Water Damage Restoration in Vancouver WA — On-Site in 60 Minutes

Our water damage restoration process

Every water damage job at TIK follows the same disciplined process, refined across hundreds of restorations. Here's exactly what happens from your call to the moment we hand back your finished home.

1. 01

   Hour 0–1

   Emergency dispatch

   When you call, a real person answers — not a service. We confirm your address, get a quick description of the damage, and dispatch the nearest available crew. Most TIK trucks are within 30 minutes of any address in our service area. We confirm dispatch with a text and you'll get a follow-up text when the crew is 10 minutes out.

2. 02

   Hour 1–4

   Site assessment and water extraction

   When our crew arrives, the lead tech walks the property to identify the source, the water category (Category 1 clean, 2 gray, or 3 sewage), and the extent of spread. We document everything with photos and moisture readings — this documentation goes directly to your insurance carrier. Then we extract standing water using truck-mounted units capable of moving thousands of gallons per hour.

   Equipment: Truck-mounted vacuum extractors, submersible pumps, weighted carpet wands, moisture meters, thermal imaging cameras.

3. 03

   Hour 4–24

   Containment and equipment setup

   Once standing water is removed, we set up containment to isolate the affected area and prevent moisture from spreading to dry zones. Industrial dehumidifiers (capable of removing 200+ pints of water per day) and high-velocity air movers go into position. The equipment runs continuously, day and night, until the structure reaches dry standards.

4. 04

   Days 1–7

   Structural drying and monitoring

   Drying isn't passive — it's monitored daily. A tech returns each day to take moisture readings on framing, drywall, and subflooring. Equipment placement is adjusted based on the readings to dry hot spots. Most water damage drying takes 3–5 days; complex situations or saturated framing can take longer. We finish drying when moisture content meets IICRC S500 standards, not when the structure looks dry.

5. 05

   Days 5–10

   Controlled demolition

   Materials that can't be saved are removed under controlled conditions. This usually means cutting away water-damaged drywall (typically 12–24 inches above the water line), removing swollen baseboards and flooring, and pulling out contaminated insulation. We dispose of materials according to the water category — Category 3 materials require specific biohazard handling.

6. 06

   Weeks 2–4

   Reconstruction

   We rebuild everything we removed. 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. Most reconstructions take 1–3 weeks depending on the scope. Throughout reconstruction, the same TIK crew that handled the restoration coordinates the rebuild. No second contractor.

7. 07

   Completion

   Final walkthrough and insurance closeout

   We walk the property with you to confirm everything is restored to or above pre-damage condition. We submit final documentation to your insurance carrier and confirm payment. You get a clean, dry, rebuilt home and a single point of contact through the entire process.

• "After having a pipe burst in our rental home, TIK Construction and Restoration has done a phenomenal job mitigating the damage and communicating with us every step of the way. Elmer, their mitigation manager, has been especially thorough and precise to prevent any lasting damage to the home, and has been very thoughtful of protecting our belongings during this process. Isaac, another very nice gentleman and their director of operations, gave us a clear picture of what the whole process would look like and thoughtfully informed us of our options with our renter's insurance."

• "We called TIK when we woke up (on a weekend!) to a major leak in our living room from the upstairs tub. Elmer mobilized right away and got to us within a couple hours to begin the water mitigation. He is now helping us communicate with our insurance representative and take the next steps in the water restoration. We appreciate all the help we've gotten from TIK during this difficult event!"

• "TIK Construction and Restoration did an amazing job restoring our home after a flood caused by a burst pipe upstairs. From start to finish, their team was professional, communicative, and easy to work with. They kept us informed throughout the entire process, answered all of our questions, and made what could have been a very stressful situation much smoother. The quality of their work really stood out—everything was done with attention to detail and care."

Frequently asked questions about water damage restoration