Illustrative case: the window well that filled up

The storm

Illustrative example. Not a real job or customer.

A fast thunderstorm drops heavy rain on a Wheat Ridge street. A homeowner hears dripping in a basement bedroom and finds water streaming along the sill under a window whose well is full of rainwater and leaves. About a half inch of muddy water spreads across a laminate floor.

1. They put on boots and check that the outlet near the window is dead by testing it with a lamp from a dry spot, then switch off that circuit.
2. They clear leaves from the top of the well with a rake from above, since climbing in would be risky in the rain.
3. A small pump in the well lowers the water and discharges to the lawn downhill.
4. Inside, they squeegee muddy water and lift the laminate planks, which have started to swell at the seams.
5. They photograph the sill, the stained wall base and the planks.
6. A dehumidifier and two fans run after the water is out.

The laminate is replaced because the core has swelled, while the subfloor dries in a few days. A bottom strip of drywall about a foot high is opened and replaced since readings stayed high. The window seal is repaired, a cover is fitted and the downspout is extended in this version of the story.