Water Damage Restoration
On-site in 25 minutes across Macomb & Oakland County — licensed, insured, and direct billing to your carrier.
What you get with Prime
- 24/7 Emergency Services
- Typical 25-Minute On-Site Response
- Free Estimate on All Services
- Licensed & Certified
- Family-Owned, Macomb-Staged
- Local Crews Across Oakland & Macomb
Whether water enters through your foundation, basement, roof, or a pipe failure, it can cause major damage throughout your home in hours. If you have water, sewage, or a flood, cleaning up and restoring your home is no problem for our restoration team. We offer 24-hour emergency water extraction, structural drying, mold prevention, and full reconstruction across Macomb and Oakland County.
What Is Water Damage Restoration?
Water damage restoration is the process of extracting standing water, drying the structure to industry dry standard, removing unsalvageable porous materials, treating affected surfaces with EPA-registered antimicrobial, and rebuilding what was damaged. The first 24 to 48 hours after a water-damage event determines what is salvageable, what gets demolished, and how big the eventual insurance claim becomes. Call now for a free on-site assessment from a Prime Restoration team near you.
What Are the Common Causes of Water Damage?
Water damage in Michigan homes clusters around a small number of recurring causes. Knowing the source helps determine whether your loss is a covered peril and what scope your contractor needs to handle.
- Roof Leaks & Ice Dams
- Sump Pump Failure
- Burst Pipes & Frozen Lines
- Toilet Overflow & Plumbing
- Appliance Hose Failures
- Sewer & Drain Backup
- Water Heater Ruptures
- Foundation Seepage
- Storm-Driven Flooding
- AC Condensate Line Clogs
- Refrigerator Water Lines
- Slab Leaks & Hidden Pipes
What Are the Effects of Water Damage?
Water damage progresses fast. Knowing the categorization helps you understand the scope and urgency.
- Category 1 (Clean Water): Sanitary sources — burst supply lines, water heater leaks, appliance hoses. Salvageable if extraction begins within 24 hours.
- Category 2 (Gray Water): Contains significant contamination — dishwasher discharge, washing machine overflow, aquarium leaks. Drywall and carpet pad typically require removal.
- Category 3 (Black Water): Grossly contaminated — sewer backups, rising surface flooding, stagnant water past 7 days. Full Cat-3 PPE protocol, antimicrobial, and porous-material removal required.
- Mold Growth Window: Microbial growth can begin within 24 to 48 hours of materials staying wet. The faster the dryout begins, the lower the chance of secondary mold remediation cost.
Our Water Damage Restoration Services
Our team carries every phase of water damage restoration under one scope — one team manages your project from extraction through reconstruction. From the first emergency call through the final walkthrough, the same crew documents conditions, executes the drying protocol, and reconstructs the affected areas. Free on-site assessment before any equipment goes down.
What Is the Water Damage Restoration Process?
Every Prime Restoration water-damage project follows the same documented process. The first hour determines what stays and what gets demolished.
- 1Emergency Dispatch & On-Site Assessment: Typical 25-minute response. The crew arrives, identifies and stops the water source if possible, walks the affected area, and produces an initial moisture map and scope.
- 2Water Extraction: Truck-mounted and portable commercial extractors pull standing water from carpet, hardwood, and hard surfaces. Wet vacs and submersible pumps for deeper standing water.
- 3Demolition & Material Removal: Unsalvageable drywall, insulation, carpet, pad, and trim are removed and contained. On Cat-2 and Cat-3 losses, regulated-waste disposal protocols apply.
- 4Antimicrobial Treatment: Professional-grade EPA-registered antimicrobial applied to framing, slab, and remaining substrate. Documented in the on-site record for the homeowner.
- 5Structural Drying: Air movers and LGR dehumidifiers run continuously with daily moisture monitoring. Equipment stays until readings confirm structural dryness across drywall, framing, and subfloor.
- 6Reconstruction: Drywall, paint, flooring, trim, cabinetry, and any affected millwork rebuilt under one scope. Detailed, itemized line-item reconstruction estimates provided. Final walkthrough with the homeowner before project close.
How Much Does Water Damage Restoration Cost?
Typical range for residential water damage restoration in Macomb and Oakland County is $1,200 to $4,500 for a Category 1 clean-water loss, $2,500 to $7,500 for a Category 2 gray-water loss, and $4,500 to $15,000 or more for a Category 3 black-water loss. Reconstruction is priced separately and can match or exceed the mitigation total. These are 2026 Macomb and Oakland County averages, not a quote — every project is priced from actual moisture readings and affected square footage on-site.
What Determines the Cost of Water Damage Restoration?
Several factors determine the total. Our team will assess each on-site and provide a free written estimate.
- Category of Water: Cat-1 (clean) extraction and dry costs less than Cat-2 (gray) or Cat-3 (black water) which require full PPE, antimicrobial, and demolition of all porous materials.
