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Can Water Damaged Drywall Be Repaired

Can Water Damaged Drywall Be Repaired

May 4, 2023 | water damage restoration

Can Water Damage Drywall be Repaired?

Can you repair water damage drywall, the answer really depends on the amount of water damage to the drywall. If the drywall is wet, but maintains its integrity, it is very possible to salvage the drywall by drying it in place. However, if the drywall has started to lose its integrity sagging from the ceiling, has been broken or busted at the seams, then it’s likely that the drywall will need to be replaced.  Despite this majority there are many Cat 2 water damages where the drywall can be repaired and dried in place.

Drywall Repair Considerations

It’s a case-by-case determination, depending on the category of the water and the overall damage to the drywall, whether or not it can be safely repaired.  We also must take precautions to prevent any future damages such as mold growth when repairing water damaged drywall. Wet baseboards and crown molding are usually removed, and if they are salvageable, they will be put back into place after the drywall has been repaired. It is only in a best-case scenario project where you’re able to salvage the baseboards and salvage the drywall. The overwhelming majority of projects involving residential water damage will need to have the wet drywall removed and have new drywall installed.

Water Damage Cleanup

4 Inch Drywall Repair

There are only 3 standard cuts in the water damage restoration industry, the first of which is the four-inch drywall dry. This cut is interpreted as the removal of drywall located directly behind the baseboard. When water mitigation calls for the only the removal of drywall holding baseboard in place, it is known as a four-inch cut. Sometimes the baseboard may only be 2 1/2 inches and sometimes they may rise 6 inches high, but a four-inch cut in the water damage industry it connotates the removal of the drywall located directly behind the baseboard, no matter the size of the baseboard. Making these drywall repairs is relatively easy, because of the low cut. Additionally, any imperfections will be covered by the baseboard.

2-Foot Drywall Repair

The second drywall cut is a 2-foot cut and is the most common cut in the water damage mitigation industry. Making a 2-foot cut for drywall repairs includes removing all drywall touching the floor of an effected room 2ft high above the floor.  When making a 2-foot cut we don’t cut up exactly 24 inches, because that would mean that when we went back to repair/install the drywall it would not sit separately from the floor. Drywall should be installed 1/2 of an inch high off the floor.  This way if there is any flooding or any water damage the drywall would be protected from damage, including mold.  Surface temperature differences between the concrete and the drywall is enough to create an area with relative humidity good for supporting mold growth.

Insurance Accepted, financing Available

4-Foot Drywall Repair

The final water mitigation drywall cut is known as a 4-foot cut. The four-foot cut includes removing entire bottom half of the drywall, 4-feet high.  In terms of water mitigation drywall repair, this translates into the need for a 4-feet drywall installation and repair.  2-ft and 4-inch drywall installation standards apply when making a 4-foot drywall repair.  Installing drywall 1/2 inch above the surface floor help to protect it from future water damage and mold growth.

Drywall Repair Finishes

Sometime the drywall is effected above 4-foot.  In these situation it is standard to remove the entire effected wall. There is no standard 6-foot cut, there is only an 4-inch 2-foot 4-foot or removal of the entire 8 foot wall. This amount of water damage requires all new drywall to be installed/repaired. The drywall installation process is invoiced to include reinstalling any wet installation that had to be removed before repairing the wall. Drywall repair is a line item including labor and materials for installation only, taping and mudding is an additional line item. Drywall tape and drywall mud are used to seal drywall repairs, which make a wall appear as one smooth piece of drywall. There are several drywall repair finishes, you can elect to have the drywall hung, or hung and prepared for paint with a smooth finish. The most common selection for businesses and homeowners is to install the drywall and prepare for paint with a nice smooth finish, but this is not always the case. Garage drywall repairs are an example of the exception.

Drywall Repair Dry Time

Once the drywall is installed and the mud has been applied to the drywall, it must be allowed to dry undisturbed. This resting or drying period can require 8 hours or longer depending on the humidity and drying time of the material. Dry time may also be accomplished within an hour. Dry time for each coat of mud must be completed before proceeding with any painting. Dry time is built into drywall repair pricing and is also reduced with the use of drying equipment such as air movers, dehumidifiers, and heaters. Most insurance companies recognize the use of drying equipment as standard practice for water damage mitigation drywall repair claims. The insurance coverage helps us do a great job and stay on schedule for our customers.

