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Prime Buyers Guide Fire Damage Restoration & Water Damage Contractors

How to Find the Best Sonoma County, CA Fire or Water Damage Contractor

When a fire or flood affects your Sonoma County home, what do you do? When it's beyond your means to clean up the smoke or water damage, it's time to call a Sonoma County fire damage and water damage cleaning contractor. Sonoma County fire and water damage companies are there to remove all fire or water damage and restore your home to it's previous state. Read on to learn more about the best fire and water damage contractors in Sonoma, Healdsburg, Sebastopol, Rohnert Park, Petaluma and Santa Rosa. more »

Updated December 4, 2007

Top 5 Fire Damage Restoration & Water Damage Contractors in Sonoma County

Morris Construction
(707) 778-8233
763 Chapman Ln
Petaluma, CA 94952

Areas Served: Santa Rosa CA, Sonoma, Windsor CA, Petaluma, Penngrove, Rohnert Park, Sebastopol

Restoration Certified Specialist
(707) 571-0185
3100 Dutton Ave
Santa Rosa, CA 95407

Areas Served: Santa Rosa CA, Cloverdale, Sonoma, Petaluma, Penngrove, Healdsburg, Rohnert Park

Property Physicians
(707) 776-2821
P.O. Box 284
Petaluma, CA 94953

Areas Served: Sonoma, Petaluma, Penngrove, Santa Rosa CA, Healdsburg, Cotati, Rohnert Park

Rich Robertson Painting & Wood Preserving
(415) 491-1925

Rohnert Park, CA 94928

Areas Served: Sonoma, Windsor CA, Santa Rosa, Penngrove, Healdsburg, Petaluma, Sebastopol

Hillestad Painting
(707) 539-0797
278 Brey Rd
Santa Rosa, CA 95409

Areas Served: Petaluma, Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Sebastopol, Healdsburg, Annapolis, Penngrove

How to Find the Best Sonoma County, CA Fire or Water Damage Contractor 

We understand the difficulty in dealing the aftermath of fire or flood accidents. It may seem like your home has suffered irreparable damage, but there are professionals who devote themselves to these kinds of tasks. Fire and water damage cleanup contractors perform disaster loss management services exclusively. With the help of the following information set forth by The Prime Buyer's Report, you can locate a damage restoration contractor in Sonoma County who is fast and reliable.

Sonoma County Fire and Water Damage Contractors Perform Numerous Services

Remediation of your fire and water damage is a highly specialized process for which most general contractors are not equipped. Picking up where other contractors leave off, fire and water damage restoration contractors can perform content restoration, biohazard remediation, or structure restoration in both residential and commercial buildings. Many of these contractors are available for emergencies, which means they can begin work within 24 hours of the damaging event. They can initially assess the damage with leak pinpointing, thermal investigations, or allergen and indoor air testing. As far as damage control capabilities, fire and water damage contractors can attend to smoke damage, mold damage, carpet cleaning, deodorizing, and stain removal. They are also licensed to perform trauma crime scene cleanup, crawlspace cleaning, upholstery cleaning, wood floor drying, disinfecting, water extraction, rapid structural drying, odor removal, and sewer and toilet cleanup. Many fire and water damage consultants are IICRC or WLI certified in comprehensive fire and water damage cleanup. This enables them to clean drapery, black water, flood damage, interiors, exteriors, damage from vandalization, and mold. In addition to the standard cleaning procedures, fire and water damage contractors offer some services to ease your transition in the aftermath of the damage, such as insurance claim processing, moving and storage, fine art restoration, document drying, book drying, electronics drying, carpet re-stretching and repair, burn repair, and painting. Measures can be taken to avoid cumulative disrepair from the after-effects, including anti-mildew treatments, mothproofing, and mold prevention.

Sonoma County Fire and Water Damage Contractors Use State-of-the-Art Technology to Rectify Problems

Fire and water damage contractors can efficiently repair damage caused by a flood or fire with specially formulated equipment. After they initially assess the situation with infrared technology, they may decide to use dry ice to blast mold or dehumidifiers to dry out flooded areas, flood pumpers, dry foggers, disinfectants, antimicrobials, or ozone generators. Certain contractors go beyond simple cleaning procedures to protect damaged areas from future deterioration by applying DuPont, Teflon, or Scotchguard products.

