Your 1903 Victorian Survived 130 Years. I'm Not Going to Be the One Who Ruins It.

That's the number one question I get from historic homeowners, and the answer is yes — but it takes different equipment and different patience. Plaster walls dry slower than modern drywall and can't tolerate the same airflow intensity. Hit plaster with too much heat or too much air and it cracks, separates from the lathe, and you've destroyed what you were trying to save. I use low-grain-pressure dehumidification and targeted air movers positioned to dry the structure without blasting the surfaces. Hardwood floors need controlled drying to prevent cupping and crowning. I've dried historic homes where the window casings are original longleaf pine from 1890. You can't replace that. So I don't treat your house like a new build. I treat it like what it is — irreplaceable.

It's common, but it's not okay. Cottonwood Creek hits flood stage at 22 feet and has crested at 30 feet (1983) and 27.4 feet (2013 and 2019). If you're on the west side of Guthrie near the creek and west of the railroad tracks, FEMA maps show potential flood depths of 10-12 feet. Even if you only get a few inches under the house, that standing water is feeding mold on your floor joists. Every spring. I can install a vapor barrier, improve drainage, and dehumidify the crawl space to break the cycle. First step is knowing how bad it is right now.

I'm in Edmond — 30 minutes south on I-35. Guthrie is the northern edge of my service area, and I've worked there. When I show up, I already know that your 1905 home has plaster over lathe, not drywall. I know that the stone foundations on Harrison Street move differently than a modern slab. I know that the owner of a Victorian on Oklahoma Avenue has different concerns than someone in a 1970s ranch on the south side. I pay attention to those differences because they change how I do the work.

Yes. Stone and brick foundations from the 1889-1910 era weren't built with modern moisture management. They rely on mass and gravity, not waterproof membranes. Over 130 years, mortar joints deteriorate, stones shift, and gaps open up. Groundwater wicks through the stone during wet seasons. If your basement or crawl space stays damp, you've got the conditions for mold — plus you're slowly dissolving the mortar that holds your foundation together. I can dry the affected areas and help you understand where the moisture is entering.

I'm 30 minutes south in Edmond. I-35 north, exit at Highway 33 or Noble Street, and I'm in your neighborhood. For a water emergency at 2 AM, 30-35 minutes is realistic. I answer my phone — not a dispatcher, not a recording. And I don't need anyone's permission to pack the truck and drive. When you call 405-896-9088, you're talking to the person who's going to do the work.

Yes. The April 2025 flooding broke a water main and affected 500 customers on the west side. Even if floodwater didn't enter your living space, it may have entered your crawl space or saturated soil around your foundation. Rising groundwater can push moisture in through cracks you didn't know existed. Check your crawl space for standing water or damp soil. Check your baseboards for swelling. If anything seems off, I'll come look. Free assessment.

It only takes one change. One new roof leak, one plumbing failure, one wet spring that's wetter than the last 20. Homes that have been 'fine' for decades can develop moisture problems in a single season if something shifts. And in a 130-year-old home with plaster walls and original insulation, mold can grow in spaces you've never seen. I use a FLIR thermal camera to see temperature differentials behind your walls. Wet spots show up cooler. It takes 15 minutes and the assessment is free.

SERVPRO of Stillwater is a franchise. I'm the owner of 4D Restoration — IICRC certified, service-disabled Army veteran, hundreds of jobs across the metro. When you call me, you get me. I drive 30 minutes and I bring everything I need. More importantly, I know how to dry a historic home without destroying it. I've worked plaster walls, original hardwood, and stone foundations. Most restoration companies treat every house like a 2005 suburban build. Your 1903 Victorian is not that.