Technician in a protective suit extracting water from a soaked carpet. Used to illustrate this step; it is not a photo of a job connected to this site.
The retail version of a water loss
Aurora's shopping centers, strip retail along major arterials, and big-box stores near the interstates share some features that shape a water loss. Floors are usually sealed concrete, vinyl composition tile or commercial carpet. Fixtures and gondola shelving sit directly on the floor, often bolted down. Back rooms hold inventory on pallets and low shelves. Restrooms, break rooms and rooftop equipment are common water sources.
Hard floors are a mixed blessing. Water does not soak in, so extraction is fast, but it travels far before anyone notices, running under fixtures, into wall bases and beneath the bottom shelf of every aisle. Drywall partitions between a sales floor and a stockroom often wick water upward from the base. The goal is to extract the open floor quickly, find where water slipped under things, and dry those spots without closing the whole store.
A sequence that often gets a store open sooner
- Immediately
- Source stopped; affected aisles roped off; inventory on the bottom shelves pulled forward or moved; photos taken.
- Same day
- Open floor extracted; water under fixtures and pallets found with a meter; damaged stock separated and inventoried for the claim.
- Overnight
- Drying equipment placed along wall bases and under fixtures, positioned so aisles can be reopened where floors are dry.
- Following days
- Partial reopening with containment around remaining drying zones; readings logged until wall bases and floor joints meet goals.
- Final phase
- Base trim and drywall repairs done after hours; fixtures reset; full floor reopened.
Store manager's checklist
Questions for the contractor
- Can drying be phased by section so some aisles reopen first?
- Will equipment noise or airflow be a problem during business hours, and can it run quieter or overnight?
- How will water under bolted fixtures be dried without removing them?
- What documentation will support a business interruption claim, if the policy includes one?
Common questions
Can a store stay open during drying?
Often partly. With wet areas contained and cords managed, many stores reopen dry sections while drying continues elsewhere. The landlord, insurer and, for food service, health officials may also have a say.
General information for Aurora, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.