A $690,000 Home Doesn't Make the Pipes Any Younger. Or the Clay Any Less Stubborn.

Significantly. Galvanized steel corrodes from the inside out — the pipe wall thins over decades until one spot fails. The problem is that the rest of the system is at the same stage of corrosion. When I scope a galvanized pipe failure, I factor in the probability of secondary failures during or after the drying process. I position equipment to protect adjacent areas that haven't failed yet, and I document the entire plumbing run in my scope for insurance.

The foundation is new. The soil underneath is the same clay that's been expanding and contracting for centuries. Custom homes with post-tensioned slabs move less than conventional slabs, but they still move. After a drought-to-rain cycle — which Oklahoma delivers annually — even a post-tensioned slab can develop enough movement to crack a supply line. The geology doesn't know your house is new.

The 2008 event was mitigated by emergency city pumping at 11,000 gallons per minute. The intervention saved 93 homes. But the retention pond capacity, the clay soil drainage rate, and Oklahoma's rainfall intensity haven't changed. If you're in the flood path, know it. And know that if water enters your home, the first 24 hours of extraction and drying determine whether your floors and walls are salvageable.

Yes — but the protocols are different. Marble responds to thermal shock — aggressive direct airflow on cold marble can crack it. Low-grain refrigerant dehumidifiers and controlled airflow are the right approach. White oak is more stable than red oak but still needs careful monitoring. I adjust drying equipment placement for every material in the affected area. The materials dictate the protocol.

About 15 minutes. Broadway Extension south to Memorial Road, then west. Edmond borders the Quail Springs area — this is one of my closest neighborhoods. I work regularly in Quail Creek and know the layout.

That's standard practice, and it's how I operate on every job. My scope includes thermal imaging with annotated moisture boundaries by room, hygrometer readings with locations mapped, affected material inventory with dimensions, a drying plan with equipment count and timeline, and daily updates. Your adjuster won't have to ask for clarification.

Slow, persistent leaks produce the worst mold because the moisture is low-volume but continuous — ideal growing conditions in an enclosed, dark space. After years of condensate drip, the mold isn't just on the drywall surface. It's in the wall cavity, potentially in the framing, and possibly in the insulation behind. A full assessment with moisture mapping tells me the actual scope. Surface cleaning won't address what's behind the wall.

Like-kind-and-quality is the insurance standard, and it's my standard regardless. I document existing materials — species, finish, grade, manufacturer when possible — before any removal. When I source replacements, I match to pre-loss condition, not to whatever's available at the supply house. Your insurance policy covers like-kind-and-quality. I make sure the work delivers it.