Water Damage Restoration FAQ

Even a small water leak can cause major damage if left unaddressed. Take these steps immediately:

1. Shut off the water source — usually located near your water meter.
2. Contain the water — use towels to prevent it from spreading.
3. Turn off electricity in affected areas if it's safe to do so. Never enter a flooded room with active electrical devices.
4. Move valuables to a dry location.
5. Call Allied Restoration at (415) 529-5637 — we're available 24/7 for emergency response.

Water damage can result from many sources. The most common we see in San Francisco Bay Area properties include:

• Burst or leaking pipes (especially in older SF Victorian homes)
• Failed appliances — washing machines, dishwashers, water heaters
• Roof leaks and failed flashing
• Storm flooding and drainage backup
• Fire sprinkler activation
• HVAC condensation line failures
• Slab leaks

Identifying the source is critical — the same damage will recur unless the root cause is fixed.

Flood damage goes far beyond what's visible on the surface. Water infiltrates building materials and causes:

• Structural damage — weakening of framing, subfloor, and foundation
• Mold growth — begins within 24–72 hours in wet building materials
• Hardwood floor cupping and warping — as boards absorb moisture
• Drywall deterioration — paper facing separates and delamination occurs
• Electrical hazards — wiring and panels compromised by water

This is why rapid response matters — every hour increases the total damage and cost of restoration.

Allied Restoration's IICRC-certified technicians follow a structured process on every job:

1. Emergency response — arrival within 60 minutes, 24/7
2. Assessment — thermal imaging and moisture mapping to identify all affected areas
3. Water extraction — truck-mounted and portable extractors remove standing water
4. Structural drying — LGR dehumidifiers and air movers dry building materials to IICRC S500 standards
5. Daily moisture monitoring — readings documented for insurance
6. Mold prevention treatment — antimicrobial applied to affected areas
7. Final documentation — Xactimate report provided for insurance claim

Yes — and it's often more important than the initial extraction. Here's why:

After standing water is removed, moisture remains trapped in walls, floors, subfloor, and insulation. This trapped moisture continues to cause damage and enables mold growth even after surfaces appear dry.

Allied Restoration uses commercial-grade LGR (Low Grain Refrigerant) dehumidifiers — including the Dri-Eaz LGR 6000Li — that remove far more moisture than residential units. On large commercial losses, we deploy desiccant dehumidifiers capable of processing thousands of cubic feet of air per minute.

Without proper dehumidification, a property that appears dry can still develop mold within days.

Your crawlspace is the area beneath your home that provides access to plumbing, wiring, and structural elements. It's typically 18–36 inches high and sits directly on the ground or over a concrete foundation.

Crawlspace flooding is especially serious because:

• Water pools there due to gravity — it's the lowest point in the structure
• It never receives sunlight, so moisture persists indefinitely without mechanical drying
• Wet crawlspaces create ideal conditions for mold growth on floor joists and subfloor
• Structural damage occurs quickly — wood begins to rot and weaken

Allied Restoration uses specialized compact air movers designed for low-clearance crawlspaces. Fast response is critical — call (415) 529-5637 immediately.

Mold grows wherever moisture exists, typically beginning within 24–72 hours after water damage. The most common locations we find mold after a water loss:

• Behind drywall at the water intrusion point
• Under flooring and in subfloor materials
• In crawlspaces and basement areas
• Inside wall cavities, especially exterior walls
• On HVAC components and ductwork
• In attics from roof leaks

Mold is not always visible — Allied Restoration uses air sampling and moisture meters to identify hidden mold growth before it spreads.

Most residential water damage jobs take 3–7 days of active structural drying to reach acceptable moisture levels. Factors that affect drying time include:

• Type of building materials (concrete dries slower than wood framing)
• How long materials were wet before extraction began
• Ambient temperature and humidity
• Equipment capacity deployed

Allied Restoration monitors drying progress daily with calibrated moisture meters and adjusts equipment placement to optimize drying speed. We document every reading for your insurance claim.

Whether items can be salvaged depends on the materials and how quickly restoration begins. Generally:

• Hard furniture — wood and metal pieces can often be dried and restored
• Upholstered furniture — salvageable if dried within 24–48 hours; longer exposure risks mold
• Documents and photos — can often be dried and preserved if treated quickly
• Electronics — require professional assessment; don't turn them on while wet
• Clothing and soft goods — Allied offers soft goods laundry and contents restoration

Never use your hands to check if items are wet — moisture meters give accurate readings, and wet electrical items can cause shock.

Coverage depends on your specific policy and the cause of the damage. Generally:

• Sudden and accidental damage (burst pipe, appliance failure) — typically covered
• Storm and rain damage — usually covered under standard homeowner's policies
• Flooding from outside — requires separate flood insurance (NFIP or private)
• Gradual leaks from neglect — typically NOT covered
• Sewage backup — requires a rider or separate policy

Allied Restoration works directly with all major insurance carriers and provides Xactimate documentation to support your claim. We can help you navigate the claims process from start to finish — call (415) 529-5637.

Household fans circulate air but don't remove moisture from the air or from building materials. The key differences from professional drying:

• LGR dehumidifiers actively remove moisture from the air — fans do not
• Professional air movers deliver high-velocity directed airflow at precise angles to accelerate evaporation from within wall cavities and flooring — household fans cannot
• Moisture monitoring — without calibrated meters, you can't tell when materials are actually dry
• Insurance requirements — most carriers require IICRC-standard documentation of the drying process

DIY drying that appears to work often leaves hidden moisture that leads to mold within weeks.

IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification — the global standard-setting body for the restoration industry.

Allied Restoration holds the following IICRC certifications:

• WRT — Water Restoration Technician
• ASD — Applied Structural Drying
• AMRT — Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (mold)
• FSRT — Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician

These certifications matter because they ensure our technicians follow documented, peer-reviewed standards (IICRC S500 for water damage, S520 for mold) — which also satisfies insurance carrier requirements for claims documentation.