Frequently Asked Questions

When you need a professional, who do you call?

Whether or not insurance is involved, you may need the help of a professional to mitigate and/or repair water damage, mold damage, fire damage, or whatever kind of damage you have. You can Google the question and you will find there are commonly several things that professionals will tell you are important to you in selecting them. There are also non-affiliated organizations that will advise you of the same factors. Below are the common factors used to determine who your damage repair contractor should be.

How quickly will they respond?

As we advise, time is critical in mitigation of water damage. Water damage compounds and gets more complicated the longer it fails to be addressed. And with a little time, you also end up with mold. So, you want a company that provides emergency services, 24 hours a day, with rapid response.

Can the company provide mitigation, remediation, and reconstruction?

When you need a professional, you probably would prefer a company that can do the whole job. This is normally better than having to find two or three reputable companies to perform separate parts of the job. A company that performs as a team to resolve all your issues is much easier to work with. This is especially true when you are given a primary contact that oversees the entire project. This simplifies communications and reduces the potential for problems.

When you need a professional, check their references!

With the internet and Google, as well as the Better Business Bureau, you can obtain local references very quickly on just about any company. And if you can’t, then you probably don’t want to use them.

After storms and other weather-related disasters, homeowners often find themselves besieged by unreliable repair services. To avoid that problem, look for reliable mitigation and restoration companies with great references from local customers such as your friends and neighbors. Consider where the company is located, because locally owned and operated companies are more likely to rely on the word-of-mouth created by offering trustworthy and thorough repairs.

Your home deserves the best care, and so do you! A water disaster can be very stressful and frustrating, and a trustworthy, compassionate restoration team can help alleviate your worries. They can make the process of getting life back to normal as painless and stress-free as possible. This can include everything from offering secure storage of your personal property on site while restoration is going on, to caring assistance with every question you may have.

Do they employ licensed, insured, and well-trained teams?

When you need a professional, hire a professional! As you research mitigation and restoration companies, it’s important to note whether they are properly licensed and insured. What is their expertise? How long have they been in business? What level of training and experience do the team members have? Are they certified through a reputable certification program? Do they undergo ongoing training?

The above are questions you can and should ask. You want your home or business back-to-normal, or better. And you want to make sure the company you hire can make it happen!

Do they work with you and your insurance effectively?

One of the most frustrating issues related to water damage is filing a successful insurance claim. A major difference between good and bad mitigation and restoration companies is that the good ones are skilled at working out the details of a given claim with a property owner’s insurance company. That way, you get all the coverage you can get for the damage. And, that will minimize your out-of-pocket expense. The company should contact your insurance agent and seek to work with them to ensure you are taken care of. Look for a company that is experienced and responsive in helping you document damage and file properly documented, honest, and timely claims.

Do they offer a detailed plan for damage repairs?

When you need a professional, then any reputable company will provide you a detailed plan in the form of an estimate or “scope-of-work.” You will need to sign off on that plan before work can begin on the repairs. The goal should be to put your home back into proper, safe condition, rivaling or bettering the condition that existed prior to the damage that occurred.

Do they use the right equipment and techniques?

After water damage occurs, your home or business will need to undergo water extraction, drying, and dehumidification. This will help prevent mold problems. By using the correct equipment and techniques, a remediation and restoration company can speed up the restoration process. This helps prevent future mold growth and helps ensure your personal property such as documents, artwork, photographs, and other important items are properly cared for.

Do they handle mold remediation and restoration services?

Molds pose a serious danger to one’s health and property. Wet and damp spots can be a breeding ground for molds, which is why water damage is closely interrelated with mold damage. This is why a reputable mitigation company will also offer mold remediation services. Additionally, a company that is a general contractor as well can provide the necessary reconstruction services to complete the job.

How many years of experience does the company have?

When you need a professional, then years of experience in the business will provide an edge that is not present over newer companies. When a company has experience, they are pretty much equipped to handle almost anything since they have undergone these experiences before. There is no school that can teach the things that you learn from experience.

