Restoration FAQs
Our team got together and answered a list of the most common questions that our clients ask before and during restoration projects. Please contact us if you have further questions or need clarification.
You may be also interested in these helpful videos that explain the claims process:
Restoration FAQs
- How long will my project take?
- Can work be done in the evenings or weekends instead of during the day?
- Why should I use a certified technician?
- Why am I being asked to sign a Work Authorization Form?
- What is the difference between a restoration emergency and a restoration repair?
- After the emergency work is complete, what happens next?
- Who should I contact if I have questions about my restoration project?
- Who chooses the materials, colours, and products for my repair?
- How is damage and odour caused by smoke remediated?
Moisture FAQs
Contents FAQs
- What is a SOL form?
- What is a “Proof of Loss” form?
- If something is damaged but has sentimental value, can I still have it back?
- What happens to my personal contents during a restoration project?
Insurance Claim FAQs
- Who should I call if I have questions about my insurance claim?
- Why do I have to pay a deductible?
- Why do I pay my insurance deductible to DKI-Pro Pacific?
- When is my insurance deductible due?
- Will my insurance policy cover the work being completed?
- How much of this claim will my insurance policy cover?
Restoration FAQs
How long will my project take?
Since every claim is unique and has its own set of challenges, this answer will depend on your specific project. Your Project Manager will explain the process to you throughout your project and work with you so you understand your specific timeline.
Can work be done in the evenings or weekends instead of during the day?
If you are unable to be around during the day, we will do our best to find ways to get the project done around your schedule. We can use a “lock box” so that access to your property will be controlled, or we may choose to have you make arrangements with a friend or family member to provide us with access.
Why should I use a certified technician?
Certified Restoration Technicians have the knowledge and the experience to test materials and apply the most appropriate techniques required to return your space to a pre-loss condition – safely and efficiently.
Why am I being asked to sign a Work Authorization Form?
Before we are able to begin work on your property, insurance adjusters require that you sign a Work Authorization Form to prove we have legal access to your site. We also need to ensure that you are the owner of the property in question, and have the authority to provide us with this access.
What is the difference between a restoration emergency and a restoration repair?
Emergency restoration work is conducted immediately after a loss has occurred. During the emergency stage we will follow a damage mitigation process to halt and contain the spread of further damage, which may include removing wet or contaminated building materials, completing the structural drying process, testing for hazardous materials, and demolition. The restoration repair is the reconstruction work that returns your home to its pre-loss condition.
After the emergency work is complete, what happens next?
Once the emergency work has been completed, we will prepare a cost estimate for the restoration repair work, and submit it to your insurance company for approval. Once we have the go-ahead, the restoration repair process will begin.
Who should I contact if I have questions about my restoration project?
Your Project Manager can answer any questions about your specific job-site and any future work scheduled with DKI-Pro Pacific (and the sub-trades we employ).
Who chooses the materials, colours, and products for my repair?
When we provide an estimate, we allow for materials and products of a “Like Kind & Quality” (LKQ) to replace the original materials which were damaged. If you choose to make upgrades or changes that deviate from the original materials, a change order must be approved by the property owner, the Project Manager, and in some cases, the insurance adjuster. If a change or upgrade has an associated cost increase, a separate estimate will be prepared and the difference in cost over the LKQ repair will be payable by the homeowner.
How is damage and odour caused by smoke remediated?
The processes involved to remediate damage and odour caused by smoke will differ depending on the type of smoke encountered. In general, we will provide extensive cleaning methods that may include indoor air manipulation and control, the use of High Efficient Particle Aeration (HEPA) vacuums, and an ozone treatment.
Moisture FAQs
How long will this drying equipment be in my space?
We are typically able to dry structures and remove our drying equipment from your site in 3–4 days. Note this is a general estimate, and your project may require more or less time. Don’t hesitate to contact your Project Manager for a more specific answer.
These air movers and dehumidifiers are noisy! Can I turn them off at night?
