"A Statement on Water Damages"

Restore It, in it's continuing effort to provide the best possible service at the fairest price and highest level of customer satisfaction, would like to take this opportunity to talk with you briefly about effective methods of servicing your insured when they have water damage claims.

For many years, the standard practice has been to extract standing water, pull the carpet and remove and replace padding. Restore It improved on this method by removing pad but drying the carpet in place in most situation, thus reducing wear on the carpet and cutting costs for the insurance company.

Extraction is always necessary when there is water still in the carpet. Extraction reassures the insured, promotes quicker drying time and helps eliminate browning caused by jute coloration and soil picking up the fibers as evaporation takes place.

After extraction, the furniture should be removed or pads put between the furniture and carpet to prevent rust or furniture stain. Furniture stain can never be removed. If we are there while the area is still wet, we will attempt to remove the furniture stain and are sometimes successful. Removal of the furniture or putting pads under the furniture also protects the furniture from moisture damage.

Padding removal is frequently not necessary and this is the area of water damage we want to address. With the use of under carpet fans, we have eliminated the need for padding removal and replacement in the majority of smaller losses.

There are many problems with removing carpet and padding from the insureds' premises. Older and inexpensive backing on carpet causes shrinkage when removed from the tack strip. Separation often occurs when carpeting is removed because the glue is less stable. Left in place and allowed to dry, the glue once more becomes fast. Relaying seams is one of the most difficult problems making them impossible to repair satisfactorily.

Many of these problems can be eliminated or at least reduced by extracting water and drying the padding and carpet on location. Some of the "fears" include the possibility of mold and mildew. Mold and mildew require constant moisture and high temperatures. Extraction and the under carpet fans eliminate both of these problems.

There are many advantages to this improved method:

• Customer is not subjected to living with cold, concrete floors.
• Customer is not subjected to avoiding dangerous, exposed tack strip.
• Chance of shrinkage eliminated
• Time factor- it generally takes substantially more time when carpeting is removed and taken to the contractor's warehouse.
• Greatly reduces the possibility of replacing the insureds' carpet.

Reduced cost

• ... you are charged only for the damaged area.
• ... no padding replacement cost.
• ... no pulling and relaying carpet.
• ... fewer carpet repair required
• ... less chance of carpet replacement

What is an "under carpet fan"?

How and why does it work? There are two types used by Restore It. One is our former exhaust fan with a "shroud" attached. This enables the air flow to be directed under the carpet. The newer "whistle" (it really looks like a big whistle!) fan is especially designed for under carpet drying. The padding remains in place on the floor and the carpet "flaps" gently with the increased air circulation.

Exceptions would include situations where the carpeting is laid over hardwood floors which could warp (such as upstairs) or "pier and beam" homes.