Sisters restore houses after disasters on ‘Renovation 911’
In one episode, a fire destroys a Twin Cities area family’s kitchen, living room and garage. In another, a washing machine floods a home. Then there’s the one where a tree falls through the roof, bursting the radiators and backing up the sewer.
Those are just some of the disasters that emergency restoration experts and sisters Lindsey Uselding and Kirsten Meehan tackle in a new HGTV series, “Renovation 911,” which recently debuted and airs Tuesdays. The first season has eight one-hour episodes, which will also stream on Discovery+.
The siblings, who grew up in Edina, Minnesota, have come a long way since their early days answering phones at their family’s property restoration and mitigation company, Ungerman Inc. Their father is retired Ungerman CEO Ted Brinkman.
Now part owners of the Twin Cities-based company, the sisters have seen it all. And it has prepared them for the tasks they face in the TV series.
For the duo, the joy of their jobs goes beyond having the know-how to help homeowners fix and restore their homes. It’s also being a source of emotional support.
“When our clients fall, they need help, and being there for them in a time of need and helping them through the emergencies they are experiencing in their home is rewarding,” Uselding said. “I try to show compassion, empathy and a little humor to help them get through those difficult situations.”
This interview with Uselding and Meehan has been edited for clarity and length.
Q: What’s it like working with family on a television show? Uselding:
I couldn’t do it without Kirsten. There is no way I could run this business without her support. Then filming a show — I’m not going to lie, it’s long days and knowing that she’s by my side, and she lifts me up when I need it. I lift her up when she needs it, and that’s just a relationship we’ve had our whole lives.
Q: What are some of your earliest memories of the business? Meehan:
What’s really coming to mind was when we had a huge snowstorm ... with the amount of water damage, from the melted snow, coming through the roof and basements — our dad was running around like crazy trying to help clients.
U: I remember we went to Take Your Daughter to Work Day, and he brought us to a water-damaged home. We were halfway down the stairs and saw the entire basement flooded. We could have gone swimming!
Q: How did the HGTV series come about? M:
My best friend from
childhood knew an executive producer for HGTV, and she connected us. It’s not anything we sought out or thought we would be doing. We just sent her iphone videos at her request, and here we are three years later . ... It’s really surreal, and we are incredibly grateful it worked out because it really showcases what we do every day. Not a lot of people get to see their job on TV.
Q: Do each of you specialize in a certain area? U:
I take the emergency calls and do the logistics. That’s where my strength lies: logistics and first response. The reason why Kirsten and I work well together is because we have different strengths. M: I manage the construction and design. Once all the estimates are ready to go, I just start putting things back together and making it beautiful.
Q: What do you think kept you in emergency home renovation work? M:
I’ve always liked to use my hands, get dirty and get into a space. It’s ever-changing, and no day is the same as the last, and no job is the same as the next. It’s not only in our blood, we just love it.