Ann Arbor, MI Water Damage Restoration Companies Ranked: Prime Restoration First of 434

Many Ann Arbor buildings were built with footing drains, pipes around or beneath a structure that collect stormwater. The city says these drains were then connected directly to the sanitary sewer, which mixed storm and sewer water. In large storms the flow through those connections can run 10-20 times normal. The extra flow can exceed what the sanitary pipes carry, and sewage backs up into basements.

The city records the history. Large rainstorms in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s pushed the sanitary system past capacity and sent sewage into homes in some neighborhoods. A large storm on June 25 and 26, 2021 hit again. Pittsfield Village and the nearby neighborhoods on the southeast side were the most affected areas, and states of disaster were declared at the local, state and federal levels.

Ann Arbor Public Works inspects and maintains over 360 miles of sewer main and 10,300 manholes. The city tracks basement flooding to find causes and patterns, and it takes reports at 734.794.6320 on weekdays and 734.994.2840 after hours. The city also says basement flooding coverage often is not in a standard homeowners policy. Prime Restoration's Ann Arbor Office at 206 S Main St is 1 minute away.

Five tributary streams in Ann Arbor have mapped floodplains: Allen, Malletts, Millers, Swift Run and Traver. A structure improved in a floodplain or floodway must meet standards for new buildings if the value of all improvements over the past 10 years exceeds 50 percent of its market value. A large water-loss rebuild on a mapped property can reach that line. The city exempts historic structures from that rule when their historic character is maintained.

Floodplain building also needs outside permits. Construction within the floodplain requires a permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy where it has jurisdiction. Work within county jurisdiction requires a permit from the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner. The lowest floor of any new residential structure in the flood fringe must sit 1 foot above the 500-year flood elevation.

The Ann Arbor Historic District Commission reviews any work to the exterior of a building in a local historic district, including work that cannot be seen from the street. Under Public Act 169, work includes repair. Interior work is not reviewed. Minor exterior work can usually be approved by staff, and a new deck needs a commission decision. Prime Restoration documents each job with photos, moisture logs and a written scope a carrier can review.