24/7 emergency restoration
Rebuild and reconstruction after damage
The emergency work removes what was ruined. The rebuild puts your home back. Having one team do both means the people rebuilding know exactly what was taken out and why.
- IICRC Certified Firm
- $5 million insured
- One team, emergency to rebuild
Before we arrive
Do this now
- 1Decide early whether you want like-for-like or upgrades. Upgrades are normally at your own cost.
- 2Keep samples or photos of flooring, trim and paint colours to match.
- 3Ask your insurer how the rebuild portion of the claim will be paid.
If anyone is in danger, or you smell gas or see sparking, leave the building and call 911 first.
Callback about rebuild
Leave a name and number and a person calls you back. For an active emergency, phone us instead.
From bare studs back to a finished room
Emergency work leaves a building clean, dry and partly dismantled. Reconstruction is the stage that returns it to the way it was, and for most people it is the longest part of the job. It is ordinary construction with one difference: the starting point is damage, and an insurer is often paying for part of it.
That difference shapes how the work is priced and approved. The scope is written to restore what existed before the loss, using materials of similar kind and quality. Insurers and restoration contractors generally work from itemised estimates so that each task and quantity can be reviewed. Changes you want that go beyond what was there are priced separately as upgrades.
There is a real advantage in having the same team do the emergency work and the rebuild. They know what was removed, what was found behind it and what was only dried. Nothing is lost in a handover, and there is one party accountable for the whole result.
What to expect on the first visit
The rebuild starts with a walk-through once the structure is confirmed dry and clean. Every room is measured and the scope is written up item by item: how many square metres of drywall, which flooring, how much trim, which cabinets and fixtures. Photos from the emergency stage are used to record what was there before, so that the scope restores it accurately.
You are asked about finishes at this point. If the original flooring or tile is no longer made, options are discussed, and the question of how far replacement should extend to get a consistent result is raised with your adjuster. Anything you would like to change or upgrade is noted and priced separately. You should receive the written scope and a rough schedule before any rebuild work begins.
What we do, in order
- 01
Scope and estimate
A written, itemised scope of repairs based on what was removed.
- 02
Permits
Where structural, electrical or plumbing work needs a permit, it is obtained before work starts.
- 03
Structure and services
Framing repairs, electrical, plumbing and HVAC by qualified trades.
- 04
Close up
Insulation, vapour barrier, drywall, taping and priming.
- 05
Finish
Flooring, cabinets, trim, doors and paint.
- 06
Walkthrough
We go through the finished work with you and deal with anything outstanding.
What a rebuild typically includes
- Structural repair
- Replacing or reinforcing framing, subfloor and roof members that were burnt, rotted or broken.
- Mechanical and electrical
- Rewiring, plumbing and ductwork repairs by licensed trades, with inspections where required.
- Insulation and vapour barrier
- Reinstated to current requirements where walls and ceilings were opened.
- Drywall
- Hanging, taping, sanding and priming, blended into existing surfaces where only part of a wall was removed.
- Flooring
- Replacement of the affected area. Where a continuous floor cannot be matched, the extent of replacement is agreed with the insurer.
- Finishes
- Cabinets, countertops, trim, doors, paint and fixtures.
Decisions you will be asked to make
| Like-for-like or upgrade | The insurer pays to restore what was there. Better materials are your cost. |
|---|---|
| Matching | If the damaged flooring or siding is discontinued, discuss with your adjuster how far replacement extends. |
| Paint | Usually the whole wall or room is painted so that the repair does not show. |
| Layout changes | Possible while walls are open, at your cost, and may need a permit. |
| Code upgrades | Work required to meet current code may or may not be covered, depending on your policy. |
| Timing | Whether you live in the house during the work or stay elsewhere. |
How long it takes
A single room is commonly a couple of weeks once materials are on hand. Kitchens, multi-room and structural rebuilds run longer, and permits and insurer approvals add time.
Insurance
Policies generally pay to restore what was there with materials of like kind and quality. If you choose better finishes, you pay the difference. Some policies also carry by-law coverage for work needed to meet current building code. Ask your adjuster.
This is general information, not advice on your policy. How restoration claims work.
Mistakes to avoid
Closing walls before they are dry. New drywall over damp framing traps moisture and grows mold. Readings should confirm it is dry first.
Starting without a written scope. Disagreements about what was included are much harder to resolve afterwards.
Skipping permits. Unpermitted structural, electrical or plumbing work can cause problems when you sell or make a future claim.
Mixing upgrades into the insured scope. Keep them separately priced so that the claim stays clean and you know what you are paying for.
Questions worth asking any contractor
Whoever you hire, including us, should be able to answer these plainly.
- Can I see the itemised scope, and what is not included?
- Which parts of the work need permits or inspections?
- Who are the trades, and are they licensed and insured?
- How will changes or newly found damage be handled and approved?
- What is the payment schedule, and how does it work with my insurer?
- Who is my single point of contact during the job?
