Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Fire Damage Restoration

I had a fire! What should I do now?

Having a fire on your property can be a terrible shock. The most important thing to do is remain off the premises until you’re given the green light by the emergency services. They will give you a fire report for you to keep.

As soon as it’s safe to do so, secure your property and locate your insurance documents. Now’s the time to call leading Los Angeles fire damage restoration contractors, SoCal Express Restoration & Construction.

Our team will be right over to inspect the damage, clean up and start to restore your property. Your home will be in the best hands with our trained professionals.

What's the fire damage restoration process?

The exact fire damage restoration steps will depend on the layout of your home and the damage it’s suffered. Here’s the basics of what we can offer you, depending on what you need.

Boarding up your property so it’s secure again.
Removing trip hazards.
Assessing the structural damage to your home.
Odor and soot removal.
Fire, soot and smoke damage restoration.
Mold restoration if the fire was put out with water.
Removing items that can’t be salvaged.
Rebuilding parts of your home damaged by fire.
Cleaning and sanitization.
Air quality checking.

How long does it take to repair after a fire?

Various factors can affect how long it takes. These factors include whether there’s additional water or mold damage, the extent of the structural repairs and whether you need smoke damage restoration. First we need to see the fire damage for ourselves. Then we will be able to create a repair and restoration plan and give you an estimated timescale. Get in touch with our fire damage restoration contractors who can come and take a look at your property. We’re waiting for your call at (818) 946-2098 or you can write to us here.

Will my homeowners' insurance cover fire damage?

It should do, so check your policy wording carefully. Normally, accidental fires are covered. You may even be covered for temporary living expenses such as staying at a hotel, if necessary.

If fire damage is covered by your homeowners’ insurance, it’s important to notify them and call us swiftly. If you wait, you may not be covered.

Water Damage Restoration

How long does water damage take to dry out?

Drying time depends on several factors.

How much water there was.
Whether the water came into contact with porous materials such as drywall or couches.
How well the area is ventilated.
The climate conditions when the water damage occurred.

Water can take anywhere from a few days to weeks or months to dry by itself. Whereas mold, damage to drywall, and warping and swelling of wood can all start in a day.

Beware! Some Los Angeles homeowners assume that water has drained away and dried up when in reality there’s pooled water under their floorboards, in their crawl space or elsewhere.

Don’t take the risk of long-term, expensive structural damage to your home. Get in touch with one of the best water damage restoration companies around, SoCal Express Restoration & Construction. We’ll be right over to pump out all the water with specialist equipment and dry and sanitize the area.

What are the signs of water damage?

Water damage can creep up on you, especially if it’s from a slow leak. Be alert to any of the following in your home.

Discolored patches on the ceiling, even if they’ve dried.
Drywall that’s soft or has expanded.
A musty, unpleasant smell that won’t go.
Walls that aren’t straight any more.
Paint or varnish peeling off.
The presence of mold.
Unexplained high water bills.
Pooled water.

Time is of the essence when dealing with water damage so call us if you’ve noticed any of the above in your home.

Will my homeowners insurance cover water damage?

In most cases, yes. But you have to get going straight away.

When water damage is sudden, you’re more likely to be granted a payout from your home insurance. The longer you leave it the more likely it is that insurance companies will refuse to pay.

Check the details of your home insurance policy to find out more.

How do you fix water damage?

The first step in residential water damage restoration is surveying the area and dealing with hazards like weak floors and ceilings. Then we pump out the water and remove any associated mold from your home.

After it’s all dry we go about repairing the parts of your home that were damaged. This typically includes drywall, floorboards, and other wooden parts of your home. Your home is left stronger and better than ever.

Mold Removal & Remediation

How long will mold take to grow after water damage?

Mold can start to grow in as little as 24 hours after a leak or flood. It reproduces more quickly in these circumstances.

If the water is dirty, like from a flood, or sewage.
It’s on soft surfaces such as drywall or furniture.
There’s little airflow.
The surrounding area is humid or damp.
It’s dark, such as an attic, basement or crawl space.
The Los Angeles weather is warm.

When do I need mold removal and remediation?

If the mold has eaten into the structure of your building, wiping it off is just scratching the surface. Mold is difficult to get rid of effectively without the type of professional grade products and equipment that we use.

Mold weakens walls, ceilings and floors from the inside. Have you noticed any health problems from mold too? Like respiratory issues or allergy flare ups? If your home is affected by mold, you should call SoCal Express Restoration & Construction for a free quote.

Will my insurance policy cover mold remediation?

Usually, yes. That’s if the mold in your home is as a result of something that’s already covered in your policy.

An example of this is mold from water damage, or fire damage if the mold is the result of extinguishing the fire. If you’re covered for flooding, you are likely to be covered for mold remediation services as the result of flooding.

That is, you’re generally covered as long as you get the mold damage dealt with promptly. Check your policy carefully to see what your situation is.

Can mold be completely removed?

It depends. Mold eats into anything it can, which means it may have penetrated further than you can see.

When we get to it early, and when it’s on a non-porous material, we can remove mold completely using powerful, industrial grade products.

And if mold has damaged the interior of your drywall, beams or floorboards? That’s a huge safety risk for your Los Angeles home. In that case we can rebuild it so it’s stronger than ever.

How much does mold remediation cost?

Professional mold remediation services vary a lot. This is because it depends how severe the mold damage is and how much of it you have. Simply call SoCal Express Restoration & Reconstruction 24/7 at (818) 946-2098 or message us here for a free quote.

Attic Cleaning & Sanitization

How do I take care of my attic?

There are some key things to look out for so that your attic protects your home as it should. A SoCal Express Restoration & Construction professional looks for the following and deals with any issues.

Attic ventilation working correctly, and maintained when necessary.
New cracks or holes.
Leaks.
Presence of pests.
Moisture from condensation, leaks or pest activity.
Insulation performance.

Should I clean my own attic, or get a professional?

It’s perfectly possible to clean your own attic. However consider the following before deciding between an attic cleaning and sanitation company and doing it yourself.

Attic cleaning professionals can spot potential issues that don’t look like a big deal to homeowners. Issues like excessive moisture, evidence of pests and damage to insulation.

Additionally, attic cleaning and sanitation is a dirty job. Attic dust removal is best left to a team like SoCal Express Restoration & Construction who has specialist breathing equipment.

What happens during attic cleaning and sanitization?

The steps we take vary slightly according to your Los Angeles home. However, this is an overview of what we typically do.

Attic dust removal and waste removal.
Insulation check.
Sanitization, especially if there has been pest activity or mold.
Rodent proofing.
Air sealing all the cracks and holes.
Inspection of air ducts and maintaining them.
Insulation removal and replacement.

What are the benefits of attic cleaning?

A clean attic is important for your family’s health. Have you had pest activity? Even if the pests have now left, they likely left their droppings behind in your attic. As well as creating a foul smell, this can ruin the indoor air quality in the rest of your home.

When we clean around the insulation we’ll see if it’s functioning as it should. And in a clean attic it’s easy to spot and seal up little gaps where pests can enter.