Sissonville stretches along the Pocatalico River north of Charleston, and when floodwater, a burst pipe, a fire or a sewage backup damages a home or business out here, it needs a team that shows up ready to work. Elite Restoration WV is based in Charleston and serves Sissonville around the clock, taking every job from the first emergency call through the final walkthrough.
(304) 395-3925
Sissonville, WV follows the Pocatalico River valley north from the Charleston city limits toward the Jackson County line, with farms, ridgetop homes and small communities spread along the way. Elite Restoration WV provides water damage restoration, fire damage restoration, mold remediation, sewage backup cleanup and commercial water damage restoration across the whole area, including Pocatalico, Cicerone, Millertown and Guthrie and the hollows along Kanawha Two Mile, Derricks Creek, Second Creek, Allen Fork and Kellys Creek. We also offer carpet cleaning and air duct cleaning for Sissonville homes and businesses. We're based in Charleston and serve Sissonville as one of our regular service areas, so one local team can handle the emergency and the cleanup that comes after.
Water damage in Sissonville is shaped by the Pocatalico River and the creeks that feed it. The river has a long flood history here, with disaster declarations after the floods of 1997 and 1998 and more high water in the years that followed. In 2021 the river rose above 31 feet, its highest level in more than twenty years, and flooding ran all along the river around Sissonville. Heavy summer storms cause trouble too. One day of hard rain in June 2018 pushed the Pocatalico out onto the valley floor and sent Allen Fork out of its banks. Homes in the hollows feel that kind of storm first, because the side creeks rise fast and the hillsides send runoff straight toward the house.
Sissonville has long been a service center for a large farming area and is now largely a bedroom community for Charleston, so the housing is a real mix. Older farmhouses and homes along the river sit next to newer houses built on the ridges and in the hollows. Many sit on hillside lots with crawl spaces or block foundations, and some are a long way from the nearest neighbor, which means a leak can run for hours before anyone notices. Our team restores homes and businesses all across Sissonville, works carefully and keeps clear documentation for your insurance claim at every step.
Our team follows IICRC standards on every Sissonville job. River water, creek water and sewage each call for different handling, and those standards tell us exactly how to clean, dry and document each one so the work holds up later.
The Pocatalico doesn't wait for business hours, and neither do burst pipes. We answer the phone around the clock and get a crew headed up the Pocatalico valley so water removal and drying start right away.
We walk the property with you, show you the moisture readings and photos, and explain what can be saved and what has to go. You get a written scope before the work begins, with no surprises and no pressure.
We restore farmhouses, newer homes on the ridges, rental properties, churches and the small businesses down in the valley, using the same equipment and the same standards on every Sissonville property.
The Pocatalico River runs right through Sissonville, and it has flooded the valley many times. Floods in 1997 and 1998 led to national disaster declarations, and the river climbed above 31 feet in 2021, higher than it had been in more than twenty years. When the river leaves its banks, the homes, roads and businesses closest to it take on water that is full of mud, debris and contaminants. That kind of flooding soaks drywall, insulation and flooring from the bottom up and leaves silt behind in every corner. It has to be treated as contaminated water, not a clean leak. We extract the water, remove the materials that can't be cleaned, wash and disinfect the structure, dry it with commercial equipment and document everything so your claim has the full picture.
A lot of Sissonville lives up the hollows along Allen Fork, Derricks Creek, Second Creek, Kellys Creek and Kanawha Two Mile. These creeks drain steep hillsides, and during a heavy summer storm they can rise fast, well before the river itself gets high. In June 2018, one day of heavy rain sent Allen Fork out of its banks and flooded the low ground where it meets the Pocatalico. Homes along these creeks often deal with water in crawl spaces, garages and lower rooms after storms like that, and the water usually brings mud and debris in with it. We pump out the water, clean out the mud, dry the framing and subfloor, and check readings until the structure is truly dry.
