Every Florida resident knows the potential for water damage as a consequence of a severe weather event. During Irma, homeowners in Fort Myers found themselves scrambling to find a trustworthy Fort Myers water damage contractor. Many were not so fortunate and fell victim to scams, irresponsible handyman services and contractors who were lacking in knowledge, skills, equipment, and experience for effectively and promptly dealing with water damage and mold remediation – services essential for protecting the safety and health of people and pets within the home, and for saving the property from costly and unnecessary repairs.
Too often homeowners miss less obvious water damage from a leaking roof, broken plumbing, or cracked foundation. By the time they pay attention to water stains on ceilings, drywall or buckled flooring, the damage to building structures may be severe and associated with a serious toxic mold problem. Even when there is a burst pipe, flooded dishwater, washing machine or hot water heater, those who believe they can handle the cleanup themselves, are not aware that water hidden and out of reach has already penetrated cabinets and seeped into baseboards and under flooring. If not properly addressed, within minutes, hours and days, there is a progressively worsening water damage and mold problem.
In this post, we will identify 6 common mistakes to avoid when choosing a Fort Myers water damage contractor. You will learn when to call a water damage company and how to choose one who will safeguard your property and family.
Most water damage companies in Fort Myers and throughout Florida are not IICRC certified. IICRC certification assures that the company is adhering to standards and protocols for safely and effectively managing clean and dirty water damage in your property. This not only safeguards your health but defines what actions should be implemented based on the type of damage and when it originated. This reduces unnecessary and costly demolition that is often done by those without proper training, equipment and experience. Only a few IICRC certified companies are recommended by leading homeowner insurance companies, trusted to provide honest and ethical water damage, mold remediation and restoration services in a responsible and timely manner.
IICRC certified contractors adhere to water damage protocols for repairs, remediation and restoration. During these phases, water damage services generally consist of extraction, structural drying, and demolition with removal of irreparably damaged building structures, appliances and materials. Included in restoration is replacement of removed items and cleaning to restore water damaged furniture, draperies, carpets, tile flooring, and personal property.
An honest and ethical Fort Myers water damage contractor will be available to inspect and solve water damage and mold cleanup 24/7. They will not charge you for analyzing the cause and extent of your problem and providing an estimate. Water damage services should always be performed by a state licensed, insured and certified contractor to assure safe, quality and appropriate interventions.
The contractor will use thermal imaging equipment to detect moisture behind hidden building structures. They will have commercial grade equipment available for drying water damaged building structures and personal property. They will have materials to isolate mold damage and prevent it from replicating and spreading to other parts of your home.
Ethical responsible companies will assist you with insurance claims. They will have specialized knowledge pertaining to reimbursement. This not only helps with claim approval, it often means that you will receive he maximum benefits from your policy.
Trustworthy water damage companies will assist you with insurance claims, document all damage with pictures, and help you to find a place to stay when it is unsafe for you to stay in your home. Never will they ask you to sign an assignment of insurance benefits which allows them to charge for inflated and unnecessary services. This greatly increases your risk that your insurance will reject your claim altogether and leave you totally responsible.
Experienced Fort Myers water damage companies are skilled in understanding the legalese within homeowner policies. This allows them to determine exactly what is covered as well as the specific terms. When contracted to do the work, they provide your insurance carrier with detailed itemized documents for all damages including pictures and descriptions that accurately define replacement needs and costs. This allows the contractor to act in your behalf for expediting claims and obtaining maximize benefits for covered expenses.
The contractor you hire should be a specialist in handling all types of water damage. That doesn’t mean they will be responsible for fixing problems related to roofing, gutters, foundations, broken hot water heaters, sewage backups and other sources of water damage. But they will be able to determine the cause of the problem and the type of professional who is needed to be part of the solution. They will also have extensive knowledge about water damage from these sources:
- Storms including thunderstorms, tornadoes, tropical storms and hurricanes.
- Broken appliances, water heaters and leaking or burst pipes.
- Leaking roofs.
- Settling or depression of ground under foundations and concrete slabs.
- Sewer backups.
- Flood damage resulting from storms and firefighting efforts.
Like it or not, Covid-19 is going to be with us for a while. Companies with experience in dealing with biological contaminants are much more likely to adhere strictly to CDC protocols with respect to Covid-19 cleaning and disinfecting procedures.This is important for the safety of your family and property, and for the workers performing the services within your home.
If you’re someone who feels that you can handle every problem on your own, water damage and mold cleanup could be putting your family’s health and property at great risk. The longer you delay in having the proper repairs and remediation, the more you risk irreparable damage to building structures. The more you also risk living in an environment that is filled with toxic mold.
Water trapped behind cabinets, baseboards, flooring and building structures that you can’t see, can cause irreversible damage within 48-72 hours. Moisture in dark spaces provides a breeding ground for mold that rapidly replicates and spreads to other areas of your home. Proper and timely drying, dehumidification and demolition is the best way to minimize your costs and keep your family safe.
The management of water damage in your Fort Myers property depends on the source of the damage and how long it has been present. When the water damage is from a clean water source and intervention begun within a few hours, structural drying and dehumidification can often save affected property. Even when the source is clean water, delays can allow mold to form and propagate within a few days. When the water damage is from a dirty water source such as overflow from a storm or from a sewage backup, the water is contaminated with bacteria. This provides an optimum environment for the growth of toxic black mold. When mold is present, more demolition is required to remove, decontaminate and restore affected materials.
By now you probably understand that it takes a real expert to properly and safely deal with water damage and mold problems. Your home is your biggest and most important asset. That is why it is vital for you to call for an inspection from a IICRC certified contractor as soon as you detect or suspect water damage.
Armstrong Water Mold Cleanup & Restorations. is an experienced specialty full service Florida water damage general contractor you can depend on to do a quality fully guaranteed job and take the stress off of you. We handle everything from water leaks, flood damage, and mold cleanup to the full restoration of your home after a major disaster. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants and adhere strictly to CDC protocols with respect to Covid-19 cleaning and disinfecting procedures.
Armstrong is one of only a few companies trusted and recommended by leading homeowners insurance companies. Our detailed documents accurately define repair and replacement needs and costs. This expedites claims and maximizes your benefits for covered expenses.
Armstrong will help you to get through one of your most difficult water damage repair challenges in the best possible way through our one-stop total peace of mind service – the most complete, comprehensive 24/7 customer service in the area today. You can depend on us to adhere to strict safety practices for Covid-19 when we arrive and work within your property.
We are reachable 24/7 to inspect and solve water damage and mold problems. The inspection and estimate are free. Call 239-541-4200 or contact us at ArmstrongWaterMoldCleanup.com
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