Water Damage | Water Damage Restoration | Emergency Water Restoration

Water damage can occur in many different forms. Be it toilet overflow, water heater leak, slab leak or something else. Damage can range from a small leak to a large flood depending on source, length of leak and other factors. When this water damage occurs it can effect materials all throughout your property like drywall, flooring...it can even infiltrate into the insulation. If not handled quickly and properly, water damage can lead to fungal growth including mold.

It is of the upmost importance to get a qualified, experienced restoration contractor on site in a timely manner. In most emergency service situations, a restoration contractor will want to arrive within 2-4 hours of the onset of damage to begin the water mitigation process. The longer the water sits, the more secondary damage has the potential to form. Once the restoration contractor is onsite, they will begin extracting the water from the affected materials. The goal is to effectively dry the property as quickly and as cost-effective as possible. Sometimes affected material can be dried in place, otherwise it may require demo in order to effectively get all moisture removed from the affected area. All of this may sound scary and involved, and maybe even costly.

Hiring The Right Restoration Contractor

So why is having the right restoration contractor important and will this be covered by insurance?

The quick answer is not as simple as one might think, it depends. There are several factors involved in determining coverage in an insurance claim. Hiring the right contractor can make a world of difference here. Try to find a restoration contractor that can work for you and work in cooperation with your insurance company. This allows for more transparency throughout the claim, questions will be answered efficiently allowing coverage to be determined in a timelier manner. If coverage is determined and awarded, you will also get faster approvals and payouts as the work is completed. The actual coverage determination comes directly from your insurance company. The restoration contractor can answer all of the questions and work with the insurance company but the decision comes down to factors like cause of loss, specific policy limits set when the policy was purchased, etc. Also keep in mind that you will most likely have a deductible associated with filing the claim, this is also set when your policy is initially purchased and will be deducted from the amount the insurance company pays out.

For example, if you have a $10,000 covered loss with a $1,000 deductible in your policy, the insurance company would pay out $9,000 and you would be responsible for the $1,000 balance. It is important to note here that it is illegal for a contractor to waive an insurance deductible. Keep that in mind when researching the restoration contractor you will hire.

In summary, water damage can happen when we least expect it and while it can be overwhelming and a lot to handle, having the right contactor on the job can make it much easier to navigate, gain coverage determination and all in all, move forward. In the meantime, if you have any questions about what your policy coverages afford, contact your insurance agent or the customer service number and ask. They will help you understand.