DIY: Drying out a building after flooding
Flooding carries a lot of potential risks immediately, during, and after. After the water has left it’s important to act fast to remove residual moisture and limit the extent of the damage. Dehumidifiers, water vacuums (shop vacs) and commercial fans can make surprisingly quick work of drying out rooms and material. A common misconception is that you need to add heat to dry out a building. Avoid adding excess heat, it does not benefit the drying process and will create a rich environment for mold growth.
Some building materials will be unsalvageable. Drywall in particular is a sponge for water and a superfood for mold. In most cases it is the best choice to remove any drywall that got wet, this can be a messy process and can sometimes expose previous unknown mold. I would recommend wearing appropriate protective gear, including some sort of respiratory protection. Exposing walls will also help increase the drying time inside walls and allow you to further assess the extent of the damage. OSB is another building material that does poorly with water exposure, in some outdoor cases you could possibly be ok drying it out, but interior it can be more challenging. I would recommend doing a full drying period before assessing your options.
Drying equipment can be expensive to buy, some options online are cheaper and do not have the same lifespan as more quality equipment but will be ok to last you through this one job. Rentals are a great option when they are available and would be my go to choice. In the area you can contact these companies: