Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in the Portland Area

What Makes Portland Different

Portland 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 wood frame multi-family homes and brick buildings built long before 1978. Lead paint is common, and old plaster, boiler pipe wrap and floor tile may contain asbestos, so test before you tear anything out. In a building with several units, a leak in one travels to the next.

Coastal storms push high tides onto the waterfront and low streets around Back Cove, 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 prevent a lot of damage.