Finding a Water Restoration Company
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Finding a water restoration company can be a daunting task. The circumstances that make it necessary to find a company are, by definition, unexpected and emotionally difficult. You may feel a great deal of pressure to make a decision on a water restoration contractor very quickly, but choosing the wrong contractor could have serious negative effects.
Some contractors who pass themselves off as water restoration experts are simply general contractors. While these people very likely know a great deal about replacing drywall and framing a room, they most likely do not know much about effectively finding the extent of water damage, mitigating further damage from a water accident or insuring that you get all the payments you are owed from your insurance company. A qualified water restoration contractor can do all three of those things and more.
Many contractors promise you a one or two hour response time. While this may sounds great when you have water pouring into your basement, one of the reasons contractors offer these quick response times is to push you to quickly commit to them without checking them out thoroughly.
Its great to have a contractor help with even the initial drying so that it is done completely and well. Mold and microorganism growth is a serious potential problem resulting from water damage, and a good water restoration contractor can help you avoid those problems. But don’t feel tied to a quick first decision. Contract only for the intial drying, then take time to check them out completely before you make further commitments.
So how do you find a water restoration contractor who is qualified and will perform well for you? Here are some important steps you can take to protect your home, your money and all your possessions:
Look for contractor certification. This is an important first step. The most popular certification is the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration certificate (IICRC). You can search for contractors with the certification and validate credentials online.
Check out the contractor’s references. Most homeowners only ask for two or three references; you should ask for at least five. Take the time to call the references, too. The contractor has likely asked these homeowners to serve as references, so they had a positive experience, in all likelihood. However, you can learn a lot from what they have to say.
Ask the references: Did the contractor work with speed? Did they keep the homeowner informed through every step? Did they provide the mapping and moisture content results they should have? You can learn all these things from references. And if the references don’t exist or never used your contractor, you know the contractor was banking on the fact that you would be like most homeowners and never check them out. Drop that contractor quickly.
If you quickly chose a contractor for the initial drying out of the home, take time to thoroughly check his certification and references and compare them with other contractors. If you need to make a change at that point, don’t be afraid to do so.
Make sure you get an agreement in writing, and that it covers all the basics like what is included in the restoration, when it will be completed, and the price agreed upon. With water damage, there can be hidden problems. Be sure those are addressed in the contract.
Check out the insurance and bonding on the company. Ask for a copy of the insurance certificate, and check it out. This is another step many homeowners fail to take, and they can be left in a vulnerable position for personal injury cases if the contractor is not completely bonded and insured.
After you have chosen a contractor and he or she begins work on the home, you should still be vigilant. You want to be sure your contractor is doing the best job possible to restore your home to health and safety. Asking about these items as you choose a contractor can help you find one that is qualified, and watching for these items as the contractor works will protect your investment:
The initial scoping that will determine the extent of the water damage. This is the most important step, and must be done properly. Simply drying the floor is not sufficient. Water will always run from wet to dry, and will wick up the walls and into the studs. To see the full extent of the damage, the contractor will need to use specialized tools and meters, and go into crawl spaces or basements. A complete inspection cannot be done by touch.
The “science of drying” is called psychrometry. This term will be familiar to a qualified expert. With the proper tools, the contractor can give you a “moisture map” of your entire structure, showing the full extent of the water damage and how far it has leeched from the original point. He can also give you a moisture content rating on a scale of 1 to 100 for each component of the home suffering water damage. A good contractor will give you an updated moisture map frequently, even daily, to show the progress being made.
A good contractor will discuss secondary risks with you and tell you what is being done to take care of them. Secondary damage is caused by vapor pressure and mold or bacteria contamination. The contractor should use a thermo-hygrometer to find the drying potential of the environment, and should be available 24/7 if problems arise, since time is of utmost importance in water restoration.
The contractor should be certified in applied structural drying, water damage restoration and mold remediation. The relationship between mold and water damage is vital, and any contractor should thoroughly understand it.
Any sewage damage requires that building materials be cut out, discarded and replaced. A qualified contractor will be aware of and comply with this requirement.
Working with the insurance company, helping you recover all you are owed and being honest and upfront with the adjuster are important qualities for a contractor. Ask about the contractor’s understanding of insurance requirements, and ask references for evidence that your contractor knows how to work well with insurance companies.
