Before & After Gallery - Marsh Water Damage Pasadena

Damage Restoration Before & After in Pasadena, CA

We could tell you about our drying equipment and IICRC credentials all day, but nothing builds trust faster than seeing actual work we’ve completed. Pasadena homes come with their own set of problems: 1920s craftsman bungalows with original hardwood, mid-century ranchers on slabs, Spanish colonials with plaster walls that wick water upward. Here are real scenarios we handle regularly, documented the way a restoration project actually unfolds.

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Recent Transformations

Water Damage Restoration: Burst Supply Line in a 1926 Bungalow Kitchen

BeforeAfter

The problem: An original galvanized supply line failed behind the kitchen sink while the homeowner was at work. By the time anyone got home, water had traveled through the cabinet bases into the adjoining dining room, soaking the original oak flooring across roughly 300 square feet.

What we did: We extracted the standing water, removed the damaged cabinet toe-kicks to expose the wall cavities, and set up our Injectidry system to pull moisture through the walls without tearing out the plaster. Dri-Eaz dehumidifiers ran for four days while our techs monitored psychrometric readings, measuring the moisture in the air and building materials until the numbers matched the structure’s dry standard. The oak flooring was dried in place, sanded, and refinished rather than replaced.

The result: The homeowner kept their original cabinets and flooring. Total restoration took six days from first call to final walkthrough, and the only thing that looks new is the supply line.

Mold Remediation: Attic Mold from a Failed Bathroom Vent in San Rafael Hills

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The problem: A bathroom exhaust fan had been venting into the attic for years instead of through the roof. The warm, wet air condensed on the underside of the sheathing, and by the time the homeowner noticed staining on the ceiling, the mold growth covered a good portion of the north-facing roof deck.

What we did: We set up full containment with negative air pressure, removed the affected insulation, and treated the framing and sheathing with an antimicrobial agent. After drying the space to below the threshold where mold can survive, we applied a mold-resistant coating to the affected surfaces. The real fix was re-routing the bathroom vent through a proper roof penetration and installing a new bathroom exhaust fan rated for the room size.

The result: Post-remediation air samples came back clean. The attic is now dry, properly vented, and the bathroom finally clears steam within minutes of a shower.

Storm Damage Restoration: Rain-Saturated Wall and Ceiling After a Pasadena Downpour

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The problem: A winter storm in Pasadena brought three days of heavy rain, and a rusted chimney flashing finally gave up. Water ran down the interior of the chimney chase and soaked the plaster wall and ceiling in the living room. By the time we arrived, the damage was roughly ten feet wide and spreading.

What we did: We extracted the water from the saturated plaster, removed the damaged sections, and opened the chimney chase to dry the framing. Once our moisture meters confirmed the structure was dry, we installed new drywall, matched the existing texture, and primed and painted to blend with the surrounding surfaces. The homeowner had the flashing repaired by a roofer and we documented everything for their insurance claim with time-stamped photos.

The result: You can’t tell which part of the wall was opened unless you look closely at the paint sheen. The claim was approved with minimal back and forth because the adjuster had clear documentation from day one.

Water Damage Restoration: Dishwasher Leak in a Mid-Century Ranch on a Slab

The problem: A dishwasher supply line developed a slow leak that had been going on for days before anyone noticed the water staining the vinyl flooring. On slab foundations, water doesn’t just sit on the surface. It travels under flooring and wicks into drywall, which is exactly what happened here.

What we did: We pulled the damaged vinyl, set up a drying system that pulled moisture out of the slab and the wall cavities, and used our XPOWER air movers to keep air circulating across every exposed surface. After three days of drying with daily inspections, we replaced the affected drywall, installed new underlayment and vinyl that matched the existing, and reset the dishwasher with a new braided steel supply line.

The result: The kitchen was back in service in under a week, and the homeowner now knows what a slow slab leak looks like before it becomes a big problem.

Mold Remediation: Crawlspace Contamination from a Leaking Water Heater

The problem: A water heater in a hallway closet had been leaking slowly for months. By the time the homeowner realized something was wrong, the water had saturated the floor framing and the crawlspace below. The dark, humid space with exposed dirt had turned into a mold factory.

What we did: We removed the standing water and damaged insulation from the crawlspace, treated the affected framing with an antimicrobial agent, and dried the crawlspace with Phoenix equipment running for several days. After it was dry and clean, we installed a vapor barrier over the dirt floor to prevent future moisture migration and sealed the crawlspace vents to keep outside humidity out. The homeowner later replaced the water heater with a tankless unit mounted outside.

The result: The crawlspace went from a place none of us wanted to spend time in to a clean, dry space that no longer threatens the indoor air quality of the house.

Storm Damage Restoration: Overflowing Gutter Flooding a Basement Apartment

The problem: During an unusually heavy storm, the gutters on a 1940s Pasadena fourplex overflowed, and the downspouts couldn’t handle the volume. Water ran down the foundation walls and seeped into a basement apartment, soaking the carpet, padding, and the lower sections of drywall.

What we did: We extracted the water within hours of the call, removed the saturated carpet and pad, and cut away the wet drywall to expose the wall cavities. Using our Dri-Eaz equipment, we dried the walls, the concrete floor, and the air inside the unit. After two days of drying, we replaced the drywall, taped and textured it, and installed new carpet and pad. We also advised the property owner on gutter capacity and drainage improvements to prevent a repeat.

The result: The tenant was back in the unit within a week, and the owner now treats gutter maintenance as part of storm season preparation.

Want Results Like These?

These are familiar Pasadena problems with proven fixes. If water, mold, or storm damage has hit your home, call us at (626) 657-5106. We’ll give you a written price before any work begins, a live person answers the phone every time, and the work is backed by our 365-Day Done Right Promise. You’ll know exactly who’s showing up at your door before they arrive.

Written by Tobias Reyner, Owner at Marsh Water Damage Pasadena, serving Pasadena since 2005.