Anyone who has ever been unfortunate enough to experience damage to a home by either fire or water knows how much of a mess is left AFTER the initial disaster. Sometimes, as in the case of a fire, the damage is two-fold. The fire causes its own damage; however, the water and other chemicals used to fight and put out the fire only add to the already tense situation.
It is important, however, to start having the damage, especially water damage, repaired as soon as possible. The longer walls, floors, and ceilings remain wet or even damp, for that matter, the more likelihood that dangerous mold will begin to form. Left undetected or untreated, mold can actually cause serious health problems for the residents AFTER the house has been restored to liveability.
As soon as the insurance company has given permission for restoration work to be done, the homeowner should immediately begin calling those companies which specialize in fire/water damage restoration. The insurance company may have a provider of these services, whom they prefer the homeowner use; if that is the case, then there may be no choice but to use that company.
It may be necessary for a homeowner to ascertain first just exactly what must be done in the way of fire/water damage repair and restoration. Although the homeowner may think that some things can be simply repaired or restored, home inspectors and others who are familiar with the “behind-the-scenes†problems caused by fire and water damage will more than likely know what is best.
Once the homeowner knows exactly what will be involved, he can then look for a reputable company who will follow the guidelines and requirements obtained by the homeowner. An honest company will NOT tell a homeowner that the recommendations or requirements can be “gotten aroundâ€; rather, the representative will gladly provide an estimate of the cost of ALL necessary work.
Posted by: TrustedPros