In certain situations/settings we pull base. In others if we pulled base or even drilled thru them during operating hours we would get fired in a heart beat.
I would prefer to remove base, the. Drill holes at base level. Only to come back after dry and reinstall base over holes but again, in some places this is not possible without repercussions job wise.
We maintain our water mitigation reputation by doing a lot of small things that maintain a business running with the least possible downtime or demo as possible. Customers like to see order as it gives reassurance in the product or service they are paying for. So for us, we provide a service with very little interruption ( not always possible, but if possible we do) to their business without compromising the structure or any of the safety of the inhabitants of the structure. And we are pretty good at it ( at least we are told)
As you dry clinics, hospitals, schools, some government offices, you will notice a need for this type of service. There are many ways to dry a structure and most of the time ( in commercial drying at least) working with your customer, who is worried about his or her customers, with a plan that is less intrusive by " mitigating the loss", you will earn a reputation as the go to guy to dry in certain circumstances and settings.
As always, if you imagine it was your house or your business and you dry it, imagining all aspects involved with the job, you will do an overall better job and the customer will be very satisfied and comfortable throughout the job.