PHC Restoration’s service area covers Raleigh, Wake County, and the surrounding communities of the Research Triangle region, including Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Holly Springs, Sanford, Lillington, Dunn, and Broadway. For most addresses within our service areas, PHC can have a crew on-site within approximately one hour of your call for an emergency. If you’re not sure whether your address falls within our range, call 910-814-2502 and we’ll confirm immediately.

PHC Restoration is an IICRC Certified Firm. Our certifications include: 

• Active Certifications
• Applied Microbial Remediation Technician
• Applied Structural Drying Technician
• Building Moisture Inspection
• Carpet Cleaning Technician
• Carpet Repair and Reinstallation Technician
• Contents Processing Technician
• Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
• Health and Safety Technician
• House Cleaning Technician
• Odor Control Technician
• Trauma and Crime Scene Technician
• Upholstery and Fabric Cleaning Technician
• Water Damage Restoration Technician

We hold additional advanced designations including Certified Restorer (CR) and Water Loss Specialist (WLS). For you, our restoration company certifications mean PHC’s processes follow documented, peer-reviewed standards and that the team’s training is ongoing, not a one-time credential.

Yes. PHC is a 24/7 restoration company available 365 days a year, including nights, weekends, and holidays for sudden damage. For most addresses in our service area, you can expect crew arrival within approximately one hour of your call. Water and fire damage don’t pause overnight, and every hour without professional intervention allows damage to compound and secondary damage becomes increasingly likely. If you need emergency restoration service around Raleigh, or after hours restoration, call 910-814-2502.

Property damage restoration costs vary significantly depending on damage type, the scope of affected areas, and the materials involved. For water damage, the category of contamination is also a factor. A small water event in a single room and a fire that affected an entire floor represent vastly different scopes, and costs reflect that range. PHC provides a detailed scope assessment for every project, and our cost of restoration services page walks through the primary factors that influence pricing. 

PHC provides thorough documentation of the restoration process, including photographs of the damage, moisture readings, and a written scope of work. You can use this documentation to support your claims process with an accurate, professional record of what was damaged, the work that needs to be done, and the materials involved. 

What you do before the restoration company arrives can meaningfully limit how much damage occurs in the interim. Here’s what to do based on your situation:

For water damage: If it’s safe to do so, locate and shut off the water source to stop active flow. Move valuables, documents, and electronics above the waterline or out of the affected area. Do not use a household vacuum on standing water: standard vacuums are not designed for this and create electrocution risk. 

For fire damage: Do not re-enter the structure until it has been cleared. Do not attempt to clean smoke residue from surfaces: improper handling can permanently set stains and odors. If it’s safe to do so from the exterior, document the damage with photos before anything is disturbed.

In both situations, the most important thing you can do is call PHC at 910-814-2502 and keep the line clear while waiting for the restoration crew so they can reach you with updates on arrival.

If your property has active water, smoke residue, biohazard material, or contamination of any kind, you need to call a restoration company versus a general contractor. General contractors are construction professionals; they build and remodel. They don’t carry the extraction equipment, drying systems, air quality tools, or certifications required to safely mitigate active damage or handle hazardous materials.

Bringing a general contractor in before mitigation means those steps don’t get done correctly. Once the property is mitigated, dried, and cleared, reconstruction begins—and that’s where a contractor’s scope starts. PHC holds an unlimited general contractor license and handles both sides, which eliminates the handoff issue entirely. For more guidance on choosing the right professional for your situation, visit our blog post on how to choose a contractor.

Not for the full duration. For the initial assessment and scope walkthrough, it’s genuinely helpful to be present as that’s the time where damage is identified, questions get answered, and the project scope is established.

For daily drying checks and ongoing mitigation work, PHC can operate independently with your permission, coordinating access through key lockboxes, property manager contacts, or tenant arrangements as needed. The restoration work schedule is set collaboratively, and PHC keeps you informed of progress and any changes without requiring you to be on-site to find out what’s happening. If you have specific access preferences or constraints, those are straightforward to accommodate from the start.

The water damage restoration process moves through several distinct phases, beginning with assessment and moisture mapping to establish the full extent of saturation—including areas that aren’t visibly wet. From there, extractors remove standing water, followed by the placement of commercial dehumidifiers and air movers to begin structural drying. Moisture readings are taken daily to track progress and adjust equipment placement as conditions change. Once drying goals are met and verified, reconstruction addresses any materials that were removed or damaged beyond restoration. Your water damage repair service team documents each phase so you have a complete record of the work performed.

