Flood damage restoration covers removing flood water, taking out contaminated materials, cleaning and sanitising, and drying the building before it is rebuilt. Flood water from outside — rain, drains, rivers or the sea — is treated as contaminated, so the process is more involved than drying after a clean pipe leak.
Types of flooding we deal with
- Surface water flooding after heavy rain overwhelms drains and runs into ground floors, cellars and basements.
- Cellar flooding from groundwater or defective drainage — common in older terraced houses with cellars.
- Drain and sewer backflow through gullies, floor drains or toilets — see sewage clean-up.
- Internal flooding from a burst tank, cylinder or mains pipe — see burst pipes.
Clean water, grey water and black water
The industry splits water damage into three broad categories. The category decides how much has to be removed:
| Category | Typical source | What it means for the clean-up |
|---|---|---|
| Clean water | Mains supply pipe, tank, rain through a roof (if dealt with quickly) | Most materials can usually be dried in place. |
| Grey water | Washing machine or dishwasher outflow, clean water left standing for days | Porous materials such as carpet and underlay often need removing; surfaces cleaned and disinfected. |
| Black water | Flood water from outside, drains, sewage, toilets with waste | Porous materials are removed; everything else is cleaned and sanitised before drying. |
Our flood restoration process
- Safety check. Electrics in flooded areas must be isolated and checked by an electrician. Gas appliances that got wet need a Gas Safe engineer.
- Water removal. Pumps and extraction units remove standing water — see water extraction.
- Strip-out. Contaminated carpets, underlay, insulation and saturated plasterboard are removed and disposed of.
- Cleaning and sanitising. Remaining surfaces are cleaned and treated.
- Drying. The structure is dried and monitored — see structural drying.
- Ready to rebuild. Once drying goals are met, repairs and decoration can begin.
Flooded cellars in older Liverpool homes
Many Victorian and Edwardian terraces across Liverpool and Birkenhead were built with cellars. They are below ground and often unheated, which makes them prone to water after heavy rain, and slower to dry. Pumping out is only the start: we look at where the water came in, whether it was clean or dirty, and use desiccant drying where the space is cold. If the problem keeps coming back, the drainage or waterproofing needs attention.
What to do after a flood
- Don’t walk through flood water if you can avoid it — it can hide hazards and contamination.
- Keep children and pets away from affected areas.
- Wear gloves and wash hands after touching anything the water reached.
- Photograph everything before moving it, and tell your insurer early.
- Throw away food that has been in contact with flood water.
What affects the cost?
The category of water, how much has to be stripped out, the size of the area, and the drying time. Contaminated flood water costs more to deal with than a clean leak because more materials are removed. See the water damage cost guide.
Flood restoration across Merseyside
We deal with flooded ground floors and cellars across Liverpool, coastal homes in Crosby and Formby, and properties in Garston and Widnes near the Mersey. Find out more about our full water damage restoration service across the city.
When to call a professional
Call us for any flooding from outside or from drains, any water in a cellar that you can’t explain, or when a flood has affected more than one room. Phone 07777 659786.