Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — we coordinate with all homeowners insurance carriers in New York, including carriers not listed on our website. The list of carriers we display represents the most common ones we work with, not a limitation on who we can assist. If your carrier isn't listed, that's not a problem — call us and we'll handle it the same way we handle every other claim.

No. Hiring a licensed restoration contractor is a standard part of the claims process — insurance carriers expect and work with contractors on claims daily. We communicate professionally with adjusters, provide documentation in formats they recognize, and coordinate the scope of work. We are not adversarial toward your carrier — our role is to ensure the damage is accurately documented and that the restoration is performed correctly.

No — our insurance coordination is part of our standard service on every claim-related project. We document the damage, prepare scope-of-work estimates, and communicate with your adjuster at no additional charge. It's how we operate on every restoration job, not an add-on service.

For active emergencies — water flowing, fire damage, storm damage — call a contractor first. Your policy requires you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and starting mitigation immediately is both the right thing to do and what your carrier expects. You can call your insurance company while the crew is en route or immediately after. For non-emergency situations, calling both at roughly the same time is fine. We can help you through the reporting process once we're on site.

Shut off the main water supply immediately, then turn off electricity in affected areas. Before touching anything, document all damage with photographs — this is critical for your insurance claim. Then call a licensed restoration contractor right away. Do not attempt to dry the space with household fans — they are not adequate for structural drying and create conditions for mold growth.

Structural drying typically takes 3 to 7 days for a contained loss. Reconstruction — replacing drywall, insulation, flooring, and finishes — takes an additional 1 to 4 weeks depending on the extent of the damage. The most important factor is how quickly mitigation begins. Every hour of delay increases drying time and the amount of material that needs to be replaced.

Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover sudden and accidental water damage — burst pipes, appliance failures, and roof leaks from storms. Gradual leaks that developed over time are typically not covered. External flooding from surface water or storm surge requires separate flood insurance through the NFIP or a private carrier. We help you document the cause of the loss clearly from the start of the job.

It depends on the flooring type and how long it was wet. Carpet and pad are almost always replaced after a significant water loss. Hardwood flooring can sometimes be dried in place if caught early and if the species and finish allow it — but cupping, buckling, and gapping are common after saturation and often require replacement. Tile and vinyl are more water-resistant and typically survive if dried promptly. We assess each material and give you an honest recommendation.

Recurring flooding from external water sources — groundwater, surface runoff, or water seeping through the foundation — is generally not covered under standard homeowners insurance. This type of flooding requires separate flood insurance. However, if your sump pump fails and that failure causes flooding, you may have coverage under a sump pump rider if you have one on your policy. We can help you understand which type of water event you're dealing with and document it accordingly.

It depends on the extent of the fire and smoke damage. For small contained fires, it may be possible to remain in unaffected areas of the home while restoration proceeds. For significant fires, the soot, smoke particles, and compromised air quality typically make the home uninhabitable until remediation is complete. Smoke and soot contain toxic compounds that are hazardous to inhale over time. Your insurance policy typically includes additional living expenses (ALE) coverage for temporary housing during restoration — we help you document displacement for your claim.

Smoke odor penetrates porous materials — drywall, wood framing, insulation, fabric, and even concrete — at a microscopic level. Surface cleaning removes visible soot but doesn't reach the odor compounds embedded in those materials. Professional deodorization requires thermal fogging, ozone treatment, or hydroxyl generation to reach the same porous surfaces that smoke reached. Without these processes, the odor returns — especially in warm or humid weather when those compounds off-gas more readily.

Yes — water damage from firefighting efforts is part of the fire damage claim and is addressed as part of our fire restoration scope. Firefighting water often affects areas of the structure that weren't directly touched by the fire, and it needs to be extracted and properly dried to prevent secondary mold growth. We address both the fire and smoke damage and the water intrusion from firefighting under a single coordinated scope.

If mold results from a covered water loss — a burst pipe, storm damage, or appliance failure — it is generally covered as part of that claim. Mold from long-term neglect, chronic moisture, or gradual leaks is typically not covered. Many policies also include a mold sublimit of $5,000 to $10,000 that caps remediation coverage regardless of total loss. Review your policy declarations page for this limit and ask your agent about mold endorsements.

Not all mold species carry the same risk level, but all mold growth inside a building is a problem that needs to be addressed — regardless of species. Mold degrades the materials it grows on, produces allergens and irritants that affect air quality, and indicates a moisture condition that won't resolve on its own. Species identification requires laboratory analysis of air or surface samples. We recommend professional assessment and remediation for any indoor mold growth rather than attempting to categorize it by appearance.

For very small, isolated surface mold on non-porous materials — a small patch on tile grout, for example — consumer-grade cleaning can be effective if the moisture source is fixed. For mold inside wall cavities, on drywall, on wood framing, or in HVAC systems, DIY remediation is not appropriate. Disturbing mold without proper containment spreads spores throughout the space and HVAC system, dramatically expanding the contaminated area. Professional remediation with negative pressure containment is the standard for anything beyond a trivially small surface occurrence.

