Technician in a protective suit extracting water from a soaked carpet. Used to illustrate this step; it is not a photo of a job connected to this site.
What is different here
The area often called Original Aurora, in the northwest part of the city near the Denver line, grew from the town once known as Fletcher. Housing ranges from small early-twentieth-century cottages and bungalows to postwar brick homes, with apartment buildings and commercial strips along East Colfax Avenue. Many homes have been remodeled several times, and many are rentals.
For water removal, the age of the plumbing is the first concern. Older homes may still have galvanized steel supply pipes, which corrode from the inside and can fail at threaded joints, or cast iron drain lines that crack. Basements, where present, are often small and partially finished, with low ceilings and mechanical equipment that leaves little room to stage pumps and extractors.
Walls are another difference. Some older homes have plaster on wood or metal lath rather than drywall. Plaster tolerates brief wetting better than drywall but dries slowly, and cutting it creates more dust and debris. Older materials may also contain asbestos or lead paint, which changes how they can be disturbed.
Quick facts for this area
- Typical housing
- Early and mid-twentieth-century single-family homes, small apartment buildings
- Common water sources
- Aging supply lines, water heaters, drain line cracks, sewer backups
- Wall materials
- Plaster and lath in some homes; drywall in later remodels
- Ownership pattern
- Mix of owner-occupied and rental properties
- Permits
- City of Aurora Building Division for most repairs
Before work starts in an older home
Questions for owners and renters in older buildings
- Is the water from a supply line or from a drain or sewer line?
- How will plaster walls be dried, and will any of it need to be removed?
- Who is testing for hazardous materials before anything is cut?
- For renters: has the landlord been notified in writing, and who is arranging the work?
Common questions
Is plaster always removed after a leak?
No. Plaster that got wet from clean water and is still firmly attached can often be dried in place, though it takes longer than drywall. Loose or crumbling plaster is usually removed.
General information for Aurora, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.