What are questions going forward after Harvey?
When hiring a professional, should you wait to hire a general contractor/remodeler/ remediation company?
No — do detailed phone interviews. Interview with local remodelers, pick one and ask to get on their list. An accurate estimate for repairs cannot be given until the tearout/dryout stages are complete.
A good suggestion would be to ask your homeowners insurance agent for a list of names. Calling a company you find on Google may be OK if it is a recognizable name. Always check to see if they are members of the BBB and check their reviews on Google before signing a contract. Also, ask to have their general liability insurance company email you a copy of their “insurance certificate” with your name placed as the loss payee at the bottom left. If they can’t do this, pass them by.
What do I do, I have people knocking on my door offering their services?
Professional remediators should not be knocking at your door. Hiring an unsolicited contractor puts you at very high risk that the work will not be done properly, or worse. Your home is your biggest investment. Do not risk it. As tempting as it is, do not hire someone who knocks on your door unsolicited.
What is the proper procedure for effective, professional remediation?
The extent of removal depends on the height and duration of the flood waters. Someone who had only 1 inch of water come in may be able to keep all their cabinets. Someone who got 6 feet of water will not be able to salvage anything. I can’t list all the steps that might be necessary, but here is a summary of what a professional remediator will typically do:
1. After photographing it all, remove: wet flooring (including the “screeds” or strips of wood under wood floors), furniture, clothing,
appliances that sit on the floor, and cabinets if the water rose above 3 inches.
2. Remove baseboards, all wet insulation, drywall to 2 feet, 4 feet or 8 feet, depending on the water height. If doors and trim (like door trim and window sills) got saturated, they should be removed too.
3. After the walls are opened and the slab cleaned up, apply mildewcide to all exposed surfaces in the walls and framing that got wet.
4. Install and monitor commercial dehumidifiers — at least three, for homes 2,000 square feet or less.
5. Install high velocity air mover floor fans — at least 6 for homes 2,000 square feet or less.
6. If the home had mildew growth begin in the walls, the open walls will need to be sprayed with a special primer.
What questions should you ask to screen out bad contractors? What are the red flags?
Are they members of a professional trade organization, such as the Greater Houston Builders Association or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry?
Ask for references and call to confirm that they have done this type of work (in your part of town) before. Avoid all out-oftown contractors.
Are they BBB members and are they listed there when you search www.BBBhou.org. Check their rating. If you search on the BBB site and they don’t show up at all, that is a red flag. If they have no reviews (Google, Yelp, Houzz, etc.), that is a red flag. Pass them by. All legitimate contractors have at least these trappings of professionalism.
Do they have a general liability insurance policy in place? If so have the insurance company send you proof of insurance. Do NOT take the insurance certificate directly from the contractor. They can be forged easily.
These tips should help you as you move forward.
This article was provided by a member of the Remodelers Council of the Greater Houston Builders Association.