Reporting Your Damage

  Contact your Insurance Company immediately to report your claim, try to have your policy number available. Most companies have set up specialized 800 numbers to immediately help you with any claims needs. These claims numbers are up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you are unsure of the claims number, your best bet is to contact your local agent. It is imperative to report your claim as quickly as possible.

   The insurance carrier will need details of the damage to your home i.e. fire, water, what rooms are damaged etc. Prepare a list of personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the loss. Your claim representative should provide forms that describe the information needed to determine your loss. 

Mitigation

  Take reasonable steps to protect your house and personal property from further damage. Most policies require you to mitigate your loss. After notifying your insurance carrier contact a mitigation specialist such as The DAMEX Corporation, to help with the mitigation.

   There are many steps you can take to minimize the impact of a loss at home. 
In case of fire and smoke damage promptly report your loss. Do not try to clean the damaged items, as sometimes cleaning things without the proper equipment can do more harm than good. Your insurance company will direct you to contact an emergency mitigation vendor such as The DAMEX Corporation to help you with this. 
  
  If your home has suffered water damage, make sure that the water has been shut off. Move all your possessions out of the affected areas and then make sure that as much water is removed as possible. It will be imperative to have a professional mitigation vendor such as The DAMEX Corporation to help with this. 
 
  In the case of either fire or water damage, protect the safety of your family and pets by keeping them out of the damaged areas. If your home is uninhabitable and you must stay elsewhere, keep the receipts for all your expenses. Your insurance company will help direct you to an appropriate place to stay. 

  In any type of loss timing is critical. Contact your insurance companies immediately and then contact an emergency mitigation vendor such as The DAMEX Corporation to help with all necessary mitigation steps. 

Fire/Smoke Restoration Process

Everyone understands the destruction a fire can do. The DAMEX Corporation understands the damage that can be done after the fire is out. Much of the material found in furniture, flooring, and appliances is synthetic. When burned, synthetics create a variety of complex chemical reactions. After a few days, these items go from cleanable to unsalvageable.
The professionals at The DAMEX Corporation are experts in understanding the chemical combinations that can effectively clean and salvage belongings. They can even remove soot from fabrics in upholstery, carpets, and clothes, thus helping to avoid additional expenses.
We use the latest equipment and supplies in our five step fire and smoke restoration process:
• Emergency Pre-cleaning 
• Content Cleaning 
• Content Pack-Out 
• Wall & Ceiling Cleaning 
• Deodorization

Water Restoration Process

The DAMEX Corporation understands that water damage restoration is an emergency business. That’s why we are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The fast action that The DAMEX Corporation provides is imperative to reduce suffering and save money for both you and your insurance company. The primary purpose of the emergency service is to “preserve, protect and secure the property from further damage.” Water damage claims increase substantially if prompt action is not taken to contain the damage.

The cleaning professionals at The DAMEX Corporation use the latest products, procedures, and equipment to assure the highest level of cleaning performance and protection for your property and furnishings. Ours is a six step process using the latest equipment and supplies:
 
• Water Removal 
• Anti-microbial Application 
• Drying: Air Movement 
• Drying: Dehumidifying 
• Drying: Monitoring
• Inspection and Assessment
By having the right equipment, and understanding the principles involved in the water damage restoration process, we can accurately estimate the total cost of the work, thereby saving you and your insurance company hundreds or thousands of dollars. 

  After fire damage it is natural to want to jump right in and clean the building and contents. Timely action can be a great help, but incorrect action can jeopardize or impede satisfactory restoration. 

do...

• Clean and protect chrome trim on faucets and other brightwork by washing with detergent and applying a coating of vaseline or oil.
• Blow off or brush-vacuum loose smoke particles from upholstery draperies and carpeting.
• Open windows for ventilation if weather permits.
• Empty refrigerators and freezers if electricity is off, and prop doors open with a rolled towel or news- paper to allow air circulation. 
• Pour antifreeze in toilet bowls, tanks, sink and tub drains to prevent freeze damage if heat is off in winter. 
• Call a plumber to drain and blow out all water lines if heat is off in winter. 
• Remove pets to a clean environment if heavy fire residues are present. 
• Send a sample group of garments for cleaning and deodorization in order to observe the results. 
• Retain a contractor to board up open windows, roofs, or other penetrations in order to prevent additional damage, 

do not...

• Wipe or attempt to wash fire residues from walls, ceilings or other absorbent surfaces.
• Use carpeting or upholstered furniture impacted by heavy smoke residues or debris.
• Use food items or canned goods exposed to heat.
• Turn on computers, TVs, stereos or electrical appliances until they have been cleaned and checked. 

Water Damage

  Water damage arises from fire damage, broken pipes, blocked drains, malfunctioning appliances, storms and other causes. The appropriate treatment depends on the nature of the damage. Some water carries contaminants and should be considered hazardous (see Sewage and Flood Damage, below). Whatever the origin, the prospects for restoration depend largely on the speed with which your building and personal property can be dried. Even clean water can generate mildew and other bacterial growth if neglected.

do...

