What happens once the contractor arrives
The restoration contractor follows the IICRC S500 standard. The crew the contractor sends begins with an inspection and moisture map, checking walls, ceilings and any neighboring unit that shares the leak path. Standing water is extracted. Wet pad, baseboard and drywall that cannot be dried in place are cut out. Air movers and dehumidifiers then run, and the technician logs moisture readings daily until each material is dry. The contractor finishes by cleaning the area and handing over documentation, which helps when an HOA insurer and a unit owner's insurer both have part of the claim. Outside flood water is Category 3 under S500, so porous materials it soaks are removed.