The First Call: Getting Help Underway
On September 2, 2026, the homeowner noticed that the floor near the dining room closet was buckling and felt unusually warm to the touch. Concerned about what might be happening beneath the flooring, he contacted Encore Construction for help. Jason took the homeowner’s initial call, listened carefully to his concerns, and took the necessary steps to get the restoration process underway.
Initial Inspection
Project manager Matt Burger inspected the property and found significant moisture in several areas. The wall behind the washer and dryer in the laundry room was saturated, and moisture had spread into the crawlspace. Water was still leaking at the time of the inspection, so the supply was temporarily shut off while the homeowner awaited plumbing repairs. The leak originated from a pipe behind the wall. The inspection also revealed that the damage extended beyond the initially affected flooring. Moisture had reached an adjacent room and the wall between the laundry room and closet. As work progressed and damaged flooring was removed, additional moisture was discovered in the bathroom behind the vanity and toilet, as well as along the adjoining wall.
Drying and Cleanup
The mitigation team removed damaged flooring, drywall, and insulation across the affected rooms and crawlspace. Technicians also set up containment barriers and drying equipment, adjusting their approach as demolition exposed additional moisture damage.
Preparing the Work Areas
Before demolition, David German moved belongings out of the laundry room and bedroom and detached the washer and dryer. Containment barriers were set up in the bedroom, laundry room, and dining room to separate the work areas and help control dust during material removal.
As the work continued, technicians opened up additional affected areas and adjusted the demolition plan to address the moisture found behind walls and beneath flooring.
Removing Damaged Flooring and Drywall
The dining room required extensive flooring removal. The documented scope of work called for removing 480 square feet of non-salvageable solid or engineered wood flooring and 480 square feet of underlayment. It also included 107 square feet of wet drywall, 44 linear feet of baseboard, and approximately 15 square feet of countertop removal. Lower cabinets and the dishwasher were listed for detachment to provide access to the affected areas.
The bathroom needed similar attention. The bathroom work involved removing 24 square feet of vinyl flooring and the underlying particle board, along with 61 square feet of water-damaged drywall and five linear feet of baseboard. The vanity, sink, countertop, and related components were also included in the removal or detachment scope.
On September 10, Skylar Fish continued demolition along the wall next to the living room and kitchen. He made a two-foot flood cut along the wall between the children’s bedroom and bathroom, removed the bathroom flooring, and detached the vanity and sink. The exposed framing was scrubbed to remove drywall dust, and the area was treated with a plant-based antimicrobial agent. A large dehumidifier was also placed in the work area. Skylar removed drywall in the children’s bedroom as well. Materials around the skylight in the ceiling appeared to be affected, so work on that section was put on hold until further instructions were available.
On September 11, Andrey Melnik capped the leaking water shutoff, finished removing flooring in the children’s bedrooms, and made a one-foot flood cut along the bathroom-facing wall of one bedroom. He also cleared the demolition debris into a dump trailer.
Addressing the Bedrooms and Laundry Room
Additional demolition and drying were needed in the bedroom and children’s rooms. The work included removing damaged vinyl flooring, drywall, and baseboards, followed by HEPA vacuuming and antimicrobial treatment.
The laundry room remained an important focus because the wall behind the washer and dryer had been saturated. After the appliances were detached, technicians removed wet drywall and used containment and drying equipment to help address the remaining moisture. The work also involved HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial treatment, and the use of drying equipment.
Additional containment materials, air scrubbers, and power distribution equipment were listed in the estimate. These measures supported the demolition and drying work across the affected areas.
Removing Wet Insulation from the Crawlspace
The crawlspace presented a substantial part of the job. Moisture had spread throughout the area, and the insulation beneath the home was wet and needed to be removed. David German spent two full days removing the insulation. It had been installed in two layers: one held in place with sticks and strings, and another secured with staples and additional sticks. Removing both layers took considerable effort, and the debris filled two dump trailers.
The work involved removing and bagging 2,692 square feet of wet insulation from the crawlspace, followed by antimicrobial treatment. Because of the conditions in this confined space, workers also needed protective coveralls and full-face respirators. An additional worker was assigned to remain outside the crawlspace and monitor safety while the removal work was underway. Removing the wet insulation helped expose the crawlspace for further assessment and drying.
Monitoring Moisture and Adjusting Equipment
Drying equipment was placed throughout the affected rooms and crawlspace to address the remaining moisture. The team used dehumidifiers, air movers, and air scrubbers, checking moisture levels regularly and adjusting equipment as different areas dried.
On September 15, David German reported that one bedroom was nearly dry, with the highest moisture reading at 17. The children’s bedroom, however, still showed readings ranging from 20 to 40, indicating that more drying was needed.
The following day, Andrey Melnik confirmed that the bedroom next to the bathroom had dried out, but moisture remained in parts of the other bedroom. He also found elevated moisture readings in the laundry room’s base plates. To help dry the remaining damp areas, Andrey installed containment around the exposed framing, moved a dehumidifier from the dried bedroom into the laundry room, and added three dual-axial air movers.
By September 18, the laundry room’s base plates were still showing elevated moisture readings, so drying efforts continued in that area. Andrey also removed the remaining drying equipment from the children’s bedroom next to the bathroom and completed the demolition tick sheets for the affected areas, including the crawlspace.
Follow-up moisture checks and equipment adjustments continued through September 18, when the remaining equipment was collected from the children’s bedroom next to the bathroom. The drying work progressed area by area as moisture readings improved.
Insurance Documentation and Review
Encore submitted the mitigation invoice and supporting documentation to the insurer. The scope included affected-material removal, drying work and removal of wet crawlspace insulation.
The team sent a photo report and followed up with additional mitigation documentation. The supplied record describes the invoice as awaiting payment.
Home Repairs and Reconstruction
Once mitigation had progressed, reconstruction became the next concern. On October 13, 2026, Matt Burger scheduled a customer update about the reconstruction status.
