From Flood Damage to Full Restoration
In January 2023, a catastrophic cold snap brought unprecedented freezing temperatures to Vancouver. A poorly insulated exterior wall on a West Broadway retail space couldn't withstand the cold — a pipe burst, flooding the entire premises and forcing the active business to shut down.
Water soaked approximately 62 linear feet of drywall along the Broadway-facing wall, destroyed cabinetry, warped wall panelling and baseboards, compromised the vapour barrier and insulation, and left the stairs and landing beyond repair. The damage was extensive, visible, and hidden within the wall cavity.
Eurohouse Construction was brought in to deliver a comprehensive restoration — not a patched-together repair, but a full rebuild that would return the space to its pre-loss condition while upgrading where the scope allowed. We coordinated between the property management company, insurance adjusters, and independent cost consultants to advocate for complete restoration over a diminished cash settlement.
The result: a fully rebuilt retail interior with custom millwork, matched oak-veneered finishes, new flooring throughout, and a modernized space that exceeded the original. The tenant reopened, the property manager was satisfied, and the insurer approved the full scope.
Project Details
Full Restoration Scope
- Removed and replaced approximately 62 ft of water-damaged drywall including vapour barrier and insulation
- Custom L-shaped front desk fabrication and installation (25 ft × 4 ft)
- New oak-veneered base cabinets and freestanding storage units
- Continuous 26 ft countertop installation
- Baseboard replacement and repair (approximately 39 ft of MDF baseboards)
- Wall panelling finished to match existing oak grain and colour
- Six parquet stairs and landing replacement with new hardwood treads and nosing
- Over 250 ft² of wall panel and baseboard refinishing
- New hutch and cabinetry installation
- Complete repainting of all affected wall sections
- New flooring installation throughout retail area
Multi-Party Coordination
- Property management company liaison
- Insurance adjuster negotiations
- Independent cost consultant review (Xactimate-aligned)
- Dozens of subcontractors and suppliers
- Flooring, millwork, environmental, and hardware vendors
- Downtown Vancouver logistics and access management
Restoration vs. Cash Settlement
- Insurer initially considered actual-cash-value settlement
- Cash settlement would have excluded overhead and profit
- Eurohouse demonstrated full restoration offered better value
- Matching existing oak finishes required whole-wall treatment
- Piecemeal repairs would have left visible inconsistencies
- Full scope approved — space restored to better than pre-loss condition
Damage Assessment
Water damage from the burst pipe affected drywall, baseboards, flooring, stairs, and concealed wall cavities throughout the retail space.
Construction Progress
From demolition and remediation through custom millwork installation and new flooring — a full interior rebuild of the retail space.
Commercial Insurance Restoration Requires a Different Approach
Unlike residential claims, commercial insurance restorations involve active businesses, tenant pressures, downtown logistics, and multi-party coordination between property managers, adjusters, and cost consultants. Eurohouse Construction manages the full complexity — from advocating for proper restoration scope over diminished cash settlements, to coordinating dozens of trades and suppliers, to delivering a finished space that lets the business reopen without compromise.
Every stakeholder has a different priority. We make sure they all align toward the same outcome: a properly restored space, on time, within the approved insurance scope.
the Broadway-facing wall
Commercial Water Damage? We Manage the Entire Claim.
From burst pipes to full interior rebuilds — Eurohouse Construction coordinates with insurers, adjusters, and property managers to deliver comprehensive commercial restorations across Vancouver.
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