Many Sissonville homes sit on hillside lots with crawl spaces or block foundations, and a lot of them are older farmhouses that have been added onto over the years. Runoff from the slope above collects against the uphill side of the house and seeps underneath, and a crawl space that stays wet keeps the floor joists, sill plates and insulation damp for months. You may notice it first as soft spots in the floor, a musty smell in the rooms above or condensation on the ductwork. We extract standing water, remove soaked insulation, dry the framing with commercial equipment and show you where the water is getting in so the drainage can be fixed.
Winter cold settles into the Pocatalico valley and the hollows, and homes out here often have long water lines, pipes in crawl spaces and, on some properties, well houses and outbuildings with plumbing. When a hard freeze hits, those lines are the first to split. The leak usually doesn't start until the pipe thaws, and on a rural property with no close neighbors it can run for hours before anyone sees it. If you find water after a freeze, shut off the main valve, or the well pump if you have one, and call us. We extract the water, dry the structure and the rooms below, and document the loss so you can get your claim started.
Yes. We're based in Charleston and serve the whole Sissonville area, including Pocatalico, Cicerone, Millertown, Guthrie and the hollows along Allen Fork, Derricks Creek, Second Creek, Kellys Creek and Kanawha Two Mile. We handle water damage, fire damage, mold remediation, sewage backup cleanup and commercial water damage, plus carpet cleaning and air duct cleaning. Our phone is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (304) 395-3925.
It's the biggest factor. The river runs the length of the community, and when heavy rain or a long wet spell pushes it out of its banks, homes on the valley floor can take on water through doors, foundation walls and crawl space vents. The creeks that feed it rise even faster in a summer storm. River and creek water carry mud and contaminants, so cleanup involves removing affected materials and disinfecting before drying, not just pumping out the water.
Get to safety, and don't walk through water that may be touching outlets, cords or the electrical panel. If it's a pipe leak and you can reach the shutoff valve, or the well pump switch if you have one, turn it off. Photograph the damage and any water lines on the walls before you clean up, then call your insurance company and a restoration company. Floodwater and mud should come out quickly, because wet materials can start growing mold within 24 to 48 hours.
Yes. Many homes out here have crawl spaces or block foundations, and they're often the first place water goes after a storm. A wet crawl space left alone softens the floor framing, ruins insulation and sends humidity and musty air up into the house. We pump out standing water, pull out soaked insulation and debris, dry the framing with air movers and dehumidifiers, and confirm with moisture readings that the space is dry before we leave.
Mostly safe from river flooding, but not from water damage. Newer homes still have supply lines, water heaters, washing machine hoses and ice maker lines that can fail. Hillside lots can send runoff against the foundation if the grading or gutters aren't right, and a sump pump can quit during the storm you need it most. Tighter newer construction also holds moisture in longer. We treat a water loss in a newer home just as seriously as one on the valley floor.
Mold can start in 24 to 48 hours when materials stay wet, and floodwater makes it worse because it leaves silt and organic debris behind. Hot, humid summers in the valley slow natural drying, and crawl spaces with little airflow can stay damp for weeks. Homes that flooded in an earlier storm and were only partly dried often have moisture left in the framing. Quick cleanout and commercial drying are the best way to keep mold from setting in.
Yes. We set up containment so spores don't spread to clean parts of the house, run HEPA air scrubbers, remove moldy drywall, insulation and flooring that can't be saved, and clean and treat the framing that stays. Then we deal with the moisture that let it grow. In Sissonville that is often a crawl space that takes on water after storms, a hillside lot that sends runoff toward the house or a home that was never fully dried after a flood.
Yes. Whether your home is on a sewer line or a septic system, wastewater that backs up into the house is Category 3 water and carries bacteria and other contaminants. Heavy rain and high groundwater can make a backup more likely. Our crew uses proper protective gear, removes contaminated flooring and drywall, cleans and disinfects every affected surface and dries the area completely. Have the line or system itself checked by the right professional so the backup doesn't repeat.
