Why it Matters when selecting water damage restoration companies
Choosing the right company for the cleaning and restoration services you need is not a straightforward process. Likely you know very little about these types basic services of companies. And more importantly, if you have a water damage situation, you have very little time to find a qualified water damage restoration company to perform water removal before the problem becomes worse.
Certifications
The first step when choosing a water damage restoration company is to ensure they have the necessary certifications. This means they’ve completed recognized courses in water damage restoration. And that they take continuing education to maintain their certification.
You want to ensure the technicians are certified, not just the owner or project managers. Certified technicians provide the best possible service and are familiar with safety protocols.
IICRC
The IICRC is the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification, a non-profit organization for the Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Industries. The IICRC, originally named the International Institute of Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning Inc. (IICUC), was founded in 1972 by Ed York. Since starting in 1972, the IICRC has evolved into a global organization with more than 49,000 active Certified Technicians and more than 6,500 Certified Firms around the world.
The IICRC is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of 15 industry leaders elected by the IICRC’s Shareholders. The Board of Directors’ function is to represent the various interests of the applicants while leading the direction of the organization. The Board of Directors meets four times per year and is tasked with helping shape future policies of the organization and uphold the standards that help shape the industry.
WRT / ASD
The Water Damage Restoration Technician (WRT) certification demonstrates knowledge to perform remediation work and an understanding of water damage, its effects, and techniques for drying structures. Upon achieving this certification, you demonstrate you have the background to understand the procedures necessary to deal with water losses, sewer backflows, and contamination such as mold.
The Applied Structural Drying (ASD) certification covers the effective, efficient, and timely drying of water-damaged structures and contents within a restorative drying environment. The certification is for the water and structural damage restorer who has achieved the Water Restoration Technician (WRT) certification and understands water-damaged environments and employee health and safety in the workplace. Upon attaining the certification, you demonstrate you are prepared to perform drying strategies while protecting the health and safety of workers and occupants.
CCT
The Odor Control Technician (OCT) certification covers olfaction and odor, odor sources, detection process, theory of odor control, equipment, chemical options, and applications. Upon achieving the certification, you demonstrate how to address odors caused by biological sources such as decomposition, urine contamination, and mold growth, combustion sources such as fire and smoke damage, and chemical sources such as fuel oil spills or volatile organic chemicals.
AMRT
The Applied Microbial Remediation Technician (AMRT) certification covers mold and sewage remediation techniques to individuals engaged in property management, property restoration, IEQ investigations, or other related professions. The certification’s emphasis is placed on mold removal and sewage remediation techniques. Upon certification, you demonstrate you know to perform remediation services while protecting the health and safety of workers and occupants.
TCST
The Trauma and Crime Scene Technician (TCST) certification covers the unique situations encountered when performing trauma and crime scene and cleanup services, regardless of surface, item, or location. The certification demonstrates knowledge of the various procedures and precautions taken when performing work at a trauma/crime scene and is based on the ANSI/IICRC S540 Standard for Trauma and Crime Scene Cleanup. Upon achieving the certification, you demonstrate you know about inspecting and investigating human blood and other potentially infectious material (OPIM) contamination to establish hazard assessments, work plans, and procedures for cleaning and safely transporting contaminated material.
CDS
The Commercial Drying Specialist (CDS) certification will demonstrate expertise in damage inspection and evaluation, workflow management, process administration, and technical methods of effective and timely drying of commercial, industrial, institutional, and complex residential water-damaged structures, systems, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FFE). This certification is for the experienced technician, project manager, estimator, or owner/manager who wants to expand their understanding of commercial construction, commercial drying practices, challenges, and opportunities or needs to gain better project management skills.
Equipment
Water restoration companies require lots of specialized equipment. This includes pumps, extractors, dehumidifiers, air movers, moisture meters to measure the moisture levels in the air and any contaminated materials (hygrometers), chemical treatments for mold remediation, thermal imaging cameras that help find hidden moisture sources, and anti-microbial agents. Equipment such as these is essential for adequately restoring water-damaged areas.
Water Extractors
Commercial water extractors come in wide different varieties. These can range from portable heavy-duty wet vacuums to trailer-mounted flood extractors. Depending on the project, you can choose a model equipped with an array of hoses and tools to get the job done quickly and efficiently. Water extractors are designed to remove excess water from surfaces such as carpets, upholstery, walls, and other materials that have sustained water damage. They provide powerful suction that helps eliminate moisture buildup before mold starts growing.
Most of the water will be removed in the beginning phases of the restoration project by using these commercial extractors.
Dehumidifiers
Dehumidifiers finish the process and help dry out any remaining moisture. Lowering the humidity in the air will help draw moisture from affected materials. One of the concepts of the water restoration process is equilibrium. What it means is that moisture levels will come into equilibrium in the environment. If the air near standing water in the affected area is extremely dry, the materials affected by the water damage will try to come into equilibrium and release moisture.
Air Movers
Air movers help facilitate this process by circulating air around the affected area. The faster the air moves, the quicker it can remove moisture from the affected materials and walls. Commercial air movers are designed to move the highest volume of air while remaining efficient and quiet.
