Water Damage Restoration in London, Ontario: What to Expect

Water damage restoration in London, Ontario follows a set order: stop the water, extract what is standing, find everything that got wet, remove what cannot be saved, dry the structure with commercial equipment, and prove it is dry with moisture readings. For a clean-water leak the drying stage commonly takes three to five days. Rebuilding the drywall and flooring comes after that, and it is a separate job.

The first hour: what you should do

1. Stop the source. Close the main water shutoff, usually where the line enters the basement near the meter.
2. Stay safe around hydro. If water is near outlets, baseboard heaters or the panel, keep out of it and switch off the affected breakers only if you can reach the panel from a dry spot.
3. Take photos and video before you move anything. Your insurer will want them.
4. Lift what you can. Get furniture legs onto blocks or foil, and pull up rugs, boxes and anything that bleeds colour.
5. Call for extraction. Every hour water sits, it wicks further up drywall and deeper under flooring.

If the water came from a sewer or floor drain backup, do not wade in to save things. That water is contaminated and needs protective gear.

Water damage restoration in London, Ontario, stage by stage

Extraction comes first. Pumps and truck or portable extractors pull standing water out of carpet, pad and off hard floors. This removes far more water, far faster, than any dehumidifier can.

Next is moisture mapping. A thermal camera shows cool, wet areas behind finishes, and a moisture meter confirms them. This is how we find water that ran under a wall into the next room or soaked insulation behind a dry-looking surface. The map sets the scope of the job.

Then comes selective removal. Wet carpet pad, swollen laminate, soaked insulation and the bottom strip of saturated drywall usually come out. Opening the base of a wall lets air reach the framing, which is the part that has to be saved. Materials that can be dried in place are left alone.

Drying is the longest stage. Air movers push dry air across wet surfaces and dehumidifiers pull that moisture out of the air. The equipment runs around the clock. It is loud and it warms the room up, and it needs to stay on. We take readings every day and log them, and we move or remove equipment as areas come down.

The job is finished when the framing reads under 16% wood moisture content. At that point you get a clearance report with the before and after photos and the readings.

How the type of water changes the job

The IICRC S500 standard, which our work follows, sorts water into three categories. Clean water comes from a supply line or a tank. Grey water comes from sources like a washing machine or dishwasher discharge. Black water is sewage or outdoor flood water. Clean water that sits for days does not stay clean.

The category decides what can be kept. Carpet soaked by a burst supply line can often be dried. Carpet, pad and drywall soaked by sewage are removed, and the surfaces underneath are cleaned and disinfected before drying starts.

How long it takes and what it costs

A supply line leak caught the same day in one or two rooms is often dry in three to five days. Thick plaster, hardwood, double layers of subfloor, cold basements and water that sat for a long time all stretch that out. Expect a daily visit of a few minutes for readings.

Most water damage jobs we see run $1,950 to $11,000. The spread comes from the area affected, the category of water, how much material has to be removed, and how many days of equipment the structure needs. You get a firm written quote from photos before we start.

Insurance and paperwork

Many home policies cover sudden and accidental water escape, and many treat sewer backup and overland flooding as optional add-ons. Policies differ, so call your insurer or broker early and ask what yours covers and what they need from you.

With us, you pay directly: 50% to book and 50% on completion, by card or e-transfer. We give you the photos, the daily readings and an itemized invoice, and you submit those to your insurer for reimbursement. Keep your own photos and receipts with them.

What happens after drying

Once the readings are down, the house is ready for repairs. We do not rebuild. We refer drywall, flooring and paint to local contractors, or you can use your own. Give the contractor a copy of the clearance report so they know the framing was dry before it was closed in. If you have water on the floor right now, shut the main, take photos and call (519) 555-0100.

Common questions