Are Your Technicians Certified?
Yes. Our technicians are IICRC certified.
If you’ve got damage happening right now, call 303-816-0068 immediately. Certifications matter, but what matters more is getting help fast. We’re here 24/7.
Your insurance company wants to see proper certifications. But more than that, certifications mean we know how to stop damage from getting worse. When you’re dealing with water, fire, or mold, the wrong approach costs thousands of extra dollars. The right approach—backed by proper training—saves your property.
The IICRC Triple Master Certification
We hold the highest level of IICRC credentials possible. Triple Master Certification in three specialties:
- Textile Cleaning Master
- Fire & Smoke Restoration Master
- Water Restoration Master
Fewer than 4% of IICRC-certified professionals nationwide achieve Master-level status in even one specialty. We have three.
That’s not bragging. That’s showing you we’ve put in the work. Years of training. Hundreds of hours of continuing education. Passing rigorous exams that most people fail multiple times. And decades of actual hands-on experience applying that knowledge in real disaster situations.
What Is IICRC Certification?
The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification sets the standards for the entire restoration industry. Insurance companies recognize IICRC certifications. So do building departments. So do attorneys when disputes happen.
IICRC certification means:
You’ve completed formal training in restoration techniques. You’ve passed written exams demonstrating technical knowledge. You maintain continuing education requirements. You follow industry-standard protocols that insurance companies expect.
Most restoration companies have basic IICRC certifications. That’s good. That’s the minimum you should expect.
Master-level certification? That’s different entirely.
The Master Certification Difference
Getting to Master level requires experience. Years of it.
You can’t just take a class and become a Master. You need documented field experience. You need advanced training. You need to demonstrate expertise that goes way beyond basic competency.
What it takes to achieve Master status:
Minimum years of experience in that specific specialty. Completion of advanced technical courses. Passing comprehensive exams that test deep knowledge. Continuing education every year to maintain the certification. And honestly? A level of dedication that most people in this industry don’t have.
Something that can happen is a homeowner hires a restoration company with basic certifications. They do okay work. But when complex situations arise—like hidden moisture pockets, unusual smoke damage patterns, or mold in HVAC systems—they miss things. Because their training only covered the basics.
Master-level technicians see things others miss. We know the advanced techniques that solve problems properly the first time. We understand building science at a deeper level. And we can explain to insurance adjusters why certain procedures are necessary, which helps get your claim approved.
Why This Matters During Your Emergency
When disaster hits your property, you don’t have time to interview multiple companies. You need help now.
Your insurance policy requires immediate action. Wait too long and you’re liable for additional damage. That’s why calling 303-816-0068 right away is critical.
But here’s what you should know: The restoration company you hire in that panicked moment will make decisions that affect your property for years. Maybe permanently.
Certified technicians make better decisions because:
We follow proven protocols. We use proper equipment correctly. We know when to cut out materials versus when they’re salvageable. We document everything for insurance purposes. And we understand building science well enough to prevent future problems.
I’ve seen situations where homeowners hired the first company that answered the phone. That company had no certifications. They extracted water but didn’t dry properly. Three weeks later, mold everywhere. Now the homeowner’s dealing with a much bigger problem—and their insurance is questioning why proper procedures weren’t followed.
Our Textile Cleaning Master Certification
This isn’t about cleaning carpets for routine maintenance. This Master certification covers restoring textiles after disasters.
Smoke damage on upholstery. Water-damaged oriental rugs. Fire-damaged curtains and fabrics. Determining what can be restored versus what must be replaced.
Advanced textile restoration knowledge includes:
Different cleaning methods for different fabric types. pH balancing for delicate materials. Removing smoke odor from fabrics without damaging them. Preventing color bleeding during water restoration. Understanding when fabrics are permanently damaged versus salvageable.
Textiles represent major value in most properties. That custom sofa, those expensive curtains, the oriental rug you inherited—proper restoration can save thousands of dollars worth of belongings.
