What is commercial water damage restoration?
Commercial water damage restoration is the process of removing water, drying the structure and restoring business properties such as offices, retail stores, restaurants, medical and professional suites, and multifamily buildings. The drying science is the same as in a home and follows the IICRC S500 standard. What changes is the size of the space, the number of people involved, and the cost of downtime.
How commercial water damage differs from residential
- Downtime has a direct cost. Every day a space is closed affects revenue, staff and customers, so the drying plan has to account for operations, not just square footage.
- More people are involved. Owners, tenants, property managers, insurers and sometimes landlords' contractors each need information and may need to approve the work.
- Building systems are larger. Commercial ceilings, sprinkler lines, rooftop units and shared plumbing stacks can affect several suites at once.
- Materials differ. Commercial carpet tile, demountable ceiling tile, and wall assemblies with metal studs dry and repair differently from residential carpet and wood framing.
- Documentation matters more. Records may be needed for the owner's policy, the tenant's policy and the lease.
Common sources of water in commercial buildings
- Fire sprinkler line leaks and accidental discharges
- Rooftop HVAC condensate overflows into suspended ceilings
- Restroom and kitchen supply lines, toilets and floor drains
- Water heaters and break-room appliances
- Roof leaks and monsoon storm water at storefront doors
- A leak in one unit or suite that spreads to a neighboring one
What to do right away
- Stop the water at the fixture or the main shutoff. For sprinkler water, contact your fire protection contractor and follow your building's procedure before shutting anything off.
- Keep people away from wet areas with electrical equipment, and from sagging ceiling tiles.
- Notify the property manager or owner so the building's insurance and other tenants can be informed.
- Move equipment, files and inventory off wet floors where it's safe.
- Photograph the damage and the source before cleanup starts.
How we restore commercial properties
- Walk the site and agree on scope. We identify the source, the water category and every affected area, and confirm who authorizes the work.
- Plan around operations. We discuss which areas must close, which can stay open, and when noisy or disruptive work can happen.
- Extract water. Standing water is removed from floors, carpet and carpet tile. See emergency water removal.
- Remove what can't be dried. Wet ceiling tile, contaminated carpet and damaged drywall are removed and documented.
- Dry the structure. Dehumidifiers and air movers run until moisture readings reach a dry standard. Our structural drying page explains how we measure it.
- Report and hand off. You receive photos and daily moisture logs to share with owners, tenants and insurers before repairs begin.
If the water came from a toilet, floor drain or sewer line, it is treated as contaminated and follows our sewage backup cleanup process, which may mean closing the affected area until it is cleaned and sanitized.
Rental and multifamily properties
Owners and property managers of rentals need fast action and a clear record. When a tenant reports water, we work with the owner or manager to dry the unit and any neighboring units affected, and we document the damage for the owner's insurer and for tenant records. Rental properties are common in Tempe and San Tan Valley, and offices and retail centers are common in Chandler.
If water sat long enough for mold to start, our commercial mold remediation service contains and removes it as part of the same job.
Insurance and documentation for businesses
Commercial property policies, tenant policies and business interruption coverage each have their own terms, and some losses fall under more than one. We don't decide coverage, and we can't promise how a claim will be paid. What we provide is a clear record: the source, the water category, photos of every affected area and material, and moisture readings from start to finish. Our guide to water damage categories and classes explains the terms adjusters use.