Drywall Repair Preparation

The final step of drywall water mitigation drywall repair is to paint and or install baseboards, crown mold, and any other finishing materials that’s needed to be removed. Finish materials are painted to remove any damage or to minimize the appearance of any damage or replaced if they have been too heavily damaged. Once the water mitigation drywall repairs are completed, the effected room will look brand new. Remember, drywall can suffer minor damage over time in the form of cracks and dents. These small damages need to be addressed to have the entire room match. It’s standard for homeowners’ insurance to pay for these repairs and often this means you’re getting all new drywall.

Drywall Repairs and Painting

Once the walls and finishing material are prepared, we can then paint the walls. The most common drywall paint job includes 3 coats of paint. The first coat is a primer designed to ready the walls for paint. The second and third coats are used to “color paint the walls”. Some paint jobs require more than 3 coats.

Best Water Mitigation Drywall Repair Service

Metrix Restoration is looking to gain your business and your trust as a water damage mitigation drywall repair contractor. If you or somebody you know is in need of drywall repair or reinstallation due to water damage, choose Metrix over the Matter because the Power to Change the Matter is in the Metrix.

Mold Remediation: Bathroom Mold Removal and Plumbing 2023

Mold Remediation: Bathroom Mold Removal and Plumbing 2023

May 1, 2023 | mold remediation

Mold Remediation: Bathroom Plumbing and Mold

A customer called me out because they discovered some mold in the ceiling corner of their kitchen pantry.  As I spoke with the customer and listened to the details he was able to provide, I thought to myself there’s a real chance that this may be covered under the homeowner’s insurance policy.  Plumbing leaks causing water damage and mold can be covered by insurance. We were able to schedule an onsite mold inspection for the very same day.

Black Mold Discovered

As an IICRC certified mold and water damage restoration professional I understood stachybotrys aka “black mold” cannot grow without a constant source of water. Stachybotrys is not like aspergillus or penicillium mold, which are able to grow with only elevated humidity. Black mold, however, cannot survive on humidity alone and needs to have a constant source of water to begin its sporulation process.

Water Damage Cleanup

Plumbing Leaks and Mold

Equipped with this knowledge my investigation expanded upstairs into the bathroom to better interpret the source of this water damage. Directly above the kitchen pantry was the master bathroom. There was a large jacuzzi tub, along with a toilet and bidet installed on the far side of the bathroom. The customer reported not using the tub, so we initially estimated that the water damage was caused by failed plumbing associated with the toilet. According to PHP Plumbing, most homeowners do not use there jacuzzi tub on a regular basis, so the customer not using the tub did not seem unusual. I was excited to have discovered the cause of the mold downstairs.

Mold Remediation Documentation

Throughout my mold inspection I was careful to document all water damage. Mold remediation project documentation was very important on this project because there was a big possibility that insurance would cover most of the costs associated with this mold removal project. Once I had created my initial report, I contacted the homeowner’s insurance adjuster. The adjuster was willing to provide coverage if we were able to document a new plumbing leak and prove that the mold growth was not due to a lack of maintenance on the homeowner’s part.

Insurance Accepted, financing Available

Plumber’s Report and Mold Removal

The insurance company wanted to make sure that they were covering a water damage and plumbing failure which could be classified as setting or accidental. Homeowners insurance will not cover mold removal that cannot be directly traced to a new water damage or plumbing leak. This is why a plumber’s report is critical to submitting a claim for mold or water damage coverage, because the plumber’s report states the official cause of water damage and mold.

Metrix Restoration we believe that plumbers and mold removal professionals should work together. This is why we created the Metrix Connection to better network with the best plumbers throughout our service territory.  Being able to co-ordinate mold removal projects with a plumber allows us to add more value and better serve our mold removal customers.  For this project we contacted one of our best plumbing companies in our network, Perfection HVAC and Plumbing of Northern VA.

