Water Damage Restoration in Salem, MA

Salem is a harbor city with very old housing stock. Its water damage comes both from the sea and from the age of its buildings.

Historic houses and old materials

Homes in the McIntire Historic District and around downtown date back to the 1700s and 1800s, with lime plaster, old-growth framing and wide-board floors. These materials hold water longer than modern drywall but can usually be saved. Tearing them out is the expensive mistake. See structural drying for how we dry plaster and hardwood in place.

The harbor and filled land

Parts of downtown Salem and the waterfront sit on land that was once tidal flats and river channels. Areas near Derby Street, Collins Cove, the Willows and the South River are exposed when a nor'easter pushes water into the harbor at high tide.

Dense rentals and multi-family houses

The Point, the streets near Salem State and much of central Salem are packed with two- and three-family houses and apartments. One leak upstairs travels through ceilings into the units below, and tenants and owners each need clear documentation for their own insurers.

Ice dams on steep old roofs

Steep roofs, old chimneys and little attic insulation make ice dams common after snowstorms. The leaks appear on top-floor ceilings and around chimney breasts. See ceiling and roof leak repair.