HM-PRO
General Contractor King County, WA

Our professional drying process after flooding

Flood water doesn’t just wet what you can see. It moves into wall cavities, under flooring, inside insulation, and into framing—then stays there. Our drying procedure is designed to remove moisture from the structure in a controlled way, prevent secondary damage (swelling, cupping, delamination), and verify dryness before any rebuild.

1) Safety, stabilization, and water control

Before drying starts, we make the site safe and stop ongoing moisture.

stop the source (plumbing leak, roof intrusion, appliance failure, groundwater entry)
confirm power safety (wet outlets, panels, cords, and equipment placement)
protect unaffected areas (pathway protection, moving furniture if needed)
determine water category
clean water: typical drying workflow
gray water (used water): enhanced cleaning and more removal
sewage / category 3: treated as biohazard with stricter procedures and disposal

Result: the structure is stable, safe, and ready for controlled drying.

2) Rapid extraction: remove liquid water first

Drying starts with getting rid of liquid water, not just running fans.

pump out standing water when present
extract water from carpets and pads (if they are being removed, extraction still reduces spread and mess)
use extraction tools for hard surfaces and seams
remove water trapped at transitions and low points

Why this matters: the more water removed up front, the faster and more successfully the structure dries.

3) Moisture mapping and dry standard

We don’t guess. We measure, document, and build a drying plan.
What we do:

moisture map floors, lower walls, base plates, and suspected travel paths
use non-invasive meters for broad scanning
use pin/probe readings when depth matters (wood framing, subfloor, sill plates)
record ambient conditions (temperature, relative humidity)

We set a “dry goal” based on:

readings in unaffected materials (best baseline)
expected equilibrium for the season and assembly
trend behavior (numbers must move down consistently)

Result: a clear drying target and control points for daily verification.

4) Controlled opening of assemblies (when needed)

Flooding often traps moisture behind finishes. If readings show moisture is locked inside, we open assemblies strategically so drying can actually work.
Common steps:

remove baseboards to access wet drywall edges and cavities
perform a flood cut on drywall where required
remove wet insulation (insulation generally does not dry correctly in place)
lift flooring transitions or sections to verify underlayment/subfloor edges
open toe-kicks, vanity backs, and other hidden voids where moisture accumulates

We avoid unnecessary demolition, but we also don’t “hope it dries” behind sealed layers.

5) Setting the drying chamber: airflow + dehumidification + temperature

Drying is a system: evaporation must be supported by moisture removal from the air.
Air movement (air movers)

placed to sweep air across wet surfaces, not randomly blasting the room
angled along walls, floors, and wet cavities
adjusted as the wettest areas change

Dehumidification (the engine of drying)

dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air so evaporation can continue
equipment choice depends on conditions:
refrigerant units for many standard situations
desiccant units when temperatures are low or when deep drying demands it
we control boundaries (doors, vents, openings) to keep the drying environment stable

Heat and temperature control

temperature may be increased to improve evaporation when appropriate
we do it safely and deliberately to avoid secondary issues (warping, overdrying finishes, pushing humidity into other zones)

Optional HEPA filtration (when needed)

if there is debris, dust, or microbial concern, we may add HEPA air filtration to improve air quality and keep particles controlled during the process

6) Daily monitoring and adjustments (this is where quality shows)

Drying is not “set equipment and leave.” We manage it like a process.
Each monitoring visit typically includes:

re-check the same moisture control points to confirm downward trends
ambient readings (temperature and relative humidity)
equipment performance check and condensate management
repositioning air movers to target remaining wet zones
decisions to open additional cavities if readings plateau

If moisture levels stop improving, we adjust strategy rather than wasting days running equipment.

7) Material-specific drying decisions

Different materials behave differently. Our decisions are based on integrity and real measurements.
Common rules we follow:

drywall: if swollen, soft, or contaminated, it’s removed; otherwise it may be opened and dried depending on readings
insulation: if wet, it is removed (it typically does not dry successfully in place)
solid wood framing: often salvageable with controlled drying; monitored for stable moisture content
subfloor (plywood/OSB): dried if structurally sound; replaced if delaminated, soft, or permanently distorted
hardwood/engineered flooring: evaluated carefully; many situations require removal to prevent long-term cupping and mold beneath
cabinets: toe-kicks and backs often trap moisture; drying may require strategic opening or partial removal depending on saturation and construction

8) Verification: we do not rebuild over wet materials

Before any repairs begin, we verify the structure is dry and stable.
We confirm:

moisture content readings are within target range and no longer trending high
no hidden pockets remain in adjacent cavities, corners, or transitions
surfaces are clean and ready for reconstruction

If a project requires independent confirmation, we can coordinate post-drying verification with a third-party professional.

9) What you can expect during drying

Typical expectations (varies by materials and saturation):

the drying phase often runs several days
equipment noise is normal (air movers and dehumidifiers)
we may restrict certain rooms to keep the drying environment controlled
daily monitoring ensures the plan stays efficient and accurate

Outcome

Our drying procedure is built to:

remove moisture completely, not cosmetically
reduce the risk of mold and odor
protect building materials from preventable damage
allow repairs only when the structure is truly ready

EMAIL:

Business hours
Mon–Fri: 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sat–Sun: By appointment

+1 (206) 530-00-18

2065300018wa@gmail.com

HM-PRO General Contractor

KING County, WA

A mold problem is rarely "just mold." It's usually the result of a combination of moisture, time, and favorable conditions. Our mold identification service is a targeted, non-invasive assessment designed to identify the source of moisture, the reasons for its persistence, and the conditions that promote mold recurrence—so you can address the cause, not just clean the surface.

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