Answers to the questions we get most often. Don't see yours? Call us, we're happy to walk through it on the phone.
We commit to a 45-minute response across Peabody, Danvers, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Swampscott, and Reading, 24/7/365. Most of the time we arrive faster, especially within Peabody itself. Our crews and trucks are local, not dispatched from a Boston call center.
Yes. A real human answers our hotline every minute of every day. Water damage and fires don't wait for business hours, and neither do we.
Call us anyway. We can often help or refer you to a trusted neighbor in the next town over.
Sudden and accidental damage (burst pipes, fires, storms, appliance failures) is covered by most policies. Gradual leaks that have been ongoing for weeks usually are not. We can review your situation on a free inspection and give you a straight answer before you file.
Yes. With your written authorization, we bill the carrier directly using Xactimate-formatted estimates that adjusters expect. Your insurance payment goes straight to us. You typically pay only your deductible.
For a single claim related to sudden, accidental damage, the impact is usually minimal in Massachusetts. Your agent is the right person to ask, we can call them with you if helpful.
No. Massachusetts law guarantees you the right to choose. We're happy to be your choice. See our insurance page for the full breakdown.
Wildly variable. A small water leak might be $1,500 to dry out and patch. A full-floor flood with rebuild can be $30,000+. A whole-house fire restoration can be six figures. The good news: most of these are insurance-covered, and the free inspection gives you a written estimate before any work begins.
Yes, with no obligation. We come out, assess, document, and give you a scope and estimate. If you decide not to proceed, you owe us nothing.
For uncovered work, we can discuss payment plans on a case-by-case basis. Call us and we'll talk through options.
Drying alone typically takes 3 to 5 days. If demo and rebuild are needed (drywall, flooring, paint), the full process is usually 1 to 4 weeks, depending on the scope.
Highly variable. A small kitchen fire with smoke cleanup might be 1 to 2 weeks. A whole-house fire with structural rebuild can take 2 to 6 months. We give you a realistic timeline at the inspection.
Often not, but it depends. For a contained water loss, you usually stay in the home. For sewage backups, fires, or whole-floor restorations, you'll likely need temporary housing. Your insurance policy usually covers Additional Living Expenses (ALE) for that.
Yes. We don't sign off until moisture readings are normal, mold spore counts are baseline, and all contaminants are remediated. If you have specific concerns (asthma, allergies, immunocompromised family members), we can also arrange post-remediation testing for total peace of mind.
The IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is the global gold standard for restoration training. Our techs are certified in water damage (WRT), applied structural drying (ASD), microbial remediation (AMRT), fire and smoke (FSRT), and other specialties, and re-certify regularly.
Yes. Fully licensed in Massachusetts, fully insured with general liability and workers' comp. We can provide certificates to you or your insurance company on request.
Industry classification for highly contaminated water, including sewage backups, flooding from outside (which picks up pesticides and contaminants), and water that's been sitting long enough to grow harmful bacteria. Category 3 requires PPE, full containment, and removal of all porous materials it touched.
Surface mold on hard, non-porous surfaces (tile, glass, sealed metal) can be wiped. But mold on drywall, wood, or insulation has hyphae (root structures) deep in the material, bleach doesn't reach them. Worse, scrubbing without containment spreads spores through the HVAC system. For anything beyond a small bathroom spot, call a pro.
Optional but reassuring. If you have known health sensitivities or want documentation for resale, third-party air-quality testing before and after remediation is worth the cost. We can arrange it.
Call us at (301) 329-2424. A real human answers 24/7 and we're happy to walk through anything.