Flood Cleanup & Drying in Denver Metro
After the water is extracted, the real work begins. Colorado Rapid Dry uses industrial-grade drying systems, daily moisture monitoring, and IICRC-certified techniques to restore your property to a safe, dry condition and prevent mold from ever taking hold.
Call Now: (720) 281-9675Why Professional Structural Drying Matters
Most people assume that once standing water is removed, the problem is solved. Unfortunately, that is only half the battle. After emergency water extraction, building materials throughout your property remain saturated with moisture. Drywall acts like a sponge, absorbing water and wicking it upward well above the original waterline. Framing lumber swells as it takes on moisture. Carpet padding, which can hold several times its weight in water, continues to release moisture into the air long after the surface appears dry.
Without proper structural drying, this trapped moisture creates the ideal environment for mold colonization, wood rot, delamination of flooring materials, and corrosion of metal fasteners and electrical components. These problems often do not become visible for weeks or months, by which time the damage has spread far beyond the original affected area and the cost of remediation has multiplied significantly.
Professional structural drying eliminates this risk by systematically reducing moisture levels in every affected material to within accepted dry standards. At Colorado Rapid Dry, we treat structural drying as a science, not a guessing game. We calculate the specific dehumidification capacity needed for your space, position equipment based on airflow dynamics, and track progress with daily moisture readings until every surface is verified dry.
Our Drying Equipment and Technology
Effective structural drying requires the right balance of three elements: dehumidification, airflow, and temperature. We deploy a coordinated system of equipment to optimize all three:
- LGR Dehumidifiers — Low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers are the industry standard for water damage restoration. They pull moisture from the air far more efficiently than conventional dehumidifiers, maintaining optimal drying conditions even in Colorado's variable climate. Each unit can remove over 17 gallons of water from the air per day.
- High-Velocity Air Movers — Positioned strategically to create airflow across wet surfaces, air movers accelerate evaporation from carpets, walls, and hard floors. We angle them to push moist air toward dehumidifiers, creating a continuous drying cycle throughout the affected area.
- Wall Cavity Drying Systems — When moisture is trapped behind intact drywall, we use injection-based drying systems that force warm, dry air into the wall cavity through small access points. This technique often allows us to dry walls without removing them, saving you significant reconstruction costs.
- Hardwood Floor Drying Mats — For water-damaged hardwood floors, we use flat-lay drying mats that create a controlled vacuum over the wood surface, gently drawing moisture out while minimizing warping and cupping. This technique saves hardwood floors that would otherwise require full replacement.
We calculate the exact number of dehumidifiers and air movers your space requires based on the IICRC S500 standard, which accounts for room volume, material types, ambient conditions, and the category and class of water damage. Over-drying can cause cracking and splitting in wood materials, so precise equipment placement and monitoring are essential.
When to Call for Flood Cleanup and Drying
Contact Colorado Rapid Dry for professional structural drying whenever your property has experienced significant water intrusion, including:
- After any water extraction — If you have had standing water removed by any company, follow up with professional drying. Extraction alone does not dry the structure.
- Basement flooding — Denver Metro basements are particularly vulnerable during spring snowmelt and summer thunderstorms. Concrete and block walls retain moisture for weeks without professional drying.
- Slow leaks discovered late — A water heater dripping for weeks or a toilet supply line seeping behind a wall often causes more damage than a sudden flood because the moisture has had time to migrate deep into building materials.
- After firefighting operations — The water used to suppress a fire saturates the entire structure. Our team coordinates with fire damage restoration crews to handle simultaneous drying and smoke damage cleanup.
- High moisture readings on inspection — If a home inspector or moisture inspection reveals elevated readings in walls, floors, or ceilings, professional drying may be needed to prevent mold growth.
Our Process: Comprehensive Flood Cleanup and Structural Drying
Damage Assessment and Documentation
Our IICRC-certified technicians conduct a thorough assessment of your property, mapping moisture levels in every wall, floor, and ceiling using infrared cameras and moisture meters. We classify the water damage by category (clean, gray, or black water) and class (extent of saturation), which determines the drying protocol and guides your insurance claim.
