Water damage
Structural drying in Illinois
Structural drying removes moisture that has soaked into walls, framing, subfloors and cabinets after the visible water is gone. It uses calculated airflow, dehumidification and daily meter readings so materials reach a documented dry standard before anything is closed up.
Structural drying in Illinois: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in Illinois includes 507 ZIP codes, with local pages for Chicago, Rockford, Aurora, Joliet, Schaumburg, Elgin, Evanston, Naperville. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.
Intense rain overwhelms combined sewers in Chicago and older suburbs, backing water and sewage into basements. Backwater valves and overhead sewers are common fixes. Polar-vortex cold, like the January 2019 event, freezes pipes in exterior walls, garages and crawlspaces.
In Chicago: Intense rain overwhelms the combined sewer system, sending water and sewage into basements. Backwater valves and overhead sewers are common fixes. In Rockford: Heavy rain and high groundwater flood basements, especially when sump pumps fail. In Aurora: Heavy rain overwhelms sump pumps and floods finished basements. In Joliet: Heavy rain overwhelms sump pumps and floods basements.
Chicago bungalows, two-flats and older suburban homes nearly all have basements, many of them finished, which raises the cost of any water loss.
Illinois doesn't license general contractors statewide, but roofers are licensed by the state and many cities, including Chicago, license contractors locally. Ask for local licenses and insurance.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving Illinois
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Structural drying at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Scheduled visit
- Typical first step
- Moisture mapping
- Area
- Illinois
Other risks in Illinois
Sump pump failure
Power outages during storms stop sump pumps exactly when they're needed. Battery backups help.
Signs you need structural drying
- Walls or baseboards still feel cool or damp days after a leak
- Paint bubbling or peeling near the floor
- Musty odor that returns after cleaning
How the work is done
Moisture mapping, then Open cavities if needed, then Airflow and dehumidification, then Document the dry standard. See the full structural drying process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Illinois quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of structural drying cost factors.
Structural drying questions
Is sewer backup covered by insurance in Illinois?
Usually only with a sewer or drain backup endorsement. Many Chicago-area homeowners add it because basement backups are so common.
Do Illinois contractors need a license?
There's no statewide general contractor license, but Chicago and many suburbs require local licensing, and roofers need a state license.
Why not just use fans?
Fans move air but don't remove moisture from it. Without dehumidification, the water evaporated from your walls stays in the room and soaks back into other materials.
Do walls always have to be cut open?
No. Many clean-water losses dry in place with small access holes. Walls are cut when water is contaminated, insulation is soaked, or readings won't come down.
Cities in Illinois
Other services in Illinois
Related pages
More about water and storm damage in Illinois, or see structural drying nationwide.
Related services
Water damage restoration
Water damage restoration removes standing water, dries the structure to a measured dry standard, and repairs or replaces what can't be saved.
Learn more
Emergency water extraction
Water extraction is the first step of any water loss: removing standing and absorbed water with powerful pumps and extractors before drying starts.
Learn more
Mold remediation
Mold remediation removes mold growth under containment so spores don't spread, cleans or discards affected materials, and corrects the moisture problem that let it grow.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.