For a typical Long Island home with standard architectural shingles, a full replacement including tear-off, permits, ice and water shield, and underlayment typically ranges from $12,000 to $22,000. Larger homes, steeper pitches, premium materials, and deck replacement add to that range. A significantly lower estimate almost always means something is being left out — permit, tear-off, underlayment quality, or workers' compensation coverage.

If your policy covers replacement cost value (RCV), and the storm damage is documented thoroughly, yes — your carrier should pay for full replacement minus your deductible. If your policy is actual cash value (ACV), the settlement will reflect the depreciated value of the roof based on its age. The critical variable is pre-work documentation — we photograph all storm damage evidence before any material is touched.

Yes — a building permit is required for a full roof replacement in Nassau and Suffolk County municipalities. Requirements vary by town, but unpermitted roofing work creates title issues, voids manufacturer warranties, and can create problems with future insurance claims. We pull the permit, manage the inspection, and provide you with the sign-off record as part of every project.

Yes — we handle both. For emergencies like burst pipes, active leaks, and sewer backups, we respond 24/7. For planned work — repiping, water heater replacement, bathroom rough-in, drain cleaning — we schedule at your convenience. All plumbing work is performed by licensed plumbers and permitted where required.

Discolored water (rust or brown tint), frequent leaks, low water pressure throughout the home, visible corrosion on exposed pipes, and a home built before 1970 with original galvanized steel pipes are all indicators that repiping should be evaluated. Galvanized steel corrodes from the inside out — by the time visible problems appear, the pipe walls are often significantly compromised. We can assess your plumbing system and give you an honest recommendation.

A puff back is a small explosion inside an oil burner or furnace that forces unburned oil, combustion gases, and soot backward through the heating system and into the living space. It happens in a fraction of a second but can coat every surface in your home — walls, ceilings, furniture, clothing, and contents — with a fine, oily black soot. The soot is different from regular dust and requires professional dry-cleaning protocols to remove properly.

Yes — oil puff back damage is typically covered under the sudden and accidental discharge provision of a standard homeowners insurance policy. It's treated similarly to a fire or smoke damage loss. Report the claim promptly and document the condition of every affected surface before any cleaning begins.

No — and attempting to do so typically makes the situation significantly worse. Puff back soot is oily and smears when wiped with water or standard cleaners, permanently staining porous surfaces. The correct first step is dry chemical sponge cleaning using specialized restoration products before any wet cleaning occurs. Without this sequence, the soot embeds deeper into walls and surfaces. Call a restoration contractor before touching anything.

For commercial buildings and multi-family properties in New York, a licensed asbestos inspector must survey the project area before demolition or renovation that will disturb suspect materials — this is required by NYS law. For single-family homes, it is not legally mandated but is strongly recommended for any pre-1980 building. In NYC, the DOB requires an asbestos survey before filing a demolition permit on any building constructed before 1987.

You cannot identify asbestos-containing materials visually — laboratory analysis is required. Materials that commonly contained asbestos in pre-1980 buildings include 9"x9" vinyl floor tiles and their adhesive, pipe insulation, boiler and furnace insulation, textured ceiling coatings (popcorn ceilings), drywall joint compound, and certain exterior siding materials. A licensed asbestos inspector takes bulk samples and sends them to an accredited laboratory for analysis.

We dispatch within 60 minutes to most of Long Island and New York City — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week including weekends and holidays. We answer our phone live at all hours. For form submissions, we call back within 15 minutes during business hours and within 30 minutes overnight. For active emergencies, calling directly is always faster than submitting a form.

Yes — Madison Ave Construction holds a New York State General Contractor license, NYS DOL asbestos contractor license, IICRC certifications in water damage restoration, mold remediation, and fire restoration, and EPA Lead-Safe certification. We carry $2M general liability insurance and current workers' compensation coverage. License and insurance certificates are available upon request before any work begins.

We serve all of Long Island — Nassau and Suffolk County — and all five boroughs of New York City, as well as Westchester County. Our office is based in Deer Park, NY, and we have crews positioned throughout Long Island for rapid emergency response. For commercial construction and specialty projects, we work throughout the greater New York metro area.

Yes — we work on both residential and commercial properties across all our service lines. From single-family home water damage to multi-family mold remediation, from retail flat roof replacement to commercial office build-outs — our licensed GC status and certifications cover the full range of property types across New York.

Yes — this is one of our primary advantages as a full-service licensed contractor. A storm that damages the roof, drives water into the attic, saturates the ceiling, and creates mold in the wall cavity involves roofing, water damage restoration, and mold remediation. We handle all of it under one contract, with one project manager, documented as a single insurance claim. This eliminates the coordination gap between trades that typically slows restoration and extends displacement.