The First Call: Getting Help Underway
On August 10, 2026, the homeowner reached out to Encore Construction after a bathtub overflow caused water damage in his Snoqualmie home. Arko took his initial call, and Jason coordinated the first inspection to understand how far the water had spread and what needed attention. We know how unsettling it can be to discover water damage in several rooms of your home, so our first priority was to assess the situation carefully and determine how best to help him begin the restoration process.
Initial Inspection
The initial assessment revealed that water had traveled well beyond the upstairs bathroom. Approximately half of the bathroom's tiled floor and part of the shower curb were saturated. Water had also crossed the bathroom doorway into the primary bedroom and closet, affecting an area of roughly three feet by three feet near the doorways.
Downstairs, water had seeped through the floor and damaged portions of the kitchen and living room ceilings. A separate area of the family room floor near a dresser appeared wet, but testing confirmed that the flooring was dry and didn’t require removal.
The inspection helped us identify which materials needed attention and which areas could remain undisturbed. With the affected locations found on both floors, we prepared to protect the home, remove damaged materials, and begin drying.
Drying and Cleanup
The mitigation work took place across both levels of the home. Our team first protected the surrounding spaces and established containment, then removed damaged flooring and drywall to expose the affected areas. Drying equipment was installed, and follow-up visits were made to monitor moisture levels as conditions improved.
Preparing the Work Areas
On August 12, the crew prepared the home for demolition and drying. In the kitchen, cabinets and the refrigerator were covered with plastic, while access to the refrigerator was maintained so the homeowner could still reach his food. The living room floor was also protected before work began on the ceiling.
Upstairs, containment was installed around the bathroom and its doorway using tension poles and zippered barriers. The bathroom cabinets were protected, and plastic barriers helped separate the work area from the adjoining bedroom and closet. These preparations allowed the crew to work on the damaged materials while limiting disruption to the surrounding rooms.
Removing Damaged Flooring and Drywall
Once the work areas were protected, we began removing the damaged materials. In the upstairs bathroom, the damaged tile flooring and wet drywall behind the affected tiles along the bottom of the shower were removed. Flooring near the bathroom doorway was also removed, with the work extending slightly into the closet. The mitigation work included approximately 37 square feet of bathroom tile and around 14-15 square feet of floating flooring in the bedroom. Downstairs, the crew marked the affected kitchen and living room ceilings before removing the damaged drywall. This exposed the areas that needed to dry before the ceiling surfaces could be repaired.
Once the removal work was complete, we cleaned the work areas, vacuumed debris, and applied an antibacterial treatment to the affected surfaces. Two rugs were discarded at the homeowner’s direction. The crew also left instructions for maintaining the containment barriers between visits. The removal work exposed affected surfaces for structural drying and follow-up moisture monitoring.
Setting Up Drying Equipment
Air movers, dehumidifiers, and air scrubbers were placed in the affected areas to help dry the exposed materials. The equipment was distributed across the upstairs bathroom and the downstairs kitchen, dining, and living room, with a total of 16 air movers, two dehumidifiers, and two air scrubbers.
Monitoring Moisture Levels
On August 13, we returned to check progress. The affected areas were drying well, although some moisture remained in portions of the kitchen and living room, along with several spots in the upstairs bathroom. The shower curb had dried.
During the next visit, on August 14, the kitchen was reported dry. A few areas in the bathroom still required monitoring, so our team continued tracking conditions rather than assuming that all affected materials had dried at the same rate. These follow-up checks helped the team identify which areas had dried and which still needed attention. The mitigation project was subsequently marked complete and closed on September 10, 2026.
Insurance and Payment Options
As the restoration moved forward, we also helped the customer navigate the payment process. After he had questions about the initial mitigation invoice sent on August 31, Hailey Schivo reviewed the pricing and sent a revised invoice on September 1. He later chose to pay by check, and Hailey helped coordinate the arrangements. The revised invoice was paid in full, with no outstanding balance remaining.
With the repairs complete, he could enjoy his restored home with added peace of mind, knowing Encore Construction also provides a 3-year warranty on its work.
Home Repairs and Reconstruction
Once the mitigation work was complete, the next step was to repair the damage left behind by the bathtub overflow and help the homeowner get his home back to normal. Because water had affected rooms on both floors, the reconstruction involved more than replacing the materials removed during mitigation.
The kitchen, dining area, and living room needed particular attention where water had damaged the ceilings. The planned work included replacing approximately 196 square feet of drywall, finishing the repaired surfaces, and repainting the ceilings to restore a consistent appearance throughout these areas.
Upstairs, the bathroom needed approximately 42 square feet of new ceramic tile flooring. The work also included resetting the toilet and floor register and reinstalling the affected trim and door. In the primary bedroom, new vinyl plank flooring was planned for the area where the damaged flooring had been removed. To protect the rest of the home during the repairs, the reconstruction scope also included covering belongings, setting up containment, using air scrubbers, and cleaning the work areas.
On September 10, 2026, the reconstruction team prepared the reconstruction pricing for the planned repairs. The work was subsequently completed. Our team repaired the kitchen and living room ceilings, installed new drywall, and painted the surfaces to give them a clean, finished appearance. Upstairs, we installed new tile flooring in the bathroom and replaced the damaged bedroom flooring. With the repairs complete, the homeowner could once again enjoy the restored spaces throughout his home.
Final Walkthrough and Completion
Once the reconstruction was complete, the reconstruction team walked through the home with the homeowner to review the finished repairs. The kitchen and living room ceilings had been repaired, fitted with new drywall, and painted, while the upstairs bathroom had new tile flooring and the bedroom had new flooring.
Dealing with water damage and moving from mitigation to reconstruction can be stressful for homeowners. We're glad that, despite the challenges along the way, the owner of this home in Snoqualmie was very happy with Encore Construction's services.
