In Case Of Damage

Water damage can happen from busted pipes, flash flooding, roof damage, close by water sources, or foundation problems. Water can damage your homes structure, create electrical hazards, ruin furniture, and cause dangerous mold growth if not taken care of immediately. Don’t try to clean up the mess yourself, get a professional like GUS North Bay to remove it safely.

GUS North Bay offers many services to help return your home or business to the state it was in before disaster struck. These services include:

• Computerized cost estimates
• Help with insurance claims
• Water damage assessment
• Water removal
• Dehumidification by desiccation
• Temperature control (heating, air conditioning, and temporary ventilation)
• Mold prevention
• Air quality testing and purification
• Locating and repairing the source of water
• Repairs to home damages

*Grey water means non-potable water. Wastewater from the shower, for example, is grey water.

Do

• Stay clear of any danger from electricity.
• If possible, turn off the water at the source of the spill or shut off the main water supply to the house to prevent any other water leak.
• Try to limit damage to contents as much as possible near the flood.
• Protect the structure and your property from any further damage.
• Remove as much water as possible using a wet vac or absorbent rags.
• Call GUS. We’ll put you in touch with your insurance agent or broker. We have agreements with all major insurers and we adhere to their standards and policies. Please be ready to disclose any important details about the emergency as well as your insurance policy number.

Don’t

• Try to dry the area out yourself. There is a risk of mold if it isn’t done properly.
• Turn off the fans set up by the post-disaster cleaning company.
• Move the fans.
• Shut off the dehumidifiers.

*Wastewater from toilets is black water and must undergo an intense treatment process before it can be reused.

Do

• Avoid coming into contact with the water because it is most likely contaminated.
• Turn off all heating and ventilation systems.
• Contact your insurer. You will be asked to describe the circumstances of the disaster to determine if your contract covers the damage in question. Have your insurance policy on hand.

Don’t

• Touch the water.
• Turn on the ventilation system or set up fans. That would spread the contamination to the rest of the residence.
• Try to salvage contents.

Discolouration, odour, interior and electrical damage are damages you should expect when a fire happens. Most discolouration will not show up until a few days after a fire. Many items such as plastic and wood can become warped or permanently damaged. Metal will corrode and rust within hours of a fire. Natural stone surfaces are likely to become permanently discoloured. If not treated as soon as possible fabric items will retain a smoke odour that cannot be removed and can be dangerous to the respiratory system. Electrical items such as outlets, switches, fuses, and more can be affected. These items can short circuit, making them no longer usable. Fire is attracted to cool areas in your home so exterior walls and windows are likely to become damaged. Ceilings are also more likely to have damage because heat rises.

GUS North Bay offers many services to help return your home or business to the state it was in before disaster struck. These services include:

• Computerized cost estimates
• Help with insurance claims
• Cleaning and removal of debris and toxic chemicals
• Repairs to damages
• Upholstery cleaning
• Odour neutralization and air purification
• Complete damage restoration services: structural, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, heating, painting, plastering, interior and exterior finishing, roofing, etc.

Do

• Call GUS, North Bay. We’ll put you in touch with your insurance agent or broker. We have agreements with all major insurers and we adhere to their standards and policies. Please be ready to disclose any important details about the emergency as well as your insurance policy number.
• Move around the house as little as possible to prevent soot particles from getting into stuffed furniture and carpets.

Don’t

• Enter your home without authorization from someone in charge.
• Try to clean the walls or other painted surfaces without talking to a post-disaster cleaning company first.
• Try to clean the carpets or stuffed furniture without consulting a post-disaster cleaning company first.
• Clean electrical appliances, televisions, radios, or other appliances that have been in contact with or close to heat, water, or fire without consulting an authorized service centre first.
• Consume canned or packaged food or beverages that were near the fire damage, smoke damage, or water. They could be contaminated.
• Use lights or fans installed on wet ceilings.
• Send your clothes to a cleaner who is not familiar with disaster cleanup because improper cleaning could permanently saturate the clothes with the smell of smoke.

High winds have the capability to tear shingles off of roofs, knock down trees, rip off siding, and damage windows and doors. Sometimes wind damage can go unnoticed after a storm, make sure to check the perimeters of your home to ensure there is no damage on the overhangs, exhaust pipes, the meeting point of the roof, and the wall. If a power line or a tree has fallen on your home or business, don’t try to remove it yourself.  Always call a professional damage restoration team like GUS North Bay to help you with the mess, we are available 24/7!