Mold Remediation Discoveries

Upon removing the wet, mold contaminated drywall from the effected kitchen pantry, I was surprised at what I discovered. There was an obvious plumbing leak coming from above, but it wasn’t obvious where the leak was coming from. We previously estimated the water damage to be the result of failed plumbing associated with the toilet, however, the leak was coming from failed plumbing associated with the bathroom tub.

I was shocked at the amount of mold growth discovered once I removed the tile encasement of the master bathroom tub. Mold was growing all over the sub floor and had even begun to sprout as mushrooms. Mold is a fungus and under the right conditions mold will sprout in mushroom form. There were some mold mushrooms growing on the sub floor four inches high.

Leaky Bathroom Water Pipe

The mold growth mentioned above was being supported by a leaky water supply line. We were able to confirm that the adjacent water supply line had also leaked previously, causing the prior water damage to the kitchen pantry. The plumbing and water leak were previously repaired; however, the water damage was never properly mitigated by the previous homeowner. In addition to the water leak being repaired, the wet water damaged drywall of the kitchen pantry should have also been removed, so that the subfloor could be dried from below and above.

Once we were able to discover and confirm that the prior water damage the prior leak was repaired, we could now prove to the insurance adjuster that this was indeed a new water damage. However, the age of this new leak was still a mystery. What we do know for certain is that the customer reported seeing black mold on the kitchen pantry developing only recently, which supports a plumbing failure which is sudden or accidental and not due to lack of maintenance on the homeowner’s part. However, the presence of four-inch mold mushrooms growing in the same area, indicate severe water damage unaddressed for an extended period of time.

Metrix Offers Water Damage, Plumbing and Mold Remediation

Regardless of the previous water damage, the fact that there is a new leak with a new plumbing issue means that this homeowner is entitled to coverage with their homeowners’ policy. The homeowner’s insurance would be responsible for covering the water damage and mold remediation repairs but would not cover the mold remediation line items associated with the project. The reason being is that obviously there was pre-existing water damage which were never addressed; therefore, homeowners’ insurance is not responsible. However, homeowners’ insurance would be responsible for all damages associated with the new water damage including structural drying, retiling the bathroom tub and drywall repairs associated with the water damage. No portion of the plumbing would be able to be billed back to water damage claim.

If you or someone you know is in need of water damage mitigation, mold remediation or needs a plumbing repair; choose Metrix over the Matter.  The power to change the matter is in the Metrix.  We are available 24/7 for plumbing and water damage emergencies.  We also offer mitigation repairs.

Water Damage Restoration Common Hazards 2023

Water Damage Restoration Common Hazards 2023

Dec 22, 2022 | water damage restoration

Water Damage Restoration Hazard And Risk Assessments

The first line of defense in helping to prevent injury, unnecessary damage, and health risks inherent to a water damage mitigation project is safety/hazards awareness.  A hazardous inspection checks for any work site situation that potentially poses danger to life or property. Water damage restoration professionals must then perform a risk assessment on all potential hazards found on the mitigation work site.  The assessment evaluates the risk or likelihood a particular hazard will cause harm.  Due to the unsafe nature of most water damaged dwellings, hazard inspections and risk assessments are essential for protecting workers.

The initial hazard inspection of a water damage restoration project involves three important aspects.  The first step is to identify hazards that could give reason not to enter the building, such as wet electrical panels and collapsing ceilings.  The second step is to identify the presence of regulated building materials such as asbestos, lead, or PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls).  Government-regulated substances required testing or inspection services from specialized third-party experts to assess health and safety issues. Finally, competent water damage mitigation contractor conducts a risk assessment and implements the necessary hazard controls for any identified hazards.

Water Removal Mitigation Hazard Controls

Hazard controls are implemented to protect against injury or other safety incidents.  Within the water damage mitigation industry, controls are organized into a hierarchy.  Those controls considered to be more effective at protecting workers and occupants are categorized higher on the list.  For example, the most effective control measures either eliminate the hazard or substitute a safer situation for mitigation to proceed.  Where water damage restoration hazards cannot be eliminated or replaced, industry mitigation safety plans implement controls lower in the hierarchy:

  • Engineering Controls- These are water damage restoration safety controls which are designed to deal with hazards before mitigation professionals encounter the hazard. These controls isolate workers from an identified danger.

