Who handles water, fire and mold damage in Shaw and Logan Circle?

ServiceMaster NCR restores homes and businesses in Shaw and Logan Circle after water damage, fire and smoke damage, and mold. Our Washington DC office is available 24/7 to extract water, dry the structure, clean smoke residue, remove damaged materials and help you document the loss for your insurance company.

These two neighbors in Northwest DC share a lot of building history. Shaw is a residential neighborhood dominated by 19th century Victorian row houses, and it takes its name from Shaw Junior High School, which was named for Civil War colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Just to the west, Logan Circle sits where 13th Street, P Street, Rhode Island Avenue and Vermont Avenue meet.

The Logan Circle Historic District covers about eight blocks around the circle and holds 135 late 19th century residences. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Shaw has protected blocks of its own, including the Blagden Alley and Naylor Court Historic District between 9th and 10th Streets, where most of the buildings date to the 19th century.

Between the old houses you will find newer condo and apartment buildings, the shops and restaurants of the 14th Street corridor, the Howard Theatre, and the north end of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Old brick, shared walls and busy storefronts shape the property damage we see here.

What causes property damage in Shaw and Logan Circle?

Most calls trace back to a short list of causes tied to the age and layout of the buildings.

• Aging plumbing. Supply lines, drain stacks and fixtures in century-old houses wear out, and upper-floor bathrooms send leaks down through every level.
• Summer storms. Washington has a humid subtropical climate with frequent summer thunderstorms. Rowhouse roofs, skylights and rear gutters take the brunt of them.
• Basement water. Below-grade units with sidewalk-level entries are low spots in a downpour. DC Water reports that about one third of the District has an older combined sewer system, where stormwater and wastewater share a pipe. DC Water can tell you which system serves your block.
• Frozen pipes. The District typically sees dozens of nights at or below freezing each year, which puts pipes along exterior walls and in unheated rear additions at risk.
• Leaks from above or next door. In condos and attached houses, the source is often in someone else's unit.
• Kitchen and electrical fires. Attached buildings mean smoke and hose water can reach more than one address.

How does ServiceMaster NCR handle water damage in a rowhouse or condo?

We follow the same order on every job, adjusted for the building.

1. Inspect and measure. We find the source, then check every level below it and the shared walls beside it with moisture meters and thermal imaging.
2. Identify the water. Clean water from a supply line is handled differently than contaminated water such as sewage. That decides which materials can be dried and which are removed.
3. Extract standing water. Pumps and extractors pull water from floors, carpet and basement slabs.
4. Dry the structure. Air movers and dehumidifiers run until readings on plaster, wood and masonry return to normal. Brick and plaster release moisture slowly, so we measure every day.
5. Remove what cannot be dried. Soaked insulation, carpet pad and failed drywall come out.
6. Document and report. You get photos, readings and a record of the work to share with your insurer.

What should you do before help arrives?

• Shut off the water at the main valve if the leak is from plumbing.
• Turn off breakers for wet areas if you can reach the panel on dry ground. Do not enter a flooded room with the power on.
• Check the floor below, and tell the neighbor beside or beneath you. In a condo, call the property manager.
• Take photos and video of every affected room.
• Stay out of water that came up through a drain or in from the street.

What happens after a fire in a Shaw or Logan Circle rowhouse?

First, wait for DC Fire and EMS to tell you when you can go back inside, and follow any direction from a building official about which parts of the home can be used.

Once the property is released, our work starts with securing it: boarding openings and covering roof damage. Then we remove water left from firefighting and begin smoke cleaning. Soot is removed from walls, ceilings, woodwork and contents, and odor is treated in the structure and the ductwork.

Attached houses need extra attention at the party walls and the roof line. If your home sits in a historic district, exterior repairs may need review by the DC Historic Preservation Office.

Why does mold show up in older DC rowhouses?

Mold follows moisture, and older rowhouses have several places for moisture to linger. The DC Office of Planning's preservation guidance notes that brick is the most common wall and foundation material in Washington, and that historic brick and stone foundations draw ground water upward through their pores. Add humid summers, and damp basement walls can stay damp.

The EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold growth. When that window has passed, we find and correct the moisture source, set up containment around the affected area, remove materials that cannot be cleaned, clean what remains, and dry the space to normal readings.

Does ServiceMaster NCR help businesses along 14th Street, U Street and 7th Street?

Yes. Restaurants, shops, offices, galleries and apartment buildings in Shaw and Logan Circle often share walls, basements and plumbing with their neighbors. We work with owners, property managers and condo boards to contain the damage, document each affected unit separately, and keep unaffected areas usable where possible.

Frequently asked questions from Shaw and Logan Circle

My upstairs neighbor's leak came through my ceiling. Who do I call first?

Tell the neighbor and the property manager so the water gets shut off, then take photos and call your own insurance company.

Can the original plaster and hardwood in my rowhouse be saved?

Often, if drying starts early. Plaster that is still tight to the wall and floorboards that have only cupped slightly can frequently be dried in place.

My basement unit took in water during a storm. Is it clean water?

Treat it as contaminated if it came in from the street or up through a floor drain. Keep out of it until a crew has checked the source.

Do I need approval to repair fire damage in a historic district?

Permanent exterior repairs in a historic district may need review, so check with the DC Historic Preservation Office before that stage. Securing the building and drying it out come first.

Need restoration help in Shaw or Logan Circle?

If your home, condo or business in Shaw or Logan Circle has water, fire, smoke or mold damage, contact ServiceMaster NCR. We are available 24/7 to inspect the property and explain the next steps.