water damage is just the beginning

Tips and Tricks of the Trade:
One of the reasons to hire an IICRC Certified Restoration Firm is some of the following issues we came across. We deal a lot with non-certified firms not setting up containment or realizing additional items that need to be dealt with when it comes to mold.

- Category 1 Water losses deteriorate to Category 2/3 over time (ANSI/IICRC S500)
- Category 2/3 Water losses require containment barriers until demo complete. (before restorative drying ANSI/IICRC S500)
- Condition 2/3 Mold Environments require containment barriers until space returned to Condition 1 (ANSI/IICRC S520)
- Multiple layers of subfloor cannot be left in place for Category 2/3 water losses since the surfaced between the layers cannot be decontaminated. Which leave mold spores to grow

We received a phone call from an insurance broker/agent. One of their clients, a widow, living by themselves had called the office letting them know there was a puddle of water on the floor of their garage asking what to do. Our team responded to the claim found out that the water line to the fridge had been leaking. Upon further evaluation we found damaged hardwood (cupping due to moisture), wet insulation below and wet subfloors. Our team contacted the client’s insurance company got permission to treat a category 2 possibly category 3 water loss. We sent up containment barriers in the kitchen/dining room and basement. Removed wet and moldy materials. Found under the hardwood, a layer of linoleum, 1/4” lauan, vinyl tile, ½ osb, and then the subfloor.

We were able to perform mold remediation in both the kitchen/dining room and basement without needing to evacuate the home owner followed by 3 days of drying. Flooring sample sent off and verified by itel for insurance. Our estimates were submitted the next day after breaking down drying equipment including creating a virtual twin of the damaged rooms and two days later the insurance adjuster had approved the estimates without setting foot on the property.

The Phoenix Difference:
<48 hours for claims approval
Claim Approved Remotely
No site visit! (No waiting for an adjuster to schedule a site visit)
Mold remediated in living spaces while people occupied the home
Property dried out in accordance with the ANSI/IICRC S500 Principles for Water Restoration
We communicated with insurance and copied the client so they did not have to.

We treat our clients property like it was our own and make sure it is restored to pre-loss conditions. Going the extra mile by using our 3D 360 degree cameras to create a virtual twin, writing a proposed repair estimate for the adjuster to review, and advocating for our clients every step of the way is part of how we are changing the insurance claim’s process.