Water Damage Restoration & Removal
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Water Damage Restoration for Maine Homes and Businesses
Burst pipes, flooding and roof leaks are a common occurrence here in Maine, and the water rarely stays where it first lands. It runs along floor joists and wicks up into drywall, and on carpeted floors it soaks through the pad into the subfloor. Within a day or two, wet wood begins to swell and a musty smell settles in. After that, mold can start growing inside wall cavities and under flooring where nobody can see it.
- 24/7/365 emergency service
- Over 40 years in business
- Family-owned and operated
- Works with all insurance carriers
Bouchard Cleaning & Restoration DKI removes the water and dries both the building and what is in it. Then we repair what the water ruined. We do this work for homeowners and for owners of rental and commercial property across the state, and our emergency line, 1-800-479-6676, is answered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Why the First Hours Matter
Standing water keeps moving into materials that were still dry when the leak began. A supply line that splits in an unheated corner of a house can run for hours before anyone notices, and by the time the valve is shut, the water has reached the ceiling below and the insulation inside the walls. The sooner extraction starts, the more of the building can be dried where it stands instead of being cut out and replaced.
Where the water came from matters just as much. Restoration work generally sorts it into three categories. Clean water comes from a supply line or a sprinkler head. Gray water carries some contamination, such as an overflowing washing machine or dishwasher. Black water, which comes from sewage or from rivers and storm runoff, carries bacteria and silt. Clean water that sits for a few days can turn into the dirtier kinds, which is one more reason to call early. When black water is involved, porous materials it has soaked usually have to be removed, and the work follows our biohazard and sewage cleanup process.
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We answer 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
How We Dry Out a Building
Extraction comes first
Pulling liquid water out with extraction equipment is far faster than waiting for it to evaporate, so that is where every job begins. Once the standing water is gone, we walk through the property with you and decide what can be dried in place and what has to come out. Saturated carpet pad and drywall that has wicked water well above the floor are common examples of materials that are cheaper to replace than to save.
Drying and moisture monitoring
Next, drying equipment goes in, along with HEPA air scrubbing to capture the dust and particles that get stirred up during the work. A wall or floor can feel dry to the touch while the framing behind it is still holding water. Our team monitors moisture levels throughout the process, checking the materials you can’t see, and tells you where things stand. The equipment stays until the readings show the structure is thoroughly dry, because a wall closed up while it is still damp is where a later mold problem begins.
Deodorizing and contents
When the structure is dry, we deodorize so the damp smell doesn’t linger in the house. Belongings get the same attention as the building. If a room has to be emptied, we can pack out and inventory its contents. Wet clothing and bedding can go through our clothing restoration process. Paper records also need help early, before pages stick together or start to mold, so tell us about any business records or family papers that got wet and we will include them in our document drying.
The Water Problems We Handle
Burst and frozen pipes. A pipe that freezes during a cold snap often splits without leaking until it thaws, which is why a burst pipe often shows itself on the first warm morning after a deep freeze. Seasonal camps and buildings that sit empty over the winter are especially exposed, since a leak there can run for days.
Storm damage. Wind can drive rain through a damaged roof or window, and in winter, meltwater can back up under shingles behind an ice dam and leak into ceilings and exterior walls. We dry the interior so roof or window repairs aren’t sealing water inside the structure.
Groundwater overflow. In spring thaw and after heavy rain, groundwater can rise through basement floors and foundation walls, especially when a sump pump fails or loses power. Basement water often reaches the furnace and water heater along with whatever is stored down there, so we deal with those contents and the space itself.
Malfunctioning sprinkler systems. A discharged sprinkler head can soak ceiling tiles and inventory across more than one floor of a commercial building. For businesses, we work closely with owners and property managers to limit lost time and lost revenue while the space is dried.
Appliance and fixture leaks. Failed water heaters, washing machine hoses, dishwasher lines and toilet overflows are some of the most frequent sources of water damage in a home. They are usually clean or gray water, and the sooner they are dried, the more of the floor and cabinets can be saved.
Repairs After the Drying
Drying stops the damage from spreading, but it doesn’t put back the drywall and flooring that had to come out. Bouchard offers complete rebuild services for residential and commercial properties with our own contractors, so the same company that dried your building brings it back to its pre-loss condition. One team handling the whole job saves you from coordinating separate trades, and the crew doing the repairs already knows what was removed and why.
Insurance and What to Do While You Wait
Call your insurance company as soon as you safely can after a loss. We work with all insurance carriers and are listed as a preferred provider for many of them. If you haven’t been through a water damage claim before, we can explain the process and the kind of documentation your adjuster will want, such as photos of the damage before anything is moved.
While our crew is on the way, shut off the water source if you can do it safely, and turn off electricity to any wet area before going near it. Stay out of rooms where the ceiling is sagging, and keep children and pets away from water that came from outside or from a drain. Our emergency tips for water damage page lists more of what to do and what to avoid in those first hours.
Water Damage Service Across Maine
Our crews work out of our corporate office in Hampden and our Westbrook office, and we serve all 16 counties in Maine, including the islands off the coast. You can find the area near you on our Locations page, including Kennebec County, Penobscot County, Androscoggin County, Cumberland County and Aroostook County.
For an emergency, call 1-800-479-6676 at any hour. For damage that has already been stopped and needs a plan, request an estimate and we will contact you for your free quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I dry out water damage myself?
A small spill caught right away, yes. Once water has soaked into drywall, insulation, subfloor or carpet pad, it is very hard to dry fully with fans and a shop vac, and what stays wet can lead to mold, wood rot and odor. In almost all of those cases you need professional drying equipment and someone measuring moisture.
How long does it take to dry a house after water damage?
It depends on how much water there was, how long it sat and what it soaked into. We monitor moisture levels throughout the drying, keep you updated, and keep the equipment running until the property is thoroughly dry.
What do you do when you arrive?
We extract standing water, and work out what can be dried in place and what has to come out. Then we set up drying equipment and HEPA air scrubbers, deodorize, and keep checking moisture until everything is dry. Wet documents can be dried as well.
Do you handle flooding from groundwater, storms and sprinkler systems?
Yes. Along with burst pipes and roof leaks, we handle storm damage, groundwater coming up through the basement and malfunctioning sprinkler systems, in homes and commercial buildings.
Is flood water dangerous?
Water from a river, storm runoff or a sewer backup carries bacteria and silt. Keep people and pets away from it, and don’t use a household vacuum to pick it up. Materials that flood water has soaked usually have to be removed and the area sanitized. See our biohazard and sewage cleanup page.
Can you rebuild after you've dried everything out?
Yes. We offer complete rebuild services for residential and commercial properties, so you don’t need to hire separate contractors after the drying is done.
Will my insurance cover water damage?
Coverage depends on your policy and on what caused the water. We work with all insurance carriers and can help you understand the claims process. If your claim is denied, you can apply for financing through Enhancify.
Can my clothes, bedding and furniture be saved?
Often, yes. Soft contents can go through our Esporta Wash System, which returns about 90 percent of soft contents to food-grade clean. Upholstered furniture can be cleaned with hot steam extraction, and we inventory and pack out contents when a room has to be emptied.
Financing Available
Not covered by insurance? Apply for financing through our partner Enhancify.
Areas We Serve
We serve all 16 counties in Maine from our offices in Hampden and Westbrook. Find your county for local phone numbers and the towns we cover.
Get to Know Bouchard
Watch these short videos to see who we are and how we help Maine homes and businesses recover.
