Round Rock, Texas

Water damage cleanup in Round Rock

Wet carpet, a stained ceiling, or a room that needs to dry out? Text me what happened and where. I’ll help you find a local restoration company. OnHand Home is not an emergency service, so if water is still coming in, stop it first.

Text Terry about water damage

OnHand Home is not a restoration company. I help you find one, and you get their business name before you agree to anything. There is no charge for my help. You pay the restoration company for the work.

What the work involves

Water damage work has two jobs: get the structure dry, and put it back together. Drying comes first. A company removes standing water, pulls wet materials that cannot be saved, and runs fans and dehumidifiers until the framing and drywall are dry. Rebuilding follows, and may be a separate company.

The source matters. A burst supply line, a failed water heater, a roof leak and a sewer backup are different problems. Sewage and flood water carry more risk than clean supply water. Tell the company what the water came from.

Mold is a separate question. A company that dries a house is not necessarily licensed to remove mold. Texas treats mold assessment and mold remediation as licensed work, with exceptions for small areas.

When people call about water damage

A pipe, supply line or water heater leaked and soaked a floor
Water came in around a window, door or roof after a storm
A washing machine or dishwasher hose failed
A ceiling stain that keeps growing
A musty smell, or visible mold, in a closet or wall
Wet carpet or padding that will not dry
Flood water or a sewer backup that entered the house

Dry out, tear out, or test for mold?

The timing and the type of material drive the plan.

Wet for a day or two, clean source. EPA says items dried within 24 to 48 hours usually do not grow mold. This is why speed matters. Call a drying company now.
Wet carpet, padding or ceiling tile. EPA says absorbent materials such as carpet and ceiling tile may have to be thrown away if they become moldy. Ask whether yours can be saved.
Sewage or flood water. Do not handle this yourself. Tell the company what the water was, and ask what their plan is for it.
You see or smell mold. Ask about an assessment by a TDLR-licensed assessor, separate from any company that would do the cleanup.

What changes the price

Restoration bills depend on how much is wet and how long the drying runs. Ask for an itemized estimate before work, and ask what will change it.

The amount of area and material that is wet
The source of the water, which sets how much must be removed
The number of drying days and the equipment placed
What must be torn out: carpet, padding, drywall, baseboards, cabinets
Mold assessment and remediation, if needed
Rebuild work after the drying, which is often a separate contract
How much your insurance policy covers, and your deductible

Questions to ask the restoration company

Use these to compare quotes side by side.

Do you write an itemized estimate, and what does it cover?Ask what is drying, what is tear-out and what is rebuild, so you can compare.
How will you show the materials are dry?Ask for moisture readings at the start and at the end.
Do you tear out materials, and will you show me what is wet before you cut?Photos before demolition also help with your claim.
Do you handle mold, and what is your TDLR license number?Mold remediation is licensed in Texas. You can verify a license on the state site.
Is the assessor separate from the company doing the cleanup?One company doing both the test and the cleanup has a stake in the result.
Will you work with my insurance company?Ask what paperwork you must supply and who talks to the adjuster.
Do you do the rebuild, or do I hire someone else?Many restoration companies stop after drying.
What is the warranty, and what does it cover?Ask for it in writing.

If water is coming in right now

Stop the water at the source if you can. For a pipe or fixture, close the valve at the fixture or the main shut-off for the house. If water is near outlets, appliances or the panel, turn the power off only if you can do it safely and without standing in water. If you are not sure, stay out and call your electric utility or 911.

Take photos before you move anything. Then text me. OnHand Home is not an emergency service, and I cannot promise how fast a company can come.

Insurance: first steps

The Texas Department of Insurance says to tell your insurance company as soon as possible, and that most companies set deadlines. It says to take pictures or video of the damage before repairs if possible, to make only temporary repairs, and to keep receipts.

About mold

EPA says that if the moldy area is less than about 10 square feet, you can usually handle the cleanup yourself, scrubbing hard surfaces with detergent and water and drying them completely. For larger areas or significant water damage, EPA points to its remediation guide.

Texas licensing is separate. TDLR licenses mold assessors and mold remediators. TDLR says small areas of mold (less than 25 contiguous square feet) can be cleaned or removed by an owner. It says remediation of 25 contiguous square feet or more in residential properties with 10 or more units must be handled by a licensed remediator, and that certain exemptions apply to buildings with fewer than 10 rental units, including houses. Check your case with TDLR.

Texas notes

TDLR regulates mold assessment and mold remediation in Texas, and its site has a license search. Ask any mold company for its license number and verify it.
The Texas Department of Insurance has consumer tips for filing a home insurance claim. Read them before you pay for permanent repairs.

What happens after you text

You text meSay what is going on, add a photo if you can, and include your ZIP code. The message is already started for you, and you can change it.
I ask a question or twoI check the details a restoration company will need and confirm you are in our area. We are starting in Round Rock.
I look for a restoration companyI check who can take the job. You get the business name before you agree to anything. If I cannot find someone, I tell you.
They quote and do the workThe restoration company confirms the time and the price with you. You pay them for the work. I follow up afterward.

Tell me what is going on.

Text me a short description and your ZIP code. A photo helps.