- Affected Square Footage: Larger losses require more equipment, more crew time, and more drying days. Square footage drives the bulk of the mitigation cost.
- Materials Involved: Drywall and carpet are the most common scope. Plaster ceilings, hardwood, custom millwork, and tile add specialty labor. Prime Restoration also has experience with luxury and high-value homes — finished basements, custom hardwood, and high-end finishes in estates across Bloomfield Hills, Birmingham, and similar communities.
- Time Until Mitigation Began: Loss caught in the first hour stays Cat-1 and dries in 3-5 days. Loss past 72 hours often reclassifies to Cat-2 or Cat-3 and adds demolition cost.
- Reconstruction Scope: Drywall, paint, flooring, trim, cabinetry — written as detailed, itemized line-item estimates. Custom finishes (plaster, hardwood, millwork match) add cost over standard drywall replacement.
Does Home Insurance Cover Water Damage Restoration?
Most standard Michigan HO-3 policies cover sudden and accidental interior water damage — burst pipes, supply-line failures, water-heater ruptures, appliance hose failures, and roof leaks from wind or hail. Policies generally exclude surface flooding (requires FEMA NFIP), rising groundwater, foundation seepage, sewer backups (unless a sewer-and-drain endorsement is added), and gradual leaks left unaddressed. Coverage decisions, deductibles, and settlement amounts are made solely by the carrier after their own inspection. Always confirm coverage and limits with your insurance carrier and policy.
Why Hire Prime Restoration?
Water damage compounds every hour. A restoration company that responds fast, runs one accountable crew, and documents the loss cleanly is the difference between a 3-day dryout and a 3-week mold remediation. Prime Restoration is a top-rated, highly local water damage company — a 5.0 Google rating, BBB A+ accreditation, and Certified Best Pick recognition (Best Pick Reports, Detroit, 2027) — with local crews and a reputation for very good customer service. Call Prime Restoration for a free on-site estimate from a local team near you.
- Always Free Estimates: Our team assesses the damage and provides a free written estimate before any equipment is dropped.
- 24-Hour Emergency Service: 24/7 dispatch so we can start the dryout immediately and keep the loss inside the Category 1 envelope.
- Typical 25-Minute Response: Crews stage from Sterling Heights and reach Macomb and Oakland County within typical 25-minute drive time.
- Licensed & Certified: Michigan Builder License #262500492. Trained restoration technicians on every crew.
- One Team, One Job: The same crew handles extraction, drying, demolition, antimicrobial, and full reconstruction. One team manages the project from extraction through reconstruction.
- Local Macomb & Oakland Crews: Family-owned, locally operated from Sterling Heights. Crews know the regional housing stock, soil, and infrastructure.
- Carrier-Direct Billing When Assigned: Prime bills the carrier directly when assigned by the policyholder. Coverage decisions remain solely with the carrier. Prime is a top-rated contractor for water damage insurance claims in Michigan: we work with the adjuster from start to finish and document everything — moisture readings, photos, and an itemized estimate — and the homeowner chooses their own contractor.
Structural water damage
Water that reaches the ceiling, the drywall, the subfloor, the framing, the insulation, or an attic is a structural loss, not just a surface one. Prime maps the moisture through the wall and floor cavities, removes only what cannot be dried, and runs Dri-Eaz LGR 7000XLi dehumidifiers with Dri-Eaz Velo Pro air movers placed flat with the outlet facing the wet wall. Once the readings confirm dry, the same team reconstructs the affected areas.
- Structural dryingMoisture mapping and daily readings on framing, subfloor, and drywall until the structure reaches dry standard.
- ReconstructionDrywall, flooring, trim, and cabinetry rebuilt under one scope once drying is complete.
- Water stain on the ceilingWhat a ceiling stain tells you about a leak above it, and when the joist bay needs to open.
- Hardwood floor water damageCupped and buckled hardwood: what can be dried in place and what has to come up.
- Wet carpet water damageCarpet and pad after a water loss, and how long a wet pad can sit before it has to be removed.
Water damage by cause
Sudden losses are the most common calls Prime gets, and the fastest ones to catch before they spread. Find the cause closest to your loss below for the specific signs, the water category, and what Prime does about it.
- Burst pipeA frozen or failed supply line can soak a floor in minutes. Shut the main valve and call for 24/7 emergency response.
- Refrigerator water line leakThe icemaker line behind the fridge fails quietly and runs for weeks before the floor shows it.
- Washing machine leakA supply hose or drain hose failure behind the washer, often found only after the laundry room floor softens.
- Dishwasher leakWater under the dishwasher and into the cabinet and subfloor next to it.
- Main water line breakThe service line breaks at the meter, the shutoff, or out in the yard and pushes water through the foundation wall.
