Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Grand Forks Area

What Makes Grand Forks Different

Grand Forks and East Grand Forks face each other across the Red River of the North, which flows north through very flat land toward Canada. In April 1997 the river broke through the dikes and flooded most of both cities, and fire destroyed several downtown buildings while the streets were under water. Both cities built permanent levees and flood walls afterward.

The river still rises every spring, because snow melts upstream before the river thaws downstream, and ice can jam the channel. The heavy clay soil drains slowly, so basements seep in a wet spring. A sump pump with a battery backup prevents a lot of damage, and floodwater from outside is always contaminated.

Winters are long and very cold. Pipes in exterior walls, garages and crawlspaces freeze and split, and blizzards pack snow into attics through vents. Ice dams form on homes with little attic insulation. Wet drywall and carpet pad can grow mold within 24 to 48 hours. Many older homes near downtown were built before 1978, so test for lead paint and asbestos before any demolition.