Dried right. Rebuilt right. One contractor from start to finish.
A leak or flood is stopped, but your home isn’t fixed yet. Water hides inside walls, under flooring and beneath cabinets. If it isn’t dried completely, it leads to warped floors, swelling cabinets and mold weeks later.
Serhal Builders dries Newport Beach homes properly, measures to prove they’re dry, and then rebuilds whatever the water damaged. Because we’re a licensed general contractor (CSLB #1074208) with more than 31 years in construction, the same team that dries your home can put it back together. No hand-offs between companies, and no gap between drying and repairs.
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
Drying a Home on the Water Is Different
Newport Beach homes sit closer to the water than almost anywhere in Orange County. On Balboa Island, Lido Isle and the Peninsula, many houses are just steps from the harbor or the sand. That brings a few challenges inland homes don’t face:
- Humid coastal air. The marine layer keeps outdoor air damp, so opening windows doesn’t dry a house. Drying has to be controlled indoors with dehumidifiers and air movers.
- Salt water. When seawater or harbor water gets in, it leaves salt behind in drywall, wood and subfloors. Salt holds onto moisture and corrodes metal, so those materials often need removal rather than drying.
- High tides and storms. Low-lying streets near the bay can see water during very high tides and winter storms. Repeat exposure makes thorough drying and the right rebuild materials more important.
- Older plumbing. Many Newport Beach homes have original pipes and fixtures. A slow leak behind a wall can soak framing for months before anyone notices.
We account for all of this when we plan your drying, and again when we choose materials for the rebuild.
How We Dry Your Home
- Inspect and map the moisture. We use moisture meters to find exactly where the water went, including inside walls and under floors, 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, including kitchens, bathrooms, floors and more in Newport Beach.
After your home is dry, we handle the repairs:
- Drywall, texture and paint
- Flooring: hardwood, tile, vinyl and carpet
- Baseboards, trim and doors
- Kitchen and bathroom cabinets and countertops
- Framing and subfloor 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 Newport Beach
Balboa Island · Balboa Peninsula · Lido Isle · Linda Isle · Harbor Island · Corona del Mar · Newport Heights · Bayshores · Dover Shores · Westcliff · Eastbluff
Nearby coastal cities we serve: Newport Coast · Huntington Beach · Laguna Beach · Seal Beach
Why Newport 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
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.
How long does drying take?
Most homes take several days. We’ll give you an estimate after the inspection and update you as the daily readings come in.
Will my insurance cover this?
It depends on your policy and what caused the water. Sudden leaks are often covered, while slow leaks and outside flooding 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 Newport 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.