Priority Restoration can rebuild walls, upgrade electrical and repair the flooring of your home or business but when all the sawdust and
damaged material has been swept away, what it really provides is peace of mind.
There are few things more disheartening than turning the key to discover the kind of damage that can force your family to relocate, even temporarily, or threatens the very future of your company.
Jen McGinnis, vice-president of the nearly 40-year-old Winnipeg-based company, says Priority’s goal is to ensure a positive experience for all of its clients who are dealing with a wide range of damage. Sometimes it’s as simple as replacing some damaged drywall and insulation or assuring the client that everything is going to be alright.
“We strive to turn an unexpected event into a positive experience,” she says.
For example, some homeowners choose to do renovations that they’d been putting off at the same time as repairs are done to minimize the amount of time that their house is a construction zone.
People’s lives are often complicated enough with work, driving kids to hockey games and caring for aging parents without the added stress that damage to their home or business can cause.
“It’s the last thing people need,” says Andrew Feeney, vice-president. “We try to ease their pain as much as possible and enable them to sleep at night.”
Temporary office or warehouse space is usually coordinated by the insurance adjuster or client. Priority can assist with packing, moving and coordination once a location has been determined while focusing on expediting repairs to help minimize business disruption and additional living or operating expenses.
“We work with our clients to minimize disruption, whatever that requires,” he says.
Business owners or homeowners who have a claim to make can contact Priority directly or alternatively speak with their insurance broker or insurance adjuster and request to work with Priority. Many clients engage directly with the company because of previous experience working with Priority or through recommendations from friends and family.
“Many insurance companies allow for an inspection to help determine if a claim is warranted,” McGinnis says.
While many Winnipeggers brace for potential spring-related damage from ice damming or flooding, bad things can happen at any time of the year. Claims for hot water tank ruptures can happen anytime, but Feeney says Priority sees a lot of weather-related claims, such as sewer back-ups or sump pumps getting swamped after a heavy rainstorm It might also surprise people to learn that asbestos, which has been banned as a construction material for several decades, represents a significant piece of Priority’s business.
“Buildings constructed before 1990 may have asbestos,” Feeney says. “It’s very common in Winnipeg. If we’re doing work on any pre-1990 building, we are required to test for asbestos in certain materials before we do anything.”
Priority is part of a rotation of approved vendors with more than 30 insurance and property management companies as well as government and institutional contracts.
It’s even common for people to have experienced some kind of damage but not realize that they should make a claim. Manitobans have up to two years to make a claim on property damage.
“We often see roof claims come in when a homeowner notices their neighbour’s roof being replaced,” McGinnis says. “They didn’t even
know they had damage until they had it inspected after speaking to their neighbour. But just because a neighbour had damage doesn’t mean
you’ll have it, too. There are lots of factors to consider, such as the age of the shingles, the design of the roof or nearby trees or tall buildings that blunt the impact.”
Priority tips
Priority does its best to educate homeowners and business owners to take steps to protect their properties and the kind of plans they should have in place in the event of an emergency. For example, in the summer, make sure your downspouts run away from the house and aren’t
plugged. Otherwise, even a brief rainfall could have you running for a shop vacuum. And in the winter, buy a roof rake so you can clear
snow off your shingles or have your roof cleared professionally.
For businesses, it’s important to keep the exterior of the building clear of combustible materials. So, avoid stacking pallets, cardboard
or debris against the building as these materials may attract arson or vandalism.
If you’re going on vacation, make sure somebody checks on your house while you’re away. (This is often a requirement for insurance
purposes.
Restoration specialists
Priority’s team of more than 125 employees includes emergency technicians, asbestos technicians, content specialists, carpenters, drywallers, painters as well as cabinetmakers.
Together, they are restoration specialists whose goal is to get your house feeling like a home again and your business back in business.
In 2016, Priority expanded to Brandon with the acquisition of Cancade Restoration, which employs about 60 people. Together the two
offices operate throughout Manitoba, northwestern Ontario and southeastern Saskatchewan.
