How Long Does Water Damage Restoration Take?

Discovering water damage in your home or business can be a nightmare. From cracked pipes to natural disasters, these issues can quickly destroy a building down to its studs.

If you catch the problem early enough, though, you can take swift action to eradicate the moisture and clean the space before it’s too late. So, how long does water damage restoration take, and how can you speed up the process?

We’re here to walk you through everything you need to know about the water damage restoration timeline so you can set yourself up for success. There are a lot of moving pieces here, from the extent of the damage to the type of water, the materials affected, environmental conditions, and your response itself.

In general, though, this can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks. We encourage you to reach out so we can talk about the specific issue you’re dealing with and help you set your expectations.

We’ll also be able to recommend the right water restoration equipment package from our catalog, which consists of high-efficiency dehumidifiers, air movers, and water extractors. Invest in the salvation of your building and its contents today at SweepScrub!

Overview of Water Damage Restoration

This process returns a property to its pre-damage condition after it has been affected by water intrusion. It addresses both immediate damage and prevents long-term issues such as mold growth and structural deterioration.

Common Causes of Water Damage 

There are quite a few common causes of water damage, including:

• Leaking or Burst Pipes: Often caused by freezing temperatures, aging infrastructure, or high water pressure.
• Natural Disasters: Flooding from heavy rains, hurricanes, or overflowing rivers can inundate properties.
• Roof Leaks: Damaged or worn roofing materials can allow water to seep into the building.
• Appliance Failures: Malfunctions in dishwashers, washing machines, and water heaters can lead to significant water leaks.
• Sewage Backups: Blockages in sewer lines can cause contaminated water to backflow into the property.
• Sprinkler Systems: Many buildings are equipped with these systems in the event of a fire - and whether they activate because there’s actually a fire in the room or not, they cause water damage. 

General Steps in the Process

Before we get into the factors affecting the water damage restoration timeline, let’s look at what goes into this process:

1. Assessment and Inspection: Professionals use tools like moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to identify affected areas, including those not immediately visible.
2. Water Removal: High-powered pumps and vacuum units are used to remove standing water from the property. This is crucial to prevent further damage and reduce the risk of mold growth.
3. Drying and Dehumidification: Industrial dehumidifiers and air movers are set up to remove remaining moisture from walls, floors, and other structural elements. This step is monitored continuously to ensure all moisture is eliminated.
4. Cleaning and Sanitizing: Special cleaning agents are used to disinfect surfaces and belongings. This step is especially important in addressing grey or black water damage to prevent bacteria and pathogens from spreading.
5. Building Restoration and Repair: This can include minor repairs like replacing drywall and carpet, or major reconstruction projects such as rebuilding entire rooms or sections of the property.

Factors Influencing the Water Damage Restoration Timeline

So, how long does water damage restoration take? We’ll help you set your expectations below based on the most important factors, from the extent of the damage to the surface in question and everything in between.

Extent of the Damage

This is the most significant factor determining how long the restoration process will take. Minor leaks causing limited damage to a small area can often be addressed quickly, sometimes within a few days. 

However, extensive flooding affecting large areas or multiple levels of a building requires a more complex and time-consuming approach. 

This includes not only removing large volumes of water but also addressing widespread structural damage, potential mold growth, and extensive repairs or replacements.

Type of Water Involved

Different types of water can influence how severe the damage is, and thus, how long restoration takes. Here’s an overview of the common types:

• Clean Water (Category 1): Originates from sources like broken water supply lines or overflowing sinks. It poses minimal health risks and is the quickest to clean up, usually within 24 to 48 hours.
• Grey Water (Category 2): Comes from appliances like washing machines, dishwashers, or toilet overflows (without feces). It contains contaminants and requires more thorough cleaning and disinfection, extending the restoration time to several days.
• Black Water (Category 3): Highly contaminated water from sewage backups, flooding from rivers, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth. It poses severe health risks and needs extensive cleaning, disinfection, and possibly removal of affected materials. Restoration can take a week or more, depending on the severity.

Affected Materials and Areas

Similarly, the specific surface and part of the building in question can dictate how long the project is going to take.

Porous materials like drywall, carpet, and insulation absorb water quickly and can take on more extensive damage. These often need to be replaced rather than dried, adding to the time required for restoration.

On the other hand, hard surfaces like tile and concrete are less absorbent and easier to clean and dry, reducing the restoration time. We have tips on how to clean commercial tile floors and how to clean concrete floors specifically.

The accessibility of the damage plays a part too. Water can seep into hidden areas like under floors and inside walls, making it more challenging to detect and remove.

Environmental Conditions

The environment can make a big difference in the timeline, both inside the building and outside the building. 

