Property restoration after severe weather begins with emergency property damage mitigation and continues through inspection, assessment, restoration design, selective removal, structural drying when required, repairs, reconstruction, final inspection, and project documentation.
1. Storm Damage Intake and Immediate Property Needs
Document what happened, identify immediate safety concerns, determine where the property remains exposed to the weather, and establish which emergency measures are needed first.
2. Immediate Safety and Hazard Review
Identify fallen trees, unstable structural components, damaged electrical service, sharp debris, broken glass, open roof areas, unsafe access, and other conditions that may affect people or the property.
3. Emergency Weather Protection and Structural Stabilization
Cover damaged roof areas, close broken openings, stabilize unsafe building components, and stop additional wind and rain from entering the property. This emergency mitigation must be completed before interior removal, drying, and restoration can proceed.
4. Exterior and Building Envelope Inspection
Inspect the roof and exterior building envelope to identify property damage caused by wind, hail, falling trees, debris, tornadoes, and water entry. The inspection covers roofing, decking, underlayment, flashing, siding, sheathing, gutters, fascia, soffits, windows, doors, trim, penetrations, transitions, and adjoining exterior components.
5. Structural Damage Inspection and Assessment
Inspect the structural components affected by the storm and determine how the damage changed the condition of the property. The assessment addresses framing, roof structure, wall systems, supports, connections, movement, impact locations, and adjoining components before the restoration is designed.
6. Interior and Concealed Water-Entry Investigation
Inspect attics, ceilings, walls, insulation, flooring, rooms, and concealed areas that may have received rain or moisture through the damaged building envelope.
7. Property Damage Analysis and Documentation
Analyze the inspection findings by property location, building system, assembly, material, and type of damage. The documentation establishes the conditions that must be addressed through mitigation, restoration design, repairs, or reconstruction.
8. Inspection Findings and Property Owner Report
Report the documented conditions to the property owner and identify the work supported by the inspection findings. The report distinguishes emergency mitigation needs, concealed conditions, structural concerns, drying requirements, restoration design needs, repairs, and reconstruction.
9. Restoration Design, Scope Development, and Project Planning
Use the inspection findings and documented property conditions to design the restoration. The scope coordinates emergency property damage mitigation, selective removal, structural work, structural drying when required, exterior restoration, interior reconstruction, permits, inspections, and the trades required for the property.
10. Selective Removal of Unsalvageable Materials
Remove storm-damaged and water-affected materials that cannot be restored. Selective removal exposes concealed areas, makes trapped moisture accessible, and prepares the property for effective drying and restoration.
11. Property Damage Mitigation and Structural Drying
When a storm-created opening allows water into the property, remove the remaining water and dry the affected structure after unsalvageable materials have been removed. Moisture readings guide the drying work until the materials that will remain are ready for restoration.
12. Exterior and Structural Restoration
Perform the approved roofing, siding, gutter, fascia, soffit, window, door, framing, sheathing, flashing, weather-barrier, and related exterior or structural work.
13. Interior Restoration and Reconstruction
Repair ceilings, walls, insulation, flooring, trim, paint, cabinetry, mechanical components, electrical components, and other interior conditions affected by the storm or resulting water entry.
14. Final Inspection and Completion Documentation
Review the completed work, document repaired and reconstructed conditions, address remaining project items, and provide the property owner with the project documentation developed through the restoration.
