Proudly Serving the Entire State of Florida
Damage from water leakage or seepage can cause considerable issues, and expense. It’s easy to see what’s happening when pipes burst or storm or hurricane water inundates your property, but many claims result from unseen water seepage over time. Spotting these issues and remedying them can save headaches, and money.
The drywall in your house is a good early warning sign of impending water problems. A thorough inspection periodically can help spot issues before they become major and require expensive repairs, and an insurance claim. When you spot ANY issues with your drywall, a more extensive examination is required. When you spot damage, if it at all widespread, calling in Pinnacle to assess the extent of the damage and help in filing a claim will result in faster, and higher settlement amounts, to repair the damage.
There are five warning signs of water seepage and damage. One important element to keep in mind is that the insurance company is very interested in knowing: i) when damage occurred; and, ii) how quickly you filed your claim. Not being able to pinpoint the time when the water damage occurred or filing very late can provide the insurance company with an excuse to deny the claim. Avoid that hassle by paying attention and inspecting and repairing on a timely basis.
New Leaf services FAQs
What services does New Leaf offer?
New Leaf offers ‘direct cremation’ services at an affordable price. Forms are filled out online or over the phone. We provide efficient, quality service at a clear, reasonable price.
Arrangements are made online or over the phone.
We provide efficient, quality service at a clear, reasonable price.
How does the process work?
-A call to New Leaf or a visit to our website is all that is needed to start the process
– You choose your package and receive a quote, complete the online forms, and provide payment.
-We then dispatch our licensed funeral directors to transport your loved one from the place of death to our climate controlled holding facility for care and storage.
-We then register the death with the local municipality. Forms, certificates and authorizations are completed according to New York State laws before the cremation can take place.
-Once the forms and authorizations have been signed and filed with the local health department, the decedent is transferred to a third party crematory (as required by New York State law) for cremation. Usually this takes place within 3-7 days.
-The ashes are then shipped to the family or a hand delivery/pickup is arranged.
How long does the process usually take?
The overall cremation process, from notification until the family receives the ashes, will take an average of 7–15 days (you said you would hold body for five days when we spoke; can you hold a body more than that without cremation; should note that if there is a delay, as outlined below, body must be cremated). (We can’t cremate until the forms are filed. If the delay is longer than 5 days we charge a storage fee per day) Funeral homes are at the mercy of the medical examiner and others, though, so delays can and do occur.
The overall cremation process, from initial arrangements until the family receives the ashes, will take an average of 10–15 days.
Delays may occur when local, state or federal agencies, police, county coroner, or medical examiners become involved and investigate the circumstances surrounding a death, or the attending physician delays signing the death certificate.
You can rest assured that New Leaf will keep you informed every step of the way should a delay occur.
**Note: Should a delay in obtaining the death certificate require us to store your loved one in our care beyond the standard 3 day window, a daily ‘custodial care’ of $150/day will apply.
Is the memorial service included?
No, New Leaf handles the cremation allowing you to plan your own memorial service. If you would like to have a memorial service at one of our partner funeral homes we will be happy to arrange.
How are the ashes delivered?
Your loved one’s ashes will be either shipped through USPS Priority Mail, or hand-delivered by one of our representatives. They come in a rigid plastic container unless an urn is purchased through our website.
Does low cost mean low quality?
When it comes to a traditional funeral, yes, you get what you pay for- nicer facilities, nicer livery vehicles, etc. Direct Cremations are different however. New Leaf offers an efficient service and we pride ourselves on quality customer service. We believe that a person’s financial standing should not preclude them from a dignified end, and that every life should be celebrated. We treat our clients like family, just as we have for over 100 years at our partner funeral homes.
- Is There Peeling Paint Anywhere?
Paint normally adheres pretty well to walls, ceilings and floors, so peeling or bubbling is an indication that moisture has penetrated the drywall, either from the frontside, which you should be aware of when it happens, or from behind the drywall. This is the situation that is of most concern because: i) it takes a good deal of moisture to penetrate the drywall and affect the frontside; ii) by the time the peeing manifests itself, it is likely that a fairly long period of time has elapsed; and, iii) damage may not be confined to the paint and drywall: insulation, wood beams and supports all may have been compromised by the water.
It is worthwhile to create a small hole where the paint is peeling and inspect behind the peeling paint to try and determine if the presence of water can be seen. The size of the hole is based on how easy it is to inspect and what equipment you have available to do the inspection. The simplest method is to just use a flashlight to inspect; but, today, scopes that attach to your smartphone are easily purchased, and inexpensive (cost is a little as $10). The scope gives you the ability to fully inspect the area behind the drywall to determine the full impact of the water, and if it still present.
- Is the Wall or Ceiling Stained?
Even when you can’t feel any moisture on the surface of the wall, ceiling, or floor, a stain is likely to be indicative of the presence of moisture at some point. Stains can be various colors based on the materials it crosses over and the drywall composition.
It’s important to determine if the stain is recent and if the water that caused the stain is still present. Again, a small hole can be made and either a flashlight or a camera scope used to inspect behind the drywall.
A moisture meter would be the most definitive way to determine if a spot is recent (they cost as little as $5). The presence of excess moisture would be indicative of either recent or continual wetting of the spot; and, a clear signal to investigate further.
- Warping, Sagging, or Rippling of a Surface?
Materials used for wall coverings, drywall, paint, or even wallpaper, all react to moisture. The more water these surfaces are subject to, the greater the effect will be. Different materials will react more quickly or less quickly, but any warping, sagging, or rippling is usually caused by exposure to moisture and should be evaluated. Again, a moisture meter will give a definitive answer whether moisture is present or not, but just a visual inspection will provide a clue. Any of these conditions should be examined more closely and remedial steps taken. Your Pinnacle public adjuster can evaluate any of these issues and filing any claim for fixing of these issues.
Certain warping or sagging of a wood surface or body should be considered hazardous and threatening and taken even more seriously because of the threat to a home’s structure or the occupants or visitors to the home, i.e., roofs or support beams. Also, any moisture near or crossing over electrical lines or fixtures should be handled promptly because of the risk of fire or electric shock that, in the worst scenario, can lead to injury or death.
- Is Mold Present?
Mold is a direct result of water leakage damage; and, its presence is a clear warning. While not all types of mold can/will cause health issues, it’s better to be safe by eliminating the mold and repairing the water issues and the damage. The presence of mold should always cause you to contact your Pinnacle adjuster so the situation can be evaluated and an estimate of the cost developed. Obviously, “black” mold will require professional removal, but there are other strains of mold that are equally hazardous, even if they appear innoculous. Testing can be made to see if the strain is a serious health threat. Mold is also indicative of a longer-term issue and calls for quick remediation.
- Musty Smell?
Sometimes, our other senses can cause an alarm even when we can’t see any issue. A musty odor is often correlated with the presence of moisture, and generally of water that has been around for awhile. This musty odor is indicative of the need to examine more closely. Try to determine the source of the odor; and, when needed, dig in using your flashlight, scope, or moisture meter to see where the water is standing. This will allow you to identify and remediate the unhealthy, and what could be expensive, situation.
Pinnacle stands ready to review, assess, and file a claim for any water damage to your home. Use our skills and service to find and fix any water issues. We can get you quick resolution and insure that you receive full renumeration for the cost of any repairs.
