The First Call
Encore began responding to the water damage on July 28, 2026, after Jason received the homeowner’s initial call. The flooding was later traced to a city pump failure, which had sent water into the basement and crawl space. With several areas of the home affected, our first priority was to remove the water and assess the damage. We also needed to determine which building materials required removal and identify the household belongings that needed to be protected, cleaned, or moved before mitigation could continue.
Initial Inspection
During the initial inspection on July 28, project manager Matt Burger identified water damage to basement walls and flooring, with affected areas including the laundry room, bedroom, bathroom, utility area, and storage spaces. Matt identified the need for water extraction, removal of damaged materials, and structural drying. The documented scope included 250 square feet of wet crawl space insulation and 475 square feet of replacement vapor barrier. The bathroom also required further demolition planning. Some vinyl tiles had lifted or chipped following the water intrusion. Their condition raised additional concerns about how the affected flooring should be handled, particularly because asbestos-containing materials were involved.
Water Removal and Demolition
We began mitigation on July 28 and returned on July 30 to continue work in the basement and crawl space. Work included water extraction, removal of the existing crawl space vapor barrier, and installation of a replacement barrier. Dimitri Lokhmatov also removed carpet from the laundry closet and began making flood cuts in affected areas, including the water heater closet, bedroom, and laundry room. Additional bathroom demolition was planned for a subsequent visit.
On July 30, the team installed 12 axial air movers and a second dehumidifier to support structural drying. Technicians also capped a pipe and removed demolition debris. The mitigation work included removing wet insulation and carpet padding, cleaning affected surfaces, and applying antimicrobial treatment.
Drying and Cleanup
The drying process continued as we monitored moisture levels in the affected rooms. During a follow-up visit on August 4, some materials were still holding moisture, so we kept the drying equipment in place to give them more time to dry.
By August 5, mitigation was complete. The affected areas had dried to industry standards, allowing us to move forward from the initial water damage response. The remaining asbestos-containing floor tiles were removed later by a separate abatement company, as this work fell outside Encore’s mitigation services.
Contents Packout, Cleaning, and Storage
To protect the homeowner’s belongings during restoration, we packed out selected household items and arranged for cleaning and off-site storage where needed. Some items, including rugs and sleeping bags, were set aside for additional care, while a shelf or cabinet was identified as non-salvageable.
On September 16, the stored belongings were returned to the homeowner. She was happy with how the items were handled and, in particular, how clean they were when they came back.
Insurance Review and Payment Discussions
Because the flooding was caused by a city pump failure, resolving payment involves working with the city, a process that can take several months.
During the review, questions arose about drying equipment, material removal, and contents handling. We provided further explanations and photographs to clarify the work performed, including images showing that the asbestos-containing flooring still held moisture.
The reconstruction portion is still under review. A check has been issued to allow reconstruction services to begin, although the full scope has not yet been confirmed as approved.
Home Repairs and Reconstruction
The reconstruction plan addresses damaged wall paneling and flooring, painting, fixtures, crawl space insulation, and other affected materials. It also includes debris removal, dust containment, negative air equipment, and asbestos abatement.
Reconstruction is still in progress.
