Why Hire a Professional to Do Water or Fire Damage Restoration?

It’s just a little bit of water damage, right? That smoke odor and smoke stain in the fire-damaged area of the kitchen will just all buff out and can be resolved with some air freshener? Both are pretty easy DIY jobs?

Wrong. Water damage and fire damage are nothing to take lightly, as those who attempt the do-it-yourself method over hiring a professional restoration contractor could be doing more harm than good to their property. And after a fire or water intrusion incident, where your home has already undergone significant stress, why risk making it worse? Here’s a closer look at why it’s always wise to hire a professional restoration professional following fire or water damage incident, no matter how large or how small:

Why Hire a Professional Restorer?

1. Standards: Restoration professionals don’t just wing it. No, there are industry standards that they follow on every job to bring it back to pre-loss condition.
2. Safety: Whether it’s a fire or water intrusion, there are certain health risks that homeowners who attempt to do it themselves may face. In water damage, there’s the cleanliness of the water. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) describes flood water based on three categories. Category 1 water is clean, faucet water. Category 2 water is clear water that may contain some contaminants. And Category 3 water is sewage or water with high contamination. In addition to the water itself potentially causing illness, subsequent mold growth is also a health risk. From a fire damage perspective, soot and residue could pose health issues. The structural integrity of the home could also be compromised.
3. Efficiency: Many restorers can dry out a property in as little as three days. Why? Because they have the right tools. On water damage jobs, air movers, dehumidifiers and water extractors are a necessity. On fire jobs, deodorizers are one of the several pieces of equipment that need to be utilized. Most homeowners don’t have these tools handy.
4. Insurance claims: Restorers will also professionally inspect and assess a site. This better enables them to work with insurance adjusters on claims to help homeowners cover the scope of the property damage endured.