Water, Fire & Storm Restoration in Kirkwood, MO

Older houses, particular problems

Kirkwood is in St. Louis County, and our office in St. Charles is a drive away along the highway corridors. The city is known for its historic downtown, tree-lined streets and a large number of older homes, many built with stone foundations and finished basements that families really use. That combination of old structure and living space below grade shapes the likely problems: flooded basements, water damage, fire and smoke and storm repairs. The emergency line is open 24/7.

Stone foundations and seepage

A stone foundation is a handsome piece of old building craft, but it is not a sealed box. Water moves through gaps between stones and through aging mortar, especially during a stretch of wet weather or snowmelt. It may arrive as a damp stain, a white mineral crust or a trickle at the base of the wall.

In a finished basement, the trouble is what is hidden. Wall framing and paneling hold moisture, carpet pads act like sponges, and the damp air feeds odors. If your basement has been remodeled, check behind furniture and along baseboards. We use moisture meters to follow the water instead of relying on the visible stain.

Sump pits and pump failures

Many older houses here have a sump pit, sometimes added later when a basement was waterproofed or tested for radon. The pump is only as reliable as its power and its float. A storm that knocks out electricity is a common time for a pit to overflow. A float can stick, a discharge line can freeze, and a small pump can be overwhelmed by a hard rain.

If a sump overflows, our job is extraction and drying. The question of why it failed belongs to a plumber or waterproofing contractor, and we suggest asking before you rebuild, so the same event does not repeat.

Kitchen fires in a historic house

Kitchens in older homes often sit beside plaster walls, wood trim and narrow hallways. A stovetop fire can be extinguished with little visible burn, yet smoke settles in curtains, upholstery and the cabinets that were closed. Plaster and old paint can hold odor. Our fire and smoke page describes the cleaning sequence, and the contents cleaning service handles belongings that need treatment off site or on site.

Rebuilding to match the house

If walls, floors or trim must come out, the repair has to blend with what the house already has. Our reconstruction service plans the rebuild and tells you what is likely to be matched and what is likely to be replaced. See the process page for how the project moves.

Insurance

Kirkwood homeowners with a covered loss can have us work with the insurer and bill them directly. Policy details differ, so read the insurance page and ask your agent about water and sewer coverage.

Protecting what is stored below

In a historic house, the basement often holds family heirlooms, books and keepsakes as well as the furnace. Raise boxes off the floor onto shelving, keep papers in sealed plastic bins and avoid leaving cardboard on bare stone or concrete. If a loss happens anyway, tell us what is stored where, so it can be moved first.

Nearby areas we serve

Next door are Webster Groves, Glendale and Des Peres. The St. Louis County overview lists the rest.