Check the Affiliations and Licensing of Potential Fire and Water Damage Contractors in Sonoma County
You should always verify the credibility of a contractor before hiring them. Through industry associations, you can check important credentials, including licensure and memberships. In addition, it can't hurt to find out a little about the industry you'll be working with. Find out what fire and water damage contractors do, how they do it, and how your particular problem fits into their field of expertise. The Prime Buyer's Report has hand picked some sources that highlight this valuable information on the fire and water damage remediation industry. This list can be found in The Prime Buyer's Report article "Key Resources for Fire and Water Damage in Sonoma County".

Work with One of the Fine Fire and Water Damage Contractors in Sonoma County
When you're ready to look at local prospects, you may want to start with the companies we've evaluated. Considering price, quality, and customer service, we've determined the top 10 fire and water damage contractors in Sonoma County to be Morris Construction, Restoration Certified Specialist, Property Physicians, Rich Robertson Painting & Wood Preserving, Hillestad Painting. Other companies of quality are .
Updated December 4, 2007
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How to Choose a Fire and Water Damage Contractor 

Step 1: Describe the Damage
With each contractor, explain the details of the damage that occurred. Be consistent in the way that you describe the situation so that each fire and water damage contractor will have an opportunity to bid on the same job specifications.

Step 2: Answer Questions & Take Notes
Allow a fire and water damage contractor the opportunity to inquire about the features of your job and pay attention to the points that he may have, taking notes on the meeting's progress. How detailed are the fire and water damage contractor's questions? Does he seem adequately knowledgeable about the issues that need attention? Does he exhibit a genuine concern about your fire and water damage?

Step 3: Ask Questions & Take Notes
Pose any questions you may have for your potential contractor. Take notes on the answers to questions as well as your general impression of the interview. Remember, you will see better results if you can comfortably and openly deal with your contractor. Afterward, look at all the notes that you took before and during the question and answer session and use them to update information you already had for each fire and water damage contractor. The following list of questions may help guide your meeting.

How long have you been in business?
How many fire and water damage jobs have you completed in Sonoma County?
Do you specialize in the type of work I've described?
Do you have any references I may contact?
What will the timing be on bidding and completing the work?
Do you carry workers' compensation and liability insurance?
Will you provide a written estimate?
Are you IICRC or WLI certified?
Do you do repairs as well as cleanup?
Will I be required to relocate while work is completed?
Will permits be needed? If so, who will be responsible for getting them?
Do you do the work yourself with your employees or do you hire subcontractors?
What kind of warranty do you offer and what does it cover?
Will you provide a written contract?
How do you price the work?

Step 4: Final Research
After you've selected a suitable fire and water damage contractor, make sure he is properly credentialed to perform your needed work. Verify licensing, insurance, and certifications such as Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification and Water Loss Institute certification. Check for any quality endorsements as well at the Better Business Bureau and Diamond Certified.

Step 5: Make the Final Decision
Now it's time to contract with your chosen fire and water damage professional. Ask for your representative to provide a signed pricing, timing, quality, and warranty agreement.
Updated December 4, 2007
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Key Resources for Fire and Water Damage Repair in Sonoma County 

Associations & Licensing
AIHA American Industrial Hygiene Association (www.aiha.org)
ASCR Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (www.ascr.org)
BBB Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org)
CANVAWWA American Water Works Association (www.ca-nv-awwa.org)
CDC Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov)
CSLB Contractors State Licensing Board (www.cslb.ca.gov)
CUCI Carpet And Upholstery Cleaning Institute (www.ascr.org/institutes/cuci)
DCA California Department of Consumer Affairs (www.dca.ca.gov)
Diamond Certified (www.diamondcertified.org)
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (www.epa.gov)
FSSA Fire Suppression Systems Association (www.fssa.net)
IAQA Indoor Air Quality Association (www.iaqa.org)
IICRC Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (www.iicrc.org)
NAFA National Air Filtration Association (www.nafahq.org)
NCBE North Coast Builders Exchange (www.ncbeonline.com)
NIDR National Institute of Disaster Restoration (www.ascr.org/institutes/nidr/)
WLI Water Loss Institute (www.ascr.org/institutes/wli)

Media & Web Resources
Claims Magazine
Cleaning and Restoration Magazine
Industrial Fire World Magazine
Insurance Journal: The Property Casualty Magazine
International Fire Protection Magazine
Waste Age Magazine

www.cleanlink.com
www.disasternews.net
www.housetask.com
www.ibhs.org
www.kleenkuip.com
www.redcross.org
www.whathappensnow.com

If your home or place of business has suffered from flood damage or smoke damage The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 fire and water damage contractors in Sonoma County within the following zip codes.