What I’ve seen happen is companies without proper textile training throw everything away. “It’s all damaged,” they say. When really, half of it could’ve been professionally restored. That’s money out of your pocket and items you can never replace.
Our Fire & Smoke Restoration Master Certification
Fire damage restoration is complex. Way more complex than most people realize.
Soot chemistry varies depending on what burned. Protein fires (food) leave different residue than synthetic fires (plastics). Each requires different cleaning approaches. Use the wrong method and you set that damage permanently into surfaces.
Master-level fire restoration expertise covers:
Identifying different types of soot. Understanding acidic residue and how fast it etches surfaces. Proper cleaning techniques for each surface type. Smoke odor elimination at the molecular level. Structural evaluation after fire damage. Understanding how heat affects building materials.
Tim Carter from Ask the Builder explains it well: Heat doesn’t just burn things. It changes the molecular structure of materials. Wood loses strength. Metal loses temper. Drywall becomes chemically altered. You need to know what’s still structurally sound versus what must be replaced.
Smoke travels in ways that surprise people. Gets into closed closets. Infiltrates ductwork. Seeps into every porous surface in the building. Master certification means we know how to find hidden smoke damage that basic training doesn’t cover.
Our Water Restoration Master Certification
Water damage is our bread and butter here in Colorado. Burst pipes in winter. Roof leaks from snow loads. Basement flooding. Appliance failures.
Master-level water restoration certification means understanding building science. How water moves through structures. Where it hides. How different materials absorb moisture. What equipment works for which situations. And how to dry everything completely without causing additional damage.
Advanced water restoration knowledge includes:
Moisture mapping using professional meters. Calculating drying goals based on material science. Understanding vapor pressure and humidity ratios. Proper equipment placement for airflow. Knowing when to remove materials versus dry in place. Preventing microbial growth during drying.
Lee Wallender from The Spruce has written extensively about this: Drying isn’t just running fans. You need to understand psychrometrics. You need to monitor moisture levels scientifically. Rush the process and you trap moisture. Go too slow and mold grows. Master-level training teaches the science behind effective drying.
Colorado’s climate makes water damage tricky. Our dry air makes people think things dry fast. Sometimes yes. But under carpets and inside walls? That’s 100% humidity. And if it’s over 40° in your house, mold grows. Master certification means understanding these regional differences.
Ongoing Training Requirements
IICRC certification isn’t one-and-done. We maintain continuing education every single year.
The restoration industry evolves. New equipment gets developed. Building materials change. Techniques improve. Insurance requirements shift. Staying current requires constant learning.
Our team participates in:
Annual continuing education courses. Manufacturer training on new equipment. Industry conferences and workshops. Technical seminars on specialized topics. Updates on changing building codes and standards.
This matters because the knowledge we had five years ago isn’t enough today. Building science improves. We learn better ways to do things. Equipment becomes more effective. Staying certified means staying current.
State Licenses and Additional Certifications
Beyond IICRC, we maintain all required state licenses and specialized certifications.
Additional credentials we hold:
State contractor licenses in Colorado and other states where we work. EPA Lead-Safe Certification for working in older buildings. Mold remediation certifications. Trauma and crime scene cleanup certifications. OSHA safety training for our entire crew. Commercial building certifications for large-scale projects.
These aren’t optional extras. These are required credentials for performing restoration work legally and safely.
Insurance companies verify our credentials before approving claims. Building departments check our licenses before issuing permits. Property managers want to see proper certifications before hiring us for commercial work.
Why Insurance Companies Care About Certifications
Your insurance adjuster will ask if we’re certified. That’s standard procedure.
Insurance companies prefer IICRC-certified contractors because:
Certified professionals follow documented procedures. Work meets industry standards. Documentation is thorough and professional. Claims are less likely to be disputed later. And honestly, it reduces the insurance company’s liability.
When an adjuster sees Master-level certifications, that usually speeds up claim approval. They know the work will be done right. They know documentation will be complete. They know we understand proper protocols.
