FAQs

Faqs

It may seem like there are more questions than answers when you are dealing with water, mold or fire & smoke damage. Here are some answers to commonly asked questions:

Water, Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration FAQs

Unless you’ve experienced a similar disaster in the past, you probably have plenty of questions when your home or office suffers damage due to a fire, flood, smoke, or other disaster. That’s why we want to answer some of the most commonly-asked questions voiced by customers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the first thing I do after a fire?

No matter how big the fire is or was, call 911. Emergency services will extinguish the fire, then our experts can begin the damage assessment.

How long does it take to clean up fire damage?

This depends on the severity of the fire, but typically the process can take between a few hours to several weeks. The size of the property and the number of affected areas can affect how long the process takes, but after an initial assessment, we should be able to provide you with a more accurate time frame.

Can I inspect my home and belongings after fire damage?

This is typically not a safe step to take after a fire. We ask that you contact us so that our trained specialists can assess the damage quickly, safely, and accurately.

Should I try cleaning it myself?

This is an enormous task that requires plenty of experience, so we suggest allowing us to handle the cleanup process. You don’t want to inhale dangerous chemicals or cause more problems in the future, and you probably don’t have the appropriate gear to safely tackle the cleanup.

What will happen to the items left in the home during a fire restoration?

We will do our absolute best to salvage as many items as possible and minimize your losses. We will clean what can be saved and dispose of what is deemed too dangerous or damaged to salvage.

What are some safety concerns?

After a fire, your number one priority should be keeping yourself and your coworkers or family members safe. The structural integrity of the property may have been compromised during the blaze, and dangerous chemicals may be present in the air, so it’s important for everyone to remove themselves from danger and stay at a safe distance from the affected area.

What items do I keep in my possession?

This depends on the situation. We will do our best to give you as many valuable items as possible, but the severity of the fire may affect our ability to do that.

How do I keep track of non-restorable items?

As we evaluate the damage and remove unsalvageable items, we will keep a comprehensive inventory of the items we assess. You will be notified of all the items we could not save so that you are equipped with all of the information.

What about special items? Artwork, china, heirlooms, etc.

Before we begin the restoration process, let us know what special or sentimental items may have been affected by the fire. We will do our best to find these items and save them if we can, and if they have been destroyed, we will notify you promptly.

Who is responsible for paying for the service?

Although you will contact us first, you will also need to contact your insurance company to figure out how the payment process will work. Make sure that you understand the details of your policy and what exactly is covered.

Should I file a claim with my insurance company?

This depends on your financial circumstances, the severity of the disaster, and your insurance policy. We usually recommend evaluating the claim and your premiums, then discussing your various options with the insurance company.

Do you communicate with my insurance adjuster?

We are willing to answer any and all questions that your insurance adjuster may have.

What if my house has asbestos or lead?

Our experts are trained to effectively identify and remove any dangerous chemicals that may be present in the building in the wake of a disaster. Our number one goal is to make the area safe, so we take extreme precautions while dealing with the situation. Should your home need additional help from another kind of company, we will help facilitate that process.

What if I'd like to upgrade or remodel my house?

We are more than willing to help with repairs and additional upgrades, should you request them and as long as they are within our capabilities. However, if extensive upgrades or remodeling is necessary, you will need to hire another contractor to complete the work.

Mold Remediation FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between mold and mildew?

The differences between these two fungi can be difficult to find, but in general, mildew is easier to remove with simple cleaning products. Mold is much more serious and is usually green or black, unlike mildew, which is typically gray. You will most likely need to hire professional help when dealing with mold because it is more difficult to remove safely and effectively.

What does mold look like?

You can tell your home has mold when you spot green or black-looking fungus that has a raised surface. It’s typically found in moist, humid environments.

How much does mold remediation cost?

This answer can differ depending on how early you discover it, where it’s located, and how fast it is spreading.

How long does it take mold to grow or spread?

Mold can grow quite quickly in the right environment. Within just 24 hours, it can release spores and begin to spread.

Do I need to hire a mold remediation/removal expert to remove mold, or can I do it myself?

Tackling it yourself is a slippery slope. It can be difficult to spot every affected area and eradicate the problem for good. Don’t waste time; hire a professional to conduct a thorough assessment and mold removal.

How long does it take to remove mold?

The process usually takes between several days and a few weeks, depending on various circumstances.

What is mold remediation?

This is a fancy way of saying that professionals will remove the mold and sanitize the affected area. There may also be additional treatments that need to be conducted in order to eradicate the mold for good.

How is mold growth detected?

Our professional team members at Restoration 1 detect mold by searching for moisture under floors, between walls, and in other hidden spaces.

