RESTORATION BOOKS

Fire’s Out! Now What? (Volume I and II) - OK.  This comprehensive 2-volume set is for owners and managers only.  Fire’s Out! is a collection of organization, management, personnel, marketing, sales, and administration ideas that have been collected and refined over the course of 30 years.  It’s an invaluable resource for those starting out in restoration, who don’t want to spend thousands on the mistakes that every manager makes.  Experienced managers use it to renew their perspective and take advantage of advanced concepts as their company grows and expands, and to tackle problems they’ve been avoiding.

Fire’s Out!, Volume I concentrates on organization and management, while Volume II covers marketing and sales.  Hold on to your hat and I’ll try to anticipate some of your questions.

We start out defining disaster restoration from an adjuster’s viewpoint, the range of services agents and adjusters expect your firm to provide.  From there, we go into  organizing your company for growth, and how to diversify without creating chaos, or causing other company divisions to lose momentum.  We include a section on personnel: how to find and compensate those “good people” you don’t think exist, how to create a flexible staff that increases and decreases depending on the volume of disaster work.

Next, we’ll talk about subcontracting: advantages and disadvantages, finding good ones, how to mark-up subcontract services.  There’s even a sample subcontractor work agreement.

We’ll discuss insurance policy basics: party responsibilities (just who is your real customer anyway?), contract provisions, routes of payment, and business insurance for your company that avoids liability.

Based on the policy’s loss mitigation clause, we’ll cover the need for rapid response: how it protects all parties to the claim, how it holds down the scope and cost of the loss, how to establish a fail-safe, 24-hour emergency response.  We’ll also talk about the facility, vehicles, chemicals, and equipment required to operate a diversified disaster restoration firm.  Load lists are included here.

Of course, the job doesn’t get started without proper paperwork.  Although we highly recommend computerized estimating programs, we have examples of how to write a job scope and estimate by hand too.  Moreover, your paperwork system is more than a computer estimate.  We discuss, and provide examples of: call reports, work authorizations, inventory sheets, support documents, work orders, progress reports, and completion certificates.

And all that’s included in just the first volume!

Fire’s Out, Volume II, gets into marketing disaster services.  We start by letting you know about 27 potential sources of business including: agents, adjusters, municipal officials, and other contractors.  We include briefings for agents and adjusters so you’ll know just what to say.  There’s even an adjuster interview so you’ll understand how he thinks and what he expects of you.  Invaluable information!

A whole chapter is devoted to an 8-phase restoration marketing program, including specifics on: direct contact, printed materials, specialty advertising, informational mailers, training seminars, civic involvement, athletic participation, and display advertising - samples included.  Plenty to learn here!

And since “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” we have a whole section on phone procedures: the basics, handling incoming and outgoing calls, 24-hour answering options, separate checklists for fire and water loss calls, and follow up.  Every phone receptionist must read this chapter!

Once the claim comes in, you must take control with an organized damage survey.  We tell you exactly what to do, step by step, including: establishing rapport with insureds, surveying the source, making the initial walk-through with insureds, performing mitigation services, organizing the paperwork, coordinating with adjusters and insureds, setting the job sequence, even doing the completion survey to close the claim properly.

Naturally, we cover pricing: systems, philosophy, creating pricing guides and checklists, and a discussion of hand-written and computerized estimating.  Small or large, your firm benefits from this.

Next, we cover job setting and finalizing: standard procedures, preplanning, organizing move-outs, and inspection and transport considerations.

Finally, we discuss how to avoid the cash flow crisis: how to get the money to pay the bills before creditors beat down the door!  We talk about practical ways to increase cash flow, partial payment requests, and establishing a line of credit.

It boils down to 3 options: you can continue the frustrating job of  “reinventing the wheel,” you can invest $30-50K in a franchise, or you can get the help you need with Fire’s Out! Now What? Even if this set isn’t all I say it is, a single idea from the dozens included can easily recoup your investment.

Ultimately, you must decide what’s best for your company, but remember, “To fail to plan will not avail, for that is but to plan to fail.”

Fire’s Out!  Now What?,  Volumes I and II, CCS 108     $199.95

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AFTER THE SMOKE CLEARS...  

Just as Fire’s Out! Now What? is for owners and mangers, ASC is for restoration supervisors.  It’s the technical reference, the how-to manual, that every restoration firm needs.

In fact, if you’re an owner, how often do you walk in the office and immediately get a rush of technical questions on claims in progress?  Do you really have time to sit down and go through the details time after time?  Wouldn’t it be easier to pull out After the Smoke Clears and let supervisors read for themselves, indeed, to copy a section or checklist so they don’t forget a critical detail?

Of course, that’s the purpose of After the Smoke Clears - to make everyone more productive by eliminating the duplication of effort.  So what’s included in this book? . .

