RIA Certified Restorer training can avoid such disasters as:

"The Job That Never Ended" This was a residential loss where the bowl of a recently-installed toilet shattered, allowing water to run for up to two days (the exact time unknown because the owners were out of town). This project was marked by several contractors and the active intervention of the owner and his public adjuster. After rancorous dispute at every stage, the project was finally completed three years after the date of loss. The cause: not one of the contractors performed a comprehensive mapping of the moisture distribution, while long periods of HVAC shutdown resulted in a seemingly endless recurrence of mold.

"The Floor That Kept Cracking" The kitchen had a large center island, granite counter tops, and a ceramic floor. The dishwasher overflowed and a long perpendicular crack developed in the floor tiles. The contractor replaced the plywood underlay and installed a new floor. The owner stated she heard "cracking" noises underfoot and shortly thereafter observed a new crack, identical to the first. After some grumbling, the flooring contractor took up the tile, his new underlay, and replaced a section of the plywood sub floor before reinstalling the floor as before. A few days later the crack reappeared. Neither the flooring contractor nor the insurance company were interested in a third attempt. While there is no record of how this was resolved, it was apparent that the floor was overloaded by the large island cabinet, the granite counter tops and the substantial girth of the owner. The replacement sub floor should not have been cut to fit around the cabinets, which should have been removed and the sub floor installed in full sheets with the joints properly spaced.
"Chem-Sponge Contamination" A typical residential furnace puff-back left a coating of soot on every exposed surface. The restoration firm's estimator told the owners their customary procedure was to clean the walls, ceilings, and furnishings with Chem-sponges. Immediately following the repairs the occupants began to experience itching and throat soreness that they claimed were caused by chemical residues left by the Chem-sponges. They demanded that the entire home be washed down and repainted. Of course, there really is no "Chem" in Chem-sponges. They are composed entirely of foam rubber. Their cleaning action is like that of a pencil eraser, except that they retain the particles in a multitude of pore-like cavities. Only on-site environmental testing and a laboratory report that confirmed the absence of irritating "chemicals" in the sponges could resolve the issue. The cause of the itching was never established.

These and similar tales point up reasons why skepticism abounds in today's restoration environment. Fears of toxicity, health effects, and incompetence are often, but not always, groundless. A higher level of knowledge and expertise, exemplified by RIA's Certified Restorer program, goes a long way in establishing confidence in damage repair. The comprehensive RIA Certification program is the most rigorous and substantial training available for this industry. It is a designation that means something.

Special Reports /

The Ph.D. for Damage Repairers

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