Water, Fire & Mold Damage Restoration in North Charleston

North Charleston at a glance

Kanawha Restoration serves North Charleston and Elk (25387) with water extraction and drying, fire and smoke cleanup, and mold removal. Most of the damage here comes from the age of the housing: plumbing that has been in the walls for decades, and basements and crawl spaces that were never fully dry.

An older, close-knit neighborhood

North Charleston sits on the north side of the city, beside the West Side. Its streets are lined with older homes on small lots, many built in the first half of the 1900s, with modest frame and brick houses close together. Many have basements or crawl spaces, original or partly replaced plumbing, and additions built over the years. The 25387 ZIP code sits inside the larger 25302 boundary, so neighbors just down the street may have a West Side address.

Water damage in older North Charleston homes

Aging plumbing is the most common cause. Galvanized supply pipe rusts from the inside and leaks at threaded joints; cast iron drains crack; and old shutoff valves seize so the water cannot be turned off quickly. Leaks often start inside walls or under floors, where they go unnoticed. Burst pipe water damage and ceiling and drywall water damage cover the cleanup.

Damp basements and crawl spaces are the second. Older foundations of block or stone let water in after heavy rain, and crawl spaces with dirt floors stay damp all summer. Over time that moisture rots sill plates and floor joists and feeds mold.

Storm runoff is the third. When heavy rain overwhelms gutters and street drains, water collects around foundations on lower lots and finds its way inside.

What we check in a North Charleston home

• The main shutoff valve, which may need to be replaced if it will not close
• Galvanized and cast iron lines near the leak and inside nearby walls
• Floor joists, sill plates and subfloor over crawl spaces
• Basement walls for seepage, and stored belongings on the floor
• Additions where old and new construction meet, a common leak point

Signs of a hidden leak in an older home

• A musty smell in one room or closet
• Paint that bubbles or a stain that slowly grows
• Floors that feel soft near the bathroom or kitchen
• A water bill that rises with no change in use
• The sound of running water when nothing is on

How to identify hidden water damage behind walls explains how to check with your water meter.

Fire and smoke damage

In a neighborhood of older homes close together, a fire in one house can send smoke into the next. Older wiring, space heaters and kitchen fires are common causes. Plaster, wood and old finishes absorb smoke odor, so cleanup has to reach beyond the visible soot. Smoke damage cleanup and smoke odor removal explain the process.

Mold in basements and crawl spaces

Damp basements and dirt-floor crawl spaces are the most common places for mold in North Charleston homes, followed by bathrooms without exhaust fans. A vapor barrier in the crawl space, a dehumidifier in the basement and good bathroom ventilation prevent most of it. Basement mold removal and crawl space mold explain how existing mold is removed, and what happens during professional mold remediation walks through each step.

Simple upgrades that prevent damage

• Replace a main shutoff valve that sticks, so you can stop a leak fast.
• Swap rubber appliance hoses for braided stainless ones.
• Lay a vapor barrier in a dirt-floor crawl space.
• Keep gutters clear and downspouts directed away from the foundation.
• Have old galvanized lines checked by a plumber.

Nearby areas

North Charleston borders the West Side, with Downtown Charleston and the East End nearby and Sissonville to the north. All are part of the water, fire and mold cleanup in Charleston on this site.

North Charleston restoration FAQs