Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Restoration Company do?
Restoration Companies are first responders to property damages caused by floods, fires, sewer back ups or mould. Our job is provide fast emergency response to mitigate the loss and provide you & your Insurance Company a scope of repairs.
I have experienced water and/or fire damage to my home/business, what should I do first?
Many Insurance Companies have after-hour claims services lines. Call your Insurance provider to discuss coverage, deductibles & coverage limits, then call Priority Restoration 204-786-3344 to start Emergency Services.
What do I do if my Emergency occurred in the evening or on the weekend?
Call us on our 24-hour Emergency line -204-786-3344, your call will be answered by our after-hours answering service and dispatched to the on-call Project Manager.
What role does Priority Restoration play in my Insurance claim?
Priority Restoration is a Preferred Vendor for over 30 Insurance Companies in Manitoba. Your Insurance Company has already pre-screened & vetted us to be a trusted contractor of choice. This will ensure prompt professional service to their clients (that’s you) and prevent further damage.
Priority Restoration will work with you & your Insurance Company to execute the mitigation & repairs to your property.
How quickly will someone be at my home or business to complete an inspection of the damages?
A Project Manager will contact you to arrange a time that is convenient for you to meet at your home/business and determine if Emergency Services are required. If your answer is ASAP, we will be at your home within 1 hour unless your property is located outside of Winnipeg.
Will Priority Restoration be able to complete all repairs, including restoring or repairing my contents?
Priority Restoration is a full service Restoration Contractor. We have over 35 years of experience completing repairs from mitigation to repairs for all types of losses, including water damage, fire & smoke damage, wind damage & mould damage. We offer the most comprehensive Insurance restoration for property and contents, environmental services, and general construction. Our extensive knowledge and experience in these fields makes us a valuable contractor of choice.
Do I need to sign a contract with Priority Restoration?
If the Project Manager determines that emergency mitigation services are required, they will provide you with a work authorization form. This form gives us permission to facilitate the mitigation repairs. As the property owner, you must sign this form approving services to be performed. If coverage has not been confirmed, we will only address the minimum to stabilize your property until coverage is confirmed.
What happens if I do not have enough Insurance Coverage?
Priority Restoration can provide you with a quote for mitigation & reconstruction repairs that are not covered by your Insurance Company.
What can I expect during the emergency mitigation repairs?
Our professional Team of Technicians will remediate the affected area(s). Depending on the type of damage(s), there could be extraction of water, removal of drywall & flooring, asbestos testing and installation of our drying equipment.
How long will the drying equipment be in my home?
If you have water damage our repair crews will be installing drying equipment in the affected areas of your home/business. Water can seep into walls and floors and cause damage that may not be visible. It is very important that drying equipment not be turned off to ensure that your property is dried as quickly as possible. Our mitigation repair Teams have strategically placed equipment to minimize damage and dry your property to prevent further damage. Drying time may vary; daily monitoring of moisture levels will determine when the drying process is complete. If you have concerns with the equipment set up or operation, call your Project Manager.
What happens if the equipment stops working or displays an error code?
Call our office immediately at 204-786-3344 (24/7) for assistance.
How will the drying equipment affect my electricity bill?
We utilize a variety of drying equipment including fans and dehumidifiers, in addition to specialized equipment for hardwood floors, crawlspaces, mould/asbestos abatement and odor control. The cost of running this equipment can vary from $0.44 – $1.40 per day depending on the needs of your project.
What happens if mould or asbestos is found in my home?
Priority Restoration is an industry-leading contractor in mould remediation and asbestos abatement services for residential, commercial, industrial and institutional clients. Our specially trained Project Managers understand the risks associated with hazardous material and will work with you to develop a plan specific to your property. We will work with your Insurance provider to determine coverage as not all mould or asbestos removal may be covered under your policy.
What kind of products and chemicals will be used in my home?
We make every attempt to use environmentally products. We will notify you if we are using any products that are not safe for people or pets to be in contact with.
My personal items were affected by the damage to my home/business, what will happen to these items?
We have specially trained staff to assess your personal belongings that may have been affected by fire, water or mould.
Any content that cannot be restored at your property will be packed-out and delivered to our 40,000 sq. ft. facility, where our Team will clean, deodorize and restore your content. Once all content has been processed it will be stored in our climate-controlled facility until it is ready to be returned.