Structural drying typically takes around three to five days for standard residential water damage, though that range depends on several factors specific to your situation. Hardwood floors and wall cavities hold moisture differently than concrete or tile. The extent of saturation, whether crawlspaces or building cavities are involved, and North Carolina’s humidity levels (particularly in summer months) all influence the structural drying timeline. PHC monitors moisture levels daily and adjusts equipment accordingly, and drying is not considered complete until readings confirm that affected materials have reached appropriate moisture content levels.

Water damage is classified by contamination level, and that classification determines the safety protocols, the PPE required on-site, and which materials can be dried and restored versus which must be removed entirely. 

• Category 1 — Clean Water: Originates from a sanitary source such as a supply line break or a malfunctioning appliance connected to a clean water supply. Poses no significant health risk at the time of loss, though it can degrade to Category 2 if left standing.
• Category 2 — Gray Water: Contains contaminants that may cause illness if ingested or exposed to skin. Common sources include dishwasher or washing machine overflow, toilet overflows without solid waste, and aquarium leaks. Requires protective protocols and more thorough treatment of affected materials.
• Category 3 — Black Water: Highly contaminated water that contains harmful pathogens and requires full biohazard protocols. Sources include sewage backups, floodwater from rivers or storm systems, and any standing water that has been present long enough to support biological growth. Materials that absorb Category 3 water typically cannot be restored and must be removed.

Understanding if you have category 1, 2, or 3 water damage is one of the first things PHC establishes on-site, because it shapes every decision that follows.

Yes. Sewage backups are classified as Category 3 water events and require a structured biohazard response. PHC’s approach to sewage restoration includes full containment of the affected area, removal of contaminated materials that cannot be safely restored, antimicrobial treatment of structural surfaces, and regulated disposal of affected debris. This is not a situation that responds to household cleaning products or standard wet-dry vacuums. The pathogens present in sewage water pose genuine health risks, and the work requires proper PPE, and EPA-registered treatments. PHC handles water damage restoration and flood damage events of all categories, including the most serious.

It depends on the scope of the event and the category of water involved. For smaller losses—a single room, clean water source, no structural concerns—most homeowners stay in the home without significant disruption beyond minor water damage equipment noise. For larger losses involving multiple rooms, dehumidifiers and air movers operating around the clock create a level of noise and airflow that many people find difficult to live with for several days. Large-scale Category 3 events involving sewage or contaminated floodwater may require temporary relocation for safety until affected areas are contained and remediated. PHC will give you an honest assessment of what to expect for your specific situation during the initial walkthrough.

Fire damage restoration services cover the full scope of work required to return a fire-affected property to its pre-loss condition. That begins with emergency board-up and structural stabilization to secure the property, followed by debris removal, smoke residue and odor remediation, HVAC system cleaning, and contents pack-out and cleaning. When fire suppression efforts introduce water into the structure, water damage mitigation is frequently part of fire restoration as well—the two damage types often have to be addressed in parallel. Reconstruction of damaged structural elements and finishes is the final phase. For a detailed look at each stage, visit our fire damage restoration service page and our blog post on what to expect during a fire restoration project.

Fire damage restoration timelines vary considerably based on the scope of the event. A contained kitchen fire may require two to four weeks of remediation and reconstruction. A structure fire with significant damage to framing, multiple rooms, or major systems can extend to several months once permitting, structural work, and full finish reconstruction are factored in. The fire damage repair timeline for your specific project depends on the extent of structural damage, the volume of affected contents, local permitting requirements, and reconstruction scope. PHC maintains communication with you from the start so that timeline updates are consistent.

No, persistent smoke smell should not remain after restoration is complete. Professional smoke odor removal involves considerably more than surface cleaning or air fresheners. The process requires source removal—cleaning or disposing of materials that have absorbed smoke compounds—HEPA filtration, thermal fogging or hydroxyl and ozone treatment where appropriate, and full HVAC decontamination to prevent the system from redistributing odor through the structure.

A house that smells like smoke after fire restoration is typically a sign that the source wasn’t fully addressed, not that odor removal is inherently incomplete. If you’re dealing with persistent smoke smell after a fire, PHC can assess what was missed and what’s needed to resolve it.

Yes. PHC has direct experience with the older construction materials and methods common in historic properties, and that experience shapes how we approach fire damage restoration in these structures. Smoke residue removal from original plaster behaves differently than from modern drywall, and the approach to hardwood, lathe, and period millwork uses different techniques than modern construction. Our historic home fire restoration balances effective remediation with preservation of original character wherever possible. We provide fire restoration for historic properties in Raleigh neighborhoods such as Oakwood and Hayes Barton. 