We begin by defining disaster restoration, all the categories of service a firm is expected to provide.  We talk about the importance of service technicians, to their companies, to insureds, and to insurance companies as well.  We discuss restoration alternatives, how value is determined, depreciation, and the restorer’s responsibility.   The idea is to put the value of professional restoration in perspective.

Next, we discuss disaster soiling: the health and safety impact, the continuing effect (corrosion, yellowing); all the cleaning and deodorizing chemicals, and restoration equipment and supplies required to process work.  There’s a whole chapter on safety: PPE, printed materials, training, and hazardous situations (lead paint, asbestos, PCBs, explosion).

Once we understand the basics, section 2 of After the Smoke Clears  covers all aspects of structural restoration including: ceilings and walls (coated, covered, paneled, blown), 14 categories of fixtures (doors, windows, lights, cabinets, bathroom), floor coverings (carpet, vinyl, wood).  We include step-by-step procedures for restoring unfinished areas, such as attics, crawlspaces, and storage areas, and move from there to structural exteriors: paint, brick, siding, eaves, awnings. An entire chapter is devoted to HVAC safety implications and restoration basics.

The third major section of After the Smoke Clears  is devoted to contents including: soft furnishings (upholstery, lamp shades, mattresses, pillows, tapestries), window treatments (draperies, sheers, valences, blinds), case goods (inspecting, cleaning, deodorizing, transporting), and appliances and electronics.  This section also covers dry cleaning and laundry (sorting, cleaning options, deodorizing), high-value objects (artwork, sculpture, collectibles, jewelry, inspecting, restoration options, security), kitchen accessories (dishes, utensils, foodstuffs, packing, boxing, transport), books (evaluating, restoration options, deodorizing), and personal items (closet, furniture drawer, bath vanity contents; toys, personal papers).

Finally, After the Smoke Clears  closes with a discussion of smoke odor removal in confined areas (kitchen grease fire) or for overall contamination (gutted room).

The technical procedures in After the Smoke Clears  cover literally hundreds of topics.  A comprehensive index helps locate them quickly and efficiently.  It’s a must for the busy restoration owner/manager or supervisor.

After the Smoke Clears, CCS 110   $129.95

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Probably the hottest segment of the restoration service business today is water restoration.  Since IICRC S500 was published in 1995, there has been an explosion of information on water restoration work.  In fact, many firms are beginning to specialize in water restoration only - no fire.

“So what’s that have to do with Flood Damage Restoration, Part I?” you ask 
Well, read on and we’ll let you decide. 

Flood I covers organization, management, marketing, and selling water restoration services, while Flood II covers technical procedures.  Flood I begins with getting organized for water restoration work: general concepts, establishing the diversification, and selecting people with an emergency-service attitude.  From there, we examine equipment requirements. Yes, we know you already have some equipment, but we discuss types, quantities, and proper use of extractors, pumps, air movers, dehumidifiers (refrigerant, desiccant), and inspection/detection instruments.  That’s followed by a look at biocides, what they will and won't do, along with application precautions.  Load lists are included to copy and use immediately.

Of course, no book on water restoration management, marketing, and administration would be complete without a discussion of paperwork: humidity and moisture content records; file folders, call reports, authorizations, summary sheets, work orders, completion certificates - all there, along with samples.

Next, we emphasize the need for rapid response to minimize psychological damage, to identify and control hazards, to limit on-going damage that increases the scope and cost of a loss, and to prevent client misimpressions.  We even give you step-by-step procedures to ensure a fail-safe response.

Flood I contains an in-depth discussion on marketing services.  This chapter covers some 25 sources of business, people you need to contact routinely.  Then, we lay out a 7-phase marketing strategy that includes: direct contact, monthly mailers, training seminars, specialty advertising, printed materials, and social/civic involvement.  We even have samples of successful marketing pieces.

Once marketing gets the phone ringing, the next concern is how to handle the initial phone response.  We take you through a typical call from a distressed client and teach you exactly how to gather administrative information, determine the scope of the damage, explain standard services, brief clients about their responsibilities, prepare them to sign the work authorization and pay deductibles.  Your administrative personnel can read this chapter and understand exactly how it’s done.

Next, we launch into inspection procedures.  We’ll specify essential items for your inspection kit.  We’ll take you through a professional damage survey including: establishing rapport, eliminating safety hazards, protecting furnishings and contents from progressive damage, inspecting the source, determining coverage, and evaluating materials to set the job scope and procedures.

Flood I even has a chapter on pricing.  It starts with philosophy and moves on to important subjects like: establishing a pricing guide, charging for all services performed, and properly defining services.  For area-wide flooding, we include a discussion on “group pricing,” i.e., training a technician to price major water losses accurately in about 15 minutes.  It’s unbelievable!  This chapter ends with price justification - a way to prove the value of your services and justify costs to insureds, agents, or adjusters.

