When water, smoke or sewage hits a home or business in Houlton, Cary Mills, Hodgdon, Monticello or Littleton, call 1-800-479-6676 or 207-947-4454. Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Houlton customers can book any cleaning or restoration service we offer. The sections that follow start with flooding along the Meduxnekeag and Pearce Brook, then move to the older housing and the other work we do here.
Flood and water damage in Houlton
Pearce Brook runs through town, and the National Weather Service lists flooding of low property along Route 1 and Abraham Street when it rises. The Meduxnekeag River floods Houlton Riverfront Park first and then, at higher levels, reaches basements in Cary Mills and properties along Porter Settlement Road. Ice jams add to the flooding in late winter and spring.
We extract the water, then dry the structure and the contents it reached. Burst pipes, ground water overflow and wet documents are part of the work. Our water damage restoration page walks through the whole job, and the tips for the first hours cover what to do before we arrive.
Mold assessment and removal in Houlton
More than half of the homes were built before 1960, and about three in ten before 1940. Old foundations take on water in a flood and stay damp afterward, and mold grows on framing, stored belongings and the backs of finished walls. We assess the problem before we touch it and walk you through the steps. Then comes anti-microbial treatment, and damaged framing or drywall is torn out and rebuilt. The mold remediation page lays out the steps, and the mold-proofing tips explain what keeps mold from coming back.
Smoke and fire damage in Houlton
Seven in ten homes burn oil, and a few still burn coal or wood. A furnace that misfires fills the house and its ducts with soot, and solid-fuel stoves and chimneys leave smoke residue of their own. Wiping soot off walls smears it, so call first. We assess the damage, board up openings, pack out and inventory belongings, and clean, deodorize and HEPA-scrub the air. Ducts get cleaned as well, and we can handle reconstruction. We work with all insurance carriers and can help you understand the claims process. The smoke damage services page covers soot, smoke and odor work in detail.
Sewage and biohazard cleanup in Houlton
Flood water can push sewage into a basement, and a blocked line can do the same without any flood. Old foundations and cellars make cleanup harder, because contaminated water soaks into stone, block and stored belongings. We pull out what cannot be saved, then clean the space and sanitize it with the TOMI SteraMist system, which leaves no residue. Hoarded homes, animal waste, bodily fluids and vandalism are cleaned up too. Our biohazard cleanup page describes each type of job.
Cleaning and sanitizing in Houlton
About a quarter of the housing units are in buildings of two or more units, so rental turnover is steady work. We clean apartments between tenants, covering surfaces, windows, walls, carpet and tile, and we agree the timeline with the landlord. Sanitizing is available for medical buildings, nursing homes, schools, offices and municipal buildings. The cleaning and sanitizing page explains the method, and the apartment cleaning page covers turnovers.
Duct cleaning in Houlton
Many homes here are old, and old systems collect decades of dust. A furnace puff-back or a flood puts soot or dirt into the ducts, and the furnace keeps circulating it until they are cleaned. Oil heat in seven of ten homes means soot is the usual culprit, and the few homes with coal or wood stoves add ash. Clean ducts improve indoor air quality and can lower heating costs. More is on the duct work page.
Carpet, upholstery and floor care in Houlton
Carpet and upholstery are cleaned with van-mounted hot steam extraction, with the furniture moved by our crew and set back on blocks and tabs. The carpet is usually dry within 12 to 24 hours, which suits rental units that have a new tenant waiting. Winter salt and sand build up in shop and office carpet, and commercial customers can add tile waxing and grout cleaning to the visit. For tile, grout and upholstery work, read the carpet cleaning page.
Post-construction cleanup in Houlton
In an older house, a repair after a flood or a fire leaves plaster, drywall and sanding dust in every room. We remove debris, dust and adhesive, wash the windows, sills and screens, and clean the carpet and tile. The duct system is cleaned and inspected as well so the dust does not return through the vents. Contractors and owners can ask for a free quote. See post-construction cleaning for the full task list.
Clothing and contents restoration in Houlton
Clothing and other soft contents that sat in flood water, smoke or sewage are often worth saving. A basement flood reaches the winter coats, boots and bedding stored low, and a fire in an apartment building smokes the neighbors’ closets too. The Esporta Wash System returns about 90% of soft contents to food-grade clean in third-party testing, using about half the usual water. The soft contents cleaning page covers clothing, linens and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pearce Brook came up into our yard. Is that a job for you?
If the water entered a building, yes. We extract it and dry the structure and contents, and we monitor moisture. Call your insurance company as well.
Do you cover Cary Mills and the rest of southern Aroostook?
We serve all 16 Maine counties, including Cary Mills, Hodgdon, Monticello, Littleton, Linneus, Ludlow, Oakfield and Smyrna.
The river flooded our basement. What should we do first?
Call your insurance company and stay out of rooms with sagging ceilings. Do not turn on wet appliances or electronics. Then call us to extract and dry the space.
How soon should a flooded basement be dried to avoid mold?
Within 24 to 48 hours. After that, mold can grow, and we assess and remove it if it has.
We have an old furnace that backfired. Is the soot dangerous?
Soot damages surfaces and contents and should be cleaned by professionals. Do not wipe it or turn on soot-covered electronics before it has been cleaned.
Can you clean an older house split into apartments?
Yes. We clean apartments between tenants and can restore units after a fire or water loss.
Does your after-hours service work for Houlton?
Yes. Call 1-800-479-6676 or 207-947-4454 at any hour, and our on-call staff will call you back.
What happens if we have no insurance?
Without insurance, you can finance the work with Enhancify, our partner.
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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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