The Problem and Our Solution

We responded to water damage caused by a hot water tank leak in an upstairs unit of a residential property on February 19. Water seeped into the apartment below and damaged ceilings, walls, and flooring in several rooms. When we assessed the damage, we found that water had gotten into the utility room, dining room, living room, bathroom, and hallway.

We classified the water damage as Class 2 due to the extent of moisture absorption and Category 2 due to potential contaminants in the water. Here’s what we found throughout the property and how we addressed each issue:

Utility Room

• Water-damaged ceiling and walls. Water damaged the ceiling, approximately 72 square feet of wall, baseboards, and trim. We opened the damaged ceiling and wall sections to reach moisture trapped behind them.
• Damaged laminate flooring. Water also reached the laminate flooring, which we removed. We then vacuumed, cleaned, and sanitized that area.

Dining Room

• Water-damaged ceiling and walls. Water reached the ceiling, a full-height wall, baseboards, and trim. We removed damaged sections to reach the wet materials behind them.
• Damaged hardwood flooring. As work progressed, we determined that we had to remove all the hardwood flooring. We also removed the perimeter baseboards and then cleaned and sanitized the surfaces.

Living Room

• Water-damaged ceiling. Water spread into the ceiling, and we had to remove approximately 20% of it.
• Damaged carpeting. We removed approximately 30% of the carpeting, padding, and tack strips, then cleaned the exposed flooring.

Bathroom

• Water-damaged ceiling and walls. Water damaged the entire ceiling, a full-height wallpapered wall, baseboards, and ceramic tile around the bathtub. We removed the damaged ceiling and opened the wall where necessary to reach trapped moisture.

Hallway

• Water-damaged carpeting. There was damage around the carpeting, padding, and tack strips. We removed the damaged materials and cleaned the exposed flooring.

The Timeline

February 19 – Hot Water Tank Leak

The problem started with a hot water tank leaking in the apartment above. This caused water to seep into the lower unit, affecting several rooms and building materials. We classified the loss as Class 2, Category 2, and initially estimated a drying time of four days.

February 19 – Initial Mitigation and Drying Equipment Setup

• Set up six air movers and two dehumidifiers in the bathroom, dining room, living room, and utility room.
• Identified damaged ceilings, walls, flooring, and insulation that we need to remove or treat.

February 20 – Removing Damaged Ceiling Materials, Cleaning, and Structural Drying

• Opened ceiling areas using power tools to reach water-damaged materials.
• Used plastic containment to protect surrounding areas from dust and debris.
• Vacuumed affected surfaces to remove debris.
• Used 15 air movers and one dehumidifier across the dining room, utility room, living room, and bathroom.
• Monitored indoor drying conditions, recording 37.2% relative humidity and a temperature of 76.1°F.

February 21 – Continued Cleaning and Mitigation

• Continued vacuuming and cleaning affected areas.
• Removed laminate flooring from the utility room, carpeting and padding from the hallway, and all hardwood flooring and perimeter baseboards from the dining room.
• Continued cleaning and sanitizing work on affected surfaces.

February 22 – Moisture Monitoring and Drying Progress

• Continued monitoring moisture levels throughout the property.
• Kept air movers working in the affected areas.
• We checked several areas with a moisture meter and confirmed that the materials had dried.

The post How We Restored a Buffalo Grove Apartment After an Upstairs Hot Water Tank Leak appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

The Problem and Our Solution

We responded to a residential fire that started at an electrical outlet in the home’s foyer. Smoke and soot spread throughout the first and second floors, leaving heavy residue and odors, while smoke odors also reached the basement and garage. Firefighters also used water to put out the flames, soaking the ceilings, walls, and floors. We had to clean up the water damage as well.

Here’s what we found and how we addressed each issue:

Foyer and Entry Areas

• Heavy fire damage. This is where the fire started and where it caused the most damage. We removed damaged walls, ceilings, and flooring, including the damaged floor and ceiling in the foyer closet.
• Damaged hallway and dining room flooring. We removed the hallway flooring because it connected to other damaged areas. In the dining room, we had to remove the flooring up to the dividing wall.

