First General Services of Western PA has been in the Fire, Water, and Storm restoration business for over 27 years and we’d like to share some of our knowledge and experience through a series of Frequently Asked Questions we get from customers when we are doing a Fire Restoration job for them.

The process is often confusing and there are alot of moving parts. We hope that covering a few quick questions, we can help you better understand what will happen if you have a insurance claim with fire damage. Here are some FAQ’s:

1.Will you get the smoke odor out and how?

Yes. We do it a few ways.One is that we use an industry specific ThermoFog machine. We create a negative air pressure in the house and use this machine to pump a special solution of "smoke" into your home.This solution significantly reduces the smell, especially in the impossible to reach cracks and crevices. We also use a new product in the industry: a Hydroxyl machine. We will also Ozone all of your contents that have a smoke smell.In addition, we open up your walls and clean any smoke that may snuck in behind them. We finish by sealing all of the walls up after we are done.

2.How much will it all cost?

Before we start ANY job, we give a detailed LINE by LINE estimate of what we are going to do and go over it with. With that line by line worksheet we show the price for each and every item down to the penny.You should get a DETAILED estimate on your work from whatever contractor you select.

3.How Long is the process?

This differs widely from job to job.Some smaller fires with just a smoke odor can be cleaned in as little as two days.Other larger fires that have extensive repair damage can take up to 6-8 weeks.

4.What about my clothes? When can I get them?

We are an 24/7/365 emergency response company.We understand that you need to live your life even if you home has been damaged.That is why we offer a 24 turnaround on any clothes that you need so life gets back to normal very quickly for you.

5.Will you work with my insurance company through the process?

We work with dozens and maybe over 100 carriers. We can work on your behalf to make sure the insurance company is aware of all the damage to your home and double check that you are covered for those damages.

6.   Have you done this before?
   

Only about 5,000 times.If you are working with a non-restoration contractor who is doing your fire restoration work, check on the job frequently. This is not just a remodel of your home. This is specialized work that takes years of experience to do properly. Get references from your contractor.

7.   Are you a registered contractor?
   

Yes we are.With both the PA Attorney General’s office and the Better Business Bureau (BBB).We encourage all of our customers to contact each of them before we start a job..

8.Are your workers checked before they come into my home?

Yes.We do a criminal background check on each of our employees.We also do random drug and alcohol testing.Be comfortable when we are in your home.

Hopefully these answers make you feel more comfortable when working on your fire claim. We serve most of Western PA and parts of Ohio close to Youngstown.We try to keep our company website up to date with the latest Fire, Water, Smoke, and Storm restoration information.Feel free to email me and ask more questions if you have them!