Norman Tracks Storms for the Entire Country. Then Needs Someone to Dry the Kitchen.
I'm Phil Sheridan. Veteran-owned, IICRC certified, local to Norman. I don't send a tech from OKC. I come from down the road.
IICRC Certified · Veteran-Owned · Campus Corner to Lake Thunderbird
The Weather Capital Still Gets Wet
I'm based in Edmond — about 30 minutes north of Norman on I-35. Norman is one of my most active service areas because the city has everything that keeps a restoration company busy: a large rental market near the university, established neighborhoods with aging plumbing, clay soil that shifts with every season change, and a weather profile that includes tornadoes, hail, ice storms, and flash flooding.
Near campus and downtown, you've got rental duplexes and small houses from the 1920s through 1950s where plumbing failures and deferred maintenance create mold conditions that go unnoticed until a tenant moves out. In Brookhaven and the neighborhoods along 24th Ave NW, there are family homes from the 1970s and 1980s with original HVAC and aging supply lines. Out east toward Lake Thunderbird, newer construction on expansive clay soil is creating a new category of foundation-related moisture problems.
Norman is also the headquarters of the National Severe Storms Laboratory and the Storm Prediction Center. The city that studies severe weather also gets hit by it — regularly. I know what that means for the homes here, because I've worked in them after the storms.
February EF2. May Outbreaks. And a 209-Day Growing Season for Mold.
Norman averages about 38 inches of precipitation per year, with May typically delivering the heaviest single-month totals. Spring storms bring sustained wind, large hail, and flash flooding — especially in the low-lying areas along the Canadian River on the city's north side and the Bishop Creek drainage corridor through the center of town.
Tornadoes are a fact of life here. The May 10, 2010 EF4 tore through southeast Norman. In April 2024, another tornado struck the area. These events don't just destroy structures — they compromise rooflines, break windows, and create water entry points that cause secondary damage for weeks after the event. The homes that survive a tornado still need restoration work because of the rain and debris that followed.
Winter brings its own risks. The February 2021 freeze hit Norman hard — burst pipes, failed water heaters, and ice dam leaks on roofs that weren't designed for sustained sub-zero temperatures. Norman's housing stock isn't built for Arctic cold. When it comes, the plumbing takes the hit.
I track these patterns because they tell me what kind of calls I'm going to get and when. May means water extraction. February means burst pipes. August means mold that's been growing all summer finally gets noticed. Every season in Norman creates a specific type of damage, and I know how to handle each one.
Plaster, Pier-and-Beam, and Pipes From 1955 Dry Differently
Norman's building stock spans a full century. Near downtown and the OU campus — DeBarr Avenue, University North Park, Miller — you'll find pier-and-beam homes built in the 1920s through 1940s. Plaster walls, hardwood floors, original galvanized plumbing, and crawl spaces that collect moisture every spring. These homes have character — and they have plumbing that's been corroding from the inside for 80 years.
In the middle band — Brookhaven, neighborhoods near 12th Ave and 24th Ave NW — you've got 1970s and 1980s construction. Slab-on-grade foundations, copper supply lines, and original HVAC systems. These homes are hitting the age where supply lines fail, condensate drains clog, and water heaters give out. One failed water heater in a hallway closet can dump 40 gallons into the center of the house in under an hour.
Out east and southeast — near Lake Thunderbird, Stone Meadows, Cobblestone Creek — the homes are newer, 2000s through 2020s. Modern PEX plumbing and tight building envelopes. The plumbing is reliable, but the clay soil beneath these slab foundations is not. That red clay expands and contracts with moisture cycles, creating foundation movement that cracks slabs and opens pathways for water.
I've worked all three eras in Norman. The restoration plan for a 1930s pier-and-beam is fundamentally different from a 2015 slab-on-grade. Same water. Different structure. Different approach.
What I Do in Norman
> Water Damage Restoration
Emergency extraction, structural drying, and insurance documentation — from rental properties near OU to established homes in Brookhaven.
> Mold Remediation
Detection, containment, removal, and verification. Norman's humidity and older pier-and-beam homes near campus make mold a persistent concern.