First-Floor Living Spaces

• Fire and water damage in the living room. We tore out two full walls, the ceiling, flooring, and damaged insulation. We also removed damaged trim, cleaned the wall cavities, and treated the surfaces with a deodorising solution.
• Smoke and soot residue. We vacuumed and cleaned walls, ceilings, windows, and other structural surfaces throughout the first floor.
• Smoke-damaged furniture and belongings. The homeowners had moved most of their kitchen belongings into the living room during remodeling, so we had to move and clean everything before we could work on the room.

Second Floor

• Smoke and soot throughout the rooms. Smoke and soot spread into the hallway, four bedrooms, bathrooms, and closets. We cleaned the walls, ceilings, windows, furniture, and personal belongings to remove residue.

Basement

• Water-damaged walls and ceilings. Firefighting water damaged ceiling tiles and approximately 25 linear feet of paneled wall.
• Lingering smoke odors. Smoke odors also reached the basement, so we cleaned the surfaces and treated them with deodorizing solution.

Garage

• Lingering smoke odor. Firefighters opened the garage to let smoke out of the house, but some of that smoke entered the garage and left an odor.

Structural Drying and Air Cleaning

• Water damage and hidden moisture. We used a thermal imaging camera to identify temperature differences that could indicate hidden moisture and needed closer inspection.
• Drying and air filtration. During the initial setup, we placed 11 air movers, two dehumidifiers, five air scrubbers, and three specialty equipment units throughout the home.

The Timeline

April 17, 2025 – Initial Assessment and Equipment Setup

We began by identifying the areas affected by fire, smoke, soot, and water.

• Labeled affected rooms to organize the restoration work.
• Used thermal imaging to check concealed ceiling areas for temperature differences.
• Tested smoke and soot residue using cleaning sponge samples.
• Began cleaning and vacuuming affected walls, ceilings, and windows.
• Set up 11 air movers, two dehumidifiers, five air scrubbers, and three specialty equipment units.

April 18–21, 2025 – Structural and Surface Cleaning

We continued cleaning throughout the affected rooms, focusing on removing smoke and soot residue from building surfaces.

• Vacuumed and cleaned walls, ceilings, and windows.
• Mopped floors and continued working through rooms that needed extra attention.
• Kept the air filtration and drying equipment running while cleaning.

April 22–23, 2025 – Material Removal and Wall Cavity Treatment

• Removed sections of baseboard and other affected materials.
• Took out insulation where needed.
• Cleaned and vacuumed exposed wall cavities.
• Applied a liquid treatment to exposed wall surfaces.
• Continued cleaning surrounding areas to remove remaining residue and debris.

April 28–30, 2025 – Continued Cleaning and Structural Drying

• Moved air movers into position to direct airflow toward exposed wood framing.
• Kept drying equipment working around open wall cavities.
• Cleaned accessible areas around the home’s central cooling system.
• Removed remaining debris and addressed residue in the areas where we were working.

May 1-5, 2025 – Furniture and Content Cleaning

We continued cleaning furniture and personal belongings damaged by smoke and soot.

• Cleaned soot and smoke residue from furniture.
• Thoroughly cleaned belongings with heavier smoke and soot buildup.
• Continued cleaning walls, surfaces, and belongings throughout the home.

May 23-28, 2025 – Follow-Up Restoration Work

• Completed the remaining restoration work throughout the home.
• Thoroughly cleaned belongings with heavy smoke and soot buildup.
• Finished all the restoration work in our project records by May 28.

The post How We Restored a Multi-Story Buffalo Grove Home After an Electrical Fire appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

The Problem and Our Solution

On November 11, 2025, a fire broke out in a multi-story property in Skokie, Illinois. Our team arrived at the property within an hour and first inspected the damage throughout the building, checking all three floors to see how far fire, smoke, and water reached. We also examined the roof and exterior walls to determine the scope of our work.

