When something fails
Water got in. Here is what to do next.
Burst supply line, roof leak, a slow drip that finally showed itself through the ceiling — one call. We work out what happened, handle the dry-out, the repair and the rebuild, and we document all of it for your insurer.
Call now(510) 407-3343- Licensed & insured — California CSLB #1123274
- Class B general contractor
- Free in-person estimates
- Locally owned, based in Crockett
Tell us what happened
Water jobs go to the top of the list. Give us three fields and we will call you back.
Four things to do before we get there
Shut the water off
If water is still running, close the main shut-off valve — usually at the front of the house near the street. If it is a supply line to one fixture, the local valve under it may be enough.
Kill power to wet areas
If water has reached outlets, light fixtures or a panel, switch off those circuits at the breaker before going near them.
Photograph everything before you move it
Wide shots of each room, then close-ups of the source and the damage. Insurers ask for this and it is far harder to reconstruct later.
Then call us
Tell us what happened and what you can see. We will tell you honestly whether this is something we handle or whether you need a plumber or an emergency service first — (510) 407-3343.
What we handle
The advantage of using a general contractor is that the same licensed party that tears out the wet materials also puts the room back — you are not stitching together a restoration company and a builder afterwards.
- Locating the source and the full extent of the water travel
- Removing wet drywall, insulation, flooring and cabinetry
- Drying the structure out before anything is closed back up
- Documenting the damage with photos and a written scope for your insurer
- Repairing the plumbing or building failure that caused it
- Rebuilding the affected rooms — drywall, paint, tile, flooring, cabinetry
The same builder handles the panic and the rebuild
Most people end up stitching together a restoration company, an insurer's paperwork and then a builder to put the rooms back. We are all three parts of that, which is why nothing has to be explained twice.
Call us whether or not you have worked with us before. We will tell you what needs to happen first, whether or not it turns into a job for us, and we will get out to assess the damage and start the dry-out.
Straight talk about your claim
We are not going to tell you your loss is covered — we do not know, and any contractor who says otherwise before your adjuster has seen it is guessing.
What we can do is make sure the damage is documented the way an adjuster expects: dated photographs, the extent of the water travel, and a written line-itemed scope of what it takes to put the house back. You file the claim. You choose the contractor — in California that choice is yours, not your insurer's.
Water damage questions
Will my insurance cover this?
That is between you and your carrier — we do not decide coverage and we will not tell you what your policy will pay. What we do is document the loss properly: photos, moisture readings where relevant, and a written line-itemed scope of the damage and the repair. That documentation is what an adjuster works from.
Do you handle the insurance claim for me?
No. You file with your carrier. We give you the documentation and the estimate, and we will talk to your adjuster about the scope of the repair if you want us to. We are not a public adjuster and we do not represent you to your insurer.
Are you available around the clock?
We are a building contractor, not a 24-hour emergency restoration franchise. If water is actively running at 2am you want the main shut off and a plumber. Once the flow is stopped, call us and we will get out to assess the damage and start the dry-out and rebuild.
How fast does water damage become mould?
Mould can begin growing in wet building materials within a day or two under the right conditions, which is why drying the structure out matters more than making it look dry. Materials that stay wet behind a wall keep causing problems long after the surface looks fine.
Do I have to use the contractor my insurer suggests?
In California you choose who repairs your home. An insurer can recommend a contractor from their preferred programme, but the decision is yours.
The longer it stays wet, the bigger the repair
Call and describe what you are looking at. We will tell you what needs to happen first, whether or not it turns into a job for us.
- Licensed & insured · CSLB #1123274
- Free in-person estimates