Water damage
Structural drying in New Orleans, LA
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 New Orleans: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in New Orleans currently includes 58 ZIP codes: 70112, 70113, 70114, 70115, 70116, 70117, 70118, 70119, 70121, 70122, 70123, 70124, 70125, 70126, 70127, 70128, 70129, 70130, 70131, 70139, 70142, 70145, 70146, 70148, 70150, 70151, 70152, 70153, 70154, 70156, 70157, 70158, 70159, 70160, 70161, 70162, 70163, 70164, 70165, 70166, 70167, 70170, 70172, 70174, 70175, 70176, 70177, 70178, 70179, 70181, 70182, 70184, 70185, 70186, 70187, 70189, 70190, 70195. If your ZIP is on this list, a call connects you with a company that serves it.
Much of New Orleans is slowly sinking, which shifts foundations and cracks pipes, especially in homes on slabs in former marshland neighborhoods. Raised shotgun houses have exposed plumbing under the floor that can freeze in rare cold snaps and leak into the crawlspace.
Raised homes on piers flood differently than slab homes, and older wood-frame houses have plaster walls and original cypress framing.
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 New Orleans, LA
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Structural drying at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Scheduled visit
- Typical first step
- Moisture mapping
- Area
- New Orleans, LA
Other risks in New Orleans
Street flooding from heavy rain
Intense rain can overwhelm the drainage pumps, flooding streets and low homes, as in the August 2017 floods.
Hurricanes
Surge, wind and long power outages from Gulf hurricanes damage homes and leave them without AC.
Humidity and mold
Mold grows fast in the heat and humidity after any water loss.
Termite-weakened framing
Formosan termites are widespread in New Orleans, and moisture from leaks makes wood framing more attractive to them, so water damage often uncovers termite damage.
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 New Orleans 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 New Orleans mold companies need a license?
Yes. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors issues mold remediation licenses.
Do I need flood insurance in New Orleans?
Yes, strongly recommended. Much of the city is below sea level, 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.
Related pages
Other services in New Orleans
More about water and storm damage in New Orleans, 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.