A flooded basement, a kitchen fire, or mold behind a wall in a Columbia Heights or Petworth rowhouse needs careful work, because your walls are shared with the neighbors on both sides. ServiceMaster National Capital Restoration is available 24/7 for water removal, structural drying, smoke and soot cleanup, mold remediation, and repairs.

Contact ServiceMaster NCR anytime for emergency restoration help.

What makes rowhouse restoration different in Columbia Heights and Petworth?

The houses are about a century old, and they are attached. The DC Office of Planning traces Columbia Heights to 1892, when Senator John Sherman laid out the subdivision and builders filled it with sizable brick rowhouses along the 14th Street corridor. Petworth was platted in 1888. Around Grant Circle, the rowhouses went up between 1915 and 1919: two-story brick homes on raised basements with front porches across the full width.

That history shows up in every restoration job here.

• Party walls. Water and smoke can cross into the house next door through shared brick walls and joist pockets.
• Plaster and lath. It holds water longer than drywall and needs a slower, measured dry.
• Original wood floors. They cup when wet but can often be saved if drying starts soon.
• Layered renovations. New kitchens and baths tied into old pipes, with several generations of materials in one wall.
• Raised and finished basements. Many are now rental units or family rooms, with drywall and flooring sitting at the lowest point in the house.

Why do basements back up in heavy rain?

DC Water reports that about one-third of the District is served by combined sewers, a system developed before 1900 that carries stormwater and wastewater in the same pipes. When an intense storm sends more water than those pipes can carry, the public sewer can surcharge and push wastewater back through the lowest drains in a building. In a rowhouse, that is the basement floor drain, shower, or toilet.

The storm of September 10, 2020 is the one many DC homeowners remember. DC Water says the sewer system was overwhelmed that day and sewage was forced into basements in low-lying areas.

Two things are worth knowing as a homeowner:

• DC Water's online sewer map shows whether your block is on the combined system.
• A backwater valve lets flow leave your house but keeps the public sewer from flowing back in. DC Water runs a Backwater Valve Rebate Program for eligible properties.

What to do if sewage or stormwater is in your basement

• Keep people and pets out of the water.
• Do not run fans or the HVAC system through the affected level.
• Stop using sinks, toilets, and the washer until the backup clears.
• Turn off power to the basement only if you can reach the panel without stepping in water.
• Report the backup to DC Water.
• Call us for cleanup. This is not a job for a shop vacuum.

Sewer backup is contaminated water. We extract it, remove porous materials that absorbed it (carpet, pad, and lower drywall are typical), clean and sanitize the structure, and then dry it.

What else causes water damage in these neighborhoods?

Flat roof leaks and clogged roof drains can affect top-floor ceilings, party walls, and attic framing. Older supply and drain lines may leak inside plaster walls or into kitchen and bathroom ceilings below. Radiator and boiler leaks can damage flooring, ceilings, and basement mechanical areas. Areaway and window well flooding can reach basement entries, lower walls, and front-room flooring. In attached properties, a neighbor's leak may travel along a shared wall, while plumbing failures in apartment and condo buildings can affect lower units and common hallways.

How is fire and smoke damage handled in an attached home?

When one rowhouse has a fire, the houses beside it often have smoke. It moves through shared attic space, gaps at the party wall, and open stairwells, and it settles into plaster, woodwork, and fabric. Water from firefighting then runs down through the floors.

Our fire and smoke damage restoration can include board-up and roof covering, water removal, drying, soot and residue cleaning, odor treatment, air filtration, contents cleaning and pack-out, removal of materials that cannot be restored, and reconstruction. If your home was affected by a neighbor's fire, we can inspect for residue and odor even where no flames reached.

Why is mold so common in rowhouse basements?

Mold follows moisture, and a basement that sits partly below the sidewalk tends to be damp. Brick foundation walls let moisture through, finished walls trap it, and a past backup or leak may have left wet material behind new drywall.

We look for the moisture source first. Our mold remediation work can then include containment, HEPA air filtration, removal of affected porous materials, detailed cleaning, and repairs. If the water problem is not solved, the mold is likely to return, so we will tell you plainly what we find.

Do you help landlords, condo buildings, and local businesses?

Yes. Both neighborhoods have a mix of owner-occupied rowhouses, basement rentals, small condo conversions, and larger apartment buildings, along with shops and restaurants on 14th Street, Georgia Avenue, and Upshur Street.

For landlords and managers, we document each affected unit, coordinate access with tenants, and keep one point of contact for updates. Our commercial restoration services cover retail, restaurants, offices, houses of worship, and multifamily buildings.

What should you expect from the restoration process?

1. Emergency call. We ask about the source, the affected floors, and safety.
2. Inspection. We check the damage you can see and measure for what you cannot.
3. Stabilization. Extraction, board-up, or containment to stop it from spreading.
4. Drying, cleaning, or remediation. Matched to the materials in your house.
5. Updates. We explain readings and progress in plain language.
6. Repairs. Plaster or drywall, flooring, trim, and finishes.

Construction permits in the District come from the DC Department of Buildings. Parts of these neighborhoods are also in historic districts, including the Grant Circle Historic District in Petworth, where exterior work can involve added review. We raise both during repair planning.

Where do you work in Columbia Heights and Petworth?

We serve both neighborhoods and ZIP codes 20009, 20010, and 20011, including:

• The 14th Street NW corridor, the Tivoli Theatre block, and the area around the Columbia Heights Metro
• 16th Street NW, 13th Street NW, and Sherman Avenue NW
• Georgia Avenue NW, New Hampshire Avenue NW, and Upshur Street NW
• Grant Circle and Sherman Circle
• Homes near the Georgia Ave-Petworth Metro
• Neighboring Park View, Mount Pleasant, 16th Street Heights, and Brightwood Park

We also serve properties throughout Washington, DC.

Frequently asked questions

Is sewer backup in my basement dangerous to clean up myself?

Sewage is contaminated water, and cleanup calls for protective equipment, proper disposal, and sanitizing that household tools are not made for. We recommend keeping out of the area and having it handled professionally.

Can you save original plaster and hardwood floors?

Often we can, especially when the water was clean and drying starts quickly. We measure moisture in the material and dry it in place when it is sound. If plaster has come loose or flooring has been soaked by contaminated water, some of it may need to be replaced.

My neighbor had a leak and now my wall is wet. What do I do?

Let your neighbor know so the source gets fixed, and call us to check your side. Moisture in a shared brick wall can spread to plaster, baseboards, and flooring on both sides.

Will my insurance cover a sewer backup?

That depends on your policy. Sewer backup is sometimes a separate coverage, so ask your insurer or agent how yours applies. We document the damage and our work and can provide that record to your adjuster.

Do you clean up basement apartments?

Yes. We work with the owner and the tenant on access and belongings, and we document the unit before, during, and after the work.

Need water, fire, or mold damage help in Columbia Heights or Petworth?

ServiceMaster National Capital Restoration serves homes, rentals, and businesses across Columbia Heights and Petworth for water damage, fire and smoke damage, and mold remediation. Contact us and we will inspect the damage and explain the next steps.