  • Administrative Controls- These water damage mitigation controls are lower in the hierarchy and occur between the source of the hazard and mitigation professional. They include “safer work practices”.

  • Personal Protective Equipment- Water damage restoration Personal protective equipment (PPE) consists of controls placed on the mitigation professional. PPE is the lowest form of hazard control because protective equipment devices do nothing to eliminate the hazard directly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Damage Restoration PPE

Water damage restoration professionals cannot always eliminate every health and safety concern on a water damage project, so PPE is a necessary part of the safety program. Selecting a proper level of protection is important when considering PPE for a water damage mitigation project.  One step of the initial risk assessment is to closely evaluate the potential risks and determine which type of PPE is most appropriate. To help protect water damage mitigation technicians from the many hazards associated with contaminated water losses, restorers need to have ready access to several safety items.  These items protect from all potential exposures to the body and include:

  • Chemical-Resistant Gloves

  • Goggles

  • Respirator

  • Hard Hat

  • Rubber Boots

  • Protective Suit

Masters Of Mitigation

Water Damage Restoration Safety “Immunizations”

The great majority of water damage restoration projects involve direct contact with a range of infectious organisms.  As a minimum medical requirement, mitigation professionals performing water damage restoration services need medical consultation with a Primary Health Care Physician for appropriate immunizations.  Immunizations required may vary depending on the scope of work, previous immunization history, previous exposure and current availability of treatments.

mold remediation

Water Removal Safety Standards And Organizations

Water damage restoration professionals must be familiar with all applicable safety standards and laws which affect their business.  This list below includes some of relevant organizations and standards water damage mitigation professionals need to be familiar with.

1 OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration

a. 29 CFR 1910

b. 29 CFR 1926

2 ANSI (American National Standards Institute)

a. ANSI Z117.1-1989

3 EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

a. FIFRA- Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act

4 IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification

a. S500- Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration

b. S520- Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation

This list should be evaluated for its application through varying state, provincial and other government laws and regulations.  It is also necessary to check with each of these sources frequently in order to stay current with changes to standards, codes and regulations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Water Damage Restoration Federal Regulations

Two codes are particularly relative to the work done by water damage restoration contractors. These documents can be assessed online. In order to ensure compliance water damage mitigation contractors must thoroughly read and understand these two CFR’s:

29 CFR 1910- General Industry Standards

29 CFR 1926- Construction Industry Standards

  • Increasing air flow across wet surfaces.

  • Controlling temperature of air and surfaces.

  • Using outside air when possible.

  • Creating a drying chamber.

  • Decreasing humidity in the affected area.

Items covered significant to water damage mitigation include:

  • OSHA General Duty Clause

  • Emergency Action and Fire Prevention Plans

  • Personal Protective Equipment

  • Respiratory Protection Plans

  • Asbestos and Lead

  • Heat Conditions

  • Confined Spaces

  • Hazard Plans

  • Fall Protection

  • Noise Exposure Limits

Water Damage Cleanup

Insurance Accepted, financing Available

Water Damage Restoration And Documentation

Several areas of health and safety require documentation during a water mitigation project.  For example, employers who assign mitigation technicians to use respiratory protection are required to have a written respiratory protection plan.  Likewise, whenever hazardous chemicals are present on a water mitigation work site, employers must document their company’s HAZCOM program.

Water Removal And Bloodborne Pathogens

Workers in many different occupations are at risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens.  First aid team members, housekeeping personnel in some settings, water damage restoration contractors and nurses are examples of workers who are at risk of exposure.  In 1991, OSHA issued the Bloodborne Pathogens Standard to protect workers from this risk.

Bloodborne pathogens are microorganisms present in the blood which can cause disease in humans.  Water damage mitigation contractors could possibly come into contact with bloodborne pathogens during day-to-day mitigation activities, primarily through the remediation of sewer backups.

Water damage restoration professionals need to understand the seriousness of these pathogens, know what PPE to dawn, and what procedures and standards must be followed.  When documented, this information becomes the employer’s bloodborne pathogens plan for their business.  Just as important as developing the plan is implementing the plan, which includes training for workers on the protocols and procedures to be used.

