Loss Type: Category 3 Water / Sewage Backup
Location: South Layton near Antelope Drive
Response Time: 39 minutes
Job Duration: 6 days
Insurance: Yes – USAA (sewer backup rider)
The Situation
A homeowner near Antelope Drive in South Layton called us at 11:22 PM after discovering sewage had backed up through a floor drain in their finished basement. The backup had occurred during a heavy rain event that overwhelmed the municipal lateral. The basement included finished drywall, a carpeted family room, a laundry area, and a half bath — all of which had been exposed to Category 3 contaminated water.
Our crew arrived in 39 minutes with full PPE and containment equipment.
The Problem
Category 3 sewage losses are the most serious classification under the IICRC S500 standard. All porous materials that came into contact with the sewage — carpet, pad, drywall, and framing within 12 inches of the floor line — are classified as unsalvageable and must be removed and disposed of as contaminated waste. This was a significant demolition scope in a fully finished basement.
Secondary concerns included an existing HVAC air handler located in the basement mechanical room that had been splashed during the event, requiring decontamination before it could be operated. The homeowner had a USAA policy with a sewer backup endorsement that covered the full scope.
What We Did
We established a containment barrier at the basement stairwell and began Category 3 extraction using truck-mounted extraction equipment. All contaminated materials were bagged, labeled, and removed in accordance with local health guidelines. Affected materials included:
- Approximately 600 square feet of carpet and pad
- 18 linear feet of drywall removed to 12 inches above the flood line
- All baseboards and door casings in the affected area
Following demolition, all exposed framing and concrete surfaces were treated with an EPA List N disinfectant approved for Category 3 biological contamination. The HVAC air handler was isolated, decontaminated externally, and cleared for operation. We then established a post-demolition drying system:
- 3 commercial dehumidifiers running continuously
- 6 air movers directed at framing, concrete slab, and exposed wall cavities
- Twice-daily moisture readings logged for the insurance file
Clearance readings were taken by an independent industrial hygienist on day 6 before the job was signed off.
The Outcome
The basement structure was fully dried and cleared. The USAA claim covered the full remediation scope. A rebuild contractor was brought in to restore drywall, flooring, and trim. The homeowner also installed a backwater valve during the rebuild to prevent future lateral backups — a step we recommended during the initial assessment.
“I didn’t know what Category 3 meant when they explained it, but they were patient and walked me through exactly why everything had to go. They were professional, fast, and I never felt like they were trying to upsell me. USAA paid the whole thing.”
— D. Sorensen, Layton UT