Month: May 2023

Water Damaged Floorboards: Can They Be Saved?

Written by adleverage on May 10, 2023. Posted in Flood and Water Damage. No Comments on Water Damaged Floorboards: Can They Be Saved?

Do you need water damage restoration services? Call Restorerz Emergency Services at (844) 234-1800 for premium solutions.

Few flooring options can boast of the charm and aesthetic appeal of hardwood flooring. The deep, dark, shiny flooring brings an air of freshness to any property. Unfortunately, it only takes some water spill or flooding to damage the floorboards.

Hardwood floorboards and water don’t mix. That’s why flooring companies often spend significant time teaching homeowners how to prevent water damage. But what should you do when you have water-damaged floorboards? Can you save them, or is it time for a new floor?

Fortunately, you can save water-damaged floorboards if you know what to do and act quickly.

Los Angeles’ professional water damage restoration company, Restorerz Emergency Services, covers all you need to know in this article.

What Are the Signs of Water Damage on Hardwood Floors?

The first step in saving your water-damaged floorboard is knowing that you have water damage in the first place. Some of the top signs to watch for include:

Cupping

Are the edges of individual floorboards higher than the center? You may have water-damaged floorboards due to hidden leaks. However, cupping can also happen over time due to high humidity.

Buckling

If you ignore cupping and crowning long enough, the floorboards will detach from the subfloor. At this stage, the subfloor is also at risk of damage. Do you trip over your hardwood floor while walking across it? You should check it out for buckling.

Crowning

In floorboards with crowning, the center of the boards is higher than the edges. Crowning often occurs when your wood absorbs moisture long enough and slowly expands. It’s a common problem with unfinished floors in high-humidity climates, but it can also happen suddenly with water leaks or flooding.

Warping and Cracking

One of the top signs of water-damaged floorboards is that the wood will twist and curve into new shapes instead of remaining smooth and flat. The boards may also have visible cracks.

Smell and Discoloration

Can you see a darker patch of wood somewhere across your floor? Do you perceive a musty smell when you walk in? That combination often signifies mold growth, which thrives in wet, damp places.

How to Save Your Water-Damaged Floorboards

Below are the top steps to save your water-damaged floorboard:

Find and Address the Source of the Water

The first step to saving your floor is to cut off the source of the water as fast as possible. Do you have a pipe leak? Do you have a broken faucet? You need to call your plumber to fix those issues.

Stopping the water source is trickier if your property has suffered flood damage due to severe weather. You really can’t do anything at this point until the flood water recedes. Unfortunately, if it doesn’t recede in time, your floor may be beyond saving.

Remove All Wet Objects

After you have stopped the water, you can begin the restoration process by removing any wet items on the floor. Watch out for wet furniture, rugs, carpets, pet bedding, and more. These items can hold enough water to cause damage to the floor areas they occupy.

Clearing the area will give you enough space for the rest of the restoration process.

Clean All Surface Water

Get rid of any remaining visible surface water you can find on your floor. You can use a standard vacuum with the wet mode enabled if you don’t have a wet vacuum or any similar product to mop up all the water and prevent water damage.

Scrub the Floor Clean with a Disinfectant Solution

If the water damage was due to flooding or a leaky plumbing pipe, your floor will have lots of bacteria and other contaminants all over the surface. Cleaning the floor with a disinfectant can eliminate all kinds of contaminants, including mold spores.

Be sure to rinse thoroughly to remove the cleaning agent from your wood floor.

Dry Out the Floor

Your floor may be looking dry a few minutes after cleaning, but the wood is still wet. You have to take steps to ensure it’s completely dry out the moisture content. Some of the things you can do to aid the drying process include:

Opening windows to allow air circulation.
Turning on your air conditioner.
Using a dehumidifier.
Placing some fans across the floor.

Choose the options that are most practical for you.

Sand the Floor

If your floor currently shows signs of cupping and crowning, you’ll need to sand it. Sand the raised edges gently until the affected part is flush with the other boards. Next, revarnish the floors and stain to ensure a more uniform appearance.

Reset Any Loose Boards

If you can see signs of buckling, you can carefully nail or screw down the raised edges. If the buckling continues a few weeks after, it’s a sign of subfloor damage. You’ll need to repair the subfloor first before re-installing the boards.

