Certified Water Restoration Contractors

2/19/2019 (Permalink)

Wet Walls

Certified water restoration contractors are required to meet a strict set of standards, dictated by insurance companies and industry organizations to restore the property to its preloss condition. If a restoration project is done improperly, it can result in mold growth or other toxic hazards that can cause serious health issues for the occupants, therefore, it is important to choose a company that knows the industry standards and has a stellar reputation in their community.

Before choosing the right restoration contractor, take these four tips into consideration:

Tip #1: Do Not Choose a Friend or Family Member in the Construction Business

We’ve all heard the horror stories about someone’s friend who had their savvy brother-in-law with a little construction experience fix something that's gone wrong at their home or business, and it turned out to be a disaster. It is never a good idea to try to save money and cut corners by hiring a friend or family member to make building repairs that are totally beyond their skills. It usually harms the relationships and costs you a lot more time and money!

Tip #2: Do Not Choose the Contractor Who Built Your Home or Building

General contractors and construction companies who mostly build new construction do not have adequate insurance restoration experience even though they think they do. They lack the proper equipment, correct experience and certified training required to perform water mitigation, smoke odor removal, content restorative cleaning, deodorizing and handling techniques. Also most of the time, they do not understand the proper methods for reconstruction and repairs under these unique conditions, not to mention how to identify and deal with the hazardous materials and dangerous structural conditions, after a disaster.

Tip #3: Do Not Choose a Contractor Who Has Little, or No Experience Working With Insurance Companies

As the insurance policyholder, it is your responsibility to disclose any loss to the insurance company and provide the necessary documentation required to process the claim. You will need an estimate from a restoration company that meets the strict insurance company requirements, created using specific estimating software. If the estimate format does not meet the insurance company standards, it may be rejected.

Tip #4: Do Not Choose a Cleaning Service

Carpet cleaners and house cleaning crews are great for every day, small-scale cleaning job. But when it comes to flooding, fire, and smoke damage, they don’t have the technical capabilities or knowledge to remove high levels of moisture that infiltrates the floors and walls. In not mitigating the damage properly, it can cause dangerous secondary damages to accumulate in a matter of days. Smoke and ash damage also goes far beyond the soot that is left on walls, ceilings, and furniture. If not cleaned and deodorized properly, it can leave behind microscopic toxins and fine particulates that can be hazardous to the health of the occupants.

Years of experience and extensive training are required to be a certified restoration contractor, and obviously, there are many good reasons for that. Give us a call with any questions.