Moreover, years in the business means that you have built up the trust of the people you work with like the clients and the suppliers. No one will last long in the business of water mitigation and restoration if they are not good at what they do.

What kind of results can you expect?

When it comes to water damage restoration, the real mark of a good company is in the outcome. An unreliable restoration company can just leave your property once the initial work is done. There are companies that just wrap up the work once they have cleaned the surface. However, this step can just be done by the property owners themselves.

A reliable water damage restoration company gets to the root of the issue and solves it. Apart from the problem that can be seen on the surface, they will also tackle any potential issues that the property may be facing such as the potential growth of molds.

It is important that the water damage company is able to restore the property to the pre-damaged state. The restoration of the home will display the competence of the professionals who worked on the remediation. With the best remediation company, the proof is in the outcome of the process.

A good remediation company will be able to ensure that the clients will be satisfied after they leave the property. When a remediation company offers complete customer satisfaction from beginning to end, it can be guaranteed that they offer the whole package to their clients. With these types of remediation services, the clients can be able to put their mind at ease.

When You Need A Professional, In Summary.

To get your property and life back to normal after a water related disaster strikes, you may want professional help. If you do, you want a company you can trust to get the job done quickly and correctly. Selecting the right water damage restoration contractor should not be taken lightly. Your peace-of-mind is what matters. In the Sebastian, FL area, one of the most trusted names in water damage mitigation and restoration for homes and businesses is ORC Services!

No one should have to suffer after experiencing flood damage. Our water damage restoration company will step in and offer an experienced, friendly solution that can lift the gloom from any room. Having created an expert service that is all about making people feel better about their properties, we can be the peace of mind that you need for all water damage repairs!

Let us know what you are looking for or what problems have occurred, and we will be there to help.

When we say Disaster Recovery, I am betting that many of you will think something big like a hurricane or a fire. But disasters come in all shapes and sizes.

In private homes, there can be burst pipes, leaky toilets, and slab leaks. In a condo, your unit could be fine, but the unit upstairs experiences a leak or other issue and guess what? The water traveled down into your unit.

Someone could break into your home looking for items they can easily steal and sell later. They tear everything up, and perhaps even vandalize your home. It’s not a flood or fire, but it can certainly be a disaster for your home.

Heaven forbid that a violent crime occurs in your home. That’s a whole other type of disaster. But, it’s one that we can also clean up for you. We can erase any bad memories, but we certainly can clean up all the vestiges of a violent crime.

ORC Services cleans up all types of disasters.  We take care of cleanup and restoration of condos, private homes, and businesses in three counties.  These are Brevard County, Indian River County, and St. Lucie County.  For crime scene and trauma cases, we go even further.  Click on “Service Area” to see where we perform the various services that we do.

Don’t wait until a disaster happens to give us a call and find out what we do and how we do it. Go to our YouTube Channel  or head on over to our Facebook Page

Our videos and reviews shown at the bottom of our “Home” page should help you get to know more about us and what our customers think of the work we have done for them.

Remember, keep our number handy because we never know when a disaster could strike.

The length of time from the beginning of a restoration or remodeling job to its completion is affected by a number of variables.  Generally, the biggest delays in all insurance jobs lie in getting the correct scope of work agreed to for approval and payment from the insurance company. This is very common for complete restoration jobs that require reconstruction of demolished materials. Insurance companies are in business to make money, and they don’t like to let loose of it easily!

The work itself doesn’t normally take a long time.  However, that also depends on the extent of damages or remodeling work. After a period of time, you may be able to speed up the process by invoking appraisal (if the policy allows it) or obtaining a lawyer.  But, that can cost extra to the home or business owner and this isn’t done until a great deal of time has already passed.

The best answer is to stay on top of your insurance company from the beginning to make sure they know that you want their attention.  You want them to resolve your problem as quickly as possible.  You also want the insurance company to pay all invoices due as soon as possible.  This will avoid any potential for the restoration company to be forced to place a lien on the property.  A construction or restoration company only has 90 days in which to submit a lien if that becomes necessary to protect their lien rights.  No contractor wants to put a lien on a customer’s property.  However, that contractor may be left with no other option if the insurance company drags their feet for too long!

