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Hiring a water damage or mold company: what to check first
License, permit, inspection. Three checks that take a few minutes and tell you most of what you need to know before work starts. Pick your city for the local details.
Calls are answered by an independent provider that serves your ZIP code. You decide whether to hire.
- Answered by a local provider
- Matched to your ZIP code
- Hiring is your decision
Guides by city
- Nashville, TNDavidson County
- Chattanooga, TNHamilton County
- Murfreesboro, TNRutherford County
- Franklin, TNWilliamson County
- Brentwood, TNWilliamson County
- Lebanon, TNWilson County
- Huntsville, ALMadison County
- Birmingham, ALJefferson County
- Montgomery, ALMontgomery County
- Decatur, ALMorgan County
- Auburn, ALLee County
- Opelika, ALLee County
- Prattville, ALAutauga County
Questions to ask before you hire
- Have you found and fixed the source of the water, or only the damage?
- How will you know the structure is dry? Ask for the moisture readings.
- Do you have experience with mold cleanup, and references I can call?
- Will you document the damage for my insurer before removing anything?
- Can I have the scope and the price in writing before work starts?
Problems and costs, explained
Water damage on the ceilingA stain on the ceiling is the end of the story, not the start. The water came from somewhere above it, and that is the first thing to find.
Flooded basement: what to doThe order matters more than the speed. Electricity first, then the water, then the photographs, then the pump.
Mold in the crawl spaceMold in a crawl space is a moisture reading you can see. Cleaning it off without changing the moisture buys a few months.
Crawl space encapsulation: what drives the costEncapsulation is a liner, sealed seams and a way to dry the air. What it costs depends on what has to be fixed underneath first.
Does homeowners insurance cover water damage?The usual answer turns on two words: sudden and accidental. Your own policy is what actually decides.- Does homeowners insurance cover mold?Insurers do not ask whether there is mold. They ask what caused the water that fed it.
- Mold remediation: what drives the costMold jobs are priced on how much has to come out and how hard it is to reach. The moisture fix is a separate line, and the one that matters most.
- Mold testing: when it is worth paying forThe first question about mold testing is not what it costs. It is whether you need it, and the EPA's answer is usually no.
- Mold on drywallDrywall is paper over gypsum, and mold eats paper. What you see on the painted side is often the smaller half.
Water damage restoration: what drives the costRestoration is two jobs with two prices: getting the building dry, and putting back what had to come out.
Jobs people call about
- Water extraction and dryingPumping out standing water, then drying the structure with air movers and dehumidifiers. The EPA's window is 24-48 hours.
- Ceiling and wall damageFinding the source, drying what can be saved and replacing what cannot.
- Flooded basements and crawl spacesPumping, drying and dealing with what the water left behind.
- Mold cleanupFixing the moisture source, containing the area and removing mold and materials that cannot be cleaned.
- Sewage backupsContaminated water needs protective equipment and disposal of porous materials.
- Repairs after dryingDrywall, flooring and insulation. This is the part where licenses and permits come in.
About this site
Is ProDoorstep a restoration company?
No. ProDoorstep is a guide and a connection service. When you call, you are connected with an independent water damage or mold provider that serves your ZIP code.
Who do I pay for the work?
The provider you hire, or your insurer pays them if the loss is covered. ProDoorstep does not collect payment for jobs.
Do I need a mold test?
Usually not. The EPA says that in most cases, if visible mold growth is present, sampling is unnecessary.
Can I clean up mold myself?
The EPA's rule of thumb is that an area smaller than about 10 square feet is usually a job you can handle yourself. Larger areas call for a professional.
Talk to a local water damage or mold company
One call. You describe the job, and the provider that serves your ZIP code takes it from there.