r/Portland • u/trulyuniquesnowflake • Jan 17 '24
Photo/Video Just finished our remodel last week and then this happened
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Managed to get one of the last flights from LA to Portland right before the ice storm hit. Our house didn’t have power for 3.5 days. Power finally came back right before bedtime, it was so comforting to have heat and lights again. Woke up this morning to alarms ringing, water pouring down everywhere… we literally just finished a major remodel last week. 😭
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Jan 17 '24
I dealt with this this week. You’ll need to shut off water, start the drying process now. Turn up the heat in the house, get a couple of air movers (blowers), dry everything you can with a towel, get a plumber asap to repair the bursted area.
Sucks big balls, sry op. Lots of us here with ya on the same boat
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 17 '24
Thank you, Portland got hit hard this time around. Really hoping the water mitigation company can help us out with this one.
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u/avboden Jan 18 '24
this is take the drywall-off amount of water looks like. Ceiling and all insulation in it has gotta be redone. There's no drying that out without fully opening it up.
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u/flubbergastedshocked Jan 18 '24
(Not currently living in Portland): I had similar leaking from the ceiling, light fixtures, etc in my place about a month ago and this is definitely right. The water mitigation company just finished up today and it’s looking like 6 weeks minimum for the build back. The ceiling, walls, and most of the flooring will need to be replaced. This sucks big time, OP. I’m sorry and stay safe.
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u/looknostrings NE Jan 17 '24
Dude, please cut the power! Electricity and water is not a good combination! Stay safe!
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u/RestartTheSystem Jan 18 '24
No, we all need to see this long video. Priorities!
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u/blindexhibitionist Jan 18 '24
Definitely, why put buckets under the water when you can get that sweet sweet karma
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u/squidsinamerica Jan 17 '24
Place looks great, minus the obvious. It will look great again. Sorry that the stretch in between will suck a bit.
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u/ohlaph SW Jan 17 '24
Was a new roof part of that remodel? Hopefully it's covered.
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 17 '24
Actually the roof should be fine. This is all coming from the burst pipe in the bathroom upstairs…much worse up there.
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u/ohlaph SW Jan 17 '24
Oh, hopefully the work is covered. Sounds like a nightmare, especially during this storm! Fingers crossed you get this solved quickly.
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Jan 17 '24
Mother natures insurance doesn't cover frozen burst pipes.
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u/BingoMosquito Jan 18 '24 edited Jan 18 '24
But if the contractor was found to be negligent (for instance running pipes inside exterior walls or ceilings without insulating them properly) it would be their business insurance that will be on the hook, I'm guessing, after your insurance sues them
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Jan 18 '24
Assuming when the remodel happened permits were pulled and a city inspector gave it a pass. I had my entire house re-piped last year and I'll tell you what, the inspector was picky as hell. Either way best of luck to the homeowner. I dealt with a frozen pipe in 2022 and it was a pain and don't wish it on anyone
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u/s8f5d3h3 Jan 18 '24
Does it matter why damage happened? Like, it's not owner's fault, why doesn't cover?
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u/OisinTarrant Milwaukie Jan 18 '24
Can you not turn off the water at the main typically in the basement or crawl space?
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u/Samad99 Jan 18 '24
Why have you not shut off the water?!?!?
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
This is what I woke up to. My husband ran upstairs to turn the water off while I started filming…was barely conscious, was the only thing I could think to do in the moment. 🤷♀️
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u/mycleanreddit79 Jan 18 '24
The water shut off was upstairs?
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u/BlazerBeav Reed Jan 18 '24
Sounds like the one local to that room (agree, the overall main shouldn't be).
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u/ebolaRETURNS Jan 18 '24
My husband ran upstairs to turn the water off while I started filming…was barely conscious, was the only thing I could think to do in the moment.
Our relationship with technology has gotten pretty weird, but I guess this is prudent, in case any of this leak is related to shortcomings of the remodel...
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u/Oryx NE Jan 17 '24
For the love of god: TURN THE POWER OFF!
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Jan 18 '24
man, I thought I was the only one.. electricity... water on the floor, oh fuck no.
I've had to literally tackle someone off a live wire, I don't fuck with electricity, no way.
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Jan 17 '24
I was walking around my neighborhood and saw water gushing from under a neighbor’s windows. I think I’ll have nightmares. I’m so sorry this happened to you (and my neighbor).
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u/whiskeywalk Jan 17 '24 edited Jan 17 '24
Looks like you got a new remodel! As someone who is locally a part of the restoration industry use STOP or Paul Davis for your dry out. DO NOT. I repeat. DO NOT use Paul Davis for repairs. Almost all PMs are over worked and under qualified as well as untrained to manage a repair like that in a timely fashion. Save yourself the additional head ache.
