Question 1

What qualifies as a large loss restoration project?

Accepted Answer

In the restoration industry, a "large loss" generally refers to damage exceeding $100,000 in scope, but the dollar amount alone is not the only factor. Multi-building events, multi-floor commercial damage, catastrophe events like hurricanes or tornadoes, projects requiring coordination beyond a single crew, and high-profile or time-sensitive situations all qualify. The defining characteristic is complexity: multiple stakeholders, extended timelines measured in weeks or months, specialized equipment, and coordination between insurers, adjusters, engineers, and the property management team.

Question 2

What is the difference between large loss and standard restoration?

Accepted Answer

Standard restoration typically involves a single property, one adjuster, a small crew, and a timeline of days to a few weeks. Large loss operates at a fundamentally different scale: multiple crews working simultaneously, dedicated project managers, industrial-grade equipment (truck-mounted extractors, desiccant dehumidifiers, generators), coordination with multiple insurance carriers, engineering consultants, and environmental specialists. Large loss projects often involve phased restoration in occupied buildings, daily stakeholder briefings, and documentation packages running thousands of pages.

Question 3

What is a CAT (catastrophe) response?

Accepted Answer

CAT response refers to the mobilization and deployment of restoration resources during or immediately after a regional catastrophe event — typically a hurricane, tornado, or widespread severe weather. CAT-capable companies pre-stage equipment and crews near the projected impact zone and deploy within hours of the event. A CAT response may involve managing dozens of properties simultaneously across a wide geographic area, coordinating with multiple insurance carriers, and operating self-sufficiently (bringing fuel, food, lodging, and satellite communications) because local infrastructure is often down.

Question 4

How do you manage a large loss project with multiple buildings or floors?

Accepted Answer

We assign a dedicated large loss project manager who serves as the single point of contact and coordinates all activities. The project is divided into zones or phases — often floor-by-floor or building-by-building. Multiple crews work simultaneously under the PM, who manages schedules, subcontractors, daily reports, and stakeholder communication. We hold daily briefings with the property owner, insurance adjuster, and any consultants. This phased approach allows partial operations to continue in unaffected areas while restoration proceeds.

Question 5

How long does a large loss restoration project take?

Accepted Answer

Timelines vary dramatically by scope. Emergency mitigation (water extraction, board-up, stabilization) typically takes 1 to 2 weeks. Structural drying may take 2 to 4 weeks for large facilities. Full restoration and reconstruction ranges from 3 to 12 months depending on damage extent, building size, insurance approval timelines, permit processing, and material availability. We provide detailed project schedules with milestones at the outset and update them weekly as conditions evolve.

Question 6

What documentation do you provide on large loss projects?

Accepted Answer

Large loss documentation is comprehensive and carrier-ready from day one. It includes initial damage assessment reports with photos and video, moisture mapping data across all affected areas, equipment deployment logs with serial numbers and runtime, daily field reports documenting crews on site and work completed, Xactimate estimates matching the adjuster's format, change order documentation with approval trails, and final completion reports. This level of documentation is essential for multi-carrier claims and business interruption substantiation.

Question 7

How do you handle large loss claims with multiple insurance carriers?

Accepted Answer

Large loss events frequently involve multiple policies — property, contents, business interruption, flood, and wind may each be with different carriers. We maintain separate documentation streams for each policy, coordinate site visits with multiple adjusters, and submit scope-specific estimates in each carrier's required format. Our estimators write Xactimate line items that align precisely with each adjuster's system. We also facilitate joint inspections when multiple adjusters need to be on-site simultaneously.

Question 8

Do you work with Third Party Administrators (TPAs)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many major insurance carriers use TPAs for large property claims. We are experienced with TPA program requirements including predetermined Xactimate pricing, strict service level agreements for response times and reporting, standardized documentation formats, and regular status updates. Our internal processes mirror TPA requirements even on non-program work because it enforces the consistency and efficiency that large loss projects demand.

Question 9

How does business interruption coverage interact with large loss restoration?

Accepted Answer

Business interruption (BI) coverage compensates for lost income and continuing expenses during the restoration period. The faster we complete restoration, the shorter the BI claim period — which benefits both the property owner and the insurer. We document the restoration timeline meticulously because it directly affects BI calculations. Forensic accountants may request our daily logs, schedules, and delay documentation to substantiate the claim. We also identify opportunities to use "extra expense" coverage to accelerate restoration when the insurance math supports it.

Question 10

What equipment do you deploy for large loss projects?

Accepted Answer

Our large loss equipment fleet includes truck-mounted water extractors for rapid high-volume extraction, trailer-mounted desiccant dehumidifiers that process thousands of cubic feet per hour, arrays of commercial air movers for large floor plates, portable generators for temporary power when utilities are down, thermal imaging cameras and commercial moisture meters for building-wide assessment, negative air machines with HEPA filtration for containment, and a fleet of service vehicles for multi-site deployment. We own this equipment — we do not depend on rental availability during disaster surges.

Question 11

Can you handle restoration during occupied building operations?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Many large losses occur in buildings that cannot fully shut down — hospitals, senior living facilities, occupied apartment buildings, and active commercial offices. We implement phased restoration with containment barriers, negative air machines to prevent cross-contamination, off-hours scheduling for disruptive work, maintained egress and access routes, and clear communication with occupants. We have experience coordinating with facility managers to keep critical operations running while restoration proceeds in adjacent zones.

Question 12

Do you have pre-disaster contracts or priority response programs?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) for property managers and facility owners. ERP clients receive pre-arranged pricing, guaranteed priority response when events occur, pre-staged equipment allocations, and a dedicated account manager who already knows their properties. During widespread catastrophe events when every property needs help simultaneously, ERP clients are serviced first. This is particularly valuable for portfolio managers with properties in hurricane-prone areas.

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Large Loss & Catastrophe Basics

What qualifies as a large loss restoration project?

What is the difference between large loss and standard restoration?

What is a CAT (catastrophe) response?

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