GUS North Bay offers many services to help return your home or business to the state it was in before disaster struck. These services include:

• Computerized cost estimates
• Help with insurance claims
• Roof repair
• Emergency board up
• Tree removal
• Site securing and debris removal
• Structural stabilization
• Complete damage restoration services: structural, carpentry, electrical, plumbing, heating, painting, plastering, interior and exterior finishing, roofing, etc.

Do

• Take photos of the damage.
• Call GUS. We’ll put you in touch with your insurance agent or broker. We have agreements with all major insurers and we adhere to their standards and policies. Please be ready to disclose any important details about the emergency as well as your insurance policy number.
• Secure the area if possible.

Don’t

• Try to cut or remove branches yourself.
• Climb onto the roof to check the damage.
• Touch fallen power lines.

Do

• Be sure to ventilate the affected room or rooms by opening the doors and windows to clear the odour from the air.
• As soon as possible, check the condition of your tank and find the leak. If you can, repair the leak to avoid further damage.
• Soak up the oil damage with absorbent material as quickly as possible.
• Remove contaminated furniture, appliances, and clothing from the area.
• Call GUS. We’ll put you in touch with your insurance agent or broker. We have agreements with all major insurers and we adhere to their standards and policies. Please be ready to disclose any important details about the emergency as well as your insurance policy number.

Don’t

• Smoke near the contaminated area.
• Touch oil with your bare hands.
• Heat the room.
• Dispose of oil outside.

Whether it’s graffiti or damage on your house, nicks or scratches on your car, or damage to your property, when you are the victim of an act of vandalism, you must try to remain calm. What are the steps to follow following an act of vandalism? What should you do? Who should you contact first? We’ve put together a short list of dos and don’ts to help you.

Do

• Take photos of the damage.
• Report a complaint to the police.
• Call GUS. We’ll put you in touch with your insurance agent or broker. We have agreements with all major insurers and we adhere to their standards and policies. Please be ready to disclose any important details about the emergency as well as your insurance policy number.

Don’t

• Put yourself in any danger by intercepting the vandals.
• Handle hazardous materials with your bare hands.
• Try to remove a graffiti by yourself.

When disaster strikes, many people are involved in the case. Here is the list of the main people involved and what they do.

• Insurer: The insurer (or the broker, as the case may be) is who you can deal with first if you are the victim of a disaster.
• Independent claims adjuster: Independent claims adjusters are professionals certified to analyze the facts and circumstances surrounding disasters (e.g., fires, theft, accidents) for a claims adjusting firm. These firms are hired by insurers to manage cases on their behalf. They work for multiple insurers.
• Internal claims adjuster: Internal claims adjusters are professionals certified to analyze the facts and circumstances surrounding disasters (e.g., fires, theft, accidents). They work for insurance companies.
• Broker: This is an independent company that acts as an intermediary between an insurance company and the consumer.
• Damage restoration company: This is an independent company assigned to restore an area damaged by a disaster.

Dealing With Mould Patches

All residences contain mould spores just waiting for the right conditions to grow. What are the right conditions?

• Heat
• Humidity
• Lack of ventilation
• Food in the form of organic material (e.g., paper, wood, jute fibre, dust)

Most of the mould found in a home is the same type found in bathrooms. It is on the surface, so you can simply clean it up without demolishing the wall.

However, do not take the presence of mould lightly, because over time it can damage building material and even the structure of your residence. Also, depending on the type of mould found in the home and the health of the occupants, mould can trigger allergies or even make people sick. So take basic precautions before cleaning up mould. If you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to contact a GUS professional.

Cleaning Methods

Do not use bleach. It is corrosive and dangerous if used improperly, and you don’t need it in this case. Here is what you do:

1. Dilute some dish soap in a pail of water.
2. Wear rubber gloves and a dust mask like the type painters use.
3. Dip a cloth in the pail, fold it in four, wring it out, and wipe the surface. Rinse the cloth in the bucket frequently. When you don’t see any more mould, it’s all gone.
4. Rinse the surface with clean water.
5. Paint the surface if it was yellowed by the mould.
6. If the extent of the damage is more severe or if you aren’t certain about the results, contact a GUS specialist, who will be glad to help.

• Insurance Bureau of Canada