Cherry Hills Village at a glance
- Lots
- Large, often an acre or more, with extensive lawns and landscaping
- Homes
- A mix of older estates, mid-century homes and many newer or rebuilt large houses
- Lower levels
- Often fully finished, sometimes walkouts, with theaters, bars, guest suites and wine storage
- Water features
- The High Line Canal and other ditches and drainageways cross parts of the city
- Services
- Water and sewer may come from different districts depending on location; check your bills
How a large finished lower level changes a flood
| Small older basement | Large finished lower level |
|---|---|
| A few rooms, mostly drywall and carpet | Many rooms, custom millwork, stone, wood floors and built-ins |
| Water source usually obvious within minutes | Leaks can run unnoticed for a long time in rarely used rooms |
| Mechanical equipment in one corner | Multiple systems: boilers, water treatment, wine cooling, sump pumps, irrigation controls |
| Contents mostly storage | High-value contents such as art, wine, electronics and furniture |
Sources that show up more often here
Large lawns mean large irrigation systems. A broken sprinkler line or a controller that runs too long can saturate soil against a foundation night after night, and seepage may show up only in a lower-level room nobody visits often. Spring startup is when breaks and stuck valves are most likely to be found.
Walkout basements have at least one wall at grade with doors and windows. Water that flows down a slope toward the house can reach that wall directly, and patio drains at the walkout level are easy to forget. If a patio drain clogs, water can pool at the door threshold just as it would in an exterior stairwell.
Many larger houses have one or more sump pumps doing real work. When the power goes out during a storm, a lower level with an extensive perimeter drain can flood quickly without a backup. Homes that sit empty during travel are especially exposed; a water sensor alarm or an automatic shutoff valve is worth considering.
Questions for this area
- Cleanup provider: how will you protect and dry custom millwork, stone and wood floors, and who handles high-value contents?
- Insurance agent: are fine art, wine and other high-value items scheduled, and does the policy include water backup coverage at a meaningful limit?
- Irrigation contractor: can the system be zoned and adjusted so foundation beds are not overwatered?
- City of Cherry Hills Village: does drainage, grading or lower-level work require a permit or review here?
- Sanitation district: who maintains the sewer main serving my home, and whom do I call in a backup?
General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.