The First Call
The homeowner contacted Encore Construction after noticing water dripping from the ceiling of the home office whenever the upstairs toilet was flushed. Jason took the initial call and helped coordinate the next steps. On September 9, 2026, project manager Matt Burger inspected the affected areas to assess the damage and determine what needed attention. The team traced the problem to a leaking toilet water supply line. The leak had started about a week before the homeowner contacted Encore, allowing water to affect the bathroom flooring and the office ceiling below. The toilet was detached before mitigation began, and work was scheduled for September 11.
Initial Inspection
During the September 9 inspection, Matt Burger recorded elevated moisture readings in the tile surrounding the upstairs toilet and found evidence of water damage to the office ceiling below. The team traced the problem to a leaking toilet water supply line, which had allowed water to reach both the bathroom floor and the ceiling underneath.
Because the damage extended beyond the original leak, mitigation involved opening the affected areas, removing damaged materials, and drying the exposed spaces before reconstruction could begin.
Drying and Cleanup
The mitigation work focused on opening the affected bathroom floor and office ceiling to reach trapped moisture. Technicians used containment and drying equipment to address damage on both levels of the home.
Removing Damaged Materials
On September 11, David German prepared the work areas by protecting the floors and carpets. He disconnected and removed the toilet to access the bathroom floor, then removed damaged tile, vinyl flooring, and pressboard underneath. The team also established containment in the office and removed the affected ceiling drywall. In the bathroom, David installed one dehumidifier, one air scrubber, and three dual-axial air movers. Two low-profile air movers were placed in the office to support drying around the opened ceiling.
Monitoring Moisture Levels
During a follow-up visit on September 14, Andrey Melnik found that most of the affected areas had dried, although a few spots still showed moisture readings between 17 and 18. Additional drying time was needed to address those remaining areas.
Final moisture readings were later reported to be within the team's industry-standard range, allowing the mitigation process to progress. The exact date the drying equipment was removed has not yet been confirmed.
Insurance and Reconstruction Planning
The project was handled through State Farm, with reconstruction planning beginning in September. On September 16, Encore scheduled an assessment of the repair scope for the following day. After reviewing the necessary repairs, our team prepared a reconstruction proposal on September 24, which was later approved by State Farm.
Reconstruction was approved on October 2 and moved into the work-in-progress stage on October 14. The major repairs are nearing completion, with only a few details remaining.
