Water Damage Scarborough
Water damage Scarborough homeowners deal with often traces back to the ravines and creek valleys that cut across the east end, or to plumbing that is now decades old.
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Scarborough's ravines, creeks and bluffs
Scarborough's ground is shaped by deep valleys. Highland Creek and the Rouge River both run through it, and its lakefront ends in the Scarborough Bluffs. The City of Toronto's Basement Flooding Protection Program has divided the area into study zones, including South Scarborough and Highland Creek. In one of its public reports the City explains that when Highland Creek runs high after an extreme storm, the creek can back up into the storm sewers that feed it and reduce their capacity. That is useful context if water has come up through your lower level during rain.
Streets in Cliffcrest, Guildwood and Birch Cliff slope toward the lake. Agincourt, Malvern and Woburn have dense postwar subdivisions of bungalows, split levels and townhouses, with many basement apartments.
Common causes in east-end houses
A lot of Scarborough housing went up between the 1950s and the 1980s. Copper and galvanized supply lines, original cast iron drains and early sump pits are all reaching the end of their lives. Finished basements often sit on slab floors with carpet or laminate laid right over them, so a small seep can run for weeks before anyone sees staining.
Winter adds frozen pipes in garage walls and over unheated porches. Spring brings melt along foundations. Summer storms bring sewer surcharge and window well overflow. We treat each cause differently, because water from a clean supply line needs one response and water from a sewer needs another.
Our Scarborough process
- CallWe answer 24/7 and ask where the water is, how deep it is and whether it is still coming in.
- Assess for freeA technician maps moisture with meters and thermal imaging, then writes up a scope and price for you to review.
- Extract and strip outStanding water is removed, and wet carpet, underlay and drywall that cannot dry are taken out.
- DryAir movers and dehumidifiers run, with return visits for readings. Drying usually takes 3 to 5 days.
- RebuildOnce the readings are right, walls, floors and finishes are put back.
Parts of Scarborough we serve
- Scarborough Village, Cliffcrest and Birch Cliff
- Guildwood, West Hill and Rouge
- Agincourt, Malvern and Woburn
- Wexford, Dorset Park and Clairlea
- Kennedy Park, Oakridge and Cliffside
What to do in the first hour
Stay out of rooms where water is near outlets, appliances or the electrical panel. If a supply line has failed, shut the water off at the main valve. If water is coming from a drain, leave it alone, keep pets and children away and do not run water elsewhere in the house. Photograph the water level against a wall or stair, and write down the time you noticed it. Then call us. We answer any hour and will tell you what to do next while the crew is on the way.
Many Scarborough homes have a separate entrance to a rental basement apartment. If tenants live there, tell us when you call so we can plan access, protect their belongings and keep the work area separate from the rest of the house.
Scarborough owners can apply to the City's subsidy
Scarborough is inside the City of Toronto, which means its Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program applies on streets from the Bluffs to the Rouge. The City pays up to 80 percent of the invoiced cost of eligible work completed on or after 12 November 2025, including up to 1,600 dollars for each of two backwater valves, up to 2,250 dollars for a sump pump and up to 400 dollars for capping the weeping tile, with a ceiling of 6,650 dollars per property. These are the City's program limits, not our prices; our assessment is free and a written scope and price come before any repair work.
The applicant must be the registered owner of a house with no more than four units, and the contractor must hold a valid City of Toronto business licence when the work is done. Apply within two years of the installation, and read the City page first, since the program depends on annual funding.
Scarborough questions
Do you work with my insurer?
We work with your insurance adjuster and document everything. Your policy decides what is paid, and we do not speak for your insurer.
My basement smells musty after a flood. Why?
Damp drywall and carpet can start to smell within days. Removing wet material and drying the structure quickly is the best way to stop it.
How soon should I call?
As soon as you find the water. Every hour wet material stays wet makes the job larger.
Request a quote
Tell us what you need and we will get back to you. In a hurry? Calling is fastest.