Restorex Disaster Restoration is a local water damage restoration company that specializes in flooded basement cleanups in Fishers Indiana.
We are also experts at handling water damage insurance claims. Restorex can work directly with your insurance company to cover the cost of the water cleanup and restoration.
If you need help with a basement flood cleanup in Fishers Indiana and want help working with your insurance company give us a call (317) 315-5071.
When a basement is flooded and a homeowner hires a professional water restoration company to mitigate the damage, there are 5 basic steps to the flood restoration process.
Before we begin any flooded basement cleanup services, we will inspect the basement and assess the water damage. During our inspection, we will determine the source of the water and use a variety of moisture meters to find out what was affected. A lot of the time, building materials such as carpet and drywall will be wet but not to the naked eye.
We will use a non-invasive moisture meter to find these areas, so we can make a good assessment of the basement water damage. Once the assessment is complete, we will advise our customer on how to proceed with the cleanup.
Water removal is one of the most important steps in the flooded basement cleanup process. Our team uses professional portable water extractors to remove water from wet carpet and pad, concrete floors, and tile floors.
Carpet and pad are standard flooring materials used for a finished basement in Fishers. Carpet and pad will absorb lots of water when a basement floods and it requires Restorex to use a special water extractor to remove the water. Most homeowners and property owners do not have access to our water damage equipment, which is why it is good to hire a professional restoration company to help remediate a finished flooded basement.
When water affects certain building materials, they are normally not worth saving. Examples of building materials that will be removed are:
- Baseboards
- Insulation
- Particle Board Cabinets and Vanities
- Laminate Flooring
- Drywall on the exterior walls (if the insulation is wet)
The removals are an essential step in the flooded basement cleanup process. If these materials are not removed properly there is a chance for secondary damage such as mold growth or rot and decay.
After the building materials have been removed, we can use our flood damage drying equipment to dry the remaining structure in place. Typically, we are drying wood members such as OSB plywood and 2 x 4 studs, and 2 x 6 floor and ceiling joists.
The wood framing can be the most vulnerable part of the structure to rot, decay, and mold. These pieces of lumber need to be dried to their original moisture content. We will monitor the moisture content of the structure throughout the drying process.
Our flood damage drying equipment consists of dehumidifiers, air movers, and heaters. We will use a combination of all 3 on every water damage project. The entire drying process will last 3 to 5 days depending on the severity of the water damage.
Once the structure has been properly dried and there is no risk for mold growth, the basement can be repaired. During the restoration, the building materials that were removed will be replaced such as flooring, insulation drywall, painting, baseboards, and cabinets etc.
When we are working with an insurance company, there can be a delay between the cleanup and the restoration. This delay allows time for the insurance adjuster to visually inspect the property and either write a repair estimate or ask the restoration contractor to write an estimate for the repairs. If the insurance adjuster is writing an estimate, our team will always review it before beginning the work. If there are items that were left out, our team will submit a supplement estimate for the extra work that needs to be added to the estimate and claim. This is the moment when most homeowners start to get impatient, understandably so. It is important to be patient with the restoration contractor and insurance professionals while they are settling the estimates and claims. It is easier to get the estimates settled before the repairs begin, rather than try and settle them while the repairs are happening.
FLOODED BASEMENT INSURANCE COVERAGE
Restorex is an expert at handling water damage insurance claims for our customers. We understand insurance company’s policies and coverages for different causes of water damage. A flooded basement is a common insurance claim for our customers. The insurance coverage can vary depending on the source of the water.
If the water damage was caused by a sump pump failure or sump pump backup, the insurance provider may limit the coverage. We typically see an insurance company limit this type of water damage to $5,000 or $10,000. Every insurance company has different coverages and policies for their customers, so we always recommend our customers to double-check their coverage and insurance deductibles before we start our water restoration services. By knowing the insurance coverage and deductible amount, our customers can make better decisions about how to approach the cleanup and restoration of their home or business.
We reassure our customers that when we are working with their insurance company, all they will be responsible for is their insurance deductible. The cost of the flooded basement cleanup and water damage repairs will be covered by the insurance company.
WHAT CAUSES A FLOODED BASEMENT?
There are several ways a basement can flood, and the more common reasons are listed below:
- Basement sump pump failure
- Sump pump backup
- Broken or burst sump pump drain line
- Basement floor drain backup
- Hot water heater leaking or failure
- Water well pipe burst
- Flood water from heavy rains
- Frozen water pipe on the basement wall
- Broken or burst water spigot
When the basement is flooded it is important to find out the source of the water and take immediate action to fix the problem. Usually, a professional plumber is the best person to call to find the plumbing issue and repair it.
STORM DAMAGE, WINTER TEMPERATURES, AND FLOOD DAMAGE CAUSING BASEMENTS TO FLOOD
Storm Damage and heavy rainfall causes many basements to flood in Fishers Indiana. When the rainfall reaches 2 inches in an hour many sump pumps cannot keep up and the water is forced into the basement. Also, when heavy storms bring strong winds, the power lines can be damaged, and the sump pump power can be cut off. When this happens, the water around the basement foundation walls has nowhere to go but into the basement.
Winter temperatures can be hard on water pipes near basements. Many times, water supply lines for kitchen sinks or outside water spigots, will be installed near an exterior wall or window. If the temperature drops below freezing, these pipes can burst from becoming frozen. Once the frozen pipes burst, the water has nowhere to go except into the basement.
If you need a professional flooded basement restoration company to help you with a flooded basement cleanup in Fishers Indiana give us a call (317) 315-5071.
