Bath is covered by Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI from our Westbrook office, along with West Bath, Woolwich, Arrowsic and the rest of Sagadahoc County. The number for Bath is 207-536-7220, and it is answered 24/7/365. After hours a local answering service pages our on-call staff, who call back within 15 minutes to talk through the emergency. Any service we offer can be booked in Bath.
The sections are ordered by what Bath’s older buildings and waterfront tend to need first.
Water damage and flooding in Bath
Bath is a tidal city on the Kennebec, and its downtown sits low along the water. Climate Central and local reporting point to Commercial Street and Washington Street among the downtown areas exposed to high water, and some downtown roads have closed for flooding in wet storms. Ground-floor shops and cellars near the waterfront take the water. We sort what the tidal water touched into what can be cleaned and what has to go, and tell you which is which before anything leaves.
About two thirds of the housing predates 1960, and more than a third of homes are in multi-unit buildings, so leaks travel through ceilings. See water damage restoration and the emergency tips.
Sewage backups and biohazard cleanup in Bath
Much of Bath’s sewer system is combined, carrying stormwater and wastewater in the same pipes, and the city is under a state order to cut the overflows. Separation work is underway in several parts of town. Until it is finished, heavy rain can overload a line and send sewage back into a basement through a floor drain, and the cleanup then has to cover the whole affected area.
Damaged materials come out first, and then the space is cleaned and disinfected. We also handle bodily fluids, animal waste and hoarding. See biohazard cleaning.
Mold in Bath's older homes
With more than half of Bath’s homes built before 1940, many have cellars that stay damp. A leak or a flooded cellar can produce mold in a day or two, often behind plaster and under floors where it cannot be seen.
The assessment and the plan come first, with any testing spelled out. Removal may include anti-microbial treatment and tear-out and rebuilding of damaged material, and our own contractors do the rebuild. The mold assessment and removal page lays out the steps, and the mold prevention tips explain what keeps it from coming back.
Fire, smoke and oil heat puff-backs
Nearly half of the occupied homes in Bath burn oil, and about 7 percent burn wood. A misfiring burner can coat a house in soot, and an old chimney can leave residue of its own. Wiping spreads soot, so leave it alone until it has been assessed.
Plaster walls and old woodwork hold on to smoke odor, so deodorizing takes up much of a fire job in an older house here, and smoke can corrode and discolor surfaces the longer it sits. Call your insurance company early, since we work with all of them. The fire restoration page covers soot, smoke and odor work.
Commercial cleaning and apartment turnovers
Bath has downtown offices, restaurants and apartments over storefronts, and Bath Iron Works is a major employer in the city. Shops and offices there get cleaned and sanitized on a schedule or after an illness goes through a workplace.
For landlords with apartments above downtown storefronts or in older houses, we offer move-in and move-out cleaning, with the carpet and tile done along with the walls, windows and surfaces. The method is on the cleaning and sanitizing page, and turnovers are described under apartment and condo cleaning.
Air duct cleaning
Houses that heat with oil, as about half of Bath’s do, collect dust and, after a puff-back, soot in their ducts. Decades of plaster dust and renovation debris can sit in the runs of an older house. If the home has pets or someone has seasonal allergies, the usual three to five year schedule shortens. Clean ducts also help the heating and cooling system work less. Our duct cleaning page explains what to expect on the day.
Carpet, upholstery and floor care
For carpet and upholstery we bring hot steam extraction in our vans. No preparation is needed, because the furniture is moved for you, and the carpet is usually dry within a day. Rented apartments in older houses and above downtown shops often need pet odors and stains treated between tenants. We also look after tile, waxing the floor and cleaning the grout lines. For tile, grout and upholstery work, read the floor care page.
Post-construction cleanup
Restoring an old building throws up plaster dust that settles in every corner. After the work we remove debris, dust, mud and adhesive, clean walls and high spaces, take the factory stickers off new windows and wash the sills and screens. The ducts are then cleaned, disinfected and inspected, so the dust does not return through the vents. Rebuilds after waterfront flooding get the same list. The post-construction cleanup page goes through it step by step.
Clothing and soft contents restoration
Fire, flood, sewage and mold can damage clothing, bedding and curtains, and many items can be saved. Linens and coats stored in a damp cellar are common casualties of the water problems here. The Esporta Wash System, with a phosphate-free detergent and about half the water, returns about 90 percent of soft contents to food-grade clean according to third-party testing. Details of the service are on our contents restoration page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve West Bath, Woolwich, Arrowsic and Phippsburg?
Yes. We serve Bath and the surrounding Sagadahoc County towns, including West Bath, Woolwich, Arrowsic, Georgetown, Phippsburg and Bowdoinham. Call 207-536-7220.
Which office would handle a Bath job?
Bath is served from our Westbrook office at 24 Bridgton Road Suite 2, and the Bath number goes through to our southern Maine line. If a job needs more people or equipment, we can ask DKI for trained technicians and extra gear.
The storm tide flooded our downtown shop floor. What gets thrown out?
Tidal and river water are contaminated, so soaked wallboard, insulation and carpeting are usually removed. Masonry and framing can usually be cleaned and sanitized, then dried. We keep checking moisture and tell you what can stay.
Sewage backed up through the basement drain in a heavy rain. Who cleans that?
We do. Stay out of the area and call. We remove contaminated material, clean the space and sanitize it.
Our old house has a damp cellar. Do I need a mold assessment now or can it wait?
If you can smell mold or have had a leak or flood, assess it now, since mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours. We tell you what needs to be done, how we will do it and what testing is needed. Anything under 10 square feet can be washed with soap and water and then sprayed with vinegar without rinsing.
A fire in the apartment next door left smoke in ours. Is that something you clean?
Yes. We deodorize, clean soft contents with the Esporta Wash System and can clean the ducts. Don’t wipe the walls first, because that can set the residue.
Can you clean an industrial or office space on short notice?
We handle commercial work of many sizes and have several crews available at once. Tell us the space, the timeline and the budget and we will plan the visit around your operating hours.
What if my insurance won't cover the work?
The financing page explains how to apply through Enhancify, and the cost can be paid over time. If your claim is open, we work with every insurance carrier.
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We're able to accommodate a variety of jobs of varying scope and size. We'll carefully evaluate your needs.
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Not covered by insurance? Apply for financing through our partner Enhancify.
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