Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Boston Area

What Makes Boston Different

Boston winters bring nor’easters, heavy wet snow and many freeze and thaw cycles. Ice dams form along the eaves of older homes with little attic insulation, and meltwater backs up under the shingles into ceilings and walls. Pipes in exterior walls, porches and unheated basements freeze and split, and the leak usually shows up when things warm up.

Much of the housing is old, including triple deckers, rowhouses and Victorian homes built long before 1978. Lead paint is common, and Massachusetts has a strict lead law that requires deleading in older homes where young children live. Old plaster, boiler pipe wrap and floor tile may contain asbestos, so test before you tear anything out.

Coastal storms push high tides into low neighborhoods and waterfront streets, and heavy rain can back sewers up into basements. Most older homes sit on stone or brick foundations that seep in wet seasons. A sump pump, a dehumidifier and a backwater valve on the sewer line prevent a lot of damage.