Galvanized supply lines from the 1920s and 30s don't fail politely. They weep behind plaster for weeks, then let go at two in the morning and soak the hardwood in a Merrick-era house off Alhambra Circle. Cast iron drain stacks are the other half of our call log. We pull water out, then dry the assembly in place — desiccant units, controlled demo, cavity drying through small access points rather than tearing out original plaster and imported tile that nobody can match anymore.
Water comes from above too. Barrel-tile roofs under that banyan canopy along Old Cutler and Bird take limb strikes in a storm, and a cracked tile leaks quietly into the attic. Down near the Waterway and in Gables by the Sea and Cocoplum, king tides push water in without a drop of rain falling.
Working inside the Coral Gables historic rules
Will restoration work need Board of Architects or historic review?
Exterior work on a designated property usually does, and Coral Gables reviews more closely than the rest of the county. Emergency drying and stabilization happen immediately; we document conditions and materials so the permanent repair goes through review cleanly.
Can you dry a plaster wall without demolishing it?
Often, yes. We meter the wall, drill discreet access if needed, and push dry air into the cavity. If the plaster's already delaminating or sewage was involved, removal is the honest answer.