Questions To Ask Your Water Damage Contractor

When home owners are navigating the unfortunate circumstance of major water damage in their home, it is critical that they choose a qualified and competent water restoration contractor. After all, this is their home and most likely the most valuable asset that they own, so it is a must to make sure that the water damage company that they choose is capable, reputable and trustworthy. In many cases, emergency water mitigation service involves a high level of specialized knowledge and scientific methodology. Water damage occurs fairly simply; various structural materials and personal property becomes saturated by water. However the cleanup and dry down process can be quite complex depending on a multitude of variables that make up each unique flood emergency equation. Now, let's go through some important questions that you should ask any water restoration contractor you are thinking of hiring when flood damage befalls your home:

Does your company hold water mitigation certification with the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification)?

The IICRC is the training and certification agency that is the foremost authority for the water restoration industry's best practices and guidelines. If the flood services contractor you are talking to doesn't have IICRC certification then there is a very high probability that they are not going to properly cleanup and dry down your home, and it will only be a matter of time until you have an even bigger mold/microbial problem on your hands. Properly trained technicians will know how to thoroughly dry all affected structural materials, which will eliminate the chance of unwanted microbial growth.

Do you have a state general contractor's license?

This is a question that applies only to water restoration companies that not only carry out the water mitigation (cleanup, extraction, demo, drying, sanitizing), but alto the re-construction (all repairs to deliver pre-loss conditions). If your contractor is only providing the mitigation, then they don't need a GC (general contractors license), but if any repairs are going to be made, then yes, they need it.

Do you have de-humidifiers as well as air movers (fans)?

Although not every single flood damage restoration job requires de-humidifiers, it is only a fraction of them that are small enough in scope that don't need them. Furthermore, if the company trying to earn you business doesn't own any de-humidifiers then that would indicate that they are most likely not a serious or fully qualified water restoration company. Ultimately, the answer to this one should be yes if you are dealing with a reputable restoration contractor.

Do you bill me or my insurance company?

As long as your water loss claim has been approved by your insurance carrier, then any legitimate and certified water restoration contractor should send the final bill to your insurer using Xactimate. Sometimes you may have to settle the deductible with your contractor, but all other billing should be issued to your insurer. Any discrepancies on the bill should be settled between your contractor and the insurance adjuster handling the claim, without the involvement of the insured.

How long will it take for the property to become dry?

Generally speaking, the dry down process should last 3-4 full days for most residential flood losses. Unless there are abnormal or extenuating circumstances, you should be weary of unethical practices if your contractor is trying to justify longer than the 3-4 day time period for dry down. In most water mitigation bills, the drying equipment (air movers, de-humidifiers) are the main driver in the overall cost, so this is the area that dishonest contractors will try to inflate.

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Damage Restoration: Putting the Pieces Back Together Again

If you are looking for assistance cleaning up or rebuilding after a sudden disaster, a damage restoration company that has a proven record of putting things back together the right way may be the choice for you. With representatives that are well trained in fire and water mitigation as well as construction, you can get the assistance you need to put the pieces of your office or home back together.

If you have suffered through a stressful and scary disaster situation and are wondering if it is possible for your home or office to return to its previous state, call the offices of experts in damage restoration and set up a consultation. No matter the degree or the type of disaster you have experienced, these professionals have the knowledge that is necessary to get things back together efficiently. They will also assist you in the area of working with your insurance company while great efforts are made to get your home or office in order again.

The best, truly dedicated companies and professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. A disaster never occurs at a convenient time. You are also going to want to work with a company that will provide a guarantee on their work. This way, if you are not satisfied with their work for any number of reasons -- whether the work was done incorrectly or never completed -- they will make it right. Some of the services offered through a professional company may include:

Water Cleanup

Professionals in water mitigation and the construction aspects of a site will clean up any amount of destruction to walls and floors. Timely and efficient work is especially crucial for this effort.

Smoke & Fire Cleanup

Professionals will repair, remove, and replace destroyed or ravaged belongings and structures. They will also eliminate the smoke and lingering smell.

Odor Control Services

In this case, they remove severe odors as a result of smoke and fire damage using a variety of specialty equipment, systems, and professional products. Odor could also be created by mildew or other unwanted presences.

Reconstruction Services

These particular services may include building stabilization, consultation and design, project management, scheduling, and planning, controlled demolition, estimating services, and much more. This is typically the most comprehensive effort.

Trauma Cleanup

This entails fast responses to clean up violent crime and accident scenes.

You do not have to feel overwhelmed by the wreckage that was left after a sudden disaster. Let professionals in damage restoration assist you with the adversity you are facing. These professionals can be available to assist day or night, 24/7 to provide you with the help you need.

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Water Damage Restoration - What Are Your Options?

