Our Process

Step 1: Emergency Response

When you call, we pick up. Day or night, weekday or weekend, holiday or not. We get the details of your situation, walk you through immediate steps you can take to protect your home, and dispatch a crew with equipment.

For calls within Montpelier Station and the Town of Orange, we are typically on site within 30 to 45 minutes. For other Orange County communities, response time is usually under an hour.

Step 2: Damage Assessment and Moisture Mapping

Before we touch any equipment, we assess the full scope of the damage.

Using thermal imaging cameras, we scan walls, floors, and ceilings to identify moisture that is not visible to the naked eye. Water travels behind drywall, under cabinets, along floor joists, and into rooms that may look completely dry on the surface.

We then take moisture readings throughout the affected area using calibrated pin-type and pinless moisture meters. These readings create a moisture map that tells us exactly where the water has gone and how saturated each material is.

This map guides every decision that follows: where to extract, where to place drying equipment, what materials can be dried in place, and what needs to be removed.

We also identify the water category:

• Category 1 (Clean Water): From a broken supply line, faucet, or appliance supply hose. Minimal health risk.
• Category 2 (Gray Water): From a washing machine, dishwasher, or toilet overflow without solids. Contains some contaminants.
• Category 3 (Black Water): From sewage, rising floodwater, or water that has been standing long enough to support bacterial growth. Requires full protective protocols.

The water category determines how we handle extraction, what materials can be salvaged, and what safety precautions are needed.

Step 3: Water Extraction

We remove standing water using the appropriate equipment for the situation.

Truck-mounted extractors handle large volumes quickly. Submersible pumps go into standing water in basements and crawl spaces. Weighted extraction tools pull water from carpet padding. Hard surface tools remove water from hardwood, tile, and concrete without causing additional damage.

For a typical two-room pipe burst, extraction takes 1 to 3 hours. For a full basement flood, 3 to 6 hours.

Step 4: Structural Drying

This is where the science of restoration really matters.

We set up LGR dehumidifiers and air movers in a calculated arrangement designed to maximize moisture removal from the specific materials in your home. The placement is not random. It is based on the moisture map, the types of materials affected, and psychrometric calculations that account for temperature, humidity, and air volume.

LGR dehumidifiers pull 15 to 22 gallons of water from the air per day. Air movers direct airflow across wet surfaces to accelerate evaporation. The combination creates a controlled drying environment that pulls moisture from deep within walls, subfloors, and concrete.

We monitor daily. Every day during the drying period, we return to take moisture readings at multiple points throughout the affected area. We adjust equipment placement and quantity based on the numbers. Equipment stays until every material reaches dry standard per IICRC guidelines.

Pulling equipment too early is how secondary mold problems start. We do not rush this step.

Average drying time is 3 to 5 days for a standard water event. Basements and concrete structures may take 5 to 7 days.

Step 5: Cleaning and Antimicrobial Treatment

After drying, we clean all affected surfaces and apply EPA-registered antimicrobial treatments to prevent mold and bacteria growth.

For Category 2 and Category 3 water events, cleaning includes sanitization of all non-porous surfaces and HEPA vacuuming of the entire affected area.

HEPA air scrubbers run during this phase to filter airborne particles down to 0.3 microns.

Step 6: Material Removal (When Necessary)

Not all materials can be saved. Drywall that has absorbed water beyond a certain point crumbles and harbors mold behind the paint surface. Carpet padding that was exposed to contaminated water cannot be sanitized. Insulation that has gotten wet loses its R-value and becomes a mold host.

When materials need to come out, we perform flood cutting on drywall, typically 12 to 18 inches above the waterline. This removes the damaged section while preserving undamaged material above. We remove wet insulation, damaged baseboards, and any other materials that cannot be properly dried or sanitized.

All removed materials are documented with photos for your insurance claim before disposal.

Step 7: Repair and Restoration

Once the structure is dry, clean, and treated, we replace what was removed. New drywall, insulation, baseboards, flooring, and trim go in to match the existing finishes as closely as possible.

The goal is that when we are done, you cannot tell where the water damage was.

For larger projects, this phase may include painting, texture matching, cabinet repair, and flooring installation.

Step 8: Documentation and Insurance Support

From the first moisture reading to the final repair photo, every step is documented.

Our documentation package includes:

• Timestamped photos of all damage, all work performed, and all completed repairs
• Daily moisture readings with locations marked
• Detailed scope-of-work report
• Xactimate estimate matching the format your insurance adjuster uses
• Equipment logs showing what was placed, when, and for how long
• Materials lists for all removed and replaced items

This documentation is designed to support your insurance claim and give your adjuster everything they need to process it efficiently. Learn more about our insurance claim assistance.

Why Our Process Matters

The difference between professional restoration and DIY drying is not visible on the surface. It is inside the walls.

A homeowner who points a box fan at a wet wall and calls it dry may have a wall that looks fine for months. But inside the wall cavity, trapped moisture that was never properly extracted is feeding mold growth that will eventually show up as a musty smell, peeling paint, or black spots at the baseboards.

Our process ensures that does not happen. Every material reaches documented dry standard. Every surface is treated to prevent microbial growth. Every step is photographed and measured.

That is the difference between a job that is done and a job that is done right.

Call (540) 360-9292 to start the process. We answer 24/7.