Frequently asked questions

Across our network's top 50 metros, average dispatch-to-on-site time is 47 minutes. After-hours and rural areas run 60 to 90 minutes. Active water-flow emergencies skip the queue ahead of mold and routine restoration calls.

In most states, yes. We collect your insurance information and bill the carrier directly. Where state law requires homeowner-direct billing, we provide claim-ready documentation that you submit. Either way, you get a complete S500 package.

Then you don't have a claim — you have a service call. We'll quote the work flat-rate and bill you directly. No need to drag your insurance into a small loss that wouldn't pay out anyway.

Category 1 is clean water (broken supply line, refrigerator water line). Category 2 is gray water (washing machine, dishwasher overflow). Category 3 is black water (sewage backup, flood water from outside, toilet overflow with feces). Each category requires different containment, equipment, and PPE. The category determines the scope and cost of the job.

Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. They publish the industry-standard S500 protocol for water damage restoration. Insurance carriers expect S500-compliant documentation. Non-IICRC contractors often produce paperwork that adjusters reject — meaning the homeowner ends up paying out of pocket.

Class 1 (small area, low porosity): 1 to 3 days. Class 2 (entire room, average porosity): 3 to 5 days. Class 3 (multiple rooms or floors): 5 to 7+ days. Class 4 (specialty drying — hardwood, plaster, large concrete): 7 to 14 days. Our crews leave dehumidifiers and air movers on-site, returning daily for moisture readings until the structure hits target dryness.

Highly variable. Class 1 / Category 1 small loss (one bathroom, clean water, no demolition): $1,200 to $3,500. Whole-home flood with mold remediation: $25,000 to $80,000+. Most calls fall between $3,500 and $12,000 for water extraction, drying, and selective demolition. Reconstruction is separate or included depending on scope.

We try not to. Modern drying equipment can save a lot of materials that older protocols would have demolished. We extract, set dehumidifiers and air movers, monitor moisture daily, and only demolition what won't dry to standard. Adjusters appreciate the cost savings.

Yes. Most water damage events progress to mold within 48 hours if not stabilized fast. We hold IICRC S520 mold remediation certification. Mold work follows containment-area protocol — we set up plastic barriers, run negative air pressure, and remediate without spreading spores into clean areas.

Yes. Category 3 (black water) work requires Tyvek suits, respirators, and aggressive sanitization. We test affected materials for biological contamination and disinfect with EPA-registered antimicrobials. Carpet, padding, and porous materials in contact with sewage are typically removed and replaced.

Yes. Fire damage almost always comes with water damage from suppression. We handle both. Smoke-soot remediation, structural drying, and restoration coordination.

We test the affected areas, scope the remediation, and contain it with plastic barriers and HEPA-filtered negative air. Older mold colonies behind drywall sometimes require selective demolition. We document everything for your insurance claim.