The restoration process

Understand inspection, water extraction, drying, cleaning and the records you receive.

• What happens during water damage restoration?
• How long does professional drying take?
• Why use moisture readings and thermal imaging?
• What is included in a restoration report?
• What equipment is used to dry a building?
• Can I stay at home while the drying equipment is running?
• Should I turn the drying equipment off at night?
• How do I know when my property is dry?

What happens during water damage restoration?

A technician assesses the affected areas, checks moisture levels, removes standing water where needed, and sets up drying equipment. The team monitors moisture as drying progresses and explains any cleaning or repair work that may be required.

How long does professional drying take?

Many residential drying jobs take around 3 to 5 days, but the time varies with the amount of water, how long materials were wet, building materials and site conditions. Drying should be guided by moisture readings rather than a fixed number of days.

Why use moisture readings and thermal imaging?

Moisture meters and thermal imaging can help technicians find damp areas that are not obvious from the surface. Readings help guide drying and document how affected areas change over time.

What is included in a restoration report?

NRN documents the damage and work completed with items such as photographs, moisture readings and a scope of work. The exact records depend on the job and can be discussed with the team.

What equipment is used to dry a building?

Structural drying normally uses air movers to move air across wet surfaces and dehumidifiers to pull moisture out of the air. Air scrubbers may be added to filter the air, and water extraction units are used first where there is standing water or saturated carpet.

Can I stay at home while the drying equipment is running?

In many cases yes. Drying equipment runs continuously and makes noise and warmth, so some people choose to keep affected rooms closed off. Where contaminated water, mould or major damage is involved, the technician will tell you which areas to stay out of.

Should I turn the drying equipment off at night?

No. Drying equipment is set up to run continuously, and switching it off slows drying and can add days to the job. If the noise is a problem or a machine stops working, call the team rather than turning it off.

How do I know when my property is dry?

A building is dry when moisture readings in the affected materials return to normal levels for that material, not when surfaces feel dry to touch. Ask for the readings: they show the starting point, the progress and the final result.