A city of mid-century homes
Coon Rapids grew quickly after the war. Builders such as Orrin Thompson put up thousands of ramblers and split-levels across the city. Most have full basements, and over the decades many of those basements were finished with paneling, carpet, a bathroom and a bedroom or two.
That combination, original pipes above and finished living space below, is behind a large share of the water damage in the city.
Common water problems in Coon Rapids
Original plumbing reaching the end of its life
Copper supply lines from the 1960s develop pinhole leaks. Old shutoff valves seize and then fail. Galvanized drain lines rust through. A leak in the main-floor bathroom of a rambler drips straight into the finished basement ceiling. See ceiling and wall water damage.
Water heaters and washing machines in the basement
In a rambler, the water heater, softener and laundry usually share the basement with finished rooms. When a tank rusts through or a hose bursts, the water spreads under the carpet of the family room next door. See water extraction.
Sewer laterals
Homes of this era were typically connected with clay tile sewer pipe. After sixty years, joints shift and roots get in. Backups appear at the basement floor drain or the basement shower. See sewage backup cleanup.
Creeks and low areas
Coon Creek and Sand Creek cross the city on their way to the Mississippi. Neighborhoods near the creeks and in low spots can see high groundwater after snowmelt and heavy rain, which puts pressure on sump pumps. See sump pump failure cleanup.
What finished basements from this era hide
Basement finishing done in the 1970s and 1980s often used wood paneling or drywall on furring strips fastened directly to the block wall, sometimes with a plastic vapor barrier. When water gets behind that, it has no way to dry. The wall looks fine from the room side while the furring strips and the back of the paneling stay wet.
In these basements we check behind the finished wall before deciding it is dry. Sometimes the lower section has to come off so the block can be dried and cleaned. More in flooded basement cleanup.
Split-levels
A split-level has its lowest level partly below grade, with a short flight of stairs between each floor. Water from the upper level runs down to the lower level easily, and the half-buried lower walls behave like basement walls. Leaks in these houses tend to affect two or three levels at once.
Apartments, townhomes and rentals
Coon Rapids has many multi-unit buildings. A supply line break in an upper unit affects the units below and the shared walls between them. If you manage or own a rental, tell us how many units are involved and who can provide access.
Services most requested in Coon Rapids
Nearby
We also work in Anoka to the west, Andover to the north and Blaine to the east.