The First Call
On June 21, 2026, Jason Lokhmatov took the homeowner’s initial call after a burst pipe flooded the basement. The pipe had burst behind the bathroom vanity, and the plumbing repair was completed right away. Technician Skyler arrived within 30 minutes of the initial communication, obtained a signed work authorization, and began extracting standing water.
A quick response helped the team begin addressing the water before it could cause further damage. Water can seep beneath flooring and into porous materials such as carpet padding, drywall, and insulation. Removing standing water and addressing affected materials promptly helps reduce the risk of prolonged moisture, material deterioration, persistent odors, and potential mold growth.
Initial Assessment
The water damage affected bedrooms, hallways, bathrooms, the laundry room, living room, garage, and stair areas throughout the home. The team identified wet carpet and padding in the bedrooms, hallway, and stair areas. In the bathrooms and laundry room, damaged vinyl flooring and underlayment required removal. Wet drywall and insulation also needed to be removed from affected areas, including the garage, laundry room, and bathrooms. With damage extending across multiple rooms and involving both flooring and wall assemblies, the work required more than surface cleanup. The extent of the damage required selective demolition to expose underlying materials for cleaning, drying, and subsequent reconstruction.
Water Mitigation and Demolition
The day after the initial response, Skyler, David, Andrey, and Peter began removing water-damaged materials to prepare the affected areas for drying and reconstruction. The team removed wet carpet and padding from the bedrooms, hallway, and stair areas. In the bathrooms and laundry room, the work included removing damaged vinyl flooring and underlayment. Wet drywall and insulation were also removed from the garage and bathrooms, followed by cleaning of the exposed wall framing.
To reach damaged materials, the team detached fixtures and built-in components, including toilets, sinks, plumbing connections, mirrors, cabinets, countertops, and door components.
To keep work areas separate from the rest of the home, the team installed containment barriers in designated rooms. The mitigation work also included applying a plant-based antimicrobial agent to specified surfaces, using protective equipment and HEPA filtration, and disposing of removed materials. Removing the damaged materials helped the team reach areas where moisture could still be trapped and dry them properly before starting repairs.
Structural Drying and Cleanup
After demolition, drying equipment was set up to remove moisture from the affected areas. Air movers and dehumidifiers were placed in different rooms, including the bedrooms, hallway, bathrooms, garage, living room, and stair areas. Air scrubbers were also used in the garage and a bedroom.
The equipment helped circulate air and reduce moisture in the exposed building materials. Final moisture readings confirmed that the affected areas had dried to industry standards, and all drying equipment was removed before reconstruction was completed.
Home Repairs and Reconstruction
After mitigation, we moved on to restoring the damaged areas of the home. Reconstruction involved flooring, carpet, drywall, insulation, cabinetry, trim, painting, plumbing, electrical components, lighting, and final cleaning.
In the bedrooms and hallway, the work included installing new carpet and padding, vapor barriers, baseboards, and trim, followed by painting. Other repairs involved damaged flooring, wall surfaces, bathroom fixtures, cabinetry, and laundry room components.
The reconstruction work also included bathroom restoration and interior finish work across the affected rooms. By October 19, 2026, all reconstruction items had been completed, with no remaining work or outstanding balance owed by the homeowner or the insurance company.
Insurance and Payment
USAA handled the homeowner’s insurance claim throughout the restoration. We coordinated the mitigation and reconstruction work through the insurance process, and all submitted charges were approved and paid, including the final reconstruction balance. With the repairs complete and no outstanding payments remaining, the project reached a successful closeout.
Final Status
Everything went smoothly, and all repairs were completed. The home was dried to industry standards, reconstruction was finished, and all payments were settled. The completed work is backed by Encore’s standard three-year warranty․