If you have been confronted by water damage in your house or commercial property, you will be best advised to hire the services of a professional fire and water restoration company. Though the restoration is something that you can achieve on your own, there is too much at risk to take it up as a do it yourself project. Here are some highlights about the services that a well established fire and water restoration company will be able to provide.

• Available 24/7 - The best fire and water restoration companies will operate throughout the day and night. Time is of the essence when it comes to water damage restoration and lost time will often result in dramatically increased losses and additional restoration expenses. Shut off the water supply that caused the flooding and call a professional water damage repair company as soon as you can


• Expert help with insurance claims - The fire and water control and clean-up company is more than just a professional service to restore your home. The restoration company will often award you an insurance specialist who will help you with the insurance claims process along the way. Ideally, claiming insurance should be easy for homeowners who have suffered property damage although the reality is that the insurance company will do anything to give you a check with a lower amount than required. Having professional help in the form of an insurance specialist will save you a lot of stress and effort and will also get you that check that will cover all the restoration expenses.


• Professional equipment - restoration companies will have several commercial grade machines such as dehumidifiers, blowers, truck mounted water extraction units, portable water extraction units, moisture gauges, humidity gauges and so on that will help them remove the water and restore your property in the fastest way possible. If you approached the process on your own, it will take you a very long time as you will generally have just one dehumidifier or just one blower which might not even be powerful enough to do the job in the first place.


• Technical know how - This is where water damage control and clean-up companies offers the most value. It will take you several hours of research and learning to figure out the best restoration plan for you house while a professional restoration company will often have years of experience on their hands. Their experience and their expertise will allow them to immediately go to work on restoring your property in the most time efficient and cost efficient manner. They will also be able to advise you about potential problems with the construction of your house that might lead to future water damage problems.

Thus, in conclusion, it is advised that you call for the services of a water damage restoration company if you haven't done so already. The sooner your call, the lesser your losses will be. Water damage restoration companies will also guarantee you that their repair estimates will be accepted by the insurance company which means that you have almost nothing to lose by hiring professionals.

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Fire Damage Restoration Is The First Step Towards Tomorrow

When smoke and flames consume a residence, trying to pick up the pieces and return to a normal life may seem like an impossible task. Fire damage restoration is the all-important first step in the process of rebuilding the structure and making it a livable space once again. The process of remediation after this kind of loss is time-sensitive and involves a number of steps. Finding a professional organization to perform this process can lessen financial stress and help property owners return to the home that they love.

Time Is Of The Essence

Fire damage restoration is a time-sensitive process. The passage of time will increase the impact in terms of the harm to property and belongings and the cost to return them to their former state. The initial impact of the flames is obvious; charred items show the results of the event. Water and chemical agents that were used to tamp down and contain the event also leave behind traces of how they were applied. However, there are other elements, less apparent but no less critical, that can dramatically increase the level of harm that has occurred.

The residual effects following a combustible event begin within minutes of the flames being doused and the smoke being cleared. Soot, ash, and odors can combine to discolor surfaces; corrode metallic objects, such as appliances and plumbing fixtures; and permanently stain fabrics, such as clothing and upholstery. As time passes, the long-term impact can be felt both in financial and emotional terms. Beginning the recovery process as soon as possible will help reduce the cost and the time required to begin a return to normalcy.

What Is Involved

A professional fire damage restoration team follows a number of steps in achieving the goal of returning the affected property to its former state. Below are highlights of this process.

Securing The Site

After a professional team is called to a location and performs an initial assessment, the location will be secured from the elements. This may involve windows and damaged walls being boarded up. If there is damage to the roof of a structure, a roof tarp may also be installed to prevent the elements from causing additional harm. It is important to note that protective clothing is utilized during the entire operation as team members can be exposed to potentially harmful elements that resulted from the occurrence.

Initial Removal Of Flame Retardant Items

Water and chemical agents used to control the event need to be removed from the location before additional work can be performed. Drying elements, such as dehumidifiers, are brought in to expedite the process. Large fans and other air moving devices will improve ventilation and make the area both easier and safer to perform the remediation.

Removing And Cleaning

The next phase of the procedure involves removing the residual soot and smoke odors from the premises. This is one of the most comprehensive steps, as it involves a thorough cleaning of all surfaces including walls, ceilings, floors, fixtures, and appliances. During this time, additional estimates can be made as to what can be restored and what must be replaced.

Sanitizing and deep cleaning will help bring items back to the condition that they were in before being damaged in the event. This step can also result in significant cost savings both to the homeowner and the insurance company involved.

Restoration And Replacement

The final step in fire damage restoration is dealing with any structural damage. Installing new flooring, repainting, and similar activities will be undertaken at this time. If portions of the property need to be rebuilt, this can also be completed during this phase.

