One material at a time
The flood-recovery guides agree on more than people expect. Here is what each one says about carpet, boards, drywall, insulation and the contents of a room, with the source beside each answer.
Texas A&M AgriLife's flood guidance recommends replacing carpet and says the pad is always discarded. FEMA tells people to discard carpeting and mattresses that touched flood water. EPA adds that sewage or contaminated water can put porous materials, carpet among them, beyond saving.
Texas A&M AgriLife suggests lifting a board in a wood floor every few feet so moisture can escape, and says swollen plywood or OSB subfloor gets replaced. The guide leaves the call on each floor to the person reading the moisture.
Mississippi State's wall guide says submerged drywall cannot be saved, and Texas A&M AgriLife says flooded drywall is discarded. Pennsylvania's environmental agency describes wet drywall as fragile enough to crumble at a bump. Mississippi State adds that a soaked wall may need weeks or even months to dry out, with 4 to 6 weeks as the shortest wait before plaster repair or paint.
Wet fibrous insulation is discarded, Texas A&M AgriLife says. Mississippi State explains why: fiberglass batts block airflow and keep the framing from drying. For ceilings, Pennsylvania's agency says to remove the insulation above so the framing can dry, and that swollen or pulled-away ceiling drywall needs replacing.
EPA lists ceiling tiles and carpet as porous materials that may have to be thrown away. Its rule of thumb for mold is that a patch under about 10 square feet may be a homeowner's job, while larger or contaminated areas call for a professional.
The CDC's guidance for flooded homes comes down to a short rule: when in doubt, throw it out. That covers doubtful food and drink as well as belongings that cannot be cleaned thoroughly. FEMA names mattresses specifically.
EPA advises against running an HVAC system that may have taken in contaminated water. After a flood, the CDC wants the system checked and cleaned by someone with mold-cleanup experience before it is switched on.
These are general guides, and most were written for flooding rather than a single leak. A contractor reads the moisture in each layer of your own house. Whether a policy pays for any of it is the insurer's decision, and photographs taken before anything moves help both conversations.
Photograph everything in the wet room first, then call (678) 899-6694 and read the list out. The contractor can say what is worth drying and what comes out.