 If you or anybody you know needs water damage restoration, Choose Metrix over the matter, because the Power to Change the Matter is in the Metrix.

Principles Of Water Damage Mitigation 2023

Principles Of Water Damage Mitigation 2023

Dec 21, 2022 | water damage restoration

IICRCS 500 water damage restoration standard and reference guide describes the task of water damage restoration through the following five principles.

Water Mitigation Principle 1

“Provide For The Health and Safety Of Workers And Occupants”

Water damage restoration is a dirty job, flooded with hazards.  In a previous article I described how and why a water damage mitigation contractor differs from other non-emergency contractors.  Electrocution, mold inhalation, asbestos inhalation, natural pathogens and disease are inherent to each and every water damage restoration project.  So often customers are in such a panic and technicians are in such a hurry to begin that we forget about safety.  However, first responsibility when arriving at water damage site is to identify and eliminate any observable safety hazards. As a responsible professional, the restoration contractor has a duty to protect the health and safety of workers and occupants during restoration procedures.  

Water Damage Mitigation Principle 2

“Documentation And Inspect The Project”

Once on-site, a water damage restoration professional must assess the extent of water damage and map the moisture migration pattern.  They must also be prepared to measure the amount of moisture absorbed by effected materials in order to properly scope the mitigation project.  Several specialized tools such as thermal hydrometers, infrared scanners, moisture meters, and hydro-sensors will be used to gather relevant moisture content readings.

Moisture readings will be taken in both effected and non-effected areas for comparative analysis.  Each room is checked and monitored individually because a water damage restoration contractor must be able to verify their decided course of action is direct and efficient.  Due to the number of variables present that affect the drying of materials progress cannot be assumed frequent inspection and monitoring is therefore essential.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drying a home or office effected by a flood or water damage is known as “restorative drying” and is a dynamic process.  Each water mitigation project comes with a unique set of “moving variables” which constantly effect a mitigation contractors’ intended result.  

Ultimately the goal of water mitigation is returning the structure to a clean, dry and safe living environment.  The nature of these variables are changes from one mitigation to the next which compels the restorer to conduct multiple inspections of the work zone throughout the mitigation drying process, these include:

  • Initial inspection to identify items that were affected and to set dry goals.

  • Ongoing inspections to assure that expected progress is being made.

  • Final inspection to ensure that materials have dried to the predetermined goals.

Masters Of Mitigation

Water Damage Mitigation Principle 3

Mitigate Further Damage

Dry goals made are based upon critical information the water mitigation professional obtains during their initial assessment.  The inspection not only checks the extent of moisture intrusion but also considers the potential for additional damages.

Water Removal

In order to dry the affected areas in the most effective and efficient way a restorer must focus on water removal and extraction.  Any forms of water intrusion must be stopped, and any further moisture intrusion mitigated in order for the restorative drying effort to be successful.  The goal of water damage mitigation is to return the structure and contents to an acceptable condition.  A project manager will also determine whether any building materials or contents in secondary areas have the potential to suffer secondary damages.

mold remediation

Control The Spread Of Contaminants

One serious form of secondary damage is mold growth.  Mold can cause structural components to lose their integrity and has great potential to impact indoor air quality in a negative way.  Such conditions may ultimately result in compromised occupant health.  In addition to mapping out moisture patterns, the water damage restoration professional will attempt to identify any health concerns, including pre-existing conditions of mold.  Professional care is taken to contain contaminants and not spread them to unaffected areas of the home or office.

Water Mitigation Principle 4

Clean And Dry Effected Areas

Cleaning

The cleaning procedures are used during a water mitigation project vary depending on the effected material, its salvageability and value to the customer.  Salvageable but contaminated materials have their own special protocols and usually require some type of cleaning both before and after the drying process.  For example, effected items may be “pre-cleaned” before the drying process, while the restorative cleaning process takes place after.  Sometimes a different division of a water damage restoration company is able to provide contents restoration while the water damage mitigation process is underway.  Also, keep in mind contents cleaning is it own specially service and is invoiced to your insurance company separately.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drying

Water damage restoration contractors manipulate and control as many factors as possible in their drying systems to achieve the most efficient drying conditions.  After as much water as possible has been extracted, evaporation of the remaining moisture is now possible in the following ways:

  • Increasing air flow across wet surfaces.

