Water damage
Structural drying in St. Louis, MO
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 St. Louis: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in St. Louis currently includes 61 ZIP codes: 63101, 63102, 63103, 63104, 63105, 63106, 63107, 63108, 63109, 63110, 63111, 63112, 63113, 63114, 63115, 63116, 63117, 63118, 63119, 63120, 63121, 63122, 63123, 63124, 63125, 63126, 63127, 63128, 63129, 63130, 63131, 63132, 63133, 63134, 63135, 63136, 63137, 63138, 63139, 63140, 63141, 63143, 63144, 63146, 63147, 63150, 63155, 63156, 63157, 63158, 63160, 63163, 63164, 63166, 63169, 63177, 63178, 63179, 63180, 63188, 63197. If your ZIP is on this list, a call connects you with a company that serves it.
Combined sewers in older neighborhoods back up into basements during heavy rain. St. Louis's brick homes almost all have basements with floor drains connected to the sewer, which back up during heavy storms.
Brick homes with basements dominate, many with clay sewer laterals and floor drains connected to combined sewers. South City's brick homes and flats from the late 1800s to the 1930s have deep basements, original clay laterals and limestone or brick foundations that seep during heavy rain. Many are owner-occupied two-family flats, so leaks between floors are common.
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 St. Louis, MO
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Structural drying at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Scheduled visit
- Typical first step
- Moisture mapping
- Area
- St. Louis, MO
Other risks in St. Louis
Flash flooding
Record rainfall on July 26, 2022 flooded homes and streets across St. Louis.
River flooding
The Mississippi and Missouri rivers flood low-lying areas, as in the great flood of 1993.
River des Peres
The River des Peres, which carries both stormwater and sewage, overflows in heavy rain and floods nearby neighborhoods.
Ice storms and freezes
Winter ice storms and hard freezes knock out power and freeze pipes.
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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis?
Usually only with a sewer or water backup endorsement.
Do I need a permit for repairs in St. Louis?
Structural, plumbing and electrical repairs need permits from the City of St. Louis Building Division.
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 St. Louis
Structural drying in nearby cities
More about water and storm damage in St. Louis, 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.