High humidity dramatically slows down the drying process, which is why dehumidifiers are one of the best pieces of equipment you can invest in. As you can imagine, warmer temperatures can accelerate drying and vice versa. 

Ventilation within the affected area also plays a role - if there aren’t any windows you can open to speed things up, it’ll take longer to restore the building. This can be made up for with the use of powerful fans.

Response Time

Last and perhaps most importantly, your response time can make or break the results. Further to that point, acting fast can be the difference between saving your building and not.

Water left standing can lead to structural damage, mold infestation, and deterioration of materials, all of which add to the time and cost of restoration. 

That being said, your next step should be getting in touch with our experts here at SweepScrub to discuss the best equipment for the job. But just to summarize, how long does water damage restoration take?

How Long Does Water Damage Restoration Take?

While there will always be variables influencing the specific water damage restoration timeline, here is a quick overview of what you can expect based on the extent of the damage you’re dealing with:

• Minor Water Damage: For minor issues like small leaks affecting a confined area, the entire restoration process might take between 3 to 7 days.
• Moderate Water Damage: For moderate damage involving larger areas or multiple rooms, expect the restoration process to take about 7 to 14 days.
• Severe Water Damage: The restoration can take several weeks to a few months in cases of flooding affecting an entire floor or multiple levels depending on the extent of the repairs needed.

Tips to Speed Up the Water Damage Restoration Timeline

In commercial settings, the length of time water damage restoration takes can put your core business operations on pause. In any case, the longer it takes, the greater the chance of more serious damage occurring. So, here are some tips on speeding the process up. 

Get to Work Right Away

As we’ve said throughout this guide, delays can exacerbate the damage and increase the restoration time and cost. 

Start by shutting off the water source if the damage is coming from the building. Then, begin removing valuable items from the building that could fall victim to moisture damage - electronics, paperwork, furniture, etc.

Effective Water Removal

Use high-powered pumps and vacuums to remove as much standing water as possible. The goal is to extract water quickly to prevent it from seeping into walls, flooring, and other structural elements, which can complicate and lengthen the drying process. 

If you don’t have access to this equipment, using towels to soak up as much water as possible is your next best bet, but this can be incredibly inefficient. That’s why ultimately, you need to invest in high-quality equipment for water restoration.

Invest in High-Quality Water Restoration Equipment

SweepScrub offers a wide range of high-quality water restoration equipment designed to handle even the most severe water damage scenarios. From industrial-grade dehumidifiers and air movers to powerful water extractors, our equipment ensures efficient moisture removal and drying. 

It’s all sourced from the most trusted brands in the industry so you can rest assured you’re getting the quality you deserve. We even have some of our own private-label offerings that present the best bang for your buck. Here are the essentials:

• Dehumidifiers and Air Movers: These work in synergy to reduce moisture levels in the air and speed up the drying process. They circulate air and extract humidity, preventing mold growth and further damage.
• Water Extractors: These remove large volumes of water quickly, making the initial phase of water removal faster and more effective.
• Monitoring Equipment: Advanced moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras help in detecting hidden moisture, ensuring no damp areas are overlooked.

We sell individual components and complete kits, so no matter your needs, you can count on us. Get in touch today and we’ll deliver the optimal solution fast so you can get to work.

Regular Monitoring and Adjustments

Use moisture meters to check the levels of moisture in different parts of the property regularly. Move and adjust the equipment as needed to target specific areas that require more focused drying efforts. Ensure that dehumidifiers and air movers are operating at optimal settings to maximize their effectiveness.

Maintaining a controlled environment by regulating temperature and humidity can significantly enhance the drying process. Aim for a balanced environment that supports efficient moisture evaporation.

Wrapping Up Our Guide on How Long Water Restoration Takes

So, how long does water damage restoration take? As you can see, this is a process that doesn’t necessarily have a one-size-fits-all answer. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months depending on the extent of the damage.

Hopefully, this overview of the water damage restoration timeline has given you a clearer expectation of your own situation. Take into account the extent of the water damage, the type of water in question, the materials/surfaces affected, and your own response to the problem.

Our blog has additional resources on topics like how to clean commercial kitchen floor, how to clean a warehouse floor, how to clean rubber gym floor, factory floor cleaning, scrubbing the floor vs mopping, floor scrubber troubleshooting, using a floor scrubber on a gym floor, and more.

But whether you’re looking for water damage restoration equipment or commercial floor scrubber machines, commercial floor sweeper machines, floor sweeper scrubbers, or any other industrial cleaning equipment, remember that SweepScrub is your trusted provider.

With the best brands at the lowest prices with world-class customer service every step of the way, what more could you ask for? Get in touch today to take the first step towards restoring your building to its original condition.