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Home/Services/Water Damage Restoration

WATER DAMAGE RESTORATION · SONOMA & MARIN · 24/7

Water damage restoration,

done right the first time.

Burst pipes, failed water heaters, storm flooding, sewer backups — the moment water gets into your home, the clock starts. Our IICRC-certified crews extract and  dry, so mold and rot never get a foothold. 

What is water damage restoration?

Water damage restoration is the process of removing water and drying the structure after a flood, leak, or pipe failure. It happens in two phases: mitigation (stopping the damage — extraction, drying, and sanitizing) and restoration.

A typical 1,500 sq ft job dries in 3–5 days. Light, contained damage can dry in 2–3 days. We give you a realistic timeline on day one and update it as drying readings come in.

Average arrival time< 2 hrs
Typical drying time 3-5 days
Typical cost range $1,300–$6,000
Mold begins in
24–48 hrs
You usually pay Deductible only

Understanding the Problem

Not all water damage is the same.

Restorers classify every loss two ways — by how contaminated the water is (the category) and how saturated the structure is (the class). Together they decide what can be saved, what must be removed, and how long drying takes.

Water categories — by contamination
Category Source What it means
Cat 1 Clean Supply lines, faucets, rainwater Sanitary at the source. Most materials can be dried and saved if handled within 24–48 hrs.
Cat 2 Gray Dishwashers, washing machines, sump pumps Contains contaminants. Carpet pad and some porous materials usually removed.
Cat 3 Black Sewage, river/storm flooding, toilet overflow Grossly contaminated & hazardous. Porous materials are removed and the area is fully sanitized.

Why this matters for your home: a clean Category 1 leak caught quickly is often a dry-in-place job. The same water left for three days can wick up drywall, soak the subfloor, and migrate into wall cavities — turning a $1,200 fix into a $6,000 one.

Category determines safety protocols; class (1 through 4) describes how much material is wet and how hard it is to dry. A small spill on tile is Class 1; saturated hardwood, plaster, and concrete is Class 4 and needs specialty low-grain-refrigerant dehumidifiers.

The 24-hour rule

Mold can begin colonizing wet materials within 24–48 hours. The single biggest factor in your final cost is how quickly water is extracted and drying begins — which is exactly why we dispatch a crew while you’re still on the phone.

When To Call

7 signs you have water damage — even when you can’t see standing water.

Hidden moisture does the most expensive damage. If you notice any of these, call before it spreads behind walls and under floors.
1

Musty or earthy smell

A persistent damp odor is often the first sign of moisture trapped in drywall, carpet pad, or subfloor.

2

Staining or discoloration

Yellow, brown, or copper rings on ceilings and walls mean water has already passed through.

3

Peeling paint or bubbling

Moisture behind a surface lifts paint and wallpaper and makes finishes blister.

4

Warped or cupping floors

Buckling hardwood or lifting laminate signals water soaking into the subfloor below.

5

A spike in your water bill

An unexplained jump often points to a slow hidden leak inside a wall or slab.

6

Sounds of running water

Dripping or trickling when no fixtures are on usually means a pipe is leaking out of sight.

7

Visible mold or mildew

Spots near baseboards, vents, or under sinks confirm an active moisture problem.

+

When in doubt, get a free check

Our moisture meters and thermal cameras find what your eyes can’t — the assessment is free.

Causes

What causes water damage in Sonoma & Marin homes?

In the North Bay we see the same culprits again and again — a mix of aging plumbing, appliances, and our wet-winter atmospheric rivers.

Burst & frozen pipes

Aging supply lines and cold-snap freezes split open and can release hundreds of gallons in an hour.

most common

Appliance failures

Washing machines, dishwashers, and water heaters fail at the supply hose or tank, often while you’re out.

very common

Storms & atmospheric rivers

Winter downpours overwhelm gutters and grading, pushing water under doors and through roofs.

Seasonal

Roof & window leaks

Failed flashing, cracked seals, and worn shingles let water track into ceilings and wall cavities.

common

Sewer & drain backups

Clogs and main-line failures push contaminated Category 3 water back into the home.

