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H1: Flood damage cleaning and water damage restoration
Boxing Day 2023. A burst water main flooded six properties on North Street in Bedminster. By the time we got the call at 4pm, three of those homes had standing water across the entire ground floor. We had extractors running by 5:30 and dehumidifiers in place before midnight.
Two of those families were back in their kitchens within a week. The ones who waited for their insurance company to send someone? Still drying out in February.
Flooded property? Call us now on 0808 303 7072. We respond 24/7 and can start extraction within hours, not days.
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Trust Bar
24/7 emergency response | Industrial drying equipment | Full insurance documentation | £2M insured
Why Speed Matters After a Flood
Here’s what most people don’t realise about flood damage: the water you can see is only half the problem.
Within 24 hours, water wicks into plasterboard, timber, insulation and underlay. Bacteria from contaminated floodwater starts multiplying. The smell begins.
Within 48 hours, mould spores activate. In warm conditions (a heated house, summer flooding), visible mould can appear in as little as 36 hours. Once it takes hold in wall cavities and under floors, you’re looking at a separate remediation job on top of the flood damage.
Within a week, structural timber starts to swell and warp. MDF furniture disintegrates. Laminate flooring buckles beyond repair. Electrical systems in contact with water become a safety hazard.
Every hour between the flood and the start of drying increases the cost and complexity of restoration. That’s not a sales pitch. It’s building science.
What We Do When Your Property Floods
Step 1: Emergency water extraction
We arrive with industrial submersible pumps and truck-mounted extraction units. Standing water comes out first, as fast as physically possible. We can extract thousands of litres per hour. A domestic wet-vac pulling a few litres at a time isn’t going to cut it when your lounge is under four inches of water.
Step 2: Moisture mapping
Once the standing water is out, we survey every wall, floor and ceiling with professional moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras. Water travels through building materials in ways you can’t see. A flood in the kitchen can mean damp in the bedroom wall on the other side of the house. We map it all before we set up drying equipment.
Step 3: Content assessment
We go through the property room by room. What can be saved, what can be cleaned, what needs to go. Soft furnishings, documents, electronics, clothing. We photograph and catalogue everything for your insurance claim. This step saves arguments with loss adjusters later.
Step 4: Structural drying
Industrial dehumidifiers and high-velocity air movers go in. Not one or two. Enough to create the airflow and humidity drop needed to dry the specific volume of your property. We calculate drying capacity based on the square footage, the building materials and the moisture readings. Then we monitor daily.
Structural drying typically takes 5 to 14 days depending on the severity. We check moisture readings throughout and don’t remove equipment until every surface is back within safe limits.
Step 5: Sanitisation and anti-microbial treatment
Floodwater isn’t clean. Even mains water picks up contaminants as it runs through a property. River or surface water flooding brings sewage, soil bacteria, chemicals and debris. We sanitise all affected surfaces with hospital-grade disinfectants and apply anti-microbial treatments to prevent mould growth during and after drying.
Step 6: Insurance documentation pack
Photos, moisture readings (before and after), inventory of damaged contents, treatment records, drying logs. All timestamped. Your insurer or loss adjuster gets a professional pack that supports your claim. We’ve dealt with most of the major insurers and know what they need to see.
Before and After
[Before/after image slider; real flood restoration jobs]
Types of Flood Damage We Handle
Burst pipes and plumbing failures The most common type we see. A failed joint under the bath, a frozen pipe that cracks, a washing machine connection that lets go. Clean water initially, but it still causes serious damage if it isn’t extracted and dried quickly.
River and surface water flooding Bristol has documented flood risk zones along the Avon, the Frome, and through Ashton Vale and Bedminster. Surface water flooding from overwhelmed drains affects properties across the city. This water is contaminated and requires Category 2 or Category 3 decontamination protocols.
Sewage flooding The worst case. Raw sewage backing up through drains, toilets or manholes. Category 3 (black water) contamination. Full biohazard decontamination required. We have a dedicated sewage flood cleaning service for this.
Roof and gutter leaks Slower but just as destructive. A blocked gutter or slipped tile sends water into the loft space, down through ceilings, into wall cavities. By the time you see the stain on the ceiling, the damage is already extensive.
Appliance failures Dishwashers, washing machines, water heaters, boilers. Modern homes have multiple water-connected appliances, and any of them can fail. The water often pools under flooring and behind units where you can’t see it.
