Insurance Claims · Emergency Response

When water or fire takes the wood.

We respond to water, fire, and smoke damage for residential and commercial clients across the Bay Area. Every project includes full documentation formatted for your insurer, and direct billing is available to approved carriers.

Active water damage right now?
Call us before you call your insurer. We will talk you through the first hour of triage — free, whether or not you end up using us.
Call now

Damage we restore every week.

From a burst pipe in a kitchen to a full smoke event, we work on all the surfaces an insurance claim typically covers. If your piece is not on this list, ask — the answer is often yes.

Water damage

Swollen joints, warped boards, water rings, and mould. We dry, stabilise, and restore — not just refinish over the problem.

Fire damage

Charred surfaces, heat warping, and smoke-saturated finishes. We assess what can be restored and what must be replaced.

Smoke damage

Odour and soot that penetrates raw wood and finish. We strip and re-treat affected surfaces; the smoke smell goes with it.

Parquet floors

Cupped, warped, or stained boards. Full floor replacement is rarely required — we replace only what cannot be saved.

Antiques & heirlooms

Higher-stakes pieces where both value and sentiment are elevated. We coordinate with your adjuster and, if needed, an independent appraiser.

Commercial property

Restaurant floors, hotel lobbies, office woodwork, and retail displays. We phase work around opening hours so you keep operating.

Five steps, insurer-ready throughout.

We have handled insurance-funded restorations for thirty years. The process is designed so your adjuster has everything they need — without you chasing paperwork.

01

Emergency call

Call us first. We triage on the phone — what to move, what to cover, what to leave alone. If the piece can be saved with immediate action, we will walk you through it.

Same day
02

On-site assessment

Within 24 hours of the call, we visit — often with a moisture meter, a camera, and no charge. We document everything in writing, with photographs, before anything is moved.

24–48 hours
03

Stabilisation & transport

We stabilise in place — dry, wrap, protect — and then arrange safe transport to the workshop. Fragile or high-value pieces are custom-crated. Everything is insured in transit.

48–72 hours
04

Documentation package

You receive a full written condition report, photographic evidence of damage and restoration, itemised cost breakdown, and a summary letter addressed to your adjuster. This is the same package we have been accepted with by every major carrier.

5 business days
05

Restoration & direct billing

Work begins once your claim is authorised (or, for smaller claims, immediately). For approved carriers, we bill the insurer directly — you pay only your deductible.

Per scope

Everything your adjuster asks for — already assembled.

Adjusters rarely reject a claim because it is invalid. They reject it because the documentation is incomplete. We have spent thirty years learning what gets claims approved the first time.

01

Written condition report

Multi-page assessment of every affected piece, describing the damage, cause, and required treatment in plain language.

02

High-resolution photography

Before, during, and after — with measurements and scale references so damage can be assessed without a site visit.

03

Itemised cost breakdown

Line-by-line scope of work, materials, labour hours, and finishing costs. Formatted the way most adjusters expect to see it.

04

Summary letter

A one-page cover letter addressed to your adjuster, summarising the claim and attaching the full package. No jargon, no padding.

05

Salvage & replacement recommendations

Where relevant, we distinguish between what can be restored and what must be replaced — with honest cost estimates for both.

06

Direct insurer liaison

If your adjuster has follow-up questions, they call us — not you. We answer their technical queries directly and, where needed, provide a second written opinion.

Approved for direct billing.

We work directly with most major carriers, so you are not out of pocket while your claim is processed. If your carrier is not listed, we can usually set up direct billing with a single call.

State Farm
Allstate
Farmers
Liberty Mutual
AAA
Chubb
AIG
Nationwide
USAA
Travelers
Mercury
CSAA
Not on the list? Tell us who you are insured with. In most cases we can arrange direct billing within one business day.

What to do before we arrive.

If damage is active, the first hour matters. These are the four things we tell every client on the phone.

01

Do not dry with heat

Hair dryers, space heaters, and radiators warp wood faster than the water itself. Move the piece to a cool, dry room and leave it alone.

02

Photograph everything

Before you move anything, take photographs from multiple angles. Include a coin or ruler for scale if you have one. Your insurer will want these.

03

Do not scrub

Wiping away soot or mould can spread contamination and remove evidence your adjuster needs. Leave surfaces as they are — we will handle cleaning.

04

Call us before your insurer

We can triage and stabilise immediately, often before an adjuster has been assigned. Your claim will move faster with us already on record.

Common claim questions.

Will you work with my insurance company directly?

Yes. We communicate directly with your adjuster, answer their technical questions, and provide any documentation they need. For approved carriers we also bill them directly so you are only out of pocket for your deductible.

What if my insurer denies the claim?

We do not negotiate on your behalf, but we will provide additional documentation, a second written opinion, or an independent appraisal if it helps. In most cases a clear condition report from a specialist resolves disagreements quickly.

Do you charge for the assessment?

No. On-site assessment and stabilisation are free within 25 miles of Mountain View. Beyond that radius, we charge a modest travel fee which is credited back if the claim proceeds.

How quickly can you respond to an emergency?

For active damage, we triage on the phone immediately and dispatch within 24 hours. For severe water damage where further loss is possible, we can often respond the same day, subject to crew availability.

What if I need a piece replaced rather than restored?

Some pieces genuinely cannot be saved. In those cases we provide a written replacement recommendation, including options for equivalent period pieces from our salvage network — and we tell you honestly whether restoration would be a better use of the claim.

Can you coordinate with my restoration contractor or moving company?

Yes. Many claims involve multiple trades — flooring, drywall, movers, storage. We coordinate directly with your existing contractors, and can recommend trusted partners for anything outside our scope.

How long does an insurance restoration take?

Stabilisation happens within days. Full restoration depends on the claim size and piece complexity — typically four to twelve weeks for a residential claim, longer for commercial. We provide firm timelines in the proposal so your adjuster can plan accordingly.

Do you handle commercial insurance claims?

Yes — restaurants, hotels, offices, retail, and institutions. Commercial claims often involve phased work to keep the business operating, and we specialise in scheduling around business hours.

Active damage? Call us first.

Assessment and stabilisation are free. We will talk you through the first hour of triage whether or not you end up using us — and if you do, we will handle everything the insurer needs.