  • Controlling temperature of air and surfaces.

  • Using outside air when possible.

  • Creating a drying chamber.

  • Decreasing humidity in the affected area.

Water Damage Cleanup

Insurance Accepted, financing Available

Evaporated moisture must be removed from the affected areas by dehumidification or ventilation. Additionally, a knowledgeable restoration contractors recognize that each loss site is different, and they adjust methods based on each situation including:

  • Adjusting or removing equipment when necessary.

  • Removing items that should not be dried.

  • Saving items that cannot be dried in place.

  • Using specialized tools to drive difficult areas.

Water Mitigation Principle 5

Complete The Restoration And Repairs

Once the structure and contents are dry according to dry standards, your project officially moves from the water damage mitigation phase and into the water damage restoration and repairs phase.  This is important to understand because mitigation is billed separately from reconstruction.

As the drying proceeds, restores must reevaluate the condition of structural items or contents and consider whether they will require finishing or repair to return them to a pre loss condition.  Any building materials that were removed or disrupted will need reconstruction.  Your water damage claim is not complete until all affected materials are clean, dry and equal or better in appearance and function than they were before the loss occurred.  This is the industry standard and is also recognized by all major insurance carriers in the US.

 If you or anybody you know needs water damage restoration, Choose Metrix over the matter, because the Power to Change the Matter is in the Metrix.

How Homeowners Benefit From Water Damage 2023

How Homeowners Benefit From Water Damage 2023

Dec 15, 2022 | water damage restoration

File Water Damage Claims Without Fear

Responsible homeowners have the most to gain from the experience of a water damage emergency in their home or office due to homeowners’ insurance.  This coverage is key; however, most homeowners are unclear about the inclusions and exclusions of their policy.  Additionally, most policy holders don’t know how to use their insurance nor do they know what to expect from filing a claim.  Everyone knows that coverage is a necessity, but no one ever wants to imagine having to actually use their policy.  Its understandable how nobody wants to imagine their house flooding or a pipe busting to cause major water damage.  Most homeowners purchase insurance simply because it’s a requirement from the bank and so that we have the financial backing we need to get us back on our feet in case of a flood or water damage emergency.

You would think that having coverage would be enough to keep people at ease, but from my experience, it’s really not.  According to Metrix research, we discovered that although a person may have homeowners’ insurance, most are people are scared of using their insurance for fear that their premiums might increase, that they may get dropped, or that insurance may not cover the damages.  This fear holds many people back from actually claiming the benefit they pay into month after month.

Two Sides To Water Damage

There are two sides to every coin, heads and a tails.  In this example, let’s say they say that tales represents the unknown and inherent stress of a water damage and that heads represents the satisfaction of responsibly mitigating a water damage claim and all that is inherent to that.  One coin but it’s got two sides.  Most people will discover a basement flood or water damage and will enter the dark side of this this coin, the tail side.  This is the phase of panic, stress, fear and uncertainty.  Most people don’t know who to call in cases of a flood or an emergency water damage and because they don’t have a relationship with a contractor that specializes in this unique type of endeavor, they scramble in a panic to find help.  Most people will contact their insurance company to report damage and expect the insurance company to take care of everything.  Unfortunately, this not the way that it works, and the homeowner soon discovers the weight of their responsibility to take care of their own property. 

Once you file a claim with your insurance company, you’ve given them notice of damage and they can often refer you to one of their program vendors.  Insurance companies love to use their own “program vendors” because these contractors agree to provide the insurance network/TPA at least a 25% discount, but this discount can be up to and in excess of 50%.  An insurance company is a business and they want to save money however possible and practical.

Choose Flood Metrix Over The Matter

Because

The Power To Change The Matter

Is In The Metrix

Water Damage Pricing Is Standardized By Xactimate

Xactimate is a program we use in the water damage and damage restoration industry to standardize pricing based on zip code.  The IICRC and Insurance Industry use Xactimate as a “fair pricing standard” for all flood, water and damage restoration projects.  Most water damage project are paid by insurance and contractors who provide water damage restoration services are getting through insurance whether they or program vendors or not.  Your insurance company will even tell you that you can hire any qualified contractor you see fit.  As long as a project is properly documented and the insurance company is obligated to pay the Xactimate value of a line item, but not more. 

