Storm and flood cleanup in Houston
- 169 ZIP codes covered in Houston
- Free referral, no obligation
- Contaminated water and mold
Storm and flood cleanup in Houston
Houston is flat, built on clay that sheds water, and drained by a web of bayous: Buffalo, Brays, White Oak, Greens, Sims and others. When rain falls faster than the bayous can carry it, water backs up through the streets and into slab-level homes. Hurricane Harvey in August 2017 dropped more than 40 inches on parts of Harris County, and the Memorial Day flood of 2015 and Tax Day flood of 2016 hit many of the same neighborhoods, including Meyerland along Brays Bayou.
Most Houston houses sit on a slab at ground level, so a few inches of floodwater reaches every room at once. Carpet, baseboards, lower drywall, cabinets and interior doors are usually removed, often with a cut line a couple of feet above the water mark, and the wall cavities are sanitized and dried before anything is closed up. In Houston's heat and humidity, mold starts within a day or two, so waiting for an adjuster before starting to dry is costly. Photograph everything first, then begin.
Homes west of the Addicks and Barker reservoirs and along Buffalo Bayou below them flooded during Harvey in areas many owners did not think of as flood zones. That is the lesson for the whole city: flood insurance matters outside the mapped floodplain too, and a new policy from the National Flood Insurance Program normally has a 30-day waiting period.
More about water damage in Houston.
Storm and flood cleanup at a glance
- Service area
- Houston, TX, Harris County
- Water category
- Category 3 (contaminated)
- What's removed
- Soaked carpet, pad, insulation, lower drywall
- Insurance
- Needs a flood policy for rising water
- Drying time
- Usually 3–7 days after tear-out
How the job works
Safety check
The crew checks for electrical hazards, structural damage and gas smells before work begins.
Extract and remove
Water and mud are removed. Contaminated porous materials are cut out and bagged.
Clean and sanitize
Framing, slab and remaining surfaces are cleaned with antimicrobial products.
Dry and verify
Drying equipment runs until framing and slab readings reach dry standards; then rebuilding can start.
Signs, costs and general questions
The warning signs, the factors that affect cost, safe first steps and answers to general questions are the same everywhere. They are covered on the main storm and flood cleanup page.
Questions about storm and flood cleanup
How high do crews cut drywall after a Houston flood?
Usually a foot or two above the visible water line, because drywall and insulation wick water upward. The exact height is set by moisture readings, not by eye.
Where can I see bayou levels near my Houston home?
The Harris County Flood Control District runs a public Flood Warning System with live rainfall and bayou gauges across the county.
Should I wait for the insurance adjuster before removing wet materials?
No. Photograph and video the damage, keep samples of flooring if asked, and start removing wet materials and drying. Policies require you to limit further damage, and mold grows quickly in Houston's climate.
Where we can connect you
Other places we cover in Texas:
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Water where it shouldn't be?
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