Water damage cleanup and drying in Little Havana, 33135
In Little Havana, a leak in one apartment rarely stays there: older multi-family buildings share walls and plumbing, and a cloudburst that blocks the street drains can push water in from outside as well.
The neighborhood stretches about 2.5 miles west from the Miami River, with Calle Ocho running through the middle. North of it, Riverside was built mostly as multi-family housing, while Shenandoah to the south started out as single-family homes in the 1920s.
At a glance
- Area
- Little Havana
- From our office
- 1428 Brickell Ave, Floor 3
- Phones
- Answered 24/7
- Most calls
- Water Damage Restoration
Yes, we cover all of Little Havana, from the river west to about SW 37th Avenue and from NW 7th Street down to Coral Way. Most calls here are leaks between apartments, old plumbing failures, and water that comes in when street drains back up. Call (786) 947-0034 any time and a person answers.
Apartments, duplexes and historic frame buildings
Many older apartment buildings here changed hands to Cuban arrivals between 1965 and 1973, and plenty of them still carry original plumbing. The Riverview and South River Drive historic districts hold Bungalow, Mission, Mediterranean Revival and MiMo buildings.
Near the river, the South River Drive district holds the city's oldest surviving group of vernacular frame buildings, built mainly in the first two decades of the 20th century. Wood frame, old plaster and shared walls all change how we dry a building and how far we look for hidden water.
Drains, river blocks and shared walls
Street drains back up in heavy rain, and the river-side blocks of Riverside sit low. During the June 4, 2022 storm, a resident was out trying to clear a blocked drain at SW 8th Avenue and 4th Street.
Inside, the trouble is aging supply lines, water heaters and drains in buildings where one unit sits above or beside another. A leak in an upstairs bathroom shows up as a stained ceiling below, and a burst line in one unit can soak the shared wall of the next.
How we work in Little Havana buildings
In multi-family buildings, we check the units on either side and below, not just the one that called. Owners, tenants and building managers each get the same photos and moisture readings, which keeps the question of who pays grounded in facts.
Street parking on busy blocks near Calle Ocho can be tight, so the crew lead calls ahead to plan where the truck goes and how hoses reach the unit. For backups and street water, we remove what cannot be cleaned and disinfect before drying starts.
Around Little Havana
Downtown Miami and Brickell are just east across the river and I-95, Shenandoah and Coral Way sit to the south, and West Flagler continues west past SW 27th Avenue.
Those neighborhoods each have a page on this site. Near loanDepot park or along Calle Ocho, the number is the same: (786) 947-0034.
Where water and mold start in Little Havana
Blocked drains on SW 8th Avenue
During the June 4, 2022 deluge of about 9 to 11 inches, a resident tried to unblock a sewer drain at SW 8th Avenue and 4th Street.
A flood project years out
The East Little Havana flood project covers 1,222 properties and adds a pump station, with construction planned for January 2029 to January 2031.
Low river blocks
The river-adjacent blocks of Riverside are low-lying, so street drainage there backs up first in a cloudburst.
Aging shared plumbing
Older multi-family buildings carry aging pipes, and a leak in one unit can spread into the next.
Services we run most in Little Havana
Water Damage Restoration
Extraction, drying and repair after any water event in a home or unit.
See the serviceBurst Pipe Water Damage
Split supply lines and failed fittings, from shutoff to dry-out.
See the serviceCeiling Water Damage
Stains, sagging drywall and leaks from the unit or attic above.
See the serviceWater Heater Leak Cleanup
Tank failures in closets and garages cleaned up before they spread.
See the serviceSewage Backup Cleanup
Category 3 water removed, porous materials cut out, surfaces disinfected.
See the serviceStructural Drying & Dehumidification
Air movers and dehumidifiers set up, logged daily and pulled once dry.
See the serviceLittle Havana: questions we hear
Water from my upstairs neighbor is coming into my Little Havana apartment. What do I do?
Tell the building owner or manager so the source can be shut off, move belongings away from the wet area, and call us at (786) 947-0034. We can start extraction and drying in your unit and record the damage for whichever policy ends up covering it.
Can older frame buildings near the river in Little Havana be dried properly?
Yes, with patience. Old wood framing and plaster hold water longer than modern drywall, so we size dehumidifiers and air movers for the space and take readings every day until the material reaches dry standard.
Will the city's flood projects help my Little Havana block?
The East Little Havana project covers the Orange Bowl, East Little Havana and Latin Quarter areas, and the 8th Street project covers the Latin Quarter, Shenandoah North and Citrus Grove. Both are planned for later years, so heavy rain will keep testing street drains until then.
Do you handle water damage in Little Havana shops and restaurants along Calle Ocho?
Yes. Commercial spaces get the same extraction and drying, scheduled around opening hours where possible, with equipment kept out of customer paths. We keep a moisture log your landlord and carrier can follow.
Other places our crews cover
Water damage in Little Havana? Call our crew lead.
A person answers every call, day or night. Tell us what got wet and when it started, and we will tell you what happens next.