Dried right. Rebuilt right. One contractor from start to finish.
Whether it came from a burst pipe or a winter storm running down the hillside, the water is gone from sight but not from your home. It’s in the framing, the subfloor and the walls, and it needs to come out completely.
Serhal Builders dries Laguna Beach homes properly, measures to prove they’re dry, and then rebuilds whatever the water damaged. We’re a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1074208) with more than 31 years in construction, so the team that dries your home can put it back together.
We work directly with your insurance company, or with you directly if you’re paying out of pocket. Your first inspection is free, and we can usually be there the same day or the next day.
Call 949-829-4999 | Request a Free Inspection
Every Laguna Home Is Different
From Village cottages to homes high in the canyons, Laguna Beach homes are built in ways that change how water damage must be handled:
- Older cottages and crawl spaces. Many homes sit on raised foundations. Water that gets under the house soaks framing and subfloors where no one can see it.
- Hillside and canyon runoff. Heavy winter rain can push water and mud toward walls and lower floors built into the slope.
- Older paint and materials. Homes built before 1978 may have lead paint in the walls we open up. Our crew is lead certified to handle it safely.
- Coastal humidity. The marine layer keeps outdoor air damp, so drying has to be controlled indoors with dehumidifiers and air movers.
We respect the character of older Laguna homes, and rebuild to fit what was there.
How We Dry Your Home
- Inspect and map the moisture. We use moisture meters to find exactly where the water went, including inside walls, under floors and in crawl spaces, and record every reading.
- Remove what can’t be saved. Soaked carpet pad, swollen baseboards and wet drywall are removed only where needed, so we don’t tear out more than the water damaged.
- Set up professional drying equipment. Commercial air movers and dehumidifiers are placed to pull moisture out of the structure itself, not just the air.
- Check progress every day. We take new readings daily, adjust the equipment, and keep a written log you and your insurance adjuster can see.
- Prove it’s dry. We don’t stop until readings show the materials are back to normal. Only then does rebuilding start.
Most homes take several days to dry. After the inspection we’ll tell you how long yours should take.
Water still standing? Drying starts once standing water has been removed. We can connect you with one of our partner plumbers to stop the leak and remove the water.
Then We Put Your Home Back Together
Most drying companies leave when the fans come out, and you’re left finding a contractor to fix the walls, floors and cabinets. We are the contractor. Serhal Builders has been remodeling and building across Southern California for more than 31 years.
After your home is dry, we handle the repairs:
- Drywall, plaster, texture and paint
- Flooring: hardwood, tile, vinyl and carpet
- Baseboards, trim and doors
- Kitchen and bathroom cabinets and countertops
- Framing, subfloor and crawl space repairs
- Permits, when the work requires them
If you’ve been wanting to update a kitchen or bathroom anyway, we can plan that into the rebuild instead of putting back exactly what was there.
Learn more about our water damage drying and restoration services.
Insurance Claim or Paying Directly, We Work Either Way
Filing an insurance claim? We work with your insurance company and your adjuster. We provide the moisture readings, drying logs, photos and itemized estimates adjusters ask for, so your claim isn’t held up waiting on paperwork. You stay in charge of your claim; we make sure the documentation is complete.
Paying yourself? Some damage is below your deductible, or you’d rather not file a claim. We give you a clear written estimate before any work starts, with no surprises.
Either way, you get one point of contact from the first inspection to the final walkthrough.
Serving All of Laguna Beach
The Village · North Laguna · South Laguna · Top of the World · Bluebird Canyon · Arch Beach Heights · Laguna Canyon · Woods Cove
Nearby coastal cities we serve: Newport Beach · Newport Coast · Huntington Beach · Seal Beach
Why Laguna Beach Homeowners Choose Serhal Builders
- Licensed California general contractor, CSLB #1074208
- More than 31 years in residential construction
- IICRC certified in Water Damage Restoration (WRT)
- Lead certified for safe work in older homes
- One company for drying and rebuilding
- Daily moisture readings and written drying logs
- Free first inspection, usually same day or next day
- We work with your insurance or with you directly
Frequently Asked Questions
Water got under my house. Can you dry a crawl space?
Yes. We check the framing and subfloor from below, set up drying equipment in the crawl space, and track readings until it’s dry.
Do you remove standing water?
We start once standing water is out. If water is still standing, we can connect you with one of our partner plumbers to stop the leak and remove the water, and we take it from there.
Will my insurance cover storm damage?
It depends on your policy and what caused the water. Sudden leaks are often covered, while slow leaks and outside flooding or runoff may not be. We’ll document everything your adjuster needs to make that decision.
Do I have to move out?
Usually not. The equipment runs around the clock and can be noisy, but most families stay home unless the kitchen or the only bathroom is out of use.
What about mold?
We don’t do mold remediation ourselves. If our inspection finds mold, we’ll tell you right away and refer you to a mold specialist.
Water Damage in Laguna Beach? Let’s Get It Dried and Rebuilt.
Call 949-829-4999 or request your free inspection below. We’ll come out, measure the moisture, and tell you exactly what your home needs.