While West Michigan rarely faces large scale wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, or flooding, we do sometimes experience severe storms that can directly damage your home through hail, water, wind, lightning, and falling trees or branches. And although there are some steps you can take to reduce your home’s risk from storm damage, none of us can eliminate it entirely.
Fortunately, if you do experience storm damage we can help! Amber Valley Construction offers fast and comprehensive storm damage restoration services to control, contain, and limit the harm done to your home in the immediate aftermath of your emergency and also rebuild and restore interior spaces, structural elements, siding, roofing, and decks, and other materials to give you back your home and your peace of mind.
The following are some of the most common questions we receive about wind damage, lightning damage, tree damage, water damage, and other forms of storm damage in West Michigan, along with some best practices for reacting to or preventing storm damage when possible.
What Should I Do First If My Home Is Damaged In A Storm?
If your home is damaged the first most important thing you should do is to make sure that everyone in your family is safe and accounted for.
Move away from structural damage, broken glass and other debris, and standing water, and watch out for damaged electrical systems or downed power lines. Contact emergency services if anyone is hurt or if you have reason to suspect a downed power line, gas leak, smoke/fire, or any other threat to personal health and safety. If your roof appears unstable, have everyone leave the house and move to a safer location until it can be professionally inspected
Next, contact us and contact your insurance company. We’ll be on site as quickly as possible to evaluate the damage, move valuables away from the affected areas, and help dry and/or seal your home to limit and contain the problem as quickly as possible. Keep in mind that, when it comes to water damage in the home, the first 24-48 hours are the most important for removing moisture to prevent mold growth, odor, and even lasting structural failure.
We can even work with your insurance provider to help streamline the claims process and handle the details while you take care of your family members and key possessions.
Should I Take Pictures Of The Damage?
Once it is safe to do so, yes. You should absolutely take pictures.
As emotional as things can be in the moment, gathering thorough documentation of storm damage is essential for the insurance process. You will need to take detailed, clear, and complete pictures of all damaged areas and possessions, be they appliances, carpeting, roof shingles, siding, windows and window frames, HVAC units, decking, drywall, and more.
The more clear and comprehensive the information you collect before, during, and after the damage mitigation process, the better you will be able to support your insurance claim and accurately establish the extent and cost of the damage and, ultimately, your insurance payout.
What If My Home Was Damaged By A Storm But I Didn’t Notice It Right Away?
If you’ve experienced hidden storm damage that has impacted your home (leaks, molding, water damage, or structural failure) you should still reach out to Amber Valley Construction and your insurance provider as quickly as possible to limit the damage before it gets worse to begin the restoration process.
A delayed claim for storm damage can be more complex and difficult, so if you ever suspect storm damage has occurred but aren’t 100% sure you should reach out to Amber Valley Construction for a home inspection to confirm that all is as it should be.
How Long Does The Restoration Process Take?
It depends on the extent of your damage and the repair work required. Drying out a space, removing damaged materials, and sealing the structure should only take a few hours. Limited damage can usually be repaired in a matter of days or a week, while extensive structural or roof-related damage may take several weeks to fully rebuild and restore.
Our team will always keep you in the loop, offering a direct line of communication to help keep you informed of our progress and best estimates throughout the restoration process.
How Can I Speed Up My Restoration?
High quality home restorations take time, but there are some things you can do to limit the potential for bottlenecks and encourage a smoother, more efficient restoration:
- Facilitate communication by asking for updates and always sharing all relevant information between your insurance adjuster and Amber Valley Construction during the process
- Read and understand your insurance policy
- Make decisions quickly
- Be flexible and ensure workers and your adjuster can access the damaged space when needed
- Follow-up with your adjuster for timely updates and approvals
- Provide payment for all services in a timely manner
Will My Home Ever Be The Same?
Yes! Amber Valley Construction can completely and fully remove, rebuild, and restore your home, putting that storm and your home’s damage safely in the past.
Next time you experience storm-related home damage in Grand Rapids or other areas here in West Michigan, call Amber Valley Construction first!