It is imperative for property owners to act quickly against water damage, regardless of the scope of the damage. I say that because, in the majority of cases, the property owners I’ve worked with are caught off-guard and uncertain about what to do next. Commercial water damage restoration is successful when owners call immediately and contractors respond immediately.
Here’s what you need to know to mitigate damage, find the right contractor, and deal with the insurance process.
Call a 24/7 restoration contractor immediately.
So, let’s start from minute one. You get a call from the janitorial and maintenance team in your building. There’s a foot of standing water, and they’re not sure where the source of the flooding is coming from, nor do they know the extent and source of the flooding.
What do you do? Call a contractor immediately, verify that they can handle a restoration project equivalent to the size of the property, and get an inspection and estimate as soon as possible.
Ask questions and look for immediate, thorough answers.
Remember that you’re not going to know the extent of the damage nor the equipment, licensure, and manpower required to restore your property to pre-damage condition. It may be a short clean-up. It may require full-scale construction.
Here are some questions you can ask to make sure the contractor is capable of following through with commercial damage restoration:
1. Do you offer free estimates?
The answer should be “Yes.” No exceptions.
2. Can you handle large-scale projects and construction, if necessary?
A qualified restoration contractor is going to keep up. An undersized and understaffed contractor will struggle and dance around the question.
3. How fast can you get a team on-site?
“Immediately” should be the answer. The sooner an inspection is completed, the sooner restoration and damage mitigation starts.
4. Can you negotiate with adjusters?
The answer should be something like this: “Yes, we deal with insurance companies and can defend every item on our estimate.”
5. Do you have experience in full-scale construction?
It’s one thing to do a $3,000 basement loss. It’s another thing to do a $400,000 restoration and construction project for serious commercial water damage. Ask for details.
Delays mean hidden damage and additional costs for property owners.
Mold and mildew spread fast—into furnishings, carpets, electronics, ducting, and HVAC systems. To stop the spread, it requires specialized equipment be deployed within 24 hours.
You need a large team with specialists in duct, drywall, paint, furniture, and carpet restoration.
What about electronics?
Electronics must be removed from the property and handled with care for satisfactory restoration. Most contractors do not understand the effect of water on electronics and dispose of salvageable items prematurely. That means you have a fight with your insurance company over the costs.
Know your rights as a homeowner.
The cost of commercial water damage depends on the extent and size of the property, but who decides the cost? Who has say over what you do with your property or who you choose to work with to restore water damage?
The answer is “You.” Property owners are absolutely free to use the service of their choosing. So, before you talk to your insurance company, here’s what I want you to know.
Insurance companies will push for preferred vendors.
What is a “preferred vendor?” It’s a contractor that the insurance company has control over—from damage estimates to the scope of repairs.
Sure, their contractor is part of their network and does great work, right? Don’t take their word for it. Exercise your right to consult a third-party contractor.
Contractors like us have a lot of experience dealing with insurance and financing for renovations, construction, and, of course, damage restoration.
Contact us 24/7 for immediate inspection and estimates.
Trinity Stone Construction is a 24/7 emergency damage restoration business with the fastest response time in DFW for commercial and residential properties.
Minutes make the difference between a total loss of property and a return to pre-damage conditions.
Contact us anytime. We’ll be on-site within a few hours.
Keep Building,
Carlo Menchaca, Founder & CEO
Trinity Stone Construction