Here’s what we found and how we addressed each issue:

Second Floor

• Damaged walls and ceilings. Fire, smoke, and water from firefighting damaged the kitchen, dining room, hallway, bathroom, second bedroom, laundry room, and utility room. We demolished damaged sections, removing drywall and insulation to reach the framing.
• Damaged flooring and ceilings in other rooms. We took out damaged hardwood and floating flooring, and opened ceiling sections where necessary.
• Smoke residue and debris. We used HEPA vacuums and dry-cleaning soot sponges to remove smoke residue from exposed wooden framing and other surfaces after demolition.

First Floor

• Water- and smoke-damaged rooms. Water and smoke damaged the offices, hallway, and bathroom. We removed damaged walls, ceilings, and hardwood flooring.
• Smoke residue in the kitchen. We used HEPA vacuums and soot-cleaning products to remove smoke residue and debris from kitchen surfaces.

Basement

• Extensive damage in several rooms. There was damage in most of the storage rooms, utility room, and sump pump room, so we had to demolish big sections of these rooms.
• Damaged bedroom walls and ceiling. We partially removed the walls and ceiling to reach damaged materials.

Common Areas and Roof

• Smoke in stairways and landings. Smoke spread into these areas, so we used HEPA vacuums and dry-cleaning soot sponges to remove the residue.
• Opening in the roof. We placed a temporary waterproof tarp over the opening and secured it with plywood boards to prevent rainwater from entering and help keep the property secure.
• Fire-damaged exterior materials. We inspected the exterior walls and exposed framing to determine the extent of the damage.

The Timeline

November 11–12 – Fire Damage Inspection and Initial Mitigation

A fire that broke out in the building spread across several floors. Over the first two days, we:

• Inspected to see how much damage the fire and firefighting water caused.
• Covered the opening on the roof with a temporary waterproof tarp and secured it with plywood boards to prevent water and possible intruders from getting in.
• Set up air movers and other drying equipment.

November 13–22 – Water Cleanup and Structural Drying

• Vacuumed water from the floors and continued drying the property.
• Monitored how the area dries during follow-up visits.
• On November 22, removed some drying equipment.

December 3–5 – Interior Demolition and Material Removal

• Removed damaged ceiling drywall and wall sections to reach the framing.
• Cut and removed damaged hardwood flooring and leftover staples.
• Placed plastic sheeting and collected demolition debris to throw away.
• Started cleaning the affected surfaces in the demolished area.

December 11–January 31 – Continued Demolition and Smoke Damage Cleaning

• Removed some more drywall, insulation, and other materials from walls and ceilings.
• Continued cleaning exposed framing, brickwork, and windows.
• Vacuumed dust, cleared out debris, and continued cleanup through January 31.

March 9 – Final Cleaning and Project Completion

We returned to do final cleaning and completed our work at the property.

The post How We Restored a Multi-Story Skokie Property After Extensive Fire and Smoke Damage appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

The Problem and Our Solution

A homeowner in Skokie, Illinois, called us on April 1 after a pipe burst underneath their kitchen sink, causing extensive water damage to the kitchen and adjoining dining room. Our team arrived within 50 minutes, inspected the damage, and began removing affected materials to prepare both rooms for drying.

Here’s what we found and how we addressed each issue:

Kitchen

• Damaged drywall and baseboards. Water affected approximately 10 linear feet of drywall and baseboards. We removed the damaged drywall up to 4 feet high and took out the affected baseboards to expose wet materials behind them.
• Water-damaged flooring and kitchen fixtures. Moisture had spread beneath the laminate flooring and around the kitchen fixtures. We removed the laminate flooring, countertop, sink, and garbage disposal. We also moved the stove and refrigerator to access affected areas behind them.
• Moisture in exposed materials. After demolition, we vacuumed, cleaned, and sanitized the exposed wall framing, flooring, and other affected surfaces. We then installed four air movers and one dehumidifier to dry the remaining materials, along with a small air scrubber to filter airborne particles.

