Hiring a water damage contractor in Alaska

Which credentials should I ask for?

Ask which credentials the firm holds, which of them apply to the work in Alaska and who issued each one. A firm should be able to answer those questions on the phone, and it should be willing to send the proof in writing before work begins.

Credentials differ by trade. A firm that dries a house, a plumber who repairs a line, a builder who replaces a structural member and an electrician who works on a circuit each hold different things, and each should show what it holds for the work it will actually do. A single certificate that covers everything should be treated with suspicion until it has been read.

Ask whether the firm holds any licence or registration that the work requires in Alaska, and ask for the number so you can check it yourself with the body that issued it. Keep the answer in writing. A firm that refuses to name its credentials or the body behind them is telling you something about the job.

When the answers come back, check them against what you can see. A crew that says it holds a credential should be able to show a copy and tell you its number. A number that cannot be found when you look it up is a question to raise with the firm before you sign, not after the work is done.

Is there a state licence for water damage restoration or mold work?

This page does not name a state licence for water damage restoration or mold remediation in Alaska. Ask any firm you hire which credentials it holds for those tasks, and whether they apply in Alaska, rather than assuming that a state licence exists for the work.

Some firms advertise a mold or restoration certification. An industry certification is a credential issued by a private body, and it shows training. It is not the same as a licence issued by a government, and the two should not be confused when a firm describes itself.

If a firm says it is licensed for mold work, ask it to name the body that licensed it and the number, and then check that record directly. A firm that cannot do this has not shown you a licence, and the question is still open.

What might the Municipality of Anchorage require?

The Municipality of Anchorage has permitting rules, and some water damage work may need a permit, particularly where structure, plumbing or electrical systems are changed. Ask the firm who will check whether a permit is needed and who will apply for it.

Drying and extraction usually do not change the structure of a house, but the repairs that follow can. Replacing a sill, a joist, a wall or a plumbing run may need a permit, and so may a change to the electrical work around a wet area. The contractor doing the repair should confirm the requirement before it starts.

Ask the firm to tell you in writing which permits it expects to need, who will obtain them and when the work will be inspected. A permit that is not obtained can leave the owner with a repair that cannot be signed off, and that matters at the point of sale or an insurance claim.

What proof of insurance should I ask for?

Ask for a certificate of insurance that names the firm, shows the insurer and the policy period, and describes the cover. Check that the cover includes the work the firm will carry out in your building, and ask who to contact if the certificate is out of date.

A certificate that is out of date or that covers a different type of work does not protect you if something goes wrong. Ask the firm to confirm its cover is current, and ask the insurer to confirm it if you are unsure. Keep a copy of the certificate with the scope.

Insurance on the firm does not decide whether your own policy pays for the water damage. Your own insurer makes that decision, and it is separate from the firm's cover. Ask both questions, and keep the answers separate in your file.

Ask whether the insurance covers the firm's own employees and its equipment on your property, and whether it covers the work done by any subcontractor the firm brings in. Subcontractors are common on repair jobs, and their cover should be checked the same way.

What should a written scope include?

A written scope names the rooms affected, the materials expected to be removed, the materials expected to be dried in place, the readings method, the target reference and the record you will receive. It should also say what the firm will not do, such as plumbing or roof repair.

Ask the firm to explain each line of the scope in plain terms, and to say what will change the scope. A scope that says only that the house will be dried, with no readings and no record, gives you nothing to measure the work against when it is finished.

Ask for the scope to be signed and dated, and ask what happens if a new item is found. The owner should be told why, and should approve the addition before it is made. Keep the signed scope with your photographs and your insurance papers.

Ask the references about the work that followed the first visit as well as the start. A firm that dries a house well still has to be judged on the record it left, the repairs it helped to plan and how it answered questions once the equipment had been removed.

What references and history should I check?

Ask for references from recent jobs of a similar size, and ask whether the firm will let you see a sample of its record. Check the firm's name against the business records you can reach, and ask how long it has been doing this kind of work.

A reference is most useful when it comes from a job that resembles yours, such as a basement after a supply break or a crawl space after a leak. Ask the reference what the firm did well and what it did not, and whether the record was delivered on time.

Ask to see a sample of the record the firm produces. A good record lists the readings, the photographs and the materials removed, and it says what was done at each visit. A firm that cannot show a sample has not shown you the thing you will rely on after the work.

A good scope also says who is responsible for protecting the rest of the house during the work, such as covering floors and closing doors, and who clears up at the end. Those details are often the first things an owner notices after a job, and it is better to settle them in writing before the crew starts.

Should the testing and the cleanup be done by the same firm?

For mold, it is better when the person who tests the air or the surfaces is separate from the crew that does the cleanup. A firm that tests its own cleanup has an obvious conflict, and a separate test at the end gives a clearer result.

Ask whether testing is part of the scope, and who would carry it out. If the same firm does both, ask how the testing is kept independent of the cleanup, and whether a second test is available after the work is finished.

Whatever the arrangement, ask for the results in writing, with the location of each sample. A result without a location tells you little about where the building still holds moisture.

What should I do if the firm does not answer these questions?

If a firm will not answer questions about its credentials, insurance, permits or scope, do not sign until it does. A reputable firm expects these questions and can answer them promptly, so a refusal is a sign to look elsewhere.

Keep the list of questions and the answers you receive. That list is useful if a dispute arises later, and it shows what was promised before the work started.

Remember that the work and the paperwork are the firm's own. The restoration line can connect you to a firm, but whether that firm holds what the job requires is for the firm to show you, and for you to check.