What health problems can mold cause?

It’s not uncommon for mold to cause allergy symptoms amongst residents, including itchy eyes, skin irritation, sore throats, coughing, nasal congestion, and respiratory problems.

Do you have more questions about fire, smoke, mold, or water restoration? Contact at Restoration 1 of Western Wayne County’s IICRC and IAQA certified experts today (734) 304-8062.

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Recent Blog Posts

How Restoration 1 Franchises Dealt with Storm Uri and the Aftermath

By Thrive Team • 30 Mar, 2021

Winter Storm Uri brought record cold temperatures and interruptions to electricity and water services in February this year. Storm Uri swept from the Pacific Northwest across the Central U.S., including a few states that were unused to harsh winter conditions. And if the extreme temperatures and snowfall weren't enough, it also caused an interruption of services like heat, electricity, and water for millions of people in the southern states.

Texas had such a hard time because the state has its own power grid, and every part of the power generation was impacted by the cold. The coal froze, the ice blocked natural gas pipelines, and wind turbines were iced over. And, of course, the electricity demand shot up so everyone could keep warm. Many saw their water pipes freezing, and a loss of power as the state instituted rolling blackouts to ration energy supply.

As we at Restoration 1 know so well, frozen pipes can lead to cracking and, once the pipes thaw, bursting. Burst pipes lead to flooding, leaving residential and commercial buildings susceptible to the risk of mold growth. Luckily for those affected by Storm Uri, Restoration 1 teams were mobilized and on the ground, operating 24/7 to help residential and commercial property owners. Available crews tackled water damage cleanup and restoration efforts to fix any interior water damage due to burst pipes, roof leaks, and ice.

In this post, we share how Restoration 1 dealt with Storm Uri and the steps we took to ensure all franchisees were mobilized and ready to help as many people as possible.

How Restoration 1 Dealt with Storm Uri

As with all natural disasters, the quicker you can handle the situation, the better. Restoration 1 was quick to mobilize, being available and responding within less than 24 hours after the storm hit. With our vast network of franchisees, Restoration 1 pulled all its staff from unaffected areas to help at branches that needed support and where Storm Uri had caused havoc.

The Breadth of Our Service

With Restoration 1's proprietary system, the company was able to prepare and connect with all franchisees. Our proprietary tool, in turn, was able to alert the support team throughout our network of franchisees.

Once we knew what each franchisee needed, the national disaster team could tie them to available resources. This national disaster response team used its proprietary tool to mobilize quickly during the disaster.

In less than 24 hours, we could connect a multi-state effort to support the affected areas and franchisees.

Senior Management
Our senior management team gathered all their efforts promptly and held a daily hotline with all locations. The hotline outlined best practices in responding to storm Uri's aftermath and how to utilize our rapid response messaging system to communicate with people in the field in real-time. The senior management team also traveled to the worst affected areas and provided support 24/7.

The Home Office
The home office support team stepped up their availability and was on-call 24/7 during this entire event. They held meetings and check-ins during the middle of the night, if necessary, and waiting lists for each affected location were quickly and effectively addressed.

The Two Most Common Types of Damage Faced During Storm Uri
Restoration 1 helped the affected homes and businesses with water mitigation, water damage restoration, decontamination, debris cleanup, disaster response, commercial and industrial roofing, interior restoration, and construction services to rebuild properties. But the main types of property damage being faced were:

Water damage and flooding resulted from frozen and broken water pipes.
Snow and ice wreaked devastation outside of residential and commercial structures.

Testimonials
We’d like to share just three testimonials we have received for restoration efforts directly linked to Storm Uri.

I had a pipe burst and flood my downstairs during the winter storm. Restoration 1 came out and did a fantastic job cleaning up the water, cutting out wet walls and placing fans and dehumidifiers all throughout my house. They were extremely professional, knowledgeable, they all wore masks and everyone was very polite! They also stayed in contact with my insurance company which helped me tremendously because I had so much going on. I highly recommend Restoration 1. They truly are angels and helped me out so much.
K.P., San Antonio Northside

Restoration 1 really delivered. Thanks! I had a busted pipe (Feb 2021 freeze). While waiting for help, I removed the walls and ceiling of a third floor shower which obviously had wet insulation. I needed a professional assessment of other areas, including the lower floors, where the water damage was not as obvious. Restoration 1 arrived, checked it out and helped me get moving forward. Thanks again!
William Hicks, Central Houston

Andres and his team were very dependable and professional. Our house was hit hard by the extreme cold temperatures brought on by the Texas winter storm. Duff and Dylan worked together as team leads for this job and the communication amongst everyone was superb! We had called ServPro initially but they weren’t responsive and honestly we would still probably be in a state of chaos if we had gone with them. Restoration 1 Central San Antonio jumped into demolition mode the day after we called them. Thank you guys for all your hard work.
Ian Wolfe, Central San Antonio

In Conclusion
The response and reach that Restoration 1 had during Storm Uri shows the company's commitment as a whole. At Restoration 1, we truly believe we are in this together. Evidence of this is highlighted by the whole network of franchisees stepping in to help wherever they could – even outside of their response area. We saw teams responding to water mitigation and restoration requests from schools, hospitals, hotels, churches, resorts, commercial and residential properties with emergency teams and professional equipment to help.