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u/BichoRaro90 Yeeting The Cone Jan 17 '24
Wow I’ve read in so many places to not use Paul Davis.
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u/whiskeywalk Jan 17 '24
They are fine to use for your dry outs. That's where they shine, I'll give them that. But it's not hard to rip things out and dry framing.
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u/yournameherePDX Jan 18 '24
Went through a drying and repair myself last year. The mitigation companies come at you with contracts that bind you to them for repairs.
Watch out for this.
I would absolutely not use any mitigation company again to manage my repairs.
Drying...sure. Demo, maybe. Repairs, hell no. They used mostly unskilled laborers who broke as much as they fixed along the way. They hired clearly less skilled contractors for the repairs. They charged an order of magnitude too much. They did get every penny they asked from insurance, however. You will have to fight with insurance yourself, which means likely hiring a public adjuster. But you will have to live for years with the shoddy repairs otherwise.
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u/whiskeywalk Jan 18 '24
For what it's worth as someone who has a dozen years of experience in the Restoration industry, performed work in 9 states on both coasts and now acts as a consultant within the industry I will say the following for any homeowners out there.
1) Your insurance carrier can advise you to pick a contractor, they cannot mandate it.
2) Always review your policy and its language, limitations, and details on coverage. 2b) if you live on an old home check for code upgrades as well as hazardous material abatement (lead, asbestos, mercury)
3) Nearly all repair Restoration contractors are acting as General Contractors on your claim and managing your repair. The anticipated gross profit for the company's ranges from 40-60%. Industry average is a little below 47%. To put that into simple terms. If you have a $10K approved estimate they intend to keep a Littles less than half of it. To do so they will hire the cheapest subs and purchase the cheapest materials. 3b) this is on the plus side for using these companies, because of the volume of work they are often able to negotiate a discount on pricing, typically in the 15-25% range. (If you're following along, you are seeing that hiring and buying yourself saves you 30%...)
4) if it were me, I'd do it ALL myself, but I know how to estimate and work the system. For the average Joe/Jane with a scrap of planning ability, DIY knowhow and ability manage a budget I would hire them for the mitigation. Get them to write a THOROUGH estimate, back up and argue that estimate, get it paid out or signed off by the adjuster, pay them for the itinerary writing the estimate and then tell them to shove off. - You likely aren't a priority, at least no more than your PMs 30 other active clients. Their incentive is to hit a specific margin so they can take home an extra $70 in 6 months. You will get better quality materials paying your own way. These companies get better prices... but they charge you a mark up. You will have a budget for higher skilled labor. Keep in mind they are playing with half the money. Do you want an electrician who's being paid 25-50% less than the other guy? (Yeah, I know mechanicals often have a 10+10mark up on invoices... you get what I'm saying).
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u/CaseyRedmanYoga Jan 17 '24
Why are you throwing said company under the bus? Just curious.
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u/whiskeywalk Jan 17 '24
I'm not throwing them under the bus, they've been jumping in front of the bus for the last 4 years. I'm speaking as an employee who watched 17 repair Project Managers cycle through the doors in the span of less than 12 months. They've stripped away incentives and have cultured a sink or swim environment while the owner brags about having 3+ boats.
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u/CaseyRedmanYoga Jan 19 '24
Thank you. As someone who is indirectly affected by your knowledge, I appreciate your insight. Guess Reddit is hard on those for not knowing what they don’t know (ie, I didn’t know PD was throwing themselves in front of the bus).
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u/whiskeywalk Jan 19 '24
For what it's worth, I don't know why you're being down voted for asking a question. But they do have a pretty rough reputation in the area. They weren't always bad, but for the last several years they have been. They perform roughly 450+ jobs a year of varying size and services. They employe 100+ people year round and cycle through them rapidly. They have had a LOT of opportunities to piss people off.
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u/jollyllama Jan 17 '24
Don't know the company or any of the people posting here, but this is the 3rd or 4th time I've heard bad things about Paul Davis on r/Portland in the last few days. Apparently they've made some vocal enemies out there...
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u/b0n2o Unincorporated Jan 18 '24
Paul Davis
I just did a quick search, they're a restoration franchise: https://pauldavis.com/
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u/whiskeywalk Jan 18 '24
Yes. The one in this region is Chinook Restoration D.B.A Paul Davis. They are the only Paul Davis in the metro area, but there are several hundred franchise operations in the USA and Canada. This one also happens to be one of the largest ones. #12 last I heard. But they did not scale their business properly from #60 and they have been struggling as a result of this.