Homeowners must understand how to use their insurance coverage so that they can receive the full benefits thereof.  Often homeowners fear that if they use their insurance policy  it will cause their insurance premiums to raise or cause their insurance company to  drop them. This thinking is rooted in fear and uncertainty and couldn’t be further from the truth.  The moment you file a flood or water damage claim with your insurance company, they are required by law to set aside funds to satisfy your claim.  They are also required by law to pay out at least the Xactimate value of a line item.

IICRC And Water Damage Claims

Stop here and let the above paragraph sink in.  It is important for a water damage contractor to understand insurance billing because Xactimate is the “pricing standard” that the IICRC and Insurance Industry uses to standardize pricing for emergency restoration services such as water damage, flood, fire, storm damage, mold remediation and the like.  Pricing for these services standardized by the Xactimate software to keep pricing fair and to prevent price gauging. 

Insurance companies want water damage mitigation contractors to use Xactimate but does not always want to pay the Xactimate value of a flood or water damage project.  However, this is simply the process of submitting a bill and working with the insurance company.  They are obligated to satisfy any legitimate invoice submitted related to your claim as long as every line item billed has been documented.  Adjustors are accustomed to working with program vendors to and good independent contractors to negotiate better pricing.  Its not that they won’t pay, its simply that they want to get a deal also.

Non-Program Water Damage Contractors

It is unreasonable to expect a vendor who does not constantly receive program work from an insurance company to offer the same price discount as if they were.  It’s a lot easier for a water damage contractor to give an insurance company a discount on services, when the insurance company is sending them 1 or 2 jobs a month.  Discounts on services are for the people who own homes not for businesses such as insurance companies.

A major part of our duty in the water damage restoration industry is to simply educate the general public on the subject.  We find that by providing educational resources to our customers it helps to eliminate and alleviate a lot of the stress inherent to water damage restoration.  Again, most people start on the “dark side” of the coin when they discover a flooded basement, that their water heater or water pipe has busted.  However, after a person chooses Flood Metrix over the matter, we take immediate action to carry that customer away from their current state of confusion and panic.  We begin moving them from stress to satisfaction which is ultimately what our mission is all about.

 A major key to accomplishing our mission educating the customer about the water damage restoration process, what they should expect and demand from their insurance provider.  When a person starts to understand their insurance coverage, they can also they start to see the light.  They realize that although their basement flooded or there was water damage in some part of the home, they also have insurance.  Having the proper coverage means that all damages will be addressed, resulting in equal or greater final results, and that is worthy of celebration.

Water Damage Cleanup

Choose Flood Metrix For Water Damage Restoration

When a person chooses Metrics over the Matter for water damage restoration, it turns out becoming one of the best experiences they will ever have with a contractor.  The satisfactions of their mitigation experience is greater than their initial jolt of stress and shock.  We get onsite there and begin the water damage restoration process. We do the water removal, mold remediation and dry out everything that’s wet.  Then we set our customers up for reconstruction and get them connected with the right remodelers.  The happiness and contentment which is a result of working with true professionals in the industry floods out and overshadows any stress or discontentment that the customer may have initially experienced. This is the Metrix Mission, to move our customers from stress to satisfaction, and to help them both know and understand their rights and responsibilities as a policy holder.

Sometimes customer feel anxiety dealing with a “direct to consumer” water damage restoration provider because they believe they will get stuck with a bill if insurance doesn’t pay.  Again, this is why a customer needs to understand how pricing and billing works in the water damage restoration industry.  No contractor wants to get a reputation of being unable to settle invoices with an insurance company, because many field adjustors work the same geographical area.  All we want is to get paid for our work after we have mitigated the water damage problem with complications and doing a bad job/not doing it properly is causes complications. 

Best Customer Service In Water Damage Restoration

Some customers are just used to dealing with businesses and contractors who only care about money, they really don’t have the customer’s best interest at heart and who really don’t care to understand what it is that this person is going through.  It’s all about their bottom line and from the Metrix perspective, this is short sighted, and is not a good way to do business.  At Metrix next restoration we seek to empower our customers.  We seek to provide them with the details of their situation and to give them as much insight about their project as possible.  We do not want our customers to be blindsided with details that should have been brought to their attention from day one. 

