Disaster
Restoration Information
Homes and
buildings with water damage from hurricanes and
floods should be dried within 48 hours to
prevent mold contamination. However, in disaster
situations such rapid restoration is often
impossible. This disaster restoration
information provided by IAQA is intended to
provide assistance to people living in areas
affected by recent hurricanes, flooding and
resulting mold.
After a flooding disaster, consumers need to be
wary of fly-by-night operators seeking to take
advantage of water damage victims. IAQA
recommends that consumers use the following
minimum guidelines to qualify any contractors
they hire:
-
Obtain
references from you insurance company,
friends, neighbors.
-
Know your
contractor (check references).
-
Check with
the Better Business Bureau.
-
Make sure
the contractor is licensed, bonded and
insured.
-
Hire
contractors certified by reputable trade
organizations such as
IAQA,
IICRC,
Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
-
Certified
contractors should follow a
code of ethics
-
Contractors must work according to
established industry standards and
guidelines, including but not limited to:
ACGIH
Bioaerosols:
Assessment and Control
EPA
Mold Remediation for Homeowners
EPA
Mold Remediation for Schools and Commercial
Buildings
IICRC S500
Standard and Reference Guide for Water
Damage Restoration
IICRC S520
Standard and Reference Guide for Mold
Remediation
NADCA ACR 2006,
Assessment, Cleaning and Restoration of HVAC
Systems
Resources
and Guidelines for Disaster Restoration
available at:
Find a Water
Restoration Service Provider
Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
Institute of Inspection, Cleaning & Restoration
Certification
(IICRC)
Find a Mold Remediation Contractor
Indoor Air Quality Association -
Certified Mold Remediators
Find an
Indoor Environmental Inspector
Indoor Air Quality Association -
Certified Indoor Environmentalist
Specific
Tips for Homeowners having Restoration Work
-
Compare
the amount of the insurance check with the
estimate by the restoration contractor. They
aren’t always the same but should be close
to each other for the covered part of the
loss.
-
Agree on
completion criteria prior to beginning work
-
Pay only a
portion of the cost up front, typically 30%
-
Pay
another portion of the cost at halfway,
typically 30%
-
Pay
another portion on completion, typically 30%
-
Confirm
quality of materials installed with those
specified, inspect and verify satisfactory
completion of work before paying the final
10%
Warning
Signs
-
Contractor
wants 50% deposit plus cost of materials
-
Contractor
offers financing of the deductible or other
significant costs
-
Contractor
offers to act as the homeowner’s agent in
representing them to FEMA and lists
themselves as beneficiaries
-
Contractor
and the assessor that writes the scope
and/or verifies completion of work are the
same company
-
Contractor
emphasizes cost saving over relationship,
trust and final warranty of satisfaction
This information
is brought to you by the Indoor Air Quality
Association
