After a heavy downpour
Storm and Heavy Rain Water Damage in Greenbelt, MD
Mid-Atlantic summer storms can drop a great deal of rain in a short time. When gutters, window wells and drains can’t keep up, water finds its way inside. We connect you with local crews who dry the damage and help pinpoint how it got in.
Rain got in during the storm? A person answers, day or night.
Rain Got In? Call NowReviewed
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The problem
How storm water gets inside
Rain damage indoors is almost always a drainage problem. The roof, gutters, downspouts, window wells, area drains and the grade around the house are all meant to move water away. During an intense downpour, any weak point in that chain can send water inside instead.
Entry points are often some distance from where the water shows. A blocked gutter can overflow behind the fascia and run down inside a wall; a full window well can push water under a basement window; a gap in roof flashing can send water along a rafter before it stains a ceiling two rooms away.
The work has two halves: drying what got wet, and identifying where the water got in so the right trade can fix it.
What people notice after a storm
Some signs show during the storm; others appear a day or two later.
- Water under a basement window or around a window well
- A new ceiling stain on the top floor or under a roof valley
- Damp carpet along an exterior wall
- Water dripping from a light fixture or smoke detector
- Wet drywall below a window after wind-driven rain
- Water at the base of a foundation wall after the rain stops
In this corridor
Why storms cause indoor water damage here
Summer in this part of Maryland brings heavy convective storms that can deliver a lot of rain in a short burst. Gutters sized for ordinary rain overflow, and downspouts that discharge right beside the foundation pour roof water straight into the soil against the basement wall.
The ground contributes too. Clay soils common around Greenbelt absorb water slowly, so after repeated storms the ground stays saturated and water presses against foundations and collects in window wells and area drains.
Tree cover is part of the local character and part of the problem. Leaves, seed pods and twigs fill gutters and downspouts through spring and autumn, and a single blocked downspout during a summer storm can direct a surprising amount of water to one spot.
The first hour
What to do right now
Once the rain eases, a few steps limit how far the water gets and help the crew find the source.
Watch for wet ceiling fixtures
Water dripping from a light fixture or smoke detector is running along wiring. If water is near outlets or panels, do not enter and call your utility and emergency services.
Catch drips, move belongings
Put containers under active drips and move furniture and electronics away. Leave any sagging section of ceiling for the crew.
Note where and when water appeared
Water that shows only during wind-driven rain points to a different cause than water that seeps in hours after the storm.
Look from the ground outside
Once the storm has passed and it is light, look for overflowing gutters, disconnected downspouts or window wells full of water.
Tell the building
In a condo or apartment building, roofs, gutters and area drains are often common elements. The association or management office should hear about water entry promptly.
Photograph inside and out
Pictures of the interior damage and of overflowing gutters or full window wells help the crew and form a useful record.
We’ll help you work out where the water is entering before the crew arrives.
Help Me Find Where It’s Coming InShared walls, shared floors
Roofs, gutters and drains that belong to everyone
In multifamily buildings, storm water usually enters through a part of the building no single owner controls.
Top-floor unit with a ceiling leak, or drainage trouble across the building? We’ll help with next steps.
Top-Floor Leak? Call UsHow the work is done
How storm water damage is dried and traced
Find the path
The crew traces water from where it appeared back toward where it entered, using moisture meters and thermal imaging on ceilings and walls.
Protect and extract
Standing water is extracted, wet ceiling insulation and saturated drywall are removed where needed, and belongings are moved.
Dry the structure
Dehumidifiers and air movers dry walls, ceilings, attic framing and floors. Humid post-storm air makes dehumidification especially important.
Report the entry point
The crew notes where water appears to have come in, so a roofer, gutter contractor or waterproofing specialist can make the exterior repair.
Restore interiors
After readings confirm dryness, ceilings, drywall, insulation and finishes are repaired.
Why storms and humidity go together
The air after a summer storm is often close to saturated. Materials dry slowly in those conditions, so the crew relies on dehumidifiers with the affected rooms kept closed. Expect drying to take a little longer than it would in dry, cool weather.
Time and cost
Why storm damage jobs vary in length and price
Storm damage ranges from a single damp wall to several rooms.
- How many rooms and levels were affected
- Ceiling and attic insulation that got wet
- Whether water entered at the roof, a window or the foundation
- Finished basement materials at the lowest level
- Access to roofs, attics or neighbouring units
- Humidity in the days after the storm
Before anything starts, the crew explains what they plan to do. Exterior repairs by other trades are priced separately by those trades.
Emergency response when heavy rain gets in.
Get Storm Help NowAfterward
After the storm damage is repaired
The best protection against the next storm is on the outside of the building. Clean gutters and downspouts before summer and after leaf fall, extend downspouts so they discharge well away from the foundation, add covers to window wells and make sure soil slopes away from the house.
Inside, keep an eye on the repaired area after the next heavy rain. A dry ceiling or wall through a couple of storms is good confirmation that the exterior repair worked.
Keep the crew’s documentation of the work performed alongside your own photographs of the storm damage.
Related services
Areas we serve
Questions
Storm and rain water questions
Yes, especially if it has reached carpet, drywall or insulation. Repeated wetting makes materials deteriorate faster, and finding the entry point is easier while the evidence is fresh.
Restoration crews dry and repair the interior damage. Roof, gutter and waterproofing repairs are done by those trades. The crew will tell you where the water appears to be entering so you can call the right one.
Water runs along rafters, sheathing and ceiling joists before it finds a place to drip. It is common for the stain to be several feet, or even a room, away from the entry point.
Clear leaves and debris from the well, check that its drain isn’t blocked, and consider a cover. If water still collects, a waterproofing contractor can look at the drain and the grading.
It can push water sideways through window frames, siding joints and vents that stay dry in ordinary rain. The damage often shows as wet drywall below windows on the side of the house facing the storm.
Loose-fill and batt insulation that got soaked usually compacts and holds water against the ceiling below. It is often removed and replaced once the attic is dry.
Roofs are commonly handled by the association or management office, so tell them right away. How repair and cost questions are handled depends on your building’s documents; ask the association and your own insurer.
Contacting your own insurer and reading your own policy is sensible, because what applies depends on your individual policy. Photographs taken during or soon after the storm, plus the crew’s documentation of the work performed, are generally useful.
Storm passed, water stayed? Let’s dry it out
Tell us where the water showed up. We will connect you with a crew that can dry it properly and help find where it got in.
Straight answers from local crews after a rough storm.
Call a Local Restoration Crew