From its inception, GCS Restoration has been committed to professionalism and exceptional customer service for residential and commercial properties throughout Central Florida. Our experts are experienced, fully licensed, and industry-certified. As a testament to the quality relationships formed with clients over the last thirty-plus years, we regularly receive referrals from friends and family of satisfied clients.

Insurance coverage is situationally dependent—each policy from each different company will have varying types and levels of coverage, and residential insurance policies will differ from commercial ones. The best way to know if damages are covered is to keep a copy of your policy on hand and contact your agent directly with any additional questions you may have.

If the area is safe for you to be in, the first thing you should always do is take photographs of the damages.

In the event of water damage, extract as much standing water as you can while waiting for help. If you have fans, set them up to start drying the area as much as possible. They won’t be enough to completely dry the area, but they can help minimize the chance of secondary damages.

In the event of a fire, we recommend leaving the area alone until professionals can address it. Fire damages can be made worse if improper cleanup techniques are used.

The length of time for proper restoration depends on the type and size of the damage. A typical water damage project usually takes 5-7 days for drying and removing unsalvageable materials, while restoration after a fire can take several weeks. This does not include the rebuilding portion of the job, which will have its own timeline.

Most policies for homeowners and business owners will cover water damages, but it may depend on the type and extent of the damage. There can be exceptions to coverage depending on your policy. For example, some policies will outline scenarios they will not cover without specific riders, such as flood insurance or sump pump failure insurance. This is why we recommend familiarizing yourself with your policy, as well as calling your insurance agent as soon as the damage occurs.

A good portion of water damage can be prevented by regular property maintenance. Routine plumbing, sump pump, and appliance maintenance are effective ways to prevent damages. We also recommend regularly checking your property’s exterior, particularly the roof, to ensure water is not leaking into your business or home.

It depends on what types of materials were affected. Drywall, carpet, and hardwood floors will take longer to dry out than other materials. We use moisture meter testing in areas throughout the property during the process to monitor our progress, and we’ll adjust fans and dehumidifiers accordingly. It’s important to ensure the property is completely dry—any remaining moisture could lead to mold growth.

You can begin removing water yourself after documenting the loss and damages done. Many insurance claims require proof of damages before any work is done, even if it’s work done by you. Take several photos and/or videos before starting any cleanup.

Also, be aware that standing water around power cords or outlets, as well as sagging ceilings, are a safety hazard. If the area isn’t safe to be in, wait until the professionals arrive.

It depends on the type of water. If the damage was done by Category 1 water (clean and free of microbes and bacteria), your inventory or personal belongings can still be salvaged. Category 2 water would include other water sources, such as rainwater. While this type of water would not contain any biohazards or sewage, it would still pose health risks and potential for microbial growth and mold.

A water damage restoration technician will help you sort through the contents of your property to determine what can and can’t be salvaged. Your restoration team will document the contents leaving the property for restoration or disposal for your records, as well as reimbursement from the insurance company.

Identifying the source of the water damage is one of the first steps in the insurance claims process as well as repair and restoration. We will pinpoint the exact cause of your water damage and make sure the source is repaired.

We have a multidisciplinary team of contractors and technicians to help complete the work as soon as possible, but it’s never a quick fix. Structural repairs, sand/soda-blasting, odor removal, and contents cleaning will take some time, but our crew begins as soon as the project scope is determined. We won’t stop until the job is complete and both you and your insurance company are satisfied with the results.

Usually it is, but you will need to check your specific policy for the full scope of coverage. This is also one of the reasons we help you through the claims process, so you can ensure the entire loss is properly documented and covered.

That will depend on the extent or location of the damage. The fire department will usually turn off electricity and gas to the property right away, and that won’t be restored until a building inspector says it’s safe to turn them back on. If you experienced significant smoke damage, it may be wise to stay out until the smoke is completely gone, especially if your property houses elderly people, young children, or those with compromised immune systems.

We do not recommend removing soot yourself. Commercially available products can actually cause permanent damage to surfaces. Soot itself is oil-based, but the residue also contains toxic and possibly biohazard contaminants. Instead, wait until the restoration team arrives to clean up the soot.

“Airing out” after a small fire may not be enough to get rid of the smoke. Smoke damage is rarely limited to one area of the property, and it leaves behind residue that can remain in crevices and other out-of-reach areas. We recommend consulting with a smoke damage technician who can help you troubleshoot the next steps.

Anytime moisture levels in your property are 60% or higher, mold can grow. The source of this moisture is usually hidden behind walls or underneath floorboards, which can make it difficult to spot.

It’s possible. Mold spores are microscopic and airborne, so you would breathe them into your lungs. Depending on the mold type and your immune system, you could develop some serious health conditions. That’s why we take mold removal seriously: we isolate and contain the space during cleaning so that spores do not spread to other areas of the property.

For most surfaces in your home, bleach will not actually get rid of mold. Visible mold is usually a small percentage of the actual amount of mold growth. Bleach cannot kill mold on wood or other porous surfaces. Tile or fiberglass can be cleaned with bleach, but the mold has often spread much deeper. This is why we do not recommend removing the mold yourself: cleaning the surfaces will likely not address the root problem.

Sometimes mold remediation is included if the mold was caused by a “covered peril,” such as a burst water heater. Gradual water damage, like a leaking pipe, will often lead to mold growth, but some insurance companies will not cover this. We offer inspections that can help you document the source of the mold, and we also work with you throughout the insurance process to help ensure you receive proper coverage.

If the inspection and assessment process was able to find and repair the cause of the mold growth, you can be confident about the success of remediation. For added assurance, you can ask your restoration technician for the IICRC certification for “Applied Microbial Remediation.”

We can repair any roof – from securing loose shingles or flashing, replacing missing or damaged shingles, to rebedding ridge caps, to replacing water-damaged roof decks. GCS Restoration has a team of experienced roofing contractors who can repair any roof damage you may be experiencing.

Damaged roofs cause roof leaks, which creates dangerous water and moisture problems in the house below. Whether the roof damage was caused by a hail storm, hurricane or tornado or fallen trees to simply granule loss due to aging roof shingles, prompt attention and repair will avoid further, more costly damage down the road.

The pricing for new roofs depends primarily on the square footage of the roof surface, the type of material you choose (asphalt, metal, cedar shakes, tile, etc.), and the complexity of your roof (dormers, steep angles, etc.) Because we’ve been installing new roofs within the state of Florida for years, we have the experience and resources to help you decide on a quality roof solution that will suit your budget.

While there could be some initial cost-saving in laying new shingles over an old, aged roof, we generally don’t recommend re-roofing. Old shingles also mean an old roof deck. By tearing off the old shingles, our licensed roofing contractor will then be able to spot any areas of instability or damage to the roof deck that may have been hidden by the shingles. We can replace any sections where there may be wood rot. Roof installation techniques and materials have also changed over the last couple of decades, and your old roof may not be up to code. “Re-roof” jobs may also not carry the same warranties as a full replacement.

When you decide it’s time to consider a new roof, consider first your budget and your goals. Metal roofs tend to last longer than asphalt shingles, but they cost more upfront and may not “fit in” with the neighborhood. Asphalt shingles are an affordable option, but even in that arena, there are choices that will determine the overall aesthetic and potential lifespan of the roof. Consulting a roofing contractor to help you make these choices is best. They’ll have the experience to help guide you towards the best result.