When a customer really begins to understand their responsibility as a policy holder, the fear of dealing with their insurance company also begins to dissipate.  Having a water damage with insurance and not filling a claim is like winning the lottery and not claiming your prize. Sometimes there are mitigating circumstances around water damage restoration projects that insurance companies don’t always like to pay for, but they will pay for them if the policy holder is aware of their rights and how to negotiation their benefit.

Commonly customers are just too tired and overwhelmed to make their insurance company do what they are supposed to do.  Or they don’t want to get into it with their insurance company because they don’t know what they are required to do by law.  Many times, homeowners might see an invoice $15,000 or $20,000 or $40,000 or more for water damage mitigation and to the homeowner that seems like a lot of money.  

However, they are thinking in terms of their own income, not in terms of the assets which are held by the insurance company.  Insurance carriers have millions and of dollars set aside to handle water damage claims.  When you’re working with that kind of a budget, a $20,000 or $50,000 invoice truly only a drop in the bucket in comparison to what these insurance networks actually have on hand and are actually generating.

Water Damage Industry Standards

Sometimes people fear that their one claim is going to bankrupt the insurance company or that their $30,000 claim is going to make the insurance company all of a sudden not want to do business with them anymore.  However, homeowners should realize that paying claims is the nature of the insurance industry.  This is why policies are written in different ways to include and exclude certain aspects of damages.  Where the confusion comes in with homeowner is that they really don’t know what is included in their policy and they really don’t know what is excluded in their policy.

For the record, there are generals standard which are included in most policies.  These general coverage standards are based on the IICRC S500 water damage and S520 mold remediation standards.  Such general coverage includes specifics line such as water removal and extraction, structural drying, pack outs and content manipulation, demo and reconstruction.  Likewise, the general exclusions are based on sudden and accidental damage.  If damage is due to lack of maintenance of behalf of the homeowner, insurance companies are not likely to get involved.

Overcoming The Panic Of Water Damage

This is what this is what scares a lot of homeowners, they don’t know if the water damage will be considered sudden or accidental and so it paralyzes them.  This fear rapids turns a $1000 water damage deductible into a $12,000 personal bill.  This article was written to educate and encourage insurance policy holders to use your insurance.  The reason we buy insurance is to use it when its needed.  If an insurance company gives you a difficult time after when you have only done what a responsible homeowner should do, you should drop them and find a new carrier.    You would need to file multiple claims in a short period of time in order for your insurance company to be able to justify dropping you.  Again, there are laws preventing the insurance carriers from dropping the homeowners just because they use their coverage.

 Homeowners must get over this fear because every month you are paying into this insurance and it’s generating money for the insurance company.  The insurance company is making money off of those monthly payments and trust me, they’re making a lot more money than what they pay out of any claim, that’s just the way the system works.  We have to remind ourselves of this so that we can act in surety and confidence when we approach the insurance company.  

One thing for certain and two things for sure, the insurance company will try to shortchange your claim but there are methods for handling your insurance carrier such as going through the appeals process, hiring a public adjustor, or suing the insurance company for not paying the bill. Many times an insurance company will shortchange a claim on purpose just because they can, it’s almost standard operating procedure.  Insurance companies operate for their own best interest and will use your ignorance to their benefit. 

This is what this article is written, to help empower the homeowner.  We want to help you get everything you are entitled to, every single time, and we’re going to help direct you to get the satisfaction you deserve.

Flood Metrix Over The Matter

The Metrix customer is a mind over matter type of individual.  The metrics customer wants to look at the bright side, wants to focus on the benefit, wants to focus on the solution and not the problem.  We want to remind our customers that although your home be in a wreck today, when we get finished it will be in an even better position than it was before.  That is the reminder we want to put into the consciousness of our customers so that they are not afraid and know how to proceed even in the chaos and the stress of a flood or water damage. 

If your or someone you know needs help with a water damage problem, choose Metrix over the Matter, because the Power to Change the Matter is in the Metrix.

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