For the past 25 years, a program has been underway that provides advanced training for damage repair contractors and restorers. Over 500 individuals, including many of the industry's leading professionals, have completed that training. The Restoration Industry Association's (RIA) Certified Restorer (CR) designation is often called the Ph.D. of damage repair. However, many contractors–and adjusters–are not aware that this program exists.

It is true that over time, many contractors develop a respectable level of expertise in recognizing damage and prescribing remedies. Their knowledge is gained by handling losses and observing what works. Unfortunately, this type of training only goes so far. Real expertise requires an understanding of the forces that generate different types of damage and a theoretical basis for handling them. A short quiz might illustrate this difference:

• Loss #1: A sofa fire produced a really smelly smoke and the residue on table tops which felt tacky. When the restoration was completed the house looked great, the contents sparkled but an odor of smoke bedeviled the occupants. What happened?
• Loss #2: A can of spray paint fueled a utility room fire that reduced the furnace to a charred hulk. During the final cleanup the contractor noticed a strange condition: when the windows were washed they looked fine, but when they dried a hazy film kept returning. What was the remedy?
• Loss #3: After the initial cleanup, a basement oil spill generated a pervasive odor, driving the occupants from the home. The restorer suggested deodorization with ozone. Good idea?
• Loss #4: A suspected bank robber barricaded himself in a second-floor apartment and police fired tear-gas projectiles to subdue him. The subject was taken into custody, but three days later the other tenants still couldn't use their apartments. What's the answer?

Click “Next” to see the answers!