Should I call insurance or you?

Both. With appropriate documentation and rationale, insurance companies trust that emergency service vendors must act immediately to prevent further damage. We can call insurance with you while we’re there or cancel your claim entirely if it doesn’t warrant a claim.

Will insurance cover this?

 Possibly! Though we do have our Georgia Adjuster’s License, we can’t specifically state whether your incident is covered or not. What is covered typically by insurance companies doesn’t necessarily mean yours is covered as well. Talking to your insurance adjuster is the best way to insure coverage. What we can assure you is that we’ll do everything we can to work with you no matter the outcome. Whether that means meeting an adjuster on site, performing the work at a discounted rate or offering financing, you will be taken care of.

There’s mold on my drywall. What do I do?

First of all, the cause of the mold must be determined. Mold only grows with moisture and time and any cleaning is premature without knowing the source. This could be from improperly insulated air conditioning ducts, groundwater intrusion, overly humid basements, previous water damage or any other number of sources. Since drywall is a porous surface, just wiping off and cleaning mold (unless it’s a light dusting) is ineffective. And because you’re able to see the mold, it is more than likely an active colony and has released spores to some degree. Negative air/air scrubbing combined with HEPA vacuuming is the best approach.

OK, so mold is on some framing downstairs and I’ve sprayed it with bleach. It’s dead and can’t do any harm, right?

No. Mold is associated with mycotoxins, or toxic substances related to fungal growth. When a chemical is used to retard fungal growth, it renders the spore non-viable (non-living). However, the spores can still be both allergenic and toxic when inhaled. There have even been studies that show the concentration of toxins may actually increase after cell death. Even the act of spraying with bleach can disrupt the colonies and release the spores into the air. Not to mention bleach is predominately a coloring agent and leaves behind salt deposits which can actually increase the chance of water absorption. 

I just had a small toilet overflow and i put towels down. Do I need water restoration?

There are a lot of parts to this. What was the underlying cause to the backup, what was in the toilet at the time, how long ago did it happen, how much water overflowed and what type of flooring are all important questions. There can be insurance limits depending on what the origin was. The drying scope changes depending on what was in the toilet. All flooring types react differently to water, not all of which is visible right away.

I had a small fire and I cleaned it up, but it still smells like smoke. Why?

Odor is one of the hardest things to address because the actual molecules are extremely pervasive and can get into just about any material and into various cracks and gaps. It’s also extremely subjective and varies widely from person to person. Cleaning up the actual source, cleaning the area, recreating the methods of penetration of the odor and, if necessary, sealing the affected materials are all potential methods to control odor. We also use the technology found in ozone generators, hydroxyl generators and vapor diffusion to do everything we can to leave your residence smelling clean.

What happens after this?

We work with a variety of general contractors who can put your house back to how it was before (or better). We specialize in the drying, cleaning and decontamination of properties and stay away from the rebuild portion so that we can be completely devoted to our mission of restoring your property. We know that their reputation reflects on us as well so we only recommend the best. Of course, if you have someone you prefer or if you are handy yourself, it’s all yours. If this is an insurance claim, they will cover all reasonable estimates.

Shouldn’t I wait for my adjuster?

Typically, you don’t want to wait for your adjuster because this is emergency services, hours count and can make your claim unnecessarily large and more expensive. Things have a way of deteriorating over days and waiting will oftentimes increase the size of the claim and the damage to your property. Because the adjuster typically cannot arrive until days after the initial incident, we take measurements, readings and pictures to thoroughly document the process and eliminate any questions the adjuster may have. After the emergency services are complete, that is when the adjuster would take note and advise estimates for reconstruction.