What happens to those items that cannot be cleaned or repaired?
All content items that are damaged beyond restoration or repair are deemed non-restorable. They are left on-site and listed on a schedule of loss that is provided to you and your Insurance Adjuster. Once an item is determined to be non-restorable, we require your authorization as well as your Adjusters’ to dispose of these items. Any perishable items, such as food items, are listed and disposed of immediately.
Your Insurance Company will work with you directly on replacing those items, if applicable.
What is a biohazard?
A biological hazard, or biohazard, is a biological substance that can pose a threat to the health of people who are exposed to them. Blood & bodily fluids are considered biohazardous materials.
What can I do if my home or business has been exposed to a biohazard?
In the unfortunate event that your property has been exposed to blood and/or bodily fluids, we can help.
Our Team of qualified and compassionate Technicians can assess, disinfect and dispose of biohazard materials in a safe and effective manner. It is important to have trained individuals perform these tasks to ensure proper cleanup to prevent serious health risks.
All of the mitigation repairs have been complete, what happens now?
After the mitigation work is complete, your file will be reviewed once again by our Project Manager and your Insurance Adjuster. A scope of work will be written for the damaged area(s) so we can provide a quote to the Insurance Company. Once our quote is submitted, you’ll await the approval of the quote from your Insurance Company before any further work is done. This can take up to 7–10 business days from the day the quote was submitted.
Once my quote is approved, how long will the repairs take?
Once our Team has received a signed work authorization form and deductible payment, we’ll work with you to schedule the start of the repairs. We will provide you with a schedule of work so you will be informed of every step in the process. You may also be asked to choose finishes like flooring, tiles, paint colors etc.
Can I live in my home during the mitigation or repair process?
That will depend on where the area of repair is and if there is an asbestos abatement required. Your Insurance Company & Project Manager will communicate this with you and keep you and your family safe.
What is a deductible?
A Deductible is the uninsured portion of your Insurance claim that you as a policy holder are responsible for paying in the event you make an Insurance claim.
Who do I pay my deductible to?
The deductible is paid directly to Priority Restoration. The deductible amount is reduced from the bill we send your Insurance Company.
Does Priority Restoration hire sub-contractors?
Yes. In addition to our permanent staff, we hire sub-contractors. Prior to becoming an approved vendor for Priority Restoration each sub-contractor is required to provide Insurance, WCB and Safety documentation that meets our criteria.
What if I want to do some upgrades or renovations to my home during my Insurance claim?
Our Team of professionals can work with you on a budget and final goal for any upgrades to your home or business. Insurance will cover only the replacement of materials that are of like kind & quality. You will be responsible for the difference in price. Private work requires 50% payment prior to starting repairs based on the agreed upon estimate.
Will there be a final inspection of the repairs?
Yes, in addition to on going progress inspections, we will conduct a final walk through with you to ensure your satisfaction. We will also ask you to sign a Certificate of Completion.
What is a certificate of completion?
Once the repairs have been completed to your satisfaction, we will ask you to complete and sign a Certificate of Completion and return to us. This form is submitted to your Insurance Company as proof the repairs have been completed. The file will then be closed, and you can get back to your life.
Does Priority Restoration offer a warranty on repairs?
We will warranty workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the completion of your claim. This warranty does not apply to any conditions resulting from wear and tear. Some Insurance Companies may have an extended warranty period.
What does Priority Restoration do to reduce their carbon footprint?
We care about our planet and make every possible attempt to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle:
- We have a fully implemented Company wide recycling program
- We have an onsite dump station to reduce trips to waste disposal sites
- We have GPS tracking in our fleet to track fuel consumption, routes and driving habits.
- Electronic waste is recycled at a reputable facility
- We have an Esporta wash systems that allows us to restore 85% of soft contents – keeping them out of landfills.
- Our Fireline ultrasonic cleaner reduces water & chemical usage when cleaning contents.
- Unused & reclaimed materials are donated to Habitat for Humanity and other organizations
How does Priority Restoration protect clients & staff from exposure to COVID-19
Priority Restoration follows all Public Health orders and ensures our staff are self-screening and wearing the appropriate PPE while working in your home or business.