Water, Fire & Storm Restoration in University City, MO

Older buildings, older systems

University City is an inner-ring community in St. Louis County with older brick houses, two-family flats, apartment buildings and the lively Delmar Loop corridor. Our office is in St. Charles, and we serve University City for sewer backup, water damage, fire and storm losses, and the repairs that follow.

Buildings of this age have character, and they also have plumbing, roofing and wiring that reached the end of their service lives at different times.

Sewer laterals and basement backups

Many older streets still rely on original clay or cast-iron lateral lines between the house and the main. Those lines crack, belly and collect roots. In a heavy rain, or when a blockage forms, wastewater can rise through floor drains and basement fixtures. This is Category 3 water that carries bacteria, and it calls for protective equipment, careful removal of anything porous and thorough sanitizing.

Keep children and pets out, do not use a household vacuum, and avoid touching the water. Then call us. A plumber can scope the lateral to find the cause, which is worth doing so the problem does not return.

Flat and low-slope roofs

Flats, additions and commercial buildings here often have low-slope or flat roofs, where water pools and membranes eventually fail. A leak can show up as a ceiling stain in the unit below the roof, or as water tracking along beams to some other spot. We dry the wet ceilings and walls, remove insulation that has absorbed water, and check for hidden moisture. For openings that need cover, see our storm damage page.

Plaster, lath and lead-safe work

Plaster over wood lath is common in older houses and holds moisture differently than modern drywall. Some can be dried in place, but plaster that has softened, bulged or separated from its lath has to be removed. Because houses built before 1978 may have lead-based paint, disturbing those surfaces calls for specific practices. Bales is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, and we use containment and cleanup methods suited to the surfaces we are working on.

The Loop and small commercial space

The Delmar Loop is a stretch of restaurants, shops and offices, many in older buildings with apartments above. A water or smoke loss in one storefront can affect the space above and next door. Our commercial restoration work helps owners and tenants contain the damage, protect inventory and plan the path back to open doors, and reconstruction handles the rebuild.

A two-family flat usually shares a stack, a basement and sometimes a roof. When a drain clogs or a pipe splits, the upper unit’s problem becomes the lower unit’s ceiling. We check both levels, and we speak with owners and tenants so that everyone understands which rooms are affected and what comes next.

Insurance and documentation

If a claim is involved, we record readings, photos and the steps we take, and we can work with your insurer and bill them directly. Rental properties may involve landlords as well as tenants, so we keep records tidy for both. The insurance page explains more, and the process page walks through each stage.

Nearby areas we serve

University City adjoins Clayton, Olivette and Richmond Heights. Browse the St. Louis County page for the complete list.