A search of public sources did not find a Kansas state licence specific to water damage restoration, so the checks that matter are the paperwork you can ask for: the company's own insurance certificate, a written scope, the drying readings and a clear list of what will be replaced. Ask for each in writing before work starts in Wichita.
Key takeaways
- A search of public sources did not find a Kansas state licence specific to water damage restoration, so do not assume one exists.
- Ask for the company's own insurance certificate, and ask what the cover includes.
- A written scope names each area, each material, each decision and the reason for it.
- Drying logs with dated readings show what was done and when each material reached dry.
- Ask which trades the repair needs, such as a plumber or a roofer, and who will book them.
- Price is explained and approved on site, and nothing is added to the scope without your written agreement.
Is there a state licence I can check for a water damage company in Kansas?
Not one specific to water damage restoration, based on a search of public sources. That means a licence cannot be the single check, and a company that presents an industry credential as if it were a state licence should be asked to show exactly what it is.
A search of public sources did not find a state licence programme for water damage restoration in Kansas. That is a finding about what the search turned up. Trades that are licensed, such as plumbing and electrical work, still need licensed people for their own work, and a company should say which trades it will use.
Because there is no single licence to look up, the strongest checks are documents the company must produce: its insurance certificate, a written scope, a drying log and a list of the trades it will call in. Each one can be read and questioned before you agree.
What should I ask for in writing before work starts?
A written scope, the company's insurance certificate, the terms for the price, the list of trades and the plan for the drying log. Ask for each before any equipment is run, and keep the copies together.
The scope is the central document. It should list the areas, the materials, the decision for each material and the readings or observations behind it. It should say what is excluded and what would change it. A scope that cannot be read line by line is not finished.
The terms should say how the price is set, how changes are approved and when invoices are issued. Ask for the terms in writing, and ask the company to explain anything that is unclear.
- A written scope that names each area, material and decision
- The company's own insurance certificate, and what it covers
- The drying readings and log format, and who keeps them
- A list of trades that will be needed, and who books them
- Written terms for pricing and for approving changes
How do I check the insurance certificate?
Ask the insurer named on the certificate to confirm the policy is in force, and ask the company what the policy covers. A certificate is only as useful as the policy behind it, and the company should be willing to show it.
A certificate names the insured, the insurer and the period of cover. Check that the name matches the company you are dealing with, and that the dates are current. Ask whether the cover applies to the work in your building.
A company that will not show its insurance is a reason to look elsewhere. The insurance protects you and the company if something goes wrong on site.
What should a drying log show me?
Each visit's date and time, the readings in each material and in the air, the equipment in each room, any openings made, and the dry level each material must reach. A log that stops early or has gaps does not show the work was finished.
Readings are only useful when they can be compared from visit to visit. The log should show the number, the material and the location, so a falling reading in one place can be compared with the same place on the next visit.
The log is also the record your insurer will use to judge the work. Ask for copies at the end of each visit so you always have the latest version.
How do I know what will be replaced and what will be kept?
The scope should list every material to be replaced, the readings or observation that justify the replacement, and the materials kept, with the reason they can be dried. Ask the company to walk you through the list on site.
Carpet, pad, insulation, drywall, cabinet bases and some flooring are often the materials that cannot be dried to readings. Hard surfaces and framing are often kept when they dry. The company should say which is which and why, for your building.
Photograph each material before it is removed, and keep the photographs with the scope. A replacement that is not justified in writing is one you can question before you approve it.
Which trades will the repair need, and who books them?
Plumbing, electrical, roofing and some structural or permit work are done by the trades that do them. Ask the company which trades it expects to need, and whether it will book them or you will, and get that in writing.
A drying company does not normally repair a supply line, a water heater, a roof covering or a live electrical circuit. Those are trade jobs, and a licensed plumber or electrician, where the work requires one, should do them.
Ask who books the trades and who pays them. If the company books them, ask for the trade's name and the scope it will carry out, so you can check that the trade is licensed for the work.
What should I avoid when choosing a company?
Avoid a company that will not put its scope or insurance in writing, cannot explain the readings, promises a result before seeing the building, or pressures you to sign before the scope is clear. Those are reasons to ask more questions or to call someone else.
A company that gives a figure on the phone before anyone has seen the damage is giving you a guess. A company that promises the insurer will pay is making a promise it cannot keep, because the insurer decides the claim.
Take your time to read the scope and the terms. Ask for a day to consider a large scope, and say so if the company will not allow it.
Where do I take a complaint about the work or the claim?
Raise the matter with the company in writing first. For a claim that cannot be settled with your insurer, the Kansas Insurance Department is the state insurance regulator, and its Consumer Assistance Division takes complaints.
Keep the scope, the readings, the invoices and every written message. A dated record is the basis for any complaint, and it helps the next contractor see exactly what was done.
The state insurance regulator deals with insurance matters. A dispute about the quality of the work is usually resolved between you and the company, and a local consumer office can say what other options are available.
What should the first visit cover?
The first visit should identify the source, take readings across the wet materials, show you the readings and the photographs, and explain the scope in outline. A technician who skips the readings and gives only a verbal impression is not yet giving you a basis for a decision.
Ask the technician to show you the readings and where each was taken. Ask what the dry level is for each material in your building, and what would change the plan. A good first visit leaves you with a list of questions and a rough sense of what the work involves.
The first visit is also the moment to ask about access, equipment placement, the hours on site and how the company will keep you informed between visits. Those practical points belong in the terms, in writing.
How do I read an invoice against the scope?
Check each invoice line against the scope line it relates to. The invoice should use the same areas, materials and equipment names as the scope, and any line that does not match should be explained before you pay it.
An invoice that says drying with no detail is not enough. Ask for the equipment by room, the number of visits and the dates, so the invoice can be checked against the drying log.
Keep the invoices with the scope and the log. An insurer that asks how a figure was reached will be looking for that match between the three documents.
Frequently asked questions
Does Kansas license water damage companies?
Not as a single licence specific to water damage restoration, based on a search of public sources. Ask for the insurance certificate, the written scope and the trades the work needs, and check each one.
What if a company says it is certified?
Ask which body issued the certification, what it covers and whether it is a state licence or an industry credential. An industry credential is a useful signal, but it is not the same as a state licence.
Can I hire the company on the phone?
The phone call starts the work, but the scope and the price should be explained on site and approved in writing before equipment runs. Anything agreed on the phone should be confirmed in writing afterwards.
Should I get more than one scope?
You may. Compare the scopes line by line, because two totals can hide very different work. A written scope from each company lets you see what each includes and what it leaves out.
What if the company finds more damage than the scope said?
The new work is explained, written up as a change and approved by you before it is done. Nothing should be added to the job without your agreement in writing.
Who pays the trades?
That should be agreed in writing before the work starts. Ask whether the company books the trades and whether their invoices come to you or to the company.
What if the invoice is higher than the scope I approved?
Ask the company in writing to explain the difference line by line. Any change should have been approved as a written change to the scope. If it was not, raise it before paying.
This guide is general information for Sedgwick County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.