In many residential fires, smoke damage vs. fire damage isn’t a close comparison: smoke and smoke residue frequently affect far more of the structure than the flames themselves ever reach. Smoke damage from a house fire can impact HVAC systems, wall cavities, and rooms that saw no direct fire exposure. A fire contained to a single room can still deposit residue throughout an entire floor or beyond, depending on how the structure’s airflow and ductwork are configured. This is why a relatively limited fire event can still require whole-home assessment and remediation.

If a tree falls on your house, do not enter the structure until it has been assessed for structural safety, as a compromised roof or wall section can shift further without warning. If there is immediate danger—gas lines, downed electrical, or active structural collapse—call 911 before anything else. Once it’s safe to do so, call PHC for emergency board-up and tarping to prevent water intrusion through the breach while permanent repairs are planned. Document the exterior damage with photos before any cleanup or debris removal begins, as those records can support your claims process. For a full breakdown of next steps, visit our blog post on what to do if a tree falls on your house.

Hurricane season home preparation in North Carolina should begin well before a storm is named. Here are the steps to take to be prepared:

• Inspect and clear gutters and downspouts so water routes away from the foundation rather than pooling against it. 
• Trim trees and branches near the structure to reduce impact risk. 
• Test your sump pump before the season starts. 
• Check window and door seals for gaps that allow wind-driven rain to enter. 
• Know where your main water shutoff is located so you can act quickly if supply lines are compromised. 
• Keep important documents in a waterproof, accessible location. 

Taking these steps before a storm watch is issued gives you far more options than waiting until one is already active. For additional guidance, visit our blog post on hurricane season home preparation.

PHC dispatches 24/7 emergency storm response, including during active storm events, once conditions are safe for crews to travel. During major regional events, PHC triages incoming calls for storm damage repair by severity—properties with active structural breaches and water intrusion take priority over damage that is secured and stable. Widespread storm events affecting the entire service area simultaneously may extend response times beyond our typical one-hour window. If you’re calling during a major event, PHC will add you to a wait-list and keep you up to date with anticipated  arrival estimates. 

In many cases, smoke-damaged clothing and furniture can be restored through professional cleaning and deodorization. The type of fire, the duration of smoke exposure, and the composition of the material itself informs whether the item can be salvaged. A synthetic material fire produces different residue chemistry than a protein fire or a wood-fuel fire, and the cleaning approach has to match the residue type to be effective. Soft goods, upholstered furniture, and clothing are evaluated individually rather than written off as a category. PHC assesses each item on its own condition and is direct with you about what can realistically be restored versus what cannot. Visit our fire damage contents cleaning page for more on what the process involves.

The restoration contents inventory process is thorough and documented from start to finish. Every item is photographed, cataloged by room and category, and tracked through PHC’s system from pack-out through cleaning and return. This documentation serves two purposes: it gives you a complete, accurate record of everything that was removed from your property and the condition it was in, and it supports your claims process by providing the kind of itemized detail needed when you’re accounting for personal property losses.

Belongings are stored in a secure, climate-controlled facility with full chain-of-custody maintained throughout. Nothing moves without documentation, and nothing is disposed of without your knowledge and consent.

Water damage rebuild time and fire damage reconstruction timelines vary considerably based on scope, and setting honest expectations is more important than giving a number that sounds reassuring. Minor water damage requiring drywall and flooring replacement may involve one to two weeks of reconstruction work once drying is complete and insurance approval is received.

Fire damage reconstruction involving structural repair, permitting, and full finish work can run several months from start to final walkthrough. Permitting timelines, material availability, insurance approval timelines, and the complexity of what needs to be rebuilt all factor in. PHC communicates with you at every phase, so you always know the status of your project. 

Yes. As a licensed General Contractor, PHC coordinates permitting and inspections as part of the reconstruction process so that property owners don’t have to navigate that piece independently. Building permit requirements for restoration projects vary by municipality and by the scope of work involved. PHC is familiar with the local permitting processes across our service area and manages the coordination so the project moves forward without delays caused by missed filings or inspection scheduling. 

No. Biohazard cleanup is not comparable to household cleaning, and attempting it without proper training, equipment, and disposal protocols creates serious health and legal risks. Bloodborne pathogens and biological materials require EPA-registered disinfectants, specialized PPE, and regulated waste disposal that isn’t available through standard channels.

Beyond the safety risks, the emotional toll on family members who attempt this work themselves is significant and often underestimated. PHC handles biohazard cleanup professionally so that families are not put in that position. The work is done thoroughly, discreetly, and with full documentation, and the people who were closest to the situation don’t have to be the ones doing it.