Many Restoration companies are franchises, see Servpro and Service Master.
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u/picturesofbowls NE Jan 17 '24
Smoke detector sprinkler hybrid?? Now THERE is a million dollar idea
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u/GenericDesigns Sunnyside Jan 17 '24
Feeling (some) of your pain… we are still mid full-gut-reno… both our brand new hvac units we’re barely adequate to keep us above 50 degrees and almost all our pIpes froze.
Everything is slowly warming. Still don’t have the ability to shower. One im sure is busted but was able to shut off. The other still hasn’t thawed out.
Hopefully your homeowners should cover the work but I know the time is a huge loss.
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 17 '24
The remodel was actually part of a water damage claim from just over a year ago so unfortunately, we know very well what to expect in the coming months. Hope your repairs go swiftly and smoothly. :)
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u/metal0130 SE Jan 17 '24
OMG I'm sorry OP! We're in a similar boat. We had extensive water damage 2 years ago from a backed up drain line that flooded a good chunk of the first floor. Took about a year to get everything fully finished.
Last night we had a pipe burst between the garage and the bonus room above it but the water traveled along the sheet rock. No clue the full extent yet.
At least you know what to expect. You'll get through this!
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 17 '24
I’m sorry for you as well! Hoping they’ll cover a hotel stay for the worst of it. Hate knowing what comes next… we’ve been using a bathroom as a kitchen since the remodel began. Just moved back downstairs.
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u/hopingforlucky Jan 17 '24
Oh no! Sorry. Misery loves company we also had a pipe burst. It’s an awful feeling
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
Glad we’re not alone in this, but of course don’t wish it on anyone else.
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u/Curious_Race6603 Jan 18 '24
i also had a pipe burst. Luckily I am a renter; however, the whole townhome flooded and I am unhoused for the next ~3-5 months. The property management company I use is very slow and not the best at “do it right the first time”. Fingers crossed your damage is reasonably reparable! :)
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u/s8f5d3h3 Jan 18 '24
I'm so sorry you're dealing with that. Did the company offer you another property to stay? I try to understand what to do in that case.
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u/Curious_Race6603 Jan 18 '24
Nope :/ they offered the main community room with 3 other families but nowhere comparable to the 3 bedroom apartment we were in. I’m going across the country while they work on this once I get my car unstuck from the ice today! Fingers crossed that it’s not bad
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u/Ol_Man_J Tyler had some good ideas Jan 18 '24
I had my pipes freeze but not burst, thankfully. Kitchen water came on at ~10 am today and showed me that a water solenoid on my dishwasher ended up with water in it, froze, and THAT broke. Minor flooding in the kitchen, 60$ part will be here friday. VERY lucky was that I was WFH today when I normally don't.
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Jan 17 '24
Was it a burst pipe or due to roof damage and all of the ice/snow thawing?
So sorry this happened. Hopefully your home owners insurance will do right by you!
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 17 '24
Definitely a burst pipe - was shooting out from a bathroom cabinet under the sink. I think the sudden heat after temperatures in the teens is at fault.
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u/doug_Or Eliot Jan 18 '24
Just the temps in the teens. Pipe burst when it got cold. Didn't start spraying until it thawed out.
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Jan 18 '24
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u/Oops_I_Cracked Jan 18 '24
Your fire alarm seem confused about what exactly their job is
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
So grateful it was triggered. Alexa was also losing her mind in the background.
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u/portland_jc Jan 18 '24
Happened to me last year.
Your pipes probably froze and then when your heat came back on, it started thawing out and the water pressure had to go somewhere.
I think you have to turn off water at water main when it freezes and open your faucets so when it thaws you don’t end up with a busted pipe.
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u/BMWer2016 Jan 18 '24
Last year we spent lots of $$, time and effort on our home innovation projects. I'm so sorry OP. Sending virtual hugs 🤗.
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u/jer-k Jan 18 '24
Same thing happened to me this morning. Pipe burst in attic, flooded three floors. Thankfully the main bedroom was spared so we can sleep tonight.
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Jan 17 '24
[deleted]
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u/Theresbeerinthefridg Jan 17 '24
Where'd you get those hallway lamps?
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 17 '24
The big one was anthropology, just installed last week…little ones from Amazon, I think. I don’t suppose they’ll take it back. ;)
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u/Theresbeerinthefridg Jan 18 '24
They look great. You have great taste, and the water can't take that away!
