Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Cleveland Area

What Makes Cleveland Different

Cleveland winters are long, gray and snowy, and the eastern suburbs sit in a snowbelt where lake effect storms can drop heavy snow fast. Ice dams form along the eaves of older homes with thin attic insulation, and meltwater backs up under shingles into ceilings and walls. Pipes in exterior walls, porches and cold basements freeze and split, and the leak often shows up when the weather warms.

Most homes have basements, and many older ones have stone, brick or block walls that seep in wet seasons. Heavy summer storms can overwhelm older sewers and push water back up through basement floor drains. Sewer backup is contaminated water, so treat it as sewage, not a simple cleanup. A backwater valve and a sump pump with a battery backup prevent a lot of losses.

Much of the housing was built long before 1978, including double homes, colonials and old frame houses. Lead paint is common, so avoid dry sanding and scraping. Old pipe wrap, floor tile and plaster may contain asbestos, so test before you tear anything out.