If sewage penetrates deeply into porous building materials, can they be restored?

In cases where sewage penetrates deeply into porous building materials, restoration is highly unlikely. Building materials such as wood, drywall, insulation, and concrete can absorb contaminants found in sewage, which may lead to various issues such as persistent odors, health hazards due to microbial growth, and structural integrity concerns.

Once these materials become saturated with sewage, the harmful pathogens and organic matter can settle deeply within the pores, making effective cleaning and sanitization extremely challenging. While some surface cleaning may be possible, the internal contamination often remains, leading to the potential for reinfection or continued health risks.

In situations where significant penetration occurs, the generally accepted best practice typically involves the complete removal and replacement of affected materials rather than attempting to restore them. While certain treatments and cleaning methods could be explored under specific conditions, they are often insufficient to ensure the complete removal of sewage pathogens from deeply penetrated materials. Thus, the premise that such materials can be restored after deep sewage penetration is inaccurate.