What happens when you call
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Tell us what happened. 30 seconds - what burned and whether the home is secure.
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You're connected with a local restoration crew while you're on the line.
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The crew confirms timing and your arrival time - board-up comes first if the house is open.
What Chicago crews handle
What's different in Chicago?
Chicago basements are deep and usually finished - and much of Cook County drains through combined sewers that back up into them during heavy rain. Freeze-thaw cycles burst pipes in uninsulated exterior walls, ice dams push meltwater under roofs, and a dead sump or ejector pit turns an ordinary storm into a flooded basement in an hour.
In the Chicago area the coverage that surprises homeowners most is sewer backup - it's only covered with a water/sewer backup endorsement, an add-on many policies skip despite the combined sewer system. Check your declarations page before the next heavy rain.
Your call goes to a crew based in the Chicago area. Serving Chicago, Evanston, Cicero, Oak Park, Skokie, Berwyn, and all of Cook County.
What to know before repairs in Chicago
Chicago does not require a building permit to board up a damaged building, remove debris or broken glass, or clean off or paint over smoke damage. Unpainted plywood boards may stay up for only six months. Board-up companies are a city-licensed trade. Rewiring and replacing damaged pipe are different: most repair work needs a permit, and only minor electrical work, such as replacing a light bulb, is exempt. A Chicago Express Permit certificate lists every DOB-licensed contractor on the job, so you can check who is named. If fire damaged gas lines or you smell gas, leave and call Peoples Gas at 866-556-6002 from a safe location.
Common questions
Can we stay in the house?
Depends on smoke spread and structural safety - the crew tells you straight after inspection. If you can't, most policies pay for temporary housing (loss-of-use coverage).
Is fire damage covered by insurance?
Typically yes. Fire is a core homeowner's peril, and coverage usually includes smoke damage, water from firefighting, board-up, and rebuilding, subject to your limits and deductible - check your declarations page for those. Ask the contractor about documentation and coordination with your adjuster.
Should I start cleaning up myself?
It's best to wait on soot cleanup. Wiping soot the wrong way can drive it deeper, and moving debris before photos may reduce what your claim can show. Waiting on cleanup doesn't mean delaying safe steps to prevent further damage, like board-up or tarping once it's safe. Photograph first.