Water damage restoration in Santa Monica, plus fire and smoke cleanup

Ocean air, fog and a rainy season that runs from late October to late March. We dry, clean and repair Santa Monica homes after water, fire and smoke damage.

Call (866) 396-7622 Request an estimate

A living room being dried after water damage, with the lower walls opened

24/7 emergency serviceSeven days a week

From cleanup to rebuildOne company for the whole job

Office in Malibu22223 Pacific Coast Hwy

Who handles water damage in Santa Monica homes, apartments and condos?

LA Home Restorations does water damage restoration for Santa Monica homes, apartments and condos, and restores them after fire and smoke too. We look at where the water came in, dry the structure and repair what the water reached, and the same company rebuilds what cannot be saved.

In an apartment or condo building, water rarely stays in one home. A leak from the unit above comes through your ceiling, and a leak in yours can reach the unit below and the walls you share. Tell the building manager or the HOA right away, so the water can be shut off where it starts and every unit it reached gets looked at. If you rent, tell your landlord the same day and photograph the damage before anything is moved.

Santa Monica sits on the coast, with high bluffs on the north side and morning fog common from May through early August. Damp ocean air keeps wet drywall, subfloors and cabinets from drying on their own, so we dry the structure before the walls and floors are put back, and keep a room-by-room record that everyone involved can use.

What we restore in Santa Monica

Every job starts with a visit to see the damage.

Water damage restoration
Leaks, burst pipes and rain through the roof or a window in Santa Monica homes: we look at where the water came in, dry the structure and repair it.
Leak detection
Hidden leaks in Santa Monica homes, found with moisture meters and thermal imaging before anything is opened.
Mold remediation
Mold behind walls, in closets and after a leak in Santa Monica homes: we find the moisture, remove the mold and dry the structure.
Storm, flood and mud cleanup
Flood water, mud and sewage or septic backups in Santa Monica homes: we clean up, dry and repair, and we tarp roofs and board up openings after a storm.
Fire damage restoration
After a fire in Santa Monica, we remove burned contents and materials from the rooms we clean and take off the soot.
Emergency board up
After a fire or a storm in Santa Monica, we board up, tarp and fence the home first, then restore it.
Smoke damage restoration
Smoke odor and fine ash in Santa Monica homes, including homes the fire never reached.
Rebuilds after a fire
Full rebuilds in Santa Monica, from new framing to the final finishes.
Documenting the damage for your claim
We document the damage, write our estimate and can bill your insurer directly. Coverage is always your insurer’s decision.

What is different about working in Santa Monica

The things a homeowner here would recognize, and why they matter after water, smoke or rain.

Bluffs and the coast
High bluffs separate the north side of the city from the beach, and Palisades Park stretches along the crumbling bluffs overlooking the Pacific.
Fog and a rainy season
Morning fog is common from May through early August, and the rainy season runs from late October to late March, with about 12 inches of rain in a year.
North of Montana and above San Vicente
In January 2025 the City ordered evacuation of all areas above San Vicente Boulevard and warned the area north of Montana Avenue because of the Palisades Fire.
Source: City of Santa Monica
Montana Avenue, Downtown and Pico
Montana Avenue is a north-side shopping street, the Downtown District holds the Third Street Promenade, and the Pico neighborhood lies south of the Santa Monica Freeway.
Coastal flooding on the City’s plan
The City’s 2019 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan names coastal sea level rise and flooding as one of its most substantial climate threats, and beach dunes are one of its buffers.
Source: City of Santa Monica

Fire history and rain risk in Santa Monica

In January 2025 the City of Santa Monica ordered evacuations of all areas above San Vicente Boulevard and warned the area north of Montana Avenue because of the Palisades Fire. Homes there may still hold smoke odor, even if the fire never reached them.

The City names coastal flooding and sea level rise among its most substantial climate threats, and the rainy season runs from late October to late March. The wet months bring both storm water at the doors and roof leaks that show only when the rain comes.

Questions from Santa Monica homeowners

Straight answers to what people here ask most.

What should I do when water from the unit above reaches my Santa Monica apartment?

Tell the building manager or the HOA, and your landlord if you rent, the same day, so the water is shut off where it starts. Photograph every room it reached before anything is moved and keep the damaged items. Who pays is decided by the policies, the lease and the HOA rules; we document the damage and, when you ask, share that record so each party sees the same one.

Why does water damage take longer to dry near the beach?

Damp ocean air keeps the humidity high indoors, so wet wood and drywall give up their water slowly. That is why we dry the structure before the walls and floors are put back.

Do you clean smoke from a Santa Monica home that was evacuated in January 2025?

Yes. In an apartment building, smoke can travel through shared ducts and hallways into units the fire never came near, so we look at every unit the smoke reached, as far as the building lets us.

Do you work in apartments and condos in Santa Monica?

Yes. We come to houses, apartments and condos across the city, about 10 miles by road from our Malibu office. In a building we look at the units the water reached when the building gives us access, not only the one that called.

Request an estimate in Santa Monica

Tell us what happened and how to reach you. We will call you back to set a visit.

For an emergency, call now(866) 396-7622