- Water heater leakA ruptured tank or a fitting failure, usually in a basement or closet with little warning.
- AC condensate leakA clogged condensate line backs up and drips into the ceiling or the space around the air handler.
- Toilet overflowA clog or a failed fill valve can overflow for longer than anyone upstairs notices.
- Bathtub or shower overflowAn overflowing tub or a shower pan leak that reaches the subfloor and the ceiling below.
- Sink leakA supply line, P-trap, or disposal leak inside a closed cabinet, often found weeks after it starts.
- Upstairs neighbor leakWater from a unit above travels through the ceiling and the walls before it is noticed below.
- Roof leakEmergency tarping stops new water first, then drying and repair of the ceiling, insulation, and framing below.
- Sump pump failureA failed pump or a power outage during a storm lets the basement fill fast.
- Sewer backupCategory 3 contaminated water that requires full PPE and removal of affected porous materials.
- Flooded basementStanding water in a finished or unfinished basement, extracted and dried before mold can start.
- Foundation seepageGroundwater pressing through a foundation wall or floor crack, usually after heavy rain or snowmelt.
Water damage restoration by city
Water damage restoration with the same crew, response time and process in each of these cities and counties.
- Water Damage Restoration in Troy
- Water Damage Restoration in Oakland County
- Water Damage Restoration in Clinton Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Sterling Heights
- Water Damage Restoration in Novi
- Water Damage Restoration in Macomb Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Warren
- Water Damage Restoration in Birmingham
- Water Damage Restoration in Rochester Hills
- Water Damage Restoration in Royal Oak
- Water Damage Restoration in Southfield
- Water Damage Restoration in Farmington Hills
- Water Damage Restoration in West Bloomfield
- Water Damage Restoration in Lake Orion
- Water Damage Restoration in Ann Arbor
- Water Damage Restoration in Okemos
- Water Damage Restoration in Auburn Hills
- Water Damage Restoration in Plymouth
- Water Damage Restoration in Southgate
- Water Damage Restoration in Woodhaven
- Water Damage Restoration in Shelby Township
- Water Damage Restoration in St. Clair Shores
- Water Damage Restoration in Fraser
- Water Damage Restoration in Eastpointe
- Water Damage Restoration in Utica
- Water Damage Restoration in Grosse Pointe Park
- Water Damage Restoration in Northville
- Water Damage Restoration in South Lyon
- Water Damage Restoration in Wixom
- Water Damage Restoration in Milford
- Water Damage Restoration in Highland Township
- Water Damage Restoration in White Lake Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Fenton
- Water Damage Restoration in Grosse Ile Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Saline
- Water Damage Restoration in Dexter
- Water Damage Restoration in Dearborn Heights
- Water Damage Restoration in Westland
- Water Damage Restoration in Canton Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Taylor
- Water Damage Restoration in Wyandotte
- Water Damage Restoration in Lincoln Park
- Water Damage Restoration in Garden City
- Water Damage Restoration in Romulus
- Water Damage Restoration in Trenton
- Water Damage Restoration in Grosse Pointe Shores
- Water Damage Restoration in Lansing
- Water Damage Restoration in Grand Rapids
- Water Damage Restoration in Kalamazoo
- Water Damage Restoration in Jackson
- Water Damage Restoration in Flint
- Water Damage Restoration in Grand Blanc Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Saginaw
- Water Damage Restoration in Bay City
- Water Damage Restoration in Midland
- Water Damage Restoration in Port Huron
- Water Damage Restoration in Brighton
- Water Damage Restoration in Howell
- Water Damage Restoration in Brighton Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Green Oak Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Hamburg Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Hartland Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Genoa Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Lyon Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Scio Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Grosse Pointe Farms
- Water Damage Restoration in Grosse Pointe Woods
- Water Damage Restoration in Livonia
- Water Damage Restoration in Orion Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Oxford Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Springfield Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Farmington
- Water Damage Restoration in York Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Pittsfield Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Superior Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Brownstown Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Oakland Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Washington Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Bruce Township
- Water Damage Restoration in Monroe
- Water Damage Restoration in Madison Heights
- Water Damage Restoration in Ferndale
- Water Damage Restoration in Romeo
- Water Damage Restoration in Armada
- Water Damage Restoration in Center Line
- Water Damage Restoration in Clawson
- Water Damage Restoration in Bingham Farms
Frequently Asked Questions
How quickly should I call a water damage company after a flood or burst pipe?+
Immediately. Standing water saturates drywall in 15 minutes, carpet pad in 30, and OSB subfloor in 60-90 minutes. Mold growth begins within 24-48 hours. Calling a 24/7 emergency line within the first hour is the highest-leverage action a homeowner can take. For a free estimate, call Prime Restoration at (586) 277-1069.
