TIK Construction Process
From your call to your finished home — exactly what happens.
Restoration is a defined, multi-phase process. Here's what TIK does at each phase, what equipment we use, what the timeline typically looks like, and what to expect at each step.
The five phases
Every TIK job follows this process.
Water, fire, mold, storm, sewage. The specifics vary; the structure doesn't.
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Hour 0 – 1
01
Emergency dispatch
We answer, dispatch, and arrive on-site within 60 minutes.
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Hour 1 – 24
02
Site assessment and mitigation
We assess damage, document for insurance, and start mitigation.
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Days 1 – 7
03
Drying and remediation
Equipment runs continuously until structure meets dry standards.
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Days 5 – 30
04
Demolition and reconstruction
We remove damaged materials and rebuild — drywall, flooring, paint, finish.
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Day 30+
05
Final inspection and handoff
We walk the property with you and close the insurance claim.
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01
Hour 0 – 1
Phase 1 — Emergency dispatch
What happens
When you call TIK, a real person answers — not a service, not voicemail. We get your address, a quick description of what's happening, and dispatch the nearest available crew. Most TIK trucks are within 30 minutes of any address in Clark County and within 60 minutes of most Portland metro addresses. You'll get a confirmation text and another text when the crew is 10 minutes out. If you're in an active emergency — water flowing, fire still burning, sewage backing up — the dispatcher gives you guidance over the phone about what to do until the crew arrives.
Equipment and methods
Each TIK truck is fully equipped for the first 24 hours of work — truck-mounted vacuum extractors, submersible pumps, industrial dehumidifiers, air movers, moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras, containment materials. We don't have to come back for additional equipment.
What to expect
When the crew arrives, the lead tech introduces themselves and walks the property with you. They'll ask what happened, when, and what you've already done. They won't start tearing things apart immediately — first they assess.
How long this takes
Phase 1 is typically 60 minutes from your call to crew on-site. Closer to our Vancouver base, often less. More distant Portland metro addresses (West Linn, Wilsonville) may run 75–90 minutes during heavy traffic.
02
Hour 1 – 24
Phase 2 — Site assessment and mitigation
What happens
Once the property is assessed, mitigation begins. For water damage, that means extracting standing water, identifying any active source, and starting structural drying. For fire, it means containing soot, removing smoke-damaged materials, and starting odor remediation. For mold, it means containment setup and air-quality testing. For sewage, it means biohazard containment and Category 3 water extraction. While mitigation runs, the lead tech documents everything for the insurance claim — photos, moisture readings, scope notes, an itemized estimate. This documentation goes to the carrier within 24 hours.
Equipment and methods
Truck-mounted extractors capable of moving thousands of gallons per hour. Submersible pumps for deep water. Weighted carpet wands. Calibrated moisture meters and thermal imaging to find hidden moisture. 200+ pint-per-day industrial dehumidifiers. High-velocity air movers. Containment plastic and zipper doors. HEPA air scrubbers when mold is present.
What to expect
This is the loudest, most disruptive phase. Equipment runs continuously. Crews are in and out as they assess and set up. If you're staying in the home, plan for noise and inconvenience for the first day. If the area becomes uninhabitable, we tell you immediately — your insurance typically covers temporary lodging.
How long this takes
Initial mitigation (extraction, equipment setup, primary containment) is typically complete within 4–8 hours of crew arrival. Insurance documentation is submitted within 24 hours.
03
Days 1 – 7
Phase 3 — Drying and remediation
What happens
Drying isn't passive. Equipment runs 24/7. A tech returns each day to take moisture readings on framing, drywall, and subflooring, then adjusts equipment placement to dry hot spots. We don't stop drying when the structure looks dry — we stop when moisture content meets IICRC S500 standards (typically 12–15% for wood framing, depending on regional norms). If mold remediation is part of the job, that work runs in parallel: containing the affected area, removing contaminated materials, HEPA-vacuuming and cleaning surfaces, and verifying air quality post-remediation. If contents need to be packed out — cleaned, restored, or stored off-site — that work also happens during this phase.
Equipment and methods
Industrial dehumidifiers running continuously. High-velocity air movers positioned strategically. Daily moisture readings on framing and subflooring. Thermal imaging to verify no hidden moisture pockets. HEPA air scrubbers for mold-affected areas.
What to expect
Equipment runs day and night. Most homes stay habitable during this phase if the damage was localized. The hum of dehumidifiers and air movers is constant but tolerable. Daily tech visits typically take 30–60 minutes.
How long this takes
Most water damage drying takes 3–5 days. Saturated framing or complex situations can take 5–7 days or occasionally longer. Mold remediation typically adds 1–3 days depending on scope.
04
Days 5 – 30
Phase 4 — Demolition and reconstruction
What happens
Once drying is complete, materials that can't be saved are removed under controlled conditions. That usually means cutting away water-damaged drywall (typically 12–24 inches above the water line), removing swollen baseboards and flooring, pulling contaminated insulation, and disposing per category (Category 3 materials require specific biohazard handling). Then reconstruction begins: new drywall, taping and mudding, primer, paint matched to your existing finishes, new baseboards and trim, new flooring (replaced or repaired to match), cabinetry restoration if needed. The same TIK team that handled the restoration coordinates the rebuild — not a separate contractor.
Equipment and methods
Standard reconstruction tools and matched materials — drywall, joint compound, primer, paint, baseboards, flooring. We match existing finishes. If your kitchen had hardwood, the rebuild uses matching hardwood. If your bathroom had specific tile, we source matching tile.
What to expect
Less constant noise than Phase 3 but more visible disruption as walls are opened and rebuilt. Crews on-site during business hours typically. We coordinate cabinetry, flooring, and finish-work timing to minimize disruption.
How long this takes
Demolition typically 1–3 days. Reconstruction 1–3 weeks for typical residential damage. Larger or more complex rebuilds run 3–6 weeks.
05
Day 30+
Phase 5 — Final inspection and handoff
What happens
When the work is complete, we walk the property with you to confirm everything is restored to or above pre-damage condition. Anything that doesn't meet your expectations gets fixed. We submit final documentation to your carrier and confirm payment. You get a clean, dry, rebuilt home and a single point of contact through the entire process. If contents were packed out, they get returned and placed back in their original locations.
Equipment and methods
No equipment in this phase — just paperwork, the walk-through, and warranty handoff.
What to expect
A walk-through with the lead tech and (often) the project manager. Final paperwork including warranty information for the reconstruction work and copies of all documentation submitted to insurance.
How long this takes
Final walk-through typically 30–60 minutes. Insurance documentation submission and payment processing varies by carrier but is typically complete within 2–4 weeks of work completion.
Through every phase
Insurance documentation runs through every phase.
Insurance claims succeed or fail based on documentation. Throughout every phase of restoration, we document what we find and what we do — photos at every stage, moisture readings logged daily, written observations from each tech visit, itemized scope estimates that meet carrier requirements, equipment logs, and final before/after documentation.
This documentation is what gets your claim approved without dispute. Most TIK customers don't have to fight with their insurance carrier because the documentation we provide makes the claim straightforward to approve. When carriers do push back — which happens occasionally on large or complex claims — we have the documentation to support our work.
We submit documentation directly to your assigned adjuster and follow up until the claim is approved. You don't manage the carrier relationship — we do.
Ready to start the process?
Phase 1 begins the moment you call. 60 minutes from now, a tech can be at your door.
Available 24/7 · Day or night · Every day of the year