What Is a Restoration Contractor Vs General Contractor

As a homeowner or business owner, what do you do when disaster strikes your property? Whether your building suffered a vehicular collision, fire damage, water damage, mold growth, or other natural disaster, it is important that you know who to call.

Some people want to hire a general contractor while others consider a restoration company. Both have their place in the renovation world, but how do you decide who to call? Use these definitions to learn the differences between these professionals and what they do.

What Does a General Contractor Do?

A general contractor is a remodeling professional who specializes in managing building projects for your home or business. They provide all of the labor, materials, tools, and equipment needed to complete a construction project. This includes things like putting a new roof on a house or adding a wing to a building. General contractors tend to work with a clean slate. They can help you visualize what you want done to your property, get plans and permits to properly carry out the project, then get the job done. They may hire subcontractors who specialize in certain areas like plumbers, masons, carpenters, roofers, and landscapers. The general contractor is the main point of contact between you and the crew.

How Does a General Contractor Get Paid?

Some general contractors ask for a flat fee. Most contractors get paid by taking a percentage (usually 10-20%) of the entire cost of the project. This percentage includes the cost of the materials, permits, and subcontractors. Depending on how reliable and trustworthy your contractor is, this number can be a lot higher than anticipated. It is a cost not usually covered by your insurance. Make sure to get an estimate prior to working with a contractor, and check in frequently to ensure they’re staying within your agreed upon budget.

When to Call a General Contractor

Call a general contractor when you want an architectural remodel of your home or business, like if you want to alter your living or working space, adding new windows, floors, a story, or a new deck. General contractors have the experience and licensing to understand the legalities, specialists, and permits required to complete such projects. They also tend to be on the cutting edge of technology so they can use the latest tools and equipment to get things done better and faster.

What Does a Restoration Company Do?

Restoration companies, like Alpha Omega, are usually the first responders after a catastrophic event or large damage has occurred to a business or home because of a natural disaster, fire, flood, or mold. A restoration company cleans up the property and ensures it’s safe so they can move on to the repairing process. Some restoration companies don’t do any repairs. They clean up and remove debris to make way for a contractor. At Alpha Omega, we not only will help clean up your property, but we will help restore it to its pre-loss condition. Our goal is to repair the damage and to prevent future damage from occurring. We can work with you to fix the area impacted by the damages, including replacing drywall, floors, cabinets, windows, roof repair, and siding repair.

How Does a Restoration Company Get Paid?

A restoration company works directly with your insurance company to see what is covered by your policy before moving forward. They advocate for you and your repairs to try and get as much covered to ensure you pay the least out of pocket costs as possible. The restoration company will keep in touch with your policy rep throughout the entire process from beginning to end to take that burden off of you. Having to deal with fire damage, water damage, mold growth and repairs is tough enough without the added trouble of dealing with your insurance agent. Restoration companies alleviate that level of stress from you to try and make the recovery process easier.

When to Call a Restoration Company

Call a restoration company as soon as damage occurs to your property. The sooner they are on the scene, the sooner they can assess the damage, clean it up, and make a plan for repairs to get your life back to normal again. The services that restoration companies provide typically include:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold & Sewer Remediation
• Cleaning Services
• Commercial Building Restoration

When Does Your Business Need Alpha Omega?

Contact Alpha-Omega Disaster Restoration if you have any water, fire, or mold issues at your home or commercial property. At Alpha Omega, we have a trained, certified, and licensed emergency response team available 24/7 to assess your situation, make a plan, and work directly with your insurance company. We want to restore your business and home as quickly and safely as possible with minimal disruption.

Alpha-Omega Pros is a fully certified professional restoration company serving Billings, MT and the surrounding areas.