What should I do before the restoration crew arrives?+
Shut off the main water valve if a supply line is the source. Turn off the breaker to wet areas if water is near outlets. Photograph and video every wet surface from multiple angles before moving anything. Move undamaged contents to a dry area. For a free estimate, call Prime Restoration at (586) 277-1069.
Can water-damaged drywall be saved?+
Sometimes. Category 1 (clean) drywall dried within 24-48 hours is often savable. Drywall wet past 48 hours, with visible mold, or contacted by Cat-2 or Cat-3 water typically gets cut back to dry material in a flood cut at 24 inches above the floor. Prime Restoration, top-rated and highly local, answers 24/7 at (586) 277-1069.
How long does water damage restoration take?+
Mitigation typically takes 3-7 days for a residential loss — extraction and unsalvageable demolition day one, structural drying 3-5 days with daily moisture monitoring. Reconstruction is a separate phase that can add 5-7 days for a small repair or 4-8 weeks for a full finished-basement rebuild. For a free estimate, call Prime Restoration at (586) 277-1069.
Will my homeowners insurance cover water damage restoration?+
Most standard Michigan HO-3 policies cover sudden and accidental interior water damage but exclude surface flooding, gradual leaks, and sewer backup (unless a sewer-backup endorsement is added). Always confirm coverage and limits with your carrier and policy. For a free estimate, call Prime Restoration at (586) 277-1069.
Does Prime Restoration handle reconstruction after the dryout?+
Yes. Prime is a Michigan licensed residential builder (License #262500492). The same team that performs extraction, drying, and demolition carries reconstruction — drywall, flooring, paint, trim, cabinetry, and millwork. One team from emergency response through final reconstruction. The line is open 24/7 at (586) 277-1069.
What do the water categories (Category 1, 2, 3) actually mean?+
The IICRC S500 standard, the restoration industry reference for water damage, sets three water categories. Category 1 is clean water from a sanitary source, such as a supply line. Category 2 is gray water with contamination, such as a washing machine or dishwasher discharge. Category 3 is grossly contaminated water, such as a sewer backup or rising floodwater. The category decides what gets dried and what gets removed instead of dried. For a free estimate, call Prime Restoration at (586) 277-1069.
What are the classes of water damage, and why do they matter?+
The IICRC S500 standard also sets four classes of water loss, based on how much of the structure absorbed water and how fast it can dry. Class 1 affects the least material and dries fastest. Class 4 involves materials with low permeability, such as hardwood, plaster, or concrete, that hold water deep inside and take the longest to dry. The class drives the equipment count and the number of drying days, not just the category of water. For a free estimate, call Prime Restoration at (586) 277-1069.
How fast can mold start growing after a water loss?+
The EPA states that mold can begin growing on a wet surface within 24 to 48 hours. That is why the first hours after a water loss matter most: the faster materials are dried to the IICRC S500 standard, the lower the chance the job turns into a mold remediation job as well. Prime Restoration, top-rated and highly local, answers 24/7 at (586) 277-1069.
Restoration Articles and Resources
Flood Damage
Flood Damage Restoration in Macomb & Oakland County
River, drain and storm flooding: why floodwater is handled as Category 3, what has to come out, and how the house is dried and rebuilt.
Water Mitigation
Water Mitigation: What a Mitigation Company Does in the First 48 Hours
Stop the source, extract, remove what cannot be dried and dry to a measured standard. How mitigation differs from restoration and what each visit includes.
Roof & Ceiling
Roof Leak Water Damage: What It Looks Like Inside the House
When the stain appears tells you more than where it appears. A diagnostic for the four interior signatures of a roof or flashing leak — including the one that is not the roof at all.
Water Damage
Best Water Damage Restoration Contractors in Bloomfield Hills, MI
A homeowner's guide to the 5 best restoration contractors in the Bloomfield Hills estate corridor — with response time, accountable crew, and private-client carrier criteria.
Sewage Backup
Best Water Damage Contractors in Grosse Pointe Park, MI
Wayne County, Lake St. Clair waterfront, June 2021 flood context, and the 5 best restoration contractors for pre-1930 mansion-belt homes.
Insurance Claims
How to File a Water Damage Insurance Claim in Michigan
Step-by-step guide covering documentation, adjuster process, Xactimate reconstruction estimates, and common mistakes that delay or reduce claims.
Prime Restoration Difference
Upfront Free Estimates
Carrier-Direct Billing When Assigned
25-Minute Response
Save You Money
It takes experience and the right equipment to clean up water, fire, or mold damage properly. Let the experts at Prime Restoration give you peace of mind after a disaster or emergency. Licensed and insured, our trained restoration technicians will get the job done right and keep your family safe.
Prime Restoration makes it easy to get water, fire, and mold restoration services across Macomb & Oakland County fast. Family-owned, locally operated from Sterling Heights, we offer 24-hour emergency services and typical 25-minute on-site response.