The Ranking
Our top 5 restoration companies in Columbus
Most restoration calls in Columbus start in the basement. Heavy spring and summer rain, failed sump pumps and sewer backups put water into finished lower levels across the city, and many of the recent reviews for the companies below describe basements flooded during this year's heavy storms. Winter brings a second wave, when pipes in exterior walls, crawl spaces and unheated garages freeze and split. Kitchen fires, dryer fires and the smoke that follows round out the work, along with mold that shows up behind drywall weeks after a slow leak.
Insurance shapes almost every job. A standard homeowners policy usually covers sudden water damage such as a burst pipe, but surface flooding needs separate flood coverage, and sewer or drain backup is often limited unless you added an endorsement. Read your policy, call your insurer early and take photos before anything is moved. Most restoration firms will work directly with your adjuster and bill the insurer once you sign a work authorization, but you still owe the deductible and anything the policy does not cover, so read that authorization before you sign it.
Speed matters because wet drywall, carpet pad and framing start to grow mold within a couple of days. The companies on this list all run 24 hour phone lines, and several promise a crew within an hour or two. A good crew will take moisture readings on the first visit, set air movers and dehumidifiers, and log readings every day until the structure is dry. Ask whether they follow the IICRC S500 standard for water damage and the IICRC S520 standard for mold remediation, and ask for copies of the drying logs for your insurance file.
Ohio does not issue a statewide licence for water damage restoration or mold remediation, so the checks are different from states that do. Ask for the IICRC certification of the technician leading your job, a certificate of liability insurance and proof of workers compensation coverage through the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Reconstruction work such as structural, electrical or plumbing repairs may need permits from the City of Columbus Department of Building and Zoning Services, and a contractor doing that work should pull them.
