Disaster Recovery & Restoration,
Services in Lemont, IL

Water, storm, fire and mold restoration in Lemont, IL

ServiceMaster Restoration Services provides 24/7 water and storm damage restoration, fire and smoke cleanup, mold remediation, biohazard cleanup and cleaning for Lemont homes and businesses. Lemont is a historic village on the bluffs of the Des Plaines River valley, and it reaches into three counties: Cook, DuPage and Will.

Three counties, one river valley

Cook County's hazard mitigation plan describes Lemont as a historic village located in Cook, DuPage, and Will counties, nestled among the bluffs of the Des Plaines River Valley. The same plan notes that Lemont's history began with construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, which linked the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes, and that quarrying, railroad and canal work brought many of its early residents.

The waterways are still there. The I&M Canal, the Des Plaines River and the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal all pass through the valley below town, and the U.S. Geological Survey runs a streamgage on the Sanitary and Ship Canal near Lemont. Wastewater from the village goes to the Lemont Water Reclamation Plant, which the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District says has operated since 1961, serves nearly 20,000 residents and discharges treated water to the Sanitary and Ship Canal.

How storms cause flooding in Lemont

Cook County's plan is frank about the local pattern. It says spring and summer can bring heavy thunderstorms, many capable of producing flooding, sometimes into fall. The village's own entries list a July 1996 event with street flooding, closed roads and a flooded Village Hall basement, and note an area where the roadway floods when two inches or more of rain falls. The plan also records that regional stormwater impacts are managed by MWRD.

Bluff-top neighborhoods and valley-floor streets flood in different ways. Higher ground sheds water quickly, so the risk there is roof and gutter overflow, window wells and sump pumps working overtime. Lower areas collect runoff from above. Either way, the damage that reaches a restoration crew is usually inside the house: a wet basement, a ceiling stain under a damaged roof or a crawl space that took on water.

Older homes on a hillside street

Lemont has more than 500 homes built in 1939 or earlier, and some of its streets climb the river bluffs. On a sloped lot, runoff from uphill flows toward the foundation, so grading, gutters and window wells on that side deserve the closest watch.

Lemont's housing, decade by decade

Lemont's housing is spread more evenly across the decades than most suburbs. The ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates show a median year built of 1995, 518 homes from 1939 or earlier, and 14.9% built in 2010 or later, a larger recent share than Homer Glen, Lockport or Romeoville. That range means a restoration project here could be in a hundred-year-old house one day and a five-year-old one the next.

Lead paint and asbestos in the older homes

About 24.5% of Lemont homes predate 1980. The EPA says that older homes are more likely to contain lead-based paint, especially those built before 1978, so repairs that disturb painted plaster, trim or windows call for lead-safe practices. Asbestos is a separate check. The EPA notes that only testing can tell whether a material contains asbestos, and it recommends sampling by an accredited inspector when suspect materials are damaged or about to be removed.

First-hour checklist after a storm floods your home

1. Stay out of floodwater. The Red Cross warns that floodwaters carry waste, and that you should never touch electrical equipment that is wet or while standing in water.
2. Gear up before you go downstairs. Boots, long pants, work gloves and eye protection are a minimum. The Red Cross also recommends an N95 respirator during flood cleanup.
3. Cover roof or window openings. If wind opened the roof, a tarp keeps the next rain from adding to the damage. Don't climb a wet or steep roof yourself.
4. Document, then sort. Photograph everything first. Wet food and anything that can't be cleaned or dried goes on the discard list.
5. Watch the clock on drying. The Red Cross advises assuming you have mold growth if a home can't be dried within 24 to 48 hours.

The Red Cross flood safety page has the complete cleanup checklist.

Storm water in an older basement

Older basements may have stone or block walls, floor drains and several generations of plumbing. Drying them takes patience, because masonry holds moisture and releases it slowly.

Restoration help for Lemont homes and businesses

Storms are Lemont's most common trigger, and our flood and storm damage cleanup work covers both water and wind damage. When the roof is opened up, roof tarping and structural stabilization buys time until repairs.

For basements, burst pipes and appliance leaks, see water damage restoration in Lemont.

After a fire, Lemont fire damage restoration deals with soot, odor and the water used to put it out.

Damp masonry basements are a natural place for mold, and mold remediation in Lemont addresses both the growth and the moisture behind it.

For unattended death, trauma or other hazards, biohazard cleanup for Lemont is handled with care and discretion. Cleaning services in Lemont cover deep cleaning after restoration or a move.

Tarping is temporary protection

A properly secured tarp keeps rain out of a storm-damaged roof for a short period while an insurer inspects and repairs are scheduled. It is not a repair, and it should be checked after high winds.

Insurance and the towns around Lemont

Wind damage, flood and sewer backup are treated very differently by insurers, and policies vary. Our insurance claim assistance helps you document the loss and meet with your adjuster, while the insurer decides coverage. Before storm season, read our guides on storm damage, board-up and roof tarping and basement flooding after heavy rain.

Our Lisle headquarters also serves Homer Glen, Willow Springs and Darien, all neighbors of Lemont. Get in touch to book an assessment.

Storm, water, fire or mold damage in Lemont? Call (630) 241-1111, available 24/7.