Hazardous

Slab & foundation seepage

Hydrostatic pressure and slab cracks wick groundwater into floors during the rainy season.

Slow & hidden

The Cleanup Process

How does water damage restoration work
Our 6-step process.

Click any step to see exactly what happens, who shows up, and how long it takes.

STEP 01 · IMMEDIATE

A live dispatcher picks up — not a robot.

Call our 24/7 line and a real local person answers. We confirm the source, tell you how to stay safe (and shut off water if you can), and dispatch the nearest crew while we’re still on the phone.
Typically takes
5 – 10 minutes
Who you’ll meet
Local dispatcher
Equipment
Phone + dispatch

01

STEP 01 of 06

STEP 02 · ASSESSMENT

We find every drop — including the water you can’t see.

Before any work starts, we map the moisture with thermal cameras and meters, identify the water category, and write a clear scope. We document everything with photos for your insurer.
Typically takes
45 – 90 minutes
Who you’ll meet
Lead technician + PM
Equipment
Thermal camera, meters

02

STEP 02 of 06

STEP 03 · EXTRACTION

Standing water out — fast.

Truck-mounted and portable extractors pull standing water from floors, carpet, and pad. The faster the water is gone, the less it can wick into structure — and the lower your final cost.
Typically takes
Same visit, 1 – 4 hours
Who you’ll meet
Mitigation crew
Equipment
Extractors, pumps

03

STEP 03 of 06

STEP 04 · DRYING

Dry the structure to a verified target.

Commercial air movers and dehumidifiers dry the framing, drywall, and subfloor — not just the surface. We take daily moisture readings and don’t stop until the structure reads dry.
Typically takes
3 – 5 days typical
Who you’ll meet
Dedicated drying crew
Equipment
Air movers, dehus

04

STEP 04 of 06

STEP 05 · SANITIZE

Clean, treat, and deodorize.

We clean and sanitize affected surfaces and contents, apply antimicrobial treatment to prevent mold, and remove any lingering musty odor with HEPA filtration and air scrubbing.
Typically takes
1 – 2 days
Who you’ll meet
Mitigation crew
Equipment
HEPA, antimicrobials

05

STEP 05 of 06

STEP 06 · REBUILD OPTIONS

Your rebuild options — coordinated and clearly documented.

Once mitigation is complete, we prepare a detailed build-back estimate outlining the scope of reconstruction work needed to restore your property. From there, the project can be completed through a trusted subcontractor or one of our vetted contractor partners, and we ensure all documentation and project details are fully transferred for a smooth transition.

Typically takes
1 – 3 weeks (scope dependent)
Who you’ll meet
Reconstruction crew + PM  
Equipment
Full rebuild  

06

STEP 06 of 06

Cost

How much does water damage restoration cost?

Most residential jobs in Sonoma & Marin fall between $1,300 and $6,000. The final number depends on the category of water, square footage affected, and how much material has to be removed. Here’s a realistic breakdown.

 

Minor & contained

Single room, clean Cat 1 water, caught early. Dry-in-place, no demo.

$1,500–$4,000
1–3 days
 

Major / Category 3

Multiple rooms or sewage. Full sanitation.

$12,000–$30,000+
2–6 weeks

What you actually pay

When the loss is sudden and accidental — a burst pipe, a failed water heater, a storm intrusion — it’s typically covered by your homeowners policy. In most cases you pay only your deductible.

We document everything in Xactimate (the same estimating software your insurer uses) and bill the carrier directly, so there are no surprises.

Water Damage Reviews

4.8 stars from neighbors we’ve dried out.

Real reviews from Sonoma & Marin homeowners and businesses after water and flood losses.

★★★★★

“Bravo provided emergency service for water damage in our bathroom and basement ducting in under 24 hours. Maura, Suzana, Adrian, JR and Jose were professional, clean, polite, and explained everything well.”

L.P.
Bathroom flood · Marin County

★★★★★

“When water from a neighboring business leaked into our barbershop, the Bravo team was prompt and professional. Gaby and Junior kept us informed the whole way and got us back to business with minimal disruption.”

