Musty smell after a leak
A damp smell days after a leak usually means moisture is still trapped somewhere. We meter the area to find it and dry it before mold has a chance to start.
Serving 49 Chicago-area suburbs
Kitchen Water Damage Restoration in Chicago & the Suburbs
Dishwasher, sink or pipe leak in your Chicagoland kitchen? We stop the water, dry the structure and put the kitchen back together.
- Serving the Chicago suburbs, from Naperville to Evanston
- Containment so the damage doesn't spread
- One team from cleanup to rebuild
Kitchen water damage we handle in Chicagoland
Kitchen leaks rarely stay where you can see them. Water from a dishwasher, sink or fridge line runs under cabinets, into the subfloor and down to the ceiling below. In Chicagoland we stop the source, pull out the water, dry the structure with measured readings and rebuild what can't be saved.
Stain on the ceiling below the kitchen
A brown ring on the basement or downstairs ceiling often means the kitchen floor has been leaking through. We check from both sides and dry the cavity between them.
Dishwasher leaked across the floor
A failed door gasket, cracked drain hose or loose supply fitting can spread water under the whole run of base cabinets. We pull the dishwasher, extract the water and dry under the cabinets, not just in front of them.
Water under the kitchen sink
A slow drip below the sink can go unnoticed for weeks. We stop it, dry the cabinet and the space behind it and replace particleboard that has swollen.
Water damage found during a remodel
Old leak damage behind cabinets is common. We fix it properly so the new kitchen isn't built over it.
Swollen cabinet bottoms and toe kicks
We pull toe kicks first so air can reach under the cabinets, then decide which boxes dry out and which panels need replacing.
Flooring lifting, buckling or cupping
When flooring lifts after a kitchen leak, the material on top and the subfloor below both need attention. We check each before deciding on replacement.
Burst or split supply line
Supply line failures soak everything nearby fast. Extraction and drying equipment matter more than speed with a mop, and we set both up once the line is repaired.
From cleanup to rebuild
- Water extractionStanding water is removed with extraction equipment, including from under appliances and cabinets.
- Moisture mappingMoisture meters and a thermal camera show where water traveled in floors, walls and cabinets.
- Removing toe kicks and wet materialsToe kicks come off, and soaked drywall, insulation and swollen cabinet panels are cut out.
- Moving appliancesAppliances in the wet area come out so the floor beneath can dry.
- Daily readingsReadings are taken and recorded on each visit so you can see the drying progress.
- Documentation for insuranceWe document the loss and can walk the job with your insurance adjuster.
- RebuildWe restore the kitchen once everything is dry: walls, cabinets, floor and fixtures.
How we dry, clean and rebuild
Moisture meters and thermal imagingTools that measure moisture in wood and drywall and show where it went.
Cavity dryingSmall openings or removed toe kicks that let air into wall and cabinet cavities.
Air moversDirected fans that speed evaporation from wet surfaces.
Antimicrobial treatmentApplied to cleaned framing and cavities where industry practice calls for it.
Replacement cabinet panels and toe kicksNew bottoms, sides or toe kicks matched as closely as possible to the existing cabinets.
Kitchen Water Damage Restoration across Chicagoland
The same job looks different in a 1920s bungalow, a 1970s split-level and a new subdivision. Here is what we plan for in different parts of the region.
Prewar towns
Leaks from old galvanized or copper pipes
A leak in an old pipe is rarely the last one. After drying, we look at the condition of the rest of the run.
Condo and townhome towns
Leak from the unit above or into the unit below
In Glendale Heights and Oak Park condo buildings, a kitchen leak often crosses into a neighbor's unit. We find the source, dry our side and document the damage so the owners and the association can sort out responsibility.
Glendale Heights, Oak Park, Palatine, Mount Prospect, Carol Stream, Schaumburg
Damage and repair: before and after
Before
AfterKitchen Water Damage Restoration in a two-story colonial from the 1990s, Warrenville
The site: a two-story colonial from the 1990s near Saddle Ridge. The kitchen as it was: beige sheet vinyl and honey-oak cathedral raised-panel cabinets with worn finish near the handles, brass knobs. The main complaint was boards that cupped after a dishwasher leak. After: the kitchen dried out with meters confirming it, new flooring laid and new toe kicks and cabinet bottoms fitted. Work included water extraction, removing toe kicks and wet materials, plus moving appliances.
Kitchen Water Damage Restoration in Warrenville →
Before
AfterA Buffalo Grove 1990s two-story colonial: before and after
The site: a 1990s two-story colonial near The Highlands. What we started with: oak parquet and white thermofoil cabinets peeling at the edges, oak trim. The reason for the call: boards that cupped after a dishwasher leak. The result: the kitchen dried out with meters confirming it, new flooring laid and new toe kicks and cabinet bottoms fitted. Work included removing toe kicks and wet materials, moving appliances, plus daily readings.
Kitchen Water Damage Restoration in Buffalo Grove →
Before
AfterBefore and after: a two-story colonial from the 1990s in Glenview
This one is a two-story colonial from the 1990s near The Glen. The kitchen as it was: 12-inch beige ceramic tile and golden-oak cabinets with oak soffits above. The main complaint was boards that cupped after a dishwasher leak. After: the kitchen dried out with meters confirming it, new flooring laid and new toe kicks and cabinet bottoms fitted. Work included removing toe kicks and wet materials, daily readings, plus documentation for insurance.
Kitchen Water Damage Restoration in Glenview →Step by step after damage
- Call and shut off the waterTurn off the water, keep away from wet outlets and call; we'll give you an arrival time.
- Assess and extractOn the first visit we measure, photograph and extract.
- Dry and monitorAir movers and dehumidifiers dry the structure, with readings to confirm it.
- Repair and rebuildDamaged drywall, cabinet parts and flooring are replaced and the kitchen is put back together.
Questions after damage
What affects the cost of water damage restoration?
Clean water from a supply line is a smaller job than a drain backup into cabinets. We put the scope in writing after we've measured.
When should I call a water damage company?
Call when you can't see where the water went. Meters find it; towels don't.
Can my cabinets be saved after a leak?
It depends on the material and how long it was wet. Many cabinets are dried in place with only damaged panels replaced.
How long does kitchen water damage restoration take?
Plan on days for drying and more time if cabinets or flooring need replacing. We give you a schedule once we've measured.
Why is there water under my kitchen sink?
It is often a drain slip nut, supply hose or disposal seal. We check each, then dry and repair the cabinet.
Which towns do you serve?
Chicago and 49 suburbs, from Naperville and Aurora to Evanston, Schaumburg and Orland Park. Pick your town below for local details and ZIP codes.
Kitchen Water Damage Restoration near you
Pick your town for local details, ZIP codes and nearby projects.