Inspection defines the scope
Before equipment arrives, the affected boundary is established. That includes adjacent rooms and the level below, because water rarely stays where it was first seen.
Extraction comes before drying
Removing bulk water mechanically is far faster than evaporating it. Every litre extracted reduces the load on dehumidification.
Material decisions are made individually
Porosity, saturation, water category and exposure time all influence whether a material is dried in place or removed.
- Non-porous surfaces are usually cleaned and dried
- Semi-porous materials depend on saturation depth
- Porous materials exposed to contaminated water are normally removed
Drying is measured, not assumed
Equipment placement is adjusted as readings change, and drying continues until affected materials match unaffected reference areas.