Structural Drying Services
Water can settle into the walls, floors, and ceilings of your home or business. Using techniques like targeted heat and controlled airflow, we can target the hard-to-reach moisture deep within your property.
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Trusted Structural Drying Specialists
After a water emergency, drying your property needs to begin immediately. Mold growth can begin in 24 hours. Structural damage can compromise the building’s stability. Wet wood can attract wood-boring insects. And the longer you wait, the bigger the repair bill.
When it comes to thoroughly drying your home or business, SERVPRO knows the process inside and out. Using the latest drying systems, from targeted heat to controlled airflow, we’ll make sure your property is dried to the industry standard to maintain structural stability and avoid further damage. From there, we’ll work to make it “Like it never even happened.”
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Need Help with a Commercial Property?
When your business suffers water damage, SERVPRO is ready. Our experienced team is ready to dry and restore your facility, keeping downtime to a minimum. Learn more about our Commercial Water Damage Restoration.
Our Expert Restoration Process
The moment you call, our team moves quickly to protect your property and begin recovery. We follow a proven, step-by-step process to return your home to its pre-loss condition.
Assess
We inspect, document, and plan your restoration.
Mitigate
We act fast to stop damage and protect what matters most.
Restore
We rebuild and restore your space to pre-loss condition.
SERVPRO Helps with the Insurance Claim Process
At SERVPRO, we understand that property damage can be overwhelming. With decades of experience, SERVPRO can help document damage and provide information related to the services performed that can assist customers during the insurance claim process.
When property damage occurs, a rapid response can help limit further damage and may reduce overall restoration costs.
Groundwater flooding is usually covered by flood insurance, not a standard homeowners policy.
Not going through insurance? Ask about our self-pay and finance options.
Why Structural Drying?
After water extraction and drying, there can still be moisture trapped inside walls, insulation, flooring, and structural materials—even though most surfaces seem dry. Structural drying removes excess, hidden moisture that has been absorbed by structural components throughout the home.
The goal is to return affected materials to their normal moisture content levels while minimizing secondary damage. Structural drying is needed to:
Prevent Mold Growth
Mold can start growing in just 24 to 48 hours. Once that growth begins, spores can spread quickly, leading to health risks and expensive cleanup and restoration.
Preserve Structural Integrity
Standing water can weaken the structural integrity of your home or business. This can make your floors, walls, and ceilings warp, deteriorate, and even collapse.
Prevent Odors
Thoroughly drying your home after water damage will reduce the chances of unhealthy mold and mildew, along with the persistent musty smells that come with them.
Reduce Repair Costs
Structural repairs can be extremely expensive and disruptive.
What drying equipment does SERVPRO use?
SERVPRO technicians use industrial-grade dehumidifiers to help prevent secondary water damage like swelling and warping of floors, walls, and furniture. They use high-speed air movers to create airflow across walls, carpets, pads, and furniture, in order to accelerate the evaporation of moisture. Moisture mapping is also used to locate hidden areas that need drying.
After water removal, how long does it take to dry out a home?
The drying process begins after standing water is removed. Drying typically takes three days to a week. But it can take longer, depending on:
- Type of material: wood, drywall, and other porous materials soak up more moisture and take longer to dry.
- Humidity levels: the higher the humidity, the longer the drying time.
- Saturation level: if the home is heavily saturated, drying will take longer (giving mold a chance to grow).
Is structural drying needed after a small leak?
The amount of water you see may not be the entire picture. What’s important is not just the amount, but where the water went. A small amount of water that enters a wall, cabinetry, or flooring is often harder to detect and completely dry. Over time, that small amount of moisture can weaken the supporting materials in your home.
Should I open my windows to help with structural drying?
When the outside air is too humid, or the property needs to be kept secure, it’s best to keep the windows closed. In the case of a more humid area, such as Florida, opening windows might increase the drying time.
Is it safe to stay in a flooded home?
It may not be safe to stay in a flooded home or business. If you come into contact with or ingest flood water, it can make you sick if the water is contaminated. Standing water inside a structure that was inhabited also poses an electrocution risk, as appliances and electrical outlets can continue to be live and energized.
How long after water damage does mold grow?
Mildew and mold are likely to begin growing within a day or two after water damage occurs. Mold can develop very quickly, within 24-48 hours, and will continue to grow until its access to a water source is removed. This is why it’s incredibly important to act quickly when water damage occurs to your property. Waiting too long to fix the damage could result in more problems, like mold.
What health problems can mold cause?
Mold can produce allergens or irritants that can affect some people's health. According to the CDC, there are very few reports that toxigenic molds (those that produce mycotoxins) cause severe issues, and the link has not yet been proven. However, in 2004 the Institute of Medicine found there's sufficient evidence linking indoor mold exposure to upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, and wheezing in otherwise healthy people.
It is best to be cautious around any mold, limit your exposure, and contact a professional who is trained in mold remediation to handle the situation for you.