You can, although we don’t recommend it. Turning off any drying equipment (such as air movers and dehumidifiers) will slow the process down, and ultimately require the tools to stay on site longer. Additionally, it is important to keep the equipment running as much as possible to prevent further damage associated with materials staying damp or wet for extended periods of time.
What happens after the dry-out portion of my claim is done?
Specialized sub-trades (also known as sub-contractors) are usually involved in the next step of the restoration process. This may include flooring installers, finishing carpenters, plumbers, and electricians. Once our estimate is prepared (which will include the estimates from all involved sub-trades), we forward it to your insurance adjuster. We must then wait for direction from the adjuster before we may proceed with the restoration work.
Is there anything I need to know about the dehumidifier in my space?
As our technicians will be regularly monitoring the drying process, we ask that you do not use or move any equipment on site. In general, however, it is important to keep any dehumidifiers upright (including during transportation), and to make sure that the hose that outputs the collected water flows downhill to the drains or buckets. Feel free to contact your Project Manager if you have any other questions or concerns about the equipment at your site.
Home & Business Content FAQs
What is a SOL form?
SOL is an abbreviation for “Schedule of Loss”. This is a formal document that details all items that have been damaged beyond repair so it can be reviewed by your insurance adjuster to assess your claim.
What is a “Proof of Loss” form?
The Proof of Loss form outlines information regarding the loss, including the time and cause (such as a fire or flood), information about those who have an interest in the property, building plans, and other specifications regarding damages done.
If something is damaged but has sentimental value, can I still have it back?
We will always try to clean any item to the best of our ability in order to return it to you. That said, once some materials are contaminated with sewage or smoke, they can never be truly cleaned; we may require that you sign a waiver that acknowledges the risks involved in keeping contaminated items.
What happens to my personal contents during a restoration project?
Depending on the scope of your project, some of your contents may be cleaned and returned to your property to be stored on-site. Otherwise, your contents may be taken to one of our cleaning plants and then stored at our secure warehouse facility (or alternate secure storage sites) until they can be returned to your property.
Insurance Claim FAQs
Who should I call if I have questions about my insurance claim?
Your Project Manager is always available to answer questions related to the work we are performing, including the related repair process. If you have questions specifically regarding your insurance plan and coverage amounts, your adjuster is the best person to contact.
Why do I have to pay a deductible?
When you first purchased your insurance policy, you also agreed to pay a pre-determined amount if a claim were to occur; this fee is referred to as the deductible, and is not negotiable. If you have specific questions regarding your deductible, please contact your Project Manager or your insurance adjuster for details.
Why do I pay my insurance deductible to DKI-Pro Pacific?
When making an insurance claim there is often a deductible payable by the policy holder. Depending on your policy (and the company that it’s with), your insurance adjuster may advise DKI-Pro Pacific to collect the deductible on behalf of your insurance company.
When is my insurance deductible due?
The deductible amount is due upon receipt of the deductible invoice, prior to the commencement of the reconstruction work.
Will my insurance policy cover the work being completed?
The decision of coverage is always made by your insurance provider. Before a claim is filed, however, our Project Managers will come to your home, assess the damage, and assist you in making an informed decision on whether you can make a claim or not.
How much of this claim will my insurance policy cover?
Every claim and insurance policy is different, so there is no single answer to how much your policy may cover. Once the insurance company has made the decision on how much your policy will cover, you will be provided with a scope of the work along with the cost. Any costs that are not covered by the insurance company are payable by the homeowner.
Our Service Territory
DKI-Pro Pacific’s exclusive service territory is highlighted on the map above. Please click on the office location closest to your property for contact details.
“...many thanks for managing the work and sourcing new windows. Please convey my thanks to your crew for their restoration work. No leaks!”
- Disaster Kleenup International (DKI)
- The Chamber: Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
- Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
- Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
- Canadian Homebuilder’s Association, Vancouver Island