A common thing seen in the industry is insurance companies requiring re-work when uncertified contractors don’t follow proper procedures. That delays your restoration. Costs more money. And creates unnecessary stress during an already difficult situation.
What Certification Means for You Practically
Certifications sound impressive on paper. But what do they mean when your basement is flooded at 2 AM?
Practically speaking, certified technicians:
Show up with the right equipment. Make informed decisions about materials. Follow proven procedures that work. Document everything properly for insurance. Complete the job without needing to come back and fix mistakes.
Norm Abram from This Old House has said repeatedly: There’s a right way and a fast way. Master craftsmen do it the right way, which is actually faster in the long run because you’re not fixing problems later.
That philosophy applies perfectly to restoration work. Certified technicians do it right the first time. Which means your property gets restored properly. Your insurance claim goes smoothly. And you can move on with your life.
The Real Test: Experience Plus Certification
Certifications prove knowledge. Experience proves ability. Together they create expertise.
We’ve been doing this for over 30 years. The certifications validate what we learned through thousands of real-world situations. Every burst pipe in Conifer. Every fire in Lakewood. Every mold situation in Bailey. Every storm damage repair throughout the mountains.
You can have all the certifications in the world and still make mistakes if you lack experience. You can have decades of experience but miss important details if you’re not current on proper techniques. The combination—certified expertise plus extensive experience—that’s what produces excellent results.
Certifications Don’t Replace Good Judgment
Here’s something important: Certifications teach techniques. Experience teaches judgment.
What can happen is two certified technicians look at the same water damage. One says “cut everything out.” The other says “most of this can be dried and saved.” Both are certified. But one has better judgment based on experience.
We use our certifications as the foundation. Then we apply decades of experience to make the right decisions for each unique situation. Sometimes textbook answers don’t match real-world conditions. That’s where expertise matters.
When Certifications Matter Most
Emergency situations reveal the value of proper training.
When your property is damaged, decisions need to be made fast. Extract water now or wait? Cut out drywall or try drying? Call in a specialist or handle it ourselves? These decisions affect everything that follows.
Certified technicians make better snap decisions because:
Training becomes automatic. We’ve seen similar situations before. We know what works and what fails. And we can explain our reasoning to insurance adjusters clearly.
Speed matters. But speed combined with proper technique matters more. We move fast because we’re trained, not because we’re reckless. There’s a huge difference.
Why We Invest in Training
Maintaining Master-level certifications costs money and time. Continuing education isn’t cheap. Training takes technicians off job sites. So why do we invest in it?
Because we treat this as a profession, not just a job.
Your property deserves professionals who know what they’re doing. Your insurance company expects proper procedures. And honestly, we take pride in being among the best-trained restoration professionals in Colorado.
When you call 303-816-0068, you’re getting technicians with some of the highest credentials available in this industry. Not because we like hanging certificates on walls. Because those certifications represent real knowledge that protects your property.
What You Should Ask Any Restoration Company
If you’re comparing restoration companies, here’s what to ask about certifications:
Questions to ask:
Are your technicians IICRC certified? What certifications do they hold specifically? How long have they been certified? Do you maintain continuing education? Are you licensed in Colorado? What additional certifications do you have?
Don’t just accept “yes, we’re certified.” Ask which certifications. Basic certification is common. Master certification is rare. There’s a significant difference.
The Bottom Line on Certifications
Certifications prove we know what we’re doing. Experience proves we can do it well. Together they mean your property gets restored properly.
When disaster strikes, you don’t have time to thoroughly research companies. You need help immediately. That’s when certifications matter most—they’re a reliable indicator that you’re hiring professionals who follow proven procedures.
But certifications are just the beginning. What really matters is using that knowledge to save your property and help you through a terrible situation. That’s what we do every single day.
Related Articles:
- What Types of Damage Do You Restore?
- What Equipment Do You Use for Restoration?
- Do You Work with Insurance Companies?
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