Camp Ellis and Ferry Beach homeowners know what a nor’easter can do, and we are the number to call for the cleanup. Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI serves all of Saco out of our Westbrook office. Reach us on 207-536-7220 or toll-free 1-800-479-6676. Saco calls are answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and on-call staff take the calls that come in overnight.
Saco can use any service we offer.
Nor'easter flooding and water damage in Saco
Saco’s coastal neighborhoods flood repeatedly. In a March 2018 nor’easter about 15 homes in the Ferry Beach and Camp Ellis areas were damaged by flooding. Worse, water went over the Camp Ellis seawall and residents waded through flooded streets for days. The January 2024 storms flooded Camp Ellis again and set tide records. Salt water that gets into a house leaves sand and silt, and it can carry sewage, so wet drywall, insulation and flooring have to be removed. We clean and sanitize the structure and dry it, checking moisture on each visit.
Elsewhere in the city the cause is usually a burst pipe or roof leak. A third of Saco’s housing units are in multi-family buildings, so a leak often reaches a neighbor. Our water damage restoration page walks through the process, and the water damage tips help until the crew arrives.
Mold after coastal flooding and in older homes
About one Saco home in five was built before 1940, and older homes near the river and the shore tend to have damp cellars. Mold can take hold a day or two after a flood, and it is easy to miss behind walls and under flooring that dried only on the surface.
An assessment comes first, so we can say what the work involves and which tests apply. That can mean anti-microbial treatment, and tearing out and rebuilding materials the mold has reached. Bleach does not kill mold. Both mold assessment & removal and the tips for preventing mold go further.
Fire, smoke and oil burner puff-backs
Around six in ten Saco homes heat with oil, and a burner that misfires can send soot through the ducts to every room. Smoke and soot also follow a kitchen or electrical fire. Soot smears when it is wiped, which can turn a removable film into a stain.
We assess the damage and board up what is open, pack out and inventory belongings, clean the structure, deodorize and clean the ducts. We work with insurance companies of every kind, and our staff can explain how a claim proceeds. The services are on the fire damage restoration page, and the first things to do are in the fire damage tips.
Sewage and biohazard cleanup
Saco’s sewage treatment plant sits on the river, and high tides and heavy storms have strained it before. A backup into a basement is a health hazard that needs more than household cleaner. Anything that cannot be saved is removed, and the space is cleaned and sanitized. Bodily fluid cleanup, animal waste, hoarding and vandalism are covered too, as the biohazard cleaning page explains.
Commercial cleaning, sanitizing and apartment turnovers
We clean and sanitize offices, schools, restaurants, gyms, nursing homes and other commercial buildings in Saco, and the sanitizing can be done ahead of time or once an illness is confirmed, as cleaning & sanitizing explains.
Landlords and condo associations can book cleaning of surfaces, windows, walls, carpet and tile timed to the next tenant’s arrival; the scope is under apartment & condo cleaning.
Air duct cleaning
A flood cleanup in a shore house can leave silt and moisture residue in low ducts, and a puff-back sends soot through the whole system. Both are reasons to have the ducts cleaned before the heat comes back on. In the older houses near Saco Island and the river, decades of dust sit in the runs as well, which is worth clearing when a family member has allergies. Pets and indoor smoking shorten the recommended 3 to 5 years. The duct cleaning page explains what a clean system does for air quality and heating costs.
Carpet, upholstery and floor care
Our vans carry hot steam extraction units for carpet and upholstery. No preparation is needed: we move the furniture, put it back on blocks and tabs, and carpet typically dries in 12 to 24 hours. We pre-treat stains first and can finish with Scotchgard, and pet odors are treated too. For floors that collect sand, we also wax tile and clean grout. The rest of the service is covered by floor care services.
Post-construction cleanup
Storm repairs at Camp Ellis and Ferry Beach, and the renovation of the apartment buildings along Main Street and Route 1, all end with fine dust on surfaces and inside the vents. We haul out debris and adhesive, wash walls and high spaces, clean the carpet and tile floors, and remove the factory stickers from new windows before washing the windows, sills and screens. Ducts are cleaned, disinfected and inspected last. The post-construction cleaning page covers the scope, and quotes are free.
Clothing and soft contents restoration
After the sea comes over a seawall, a basement or first-floor closet can hold a lot of ruined fabric: coats, bedding, curtains and upholstered pieces. Salt water, sewage, smoke and mold all leave odors that ordinary laundering does not remove. We wash soft contents with the Esporta Wash System, which uses a phosphate-free detergent and about half the water of a conventional wash. Esporta’s third-party testing found it returns about 90% of soft contents to food-grade clean. Read more at clothing restoration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve Camp Ellis, Ferry Beach and Old Orchard Beach?
Yes. We cover all of Saco, including Camp Ellis and Ferry Beach, and Old Orchard Beach next door. Call 207-536-7220.
A storm pushed seawater through our foundation. Do we have to tear everything out?
No. Wet drywall, insulation and carpet usually have to come out. Framing and concrete can generally be cleaned, sanitized and dried, and we tell you what can stay before we start.
Does flood damage from the ocean count as water damage on my policy?
Policies differ, and flood is often a separate coverage. Our staff deal with all insurance carriers and can go through a claim with you. When a claim is denied or there is no coverage, Enhancify, our financing partner, has an application you can fill out online.
The power is out and my freezer thawed. What should I do about the food?
Do not use food that was exposed to heat, including canned goods. If the power is off, empty the refrigerator and freezer. Our fire damage tips and water damage tips have the full lists.
How long will my basement take to dry after a flood?
It depends on how much water came in and what it reached. We monitor moisture throughout and keep you informed until it is back to normal.
Can you clean carpet that got wet but wasn't flooded?
Yes, for clean water we extract and dry it, and we pre-treat stains. If it was sewage or flood water, the carpet usually has to be removed.
We rent apartments in Saco. Can you clean between tenants?
Yes, and the ducts can be cleaned during the same visit.
Who do I call at 2 a.m. during a storm?
You can reach us at 207-536-7220 or 1-800-479-6676 at any hour. Our on-call staff return after-hours calls, storm or no storm.
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