Location: Skokie, Illinois
Property Type: Residential property
Service Provided: Water damage mitigation, cleaning, and structural drying
Cost of Services: $11,000
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.