Restoration services process
The entire restoration process is complex and requires the right equipment to succeed. Commercial water extractors, dehumidifiers, and air movers are just a few of the tools a restoration business may need when restoring surfaces damaged by water. Many factors are involved in proper water extraction, so make sure your team has the right gear for the job. With the right tools, you can ensure your restoration project is done quickly and professionally.
Costs to perform Water Damage Restoration Services
The costs associated with performing these emergency services can vary greatly depending on the severity of the damage. Still, typically you’re looking at a few thousand dollars for clean-up and restoration.
Scoping
Before any work can commence, a professional service must first inspect the property to assess the damage and determine what needs to be done to return it to its pre-flood condition. This is typically done within 24 hours of being notified of the issue.
Drying Out Affected Areas
Insurance Adjustors during the job
Once the scoping process is complete, an insurance adjustor should be notified. They will then collaborate on the extent of the damage. And they will want to work closely with the water damage restoration company over the specific restoration services those companies offer. In most cases, the insurance company will cover all or all costs.
The main detail to look for is the ability of the water damage restoration company to work with the insurance adjuster and to stay inside the insurance coverage. This will ensure that the repair cost for further damage does not exceed what is covered by the insurance policy.
While there are many steps involved in the water damage restoration process, having the right equipment and professionals with experience can get it done quickly and efficiently. Be sure to consult with a qualified water damage restoration provider before any fire damage restoration or services are started.
Xactimate
You want to make sure the restoration services provider uses xactimate. Xactimate is the industry standard for estimating how much water restoration projects costs. It helps to accurately estimate the cost of labor and materials for a particular job. Most insurance companies now require estimates to be completed using xactimate in order to ensure accuracy, completeness, and fairness.
Restoration Service Quality Commitments
Lastly, you want to ensure the water damage restoration services provider will stand behind their work. Quality commitments such as commercial services such as warranties and satisfaction guarantees are essential. Restoration companies should also be certified by a third-party organization and use green cleaning products whenever possible. With the right team in place, your property can be restored quickly and safely so
Speed to Respond During Water Intrusion
An essential factor to consider is the speed with which a water damage restoration company can respond. If you’re dealing with flooding in your home or business, time is of the essence. A quality water damage restoration service will have technicians on call 24/7, ready to come out and begin work immediately upon notification of an issue.
Quality during the Job
You don’t want to entrust your home or business to just anybody. The restoration industry had pretty variable levels of quality. You want to select a company with professional technicians who will handle minor repairs to your property with a high standard of quality.
Restoration services should have clean, functional equipment. They should do what they say they will do. And you should always feel like your working with a professional through the entire water damage restoration project.
Monitoring
Finally, you want the water damage restoration team to monitor the job and ensure it’s done right. Monitoring includes checking the moisture levels in affected areas, testing for mold and mildew, and ensuring all necessary repairs are complete. The team should be able to provide periodic updates on their progress so that you know what’s going on and can plan accordingly.
A knowledgeable team willing to keep you informed can help restore your property smoother and more efficiently. With the right water damage restoration company, you know that everything will be handled quickly and correctly. If you’re in
Reputation in your area
When looking for the right water damage restoration company, it’s important to take a look at its reputation in your area. You want to find a provider with excellent customer satisfaction and a quality workmanship track record. Check online reviews and see what kind of feedback they get from past clients. This can give you an
Reviews
Once you’ve narrowed down your selections, take a closer look at each provider’s online reviews. Reviews are an essential way of assessing the quality and reliability of any service or company. Read what their past clients have said about their work and level of customer service. This will give you the best indication of who to trust.
Insurance Agent
Finally, it’s a good idea to check with your insurance agent. They should be able to recommend quality water damage restoration companies in your area that have experience with the type of property you need servicing. This can take much of the guessing game out of finding a reliable provider and save you a lot of time and stress in the
Insurance Adjuster / Claims office
The insurance adjuster will likely recommend a water restoration services provider and a reconstruction services provider. Just be aware that the adjuster is explicitly trying to save the insurance carrier money first and then trying to get additional services to fix your property damage second.
You must ensure the insurance adjuster is looking out for your best interest and not just trying to close a file. Picking the right water damage restoration services provider will help you navigate the process of the insurance provider. Make sure you have access to talk with the water damage restoration service provider firsthand so that you can get better feedback on what needs to be done and how much it will cost.
Water Damage Restoration companies Insurance
When choosing a water damage restoration company, ensure they have the right insurance coverage to protect you from accidents. Ask them if they are covered for bodily injury and property damage liability for residential customers. It’s also essential that your provider carries workers’ compensation insurance in the event one of their employees is injured while on the job.
Insurance
Be sure to verify the water damage restoration company is insured by obtaining a copy of their insurance certificate. Most companies will gladly provide this information upon request. Knowing that your provider is taking all the necessary steps to protect you and its employees can give you peace of mind.
Performance Bond
It is also essential to ask whether the water damage restoration company has a performance bond. A performance bond is an agreement between you, the customer, and your provider that guarantees that if, for any reason, the job isn’t completed as agreed upon, then you will receive compensation for additional costs incurred. This provides extra protection in case something happens, such as unexpected damage; you will still be covered.
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