Moisture Damage Restoration in Fort Washington

Best Option Restoration offers moisture damage restoration in Fort Washington for houses, offices and other commercial space. That includes tracking down damp building materials, drying them, removing what is too damaged to keep and repairing the finishes.

Fort Washington is an unincorporated community centered in Upper Dublin Township, and the township's own offices are located here. A 2008 Temple University flood study of the area described high water tables and easily saturated soils, two conditions that keep foundations and slabs damp long after the rain stops.

Local Conditions Behind Moisture Damage in Fort Washington

• Pine Run and Rapp Run. Both streams cross the Fort Washington Office Park, and the Temple study found that a large percentage of the park lies in floodways and the 100-year floodplain. Ground-floor suites there can take on water at wall bases and under flooring.
• A road built in the floodway. The same study notes that Virginia Drive was built within the Pine Run floodway. Buildings along it need door thresholds, slab joints and utility entries examined after heavy rain.
• Older houses in the mix. Census estimates show about 23 percent of Fort Washington housing units were built in 1939 or earlier. Foundations of that age deserve a close look for seepage, which often shows as flaking paint or damp plaster on lower walls.
• Postwar plumbing. About six in ten units date from the 1950s through the 1980s. Supply lines, drain connections and water heaters of that age are a regular source of slow leaks inside walls and under floors.

Our Moisture Damage Restoration Steps in Fort Washington

1. Assessment. We record moisture readings room by room and identify whether the water is from plumbing, the roof, groundwater or humidity.
2. Protection. Furniture and contents are moved or covered, and the wet area is isolated from dry rooms.
3. Selective removal. Swollen baseboard, saturated insulation, delaminated flooring and crumbling drywall come out.
4. Surface cleaning. Remaining materials are cleaned, including any staining or growth that developed while they were wet.
5. Structural drying. Dehumidifiers and air movers stay in place while we log readings until they level off.
6. Repairs. Drywall, trim, flooring and paint are restored.

Property Types We Work In Around Fort Washington

Fort Washington is mostly a community of detached houses. Census estimates put single-family detached homes at about 67 percent of units and owner-occupied households at about 81 percent, with townhomes and small apartment buildings making up most of the rest. The office park beside the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 309 interchange adds multi-tenant office buildings and hotels, and we work in those as well.

Areas We Serve In and Around Fort Washington

We take calls from Fort Washington addresses in both Upper Dublin and Whitemarsh townships and from nearby communities:

• Ambler
• Dresher
• Maple Glen
• Oreland
• Flourtown

Common Questions About Moisture Damage Restoration in Fort Washington

Which township handles permits for a Fort Washington address?

Upper Dublin Township Code Enforcement in most cases. The township enforces the statewide Uniform Construction Code and requires permits to be issued before covered work begins. Some Fort Washington mailing addresses are in Whitemarsh Township, which has a separate Building and Codes Department.

My office is in the Fort Washington Office Park. How do you handle a building with tenants?

We plan the work with the property manager. That covers which suite is isolated, when removal takes place and how shared corridors stay clear.

What counts as moisture damage if there was no flood?

Warped flooring, stained ceilings, soft drywall, rusted fasteners and musty odors can all come from a slow leak, seepage or indoor humidity. EPA guidance is that materials left wet for 24 to 48 hours can begin to grow mold, so long-term dampness usually involves cleanup as well as drying.

Will my insurance pay for the work?

Your insurer decides what your policy covers. We provide photos, moisture logs and a written scope you can share with your adjuster.

For damp, stained or water-damaged materials in a Fort Washington property, contact us to schedule an inspection.