What
to consider when choosing a fire and damage restoration company

Certified experts

It is imperative to make certain that the
company in question has all the required state and local certifications to
complete the restoration job. These certifications should also be up-to-date.

• Certification: Look for credentials from the
  Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification, also
  known as the IICRC, for well-trained fire and water damage experts.
• Sub-certifications: The IICRC has additional
  specializations such as mold remediation or structural and commercial
  Drying. Ask the company for details about their sub-certifications.
• Restoration vs. reconstruction: Note that
  the IICRC refers to restoration, not reconstruction. If the damage is to
  severe that contractors are required to partially or completely
  rebuild/reconstruct properties, make sure that they have all the proper
  local licenses and certifications necessary.
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Experience

Every disaster is unique and requires the
utmost care. If a company begins operating from the wrong starting assumptions,
it can prolong or completely derail the restoration project unnecessarily.

• Relevant experience: Make sure that the
  company providing restoration has dealt with many previous situations that
  are similar to the current task at hand. For example, standing water from
  a flood could become contaminated with chemicals or substances that make
  it a biohazard. Make sure the company knows what they are dealing with
  before they come out to avoid added confusion that slows down the job.
• Comprehensive evaluations: Don’t hold back
  any information. Even details that don’t seem to be significant initially
  can greatly impact the company’s professional evaluation of the
  restoration requirements or the extent of structural damage.

Asset protection

Different kinds of materials – such as
furniture, computers, floors, etc. – require different treatments under very
specific timetables.

• High-priority assets: Decide which assets
  have the highest priority and then look for the company that specializes
  in that particular area.
• Practicality: Replacing property or recreating
  data may be less expensive than restoration. Don’t compromise your
  practicality.
• Pre-inspection reports: Some types of leases
  require a pre-inspection report by qualified restoration personnel to
  establish insurability levels.

Time to recovery

Hours, and sometimes minutes, can make all
the difference in what is recoverable. Make sure the company will be ready the
moment disaster strikes.

• Rapid response: The first few hours after a
  disaster can make all the difference in terms of what is recoverable. Look
  for rapid response times. Also critical, is advice on what to do
  immediately and what needs attention within the first 24 hours.
• Schedules: Look for a company that can give
  a full, detailed schedule of steps that they will need to perform before
  an estimated completion date.
• Variable costs: Be prepared for costs to
  vary greatly based on factors that aren’t obvious at first, such as
  structural damage and the extent of smoke damage.

Storage facilities

Some restoration companies offer storage
facilities. Find out how much space the company has to house your undamaged
assets and what their storage rates are.

• Storage conditions: Make sure that storage
  facilities are nearby and adequate in terms of factors like temperature
  control and security.
• Packing services: Ask if they provide
  packing services, which means that they can thoroughly clean property
  before packing it up and putting it into the company’s storage facility.
• Record keeping: Make sure to take photographic
  records of the condition of your property before it goes into storage.

Referrals

Ask for names of commercial or
governmental agencies that the company has worked for and look for referrals.

• Referral limitations: Don’t discount a
  company just because its referrals aren’t perfect. Some items simply
  aren’t restorable, and that fact creates disappointment.
• Reputation vs. proficiency: Balance the
  value of the company’s reputation with the company’s demonstrated
  proficiency at deploying new technology.
• Additional advice: Ask your insurance
  carrier or lease holder if they have any specific recommendations or
  requirements for disaster-recovery providers.

What are different types of restoration?

Water damage

The most common type of restorationservices deals with water damage from weather events, from plumbing ruptures or
from actions firefighters had to take to put out a fire. If not handled
properly and quickly, standing water can lead to mold growth, corrode
electronics and the weaken the structural supports of a building. Dealing with
mold prevention, detection and remediation as a result of standing water is the
next most common suite of services. If water damage has resulted from damaged
plumbing, the company must have the resources to treat the property for
contaminated water and biohazard recovery.

Fire damage

Fire damage services include recovery
after a natural or man-made disaster. Many people don’t realize it also
includes smoke damage, even if the fire was suppressed before it grew out of
control. Smoke can permeate and damage many different types of materials, even
stone. Often, smoke damage from a thermal or chemical fire can be so severe
that the roof, walls and floor are not restorable. Restoration experts must
have many years of experience to properly identify which items they can save
and which items to replace.

Data recovery

When fire or water damages paper files or
electronic equipment, data recovery services attempt to recover as much lost
information as possible. Services for data recovery after a disaster have
become the fastest-growing area of restoration services. Specifically, these
services deals with techniques to retrieve irreplaceable data from damaged
devices, system failures, common accidents or cybercrime. This field is changing
rapidly as new technology develops that can recover data in ways that were
impossible even a few years ago.

Who can benefit from fire and damage restoration services?

Homeowners

When there is a disaster at a private
home, apartment building or vehicle, fire and water restoration specialists
need to possess a greater level of sensitivity about personal losses. In many
cases, people who have lost their homes and property may need community support
in order to handle the costs of restoration. Homeowners may also need
additional help from the restoration provider in dealing with their insurance
companies. Due to the sentimental value of items in the home, victims of fire
or water damage many need help assessing whether it is more practical for their
property to be restored or replaced.

Businesses

The companies that specialize in
restoration services for commercial properties understand the full cost of
downtime and lost revenue while the restoration takes place. The damage to the
company’s reputation and brand value can be permanent if the fire and waterrestoration is not handled rapidly and efficiently. They are fully aware of the
heightened legal responsibilities of business owners to protect employees,
customers, investors and all of their personal data. Industrial clients often
have very specific requirements in terms of handling their most valuable
assets, such as semiconductors and cooling towers.

Government and non-profits

Organizations dedicated to public welfare
or positive social outcomes often have an increased exposure to natural and man-made
disasters. Government agencies and non-profits often have to operate under
stricter guidelines, with greater regulatory oversight and under tighter
pricing requirements for the contractors they choose.

Victims of data loss

It doesn’t take a great deal of water to
destroy electronic equipment or paper files. Moisture in carpets has been
responsible for destroying paper files and spilled drinks have wiped out
millions of dollars worth of data on company computers. Rebuilding after a fire
or water disaster means getting the business back open as soon as possible, and
that requires rapid data recovery. Lost customer data due to water damage can
also expose the company to legal and regulatory liabilities. In the information
economy, a simple electrical accident involving water damage to private data
can wipe out the viability of a business faster than the physical damage from a
fire or flood.