A floor that feels dry can still hold water in the subfloor, the bottom plate and the back of the drywall. Structural drying removes that moisture with air and heat, and it is measured with meters rather than judged by touch.
Why lower levels need care
In February 2011 sewage backed into about two dozen basements along Lake Susan Drive and a nearby street after a crack in a city water main, and most of those homes had finished lower levels. Carpets, lower walls and furnaces were ruined, a reminder of how much material a finished basement holds that cannot simply be dried in place.
How the equipment is chosen
The crew classifies the loss by how much water the materials took on, then sizes the equipment to the volume of air and the wet surface area. Dense materials such as hardwood, plaster or concrete call for more heat or desiccant units.
- LGR dehumidifiers to pull moisture from the air
- Air movers set along walls and across floors
- Heat and mats for dense flooring
Daily monitoring and sign-off
Each visit records temperature, humidity and material moisture, so equipment is moved or removed as readings fall. A project that began with a flooded basement or with water extraction usually moves straight into this stage.
Equipment placement changes as the building dries. Units that start in the wettest corner move out as readings fall, which keeps the cost of the drying lower.