These terms govern the provision of water damage restoration services by Chicagoland Water Damage (hereafter "Chicagoland Water Damage", "we", "us", "our") to customers in Chicago, Illinois and the surrounding suburbs, and your use of this website (chicagolandwaterdamage.com). By engaging us to attend a property or perform work, you agree to these terms.
1. About us
Chicagoland Water Damage takes requests for emergency water extraction, structural drying, basement flooding, sewage backup, frozen and burst pipe, storm, fire and smoke, and mold restoration and puts you in touch with an independent local restoration technician. All work is carried out by that independent technician, who carries their own insurance (ask for the certificate if you need it) and follows the IICRC S500 (water damage restoration) and S520 (mold remediation) standards. Where rebuild or construction work requires a license or permit under Illinois law or a municipal building code, it is carried out by appropriately licensed contractors.
2. Emergency attendance and inspection
Emergency call-out and inspection, which includes moisture mapping of the affected areas and a written report, may attract a fee in the range published on our pricing page. Where a fee applies, we tell you before we attend, and it is credited against restoration work if you proceed. A scheduled on-site inspection and written estimate for restoration work is free of charge and without obligation.
By requesting emergency attendance you authorize us to carry out reasonable mitigation work on arrival, such as water extraction and the placement of drying equipment, where delay would cause further damage. We document this work with photos and moisture readings so that it can be included in an insurance claim.
3. Estimates and scope
Estimates are provided in writing after on-site moisture mapping and before restoration work begins, and are valid for 14 days unless otherwise stated. Estimated figures are based on the moisture readings, water category and conditions observable at inspection.
Where the actual scope expands during the work (for example, moisture found inside a wall cavity or under a floor that could not be seen at inspection), we will document the additional damage and provide a written change order before continuing, except where continuing is necessary to prevent further loss.
4. Pricing
Our pricing structure:
- Price ranges are published on our pricing page and apply across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs without a travel surcharge
- Drying equipment is charged per unit per day for the period the moisture readings show it is required, including daily monitoring and the drying log
- All work is estimated in writing against a documented scope before it starts
- Insurance work is estimated and itemized against the documented scope of work, in the format adjusters expect
Prices are stated in US dollars. Applicable sales tax on materials, if any, is shown separately on the invoice.
5. Payment
Payment is due on completion of work unless otherwise agreed in writing. Accepted methods:
- Cash
- Credit Card
- Debit Card
- Check
- Bank Transfer
Where your insurance carrier has approved direct billing, we invoice the carrier for the approved scope. You remain responsible for your deductible and for any work that is not approved by the carrier or falls outside the claim. If a claim is denied or you are not insured, the work is charged to you at the estimated rates.
For larger jobs, deposit and progress payments may be arranged in writing before work starts. Accounts unpaid 30 days after the invoice date may incur interest at the rate stated on the invoice and may be referred to collections. Illinois law allows contractors to record a mechanics lien for unpaid work on the property improved; we would only do so after written notice and a genuine attempt to resolve the account.
6. Drying and completion
A drying job is complete when moisture readings in the affected materials match a dry reference area in the same property, verified with calibrated meters and recorded in the drying log. Equipment is removed at that point.
If you ask for equipment to be removed before the drying goal is reached, or switch it off, we will record the readings at that time and are not responsible for damage, mold growth or odor resulting from incomplete drying.
7. Materials and contents
Whether carpet, pad, flooring, drywall, cabinetry and contents can be dried in place or must be removed depends on the water category and the extent of saturation. We advise in writing what we recommend removing and why, and we do not remove or dispose of materials without your authorization except where they present a health hazard and you cannot be contacted. Materials that have contacted Category 3 (black) water, including any combined-sewer backup, are treated as contaminated.
8. Customer obligations
You agree to:
- Provide accurate information about the source of the water, when it started and the property
- Provide reasonable access to the property and affected areas, including power and heat for drying equipment
- Disclose any known asbestos or lead paint (common in pre-1980 Chicago buildings), hazardous materials or unusual building conditions before work begins
- Keep people and pets out of contained or contaminated areas until we advise they are clear
- Leave drying equipment running as placed until we remove it
- Authorize the estimated scope before restoration work proceeds
- Pay invoiced amounts when due
9. Health and safety
Category 3 water and mold-affected areas are handled under containment with appropriate protective equipment. We may restrict access to parts of the property during the work. Where conditions are unsafe to work in, such as unstable structures, live electrical hazards, gas leaks or rising flood water, we may decline or suspend attendance until the hazard is controlled.
10. Cancellations
Scheduled inspections and work can be cancelled or rescheduled at no charge with reasonable notice. Where a crew has already been dispatched to the site and the job is cancelled on arrival, reasonable mobilization costs may be charged, and you will be told the amount before any charge is made.
11. Limitation of liability
To the maximum extent permitted by law, our liability for defective work is limited to re-performing the work or the cost of re-performing it. We are not liable for pre-existing damage, for damage caused by the original water event before our attendance, or for consequential losses including loss of business, loss of income or loss of use beyond what is covered by the attending technician's own liability insurance.
Nothing in these terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act or other applicable consumer protection law.
12. Insurance documentation
Where work is performed in response to an insurance event, we provide standard documentation at no additional charge: dated photographs of the damage and the completed work, a moisture map of each affected room, the daily drying log, an itemized estimate or invoice and a written scope of work. Additional reports requested by your carrier beyond standard documentation may incur a fee, quoted in advance.
13. Website content
Information on this website, including price ranges and guidance articles, is general in nature and does not replace an on-site inspection. Price ranges are indicative and the cost of any job is confirmed in the written estimate.
14. Privacy
Personal information is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
15. Disputes
If a dispute arises, please contact us first at info@chicagolandwaterdamage.com so we can attempt to resolve the matter directly. If we cannot reach a resolution, you may contact the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division or bring a claim in the courts of Cook County, Illinois.
16. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Any disputes are subject to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in Cook County, Illinois.
17. Changes to terms
We may update these terms from time to time. The version in effect at the time you engage our services applies to that engagement. The "last updated" date at the top of this page indicates when these terms were most recently revised.
Contact
For questions about these terms:
- Email: info@chicagolandwaterdamage.com
- Service area: Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, IL