Restoration 1 is proficient in mitigating this kind of water-related damage; with the experience and certification in water damage repair and water extraction and drying, we could help with ease and expertise.

How Restoration 1 of Western Wayne County Can Help
Specializing in disaster response and water damage restoration, the water damage experts at Restoration 1 of Western Wayne County are your best bet when facing a natural disaster. There is no way to perform safe and successful water restoration without training. With all the expenses of water damage restoration remediation, it does not pay to do it yourself.

There is no substitute for professional restoration experts. It may be possible to restore some of the storm damage on your own – but the bigger problems are better left to the experts.

Play it safe. Call the professionals at Restoration 1 of Western Wayne County. If you have any questions about water damage restoration, please contact us 24/7.

Basement Flood Damage and What Causes It

By Thrive Team • 16 Mar, 2021

Sometimes, even without a natural disaster, you can still face disastrous basement flood damage. As you can imagine, water leaks can cause a lot of water damage and a large amount of waste. Therefore, it's essential to be aware of the many ways you can prevent water damage in your home or business.

According to the statistics, 14,000 people in the US experience a water damage emergency at home or work each day, and 98% of basements in the US will suffer from some water damage during their lifetime. Let's take a look at what can cause basement flood damage in your Western Wayne County residence:

Top Causes of Basement Flooding

Clogged gutters: Ensure your gutters are free from leaves and debris, especially during the rainy season, and that they dispense the water at least 6-10 feet away from your home.
Storm sewer blockage: If the pipes that carry away stormwater become obstructed with debris, you will more than likely experience a backup. Call the city to clear the debris as soon as possible.
Grading: Your land should slope 6 inches downwards within the first 10 feet of your home. Recontour the soil around your house if necessary, so water is carried away from your home in severe rain.
Septic tank blockage or failure: If your septic system is blocked, it could send greywater into your home. And a failed septic pump can also result in greywater overflow.
Insufficient foundation drainage: Gutters are not enough to protect your home from rainwater getting in, and most properties will have foundation drainage, too. Ensure your foundation drainage, such as French drain or perimeter drain, is free and clear of debris and problems.
Extreme weather: Stormwater and melting snow can travel from far to cause damage to your home. During extreme weather, regularly check the weather reports and update your safety measures around the windows and openings to your basement.
Seepage tiles: These are placed around the foundation wall of a home and create an impenetrable barrier that keeps water out. These will help keep your basement dry.

Sump pump failure: If your surrounding ground has a lot of water, it is essential to have a sump pump in your basement. These pumps move water out and away from the basement. Set up a regular maintenance schedule for this equipment.

Water heater issues: Regular maintenance and monitoring of utility appliances are essential for operating effectively and preventing potential water leaks.

Basement sealing: The basement tiles and foundation need to be adequately sealed when a home is built. Eventually, this can deteriorate over time, and water will begin to seep into the basement from the ground.

Irrigation: The underground pipes for irrigation systems can leak. Keep an eye on your system, and don't place it too close to the foundation of your home.

As you can see, regularly maintaining and monitoring your water-related appliances, pipes, and areas prone to water damage is vital to prevent basement flood damage and plumbing water damage.

And if it's too late for that, and you are facing basement flood damage, it's a good idea to have the experts at Restoration 1 of Western Wayne County check things out. With just one call, any time of the day or night, they will assess and tackle the basement flood damage as soon as possible to help you get your life back to normal.

Contact The Professionals

Remember, water damage is a job for professionals. Although you may think you can handle some water damage on your own, the restoration experts use professional equipment to prevent mold growth and other adverse effects of water damage. Plus, we also know to look for possible structural issues that may have come about due to water damage. There is no substitute for professional restoration experts.

If you have any questions about water damage restoration and flood damage cleanup, please contact us 24/7 at Restoration 1 of Western Wayne County.

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Whether your home or office has experienced a real flood or another water or fire catastrophe that needs immediate restoration and remediation, we’ll be there to help you weather the storm.

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