The First Call
On September 13, 2026, Encore Construction received the initial call about the water damage. That day, technician Andrey Melnik obtained the signed work authorization and installed a dehumidifier and an air scrubber to stabilize the affected areas while the contents work was being arranged. On September 14, Rick Belden contacted the homeowner to schedule a site visit and document the affected belongings.
Initial Inspection
During our initial assessment, we identified water damage in the basement laundry room and the closet beneath the stairs. The loss was classified as Category 3, meaning the water presented a high contamination risk and required appropriate precautions during cleanup and mitigation.
The source was traced to root intrusion in a four-inch clay sewer line. Plumbers came out the same day we recommended them and repaired the pipe, addressing the problem that had allowed contaminated water to enter the home.
Tree roots can enter sewer lines through cracks or pipe joints, restrict wastewater flow, and eventually cause sewage to back up into a home. In this case, the intrusion had left contaminated water and debris around the HVAC units, water heater, drywall seal plates, wall studs, flooring, and concrete surfaces in the basement laundry room.
Water Mitigation and Cleanup
On September 16, Skylar Fish removed affected drywall from the laundry room and under-stairs closet, along with vinyl flooring at the bottom of the stairs and carpeting from the bottom step. He treated the concrete floor, scrubbed the exposed framing, and recorded moisture readings. Skylar installed four air movers, kept the existing dehumidifier and air scrubber in place, and established containment at the bottom of the stairs.
On September 18, Andrey Melnik found that the laundry room base plate still had elevated moisture readings. He moved the dehumidifier closer to the affected area to support drying.
Our quick response helped prevent further damage to the home’s structural wood. We extracted the water, cleaned and disinfected the affected areas, and dried the materials before the base plates or wood studs required additional repairs. By September 19, mitigation was officially complete.
Contents Assessment and Relocation
On September 15, Shasta Mesplie and Jeremiah Maher handled the contents work at the property. They documented the household belongings through photographs and video, then packed, protected, and relocated items within the residence to clear the affected areas for mitigation. These steps also helped reduce the risk of further damage and cross-contamination.
The team grouped the belongings into items designated as non-salvage and items to be kept. The non-salvage group included several rugs, a speaker, a lamp, furniture, a filing cabinet, and other household items. Belongings designated for storage included clothing, paperwork, fabric, a stuffed animal, a wooden cradle, and additional household items.
On September 16, Skylar Fish moved belongings from beneath the stairs to the garage. He noted that items in the under-stairs closet had already been raised on boards and had not been affected by the water damage.
The contents team proceeded with the planned packout on September 21, relocating the homeowner’s belongings to Encore’s facility while reconstruction continued. The items will remain in storage until the home is ready for their return.
Insurance and Payment
While we completed the mitigation work and arranged for the homeowner’s belongings to be stored safely, the remaining restoration depended on coordinating the reconstruction details with Allstate. Hailey Schivo continued to follow up with the insurer, while our general manager worked through the remaining repair supplements and subcontractor bids.
Project Status and Next Steps
The mitigation phase is complete. We removed contaminated and damaged materials, cleaned and disinfected affected surfaces, and dried the structural wood in time to avoid additional repairs to the base plates and studs. The plumbing issue was also addressed after the recommended plumbers repaired the sewer line.
Reconstruction is now underway. The homeowner’s belongings remain at Encore’s facility while the team works through the remaining insurance details and coordinates the repairs. Once reconstruction is complete, the belongings can be returned and the home can move closer to full restoration.
The completed reconstruction will also be backed by Encore’s three-year warranty, providing the homeowner with added peace of mind.
