every area that was wet gets re-tested with calibrated meters. We confirm that all materials have reached their dry standard per IICRC S500 guidelines.
We compile a complete documentation package that includes:
· Initial moisture readings and thermal images
· Photos of all damage before, during, and after restoration
· Daily drying logs showing moisture reduction
· Final clearance readings
· Scope of work performed
· Xactimate estimate for insurance
This package goes to your insurance company to support your claim. It also serves as your record of what was done and how the work was verified.
Reconstruction
With drying and clearance verified, we begin putting your home back together.
This phase includes replacing everything that was removed during demolition: new insulation, new drywall, taping and finishing, paint, baseboards, flooring, and any other materials that were part of the original construction.
We handle full reconstruction under the same project. There is no handoff to a second contractor. The crew that dried your home knows exactly what was removed and why, so the rebuild is done with full context.
Reconstruction is covered under the same insurance claim as the restoration work. We prepare the reconstruction scope in Xactimate so your insurance has a consistent documentation format from start to finish.
Questions about the process? Call (207) 857-7378. We are happy to walk through any part of it with you.