No New York state licence for water damage restoration was found in the sources checked for this guide. Before hiring, ask for the mold licence where mold work applies, the permit where one is needed, and a written scope of the work. Those three answers matter more than any claim on a sign.
Key takeaways
- No New York state licence for water damage restoration was found in the sources checked for this guide.
- Where mold work is involved, ask for the Article 32 licence held by each person doing the work.
- Ask which permit applies to the repair and which office issues it, since the answer depends on the municipality.
- Ask for a written scope that names the rooms, the readings, the materials to be removed and the repairs left to others.
- Ask who will do the work on site, and check that person's credentials for the work they will do.
- Keep the written scope, the readings and the invoices, since they are the records an insurer will ask for.
Is there a state licence for water damage restoration?
The sources checked for this guide did not find a New York state licence for water damage restoration. The guide therefore names no licence category for it. The mold licences under Article 32 are a separate matter.
A company that claims a licence for water damage restoration should be asked to name it and to show where the licence comes from. The sources checked did not support a licence category for this trade, so a homeowner should not accept one without a source.
Where a licence is needed, it is the one for the specific work: mold assessment and removal under Article 32, or a permit from the local office for a structural or utility repair. Asking which licence applies to each part of the job is the honest way to hire.
What should you ask about mold work?
Ask whether mold work is part of the job, and if it is, ask for the Article 32 licence of each person who will do the assessment and the removal. A company that cannot name the licence should not do the work.
Mold work is a separate job from drying, and it needs its own licensed assessment. A company may do both, but it should say which parts it will carry out and who will carry them out. The assessment should be written before any removal starts.
Ask to see the licence, not only to hear that one exists. The Department of Labor administers the program, and the owner can confirm a licence with it. Keep a record of the check with the job papers.
Which permits should you ask about?
Ask the contractor which permit the repair needs and which office issues it. The answer depends on the municipality and on the repair, and the sources checked did not establish the permit office for each local area.
A repair to a structure, a drain or a utility line can need a permit from the local office. A drying job by itself may not, but the contractor should say so and give the reason. The owner should not assume a permit is needed or is not needed without asking.
The office that covers the property is the one to ask. For a City of Buffalo property that is the city; for a town or village it is the municipality; for North Tonawanda it is the city and the county offices in Niagara County. The contractor should be able to name the office for the specific repair.
What should a written scope include?
A written scope names the rooms, the readings to be taken, the materials to be removed, the drying method, the repairs left to other trades and the price basis. It should be given before the work starts.
The scope is the most useful document on the job. It tells the owner what will be done and why, so the work can be checked and compared. A scope that lists only a total, with no rooms, materials or readings, is not enough to judge the work.
The scope should say how the price is explained and approved. A good scope names the point at which the work can change and says the owner will approve the change before it is carried out.
Ask for the scope to state how long each stage is expected to take, and what will happen if a reading does not fall as expected. The owner does not need to be told an arrival time before the situation is known, but the stages of the work should be written down so the progress can be checked against them.
| Ask for | Why it matters | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Mold licence | Required under Article 32 for mold work | The licence of each person, shown and confirmed |
| Permit | Needed for some structural and utility repairs | The permit, the office that issues it and the reason |
| Written scope | Shows the rooms, readings and materials | Rooms, readings, materials and repairs listed |
| Who does the work | Shows who is on site and what they hold | A name for each person and their credentials |
| Readings log | Shows when the building reaches a dry level | Readings at each visit with their locations |
Who should be on site, and who does the work?
Ask who will be on site, and how the work will be supervised. The owner should know the name of the person responsible for the job, and that person should hold the credentials for the work they will do.
A company may subcontract part of the work, and the owner should know which parts. Ask whether the people on site are the company's own staff or subcontractors, and ask for the credentials of the people who will do the mold work or the electrical checks.
A homeowner should be wary of a company that cannot name who will be on site, or that refuses to say who holds the licences. The point is not to distrust every crew, but to be sure the work is done by people who can do it.
What does the regulator cover, and what does it not?
The New York State Department of Financial Services regulates insurers, and it handles general questions about claims. It does not decide the quality of the drying work, and this guide does not name a complaint route for the work itself.
A dispute about an insurance claim goes to the insurer under the policy, and the Department of Financial Services is the state regulator for insurers. The department can answer general questions about how claims are handled.
The quality of a restoration job is a matter between the owner and the company, backed by the written scope and the records. Keep the scope, the readings and the invoices, since they show what was agreed and what was done.
What warning signs should make you pause?
Be wary of a company that asks for full payment before any work, refuses to give a written scope, cannot name the people on site or claims a licence it cannot show. Pause and ask for the records before you agree.
A price given over the phone with no visit, a scope that is only a total, and pressure to decide the same day are all reasons to slow down. A reputable company will explain its steps and accept questions about them.
Ask for the answers in writing. A company that will not put its licences, permits and scope on paper has not given the owner enough to make a decision, and the owner should keep looking.
A company that answers every question with a general reassurance and no specific fact is also worth pausing on. Specific answers name the rooms, the readings, the licence and the office, and they can be checked. General reassurance cannot.
- A demand for full payment before any work
- A refusal to put the scope in writing
- No names for the people who will be on site
- A licence claim that cannot be shown or confirmed
- A price given without seeing the damage
What records should you keep?
Keep the written scope, the readings, the photographs, the licence records, the permits and the invoices. Those records support any insurance claim and any later repair.
Store the papers together, and keep copies of anything that is sent by email. The insurer may ask for the readings, the photographs and the scope, and the owner should be able to produce them quickly.
A record of when the water was found and when the work began is also useful, since it shows the sequence of events and the time the building was left wet. The owner can keep it in a notebook with the papers.
What should you do if mold appears after the drying has started?
Stop and ask for a written report before anything more is removed. The report should name the growth, its location and the licence that applies to the next step, and the owner should approve the next step in writing.
Growth can appear after drying has begun, especially behind finishes that were opened to reach wet materials. A company that finds it should tell the owner at once, rather than remove it and report later. The owner can then ask the assessor and the company what licence each step needs.
The change should be recorded in the scope. A scope that is amended in writing, with the reason and the new steps, protects both the owner and the company, and it gives the insurer a clear picture of the work as it actually happened.
Frequently asked questions
Is a water damage contractor required to have a state licence?
The sources checked for this guide did not find a New York state licence for water damage restoration, so none is named here. Where mold work or a permitted repair is involved, the relevant licence or permit applies.
What mold licence should I ask about?
Ask for the Article 32 licence of each person who will assess or remove mold, and confirm it with the New York State Department of Labor.
Who issues the permit for a repair?
The local office that covers the property issues permits, and the answer depends on the municipality. Ask the contractor which permit applies and which office issues it.
Should I get more than one written scope?
Yes, for a large job. Compare the rooms, readings, materials and repairs listed in each, rather than comparing only the totals.
Who regulates insurance questions in New York?
The New York State Department of Financial Services regulates insurers and can answer general questions about claims. The claim itself is decided by the insurer under the policy.
Sources
This guide is general information for Erie County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.