Finally, we close with how to handle major flooding on uninsured losses.  It’s a unique approach that offers your valuable expertise free to your community, while opening opportunities for unbelievable income and profit.

Flood Damage Restoration, Part I - An invaluable resource for serious water restoration contractors.  Revised in 2002. Get yours today!

Flood Damage Restoration, Part I, Organization, Management, Marketing/Sales, CCS 105    $99.95

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Flood Damage Restoration - Technical Procedures  

Part I of this series covers organization, management, marketing, and selling water restoration services.  Now, FLOOD, Part II goes into technical procedures for processing water losses.  So what’s this one all about?

Flood II begins with a brief discussion of general concepts that every technician must know.  It emphasizes the importance of preparation: vehicles, equipment, chemicals, paperwork.  It continues with essential drying principles.  We reinforce all those company policies that prevent chaos from reigning. 

Next, we move into in-depth discussions of microorganisms: definitions (fungi, bacteria, viruses), growth requirements, health effects, immunizations, and categories of water damage (clean, gray, black). This revision includes a summary and evaluation of NYC and EPA guidelines for Mold Remediation. From there, we cover the critical subject of psychrometry, using step-by-step examples to ensure that the reader fully understands psychrometric charts, how science impacts restorative drying, how to set up a science-based drying system.  Included are definitions, practical application of psychrometric principles, and how to justify drying equipment costs when adjusters or insureds ask questions.

Of course, we cover equipment: extractors, air movers, dehumidifiers, pumps, tools, safety equipment, and inspection/detection instruments.  The purpose is to emphasize how to use equipment you already have.  This is followed by discussions of chemicals and supplies: primarily how to evaluate, classify, and apply biocides, along with use precautions to avoid liability.  Big issue here!

This is the industry’s only book on restoration that discusses ozone in the context of water damage.  And a whole chapter is devoted to asbestos abatement procedures that avoid liability and fines for the company: when, where, what regulations apply, and basic abatement procedures.

Since on-call technicians communicate directly with insureds, they must understand telephone procedures.  Flood II covers how to gather administrative data, determining the source and scope of damage, insurance coordination, explaining basic services, briefings on customer responsibilities, discussing authorizations and deductibles, answering questions, and following up.  This leads into  inspection procedures: inspection kits, damage survey sequences, evaluating contents, HVAC systems, basements, crawlspaces, and other structural components (ceilings, walls, framing, fixtures).  In this section we teach how to avoid secondary damage, identify preexisting conditions, communicate with insureds; even basic categories of damage to which company pricing applies.

While it’s true that every water loss is slightly different, over the years we’ve discovered that certain standard procedures apply to all claims.  We emphasize the need for rapid response; how the scope and cost of the loss increases in minutes, hours, days, and weeks.  We’ll cover procedures such as: eliminating sources, protecting materials from absorption or stain, containing damage, and expediting drying.  From there, we go into specific situations involving floor-level damage with a clean water source.  Emphasis is on saving floor coverings, such as carpet, pad, and sub floors.  We follow up with procedures for restoring stain-resistant carpet, since it’s installed in most homes today, along  with wall and hardwood floor drying procedures.

Having covered all the relatively easy restoration procedures, we’re now ready to get into the more complex unsanitary flooding situations.  We’ll talk about categories of water damage (clean, gray, and black), and then, we’ll concentrate on step-by-step procedures for restoring Category 2 “gray” water losses, and Category 3, “black” water losses.  We even include a chapter on what to do when area-wide flooding occurs in your community: how to advise disaster victims; what they can do themselves, and when you should step in with professional services.

Admittedly, this is quite a bit to tackle in one book.  Technicians still need to rely on common sense and experience.  But Flood II is invaluable in providing the broad-based training to avoid liability, while specifying state-of-the-art restoration procedures.

At the end of each chapter, we include Comprehension Quizzes.  Use them to test your knowledge retention or to prepare for certification courses.  If you’re an owner or manager, you can use the book and quizzes for your own company training program, saving you thousand in preparation costs.

Revised in 2002.

Flood Damage Restoration, Part II, Processing Procedures, CCS 106   $99.95

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IICRC Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage Restoration (S500)  

Talk about revolutionizing an industry.  This is the document that did it!  Written over a period of 4 years by some of the industry’s top experts, S500 is truly the “Standard” for water restoration professionals.

It starts with a discussion on the science and the 4 all-important principles of drying.   It goes on to define the 3 categories of water damage: sanitary source, unsanitary, and sewage.

From there, S500 discusses standard procedures for sanitary water restoration, followed by standard procedures for sewage backflow restoration, both divided into containment, coordination, and completion procedures.

