Services Provided by Remediation Companies

Fire and flood remediation are the two services that come to mind first. Most disaster services, however, also provide mold mitigation and services related to damage from wind and storms. Some firms also provide hazardous waste clean-up.

Work doesn't stop, however, with simple remediation. For many cases, reconstruction must occur, at least in part. Disaster remediation companies provide traditional contractor services in these cases, as well as cataloguing and recovery of contents that may have been damaged during the disaster.

Emergency Response

Most disaster remediation companies provide emergency services 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, everyday of the year. For fire damage, the property must be secured as quickly as possible once the fire department leaves and the building cools. This involves making sure that the building is boarded up and possibly cordoned off so that people can't get inside the structure and injure themselves.

For water disasters, response within 24 hours is also essential to prevent further damage from mold growth which can occur within three days of the initial damage. Initial response in these situations involves bringing in special dehumidifiers and other drying equipment to rid the area of moisture as quickly as possible.

Mold Remediation

Unless it's preceded by sudden water damage that's not mitigated promptly, mold remediation doesn't elicit the same emergency response as fire and water damage. Consumers generally approach disaster recovery firms for mold problems when someone living in the home has chronic health problems such as allergies or asthma that they believe could be attributed to mold. Disaster remediation companies are often brought in by real estate agents when a house is about to be sold to ensure that the building doesn't have any hidden problems.

For some situations, especially those where the mold problem is suspected to be extensive, an industrial hygienist is brought into the picture or may even be the initial contact to conduct visual inspection and air sample testing. When a mold problem is confirmed, these third-party firms will write a protocol for the disaster remediation company to follow to alleviate the problem. Post-mitigation testing will usually be performed to make sure the job was properly performed.

Other Restoration Services

In addition to eliminating structural damage, disaster restoration companies also determine what damaged items may be salvaged. These can include items such as carpeting and underlying pads, furniture, and the like. Depending on the situation, microbial agents may be used to eliminate any residual bacteria and viruses. Similarly, odor-eliminating measures must be taken to counteract smoke damage as well as the musty smell that occurs with water and mold damage.

Disaster restoration companies are also experts at interfacing with insurance companies. Although insurance will pay for the vast majority of services rendered, benefit percentages vary according to the homeowner's policy. Expect to pay some sort of deductible.