Water Damage, Mold and Restoration Companies in Virginia Beach and Norfolk

What Makes Hampton Roads Different

Hampton Roads sits low, surrounded by the Chesapeake Bay, the Atlantic and tidal rivers. Water levels here have been rising, and some Norfolk streets now flood at high tide even on sunny days. Nor’easters and hurricanes push surge into low neighborhoods, and that water is contaminated. Flood damage needs a flood policy, because a standard homeowners policy does not cover it.

The water table is high and the air is humid from spring into fall, so crawlspaces stay wet and mold grows on joists and subfloors. A good vapor barrier, working vents or a sealed crawlspace with a dehumidifier, and a sump pump where water collects help keep the house dry.

Older homes in Norfolk, Portsmouth and Hampton were built before 1978, so lead paint and asbestos in old flooring and pipe wrap are possible. Test before you tear out. Winters are mostly mild, but hard freezes still split pipes in crawlspaces and exterior walls a few times a decade.