When Is It Too Late to Restore Your Water-Damaged Wood Floors?

It’s not always practical to restore your water-damaged floorboards. Generally, if more than 24 hours have passed after the water damage, it’s always best to consider a complete replacement.

How to Prevent Water Damage to Your Wooden Floors

To prevent severe water damage to your wooden floor, take steps to protect your home against flooding. You should also call in your plumbers periodically for maintenance work to prevent plumbing leaks.

Get Expert Restoration Services From the Pros

Sometimes, the restoration process after water damage can be too tedious for a DIY job. In that situation, it’s best to talk to invite our team immediately. Our expert team will arrive quickly to evaluate and begin the restoration process.

We’ll also answer questions on the issue, including carpet replacement after water damage, when to bring in the furniture, and more.

Call the Restorerz Emergency Services team in Glendale, CA, today at (844) 234-1800 to bring your water-damaged floorboards back from the brink.

What to Know About Insurance Pack Out in Englewood

Written by adleverage on May 3, 2023. Posted in Blog. No Comments on What to Know About Insurance Pack Out in Englewood

You’ll need to pack out belongings affected by water damage, mold, or fire. A restoration company like Restorerz will move furniture, electronics, storage, artwork, etc., to a secure, climate-controlled facility. Our staff will carefully handle and secure your personal belongings. We’re also approved to work with all insurance companies. Therefore, an approved restoration company is the one to call for an insurance pack out in Englewood, the Los Angeles area, and Southern California.

What Does the Restoration Company Do?

To find a company that provides high-quality pack-out services, look for one that will:

Send representatives to inspect the damage to your home and determine which items can be salvaged.
Document the damage to each item to help estimate losses and file an insurance claim.
Present authorization forms for you to review and sign so the pack-out process can begin.
Transport damaged and salvageable belongings to a facility where they can be cleaned, deodorized, and restored.
Repack and deliver restored items to your home once it has been repaired.

Restoration companies use more advanced methods than, for example, dry cleaners, to restore damaged clothes. They can also restore fire- and flood-damaged materials. Hand-washing methods are used to clean water-sensitive items, while ultrasonic cleaning can remove soot from jewelry.

How Are Items Handled?

Any item that doesn’t require packing out will be secured and protected as the restoration crew works on your property. Otherwise:

Affected items are cleaned in place to prevent damage by acidic materials.
Smaller items like kitchenware are wrapped, boxed, and labeled.
Furniture, upholstery, and larger items are closely inspected for damage to determine how to proceed.

All items transported are packed, loaded, and secured per strict protocols. The company will constantly monitor the restoration process and inform you of its progress and the status of your claim. Once every item has been restored, all contents will be shipped back to you.

Pack Out and Your Insurance Claim

At Restorerz, we’re happy to help with your insurance claim to make the process easier. Contact your insurance company as soon as possible after your home has been damaged. The following steps will help back your claim.

Document all signs of flood and fire damage to prove the damage wasn’t caused by negligence.
Take as many pictures as possible and submit them with your claim.
Take a full inventory of damaged belongings, their original costs, and the estimated cost of replacing them.

The insurer should contact you within a day or two after receiving your information. It will then send an adjuster to your home to assess the extent of the damage. Ask them any questions about the process and the potential insurance payout.

You should soon hear from your insurance company regarding an estimate. It may include terms such as actual cash value or the total amount needed for repairs, considering the original cost and quality of materials. The insurance estimate may factor in the loss of value due to depreciation. It can also include reimbursement for motel rooms, meals, and other living expenses.

What Does an Insurance Pack Out in Englewood Cost?

The cost of a pack-out service depends on how many items need to be removed, placed in storage, and restored. According to Angi, it can range from $800 to $10,000.1 Fortunately, most homeowners’ and renters’ insurance policies cover emergency pack-out services. Restoration companies also often work alongside insurance providers and bill them directly. If you file a storm damage claim, the insurer will look at whether your roof has been properly maintained, as it will not cover damage caused by negligence.