• Ventilate wet areas. Turn on air conditioning for accelerated drying in summer; in winter alternate cycles of opened windows and heating. 
• Remove standing water from flat surfaces by sponging and blotting. 
• Take up saturated rugs and carpets when hard-wood floors are at risk. 
• Stay out of rooms where ceilings are sagging from retained water. 
• Transport computers to a dry environment, remove cases and blow dry with low pressure air. 
• Remove lamps, telephones and decorative items from wet furniture tops. 
• Open drawers and cabinet doors for interior drying, but do not force open stuck drawers or doors. 
• Freeze valuable books and documents to retard mildew growth until drying can be performed. 
• Place aluminum foil squares, china saucers or wood blocks under furniture legs to avoid carpet staining. 

do not...

• Operate TVs, vacuums or other appliances while standing on wet carpet or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors. Serious injury may result.
• Use heat to dry closed building interiors; mildew and expanded moisture damage may result.
• Leave wet fabrics in place; space them apart and dry as soon as possible. 

  Raw sewage and flood waters contain bacteria and other micro organisms which are extremely hazardous to human health. These can be transmitted by touching contaminated items or by tracking them into uncontaminated areas on shoes. Children and pets are especially vulnerable. Frequent hand washing is an important preventive measure. Absorbent materials such as carpeting and drywall may not be restorable after direct contact with sewage-contaminated or flood-contaminated water. 

do...

• Treat all water-impacted surfaces and furnishings as toxic, until properly decontaminated.
• Keep children and pets out of contaminated areas. 

do not...

• Track contaminated material into undamaged areas.
• Attempt to decontaminate surfaces with sprays and other over-the-counter germicidal products, which may not fully disinfect contaminated surfaces.

Soot  Damage

  While soot may resemble smoke residues from a fire, the restoration of soot damage often requires different techniques. Incorrect action can make restoration more difficult and delay the return to normal. 

do...

• Change and save the old HVAC filter.
• Blow off or brush-vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery draperies and carpets.
• Cover upholstery with clean sheets before use. 

do not...

• Attempt to wash walls, ceilings or contents without professional assistance. 

  Vandalism often involves spray paint on walls, defacement of furnishings, or spreading noxious substances. It is one of the most difficult forms of damage to restore. Prompt action can often minimize the effect of vandalism or make restoration more successful.

do ... 

• Hose down or wash egg damage from building exteriors as soon as possible. 
• Vacuum glass particles from carpet and upholstery. 
• Save containers and spray cans which can reveal the composition of inks and pigments.
• Save all wood chips and fragments from furniture, porcelain or art objects. 

do not ...

• Attempt to remove ink, paint or cosmetic stains: they can be permanently set if not handled properly. 

Download the above in a print ready PDF format

Mold ?

  The DAMEX Corporation has all the skills to help?  We have professionals on staff with the expertise and experience to handle the toughest mold remediation projects - whether residential or commercial.  With individual Certified Microbial Remediation Certification provided by the Indoor Air Quality Council, our professionals can not only answer crucial questions, but they can do so with the quality that only thorough training can provide.

When is Remediation Necessary?

  Often one of the most asked questions is whether or not professional mold remediation is required.  According to the US EPA, if the affected residential area is less than 10 square feet in size and does not exhibit any dangerous characteristics (health related symptoms) in the building occupants, than self-remediation and cleanup options may be considered.  It is important, however, that in all cleanup procedures, proper protection be utilized and that the person directly handling the cleanup consult with the sources below for proper remediation techniques. 
  Professional remediation, on the other hand, is often recommended when the area exceeds 10 square feet, the mold is believed to be toxic in nature, or when cross-contamination is suspected.

Steps in a Professional Remediation

  The first step in a professional remediation project is to develop a remediation plan and determine the type of mold involved.  Typically, this test and remediation plan is developed by an independent testing laboratory.  Testing can cost anywhere from $500-$1,000 depending on the type of tests required and may take up to a week to compile the data.  Although initially expensive, an accurate test can save thousands later down the road.

  After acquiring a test and remediation plan, a remediation contractor such as The DAMEX Corporation is brought in to determine an abatement plan and submit an estimate to the insurance company and the homeowner.  In this plan, a skilled mold remediation company will detail not only the work to be provided, but also his or her certifications to provide the service.

  In a typical remediation, a microbial remediation company will detail the containment necessary, the worker protection required, the number of hours  necessary and the equipment to be used.  Although each professional remediation project is specific and unique, typical costs can range from $3,000 and up and will require very detailed work and time-intensive labor.  This is why it is often a good idea to investigate the specifics of your insurance coverage and understand the process before making a decision.

More Information

For more information regarding microbial remediation and testing, please feel free to consult the following sources:

• New York City Department of Health Guidelines on Mold Treatment

• US EPA - Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings

• US EPA - A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture, and Your Home