Water Damage Restoration in Laguna Beach , CA

ServiceFirst Restoration was retained to address mold and water damage at a residential property in Laguna Beach, CA. The team set up containment and floor protection across multiple areas, including a staircase, a downstairs bedroom, and an upstairs office. During demolition, severely rotted wood framing was discovered in the stairway, requiring a structural assessment.

A crawl space inspection revealed that ground vapor rising from the soil — common in coastal homes — was the moisture source, and a vapor barrier and ventilation fan were recommended and installed by a subcontractor. Additional demo included removal of plaster, carpet, padding, stairway panels, and plywood, with secondary damage found beneath the office subfloor.

An electrician was brought in to repair loose wiring uncovered during the work. Once structural framing was replaced by a subcontractor, the team performed encapsulation of wood studs and plywood, abrasive sanding of exposed framing in the staircase, bedroom, and crawl space, HEPA vacuuming, wet wiping with antimicrobial solution, and source containment of all cavities. Post-mold clearance testing passed for all containment areas, equipment was removed, containment was taken down, and carpet was re-extended. The project was completed with a signed Certificate of Satisfaction.