What To Do After A Water Loss

A water loss can be an overwhelming issue to deal with. If your home is faced with such a problem, like a flood or leaky pipe, adhere to the following tips to limit the damage to your house and belongings.

• First and foremost, handle all electrical issues with extreme caution.
• Throughout the house: Remove as much water as possible, and in cool weather open your windows and doors, if possible, to speed the drying process. In hot weather, turn on air-conditioning only if it's safe to do so. Call Concraft for special instructions.
• Make a list and take pictures of all damaged contents for insurance purposes.

If you ever experience a water loss in your home, the possible damage can be kept to a minimum if you follow the above steps, and contact Concraft – the Concraft teams knows the very best and most effective way to handle the problem.

Disaster Planning: Creating a Preparedness Kit

Home and business owners should keep a moderate stock of emergency supplies, both to facilitate quick disaster restoration and to ensure continuity should you be forced to operate elsewhere for several weeks. 

To protect your property, a few dozen plastic tarps, several wet-pickup vacuums with wands and floor attachments, and a few floor squeegees provide a primary level of protection at a moderate cost. A case of absorbent wipes can also be useful. Rapid response is the key to damage control. The ability to swiftly deploy tarps over computers, production equipment, file cabinets, and other critical components can dramatically curtail the extent of damage.

Items to keep in your emergency kit or gather during an evacuation if possible:

- Insurance information, health and homeowners policies
- Family photos, irreplaceable mementos/jewelry
- Digital inventory CD and printout
- Wallet, checkbook, and credit cards
- Canned goods, baby food, and food for pets
- Can opener/multi-purpose tool/sharp knife
- Bottled water, non-perishable food, water purification tablets
- Work gloves and boots
- Waterproof matches and candles
- Transistor radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
- Duct tape, electrical tape         
- Toiletries, toilet paper, feminine products, diapers, and wipes
- First aid kit
- Cell phone, laptop, and car chargers (keep these items charged at all times)
- Extra clothing (i.e., socks, underwear)
- Sleeping bag
- Address book, paper, pens
- Medication and prescriptions
- Extra batteries

In the event of a disaster, these items will help keep your family together, your business running, and get you home as soon as possible.

After the Disaster: Dealing With Your Insurance Company

Insurance companies play a vital role in protecting you from disaster. But insurance policies are complicated things, and in the chaos following a fire, flood, or weather disaster they may be misinterpreted. Because a policy is a contract, it imposes certain obligations on you in the event of disaster. It’s important to understand them, because failure to comply can result in weakening your insurance protection.

After immediately notifying your insurance company of a loss, most policies require you to take reasonable action to protect your property from further damage.  This can include (where applicable) removing valuables, securing windows with plywood, covering roof holes with tarp, and shutting off utility supplies. Not doing so may leave you liable for any additional damage that occurs.

Record all dealings with your insurance company in writing, and save receipts for food, toiletries, replacement clothing, etc. These steps will protect your rights and guarantee that the restoration process gets off to a prompt, smooth start.

Restoration Contractors: Look for the Seals of Approval

Because professional restoration is different than general home contracting, it’s vital ask about a restoration firm’s credentials, certifications and professional association memberships. These affiliations indicate training and status in insurance repair, and are a reliable sign that the restoration firm is ethical, cost-effective, and safe.

Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
RIA members provide impartial advice on the scope of disaster repairs. They adhere to a comprehensive code of ethics and are backed by institutional expertise and laboratory resources.

Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Certification (IICRC)
The IIRC is an independent guardian establishing and monitoring high standards across the cleaning and restoration industries.  Certified firms must provide ongoing education to technicians, maintain a comprehensive complaint policy, abide by the IICRC code of ethics, and demonstrate proof of insurance.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) Accredited Business
Accredited businesses meet the BBB’s standards, which include a commitment to resolving complaints, honest advertising, transparency, keeping promises, and customer privacy protection. Businesses pay a fee for independent review and monitoring.

Green Seal Certified
Green Seal businesses adhere to strict standards of environmental responsibility and sustainability, as classified by the EPA, ISO, ANSI, Consumers Union and other independent adjudicators.

EPA Lead-Safe Certified
Because dust from lead paint is toxic, federal law requires all restoration contractors to be EPA Lead-Safe Certified. Approved contractors are trained in state-of-the-art lead identification, removal, and cleaning practices. This is especially important when working in buildings built before 1978.

How to Evaluate a Restoration Contractor

Before hiring a professional restoration specialist, perform a comprehensive evaluation to ensure the firm is ethical and prepared to perform the required work. 

First, ask the contractor for three current or recent references. Call them. Second, check with your local Better Business Bureau to see if the contractor has any unresolved complaints. Third, ask the contractor for credentials and association memberships—such as the Restoration Industry Association (RIA)—that indicate professional training and status in insurance repair and restoration, since this work is different than general home contracting. Finally, ask the contractor to disclose any relationship with your insurance company, since this may impede their ability to offer impartial evaluations.

In following these steps, you can be confident that your professional restoration contractor will rehabilitate your property on-time and on-budget.

Emergency Restoration

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