Yes. After a house fire, the burned area is only part of the damage. Smoke and soot travel through the rest of the home and coat walls, ceilings, ductwork and contents, and the odor works its way into carpet, furniture and insulation. The water used to put out the fire also needs to be removed and dried. We secure the property, clean soot and smoke residue from the structure and belongings, deodorize and dry everything so the home is ready for repairs.
That's a conversation to have with your insurance agent, and for many homes along the Pocatalico it's an important one. Standard homeowners policies usually don't cover water that comes from outside, like a river or creek leaving its banks or surface runoff, and flood coverage is normally a separate policy. If your home is on the valley floor or near one of the side creeks, ask about it. We document the cause and extent of every loss, which helps when you file.
It depends on the cause and on your policy. Sudden, accidental damage such as a burst pipe, a frozen line that splits or a failed water heater is often covered. River and creek flooding usually requires flood insurance, and long term leaks are often excluded. Your insurer makes the final decision on coverage. We help by providing photos, moisture readings and a written scope of the damage, and we can work directly with your adjuster during the job.
Yes. Our team is IICRC certified and follows those standards for water damage, structural drying, mold remediation and fire and smoke cleanup. That matters out here, because a lot of Sissonville losses involve river or creek water, which has to be handled as contaminated. Following the standards means the right materials come out, the right cleaning is done and the drying is confirmed with readings. It also gives your insurance company a clear record of the work.
Usually three to five days for a typical water loss when we start quickly. A home that took on river or creek water often takes longer, because flooring and drywall may need to come out and the cleaning has to happen before drying can finish. Crawl spaces and block walls also hold water longer than drywall. We monitor the readings every day and give you a realistic timeline after the first assessment, with updates as the work moves along.
A musty smell that's stronger on damp days, floors that feel soft or bouncy, stains on ceilings or lower walls, peeling paint and swollen baseboards are common signs. In homes with crawl spaces, look for condensation on ducts, sagging insulation or a damp feel under the house after rain. A well pump that runs more often than usual can point to a hidden leak. We use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the water before anything is torn out.
Because the valley air holds a lot of moisture, especially in summer, and it can't pull water out of soaked wood and drywall on its own. Box fans just move damp air around. Commercial dehumidifiers remove the water from the air while air movers pull it out of walls, framing and subfloors, and moisture meters tell us when the materials have actually reached a dry standard. That is what keeps a flood from turning into a mold problem weeks later.
Yes. We restore stores, restaurants, churches, offices, rental properties and other commercial buildings around Sissonville, including the businesses in the Pocatalico valley and the smaller communities nearby. Water damage at a business costs you in lost time as well as repairs, so we assess quickly, explain the scope before we start and schedule around your hours where we can. We keep the documentation your insurer and your landlord or property manager will want to see.
Sometimes. If the water was clean, like a burst pipe, and the readings show the wall cavity can be dried from the surface, we dry it in place with air movers and dehumidifiers. If the water came from the river, a creek or a sewer or septic line, or the insulation is soaked, the affected drywall has to come out for safety and proper drying. We base that call on moisture meters and thermal imaging, not on what's quickest for us.
We're based in Charleston and serve communities within about 15 miles of our office. Along with Sissonville, Pocatalico and the surrounding hollows, that includes Cross Lanes, Nitro, Institute, St. Albans, Dunbar, Elkview, Pinch and Big Chimney, plus Charleston itself and the towns of the Upper Kanawha Valley. We also serve Morgantown. If you aren't sure we cover your road, give us a call and we'll tell you right away.
The quickest way is a phone call to (304) 395-3925. Someone answers 24/7, which matters when the Pocatalico is rising or a pipe lets go in the middle of the night. For a slower problem, like a musty crawl space or an old stain you want checked, send the form on this page or book online and we'll get back to you. Our team is licensed, insured, IICRC certified and 5 star rated on Google.