Sheridan at a glance

Location
Just west of Englewood, near the South Platte and lower Bear Creek
Housing
Many smaller older homes, some with basements and some on crawl spaces or slabs, plus apartments and manufactured homes
Terrain
Lower ground near the river corridor; higher ground toward the west
Building permits
Ask the City of Sheridan which department handles residential permits

Basements and lower levels here

Not every Sheridan home has a full basement. Some smaller houses sit over a crawl space or on a slab, and manufactured homes have no below-grade space at all. Where basements do exist, they are often small, unfinished or partly finished, and used for laundry, mechanical equipment and storage. That changes the cleanup picture: there may be less drywall and carpet to remove, but stored belongings and mechanical equipment on the floor take the hit.

Homes nearer the river corridor sit on lower ground, where groundwater can rise in wet seasons and where mapped floodplains may apply. Owners should look up their address on the FEMA flood map and ask about flood insurance if they are in or close to a mapped zone. Homes on higher ground toward the west are more likely to deal with the usual roof water, grading and window well problems.

For a crawl space, water underneath a house is less visible but no less important. Standing water in a crawl space raises humidity in the whole house and can soak insulation and wood. A look through the access hatch after a big storm is worth the few minutes it takes.

Which situation do you have?

  • IfFull basement with water at the walls after stormsStart outside with gutters, downspouts and grading; see the cove joint and window well guides.
  • IfCrawl space with standing waterFind the source, pump it out and dry it; wet insulation under the floor usually needs replacing.
  • IfSlab home with water spreading across floorsLikely a supply leak or water entering at a door; shut off the water and dry the floor coverings promptly.
  • IfManufactured home with water underneathCheck the skirting, ground slope and plumbing under the home, and keep insulation and ductwork from staying wet.
  • IfSewer water at a floor drain or toiletStop water use and contact your sewer provider and a plumber.
Map of Sheridan. It shows an area, not an office or a job site.

General information for Englewood, not a quote or professional advice. In an emergency, call 911.