Returning home after a natural disaster. This video will discuss how to return to your home for the first time after a natural disaster. This phase normally follows the immediate aftermath and clearances from authorities. The video goes through a checklist of things to do and look for to ensure the safety of you and your family. The video will highlight things like: what to do if you smell gas, protecting yourself from electrical injuries, wearing waterproof boots to avoid floodwater touching your skin, preventing carbon monoxide poisoning by keeping fuel burning devices outdoors and away from windows, only eat and drink food and water that you know is safe, etc.
Ask This Old House host Kevin O’Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and HVAC expert Richard Trethewey, mason Mark McCullough, and carpenter Nathan Gilbert discuss the ways homeowners and contractors should communicate to set appropriate expectations for home improvement projects
Steps:
1. Before partnering with a contractor to work on your house, consider some of the unexpected disruptions or uncomfortable circumstances that could arise between you and the contractor during the project that are worth being prepared for and having appropriate conversations about.
2. Start by doing as much research as possible on the project to try and understand the scope of the work you’re asking for. Talk to neighbors who have done similar projects, go to the home center and look at the cost of desired materials, etc. The more knowledge you have going into the project, the better informed your questions will be for the contractor.
3. To avoid “sticker shock” from a contractor quote, consider all the work required by the contractor to complete the job while they aren’t at your house. They will need to purchase and transport materials, train employees, maintain the overhead cost of their business, etc.
4. Beware the “low bid”. Usually, the low bid is missing “behind-the-scenes” work that can result in long lasting errors in the project.
5. Be prepared for weather disruptions. Some work can’t happen in the rain, snow, etc., which can exponentially delay a project.
6. Have materials for the project in mind and consider having backup materials in mind as well. If there are delays in the delivery of the material, that can also slow down the project significantly and a runner-up could save a lot of that time.
If flames ignite, Cal Fire captain and local resident Scott Green knows that firefighters may be unable to save everything that needs saving. So his rural home protects itself. He shows us how to take defensive steps.
Here is a helpful checklist to minimize damage to your property following a fire, flood, storm or other disaster event.
Alert your insurance company immediately. Your insurance agent is
your partner during this stressful time. He/she will guide you through
the claims and clean-up process.
Take photos of the damage prior to the property being cleaned-up,
boarded-up or demolished. Having photographic documentation of the
damage could be helpful for insurance purposes.
Determine whether your house or place of business is structurally
safe. If not, you will need to evacuate the facility and make alternate
arrangements.
Shut down the electrical and water supply and close the main gas
valve, after the threat of physical danger has passed. These steps will
help you avoid further damage, so it is important to know in advance
where these important systems are located.
Protect and secure property assets and/or personal belongings.
Relocate all valuables to a safe and dry place.
If there is standing water, try to remove as much of it to the
outdoors as possible and run the air conditioning, a dehumidifier or a
fan to help dry out the area.
WARNING: Standing water will begin to produce dangerous mold within 48 hours, making it imperative to remove all standing water.
If conditions allow, cover broken windows and doors as well as
damaged walls and roof areas with plywood or plastic sheeting to prevent
additional moisture entry and to protect the property from the
elements.
Inspect the property thoroughly. Your
observations and comments will help speed up the restoration process
when professional help arrives.
Determine if there are roof shingles missing or if there is any
damage to your home's exterior, including to the gutters, windows,
siding, chimneys, etc.
Inspect the property for any signs of water infiltration.
Determine if the insulation is wet or damaged. Be sure to check
the insulation around your windows and doors and in your attic, crawl
spaces and walls.
Look closely to verify that your foundation walls are intact.
In most cases your insurance agent will make
clean-up/restoration contractor recommendations. However, in some
situations, you may be advised to hire a restoration company of your own
choosing. The following are tips for hiring the best professional
restoration company:
Look for a professional restoration company that specializes in
working with property owners after a fire, flood, storm or other
disaster. These companies are a better choice than general contracting
companies that may offer restoration services.
Be sure that the company you choose is licensed, bonded and insured in the state where the work will be performed.
