You are standing in your own house looking at bare studs. The water is gone, the wet drywall is cut out, the kitchen cabinets are out on the curb, and the insurance check finally came. Now comes the part that decides how your home turns out: drywall throughout the house, a new kitchen and paint. Here is what the good contractors do differently, so you can spot one.
Still drying out? Start with water damage restoration: the first 48 hours, then come back for the rebuild.
1. The good ones know insurance
A contractor who rebuilds after water damage every week knows how insurance claims work and explains it in plain words:
- They read your insurance estimate with you and explain what is covered and what would be an upgrade
- They walk the house with your adjuster if you like
- When they open a wall and find more damage, they photograph it and send an updated estimate for your insurance company to review
2. The good ones bid line by line
Give every contractor a copy of your insurance estimate and ask them to bid the same rooms and lines, with any upgrades listed separately. Then the bids line up and nothing gets left out.
| Line | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Drywall | Each room: hang, tape, texture to match, prime |
| Insulation | New insulation wherever it got wet |
| Kitchen | Cabinets, counters, sink, backsplash, reconnecting appliances |
| Paint | Whole rooms and ceilings, colors listed |
| Floors and trim | Flooring, baseboards and door trim |
| Cleanup | Debris removal, dust control, final clean |
3. The good ones show you, not just tell you
Once drywall goes up, nobody sees the framing again. That is why the good ones show you before they close a wall:
- Moisture readings that show the studs and floor are dry
- Photos of every open wall, with the new insulation in place
- Moisture- and mold-resistant drywall in bathrooms, the laundry and other wet spots
- Photos of any hidden damage before it is added to the job
4. The good ones finish right
The order keeps finished work from being damaged by the next trade:
- Dry check and any framing repairs
- Insulation, then drywall: hang, tape, texture and prime
- Kitchen cabinets and counters
- Paint, whole rooms corner to corner, so the colors match
- Flooring, baseboards and trim
- Final walk-through and punch list
Pay as each stage is finished, with the last payment after the walk-through, and ask for a lien release with each payment.
Signs of a good water damage repair contractor
- Licensed where your state requires it, insured, and glad to show you
- Has rebuilt after water damage before and can show photos of those jobs
- Explains your insurance estimate in plain words
- Puts the scope, the schedule and the payments in writing
- Answers calls and messages, and tells you about problems the same day
- Protects what is left (floors, furniture) and keeps the site clean
- Shows you instead of telling you: photos, readings and samples
What to expect
Drywall throughout a house means dust, even with good dust control, and drywall needs drying time between coats. New kitchen cabinets can take weeks to arrive, so ask about ordering them early. Most of the house comes back together in the last few weeks, when paint, floors and trim go in.
Get water damage repair bids on BidHandyman
Post your repairs once with photos and your insurance estimate, and local pros send you bids. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid. Compare them line by line, message the pros and hire the one you trust, with no obligation. Request repair bids, or read drywall repair and kitchen remodel tips.