We understand that life can get really busy, and now all of a sudden for all of those activities to come to a halt, or at least be made more difficult because you have water damage in your property?
Perhaps you’re running a business and your commercial property suffered water damage, or you’re a web developer working from home that has been flooded, causing your work to be negatively impacted.
You may be a mother of three and don’t want your kids to be near any contaminated substance that has even the slightest chance of hurting them.
We completely feel you and get that you need water damage restoration done ASAP. And this is what begs the question – how long does water damage restoration take?
Let’s explain the typical timelines and what determines them.
In a Hurry? Here are Quick Points to Take Away:
- Typical drying time is 3-7 days
- Repairs usually take 1-2 weeks
- Expect at least 2 weeks for the entire project to be completed
Water damage restoration timelines are split into drying time and the following repairs/reconstruction. Then, the timelines for each of the two parts are determined by their complexity and materials involved.
Need more clarification? Keep on reading!
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How Long to Dry Out Water Damage
How long it takes to dry out water damage depends on materials affected, severity of the damage, and drying process.
Wet Materials
Different materials are affected by water in different ways. For example, carpets are some of the fastest to dry, taking only a day or two in most cases. Drywall drying also takes only a couple of days.
However, materials like masonry and hardwood flooring can take up to several weeks, depending on the following factor – severity of the damage.
We also have to take into account the property itself. Some older buildings and materials may fail if we dry too aggressively, leading to a slower drying process to preserve the property successfully.
Severity of the Damage
What determines the severity of your water damage situation? Multiple things:
- What category is your water damage?
- How long has the damage been standing for?
- How high is the humidity in the area?
Let’s start with the first. Water damage can be split into 3 categories – clean, gray, and black water. If you’d assumed that clean water would be the fastest to dry and black the slowest, you’d be correct. The more contaminated and dirty the water, the longer the drying process because we also have to make sure that the area is disinfected properly.
Then, if the damage has been standing for some time, the materials will have soaked up more of it, leading to longer drying time.
And the humidity levels of the surrounding areas and also the weather conditions will also impact drying time.
Drying Process
Obviously, the knowledge and skills of your drying technicians will have a say in how long it takes to dry out water damage in your home.
Equipment will also play a role. The more powerful the equipment, the faster the drying time. Keep in mind that the most powerful equipment will also be really loud and cause unbearable heat, disrupting your daily functioning in the property. You’ll have to see if you’re okay with this or not.
As you can see, there are many things to consider when trying to answer the question “how long it takes to dry out water damage”, so make sure that your restoration specialists are on-top with their communication and that your situation is clearly explained.
How Long Do Repairs After Water Damage Drying Take
The answer to this question will almost always depend on how long the drying process took. If drying was a breeze, then that means that there’d not been a lot of water (and the water likely hadn’t been contaminated), leading to not many – if any – repairs and replacements being required.
However, if there is one foot of water in your property, not only will it take much longer to dry, but the amount of materials that will have to be replaced and repaired is bigger. A general estimate is 1-2 weeks but it can take much longer than that at times.
For example, in case of severe floods, flood damage repair can take from several months up to a year!
Water Damage Restoration - Final Timelines
Expect at least 2 weeks of water removal and restoration if you have extensive damage. If you need more help and consultation, make sure to call our pros. Our experts will happily take your request in and dispatch a team of skilled restoration technicians to your doorstep to begin drying.
We’re awaiting your call!