Structural drying
A floor that feels dry can still be wet underneath. Water sits in the subfloor, the bottom of the drywall, the insulation and the sill plates, and it stays there until the air around it is dry enough to pull it out. Structural drying is the equipment and the monitoring that makes that happen, and it is the part of a water loss that decides whether mold shows up a month later.
What drying covers
- Air movers and commercial dehumidifiers placed and sized for the space
- Moisture readings logged at each visit, on the materials, not just the air
- Drying of wall cavities through small holes, so walls can stay up where possible
- Hardwood floor drying with mat systems where the floor can be saved
- Wet insulation, drywall and pad removed where drying would take longer than replacing
- Written drying log for your insurance file
How long does drying take?
Usually three to five days for a typical residential loss, longer for hardwood floors, thick walls or water that sat for days before we were called. The equipment runs continuously during that time. We check readings daily and pull the equipment when the numbers say the structure is dry, not on a fixed day.
Dry in place, or tear out?
Clean water caught early can often be dried in place, which saves the drywall, the flooring and the rebuild that goes with them. Water that sat, or contaminated water, usually means removing the wet material. We tell you which applies to each room and why, and the decision is documented for the adjuster.
Questions about structural drying and dehumidification
Why can't I just open the windows and run fans?
Georgia air in most of the year is too humid to dry a wet structure. Dehumidifiers remove the moisture from the air so the materials can release theirs. Without that, a fan just moves damp air around.
How do you know when it is dry?
Moisture meters. We compare readings in the wet area against an unaffected area of the same material. When they match, the structure is dry. We log those readings.
Can I stay in the house while the equipment runs?
Usually yes. The equipment is loud and the affected rooms are off limits, but most families stay home during drying. Sewage or fire losses are a different conversation.