Reconstruction after water, fire and mold damage

What reconstruction covers

Reconstruction is the repair and rebuild phase of a restoration job. After water, fire, smoke, storm or mold damage has been dealt with and the structure is dry and clean, the materials that were removed need to be replaced. That might be a section of drywall in one room or several rooms of finished space.

When we handle both the cleanup and the rebuild, your reconstruction plan can build on the inspection notes, moisture readings and photos collected during the cleanup. The scope reflects what was actually removed.

Typical repair work

Depending on the loss, repairs can include the following.

• Replacing insulation and hanging, taping and finishing drywall.
• Texture matching and painting.
• Installing new flooring, such as carpet, hardwood, laminate or vinyl.
• Trim, baseboards and doors.
• Cabinets and countertops that were affected by water or fire.
• Ceiling repairs, including after a leak from above.

Older homes and lead safety

If your home was built before 1978, lead-based paint may be present, since it was still in use then. Cutting, sanding or removing old painted surfaces can create lead dust, which is especially harmful for children and pregnant people.

Bales is an EPA Lead-Safe Certified Firm (certification NA-LE-12078-1). That means our rebuild work in pre-1978 homes follows lead-safe work practices, such as containing the work area and cleaning up carefully. If your house is older, mention it when you call so we can plan accordingly.

How the rebuild is planned

Our restoration process ends with repairs, but planning starts earlier. As drying wraps up, we walk through what has been removed and what needs to go back. We discuss materials, finishes and the order of work, and explain how the schedule might shift if something unexpected turns up behind a wall.

You stay in the loop. We update you on progress, flag anything that may change the plan and ask for your decisions before work that depends on them.

Choosing materials and finishes

Insurance generally looks at replacing damaged materials with similar quality, and you may want to change some things while the walls are open. Maybe you want a different flooring, updated trim or a new paint color. We can help you compare choices and explain what the claim covers and what would be an upgrade you pay for yourself.

Bring photos of the original room if you have them. They help us match details such as texture, baseboard profile and paint sheen so the repaired area does not stand out.

What to expect during the work

Rebuilding is noisy and dusty even when crews are careful. Ask us how floors and furniture will be protected, how dust will be contained and how the work area will be cleaned up. If you are living in the home, we will talk about which rooms will be in use and when. We also tell you ahead of time if utilities need to be shut off for any period.

Doing it in the right order

Trades follow a sequence. Insulation goes in before drywall, drywall is finished before paint, and flooring generally goes in once painting is done. Planning ahead keeps the work moving and avoids damaging new finishes.

When something unexpected turns up

Opening a wall sometimes reveals more than anyone saw from the outside, such as old wiring, hidden rot or an earlier repair that was never finished. When that happens, we stop, show you what we found and explain how it affects the plan. If the change is related to the loss, we talk with your insurance company about it. If it is a separate issue, you decide how to handle it.

Insurance and the rebuild

Insurance claims often split mitigation and repairs, and the repair estimate may need to be agreed with your adjuster. We prepare a detailed scope to share with your insurer and can bill the insurance company directly where the claim allows. Coverage depends on your policy; see the insurance page.

Service area

We rebuild homes and businesses throughout St. Charles County and St. Louis County, including St. Charles, Lake Saint Louis and St. Peters. Check the areas page for the rest.

To talk about repairs, call us.