Water Damage.

For water and mold, pre-approval from the insurance company is not required before work can begin.  Allowing the situation to remain wet or moldy can result in additional damage.  If you wait to have the repairs done, you may actually be liable for the additional damage. Also, there may be limits on the restoration processes for water and mold.  Emergency Mitigation Services (EMS) has a limit of 1% of the home value or $3,000, whichever is greater.

EMS is the initial steps taken to stabilize the damage while continuing with necessary water mitigation to rapidly dry out your home or business. This is the first day of water mitigation.  This is  where the basic mitigation services and setup of necessary equipment for drying, air cleaning, etc. is put in place.  Continued water mitigation efforts are separate from the EMS and are invoiced separately.  So, for water damages with both EMS and subsequent mitigation efforts, there will always be more than one invoice.

For water damage jobs, this continued period of drying out the wetted and dampened materials that don’t have to be removed is above and beyond EMS as stated above.  Generally, mitigation processes require the demolition of a certain amount of materials such as drywall, baseboards, floating floors, vinyl floors,  and carpets.  Then, the remaining materials such as wood framing and sub-floors must be dried out.  This can take some time to accomplish.  But we are talking days to maybe a matter of weeks here, as again, the insurance company does not have to pre-approve the work.

So, the initial mitigation efforts of a water job generally do not take more than a couple of weeks. And, this must be done quickly in order that additional damage and/or mold does not occur due to not taking care of the problem.  Note:  In the event of wet materials that are bound, it may be more cost effective to remove and replace the materials than to take the time to dry them out.  This is especially true with double layer drywall, vinyl flooring, and floating floors.

Mold Damage.

For mold damage, there may be a $10,000 cap on the insurance payment, depending on the policy.  Some policies allow up to $50,000.  In either event, there is a potential for the home or business owner having to pay anything over that amount out-of-pocket.  We strive to ensure this does not happen.  However, in a large loss situation, it may not be able to be avoided.  And of course, this assumes the home or business owner’s insurance policy covers mold.  That is not always the case.

In any event when the mold job is expected to exceed the statutory limit, the home or business owner will be advised that they will need to pay the excess over the limit.  And if the homeowner wishes to wait and see what the insurance company will agree to pay before having ORC Services remove the mold, then a mold waiver must be signed as the home or business owner will be liable for any additional damages incurred as a result of not removing the mold immediately.  We recognize the dilemma that the home or business owner faces with this, and we do our best to avoid the situation.  But if we end up here, there will be a delay in getting the job done.

Fire Damage.

Fire damage has no monetary caps other than the limit of insurance coverage.  Time for completion is strictly a matter of the extent of damage and cleaning/repairs required.  As fire damage can be extensive and can involve structural damage, repairs can be a major undertaking.  Also, smoke damage is very intrusive and can extend much further than one might think.  Therefore, cleaning and repairs can take some serious time.

Crime Scene/Trauma/Bio-hazard Cleanups.

Bio-Hazard cleanups of any kind are normally undertaken as quickly as possible.  Accordingly, they are often done on an emergency basis.  However, there are many circumstances wherein they are not handled on an emergency basis when that is not necessary.  The customer may not want to incur the extra costs of emergency services during off-time hours. These cases are handled very quickly, most often the same day.

Hoarder Cleanups.

Hoarder cleanups are generally self-pay, so no insurance company may be involved.  However, the cleanup process may run into problems with biohazards, mold, and other problems where an insurance claim might be viable.  If the damage is a direct result of the hoarding, there may not be insurance involvement.  The length of time to clean up the hoarding problem as well as any damages caused by it, is generally done quickly. However, this is contingent upon payment to ORC Services.  Cleanup takes less than a week on average, and the remaining time depends on the type and extent of damages discovered.

Reconstruction/Remodeling.