Dining Room

• Water-damaged wall and baseboards. Water had spread from the kitchen into the adjoining dining room. We removed a 2-foot-high section of drywall across approximately 3.3 linear feet of the shared wall and identified another 2–3 feet of affected baseboards and additional drywall that needed removal.
• Moisture beneath laminate flooring. After removing the laminate flooring, we discovered an older layer of vinyl tile underneath. The homeowner wanted to preserve this second layer, so we left it in place.
• Moisture in exposed surfaces. We vacuumed, cleaned, and sanitized the affected areas, then placed two air movers in the dining room to help dry the remaining materials.

Throughout the project, we used a moisture meter to check moisture levels and a FLIR thermal imaging camera to identify temperature differences that could indicate hidden moisture. We also moved belongings and installed plastic sheeting and containment barriers to prevent dust and debris from spreading during the work.

The Timeline

April 1 – Burst Pipe Under Kitchen Sink

A pipe burst underneath the kitchen sink, and water spread into the kitchen and dining room next to it. The water soaked drywall, baseboards, and flooring. We classified the loss as Class 2, Category 3.

April 19 – Water Damage Mitigation and Drying Setup

• Arrived at the property and checked how far the water had spread with a moisture meter.
• Protected the surrounding areas with plastic sheeting before starting the cleanup.
• Opened damaged walls and took out wet materials.
• Discovered an older layer of vinyl tile flooring in the dining room, which the homeowner wanted to keep.
• Cleaned and sanitized both rooms, then placed drying equipment.

April 24 – Follow-Up Inspection and Project Completion

• Returned to inspect the rooms with a FLIR thermal imaging camera.
• Checked temperatures in different spots to see if everything is dry.
• Completed this water damage mitigation job.

The post How We Restored a Skokie Home After a Burst Pipe Flooded the Kitchen and Dining Room appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

The Problem & Solutions

On September 4, 2024, a homeowner called us about a failed sump pump in the basement of a residential property in Niles, Illinois. Water seeped into several rooms, soaking into the bottom part of the walls, insulation, and materials around them.

We classified this water damage as Category 2 because the water was contaminated, and Class 2 because water got into the drywall, insulation, and other porous materials throughout the basement.

Here’s what we found and how we addressed each issue:

Kitchen

• Water-damaged walls and insulation. Water reached the lower walls and insulation, including areas behind the kitchen cabinets. We cut out wet drywall up to 4 feet high, removed damaged insulation, baseboards, and sections of ceramic tiles.
• Moisture behind cabinets and appliances. We detached the countertop, lower cabinets, sink, and plumbing to get to the wet areas behind them.
• Moisture in wall cavities and floors. After taking out damaged materials, we vacuumed, cleaned, and sanitized the wall framing and floors.

Eat-in and Workout Areas

• Wet drywall, insulation, and baseboards. The lower walls in both rooms got wet. We removed the baseboards, cut out wet drywall, and took out damaged insulation.

Hallway and Under-Stair Area

• Water-damaged walls and baseboards. Water spread through the wall materials and insulation in both connecting spaces. We opened the walls up to 4 feet high and removed damaged materials.

Utility Room and Linen Closet

• Wet walls, insulation, and trim. Both spaces had soaked lower walls. We removed the baseboards, door trim where needed, and damaged drywall and insulation.

Cedar Room

• Water damage along the lower walls. Moisture got into the lower wall sections, so we had to remove damaged materials and inspect what’s going on behind the cedar finish.

Bathroom

• Water-damaged walls and tile. Water spread across the lower walls, including behind ceramic tile and bathroom fixtures. The work called for removing damaged tile and opening the walls up to 4 feet high.

Bar Area

• Wet drywall, insulation, and trim. Moisture reached the lower walls and ceramic tile trim around the bar. We removed damaged baseboards, tile trim, and drywall up to 4 feet.