Debris Removal and Preparation
We remove flood debris, damaged contents, and any materials too saturated to save, such as wet insulation, destroyed carpet padding, or crumbling drywall. Salvageable contents are moved to dry areas or inventoried for pack-out services. Affected areas are cleaned and treated with antimicrobial solutions to prevent bacterial growth during the drying period.
Equipment Deployment
We position the calculated number of LGR dehumidifiers, air movers, and specialty drying systems based on your space's specific requirements. Equipment is placed to maximize airflow efficiency and dehumidification coverage. We set up wall cavity dryers and floor drying mats where applicable to preserve materials that would otherwise need replacement.
Daily Monitoring and Adjustment
A technician returns daily to take moisture readings at every mapped location, record temperature and humidity levels, and adjust equipment as the drying progresses. As certain areas reach dry standard, we relocate equipment to concentrate on remaining wet zones. This active management reduces total drying time and equipment rental costs.
Final Verification and Reporting
Once all moisture readings fall within the accepted dry standard for each material type, we compile a final drying report with complete documentation. This report includes initial and final moisture maps, daily reading logs, equipment inventories, and photos. If any areas show signs of potential mold growth, we address them before closing out the project.
Denver Metro Flood Cleanup Service Areas
Colorado Rapid Dry provides flood cleanup and structural drying services across the entire Denver Metro area. Our Aurora headquarters positions us to respond quickly to communities throughout the region, including Denver, Thornton, and Arvada. Basements throughout these communities are especially vulnerable to flooding during Colorado's spring runoff season and summer storm events, and we encourage homeowners to act quickly at the first sign of water intrusion.
For properties that need water removed before drying can begin, we offer emergency water extraction with 30 to 60 minute response times. If your flood event involved contaminated water, our sewage backup cleanup service handles proper decontamination. And if moisture has lingered long enough for mold to develop, our mold remediation specialists can test, contain, and remove it as part of a comprehensive restoration plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does the structural drying process take?
Most residential drying jobs take between 3 and 5 days, depending on the extent of water damage, the materials affected, and the ambient humidity. Concrete slabs, plaster walls, and multi-layer flooring systems take longer to dry than standard drywall and carpet. We monitor moisture levels daily and adjust equipment placement to ensure the fastest possible dry time without causing secondary damage from over-drying.
What is the difference between water extraction and structural drying?
Water extraction removes standing and surface water using pumps and extraction equipment. Structural drying is the process that follows, using dehumidifiers and air movers to remove moisture that has been absorbed into building materials like drywall, framing lumber, subfloors, and insulation. Extraction removes the bulk water, but drying is what prevents mold growth and long-term structural damage. Both steps are essential for full restoration.
Will you need to remove my drywall or flooring?
Not always. In many cases we can dry materials in place using specialized techniques like wall cavity drying systems that inject warm, dry air behind intact drywall. However, if moisture readings indicate that materials are saturated beyond the point of safe drying, or if the water was contaminated such as in a sewage backup, controlled demolition of affected materials is the safest and most cost-effective approach. We always try to save what we can.
How do you know when the structure is fully dry?
We use pin-type and pinless moisture meters to take readings from affected materials and compare them against dry standards for each material type. Drywall, wood framing, and concrete each have different acceptable moisture levels. We also track relative humidity and temperature throughout the affected area. We do not remove equipment until every reading falls within the industry-accepted dry standard. Our final moisture report becomes part of your insurance documentation.
Can flood damage cause mold even after cleanup?
Yes, if the drying process is incomplete or rushed. Moisture trapped in wall cavities, under flooring, or in insulation provides the conditions mold needs to grow. This is why professional structural drying with daily monitoring is so important. If we detect any signs of mold growth during the drying process, we coordinate immediately with our mold remediation team to contain and address it before it spreads.
Your Property Needs Professional Drying
Extraction removes the water you can see. Structural drying removes the moisture you cannot. Call Colorado Rapid Dry to protect your property from mold, rot, and hidden damage.
Call Now: (720) 281-9675