What Regular Cleaners Can’t Do
I’ll be honest: if you’ve had a small leak under the sink that you caught within an hour, you probably don’t need us. A few towels and a fan might do the job.
But if water has been sitting for more than a few hours, or it’s soaked into carpets, underlay, plasterboard or timber, you need industrial drying. A regular cleaner with a carpet shampooer won’t get the moisture out of the structure. They can make the surface look dry while the walls rot behind the paint.
We bring:
- Submersible pumps that extract thousands of litres per hour
- Professional moisture meters and thermal imaging
- LGR (low grain refrigerant) dehumidifiers, not consumer-grade machines
- High-velocity air movers sized for the space
- HEPA air filtration for contaminated water situations
- Hospital-grade disinfectants and anti-microbial coatings
Worth mentioning: our insurance covers the work we do. If a domestic cleaner damages your property during flood cleanup (and it happens), their liability insurance, if they even have one, probably won’t cover specialist restoration work.
Flood Damage and Insurance Claims
Most buildings insurance policies cover flood damage, but the process is rarely straightforward. Here’s what we’ve learned from hundreds of claims:
Call your insurer early, but don’t wait for them to act. Most policies allow “reasonable steps to mitigate damage.” That means you can instruct emergency extraction and drying before the loss adjuster arrives. Waiting for insurer approval while your property sits in water makes the claim bigger, not smaller.
Document everything. Before you move anything, photograph it. We do this systematically as part of our process, but start yourself if you can. Water levels, damaged items, serial numbers on appliances.
Keep damaged items. Don’t skip anything until the loss adjuster has seen it or you’ve been told to dispose of it. We catalogue and photograph contents as part of our service.
We work with your insurer, not against them. Our documentation pack is designed to support your claim. We’ve dealt with Aviva, AXA, Direct Line, Zurich, NFU Mutual and most other major UK insurers. We know what they expect to see.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do when my house floods?
Turn off the electricity at the consumer unit if it’s safe to do so. Stop the water source if you can (turn off the stopcock for burst pipes). Move valuables to higher ground. Take photos. Then call us on 0808 303 7072. Don’t try to use domestic appliances in standing water.
Does home insurance cover flood damage in the UK?
Most buildings insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage (burst pipes, appliance failures). River and surface water flooding is covered by many policies, but properties in high-risk flood zones may have exclusions or higher excesses. Check your policy. We provide full documentation to support claims regardless.
How long does flood damage restoration take?
Water extraction usually takes a few hours. Structural drying takes 5 to 14 days for most residential properties, sometimes longer for severe flooding or solid-wall construction. The total restoration process (including redecoration) depends on the extent of damage. We handle the cleaning and drying; your insurer will typically appoint a building contractor for repairs.
Can flooded carpets be saved?
It depends on the water source and how long they were wet. Carpets flooded with clean water (burst pipe) and dried within 48 hours can often be saved. Carpets contaminated with sewage or river water usually can’t and shouldn’t be. We assess each case and give you an honest answer. Sometimes replacing is cheaper than restoring, and we’ll tell you that.
Who should I call first when my house floods?
If there’s a safety risk (electrical hazard, structural damage, gas smell), call 999. Otherwise, turn off the water and electricity, then call us. You should also notify your insurer within 24 hours, but getting extraction started immediately is more important than waiting for insurer instructions.
How much does flood damage cleaning cost?
A single room with moderate water damage: £500 to £1,200. A full ground floor with extensive contamination and structural drying: £2,000 to £5,000+. Every flood is different. We quote after assessment. For insurance claims, the cost is typically covered by your policy.
Related Services
- Sewage Flood Cleaning: Category 3 black water requires specialist decontamination
- Mould Removal: Mould prevention and treatment after water damage
- Odour Removal: Eliminating damp and flood smells after drying
- Deep Cleaning: Full sanitisation after flood restoration
Flooded Right Now? Call Us.
Every hour counts. We answer our emergency line 24/7, 365 days a year. Christmas morning, 3am on a Tuesday, bank holiday weekend. Doesn’t matter.
We’re based in BS10 and can reach most of Bristol within 30 minutes. Bath, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset: usually within the hour.
Emergency 24/7: 0808 303 7072 General enquiries: 07985 505061 WhatsApp: 07985 505061 Email: hello@bristolcleaningheroes.co.uk
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