Reconstruction and remodeling will normally not be undertaken prior to ORC Services receipt of full payment on all cleanup and mitigation actions. Additionally, we require a 50% deposit on the reconstruction amount.  We also require a 50% deposit for a remodel.  Reconstruction time is dependent upon the amount of damage incurred. Remodel time is dependent on the extent of demolition and reconstruction required.  Either can take some time, and it is very difficult to estimate how long without the specifics of the job.

When you are wanting something built, you want to know how much it is going to cost.  In construction, that’s reasonable.  Everything for the job has to be purchased in order to build whatever it is that you want.  But in the repair industry, it’s a different animal.  Just as when you take your car in for repairs, there are things that pop up being needed to be done.  So, you have to deal with the possibility of surprises.  In the restoration business, it’s the same thing.  Most often there is demolition of the damaged materials which uncovers more damage.  Accordingly, it’s very difficult to provide an estimate, and a detailed estimate takes a great deal of time to produce.  It is not normally done until after demolition in order that it can be made as accurate as possible to contain all the repairs needed.  So, it is standard practice in the restoration industry to require a contract be signed before a detailed estimate can be provided.  While we will provide an initial verbal assessment of the repair costs, we cannot put it in writing without a contract to ensure that we will be paid for the time it takes to produce the estimate, and we cannot be held responsible for an inaccurate verbal assessment when a written estimate cannot be provided.

Time is of the essence!

There are actually a number of reasons why estimates are not normally supplied up front for water damage drying and mitigation services. First and foremost, when a water damage loss or flood occurs to a property, time is of the essence. Even small delays in getting the mitigation and drying started can result in a substantial amount of additional damage, and associated cost, to the property. The Insurance Industry, which has spent countless billions of dollars paying water damage claims, does not require Mitigation Companies to provide a quote prior to performing the work. These Insurance Companies have learned that the delays associated with waiting for an estimate only increases the overall damage to the property as well as the amount the insurance company ends up paying out in damages.

Any additional damage may be the property owner’s responsibility.

The property owner’s insurance policy typically includes a clause which places an obligation on the property owner to take action to mitigate further damages. This requires the property owner to protect the property from this further damage. In a water damage loss (pipe break, etc.) or flood, proper and timely drying and mitigation are considered necessary to stop secondary water damage. The water will continue to wick from wet building materials to dry materials.  This is often in hidden locations such as inside wall cavities, etc., This wicking continues until there are no longer any dry materials, thereby causing secondary damage. Timely, professional mitigation initially slows and finally stops this process. If the property owner fails to mitigate a water loss in a timely manner, the Insurance Company can, and will, refuse to pay for any additional damage (secondary damage) caused by this delay. As a result, secondary property damage as a result of unnecessary delays while the property owner waits for price quotes could cost the property owner directly.

Waiting can result in mold!

In addition to secondary water damage, mold is also a factor. Delaying mitigation, even less than a day in some cases, can result in the beginning of mold growth. Once mold begins to grow, costs can skyrocket, increasing the overall job costs by four to sometimes ten times what would have been necessary prior to mold contamination. Prompt, professional, and timely drying and mitigation is essential to reducing costs when a water damage loss or flood occurs. Any delays, even delays associated to getting estimates, generally only increase the overall cost.

Premature damage estimates are inaccurate.

Last, it is virtually impossible for a restoration company to accurately estimate the price of a water damage drying and mitigation job. There are too many variables that can affect the nature of the drying, and the time and labor that may be needed to properly dry out a building. As the property dries, water infiltration, by its very nature, will still continue to wick from wet to previously dry areas until the drying is complete. Also, different building materials dry out at different rates. For instance, drywall is more easily dried out when compared to plaster. And the humidity and temperature within the home, as well as the weather conditions outside, can often affect the drying and mitigation services to a property. It is impossible for any professional restoration company to predict where water will migrate during the drying process or how quickly the property will dry. This makes it impossible to provide any accurate estimate.

Go with a company you can trust!