Contact Restorerz to Learn More

Our team arrives within 60 minutes and takes a detailed inventory of items to remove before relocating them to our storage facility. We guarantee satisfaction and offer the most competitive pricing for pack-out and storage in Southern California. When you need help with insurance pack-out in Englewood or Los Angeles, you can reach us 24/7 by submitting your information online or calling 323-402-6156.

Should-I-Call-Emergency-Home-Services-Before-My-Insurance-Company

Should I Call for Emergency Home Services Before My Insurance Company?

Written by adleverage on May 1, 2023. Posted in Blog. No Comments on Should I Call for Emergency Home Services Before My Insurance Company?

After a home emergency like a flood or fire, you may be staring at the aftermath, wondering whether to call a restoration or insurance company first. An emergency home services provider will immediately start cleanup and restoration. But your insurer should cover the cost and must be notified as soon as possible. There’s not much room for error here.

Oftentimes, an emergency home services contractor will work with your insurance company. This is important because if water is flooding your home from a rainstorm, overflowing drain, or leaking roof, you cannot wait. You need someone to address the problem and you need your insurance company to know about the issue right away.

Reasons to Contact the Insurance Company First

Here’s why you should call your insurer as soon as you can:

The emergency technician may be unable to work with your insurer if you haven’t spoken to an agent.
The insurance company may have a different opinion; instead of repairing the roof, they may decide to replace it is better.
An insurance agent can answer your questions, explain your options, and refer you to a contractor they have worked with.

Shouldn’t I Get an Emergency Home Services Professional to My House Right Away?

When you contact the claims department at your insurance company, they should respond promptly. Call your insurance agent directly if you have one. The company will send someone to assess the damage and determine how much to pay. You’ll need to provide them with a list of all damaged, destroyed, or missing items. If you have photos and videos of the damage, include them with your list.

But you’ll need to make repairs to avoid further damage, even if they’re just temporary. Steps such as boarding up windows or patching holes in the roof should be done whether an insurance representative has visited your home or not. You’ll also need to clean and dry water-damaged items. The insurer will understand and respect that you worked to avoid additional losses.

Document the initial damage and cleanup with pictures. Also, store any receipts for clean-up expenses in a safe place.

Therefore, you can call an emergency home services company first, so long as you document the damage before and after cleanup.

How to Handle Payments

The insurance company should pay if your homeowner’s insurance policy covers the type of damage and its cause. But that doesn’t mean you’ll get the cash right away. If you don’t have the budget to pay upfront for cleanup and repairs, this can create a conflict of interest. Here are some tips for handling payment issues:

Withhold What You Can Until the Contractor Is Done: A reputable contractor will accept partial payments during the project rather than demand a full payment upfront. The terms of the agreement should be specified in the contract. Your mortgage lender may also have requirements as to how to disperse insurance funds.
Contact a Representative If Repair Costs Exceed the Insurance Payment: Sometimes an insurance company will offer an amount that’s less than the cost of repairs. A contractor may also find more damage after the insurer has determined what to pay. Speak to a representative to resolve any issues; if that doesn’t help, file a complaint with your state’s insurance department.
Ask Whether Living Expenses Are Covered: You may incur hotel room and other living expenses while your home is being repaired. Homeowners’ policies usually cover these costs. Ask your agent if the policy restricts where and how long you can stay somewhere, or if the company will reimburse a friend or relative who provides lodging for you (if proof of payment is available).

Remember, every insurance policy is different. Standard homeowners’ policies don’t cover flood damage, but you still have options. You can purchase a flood insurance policy, in which case an adjuster from the National Flood Insurance Program will be assigned to your claim. Grants, low-interest loans, and other types of federal assistance may be available if your home isn’t covered for flood damage.

For fire damage, biohazard cleanup, mold remediation, plumbing failures, and disaster relief cleanup, check your existing policy to see what is covered.

Contact Restorerz in an Emergency

Restorerz is a premier emergency home services company in the Los Angeles area. Our trained and certified professionals are available 24/7 and respond to home emergencies in 60 minutes or less. They’ll help clean up and restore your home after a fire, flood, or sewage backup or if you have mold, and provide pack out and storage services. We work with all insurance companies, using 3D video and image capture to help with claims, and offer competitive pricing. Call (844) 234-1800 to get started.