WATER DAMAGE
RESIDENTIAL
Multi-Unit
Water & Moisture Damage Cincinnati, OH
Water intrusion and prolonged moisture exposure left two Harvey Court rental units — a 226 ft² studio and a 646 ft² one-bedroom — with severely damaged flooring, subfloor mold growth at door frames, water-stained baseboards, and saturated LVP throughout the kitchen. H2O Restoration responded to assess both units, document all damage for the property owner's insurance claim, and scope a full interior restoration.
LOCATION
Cincinnati, OH
Total Affected Area
872 sq ft
CAUSE OF LOSS
Water & Moisture Intrusion
Units Affected
2 Units
PROJECT OVERVIEW
WHAT HAPPENED
Water intrusion affected both units at Harvey Court after a moisture event went unaddressed for an extended period — in the 226 ft² studio, flooring had already been stripped to the subfloor prior to H2O's arrival, exposing widespread dark staining, mold growth along the baseboard line, and water that had wicked up into both door frames; in the 646 ft² kitchen unit, the LVP showed heavy staining, surface delamination, and buckling across multiple areas with subfloor discoloration visible through the gaps in the lifting planks. The property owner called H2O Restoration needing full documentation for the insurance claim and a restoration plan that addressed subfloor conditions before any new flooring went down.
Water had migrated under door thresholds and along the baseboard line in the studio unit — establishing mold beneath the floor covering before the damage was visible from above. The scope could not be limited to flooring replacement alone; subfloor moisture mapping and mold remediation were required before any new installation could proceed.
JOB DETAILS
- Cause of loss
- Water category
- Total affected area
- Units
- Flooring types affected
- Mold present
- Insurance support
Affected Spaces — From Floor Plans
- Studio — bedroom
- Studio — bath
- Studio — kitchen
- Studio — dining area
- Studio — living room
- 1BR unit — kitchen
- 1BR unit — entry / passage
- Total
EQUIPMENT DEPLOYED
Truck-mount extractor
Portable extraction units
LGR dehumidifiers
Low-profile air movers
Moisture meters
Thermal imaging camera
HEPA air scrubbers
Mold test kit
JOB SITE IMAGES
A CLOSER LOOK AT THE DAMAGE
Our process
Work completed
1
Emergency Response & Full Documentation — Both Units
Technicians completed a full walk-through of both units, capturing photo and video documentation of all damage areas. Thermal imaging was used to detect moisture that had migrated behind baseboards and beneath door frames. Moisture readings were mapped across the studio subfloor to establish the full extent of water infiltration. All findings were catalogued for the insurance claim.
2
Water Extraction & Flooring Removal
Standing moisture was extracted from the kitchen unit's LVP surface. Buckled and delaminated flooring sections were removed in both units to expose the subfloor for assessment and drying. Carpet wand extraction was used at door thresholds and transition zones where water had wicked beneath trim pieces. Moisture readings were taken at multiple depths to confirm extraction was complete before drying equipment was placed.
3
Mold Testing & Subfloor Remediation — Studio Unit
With the studio subfloor fully exposed, mold testing confirmed active growth in sections near both door frames and along the back wall — consistent with water having been trapped beneath the original floor covering. Affected subfloor areas were treated with antimicrobial solution and sanded back. HEPA air scrubbers ran continuously during remediation. All treated surfaces were re-tested for clearance before new flooring installation was authorized.
4
Structural Drying Across Both Units
Low-profile air movers and LGR dehumidifiers were deployed throughout both units to bring subfloor and wall cavity moisture levels down to dry standard. Daily monitoring confirmed drying progress across all affected spaces. Baseboard areas in the studio — where water had wicked into the drywall base — were monitored closely to prevent secondary mold growth before flooring installation.
5
LVP Flooring Replacement — Both Units
New luxury vinyl plank flooring was installed throughout both units following subfloor preparation and drying confirmation. Transition strips and threshold pieces were replaced at all door frames. Baseboard trim in the studio unit was repaired, re-secured, and repainted where moisture damage had caused peeling and delamination along the wall base.
6
Daily Monitoring & Final Documentation
Moisture readings were logged daily across all eight affected spaces until all readings returned to dry standard. A complete moisture mapping report — with before and after photo documentation — and an adjuster-ready scope of work were submitted to the carrier. Final walk-through confirmed both units were dry, remediated, and ready for flooring finish and paint.
H2O Restoration handles both mitigation and full reconstruction — including flooring replacement, mold remediation, odor treatment, and cosmetic finish work — so the property owner worked with one team from the first call through the final walkthrough.
"Honestly didn't expect it to be as bad as it was. H2O came out fast, walked both units top to bottom, and their moisture readings showed the water had gotten way further under the floors than we realized — there was actually mold growing under the studio subfloor that we would've just covered up with new flooring if they hadn't caught it. They handled everything, both units at the same time, and put together all the documentation we needed for the claim. Really glad we called when we did."
Dealing with Water Damage in Greater Cincinnati?
H2O Restoration responds 24/7 across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and surrounding communities — on site in 59 minutes or less. We find every affected space, document it all, and handle the insurance so you don't have to.
CALL: (513) 909-6540