By: Samer, Lead Technician at Ottawa Renovation Specialists
Most flooded basements from the July 1 storm do not need a full renovation. They need two stages: mitigation (getting the wet, contaminated material out and drying the space) and restoration (rebuilding it to how it was before the flood). Experts from Ottawa Renovation Specialists share that this usually means replacing about the bottom two feet of drywall, the flooring, and the doors.
The Storm In Numbers
Environment Canada recorded 118 mm of rain at the Ottawa Airport on July 1, 2026, a record for that date. Some parts of the city took far more. The City of Ottawa reported a peak of 167 mm in five hours, calling it an event close to or beyond a 1-in-200-year storm.
By July 10, the City’s 3-1-1 line had logged 5,423 service requests tied to flooding and storm damage. The City’s own heat maps put the worst of the rain over central and southwest Ottawa.
What We Have Seen On The Ground
Since the storm, Ottawa Renovation Specialists has taken about 25 calls for flooded basements, and they are still coming in. Most have come from the west end: Kanata, Nepean and Merivale. That lines up with where the City says the rain hit hardest.
Stage One: Mitigation
Mitigation comes first, and it cannot be skipped. It means:
- Removing everything the water touched that can hold contamination: carpet, underpad, insulation, cardboard, particleboard
- Cutting out the lower section of drywall, usually about two feet up from the floor
- Removing flooring and water-damaged doors and trim
- Drying the framing and slab completely before anything new goes in
Storm water found in your basement is not clean water. When it backs up through drains, it can carry sewage. Anything porous that soaked it up should go, even if it looks dry.
Stage Two: Restoration
Flood and water damage restoration brings the space back to the condition it was in before the flood. It is not a renovation. You are not redesigning the basement. You are replacing what was lost with like-for-like materials.
Many of the calls we get now are from homeowners whose mitigation is already done. If the space was properly dried after demolition, mold should not be an issue, and the job is purely restoration: new drywall, finishing, paint, flooring, and doors.
“If the mitigation was done right and everything dried out, we’re just bringing the basement back,” says Samer, a lead on Ottawa Renovation Specialists’ crew. “The first thing we check is that the framing is actually dry before we close anything up.”
If Your Basement Flooded, Do This Now
- Document everything. The Province advised affected residents to keep photos, receipts, and records of clean-up and repair costs. Your insurer will want the same.
- Report it to the City through 3-1-1 if you have not already. The City has pointed residents toward its Compassionate Grant Program for basement flooding and its subsidies for protective plumbing such as backwater valves.
- Confirm the space is dry before anyone rebuilds. Ask your contractor to show you moisture readings on the framing and slab.
- Get a written scope that separates mitigation from restoration, so your insurer can see what each stage covers.
- Think about prevention while the walls are open. A backwater valve or sump work is far easier to add now than after the basement is finished again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I Need To Rip Out All My Drywall After A Flood?
Usually not. On the jobs we have seen, about the bottom two feet is typical. How high you cut depends on how high the water reached and how far it wicked up.
Will My Basement Get Mold?
Not if it was dried properly after the wet material came out. Mold grows when wet material is left in place or closed up before it dries.
How Long Does Restoration Take?
It depends on the size of the space and how much was removed. Restoration is a smaller job than a full basement finish, which typically runs about two months for us.
Ottawa Renovation Specialists is a family-run Ottawa renovation company that has been rebuilding basements across the city since 1999.
