Fire & Water Damage Restoration in Pickering

Our IICRC-certified mitigation partners (Restorx, ServiceMaster, Steamatic, FirstOnSite) operate 24/7 emergency dispatch with 1–4 hour first arrival. Initial water extraction and drying-equipment setup within 4–8 hours of the call. RenoHouse handles homeowner intake, insurance notification, and the reconstruction phase. Time matters — within 24–48 hours of a water event, mold begins to grow on porous surfaces. Call 289-212-2345 for emergency dispatch — we route to the right partner immediately.

Yes — for most major Canadian insurers (Aviva, Intact, TD, Wawanesa, Co-operators, Square One, Economical, Allstate) we direct-bill against the approved claim settlement. Homeowner pays the deductible only ($500–$5,000 typical). For specialty or smaller insurers, the homeowner pays and submits for reimbursement. We provide an itemized Xactimate scope-of-work (the insurance-industry-standard pricing platform) for direct adjuster reconciliation, meet with the adjuster on-site, and align on settlement before reconstruction begins.

IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification) is the industry-standard credential for water-damage mitigation, structural drying, mold remediation, and fire/smoke restoration. Certifications include WRT (Water Restoration Technician), ASD (Applied Structural Drying), AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician), and FSRT (Fire and Smoke Restoration Technician). Insurers typically require IICRC-certified mitigation for emergency-phase work. RenoHouse does NOT hold IICRC certification in-house — we partner with certified firms (Restorx, ServiceMaster, Steamatic, FirstOnSite) for the emergency mitigation, then take over the reconstruction phase ourselves.

Honest scope-split. Emergency mitigation is a 24/7 operation — water-extraction trucks, dehumidifier inventory, on-call drying technicians, IICRC certifications, biohazard cleanup capability. RenoHouse is a renovation contractor, not a 24/7 mitigation firm. The reconstruction half of a restoration project — drywall, flooring, kitchen rebuild, paint — is our core competency. By partnering with IICRC-certified mitigation firms for the emergency phase and taking over for the reconstruction phase, the homeowner gets specialized expertise on both sides. One point of contact (us) for the homeowner; two specialized teams for the two phases.

Insurance-driven, varies widely by event severity. Small water-damage rebuild (kitchen ceiling drywall + ceiling repaint + minor cabinet/floor work): $5,000–$15,000. Standard basement-flood rebuild (full basement drywall, flooring, baseboard, paint): $15,000–$45,000. Major water/smoke event (multi-room, full kitchen rebuild): $45,000–$100,000+. Severe fire (whole-home reconstruction): $100,000–$500,000+. Most projects are insurance-driven — homeowner deductible $500–$5,000, balance billed to insurer. Approved settlement amount comes from the adjuster after on-site walkthrough; RenoHouse aligns scope to settlement before starting work.

(1) Damage documentation — photos, video walkthrough, itemized contents list, moisture readings, fire-damage scope. (2) Insurer notification — RenoHouse can call the claims line on the homeowner's behalf. (3) Itemized scope-of-work — Xactimate-based or our own line-item estimate. (4) Adjuster meeting on-site — we walk the scope and align on settlement. (5) Direct billing or reimbursement — varies by insurer. (6) Supplements — if hidden damage is discovered during reconstruction (e.g., wet insulation behind drywall), we file a supplement for additional approval. (7) Final completion docs — receipts, photos, lien-waivers, Form 13 for close-out. Most claims close in 60–120 days.

Common gaps: (1) Sewer backup — standard policies require a sewer-backup endorsement; without it, sewer flood damage is not covered. (2) Flood from outside — overland flood requires a separate endorsement (introduced in Canadian policies after 2013); not all homeowners have it. (3) Maintenance issues — pre-existing leaks or chronic moisture are typically excluded. (4) Coverage limits — older policies may have low water-damage caps. We help homeowners identify gaps, document scope, and negotiate with adjusters; we don't sell insurance or adjust claims, but we make sure the scope is fully itemized so nothing is missed in the settlement. For uninsured portions, we offer phased reconstruction so the homeowner can spread cost over multiple budgets.

Yes — many smaller water events (under $5,000) are below the deductible threshold and homeowners pay out-of-pocket. We provide the same quality reconstruction work; we just don't run the insurance claim process. For non-insurance jobs we run a standard renovation contract — fixed scope, fixed price, milestone payments. Often this is the right approach for small leaks or homeowners with high deductibles.

Emergency mitigation phase (water extraction, structural drying): 3–14 days. Insurance adjuster review and scope approval: 5–21 days. Reconstruction phase: 2–12 weeks depending on scope. Total project clock: 6–18 weeks for typical residential restoration. Major events (whole-home fire reconstruction): 3–9 months. We provide a detailed schedule at the scope-approval stage and weekly progress updates throughout reconstruction.

Yes — through our IICRC AMRT (Applied Microbial Remediation Technician) certified partners. Within 24–48 hours of a water event, mold begins to grow on porous surfaces. The mitigation crew handles mold remediation as part of the emergency phase: containment, removal of contaminated materials (drywall, insulation, flooring), HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial treatment, post-remediation verification testing. RenoHouse handles the reconstruction after mold remediation is complete and verified. For larger mold remediation scopes we coordinate Type 1, 2, or 3 abatement per Ontario Ministry of Labour Reg. 278/05.