Flood Damage

[todd@bsaw]

I was just curious how many of you guys handle these jobs and how in depth you get.

We`ve had a few decent storms these last couple days and I`ve been mostly turning people down because I don`t really want to get into it. I feel that some of these people just don`t understand the time and effort that goes into this type of work.



I had one woman today bring her car in because she "drove through a puddle and her car stalled". The service writer had already accepted the vehicle and had done the mechanical work to get the motor started and recommended a full interior detail to `get the smell out`. When I finally took a look at the car, the water line was almost up to the window! I told her to contact her insurance company (because she hadn`t already) and I wasn`t going to touch the car until the damage was assessed. I figured that I`m looking at about 8+ hours of work including replacing any seats/foam that cannot be cleaned. She didn`t seem to understand why I couldn`t just shampoo it.



Any comments or help from those detailers that do this sort of work?

[imported_GregCavi]

I was just curious how many of you guys handle these jobs and how in depth you get.

We`ve had a few decent storms these last couple days and I`ve been mostly turning people down because I don`t really want to get into it. I feel that some of these people just don`t understand the time and effort that goes into this type of work.



I had one woman today bring her car in because she "drove through a puddle and her car stalled". The service writer had already accepted the vehicle and had done the mechanical work to get the motor started and recommended a full interior detail to `get the smell out`. When I finally took a look at the car, the water line was almost up to the window! I told her to contact her insurance company (because she hadn`t already) and I wasn`t going to touch the car until the damage was assessed. I figured that I`m looking at about 8+ hours of work including replacing any seats/foam that cannot be cleaned. She didn`t seem to understand why I couldn`t just shampoo it.



Any comments or help from those detailers that do this sort of work?

You know what you`re getting yourself into. Pulling up all carpets, replacing padding, pulling door panels and dash to ensure no water remains. It`s a thorough job.



Greg

[AP2TUDE]

I think a job like that goes way beyond anything that could be considered detailing or reconditioning.



At a minimum you would have to remove all the seats, carpeting, and most of the interior to make sure that there wasn`t any residual moisture. Not to mention that you couldn`t really determine the extent of the damage to things like seat and carpet padding. Mold could grow anywhere in there, and you would have a heck of a time trying to find it.



Sure you could shampoo the carpet, but that is only going to hit the surface. The owner of the vehicle is going to have much more serious issues to worry about than simple clean seats and carpets.

[todd@bsaw]

i did one minor job today with just a little flood damage, but i turned that other job down. Her insurance company came by today to take a look at the car. I basically said that I wasn`t going to touch it.

[David Fermani]

Being an Insurance Appraiser in Florida, I see alot of flash flood claims. When I had my detail business, I did tons of water & smoke repairs that were subletted to me by body shops. I usually replace any and all fabric that has gotten wet. If there is a mildew smell, all the fabric (including headliner) gets replaced. Then, once the interior is out of the vehicle, everything gets deodorized with a anti-microbial cleaner. If you`re planning on doing these repairs, it`s a must to have an ozone machine too.

[imported_Tex Star Detail]

I do flood jobs. As long as it isn`t up over the car! LOL

everything from pulling carpet/padding, removing seats, removing door panels, any/all trim, dash parts, etc.....



I really like doing it, as it is a different process from the day in and day out detailing.

After I get everything stripped out, I treat the floor pan for mold/mildew etc....



a few pics...

[todd@bsaw]

Chris, you`re exactly the kind of detailer I was looking for!

Are most of the flood damage reconditionings insurance claims or do the clients typically pay for it? Also, how do you estimate the cost/time the job will take?



I`ve torn a few interiors out before, but mostly for myself and not for a client. I think it would be nice to do something different for a change but didn`t know how much of a change it would be. Great job on the dismantle pictures! For some reason I love how a car looks with the interior completely stripped.

[David Fermani]

You should buy a Mitchel and/or Chilton`s repair book. It gives you a complete breakdown of labor based on time studies of labor operations. Insurance companies use these books to pay off of and so should your retail customers. For example, to remove seats and carpet on a 05 Grand Caravan pays 6.8 hours to remove and install. Multiply that number by your posted hourly shop rate + cleaning time + materials and that`s what you charge.

[todd@bsaw]

We have Mitchell as our service database program that has all that. With what I`ve figured for pricing, it`s safe to figure most damage claims are going to be near or over the $1000 mark and a full day of work?

[imported_Tex Star Detail]

I think this thread jinxed me. I just picked up another flood job for Sunday.....LOL



looks like it`s minor though, just need to pull seats, carpet/padding, and plastic trim. Just on the floor boards.......