A Complete Guide to the Water Damage Restoration Process – How Water Restoration Services Work: Process, Costs, and More

Water damage restoration is the comprehensive process of returning a property to its original, pre-damage condition after water intrusion.¹ This multi-step procedure typically includes inspection, water extraction, dehumidification, sanitation, and, if needed, reconstruction.² While formal certification isn’t always legally mandated, it is highly recommended that this work be carried out by a skilled water damage restoration specialist equipped with the appropriate tools and expertise.³

The Importance of Water Damage Restoration

One critical reason why water damage restoration is essential is that structural damage can be a consequence of water intrusion, not merely its cause.⁴ Water damage and structural integrity are intrinsically linked; the presence of one often signals the compromise of the other. Walls, ceilings, and even floors can collapse due to water weakening their structural components.⁵

Furthermore, neglecting water damage or failing to address it promptly can lead to significant long-term health risks from mold, bacteria, and pests.⁶ Underestimating the importance of professional water damage restoration not only discounts the specialized skill, knowledge, and experience required for such work but also poses considerable danger to the health and safety of building occupants.⁷

Primary Causes of Water Damage

Identifying the source of a problem is the first step toward a solution. For water damage restoration specialists, familiarity with the major causes of water damage helps them quickly pinpoint the origin during a property inspection.

Key causes of water damage include:

Condensation from air conditioning units⁸
Natural disasters (e.g., floods, not fire directly causing water damage) and heavy rainfall
Issues with rubber or PVC water supply lines
Malfunctioning household appliances⁹
Clogged drains and gutters¹⁰
Septic tank and sewer backups
Burst or leaking pipes
Aging or faulty water heaters
Damaged sprinkler systems
Water overflow from toilets¹¹
Inoperative sump pumps
Inefficient roof water drainage

Beyond knowing where to look, water damage restoration specialists must also know what to look for. Water damage can manifest in areas that seemingly haven’t been directly affected by these major causes.¹² Therefore, restoration specialists must be adept at recognizing the telltale signs of water damage without delay.

Recognizing the Signs of Water Damage

A fundamental protocol in the water damage restoration process is the ability to proactively identify the signs of water damage.¹³

These signs include:

Swollen or warped materials (e.g., wood, drywall)¹⁴
Cracks on ceilings or walls¹⁵
Peeling or bubbling paint¹⁶
Musty or damp odors¹⁷
Sagging or soft spots (on floors, walls, ceilings)¹⁸
Visible structural damage¹⁹
Puddles of water²⁰
Mold or mildew growth²¹
Water stains²²

The Water Damage Restoration Process: A 5-Step Approach

Specialists typically execute the entire water damage restoration process in five distinct steps:²³

Conduct a Water Damage Inspection

A thorough water damage inspection, or assessment, is performed by the specialist to identify the water source, its contamination category, and the water damage class.24

As previously mentioned, the water source is directly linked to the cause of the damage. However, in some instances, identifying the exact source can be challenging even when the cause is known (e.g., floodwater may infiltrate a property through multiple points).²⁵ After pinpointing and stopping the water source, the specialist will determine the water contamination category:

Name	White Water	Gray Water	Black Water
Category	1	2	3
Contamination Level	Little to None	Has Contaminants	Hazardous
Water Sources / Causes of Water Damage	Bathtubs, Sinks, Pipes, Water Heaters	Dishwashers and Washing Machines	Sewage, Toilets (with fecal matter), Flooding

Identifying the water contamination category is crucial as it dictates the scope and type of decontamination required later in the process.²⁶ The third part of the inspection involves classifying the water damage class:

Class	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3	Class 4
Wet Porous Materials Percentage of Surface Area	Less than 5%	5% to 40%	More than 40%	More than 40%
Low Evaporation Materials Moisture Absorption	Minimal	Minimal	Minimal	Significant

Wet porous materials include items like carpet, gypsum board (drywall), fiber-fill insulation, Concrete Masonry Units (CMU), and textiles.²⁷ Low evaporation materials include plaster, wood, concrete, and masonry.²⁸ Identifying the water damage class is vital because it indicates the extent of drying and dehumidification required in subsequent steps.²⁹

You can create your own Water Damage Restoration Checklist or browse existing templates to streamline this process.³⁰

Remove Standing Water via Extraction
This step is particularly crucial when a property has a flooded basement. Removing standing water (also known as stagnant water) is achieved through extraction using equipment such as industrial vacuums and submersible pumps.31 Once all standing water is removed, surface water can be extracted using portable wet/dry vacuums. Specialists may also use moisture meters or infrared thermal cameras to detect hidden pockets of saturation behind walls or beneath floorboards, as residual surface water can remain even after vacuuming.32
Dry and Dehumidify Affected Areas
Similar to water extraction, specialists use equipment like heavy-duty fans (including air movers) and commercial-grade dehumidifiers to dry and dehumidify affected areas.33 Additionally, opening windows and doors can enhance air circulation.34 However, drying and dehumidification generally take longer than water removal, especially if the water damage is Class 3 or 4 and necessitates the removal of portions of walls and/or floors.
Clean and Sanitize All Surfaces
Before commencing mold cleanup, the specialist must wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), such as an N-95 mask, gloves, goggles, rubber boots, and disposable clothing or protective overalls.35 Similar to extraction and dehumidification, specialized equipment like a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) vacuum, an air scrubber, and other types of negative air machines are used during sanitation. If the water damage is Category 3, all surfaces will require cleaning with an antimicrobial solution.36
Repair and Reconstruct if Necessary
In the final phase of water damage restoration, the specialist will remove unsalvageable components (e.g., drywall below the flood line, low to medium density trim boards, carpet padding).37 Carpets can sometimes be deep cleaned, though replacement is often necessary. In some cases, wooden trim boards may be reused, and drywall can be repaired if the water damage isn’t Class 4 or Category 3. However, extensive reconstruction may be required, particularly if the cause of the water damage was a natural disaster.38

While the process can sometimes be complex, adhering to fundamental water damage restoration protocols ensures a thorough and effective restoration approach.³⁹

Perform Efficient Water Damage Restoration with SafetyCulture (formerly iAuditor)

SafetyCulture is a convenient inspection tool that water damage restoration specialists can leverage to document on-site activities and efficiently:

Capture and attach photos of water damage inspections, submitting detailed reports to clients and insurance providers.⁴⁰
Eliminate the hassle of printing photos, stapling them to paper reports, typing up reports post-inspection, and faxing completed reports.
Generate reports automatically upon completing a water damage inspection, and send them via PDF, Excel, Word, or as a shareable weblink.⁴¹
Perform water damage restoration tasks quickly and efficiently using the SafetyCulture app on a mobile device, even while offline.⁴²

Equip your team of specialists with the right tools to perform the job effectively.