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Smoke And Fire Damage In Your Home - Why You Should Use The Services Of A Fire Restoration Company

If you are reading this article, your home might have been the unfortunate victim of a fire in the area. When people suffer a fire in their home, they are often hard pressed when it comes to finances and avoid using the services of a professional fire restoration company. This approach can however prove to be a costly mistake as a professional fire damage and smoke damage company will be able to save you a lot of money although they might seem like a very large unwanted expense at the beginning.

To fully understand the importance of letting professionals do the job of smoke damage cleanup or fire damage cleanup, you must first understand the various intricacies related to a fire.

Every fire is different in the sense that every house uses a different design and a different mix of construction materials which can all burn very differently. To start with, you have to understand that smoke damage can be very high even if the fire was small and contained to a very small space. This is because smoke can be absorbed by various porous construction materials such as wood, carpets, walls, ceilings and so on. There are many different types of smokes that can result out of a fire. For example, there is wet smoke, dry smoke, protein smoke and fuel oil smoke. Each type will need to be cleaned in a very different way. Smoke damage will also go hand in hand with soot damage. Soot will need to be cleaned thoroughly and materials will have to be treated with special chemicals and ozone treatments to get rid of the smoke odor which can linger for months after a fire if they are not treated.

A professional fire restoration company will usually work around the clock which means that you can call them at any time of the day to get started with your restoration work. It is very important to start early as they will be able to treat your home for smoke damage. If not treated early, the smoke can be absorbed by various parts of your house and the cleanup process will become much more drawn out when the smoke has been left unchecked for a while. Fire damage experts will also quickly be able to give you an estimate about what materials in the house can be restored and what is beyond any form of repair. They will be able to treat certain damaged materials such as scorched furniture in such a way that it can be used without having to be discarded.

Often times, fire restoration companies will also take a considerable amount of effort in cleaning up the mess left by the extinguisher which was used to put out the fire. It might be water in some cases or it could be a foam extinguisher. Regardless of the type, it will have to be cleaned up as foam can damage materials such as carpets, walls, ceilings while water can also have a very damaging effect by allowing the growth of mold.

A professional fire restoration company will also be able to assist you with those complicated insurance forms that you will have to fill out with the insurance company.

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Water Damage - 4 Signs That You May Have It

When homes suffer from water damage they benefit from specific restoration. While water damage from natural disasters or floods may look devastating, some things can usually be restored if they are not damaged too badly. On the other hand, there may be some items that are too badly damaged to be repaired or restored.

It is not very often however, that there is nothing salvageable, and in some instances homes can be restored back to their former glory. By calling on the help of water clean-up experts and professionals, it is possible that repairs and restoration can be carried out, so that items such as furniture, carpets and even personal items like photographs and documents are not completely lost. This article describes the signs to look for when it comes to water damage in the home, and when it may be necessary for professional help to be obtained.

Stains: One of the biggest water damage indicators are brownish stains on ceilings and walls. This is usually an indication that water has been constantly running or dripping, which could mean that there is a leak. It could also be an indication of standing water due to rain, as is the case very often when it comes to flat roofs or blocked gutters. Whatever the cause, a brown stain is not good news, and it should be checked out as soon as possible and the leak located and repaired.

Warped floors and sagging ceilings: Either of these problems will generally mean that there is a leak. In this instance it is imperative to get the problem checked out by a professional, as ceilings could collapse due to a weakened structure. If a ceiling is sagging due to a leak from the roof or attic space, a temporary solution is to poke small holes through the ceiling so that the excess water can drain away; reducing the chances of the ceiling collapsing because of the waters weight.

Wet or damp carpets and rugs: Although rugs and carpets are easy to replace, standing water and damp areas are mold magnets, which can ultimately cause severe health problems for the inhabitants of the home. While some mold can be relatively easy to remove, other strains will need to be treated by the experts. It is important that if restoration is to work the water damage source is located and water damage repair carried out, which can sometimes mean that professional advice should be sought.

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Benefits of Renovation: Why You Should Renovate Now

You may have heard a lot about renovations recently and you wonder why so many people are willing to spend their hard-earned money to renovate. You are not alone. Some people even question the wisdom the decision to renovate. They ask why renovate when the house is still functional and livable. This article will answer that question by showing you some of the best benefits of home renovation.

1. Comfortable living

Many people renovate their homes to improve their home life. Homes can be livable but not comfortable. Some people renovate to free up some space in their home, bring in more light from the outside, increase relaxation upon coming home and make the home safer for kids and elderly.

Your home should be the place you can relax and unwind after a hard day at work, but how can you relax if you come home to a house that could trigger claustrophobia, because it's dark and you worry constantly whether or not your kids are safe when they use the stairs, the bathroom, the kitchen and the garage. The money you pay for renovation will be worth it.

2. Saving money

Renovation helps you save money, too. In fact, many people renovate to save money in the long run. One of the main ways renovation helps you save money is by revamping your house's energy use. There are many energy-saving items that are available now, which were not available in the past, like for example led lighting, energy-saving outlets, appliances that consume less power and more.