94922, 94923, 94927, 94928, 94931, 94951, 94952, 94953, 94954, 94955, 94972, 94975, 94999, 95401, 95402, 95403, 95404, 95405, 95406, 95407, 95408, 95409, 95412, 95416, 95419, 95421, 95425, 95430, 95431, 95433, 95436, 95439, 95441, 95442, 95444, 95446, 95448, 95450, 95452, 95462, 95465, 95471, 95472, 95473, 95476, 95480, 95486, 95487, 95492 and 95497

The Prime Buyer's Report provides information for the top 10 fire and water damage contractors in Sonoma County within the following cities.

Agua Caliente, Alexander Valley, Annapolis, Asti, Bloomfield, Bodega, Bodega Bay, Boyes Hot Springs, Camp Meeker, Cazadero, Cloverdale, Cotati, Duncans Mills, El Verano, Eldridge, Fallon, Fetters Hot Springs, Forestville, Fort Ross, Freestone, Fulton, Geyserville, Glen Ellen, Graton, Guerneville, Guernewood, Healdsburg, Jenner, Kenwood, Lakeville, Larkfield, Monte Rio, Occidental, Penngrove, Petaluma, Petaluma, Rio Nido, Rohnert Park, Roseland, Russian River, Russian River Mdws, Salmon Creek, Santa Rosa, Schellville, Sebastopol, Sheridan, Sonoma, Stewarts Point Rancheria, The Geysers, The Sea Ranch, Valley Ford, Villa Grande, Vineburg and Windsor

Updated December 4, 2007
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9 Ways to Help Your Fire or Water Damage Restoration 

Take Time Choosing a Professional.
Proper restoration of your home takes skill and diligence, so don't rush into agreements with just any fire and water damage contractor. If you take time before starting a fire and water damage restoration project to properly outline the job and hire the right contractor, you're more likely to be satisfied with the results.

Write a Description of the Damage.
The more detailed your report of the damage, the more information you'll get from an initial evaluation. Walk around the affected area and make careful notes about what you see. It's this summary that you'll show to each contractor. And since each candidate will see the same description, you can be sure that the responses to your project are based on the same information. Then you can better judge which fire and water damage contractor gives you the best response to your proposed work.

Collect Several Estimates.
You should get estimates from several different fire and water damage contractors in Sonoma County. This will help you get an idea of price range, but a sampling of estimates can also help you better judge each contractor's industry knowledge, integrity, and customer service skills.

Get Everything in Writing.
As with any contractor agreements, you should document everything thoroughly. Make sure that the contractor you hire provides you with a written description of the work, a pricing breakdown, and an expected timeframe for completion.

Do Your Homework Before You Sign An Agreement.
Before you hire a professional, ensure that all licensing, workers' compensation and liability insurances are valid and current. Confirm any other relevant credentials as well.

Don't Settle for Mediocre Fire and Water Damage Restoration Contractors.
There are fire and water damage contractors that have been recognized for quality workmanship or outstanding customer satisfaction. In Sonoma County, these fire and water damage contractors have been awarded Diamond Certification or positive mention in consumer publications. Seek out these particular professionals and you're more likely to be pleased with your contractor's work.

Maintain Great Communication.
You'll want to ensure that your fire and water damage cleanup project is going as smoothly as possible. In order to do this, you have to keep the lines of communication open. This requires effort from both parties, so do your part. Call with any questions you may have.

Agree in Advance to Evaluate the Completed Work.
After restoration or cleaning is finished, check your contractor's work. Reference the agreement you signed prior to commencement of the project. Closely compare the finished product to the expectations that were agreed upon and mention any inconsistencies.

Protect Yourself.
Consumers have some special rights depending on where they live. You're dealing with fire and water damage contractors in Sonoma County, so the consumer affairs Web site for the State of California can give you all of the applicable details.
Updated December 4, 2007
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