When a pipe bursts, the first call is usually the right one: a water restoration company. They show up fast, pull the water out, open walls, set fans and dehumidifiers and keep the house from getting worse. That is skilled, important work, and a good mitigation crew can save a home.
But many homeowners assume the restoration company is also handling the insurance claim. Usually it isn’t, at least not the whole claim. This page explains the difference, so nothing falls between the cracks.
What the restoration company does
- Emergency water removal and drying
- Moisture readings and drying logs
- Removing wet drywall, flooring and insulation that can’t be saved
- Mold prevention during drying
- Billing the insurance company for that mitigation work
Their invoice covers their work. That is usually where their part of the claim ends.
What’s left after the fans are gone
Once the house is dry, the bigger part of the claim is still open, and it is usually yours to handle alone:
- Putting the house back together. New drywall, flooring, cabinets, trim, paint, and sometimes rooms that weren’t wet but have to match.
- Your belongings. Furniture, rugs, clothing and anything stored in a wet basement.
- Living expenses if the family had to move out while the house dried and was rebuilt.
- The cause-of-loss question. Whether the insurer agrees the leak was sudden and not “long-term” or “wear and tear”.
- Code items and hidden damage found once the walls are open.
- The depreciation holdback that has to be claimed after the repairs are done.
This is the part of a water claim where the dollars are, and where the insurance company’s estimate is most often thin. See our pages on water damage public adjuster and burst pipe claims: the first 24 hours.
How the two jobs fit together
Think of it as a relay. The restoration company stabilizes the property and documents the water. We pick up the claim from there, until it is paid. We use their moisture maps and photos, write a full repair estimate line by line, list the contents, deal with the adjuster, and handle supplements when more damage turns up. The restoration company gets back to what it does best, and you have one person on your side for the rest.
We don’t take kickbacks from contractors or mitigation companies, and we don’t tell you who to hire. You pick your restoration company and your contractor.
Signs your water claim is bigger than it looks
- Water reached a second floor, a finished basement or more than two rooms
- Kitchen or bathroom cabinets got wet
- Flooring runs continuously through several rooms
- The family had to move out, even for a few nights
- The insurer is questioning whether the leak was sudden
- The insurer’s estimate arrived before the restoration company finished drying
Where we work
We handle large water claims for homeowners and property owners in Rockland County (including Monsey, Spring Valley, Nanuet and New City), Orange County, Westchester County, and in New Jersey in Bergen County and Passaic County.
Frequently asked questions
Should I call a restoration company or a public adjuster first after a burst pipe?
Call the restoration company first to stop the damage. Your policy requires you to protect the property. Then call a public adjuster the same day, so the claim side is handled while the house is drying.
Doesn’t the restoration company handle my insurance claim?
Usually they bill the insurer for their own mitigation work. The rebuild, your contents, living expenses and any coverage dispute are usually still yours to handle unless you have someone representing you.
Will my insurance pay for the restoration company?
Usually yes, when the water damage itself is covered. Insurers sometimes question drying days or equipment, so the restoration company’s moisture logs matter.
What if the insurer says the leak was long-term?
Get the reason in writing and keep the evidence: the failed pipe or fitting, the plumber’s notes, photos and moisture readings. A “gradual leak” denial can sometimes be challenged with better evidence of how and when the leak happened.
Can a public adjuster and a restoration company work on the same claim?
Yes, and it works best that way. They mitigate and document the water. We handle the full claim with the insurer until it is paid.
Talk to a licensed public adjuster
Big water loss in New York or New Jersey and the drying is done (or still going)? Call or text 845-456-6699. We will tell you where the claim stands and what is still open.
GB Claims LLC – Licensed Public Adjuster. NY License PA-1988333 · NJ License #3004401530 · PA License #1336704 · CT License #3004375850. We work only for the policyholder, never for the insurance company.