Because of all this, it is important to only use companies you know you can trust for your water damage drying and mitigation needs. ORC is trusted by the Insurance Industry (both Insurance Adjusters and Agents), by many commercial property managers, and by the local real estate Industry for their water damage drying and mitigation needs.

Normally, you must give the insurance company reasonable opportunity to inspect your property and the damages being claimed before effecting repairs.  Notifying them in writing of the date the repairs will begin is a good practice.  However, this is not necessarily the case in the event of water and/or mold damage. (See: “Water Damage” and/or “Mold Damage” under “How long does it take to complete the work and how much does it cost?”)  But in any event, though this will also be done by ORC Services, it is strongly recommended that you photograph and document all damages before any repairs are made.  This is essential to prove the extent of damage to your insurance company.

If in the process of work being accomplished, additional damage is discovered, a supplemental claim can be made to the insurance company.

Whether it’s us, or any other contractor who does your restoration work, you must pay your deductible to them. Your bill cannot be exaggerated to the insurance company and you cannot be discounted for the deductible as that is insurance fraud and is punishable by law.

How does the hurricane deductible work?
Your deductible is part of your insurance contract. Like with your automobile insurance, it is the amount you have to pay out-of-pocket before insurance kicks in to pay the balance up to the insured limit. So, if your deductible is $5,000, and your loss costs $12,000, then you must pay the $5,000 before insurance will pay the remaining $7,000. The contractor cannot increase the cost of the loss to $17,000 to get the insurance company to pay the full $12,000, as that would be insurance fraud. Nor can the contractor discount the amount the customer must pay, for the same reason. Unless the total loss is less than the deductible amount, the customer must pay the full amount of the deductible. Additionally, the customer will need to pay any amount that exceeds the insurance total coverage amount. If your insurance company determines that the amount of the loss is less money than either your deductible amount or your estimate, ORC Services will work with the insurance company to close the gap, and hopefully, come to agreement. And since ORC will be working for you and not your insurance company, unlike an insurance company preferred vendor, we will work hard to ensure you receive a benefit equal to or as close as possible to the total loss amount as estimated.

If you need multiple repairs from various contractors, how is your deductible applied?
This is one of the advantages of using ORC Services as your restoration company. Because we are also a general contractor, we will manage the complete job, and you will only be invoiced from us. We do use subcontractors for certain work, but we take care of them and you don’t have to worry about bills coming out of the woodwork! But, in any event, your deductible is only applied once for any given loss, and the amount of the deductible is contained on the declarations page of your policy.

Yes, ORC does complete restorations! Like, this home in the video below which was severely damaged by a sewage leak. It flooded out 80% of the home. We were hired to provide water mitigation and reconstruction services. That required us to remove and replace all the effected flooring and drywall.

At ORC Services, our specialty is the repair of any and all structures in your home or business. Those would be structures damaged by any type of fire, flood, mold, criminal acts, or other damaging events.

Here is just one of our YouTube videos which you can watch for yourself that shows just what kind of work we do.

Can mold actually be caused by a thermostat on which the fan is set to On, or Run versus Auto? Yes, it can. And what you will see in the following video is proof.

How can that be possible? Well, for one thing, we all know that here in Florida, the humidity rate is very high. When your air conditioning is running properly, and your fan is set to Auto, the air conditioner will pull the moisture out of the air and keep your home dry.

On the other hand, if the thermostat setting for the fan is set to “ON,” and it runs constantly, then your air will be filled with moisture and that moisture will coat everything in your home and eventually turn into mold. So, everyone, please, change the fan setting on your thermostat from “On,” or “Run,” to “AUTO.”

You May Have Mold And/Or Water Damages!

Have you left home just for a day or two? Then, when you walked back into your house, you said, “UGH, what’s that smell?” If you have, then perhaps you should give us a call. Pipes can leak in your walls or under your carpet and you may not even know they are leaking.

It could be that water has been dripping into your home for a long time. If that is the case, by the time you can actually see the water or the stains that water leaves, you may already have mold in your home. At ORC Services, we have special equipment which can track down those leaks and stop them. We can also check for mold and get it cleaned away. You’ll want that done before it can cause you or your family significant health issues.