Marcos F.
Commercial water loss · Sonoma County

★★★★★

“A pipe let go while we were away and flooded the kitchen. They had extraction gear running the same evening and handled the entire insurance claim. The rebuild matched our cabinets perfectly. Could not be happier.”

Diane R.
Kitchen pipe burst · Santa Rosa

Water Damage Projects

Real jobs, real numbers.

A few recent water-damage restorations across the North Bay — from first extraction to final walkthrough.
BEFORE — kitchen flood
AFTER — restored

VS

Santa Rosa · Cat 1 supply line

Burst dishwasher line, kitchen & pantry

Supply line failed overnight, saturating cabinetry and subfloor. Extracted, dried, and rebuilt to match existing finishes.

AREA

~480 sq ft

Timeline

9 days

Result

Mold-free

BEFORE — flooded crawlspace
AFTER — dried & sealed

VS

Guerneville · Storm flooding

Atmospheric river, lower-level intrusion

Russian River storm pushed water into the lower level. We brought full extraction, structural drying, and antimicrobial treatment.

AREA

~1,200 sq ft

Timeline

3 weeks

Result

Pre-loss

BEFORE — ceiling damage

AFTER — removal

VS

San Rafael · Cat 2 appliance

Second-floor washer leak into ceiling

Washing machine overflow soaked through to the floor below. Contained the ceiling, dried the cavity, and repainted.

AREA

~320 sq ft

Timeline

7 days

Result

Mold-free

Water Damage FAQ

Questions homeowners ask us most.

Still unsure? Call us. The same person who answers will coordinate your job.

Water rising right now?

Don’t wait for business hours. A live dispatcher is answering 24/7.

A typical 1,500 sq ft job dries in 3–5 days. Light, contained damage can dry in 2–3 days. We give you a realistic timeline on day one and update it as drying readings come in.

Most residential water damage restoration runs $1,300–$6,000. Minor contained jobs start around $450–$1,500; major losses with sewage or multiple rooms can exceed $10,000. When the loss is sudden and accidental, you typically pay only your deductible.

Sudden and accidental water damage — burst pipes, appliance failures, storm intrusion — is typically covered by standard homeowners policies. Gradual leaks and outside flooding (which needs separate flood insurance) are usually excluded. 

Immediately. Mold can begin within 24–48 hours, and water keeps wicking into drywall, subfloor, and framing every hour it sits. Our average on-site arrival across Sonoma & Marin is under 2 hours, 24/7. Shut off the water source if you safely can, and call.

Surface water, maybe — but household fans don’t remove the moisture trapped inside walls, insulation, and subfloor, which is where mold and rot start. We use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find hidden water, then commercial air movers and dehumidifiers to dry it to a verified target. We document the readings so your insurer can see it’s truly dry.
 

other services

One local team for every kind of damage.

Water is often just one part of a larger loss. No matter the situation, our team provides end-to-end mitigation and remediation services to stabilize the property and resolve the damage at its source.

Fire & Smoke Damage

Soot, char & odor removal

Mold Remediation

Containment, removal & testing

Biohazard & Trauma

Discreet, OSHA-compliant cleanup

Storm Damage

Tarping & board-up

Crawl Space Extraction

Standing water removal

View All Services

Everything we do, in one place

24/7 EMERGENCY LINE

Water won't wait.
Neither do we.

Every hour, water wicks deeper and mold gets closer. One call gets a certified Bravo crew at your door — usually under 2 hours, day or night.

CALL US NOW

From The Blog

Water damage guides & resources.

Practical, plain-English answers to the questions we hear most — written by our IICRC-certified team.

article image — burst pipe

EMERGENCY TIPS

What to do in the first 60 minutes of a flood

The five steps that protect your home and your insurance claim before help arrives.

6 min read

article image — insurance form

Insurance

Does insurance cover water damage? A homeowner’s guide

What’s covered, what isn’t, and how to document a claim so it gets approved.

8 min read

article image — mold inspection

Prevention

Water damage vs. mold: how 48 hours changes everything

Why speed is the single biggest factor in your repair bill — and how to buy time.

5 min read