> Fire & Smoke Restoration
Soot removal, smoke deodorization, and structural assessment. From kitchen fires to lightning strikes — I handle the aftermath.
> Specialty Services
Odor control, sewage cleanup, trauma remediation, and asbestos testing for Norman homes and commercial properties.
Water in your Norman home right now? Stop reading. Call me.
405-896-9088Based in Edmond — typically on-site in Norman within 45 minutes to an hour.
24/7 emergency response · Phil answers.
Questions Norman Homeowners Actually Ask
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=01 "How does living near Lake Thunderbird affect moisture problems in my home?" ▶ ENTER
Lake Thunderbird adds ambient humidity to the surrounding area, particularly in SE Norman. Homes with crawl space foundations near the lake experience chronically elevated ground moisture. In summer months, crawl space humidity can reach 70%+ — well above the threshold for mold growth on wood substrates. If your crawl space or basement feels damp year-round, the lake's influence is a contributing factor.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=02 "My Norman home was rebuilt after a tornado — why am I already having water issues?" ▶ ENTER
Post-tornado reconstructions in the 2013-2015 era were built under time pressure with available materials. Builder-grade components — shingles, flashing, caulking — degrade faster in Oklahoma's extreme UV and hail cycle than manufacturer warranties suggest. After 10 years, these materials often fail before the rest of the home does, creating water entry points.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=03 "Can mold grow in my house during Norman's humid summer even without a water leak?" ▶ ENTER
Yes. When relative humidity stays above 60% — which is most of Norman's summer — mold can colonize surfaces without any standing water. Crawl spaces, poorly ventilated bathrooms, and areas behind furniture against exterior walls are common sites for humidity-driven mold growth.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=04 "What should I do about water damage in a rental property near OU's campus?" ▶ ENTER
If you're a tenant, document the damage immediately with photos and notify your landlord in writing. If you're a landlord, respond quickly — Oklahoma's habitability standards apply, and delayed response can increase both the damage and your liability. I work with both tenants and landlords to document damage and restoration properly.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=05 "Is there a difference between how you dry plaster walls vs. drywall after water damage?" ▶ ENTER
Significantly. Plaster is denser and dries much slower than drywall. It also can't tolerate the same airflow intensity — too much direct air movement can cause plaster to crack or delaminate from the lathe. I use controlled, low-grain-pressure dehumidification and indirect air movement for plaster walls to dry the structure without destroying the finish.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=06 "How long after a tornado should I check for hidden water damage in my walls?" ▶ ENTER
Immediately. Wind-driven rain during a tornado enters through compromised roofing, windows, and siding. This water can be trapped inside wall cavities for days or weeks before showing visible signs on the interior surface. If your home sustained any exterior damage during a tornado, have the interior assessed within 48 hours.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=07 "Does Oklahoma's clay soil actually cause foundation leaks and water damage?" ▶ ENTER
Yes. Oklahoma's expansive clay soil swells when wet and shrinks when dry. This seasonal expansion-contraction cycle stresses your foundation over time, creating cracks at stress points. These cracks become water pathways during heavy rain. In Norman's clay, foundation moisture issues are not a defect — they're a geological inevitability that needs management.
admin@4d : ~/faq $ query --id=08 "My child's allergist mentioned indoor mold — how do I get my Norman home tested?" ▶ ENTER
Call me. I'll do a visual and instrumental assessment first — FLIR imaging to identify moisture concentrations, moisture meters to quantify them. If indicated, I can coordinate with a third-party industrial hygienist for air sampling. But in most cases, the visual assessment and moisture data tell you what you need to know to start remediation.
Your House Is Talking. Call Me — I'll Translate.
I'm Phil Sheridan. I'm based at 615 Evergreen Street in Edmond — about 30 minutes north of Norman on I-35. I founded 4D Restoration in January 2024 because I believe homeowners deserve straight answers and honest work, especially during emergencies. I'm IICRC certified, a service-disabled veteran — Oklahoma Army National Guard, six years, Afghanistan 2011–2012 — and I answer my own phone every time it rings.
Other Cities in Phil's Service Area