Editorial policy
How we research and review this site
Every page on this site is meant to help someone dealing with fire, smoke or water damage make a safe, informed decision. This page explains where the information comes from, how it is checked and how it is kept current.
Sources
Where the information comes from
We rely on public, authoritative sources: federal agencies such as Ready.gov and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state agencies such as the Illinois Department of Insurance, the City of Chicago's Department of Buildings and Commission on Chicago Landmarks, safety organizations such as NFPA, and the published scope of industry standards such as ANSI/IICRC S500 and S700. Neighborhood history and housing facts come from cited reference sources.
Every page lists its sources at the bottom, and numbered citations in the text point to them. We write in our own words and do not copy text from sources.
Standards
What we will and won't publish
- We publishExplanations of how fire, smoke and water damage behave, how restoration is done, safety steps and where to find official guidance.
- We do not publishReviews, ratings, response-time promises, emergency or around-the-clock availability claims, or licensing claims about specific contractors.
- We do not giveLegal, insurance or medical advice. Pages describe general information and point to official sources.
- We label imagesExample images, not photos of specific jobs.
Review
Review dates and corrections
Pages are reviewed when sources change and at least periodically. If you find an error or an outdated link, call the number on this site and let us know; corrections are made as soon as they are verified.
Area pages name only neighborhoods in ZIP codes our contractors cover. When coverage changes, the pages are updated.
Who runs this site
Independence and the referral model
This site is operated by Muhammad Aamir Siddiqui as a call-in referral service. Calls are connected to independent restoration contractors who accept work in the caller's area. The editorial content is written independently of any specific contractor, and contractors do not review or approve it.