From the first pump of water out of the building to the final coat of paint — handled by one team.
A leak or flood rarely finishes doing damage the moment the water stops. In Chiswick's older conversions, lath-and-plaster ceilings and timber floors can hold moisture for weeks afterwards, and what looks like a small patch of damp can be hiding a much larger problem behind the wall. We manage the whole job — extraction, drying, repair and redecoration — so you're dealing with a single point of contact rather than separate contractors for each stage.
Standing water is pumped and vacuumed out as soon as we arrive, before it has a chance to soak further into flooring, insulation or the underlying structure.
The longer water sits, the more it spreads sideways under floors and behind skirting — early extraction is what keeps a repair small.
Once the standing water is gone, industrial dehumidifiers and air movers are set up to pull the remaining moisture out of plaster, brickwork and subfloors.
We check humidity and material moisture readings through the job and only remove the equipment once everything is back to a normal, dry baseline.
Water-damaged plaster and lath ceilings are stripped back to sound material, checked for any structural concern, and rebuilt to match the surrounding finish.
In period Chiswick properties this usually means matching cornicing or a lime-based plaster rather than a generic patch.
If the water involved sewage backup or run-off from outside, the affected area is treated and sanitised before any drying equipment goes in.
This step protects both the people in the property and the equipment doing the drying.
Once drying is confirmed complete, skirting, door frames and flooring are replaced and matched to whatever wasn't affected, rather than left as a visible repair.
Hardwood, engineered board and laminate are all handled, with materials sourced to blend into the existing room.
Every stage — extraction, drying readings, repair work — is photographed and logged into a report your insurer can use without asking for more detail.
We can also speak to your loss adjuster directly if that's easier for you.
Confirm the source of the water has actually stopped, then check how far the damage has spread, including anywhere it isn't immediately visible.
Isolate exposed electrics, unstable plaster and any contaminated materials before other work begins.
Remove standing water and damaged material that cannot be safely dried in place.
Set up drying equipment and monitor moisture readings until the structure reaches a safe level.
Complete the plastering, joinery and flooring repairs needed once the property is confirmed dry.
Finish and redecorate the repaired area, then provide records suitable for the customer or insurer.
It depends on how much water was involved and what the walls and floors are made of, but a typical single-room drying job runs from a few days to a couple of weeks. We monitor moisture levels throughout and only sign it off as dry once the readings confirm it.
Most buildings insurance policies cover sudden escape-of-water damage, though the exact terms vary by insurer. We provide the photo and moisture documentation insurers typically ask for, and can liaise with your loss adjuster directly if you'd rather not be the one chasing paperwork.
Where the damage is limited, drying in place is often possible and avoids unnecessary work. We only strip out plaster, flooring or insulation where it's genuinely saturated or contaminated — we'll explain the reasoning before removing anything.
Making safe means stopping further damage — extracting water, isolating any electrical risk, starting the drying process. Reinstatement is everything after that: the plastering, joinery, flooring and decoration that brings the room back to normal. We handle both, but they're billed and scheduled as separate stages.
Yes — this is one of the more common jobs we see in Chiswick's riverside properties. Basements and ground floors need particular attention to timber joists and subfloor voids, which we check as part of the drying process.
Any visible mould is treated before drying equipment runs, since drying alone doesn't remove existing spores. We contain the area, treat the affected surfaces, and confirm it's safe before continuing with the rest of the job.