Call 207-536-7220 if your Wells house or business has water, smoke, mold or sewage in it. Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI serves Wells, Moody, Drakes Island and Ogunquit from our Westbrook office, and the toll-free number is 1-800-479-6676. Our line is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, and at night or on weekends our on-call staff phone you back.
Shore flooding and empty-house losses come first below because that is what this town calls us about.
Storm surge, shore flooding and water damage in Wells
The January 2024 storms put the ocean into Wells. Waves cleared the nine-foot walls along Webhannet Drive and ran across the street, Drakes Island Road flooded, and the town condemned several homes within days. Houses on the shore side can take salt water, sand and debris through doors and foundation walls in a storm like that. Wet drywall, insulation and flooring generally have to be removed. The framing and concrete are cleaned, sanitized and dried, and we keep checking moisture until the structure is dry.
The calmer cause of water damage here is a pipe. Almost half of the housing units in Wells are seasonal, so a line that freezes in a closed-up cottage may run for days before anyone arrives. The water is pumped out, the building is dried, and wet documents can be dried too. The process is described in water damage restoration, and our water damage tips help owners who are still on the way.
Mold in seasonal homes and after salt-water flooding
A closed-up cottage or a flooded ground floor can both grow mold quickly, and it is not always visible. It can get going a day or two after water gets in, and the first sign is often the smell when a seasonal owner opens the house in spring. Mobile homes, which make up a noticeable share of the housing in Wells, are tight structures where moisture is slow to leave.
We assess the problem first and explain what needs doing and what testing is needed. Removal uses anti-microbial treatment, and materials the mold has ruined are torn out and rebuilt. Bleach changes the color of mold and leaves it alive. For more, read mold assessment & removal and the tips for preventing mold.
Fire and smoke damage
More than half of the year-round houses in town burn fuel oil. A burner that misfires can push soot through the ductwork and onto everything in the house, and a fire in an empty seasonal house can burn longer before it is seen. Soot smears if it is wiped, so wait for us.
Boarded-up openings, a pack-out with an inventory, and cleaned ducts are part of the recovery. We work with insurance companies of every kind. Smoke & fire damage services and the fire damage tips cover the services and the first day’s advice.
Sewage and biohazard cleanup
Sewage in a house is a health hazard, and it needs more than household cleaner. After a storm, a backup can also follow floodwater that has mixed with waste. We remove whatever cannot be saved, clean the area, and sanitize it with the TOMI SteraMist system, an ionized hydrogen peroxide mist that leaves no residue. The same crews handle bodily fluid cleanup, animal waste, hoarding and vandalism. In a cottage or rental that has been empty for weeks, an owner may find the problem only on arrival, and the sooner we are called the less the odor sets in. See biohazard cleaning.
Cleaning and sanitizing for lodging and commercial buildings
Wells has motels, inns and cottage rentals along Route 1 and near the beaches. We clean and sanitize restaurants, gyms, nursing homes, schools and office buildings, and we do the same for lodging, with sanitizing done as a precaution or after an illness. Specifics are under cleaning & sanitizing.
Condo associations and owners of rental units can have a unit cleaned for move-in or move-out, from surfaces through carpet and tile, ready by the date you need. The scope is listed in apartment & condo cleaning.
Air duct cleaning
For an owner who opens a seasonal house in May, the first time the system runs is when the dust that settled in the ducts over the winter gets blown out. A cottage that took in salt water or sat damp may have a musty smell in the vents as well. Cleaning them first is worth considering, and pets or allergies make it more so. Mobile homes, which are a real share of Wells housing, have short duct runs that fill quickly. The duct cleaning page has the details.
Carpet, upholstery and floor care
The machines we bring for carpet and upholstery are van-mounted hot steam extraction units. You do not need to prepare. Our technicians move the furniture and set it back on blocks and tabs, and carpet typically dries in 12 to 24 hours. Stain pre-treatment, pet odor removal and optional Scotchgard are included, and we handle tile waxing and grout. Cottages and rentals can find the full service in floor care services.
Post-construction cleanup
Many of the houses condemned or damaged by the January storms are being repaired or rebuilt, and seasonal owners often renovate before opening for the summer. Either way, sanding dust and drywall dust coat every shelf and fill the vents. When the builder leaves, we remove debris and adhesive, wash the walls and high spaces, clean the windows, sills and screens, and clean the carpet, tile and ducts. A free quote is offered for post-construction cleaning.
Clothing and soft contents restoration
Salt water, sand and storm debris that come through a shore house leave bedding, curtains and clothing smelling of the sea long after the floor dries. A cottage closed for the winter with a failed heater can leave a mold smell in every drawer, and inns and rentals along Route 1 have large amounts of linen to deal with after a fire or flood. We wash soft contents with the Esporta Wash System, which cleans with phosphate-free soap and roughly half the usual water. The clothing restoration page explains the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you serve Ogunquit and Moody as well as Wells?
Yes. We cover Wells, Moody, Drakes Island and Ogunquit, and the towns on either side. Call 207-536-7220.
Waves flooded our shorefront house. Where do we start?
Stay out of rooms where the ceiling sags, and call your insurance company and us. We remove the materials salt water ruined, then clean, sanitize and dry the rest. The water damage tips cover what to do in the meantime.
We only use our Wells cottage in summer. Can you check it after a freeze?
If a pipe has burst we can start the drying right away. Have your caretaker call 207-536-7220 or 1-800-479-6676 and we will talk through what to expect.
How long can a flooded house wait before mold sets in?
Within 24 to 48 hours mold can take hold. If the water has gone down and the house is still damp, call before the smell starts.
Does homeowners insurance pay for storm surge?
That depends on your policy, and flood and mold coverage varies. We work with every carrier and can help you keep track of where the claim stands. A denied claim or no insurance can be handled through financing from Enhancify, our partner.
Can you clean a motel or inn between seasons?
Yes. We clean carpets and upholstery, tile and grout, and ducts, and we sanitize rooms.
Do you restore mobile or manufactured homes after water damage?
We extract water, dry and clean in any residential building, including mobile homes, and we assess mold if drying was delayed. Say what kind of home it is when you call.
What does a post-flood cleaning of a ground floor involve?
We take out wet drywall, insulation and flooring, remove sand and debris, sanitize the structure and dry it. Moisture is checked on each visit until the building is back to normal.
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