Building back better
- In a basement that has flooded, choose tile or vinyl plank over carpet and laminate.
- Consider insulation and wall systems that tolerate moisture better than batts and paper-faced drywall.
- Raise electrical outlets, and move the furnace and water heater controls up, if the space has flooded before.
- Add the protective measures now while walls and floors are open: a backwater valve, a sump with backup, leak sensors.
- Keep the paint colours, flooring product names and a few spare boards or tiles for future repairs.
- IICRC Certified FirmRegistered with the restoration industry's standards body
- IICRC-certified techniciansTrained to the published standards for water, fire and mold work
- Ontario asbestos abatement worker training for Type 3 operationsThe approved training for the highest-risk class of asbestos work
- Liability insurance$5 million coverage with Intact Insurance
- WSIB coverageClearance certificate on request
- 24/7 responseEvery day of the year
Reconstruction and Rebuild: common questions
Can I upgrade while the room is open?
Yes, and it is often the cheapest time to do it. The insurer pays for like-for-like and you pay the difference for the upgrade. We price the two separately so it is clear.
Do I have to use the contractor my insurer suggests?
In Ontario you generally have the right to choose your own contractor for repairs. Your insurer may have preferred vendors, and you can ask how using your own choice affects the process.
How long does the rebuild take?
A single room commonly takes a couple of weeks once materials have arrived. Kitchens, bathrooms and multi-room jobs take longer because of cabinets, countertops and trade scheduling. Insurer approvals and permits can add time before work starts.
Will the repair match the rest of my house?
That is the aim. New drywall is blended into old, trim profiles are matched and whole walls or rooms are painted. Flooring is the hardest to match, which is why continuous floors are sometimes replaced beyond the damaged area.
Who pays the contractor on an insurance claim?
It varies. Some insurers pay the contractor directly, some pay you and you pay the contractor, and if there is a mortgage the lender may be named on the payment. Ask your adjuster early how it will work.
What does "like kind and quality" mean?
It is the standard most policies use. The insurer pays to replace damaged materials with ones of similar type and grade, not necessarily the identical product and not a better one.
What if more damage is found once work starts?
It happens, especially in older homes. The additional work is documented with photographs and submitted to the insurer as a supplement before it proceeds, so that it is approved and not left as a surprise.
Can I live in the house during the rebuild?
Often, if the work is confined to one area and the kitchen and a bathroom are usable. Expect dust, noise and trades coming and going. Where the only bathroom or the kitchen is out of service, or the work is extensive, staying elsewhere is easier, and your policy may cover additional living expenses while the home is unfit to live in.
Is the repair work guaranteed?
Ask any contractor for their workmanship warranty in writing before work starts: what it covers, how long it lasts and how to make a claim on it. Materials such as flooring, shingles and windows also carry manufacturer warranties, so keep the paperwork.
What happens at the end of the job?
There is a final walkthrough with you. Anything unfinished or not right goes on a short written list and is dealt with before the job is closed. On an insured loss you may be asked to sign a completion form, so sign it only when you are satisfied.
Reconstruction and Rebuild by city
- Toronto
- Mississauga
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- Vaughan
- Markham
- Oakville
- Burlington
- Milton
- Kitchener
- Cambridge
- Guelph
- North York
- Scarborough
- Etobicoke
- East York
- Caledon
- Bolton
- Richmond Hill
- Thornhill
- Unionville
- Woodbridge
- Maple
- Kleinburg
- Concord
- Aurora
- Newmarket
- Stouffville
- King City
- East Gwillimbury
- Georgina
- Keswick
- Sutton
- Halton Hills
- Georgetown
- Acton
- Pickering
- Ajax
- Whitby
- Oshawa
- Clarington
- Bowmanville
- Uxbridge
- Scugog
- Port Perry
- Brock
- Beaverton
- Cannington
- Stoney Creek
- Ancaster
- Dundas
- Flamborough
- Grimsby
- Lincoln
- Beamsville
- West Lincoln
- St. Catharines
- Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Niagara Falls
- Thorold
- Welland
- Pelham
- Port Colborne
- Wainfleet
- Fort Erie
- Waterloo
- Woolwich
- Wilmot
- Wellesley
- North Dumfries
- Centre Wellington
- Guelph/Eramosa
- Puslinch
- Erin
- Mapleton
- Minto
- Wellington North
- Brantford
- Paris
- Barrie
- Innisfil
- Bradford West Gwillimbury
- New Tecumseth
- Alliston
- Essa
- Springwater
- Clearview
- Stayner
- Collingwood
- Wasaga Beach
- Orillia
- Severn
- Midland
- Penetanguishene
- Tiny
- Tay
- Orangeville
- Shelburne
- Mono
- Woodstock
- Ingersoll
- Tillsonburg
- London
- Adelaide Metcalfe
- Peterborough
- Cobourg
Damage does not wait for business hours. Neither do we.
Call any time. If you would prefer we call you, request a callback.