Water, Fire & Storm Restoration in Webster Groves, MO

Big old houses and what can go wrong

Webster Groves is a St. Louis County city with a reputation for large, older frame and brick homes on streets shaded by tall trees. Our office is in St. Charles. Houses of this age carry plaster walls, original woodwork, fireplaces and layers of paint, and each of those details affects the way a loss is handled. We respond to fire and smoke, storm damage and water damage calls, and the emergency line is open 24/7.

Chimney and fireplace fires

Fireplaces are part of the appeal of older homes, and they are also the source of some quiet fire losses. Creosote builds up inside a flue, and a hot fire can ignite it. The flames are often contained to the chimney, but heat may reach framing around it, and smoke can push into the room or attic.

After a chimney fire, have a chimney professional inspect the flue before anyone lights it again. Inside, soot may be on the mantel, the ceiling above it and any fabric nearby. Do not wipe soot with a dry cloth, since that grinds it into the surface. We explain the cleaning order on the fire and smoke page.

Smoke in plaster walls

Plaster is solid and old, and its finish is porous. Smoke leaves a film and an odor that can settle into the surface and the paint. A fresh coat of paint on top of untreated soot may hide the stain but not the smell, which tends to return in humid weather. We clean first, treat the odor, and then recommend sealing or repainting where that makes sense. Textiles, drapes and rugs go through our contents cleaning work.

Lead-safe practices

Many houses of this age were painted before lead paint was phased out. When a fire, flood or demolition disturbs old paint, dust can carry lead. Bales is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm, and we use containment and cleanup practices designed to protect your family and ours. If you plan to open walls, tell us what you know about the paint history.

Storm trees and canopy damage

The canopy that makes the neighborhood appealing also puts limbs and whole trunks over roofs. When wind knocks a tree into a house, there are usually three tasks: removing the tree, covering the opening and drying the interior. We handle the middle of that and can arrange rebuilding through our reconstruction service. Photograph everything before the tree comes off, if you can do so safely.

Insurance and the process

Fire and storm claims often involve long lists of damaged items and repairs. We can work with your insurer and bill them directly, and our records can back up the claim. The insurance page and the process page explain more.

Documenting a loss in a large house

Bigger houses have more rooms to inspect, and damage hides in unused ones. Walk every floor, including the attic and any third-floor rooms, and open closets on exterior walls. Photograph what you find before cleaning begins, and tell us which spaces hold valuables or collections.

Nearby areas we serve

Webster Groves is close to Kirkwood, Rock Hill and Glendale. Visit the St. Louis County overview for the full list of communities.