Health Risks Of Mold!

Mold in your home is harmful to you or anyone else who enters your home.

From Medical News Today:

“Mold allergies produce similar symptoms to other allergies to airborne substances affecting the upper respiratory tract, such as pollinosis. These include:

Blocked/runny nose
Itchy nose
Itchy throat
Sneezing
Watery eyes”

In addition, people with a mold allergy that also have asthma are at an increased risk of having their asthma symptoms triggered. Asthma sufferers don’t want to be in a moldy environment.

There are a number of issues that mold can cause. Prof. Stephen Spiro, deputy chairman of the British Lung Foundation in the UK, expanded upon the possible effects of indoor mold in homes or offices:

“Certain mold species can cause serious lung infections and scarring. For instance, in some asthmatics, inhaling the spores of a species of mold called aspergillus can lead to a condition called allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, which can impact on the breathing.”

Certainly, mold can affect people in different ways such as those I listed above, But for people whose immune systems are already compromised the effects can be far more dangerous.

What's Important For Home Renovations? Do's And Don'ts

Things To Do

Do: You should have a realistic budget and a realistic expectation for the work to be done. Remodeling can be inconvenient, noisy, and messy, even with the best contractors. It can be even worse when done as a DIY project. A good contractor will help you to understand what to expect throughout the process. Also, renovations are often more expensive than anticipated. So, be sure to build 20% extra into your budget to accommodate unexpected costs.

Do: You should buy quality windows. Having high-quality windows with the proper climate protection can keep your home comfortable from the extreme heat of summer to the extreme cold of winter. Trying to save money on windows can also have a negative impact on your utility bills. And, it can have a negative impact on the look and resale value of your home.

Do: You should carefully plan the design and the selection of materials for your project. This is often overlooked. Ensure your plans have doors and hallways that are large enough to allow furniture and appliances to be moved in and out easily. Plan the flooring, cabinetry, and paint with a cohesive intent. Avoid buying what’s on sale just because it’s on sale. Also avoid selecting all the latest trendy designs. Trends can be short-lived and quickly make your home seem outdated. Classic designs often have better long-term resale value. Lastly, lighting is an often-overlooked aspect of renovation. A good lighting plan will include three types of lighting: general lighting, task lighting, and accent lighting. Also, more customers today include smart lighting. All these things can have a major impact on the overall impression of your home.

Do: Pay attention to the structure and foundation of your home. Ensure the foundation and subflooring are sound. Also, update the electrical system to the latest code. And, ensure structural integrity to avoid damaging your beautiful home.

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Things Not To Do

Don’t: Making a hurried decision on which contractor to hire can have a major impact on the cost, quality, and outcome of your job. Don’t rely solely on price. Make sure your contractor understands your needs. They should communicate clearly with you and take time to answer your questions. The best contractors are often found on a referral basis. Ask a neighbor, a friend, or contact your local Better Business Bureau to determine which company provides the best service in your area. A good contractor is an invaluable partner in the renovation of your home. They often spot issues that you would not uncover yourself. And, often you can receive more personalized service from a smaller company than a larger corporation.

Don’t: When selecting a paint finish, take time to consider the room that is being painted. For example, semi-gloss or gloss paint is often used in kitchens and bathrooms for ease of cleaning and wipe-off. Matte finishes are best for ceilings to help them disappear and not attract attention. Satin finishes are ideal for the majority of your home. They will add to the brightness in the house by reflecting just the right amount of light without appearing too shiny.

Don’t: Renovating without permits is risky. Unpermitted renovations often end up wasting time, money, and energy. Often unpermitted work is made to be removed or demolished. This has happened with room additions, roofs, and fences among many other things. Upon resale, the home sale price can be lowered and the sale itself can be jeopardized. This is another area that is handled best by a professional contractor. They will ensure proper permitting occurs and quality standards of the workmanship are maintained.