Water damage
Structural drying in Louisiana
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 Louisiana: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in Louisiana includes 200 ZIP codes, with local pages for New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Metairie, Kenner, Slidell. Call with your ZIP to confirm a company serves your address.
In New Orleans: Much of New Orleans is slowly sinking, which shifts foundations and cracks pipes, especially in homes on slabs in former marshland neighborhoods. In Shreveport: Humid summers keep crawlspaces damp, causing mold and rot. In Metairie: Soft, subsiding soils crack slabs and the plumbing beneath them. In Kenner: Settling soils crack slabs and the drains beneath them.
Raised homes on piers, older shotgun houses and slab-on-grade subdivisions each flood and dry differently.
Louisiana licenses mold remediation through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors (LSLBC), and residential contractors on jobs over a set threshold through the same board. Verify licenses on the LSLBC website.
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 Louisiana
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Structural drying at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Scheduled visit
- Typical first step
- Moisture mapping
- Area
- Louisiana
Other risks in Louisiana
Hurricanes and surge
Coastal and southeastern Louisiana face surge, wind and long power outages from Gulf hurricanes.
Rainfall flooding
Slow-moving storms can drop extreme rain on flat terrain, flooding homes far from the coast, as in 2016.
Humidity and mold
Mold grows fast in the heat and humidity, so drying needs to start immediately.
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 Louisiana 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
Do Louisiana mold companies need a license?
Yes. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors issues mold remediation licenses. Check the license on the LSLBC site before hiring.
Should I buy flood insurance in Louisiana if I'm not in a high-risk zone?
It's strongly worth considering. Many homes that flooded in 2016 were outside high-risk zones, and homeowners policies exclude flood.
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 Louisiana
Other services in Louisiana
Related pages
More about water and storm damage in Louisiana, 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.