What we restore · Sewage & Contaminated Water
Category 3 Water — Different Rules Entirely
Water is classified by what is in it, and the category changes the job completely. Category 3 — sewage, ground water intrusion, flood water — is grossly contaminated.
Photographs, moisture readings and a written scope. If you should not file a claim, that is what you will be told.
GC
A general contractor — we rebuild, not just dry
1 year
Florida deadline to report a new or reopened claim
No AOB
We do not ask you to sign over your claim
Licensed
General contractor, licensed in the state of Florida
This one is not a drying problem
Clean water can often be dried in place. Category 3 water cannot. Porous materials it has touched — drywall, insulation, carpet, pad — are removed rather than dried, because the contamination is inside them. Attempting to dry contaminated material in place is the mistake that turns a cleanup into a health problem.
What changes at category 3
- Porous materials are removed, not dried.
- Containment and personal protective equipment are not optional.
- Antimicrobial treatment after removal, not instead of it.
- HVAC assessment if contaminated air was circulated.
- Disposal is regulated, not ordinary construction waste.
How we handle it
- 01Stop the source and isolate the affected area immediately.
- 02Document before removal, for the claim.
- 03Remove contaminated porous material to a clean margin.
- 04Clean and treat structural surfaces that remain.
- 05Dry, verify, and then rebuild.
- 06Dispose per regulation.
Do not run the air conditioning in a house with a sewage backup until the system has been assessed. Circulating contaminated air through the ducts converts a contained problem into a whole-house one, and it is a common and expensive instinct.
Said plainly
Where we stop
This is not a DIY job at any scale beyond a small hard-surface spill, and we will say so rather than sell you supplies and advice.
FAQ
Common questions
- What is category 3 water?
- Grossly contaminated — sewage, ground water intrusion, flood water. It carries a different protocol from clean water.
- Can carpet be saved?
- From category 3, no. Carpet and pad are removed. The contamination is inside the material.
- Should I run the AC?
- Not until the system is assessed. Circulating contaminated air spreads a contained problem.
- Is flood water covered by homeowners insurance?
- Rising flood water is generally excluded and needs separate flood coverage. This surprises people every season.
Your situation
Homeowners
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Seasonal & Absentee Owners
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Next step
Find out what is actually wrong with it.
An inspection, photographs of what we found, and a written scope. If the honest answer is that it can wait another season, that is the answer you will get.