Chicago structural drying
Our crew runs about half of its weekly volume on structural drying calls in and around Chicago. The other half is everything else local-service. So yes, we know your area. Family-run, second-generation if you count my dad. We've watched fifteen national "plumbing chains" come and go in Chicago and we're still here.
How Chicago jobs differ
Most jobs are residential, but we handle small commercial too — restaurants, multi-unit rentals, retail strips along the main corridors.
That said, newer construction in Chicago has its own set of typical issues. We see both.
What this service includes
Drying after extraction is what determines whether your loss becomes a $5,000 cleanup or a $25,000 demolition-and-rebuild. Inadequate drying = mold = much bigger problem.
We size drying equipment using IICRC psychrometric calculations: cubic footage of affected space, current moisture content of materials, target dryness, and grain depression of the air.
Typical setup: 1 dehumidifier per 800-1,200 cubic feet, plus air movers at 1 per 50-100 sqft of wet surface. Equipment runs continuously for 3-7 days depending on class of loss.
Daily moisture readings track progress against target. Once materials hit target dryness, equipment comes out and reconstruction can begin.
What it costs
For structural drying jobs in the Chicago area:
- Single-zone drying (3-5 days): $1,750 – $3,500
- Multi-zone drying: $3,500 – $9,375
- Specialty hardwood / plaster drying: $4,375 – $11,250