Water damage services for Ardmore homes
We provide emergency water extraction, structural drying, crawl space water removal, burst pipe cleanup, sewage backup cleanup, and mold remediation in Ardmore. The neighborhood sits southwest of downtown, largely in the 27103 ZIP code, between the city's 2 major hospital campuses.
Ardmore is the largest neighborhood in Winston-Salem, with roughly 4,300 households according to its neighborhood association. Its historic district, listed on the National Register in 2004, includes more than 2,000 contributing buildings. Development began around 1910, and much of the housing is Craftsman bungalows, cottages, and foursquares from the following decades, along with later infill and apartment buildings. That age and construction style explain most of what we see on water damage calls here.
Common water damage situations in Ardmore
Old supply and drain lines
Houses of this age were typically plumbed with galvanized steel supply lines and cast iron drains. Many have been partly replaced over the years, which leaves a mix of old and new pipe joined in the crawl space and walls. Galvanized pipe corrodes from the inside, and the failures tend to be pinhole leaks that drip into a wall or under the house for a long time before anyone notices. When a line does let go, the steps are on our burst pipe and plumbing leak cleanup page.
Crawl space water
Most Ardmore houses sit on brick pier-and-curtain-wall or continuous brick foundations with a vented crawl space, often with low clearance. Streets rise and fall across the neighborhood, and houses on the low side of a slope collect runoff against the foundation. Standing water under the house, fallen insulation, and musty odors indoors are frequent. See crawl space water removal.
Sewer backups from root intrusion
Large street trees and old clay or cast iron sewer laterals are a common pairing here. Roots enter at the pipe joints and eventually block the line. If your lowest drain backs up, stop using water and read about sewage backup cleanup.
Bathroom leaks over finished rooms
In 1.5-story and 2-story houses, the upstairs bathroom is often directly above a dining room or kitchen. A failed tub drain or toilet seal shows up as a ceiling stain below, and plaster ceilings can hold a surprising amount of water before they give.
How Ardmore's housing changes the drying work
3 things about pre-war Ardmore houses matter for drying. Plaster on wood lath is dense and dries slowly, so it needs more time and gentler conditions than drywall. Original floors are usually solid oak or heart pine nailed over plank subfloor, with a crawl space beneath, which means a wet floor has to be dried from above and checked from below.
And wall cavities in many of these homes have little or no insulation, which actually helps: an empty cavity dries faster than one packed with wet fiberglass. We plan structural drying around those facts.
Houses built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint, and some older materials such as certain floor tiles, pipe insulation, and textured coatings may contain asbestos. When demolition is needed in an older home, those possibilities have to be considered before cutting or sanding. Tell us if you know of either in your house.
What happens when you call from Ardmore
We ask what is wet, where the water came from, and whether it's stopped. On arrival we inspect, take moisture readings, and check the crawl space when a first-floor leak is involved. You get a written scope, then extraction and drying start. We return to monitor readings until the wet materials match the dry parts of the house.
Nearby areas we also serve
From Ardmore we regularly work in neighboring parts of the city, including West End to the north and Buena Vista to the northwest, and Washington Park to the east. The full list of services and coverage is on our main page for water damage restoration in Winston-Salem.
All water damage services available in Ardmore
Every service we offer in Winston-Salem is available in Ardmore. Pick the one that matches your problem for signs, the work involved, and what affects the price.
Emergency water damage restoration
Active leaks and flooding, day or night.
Water extraction services
Standing water pumped and vacuumed out.
Structural drying services
Walls, floors, and framing dried and metered.
Water damage repair
Drywall, flooring, trim, and paint rebuilt.
Flood damage restoration
Storm and creek water cleanup and disinfection.
Basement water damage restoration
Basements and crawl spaces pumped and dried.
Burst pipe & plumbing leaks
Frozen pipes, supply lines, and water heaters.
Ceiling water damage repair
Stained or sagging ceilings traced and repaired.
Hardwood floor water damage repair
Cupped floors dried, repaired, and refinished.
Water-damaged carpet restoration
Carpet extracted, new pad, cleaned, re-stretched.
Sewage backup cleanup
Sewer and septic backups removed and disinfected.
Mold remediation
Mold contained and removed, moisture corrected.
Storm & roof leak damage
Attics, ceilings, and walls dried after storms.
Commercial water damage restoration
Offices, shops, and multi-tenant buildings.
Questions from Ardmore homeowners
Can plaster walls be dried, or do they have to be torn out?
Plaster that got wet from clean water and is still firmly attached can usually be dried in place. It takes longer than drywall and has to be dried gently to avoid cracking. Plaster that has gone soft, is bulging off the lath, or was wet with sewage is removed.
My Ardmore house has original oak floors. Can they survive a leak?
Often, yes. Solid oak tolerates a wetting better than modern engineered or laminate flooring, provided the water is extracted and drying begins within a day or two. Cupping usually relaxes as the boards return to normal moisture content, and the floor can be refinished afterward if needed.
Is my house in the Ardmore Historic District, and does that affect water damage repairs?
The Ardmore Historic District is a National Register listing, which recognizes the neighborhood's history and doesn't by itself restrict interior repairs to a privately owned home. Interior drying, drywall, and flooring work proceed as they would anywhere. For exterior changes, confirm current requirements with the City of Winston-Salem.
Why does my crawl space smell musty every summer?
Vented crawl spaces pull in humid summer air, which condenses on the cooler floor framing and ducts. Add any rainwater that gets in, and the wood stays damp for months. It's worth having the moisture level and the insulation checked.