After the storm
Storm and heavy rain water damage in Maple Valley, WA
Most storms here are more wind and steady rain than drama. But a big one can drive water through roofs, windows and siding, and fill crawl spaces for days afterward. This is how that damage is handled.
We can help you work out what to do first once the storm has passed.
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The problem
How storm water gets into a house
Storm damage here usually comes from a combination of wind and prolonged rain rather than a single burst. Wind lifts shingles and drives rain sideways into siding, around windows and doors, through roof vents and under flashing. A falling limb can open a roof. Then days of heavy rain keep water coming through those openings while gutters overflow and the ground saturates.
The result is often water in several places at once: a ceiling stain upstairs, wet drywall under a window, and water in the crawl space from runoff. Each needs its own look.
Right now
What to do right now
For emergencies involving downed lines, fallen trees on the house or anything affecting safety, contact your local emergency services first.
Stay clear of wet electrics
If water is near outlets or panels, do not enter. Call your utility and emergency services.
Catch water indoors
Put buckets and towels under drips. If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people and belongings out from underneath it.
Leave the roof for professionals
Don’t go up on a wet, windy roof. Temporary tarping can be arranged once conditions allow.
Photograph inside and out
Record damage to the roof, siding and windows from the ground, and every wet area inside. Note the date and time.
Move belongings from wet areas
Get furniture, electronics and paper away from walls and windows where water is coming in.
Check the crawl space from the hatch
After a long storm, look for water on the vapor barrier, especially on the uphill side.
Once you’re safe, a short call can help sort out what needs doing first.
Talk to a Restoration ProLocal causes
What storms typically damage here
Roofs under tall trees
Wooded lots mean branches and needles on the roof. Wind brings down limbs, and needle-clogged valleys and gutters back water up under shingles.
Windows and doors
Wind-driven rain gets past worn seals and flashing, especially on the side of the house facing the weather.
Siding and trim
Gaps at trim, penetrations and the bottom of siding let water into the wall behind, where it may not show for days.
Gutter overflow
Gutters full of needles overflow in heavy rain and dump water at the foundation. See gutter and drainage intrusion.
Crawl spaces after the storm
The ground stays saturated for days after a big storm, and water can keep arriving in crawl spaces well after the rain stops.
Power outages and sumps
Outages during storms stop sump pumps. See sump pump failure cleanup.
What you notice
What people notice after a storm
- A ceiling stain that grows after each band of rain.
- Water on a windowsill or wet carpet under a window.
- Paint bubbling on an exterior wall inside the house.
- Dripping in the attic near a roof vent or chimney.
- Water in the crawl space a day or two after the storm.
Storm water on the inside of an exterior wall is easy to underestimate. It may only show as a small stain while the insulation and sheathing behind are soaked.
The hidden part
What happens inside an exterior wall
Behind the siding of most houses here is a layer of house wrap or building paper, then plywood or OSB sheathing, then insulation between the studs, then drywall. Wind-driven rain that gets past the siding and trim is supposed to drain down the house wrap and out at the bottom. When flashing above a window is missing or has failed, or the wrap is torn, water gets behind it and soaks the sheathing and insulation instead.
From inside, that often shows as a small stain in the corner of a window, a patch of bubbled paint, or a baseboard that has darkened. The insulation behind it may be soaked from top to bottom. Because the wall is closed on both sides, it dries very slowly on its own, and the sheathing can stay wet for weeks.
That’s why the crew checks exterior walls with moisture meters after a storm, even where there’s only a small mark. Opening a section to dry it is far less work than replacing sheathing later.
Step by step
How storm water damage is handled
Stopping water entry
Temporary protection such as tarping or boarding is arranged so water stops coming in. Permanent roof and window repairs follow separately.
Assessment
The crew maps moisture in ceilings, walls and floors, including the attic and crawl space, and explains the plan and pricing.
Removing wet materials
Saturated ceiling drywall, wall insulation and carpet pad are removed where necessary.
Drying
Dehumidifiers and air movers dry each affected area. Wall cavities may be opened to reach wet insulation.
Monitoring
Readings are repeated until everything is dry. The attic and crawl space are checked too.
Repairs
Once dry, drywall, insulation, paint and flooring are replaced. See reconstruction and repairs.
You’ll get a clear plan and pricing before any work begins.
Call for a Clear Plan and PriceTime and cost
What affects time and cost
- How many areas of the house took on water.
- Whether roof or window repairs are needed before drying can finish.
- Attic and wall insulation that needs replacing.
- Water in the crawl space as well as upstairs.
- Demand after a regional storm, when many homes are affected.
- Travel and access, especially with debris on rural roads.
After a large windstorm, many houses across the region need help at once. We’ll be straight with you about timing when you call.
Afterward
What happens afterward
Once the house is dry and repaired, it’s worth having the roof and gutters looked at, and trimming branches that overhang the roof. Before next winter, clean gutters and check that downspouts are connected and carried away from the foundation.
The crew can document the work performed.
Local crews who know what a Cedar River valley storm leaves behind.
Speak With Someone LocalRelated services
Questions
Storm water damage questions
You can call any time. For anything involving downed lines, trees on the house or other safety concerns, contact emergency services first. For water coming in, a call helps you plan the first steps.
Temporary roof protection can be arranged as part of the response once conditions are workable. Permanent roof repair is done by a roofer.
The ground stays saturated for days after heavy rain, and water keeps moving through the soil toward the foundation. It usually slows as the ground drains.
Bubbling paint, a stain low on the wall under a window, a musty smell or soft drywall are common signs. Moisture meters confirm it without opening the wall.
Roof leaks show up during or right after rain, often near penetrations or valleys. Condensation appears in cold weather as frost or droplets across the underside of the roof deck. The crew can tell the difference.
Only the sections that are saturated or sagging. Ceilings that got damp but held their shape can often be dried in place.
After a regional windstorm, demand rises sharply. We’ll tell you honestly what timing looks like and help you with the steps that make the wait easier.
Yes. Crews typically take photos before and during the work, log moisture readings and note what was removed or dried. Ask for copies and keep them with your house records.
Many people do while one or two rooms are drying. If you have any concern about the building after a storm, contact local emergency services or a qualified professional.
Only if it’s safe. Wet, windy roofs are slippery. Many people put buckets and plastic sheeting under the leak inside and leave roof work to a roofer or crew with the right equipment.
Storm passed, water stayed?
Call and we’ll help you sort out what to deal with first, and connect you with a local crew to dry it out.
Straightforward help, with pricing before any work.
Call About Storm Water