Frequently Asked Questions
Water Damage Restoration FAQs
Water damage can cause serious problems throughout your entire home. The excess moisture can cause mold and mildew to grow. This fungus growth can contribute to health problems, including allergies, skin infections and diseases. It can even weaken and compromise the structure of a building. Water damage can warp wooden floors and ruin ceilings, while also causing problems with metal and cement materials. While there are various levels of water damage, all require special kinds of treatment to ensure that your home or business is restored to a safe, healthy state.
Water damage restoration must be conducted with care, using specific procedures and safeguards. A restoration company will bring in heavy-duty equipment that can mitigate the effects of excess water and dry things out thoroughly. This process may also involve removing damaged parts of the structure. Because some damage is hidden, rely on professionals to get the job done right.
After the initial assessment, Restoration 1 will use the following steps to repair and control the water damage:
Step 1: Dry out the affected areas with large fans, wet vacuums, and pumps. All moist surfaces and carpets will be targeted.
Step 2: Pull up the carpet and padding that cannot be saved. While the team members at Restoration 1 do their best to salvage what they can, some parts of your home may need to be removed.
Step 3: Restore personal belongings. Restoration 1 will work to put all of your books, art, furniture, and other items back in their original places.
Step 4: Clean and dehumidify. To prevent the growth of mold, we will professionally sanitize and dry everything in the home or business.
Throughout each step of the process, at Restoration 1 we make protecting your home and keeping your family safe our number one priority.
Floods and water damage can be caused by a variety of problems. Some of the most common include:
Leaking dishwashers, washing machines, and pipes
Excess amounts of rain and drainage problems
Clogged sinks or toilets that overflow
Hidden moisture beneath your floors or in your walls
Cracked pipes due to severe weather or faulty plumbing
Absolutely – and more often than not, you won’t notice that water damage is occurring until the need for repairs has become very obvious! Signs of hidden water damage can be as subtle as an unpleasant odor, or slight staining on the walls and ceilings. You may also notice peeling paint, warped floors, or mold growth in the nooks and crannies of your home or business.
At the first signs of water damage, you should attempt to air out the property as much as possible. Turn on fans, open windows, and blast the AC if you have to. Hang up your rugs and cushions in a safe, dry location, then collect loose items that are at risk. Mop up as much standing water as you can, and try to keep the moisture from spreading.
As soon as you’ve made the situation somewhat stable, call in an experienced restoration service like Restoration 1. Our highly-trained technicians will bring advanced, heavy-duty equipment to start on your professional water damage treatment right away!
First things first: Research companies that are certified, licensed, and insured. It’s also smart to go with a company that can respond immediately to your water damage emergency – one that can also offer a 100-percent satisfaction guarantee! Call Restoration 1 so that our trained professionals can give you the prompt, effective service you need.
First, you should review your insurance policy to see if it covers water damage at all. For example, some policies may cover floods but not mold remediation, while others only handle sewer or drain backups. Find out what your policy covers specifically, so that you understand the terms before speaking with an agent. Because Restoration 1 has experience with all insurance companies, our team can help you navigate the sometimes complex claims process.
Second, make a detailed list of what has been damaged. You should write everything down, from the flooring to the bookshelf that wasn’t salvageable, and so on. You should also keep your receipts and other forms of evidence (including photos) that support your damage claims.
Finally, when you file the claim, it will probably take your company a few days to get back to you. In the meantime, do not begin any permanent repairs to your home. You’ll want to wait for permission to do so before spending money on the restoration process.
Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration FAQs
Call 911 immediately! Your safety is our highest priority. Once you’re safe and the fire is out, call us at (704) 741-8648 . Smoke and fumes from a fire can be carcinogenic, so it’s important we access your property first. We will get one of our professionals out to you as quickly as possible. We are standing by to help you.
Your safety is very important. It’s best you call us before you go in to inspect the damage to your property. We are trained and experienced and use the very best safety equipment. Call us at (704) 741-8648 and we will get to you within the hour.
We will be happy to provide your insurance adjuster with any information they need.
Restoration 1 is the authority on restoration services and we’re happy to help you with any upgrades to your property. However, should you want to make additions to your home, you will need to work with a different contractor.
As we mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to make a mental note or list of any items or valuables which are important to you. Should there be an item(s) which have a high monetary or sentimental value, let us know and we will make those items priority. Do not rush into your property to retrieve those items yourself. We’ll treat you home and possessions with the utmost care and respect.
Mold Remediation FAQs
Mildew is a fungus and usually has a flat, gray appearance. It can easily be cleaned with everyday household cleaning products. Mold is more serious – especially if someone has an allergy to mold. Any mold should be removed by a Restoration 1 professional.
Mold has a black or greenish, raised appearance – not flat such as mildew. Should you see mold in your home or business, call Restoration 1 at (704) 741-8648. We will get one of our professionals out to you for an initial inspection.
Should you find mold, you should contact us as quickly as possible because mold can spread quickly. While we have the most competitive rates in the restoration industry, certain factors determine a final estimate:
The amount of mold
The location of the mold
And in what stage the mold is in
Mold can spread quickly under certain conditions. This is why it’s imperative you call the professionals at Restoration 1 for a complete inspection. We can check crawl spaces and basements to determine if there’s mold in hard-to-reach places.
Your safety is important to us. You or someone else should not attempt to remove it because some molds can act as an allergy to some people, which can cause severe health issues. A Restoration 1 technician will safely inspect, cleanup and remove any mold.
Depending on the amount of mold and where it has spread, a Restoration 1 technician can remove mold in a few days or weeks.
Mold remediation is the process of identifying, cleaning up and removing mold from any home or business. Restoration 1 professionals use special equipment, cleaning agents and techniques to permanently clean and remove mold.
Restoration 1 experts use special equipment and processes to inspect and evaluate how far mold has spread. Keep in mind that mold can spread quickly behind walls and/or floors. Our technicians will look inside walls and floors to determine the extent of the spreading.