WATER DAMAGE

Water Damage Mitigation Services

Water damage is more common than most people realize. Pipes break, toilets overflow, and dishwashers mysteriously spring leaks. The mitigation and repairs needed can range from very minor drying to removing floors, walls, and ceilings. The key to minimizing the damage (and the time it takes to getting your house back to normal) is to act quickly.

Count on Country Restoration in Ridgefield, WA, to inspect immediately and determine the best course of action. We use specialized equipment to detect water behind drywall and under floors. This allows us to remove as little material as possible but as much as is necessary to dry it out properly. Undetected water can eventually cause rot or mold if left alone.


Contact us today for an appointment or call us for your emergency service.

Water Damage Process

We are used to dealing with this type of damage, but most people who have never experienced it are not. To help you better understand what you can expect, we have laid out the typical mitigation and repair process for you.

  • First Steps:

    Locate the Source

    Locate the source of the water and, if possible turn it off (see video on this page).

    Most main water shutoff valves are either located in the entry closet, hall closet, or in the garage. If there is not a way to shut the water off in the house, use the main shut-off valve, usually located by the street.


    Protect Your Carpet

    Pick up any loose papers or fabrics off the floor. The dye from them can bleed into the carpet when it is wet. If the bottom of your furniture is wood or metal place, a small piece of tin foil (Plastic lids work too) under the legs to prevent wood stains or rust from damaging the carpet.


    Remove Standing Water from the Floor

    Extraction of water may or may not be recommended, as overly aggressive extraction can cause further damage to your flooring. If you choose to extract, only remove the initial standing water. Your mitigation specialist can determine what form of water extraction to use in your home.


    Contact a Mitigation Company

    We are available 24/7 to serve you in an emergency. When dealing with water intrusion in your home, time is not on your side. Delaying the dry-out process can cause further damage and prolong the process of getting your home back to pre-loss condition.


    Often it is best to have us come out to walk you through the claims process prior to filing a claim. We can advise you on the approximate costs involved so that you can make an informed decision on whether or not to file a claim.


    Call Your Insurance Agent

    If you decide to file a claim, you will want to get the claims process going as soon as possible.

  • What to Expect:

    • You will need to hire a restoration contractor
    • -You have the right to choose your own contractor to perform the repairs. When you hire us, we work for you, and we do everything possible to look out for your best interests.
    • -Mitigation should be performed as soon as possible to prevent further damage.
    • We will meet with your adjuster to determine the scope of repairs.
    • We schedule a city or county inspector for an initial inspection of your home to determine what permits may be needed.
    • Your Project Manager and Estimator will complete the estimate for repairs.
    • Once the scope and estimate have been completed, your Project Manager will give you an accurate timeframe based on the work required.
    • You may choose to have work performed that is above and beyond the insurance coverage. In this case, we will first agree on an estimate with your insurance company. Then we can discuss any changes that you would like and provide you with an estimate separate from the insurance work.
    • Throughout the process, there may be selections for you to make regarding colors, materials, etc. Your Project Manager will provide you with a calendar when the work begins, which will let you know when the selections should be completed.
    • We will have constant communication with you throughout the process, so that you are well informed of the progress.
    • Your Project Manager will be your main point of contact through the complete restoration process.
    • It is our goal to get you back into your home as soon as possible and make the process of getting your life back in order as smooth and easy as possible.

  • Personal Property (Contents):

    When you experience water damage, your personal property may become wet and sustain damage. Special handling is required in order to ensure that your possessions are cared for and restored back to their pre-loss condition, if at all possible. To help you better understand that process, this is an outline of how we care for your personal property.


    One thing that sets us apart is that we will inventory your “non-salvage” items for you (these are items that will not be restored due to their physical condition, staining, or cost to restore vs. cost to replace). This is typically the most time-consuming part of the process for you, and it is our goal to help you through it.


    Contents Process

    • Our Owner or one of our Project Managers will walk with you through all of the affected areas of your home and give you a general idea of what is likely able to be restored.
    • Then we can begin to pack out the necessary items in your home, taking a complete inventory of every item.
    • We will begin to inventory non-salvage items onsite.
    • Once all of the content items have been moved to Country Restoration’s main facility, we will begin an initial cleaning/drying of the items.
    • At this point, the salvage and non-salvage lists will begin to be more complete.
    • Once the initial cleaning/drying has been completed, we will schedule a time for you to go through the items with us, as we want to ensure that any items of personal or sentimental value can be given special attention and salvaged, if at all possible.
    • Next we can begin a second round of cleaning for the remaining salvage items.
    • We will finalize the salvage inventory.
    • We will also finalize the non-salvage inventory. It is possible in our inventory that we may label something differently than you do, so we have you look over the non-salvage items prior to disposing of anything.
    • All of the salvage items will be stored until the restoration is complete on your home.
    • Your insurance company will ask you to provide three pieces of information for each non-salvage item; 1) What it is, 2) When you purchased it, and 3) How much it will cost to replace it. We give you a complete inventory that lists everything out; you simply list out the other two items.
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