Flood water is different from a leak. When a creek overflows, a storm drain backs up, or a flash flood pushes through the front door, the water carries soil, sewage, fuel, and whatever else it crossed on the way in. Under the IICRC S500 standard, water like that is Category 3 from the start, even if it looks clear.
Crews handle water damage claims from every major carrier, including:
Insurers are named for reference only. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by any insurance company.
That changes the job. Porous materials the water touched, such as carpet, pad, insulation, and the lower part of drywall, generally have to come out. Mud and silt are removed, every surface is cleaned and disinfected, and only then does drying start. Drying a flooded home without cleaning it first seals the contamination inside the walls.
Water category:Category 3 (black water)
Step 1
The crew checks for electrical and structural hazards, then pumps out standing water so the rooms can be worked in.
Step 2
Silt, mud, and soaked debris are cleared out. Contaminated carpet, pad, and insulation are removed and bagged.
Step 3
Drywall is usually cut above the water line so the wall cavity can be cleaned and dried instead of trapping contamination.
Step 4
Floors, framing, and remaining surfaces are washed and treated with an EPA-registered disinfectant.
Step 5
LGR dehumidifiers and air movers run until framing and slab reach dry standard. Photos and moisture logs go into your claim file.
Local notes
Boulder Creek and its tributaries run out of the foothills and straight through town, and the September 2013 flood showed how quickly they can rise. Flash floods can reach homes well outside mapped floodplains, so check your address against the city's flood maps even if you aren't next to a creek. If you need flood insurance, buy it early: new NFIP policies generally take 30 days to start.
Insurance
A standard homeowners policy does not cover flood damage. Water from outside, including flash floods and creek overflow, is covered only by a National Flood Insurance Program policy or a private flood policy. Building and contents coverage are separate on an NFIP policy, so check both. If there is a federal disaster declaration, FEMA assistance may also be available. Rain that comes in through a storm-damaged roof or window is a different kind of claim, so tell your adjuster exactly how the water got in.
Read the Colorado water damage insurance guideNo honest company can price this over the phone. These are the things the crew measures on site. Read the full cost guide.
Get a crew out to inspect it
An IICRC-certified crew measures the damage, explains the scope, and documents it for your insurer. You decide whether to go ahead.
(720) 806-6511Or estimate your drying scope firstNo. Standard homeowners policies exclude flooding from outside the house. You need a National Flood Insurance Program policy or a private flood policy, and new NFIP policies generally take effect after 30 days, so it has to be in place before the storm.
Insurers treat them differently. Water damage usually means water from inside the house, like a burst pipe. Flood damage means water from outside that rose over the ground. The cleanup differs too, because flood water is treated as contaminated.
Often, yes. Solid wood, metal, glass, and hard plastics can usually be cleaned and disinfected. Mattresses, upholstered furniture, carpet pad, and most paper goods soaked by flood water are generally thrown away because they can't be fully disinfected. Photograph them first for your claim.
Removal, cleaning, and drying often take a week or more, and rebuilding takes longer. Deep water, thick silt, and hard-to-dry materials add time. The crew should give you a schedule after the first walkthrough.
