Water damage
Structural drying in Memphis, TN
Structural drying removes moisture that has soaked into walls, framing, subfloors and cabinets after the visible water is gone. It uses calculated airflow, dehumidification and daily meter readings so materials reach a documented dry standard before anything is closed up.
Structural drying in Memphis: local conditions
Partner coverage for water damage in Memphis currently includes 61 ZIP codes: 37501, 37544, 38088, 38101, 38103, 38104, 38105, 38106, 38107, 38108, 38109, 38111, 38112, 38113, 38114, 38115, 38116, 38117, 38118, 38119, 38120, 38122, 38124, 38125, 38126, 38127, 38128, 38130, 38131, 38132, 38133, 38134, 38135, 38136, 38137, 38141, 38145, 38148, 38150, 38151, 38152, 38157, 38159, 38161, 38163, 38166, 38168, 38173, 38174, 38175, 38177, 38181, 38182, 38184, 38186, 38187, 38188, 38190, 38193, 38194, 38197. If your ZIP is on this list, a call connects you with a company that serves it.
Humid summers keep crawlspaces damp, causing mold and wood rot. Clay soils in the Memphis area shift with wet and dry seasons, cracking foundations and buried pipes.
Midtown and Cooper-Young have early-1900s bungalows and craftsman homes on crawlspaces with aging plumbing, while East Memphis and Whitehaven have post-war brick ranch homes. Many Midtown homes have been updated over the years, but original crawlspace plumbing is still common.
What you can expect
- One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code.
- Fast call-back during business hours
- Serving Memphis, TN
- Photo and moisture documentation for insurance
Structural drying at a glance
- Category
- Water damage
- Emergency service
- Scheduled visit
- Typical first step
- Moisture mapping
- Area
- Memphis, TN
Other risks in Memphis
Severe storms
Spring and late-fall storms bring tornadoes, straight-line winds and falling trees.
Freezes
The February 2021 freeze burst pipes across Memphis and stressed the water system.
Flash flooding
Heavy rain floods low streets and creeks like Nonconnah Creek.
Mississippi River levels
Very high Mississippi River levels, as in 2011, flood low areas near the river and its tributaries, including parts of the Wolf River and Nonconnah Creek basins.
Signs you need structural drying
- Walls or baseboards still feel cool or damp days after a leak
- Paint bubbling or peeling near the floor
- Musty odor that returns after cleaning
How the work is done
Moisture mapping, then Open cavities if needed, then Airflow and dehumidification, then Document the dry standard. See the full structural drying process.
What affects the cost
Prices depend on the job, so restoration companies in Memphis quote after an assessment. The main drivers are how much area is affected, how long it stayed wet, and what has to be removed or rebuilt. See the full list of structural drying cost factors.
Structural drying questions
Do I need a permit for repairs in Memphis?
Structural, plumbing and electrical repairs need permits from Memphis and Shelby County Code Enforcement.
How do I verify a Tennessee contractor?
Search the Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors for projects of $25,000 or more.
Why not just use fans?
Fans move air but don't remove moisture from it. Without dehumidification, the water evaporated from your walls stays in the room and soaks back into other materials.
Do walls always have to be cut open?
No. Many clean-water losses dry in place with small access holes. Walls are cut when water is contaminated, insulation is soaked, or readings won't come down.
Related pages
Other services in Memphis
Structural drying in nearby cities
More about water and storm damage in Memphis, or see structural drying nationwide.
Related services
Water damage restoration
Water damage restoration removes standing water, dries the structure to a measured dry standard, and repairs or replaces what can't be saved.
Learn more
Emergency water extraction
Water extraction is the first step of any water loss: removing standing and absorbed water with powerful pumps and extractors before drying starts.
Learn more
Mold remediation
Mold remediation removes mold growth under containment so spores don't spread, cleans or discards affected materials, and corrects the moisture problem that let it grow.
Learn moreWater, mold or fire damage? Get the right crew on it.
One call connects you with an independent restoration company that serves your ZIP code. Fast call-back during business hours.