Water damage restoration in Concord

The Merrimack runs northwest to southeast through Concord, with downtown on a low terrace on its west side. ^[1] The Soucook forms the eastern boundary, the Turkey River crosses the southwest and the Contoocook meets the Merrimack at Penacook. ^[1] Water levels on any of these can matter if your property is low.

In May 2006, more than 8 inches of rain fell near Concord over three days. ^[2] USGS documented that flood across New Hampshire. ^[3] Even a home above the river can see groundwater rise after such an event, so cellar water does not always mean the river reached you.

With a freezing window from late September to mid-May, ^[1] Concord's plumbing and roofs have a lengthy test. Average snowfall peaks in January and February. ^[1] That snow load, along with heat escaping into older attics, is the usual recipe for ice dams. Sub-zero nights expose pipes on outer walls; see the frozen pipes guide.

Some of the city's earliest 18th-century houses survive at the north end of Main Street. ^[1] Concord's 19th-century granite trade and mill villages such as Penacook left a varied building stock. ^[1] Old timber frames, plaster and stone foundations all dry differently from modern materials, and they may contain lead paint. ^[4]

Be careful with changes to historic features. Keep original trim where you can, and ask the city whether a review applies to your building before making exterior alterations.

Concord handles permits through its city government, including for its villages. Check before major repairs, especially in flood zones or on older properties.

Downriver are Manchester and Nashua. North of the city is Laconia in the Lakes Region.

The three-day rainfall of more than 8 inches was the highest in at least 70 years at Concord. ^[2] The Turkey River flooded and closed St. Paul's School, and at least 600 roads were closed around the state, with at least 550 National Guard troops deployed. ^[2] To the east, in Epsom, the Suncook River carved a new channel about a mile long, the largest river channel change in the state since mapping began in the early 20th century. ^[2]

For homeowners, the event showed that smaller rivers can do as much local damage as the Merrimack. If your street is near the Turkey, the Soucook or a brook, watch those waters as well. It also showed how long access may be limited, which is why it matters to have a simple plan: clothes, medicine and copies of your papers somewhere you can reach them if the road closes.

Downtown sits on a low terrace on the west side of the Merrimack. ^[1] Many older commercial and government buildings there have deep basements, some with granite or brick foundations, and Concord granite was used in the State House. ^[1] Thick stone and brick hold moisture and take a long time to give it up. Offices and apartments in these buildings should check with building management quickly if they see water, because basement rooms may hold mechanical equipment and records.

The former Eagle Hotel on Main Street, listed on the National Register in 1978, ^[1] is one example of how historic buildings have been reused. In a building like this, the approach to water damage should respect original materials wherever it reasonably can. Ask how plaster, wood trim and old floors will be protected, and find out what review applies before any exterior change.

With about 30 snowy days a year and a freeze window that can stretch into May, ^[1] Concord's drying jobs often happen with the heat on. That can help, because warm air can take up moisture, and very cold outside air holds little of it. It also brings risk, since windows opened for ventilation can chill pipes. Good contractors think about where the plumbing runs before they open anything.

Ice can complicate access as well. Snowbanks may block a bulkhead, ice may coat a cellar stair and a hose may freeze on its way across the yard. If you are expecting anyone, clear a safe path to the door and the cellar, and tell them about anything tricky. Discharge hoses should drain completely, and they should not send water across a walkway where it will freeze.

Period homes may have fieldstone or granite block foundations with little or no mortar in places, and some have dirt or thin concrete floors. ^[6] Water passes through these more easily than through modern poured walls, so a damp cellar after a thaw is often normal for the building. What matters is whether wood stays above the water, whether the furnace and electrical panel are protected and whether humidity climbs upstairs.

Practical steps include putting equipment on blocks, keeping stored things on shelves off the floor and using a dehumidifier in the warm months. If water rises regularly, ask a foundation specialist about interior drainage and a pump. A vapor barrier on a dirt floor can also reduce moisture rising into the home. Any work in such a cellar should begin with a safety check for electrical hazards and, if it is an older building, for lead and asbestos on pipes and ducts. ^[7]

Back to all of New Hampshire. Nearby pages: Keene, Laconia, Lebanon and Hanover, Manchester, Nashua, Portsmouth.

Related help for Concord: water extraction, structural drying, sewage backup cleanup, fire damage restoration and smoke damage cleanup. First time dealing with this? Read the first hours after water damage.