Renovation could also modernize your heating system at home, making it more current and therefore more energy-efficient. Renovating your bathroom can improve water efficiency so you are not wasting water and paying more for water bills.

3. Increasing the value of the home

Increasing the value of your home provides many benefits, from improving your credit rating to getting better deals if you decide to sell your home. The housing market is a highly competitive one, so if your house has very low value because the facilities like kitchen, bathroom and toilet are outdated, don't expect a good price. It will take longer to sell too. Many home buyers now often check if the house they are buying have been renovated to ensure that they don't buy a home with outdated kitchens and bathrooms with hidden structural problems.

Home renovations may be kind of expensive, but the money you invested won't go to waste because renovation pays itself off either through a comfortable home life, savings from energy and water bills, safety of your family or through a good price if you sell your home.

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After A Fire - Call A Fire Damage Restoration Company Immediately

Fires usually occur in residential homes more than other types of buildings. Just recently, a fire in California left behind over $450,000 worth in damages to the property, although no one was injured. In many cases, damaged homes can be restored. The best thing to do if this happens is to contact a professional fire damage restoration company. If you contact a professional, they will arrive at your home within an hour or so.

This type of company will save you money and time. When the professionals arrive at your home, they will take quick action to restore your property and prevent further damage. It is very important that you contact a professional immediately, because smoke, heat, and residues have damaging effects to the contents and structure of a building. These professionals will save your personal belongings so that you do not have to replace them and they will start cleaning your home immediately. They will also eliminate the smoke and smoke odors to improve the air quality in your home.

Keep in mind that it's highly unlikely that homeowners can handle the cleanup that is needed to restore their homes to their original condition. A professional clean-up crew will help you preserve your valuables and the value of your property. It is also important that you contact your insurance company after you have a fire. Your insurer may cover the financial aspect of restoration. You can document the incident by taking pictures and videos of the damage.

Fire damage restoration professionals will help you prevent further damage to your valuables and home. They will remove the water, smoke odor, and soot for you in a short period of time, and they will help you save your curtains, carpets, rugs, mattresses, furniture, linen, and clothing. They will help you return your property to its original condition. State-of-the-art equipment is used to restore your home. They will help you eliminate the smoke, debris, and odors and they will clean and sanitize your home.

Fire damage in a home is an overwhelming incident. You can lose valuables and cause damage to your floors, walls, ceilings, furniture, doors, clothing, and fixtures. The restoration and cleaning must be done properly after the disaster. Although this can be very depressing, if you contact the professionals, they can make this situation easier for you.

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Got Water Damage? Hire The Services Of A Professional And Reputed Fire And Water Restoration Company

If you have come in here to read this article, you are probably looking for a fire and water damage restoration company that will do a professional restoration job in your house or commercial property. This article will give you a few tips about picking the right Fire and water restoration company.

• It is preferable that you only call for fire and water damage restoration companies that have a solid reputation in the field. Stay away from one man teams or free lancers who will promise you a great job only to give you a run around with poor results.
• Look for a company that will offer 24/7 services. Damage restoration is essentially an emergency service and a company that offers that service should ideally have service availability around the clock.
• Ask if the company has the latest equipment. Some small companies will often be short handed when it comes to quality equipment. A professional water damage repair company should ideally have state of the art commercial grade equipment such as dehumidifiers, blowers, truck mounted water extraction units, portable extraction units and other tools such as moisture gauges and humidity meters and emergency generators. If the water damage is significant, a good company will use a lot of equipment to bring about the best results in the fastest way possible. Hiring a small company that will have very limited equipment will mean longer water damage restoration times which will in turn greatly increase the related losses. When it comes to the effectiveness of a water damage repair company, their responsiveness and speed should be of utmost concern to you as it can save you a significant sum of money.
• Help with the insurance process - Fire and water damage restoration companies are not just important to fix up your house. They in fact play a very important role in your damage situation by helping you with the insurance process. Insurance, as you might already know, can be a very daunting process when approached on your own. You might not know how to fill out the forms correctly or you might ask for too little when you file a form. A good fire and water restoration company will appoint an insurance specialist or insurance consultant to your case. This person will then work with the insurance adjustor appointed by the insurance company. With the insurance consultant on your side, you can relax and be assured that a professional is helping you.

Guarantee on the insurance claim - There could be a situation where you might commission water damage restoration work before being approved by the insurance company. It can be a rude shock to receive a check for an amount that does not cover all the expenses of the restoration work. A professional water damage restoration will help you avoid that pickle of a situation by putting out an estimate that will be accepted by the insurance company. Also, they will guarantee their repair estimates in such a way that they will not charge you personally if the insurance company's check does not cover all of the expenses then the fire and water restoration contractor agrees to waive the additional expenses.

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