Lochearn hugs the northwest edge of Baltimore City, running from the city line west to the Beltway and south to Gwynn Oak Avenue, with Liberty Road as its spine. It is one of the county's older suburbs, dating to 1882, and it holds communities with long histories, from Olmsted-planned Sudbrook Park to Villa Nova, Forest Gardens and Campfield Gardens. Older houses, mature trees and the nearby Gwynns Falls all factor into how water gets in and how it should come out.
The Restoration Job does no drying or repair itself; what it offers Lochearn households is a free phone line, (888) 317-9980, that connects Lochearn residents with independent providers who handle drying, cleanup and repair in this part of Baltimore County.
How the call works: when you call (888) 317-9980, The Restoration Job connects you with an independent restoration provider that serves Lochearn. That provider inspects the damage, explains the scope and quotes the work. The Restoration Job doesn't perform restoration itself. Read our referral disclosure.
The Gwynns Falls at Villa Nova
The U.S. Geological Survey has measured the Gwynns Falls at Villa Nova, just over a mile west of the city limits, since the 1950s. Above that gauge, the stream drains about 32.5 square miles of suburban Baltimore County, so rain falling across a wide swath of the northwest suburbs eventually passes this point.
The stream has a history of leaving its banks. During Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, the Gwynns Falls overflowed and so badly damaged the Gwynn Oak amusement park, near Lochearn's southern edge, that the park shut down for good the following year; the land is now county open space. Homes on higher streets are unlikely to see stream water, but properties on low ground near the stream valley should know their flood zone.
Historic Homes in Sudbrook Park and Other Older Streets
Sudbrook Park was laid out in 1889 to a design by Frederick Law Olmsted Sr. and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with Colonial Revival homes along its curving roads. Older houses like these, and other long-standing homes around Lochearn, need a gentler hand after a leak:
- Plaster and lath walls hold water differently than drywall and can often be dried in place instead of torn out.
- Old-growth hardwood floors may cup when wet but frequently recover with slow, controlled drying.
- Older wiring, including knob-and-tube where it remains, should be checked before power is restored to wet areas.
- Changes to the exterior in a county historic district may need county approval, so ask before replacing windows, doors or siding.
Ask any provider how they plan to protect original materials during structural drying.
Big Trees, Wind and Roof Damage
Established neighborhoods mean large trees, and large trees mean limbs on roofs when severe storms roll through. The June 29, 2012 derecho gusted to 66 mph at BWI and cut power for millions across the Mid-Atlantic, which also stopped sump pumps and dehumidifiers in basements. After a wind event, look at the attic as well as the ceiling; water can soak insulation for days before a stain appears below.
For a punctured roof, temporary tarping and quick removal of wet insulation keep a manageable leak from becoming a ceiling collapse. A provider offering storm damage cleanup can usually do both.
First Steps, Especially for Older Residents
About one in five Lochearn residents is 65 or older, and a flooded basement stairway is a real fall hazard. If you live alone, call a neighbor or relative before going downstairs into water. Turn off electricity to the area if you can reach the panel without stepping in water, shut the main water valve if a pipe is the cause, and take photos. Then call the referral line or your insurer; there is no need to move heavy furniture or pull up wet carpet yourself.
Mold After a Wet Season
2018 was the wettest year on record at BWI, at 71.82 inches, and long stretches like that keep basement walls damp for months. In a humid county, that steady dampness is enough for mold to grow behind paneling, under carpet and on stored items even without a single dramatic leak. Use a dehumidifier, keep downspouts extended away from the foundation, and if you find growth larger than a small patch, consider professional mold removal with containment rather than scrubbing it yourself.
Lochearn Neighborhoods and Surrounding Towns
Calls come in from across Lochearn, including:
- Sudbrook Park
- Villa Nova
- Brighton
- Milford
- Campfield Gardens
- Forest Gardens
- Willow Glen
- Williamsburg/Park Hill
The same line also serves nearby communities such as:
Questions From Lochearn Property Owners
Can plaster walls in an older Lochearn home be saved after a leak?
Often, yes. Plaster over wood lath tolerates water better than drywall and can frequently be dried with dehumidifiers and air movers while moisture is monitored. It may need removal if it was soaked by contaminated water, if the keys holding it to the lath have failed, or if it stays wet too long. A provider should test before recommending demolition.
Is my home near the Gwynns Falls in a flood zone?
Some properties along the stream valley may be in a mapped floodplain, while most of Lochearn on higher ground is not. Look up your exact address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or Maryland's flood map site. Flood insurance is a separate policy from homeowners coverage and usually has a waiting period, so check before storm season rather than after.
Do I need permission to repair storm damage in Sudbrook Park?
Emergency steps like tarping a roof or drying the interior do not need to wait. Permanent exterior changes in a designated Baltimore County historic district may require county approval, so check with the county before replacing original windows, siding, porches or roofing materials with something different. Interior drying and repair generally do not raise the same concerns.