Flood Damage Cleanup in Buckeye, AZ

Flooding in the desert is real

Buckeye gets very little rain most of the year, then a lot of it at once. During monsoon season, from July through September, a single storm cell can drop more rain in an hour than the ground can absorb. The soil is hard and dry, so water runs off instead of soaking in.

That runoff fills washes, overflows streets and heads for the lowest point it can find. Too often, that point is a garage, a patio door or a living room.

The Hassayampa River and the Gila River both run through the Buckeye area. Most of the time they look dry. After heavy rain upstream, they can rise fast, along with the washes that feed them.

How floodwater gets into Buckeye homes

• Under doors. Patio sliders and front doors are the most common entry points when water pools against the house.
• Through the garage. Garage floors sit lower than the house in many homes, and water runs straight under the garage door and through to the interior door.
• Over the slab edge. If yard grading slopes toward the house, water can come in along the base of walls.
• Through weep screeds. The small gap at the bottom of stucco walls can let water in when it pools against the wall.
• Backed up storm drains. Streets in newer subdivisions can overflow when drains cannot keep up.

Why floodwater is different from a pipe leak

Water from a broken pipe starts out clean. Floodwater does not. As it runs across yards and streets it picks up soil, fertilizer, animal waste, oil and sometimes sewage. Restoration standards treat outside floodwater as contaminated.

That means some things that could be dried after a clean water leak have to be removed after a flood. Carpet pad, lower drywall and insulation touched by floodwater are usually cut out and replaced, and everything that stays is cleaned and disinfected.

How we clean up flood damage

1. Safety check. We look at electrical risk, structural damage and contamination before work starts.
2. Water and mud removal. Standing water and silt are extracted and shoveled out.
3. Removing contaminated materials. Carpet pad, soaked drywall, insulation and baseboards that floodwater touched are removed.
4. Cleaning and disinfecting. Floors, wall cavities and framing are cleaned and treated.
5. Drying. Air movers and dehumidifiers dry the slab, framing and remaining walls.
6. Rebuilding. New drywall, baseboards, flooring and paint.

What to do after a flood

• Stay out of standing water if power is on in that room.
• Wear boots and gloves if you have to walk through it.
• Do not let children or pets play in the water.
• Photograph everything, inside and outside, including how high the water reached.
• Throw out any food that touched floodwater.
• Call (623) 555-0148 as soon as it is safe.

Flood insurance in Buckeye

This part surprises a lot of homeowners. Standard homeowners insurance usually does not cover damage from outside water that rises and flows into the home. That is covered by separate flood insurance. Water that comes through a damaged roof during a storm is often treated differently and may be covered under your regular policy.

Either way, good documentation helps. We take photos, moisture readings and notes that you can share with your insurance company. Read more in our insurance claim guide.

What flood cleanup usually costs

Flood jobs usually cost more than clean water leaks because more material has to be removed and everything has to be sanitized. The final price depends on how many rooms were affected, how high the water reached and how long it sat. We give you a written estimate after inspecting.

See water damage costs in Buckeye

Related services

• Storm damage restoration
• Mold remediation
• Sewage backup cleanup

Areas we serve

• Historic Downtown Buckeye
• Festival Ranch
• Blue Horizons

Planning ahead for next season? Read our monsoon water damage guide.