Do not sign a contract unless the job is described in detail
including what will be done, a price estimate and what materials/tools
will be used.
Ask for a list of references. Also, look at before and after pictures of the company's work.
Do not hire a company that requires a larger than normal deposit in order to start work.
The most effective way to recover from a fire, flood,
storm or other disastrous event is to take action quickly Carefully
following the Emergency Restoration checklist will help the disaster
relief experts restore your home and property to normal as quickly as
possible.
When you find yourself the victim of a natural disaster or fire and water damage, it is only natural to feel as if you have lost everything. Don't despair and lose hope. When disaster strikes, don't assume that all is lost. Simply contact a restoration service and let
them take care of everything. Keep in mind that at first, you may be
shocked about what has happened to your home, but with the right team of
professionals on your side, you can and will get through this ordeal.
You
are going to need to do some things before the restoration service can
get started. One of those things is to file a police report so that your
insurance company will cover the cost to fix any damaged components of
your home. A reputable restoration service can get things back to normal
the fastest way possible. If some part of your home needs to be rebuilt
because of extensive damage or if some part just needs to be remodeled,
you don't have to go out looking around for a company that would be
willing to take on your home with the type of damage it has sustained.
There
are several reasons why you should hire a professional company. One is
because emergencies and disasters can happen any time of day or night.
You don't want to have to wait for assistance if it is after hours. By
hiring a professional team, you have assistance available twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week. They are there at your beck and call to
help.
Because there is so much urgency in times of dire need, it
may not be possible for you to properly screen all contractors that
offer a restoration service. That is why you should hire a restoration
service that has employees. A reputable company will be certified by
several government agencies, in addition to having all of the required
credentials and insurances for your protection. When you are faced with
this type of situation, it is best to get started right away to reduce
the severity of your loss or damage. The right company will get your
property secured and cleaned up in no time.
You want to hire a
company that will work with your insurer so you don't have any
unexpected or out of pocket expenses. They can fill out the necessary paperwork and speed up the processing time for your claim. This will
help you to get back on your feet.
Keep in mind that you need to
hire a restoration service that is available around the clock. They need
to have workmen's compensation insurance and liability insurance on all
of their workers. The longer they have been in business shows how well
they cater to the needs of their customers. Ultimately, you want a
company that can take care of all of your needs from start to finish,
which will make the whole process less stressful and easier to deal
with.
Richard explains how, where, and why plumbing systems fail.
Richard gives a deep dive on when and how plumbing pipes and connections can be repaired or replaced.
Ross explains and demonstrates how to prevent plumbing failures with new technology.
Preventing Water Damage
Kevin O’Connor and damage prevention specialist Michael Milligan toured a home to identify ways to prevent plumbing leaks and other flood damage.
How a Frozen Pipe Bursts
Richard demonstrated that pipes, when frozen, expand in volume, which exponentially increases the water pressure and forces the pipe to burst. In these circumstances, shut the water off at the main and immediately call a plumber.
To prevent the pipes from freezing in the first place, Richard recommended keeping cabinet doors open and insulating the pipes with pipe insulation. This can be found at home centers.
How to Replace Polybutylene Piping with PEX
Richard travels to Richmond, Virginia to help a homeowner replace her polybutylene piping with conventional PEX.
Where to find it?
Polybutylene pipes are no longer to code and need to be replaced by a licensed professional. Richard was assisted by Capital Mechanical. The tools and materials required to replace the pipes, including the PEX lines, fittings, and the expansion tool, can all be found at home centers and plumbing supply houses. The PEX piping for this project was supplied by Uponor.
Future House | Smart Automatic Water Shutoff Valves
Ross travels to Los Angeles to learn about innovations being made to automatic water shutoff valves.
A home security camera captured an actual living room fire, showing how quickly a fire can spread. Every home should have a working smoke alarm and residents should practice an escape plan. All new homes should be protected with home fire sprinklers.
For more information about home fire sprinklers: https://homefiresprinkler.org/