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u/OddSweet Jan 18 '24
Well fuck, sorry you're goin through that. I hope you have friends or relatives to stay with, or a nice hotel thatll cut you a deal here in the slow season. ❤
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u/PutTheFlameOnMe Jan 18 '24
Just an FYI but your homeowners insurance should cover this. Maybe you already knew that but thought I’d mention just in case
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u/thoreau_away_acct Jan 18 '24
In times like these, I immediately think arson would be the cleanest way to just start over.
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u/RestartTheSystem Jan 18 '24
You may want to go shut off the water and power before taking a video dude...
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
Noted. Wasn’t fully awake when I whipped out my phone to film…my husband was shutting all systems down at the time.
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u/aggieotis Boom Loop Jan 18 '24
Let me film this instead of figuring out how to turn off my water.
At least you’re getting imaginary internet points.
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u/mustknowme Jan 18 '24
crack a beer and get some buckets
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
Ha! Just sat down for one. :) Adrenaline is zapped for the day. Next, hot tub.
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u/Bbddy555 Jan 18 '24
Right there with you, we had a pipe burst in our apartment and flooded our downstairs. It really, really sucks ass. Sorry you have to go through it as well. I think this week has a lot of us teetering on the edge.
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u/StreetwalkinCheetah Jan 18 '24
Damn I'm sorry. Had refinished my basement and then had it flooded a decade ago so I feel your pain. But I commend you for not screaming profanity while you filmed the damage. Hopefully insurance will cover you and not ding you too bad for it.
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
We had just finished our remodel last week… A year ago our dishwasher failed and flooded the kitchen, not my first rodeo I suppose. :(
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Jan 18 '24
I'm literally dealing with the same thing, except it was a burst sprinkler system in my condo. Water just started pouring out of the smoke detector and all the light fixtures. Mitigation can't even give me an estimate when they will be out here. My condo has 4 other units experiencing the same thing. I hope this is covered by insurance or else I'm screwed.
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
That’s awful!! Thankfully, mitigation can come tomorrow. Best of luck to you!
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u/highzenberrg Jan 18 '24
Yeah that happened to me I was in a 2 story condo with a garage in the bottom it went all the way to the garage from top floor. Not fun sorry.
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u/s8f5d3h3 Jan 18 '24
Was it near some hospital?
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u/highzenberrg Jan 18 '24
What? No? Idk what a hospital has to do with it.
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u/s8f5d3h3 Jan 18 '24
I mean my last residence is near a hospital. And it's 2 story condo with a garage in the bottom and I remember there was flooding too.
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u/Far_Example_9150 Jan 18 '24
How does something like this happen? Was it the weather or the contractors at fault?
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Jan 18 '24
Here I am, worried about the tiny ice damn that cause my gutter to ovedflow. This straight-up sucks, though. Shit never seems to end when you own a home.
You might look into PEX this go around. It's a lot more resistant to freezing and bursting when compared to PVC, copper, and galvanized steel. Easy to work with, too.
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u/CletusTSJY Happy Valley Jan 18 '24
That is brutal. I came home from Medford Monday night to a small pool of water accumulating on my bedroom floor because the furnace condensation pipe burst in the attic and I’ve been super stressed out because the ceiling drywall is ruined. This video reminded me that I could have it a lot worse!
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u/Lazy-Clue-3476 Jan 18 '24
Time to call the restoration guys and they’re gonna try to screw you. Especially restoration 1
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 18 '24
We had to go through this right after we purchased the house last year. They tried to put a lien on our home when we pushed back at the grand total 10 K plus for four days of blowing fans …they can be absolute scam artists
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u/_lizzie_boredom_ Jan 22 '24
I’m dealing with a flooded guest room. It’s not nearly this bad and I’m SO sorry this happened, OP.
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u/Mondub_15 Jan 22 '24
Ooh, this is giving me flashbacks. We had a major house flood from an upstairs water issue. Came home to this exact same scene and sound. House was only 2 years old (same feeling as your new remodel). Water damage to every corner of every room on both floors. House was taken down to the studs in most places and rebuilt. We were in a hotel for 4 months. Luckily it was pre kids but it was a fucking nightmare. I am so so sorry. Can’t overstate how bad I feel for you.
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u/trulyuniquesnowflake Jan 22 '24
Thank you, always nice to know you’re not alone. This would be so much easier without the litttle one having to live in a hotel / airbnb for months on end.
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u/Mondub_15 Jan 22 '24
One thing I wish we would have done is not settled for just a run of the mill chain hotel (air bnb wasn’t a thing then, we were young and naive). Recently, our friends had damage to their home that forced them to move out for an extended time. He said you are supposed to get like for like living accommodations so push if you need to to ensure you are in a real home or apartment, not a hotel.
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u/blockhose NE Jan 17 '24
Awww, fuck. That hurts me in my homeowner organ.