The Timeline

September 6 – Initial Assessment and Preparation

• The first step we took was to take moisture readings to see the extent of water damage throughout the basement.
• Our team packed and moved belongings to make room for our restoration team to begin their work.

September 7 – Drying Equipment Setup

• We placed 43 air movers, three dehumidifiers, and two air scrubbers throughout the basement.

September 9–10 – Material Removal and Cleaning

• We covered nearby surfaces with plastic sheeting to protect them from dust and debris.
• Our team took out the damaged drywall, baseboards, and insulation to reach wall cavities.
• We cleaned, sanitized, and dried the surfaces.

September 11 – Final Cleaning and Mitigation Completion

• We vacuumed the areas from which we removed the materials and sanitized them where needed.
• We completed the scheduled work.

The post How We Restored a Flooded Basement in Niles, IL, After a Sump Pump Failure appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.

The Problem and Our Solution

A fire broke out in the crawlspace beneath a two-story home on August 13, 2026. Smoke and soot quickly spread throughout multiple rooms on both floors.

Here’s what we found and how we addressed each issue:

Crawlspace

• Charred debris and fire residue. There was charred debris and blackened material covering most of the crawlspace floor. We cleaned the area and used a pump sprayer to clean surfaces where the fire had started.
• Lingering smoke odors. The crawlspace needed deodorization after the fire. We used one HEPA air scrubber to filter airborne particles and one hydroxyl generator to help remove smoke odors.

First Floor

• Smoke and soot residue throughout the rooms. We used HEPA vacuums and dry-cleaning soot sponges to clean walls, ceilings, and other surfaces in the living room, hallway, bathroom, two closets, nursery, kitchen, dining room, family room, and utility/laundry room.
• Residue on furniture and other surfaces. We used HEPA vacuums to clean furniture and interior surfaces in the rooms on the first floor, removing dust and fire-related residue.

Stairway and Second Floor

• Smoke and soot residue. The stairway, second-floor hallway, master bedroom, second bedroom, and bathroom were covered in soot. We used HEPA vacuums and dry-cleaning soot sponges to remove residue from walls, ceilings, windows, closets, and other surfaces, then vacuumed furniture and cleaned any remaining soot.
• Damaged drywall and insulation. The second-floor bedroom had more damage than other rooms. We took out approximately 50 square feet of damaged drywall and 50 square feet of insulation. We also bagged the debris and cleaned the area.

Exterior

• Damaged soffits and debris. The fire damaged sections of the exterior soffit, leaving some wooden framing exposed. We also had to clean debris from outside the home.

The Timeline

August 13–14 – Fire Damage and Initial Response

• The fire started in the crawlspace beneath the home on August 13.
• Our team arrived the following day to inspect the damage and create a work plan.
• The inspection helped us identify which rooms needed cleaning and where we had to remove damaged materials.

August 16 – Second-Floor Cleaning and Debris Removal

• We cleaned windows, walls, ceilings, and closet areas in the rooms affected by fire.
• We took out damaged drywall from the second-floor bedroom and collected debris in bags.
• Setting up air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators helped clean the air and reduce smoke odors.

August 20 – First-Floor Structural Cleaning

• Cleaning continued in the stairway, family room, kitchen, living room, and dining room.
• We also worked in the first-floor bedroom and the linen closet off the hallway.

August 21 – Utility Room and Crawlspace Treatment

• We continued cleaning the first-floor utility/laundry room.
• In the crawlspace, our team used a sprayer to treat surfaces where the fire started.

August 23 – Detailed Surface and Furniture Cleaning

• We vacuumed surfaces and furniture in the second-floor master bedroom, second bedroom, and hallway.
• Cleaning continued in the stairway and family room.
• Our team also cleaned surfaces and furniture in the living room and dining room.
• Completed the work.

The post How We Restored a Two-Story Home in Niles After a Crawlspace Fire appeared first on ServiceMaster Restoration by Zaba.