Rebuild & Repairs

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you only do rebuilds after a water or fire job, or standalone repairs too?

Both. Most of our rebuild work comes right after one of our own mitigation jobs, which is the cleanest way to do it, since the loss is already documented and the rebuild picks up right where the cleanup left off. But we also take standalone repair work for homeowners and property managers: drywall, flooring, structural fixes that have been put off. You don't need to have had a disaster to call us.

Do I have to deal with two companies for the cleanup and the rebuild?

No, and that's the main reason people keep it under one roof. You deal with Flood & Flame for the whole thing: we document the loss, estimate the rebuild, manage the crew that does the work, pull the permits, and handle your adjuster. You've got one company accountable for all of it, instead of refereeing between a restoration company and a separate contractor when something slips.

Will the rebuilt area match the rest of my house?

We match existing textures, paint colors, flooring and finishes so the repaired section blends in instead of standing out. Where your original materials are discontinued, or a partial repair would leave an obvious mismatch, your Replacement Cost Value coverage is the tool for arguing the match should carry further, and we'll help you make that case to your adjuster. A repair that obviously looks like a repair isn't a finished job to us.

How long does a rebuild take?

A rough rule of thumb is about a day of work for every $1,000 of approved scope, so a $6,000 repair is roughly six working days. Bigger jobs run longer for adjuster approvals, permits, inspections and material lead times. One thing that surprises people: the biggest cause of delay usually isn't the construction, it's the finish selections, so the faster you lock in flooring, paint and fixtures, the faster it goes. We give you a real timeline once the scope is agreed.

Will I have to move out during the rebuild?

It depends on how much of the home is torn up. A contained repair you can usually live around; a larger rebuild, with demolition, dust and crews working through the house, often isn't comfortable or safe to stay in. If your home is judged uninhabitable, your policy's Additional Living Expenses coverage is meant to cover a hotel or rental, and we'll help you document it. We give you a straight read on whether you can stay once we've seen the scope.

Will you work with my insurance on the rebuild?

Yes. We document the work with photos, measurements and detailed estimates so the rebuild scope lines up with your claim, file supplements for anything the adjuster's estimate missed, and deal with your adjuster directly. Mitigation, any abatement, and the rebuild are each estimated and billed separately, the way insurers want them and sometimes with different adjusters, but with one company carrying all of it the rebuild builds straight on what we already documented, so nothing slips between the phases.

What happens if you find hidden damage once the walls are open?

It's common to uncover damage during tear-out that nobody could see at the first inspection. If it was caused by the same loss, like water that crept under a subfloor, it's usually covered, and we document it and file a supplement with your adjuster. If it's a pre-existing problem like old rot or wear, that's not part of the claim, and we won't dress it up as new damage to the insurer, because that's fraud. Since the walls are already open, it's often the cheapest time to fix it, and we'll give you a separate estimate if you want it handled.

Will the rebuild have to meet current building codes, and who pays for that?

Rebuilds often have to bring older work up to current code, like electrical or plumbing that was fine for decades but no longer meets today's rules. If your policy has Ordinance & Law coverage, it pays for those required upgrades. If it doesn't, the difference can fall to you, since we're legally bound to build to current Georgia code. We flag the code items early, check your policy for an ordinance limit you might not know you have, and make the case to your adjuster.

Can I upgrade finishes or add improvements while you're already rebuilding?

Often yes, and since the area is already open it's usually the most cost-effective time to do it. Insurance only pays to put the home back the way it was, your preloss condition, so it won't cover an upgrade like going from carpet to tile or adding something that wasn't there before. The covered work still applies; you just pay the difference for the upgrade. We put that in writing as a change order with clear pricing before we start, so you know exactly what comes out of pocket, with no surprises at the end.

What if asbestos or lead turns up during the rebuild?

In a home built before 1980 it's a real possibility, and if anything suspect turns up we stop in that area, test it, and don't disturb it until we know. If it's positive and it's in the way of the work, it has to be abated first. We're licensed to handle asbestos abatement ourselves, so we can fold it into the job and submit it to your insurer as part of the loss instead of stalling out waiting on another company.

Do you warranty the work?

Yes. We warranty our workmanship, and manufacturer warranties cover the materials where they apply. At the end we walk the whole project with you, write up a punch list of any touch-ups, and don't call it done until those are handled.