The Reference Guide portion of the standard covers microbiology: definitions, requirements for growth, potential health effects, immunization, biocides, application rates, and waste water disposal.  It continues with a section on psychrometry: temperature, Rh, specific humidity, dew point, and vapor pressure.  Included is a pychrometric chart, which can be used to determine optimum drying.

S500 discusses equipment requirements and proper usage including: safety equipment, extractors, air movers, dehumidifiers, and continues with a discussion on monitoring drying progress.  It covers telephone and administrative procedures, and includes a comprehensive section on inspecting water damaged structures and contents: safety hazards, source containment, detection equipment, job scope, flooring, contents, HVAC systems, basements and crawlspaces, structural components, secondary damage, and customer briefings.

S500 finishes with a discussion on proper disengagement and reinstallation of carpet and cushion.

A glossary of terms and a list of asbestos containing materials rounds out an excellent resource that is essential for every professional’s library.  Priced reasonably at only $40.00, you can afford to have a copy of S500 on every production unit.

IICRC S500, Standard and Reference Guide for Water Damage Restoration, CCS 117     $40.00

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COMPREHENSIVE DEODORIZATION  

This is the industry’s only complete volume on professional deodorization.  It’s used as a training reference text by cleaning and restoration contractors throughout the world.

Comprehensive Deodorization begins with a general discussion: odor perception, types, amplification, and penetration.  It continues with decontamination and safety.  From there, we move to deodorizing principles, including: source removal, cleaning, recreating the conditions of penetration, and sealing.

Next, we cover classes of deodorants (masking, absorbing, pairing, disinfecting, and digesting agents), along with professional chemical options, including: absorbents, general-purpose, heavy-duty, dry solvent-based, biocidal, and enzyme deodorants.

A whole chapter is devoted to ozone gas: what it is, how it’s formed, what it does, and use precautions.  That’s followed by a chapter on equipment options, including: safety equipment, injectors, sprayers, smoke ejectors, power blowers, diffusers, foggers (ULVs, thermal), and ozone generators.

The next major area of emphasis in Comprehensive Deodorization involves structural odor situations.  This category includes: animal urine (basics, confined and severe contamination), decomposed protein (freezers, dead animals, skunk), and death scene (universal precautions, bloodborne pathogen compliance, disposal, restoration procedures).  It continues with gas, fuel, and chemical odor (tear gas, fuel oil, drug labs, stink bombs), as well as an extensive section on fire and smoke odor, both confined area (grease fire), and overall contamination (gutted room).

For fire restoration contractors, there’s a complete chapter devoted strictly to contents deodorization, including: carpet, upholstery, draperies, case goods, and clothing.  We finish with a chapter on automotive deodorization, with procedures for: protein, death scene, and smoke odor.

At the end of each chapter, we include Comprehension Quizzes.  Use them to test your knowledge retention or to prepare for certification courses.  If you’re an owner or manager, you can use the book and quizzes for company training programs, saving you thousand in development costs.

Comprehensive Deodorization is an essential reference for every cleaning and restoration service company.

Comprehensive Deodorization, CCS 104    $99.95

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The Blue Book of Cleaning, Reconstruction, and Repair Costs   

This is the industry’s “bible” for cleaning, restoration and repair costs.  No, it’s not accepted by every insurance company as gospel.  But if you ever wind up in arbitration or in a court proceeding where pricing is an issue, the first reference that comes out is the Blue Book.  Guaranteed!  Moreover, it easily pays for itself by reminding you of legitimate costs  and related charges that you may be overlooking when estimating claims.

So what’s this book all about?

As the name implies, it is an effort to provide contractors with general guidelines for determining the costs of various cleaning, reconstruction or repair services in their areas of the country.  It’s a collection of costs reported by contractors from specific geographical areas.  Foremost, you need to know that costs are adjusted for 9 zones in which major cities in the US and Canada are placed.  These zones are adjusted for the cost of living in those areas; for example, the cost of goods and services in New York or Chicago is going to be higher than that in Wyoming, Mississippi, etc.  You get the idea.

Updated annually, the Blue Book has an alphabetical listing of a wide variety of services ranging from acoustical ceilings, bathrooms, carpet, and demolition . . . to painting, roofing, plumbing, and wallpaper, with many more categories in between.  The “How to Use” section explains the Blue Book’s purpose, along with practical suggestions on how to apply the information to your specific situation.

The Blue Book is laced with helpful articles on subjects of interest to repair and restoration contractors.   In addition, many of the sections include valuable information on measuring and calculating the amounts of construction materials needed to complete a job. This information alone justifies the price of this valuable resource.  The glossary of building terms and depreciation tables are extremely helpful to beginning and experienced contractors alike.

Simply fill out the order form on this site, or call us to reserve your copy today.  Discounts are available for quantity purchases.

The Blue Book of Cleaning, Reconstruction, and Repair Costs, CCS 114   $89.00

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