Restoration Industry Top Stories

How the SPAR Program is Raising Vendor Partnership Standards

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Learn how SPAR is advancing vendor partnerships, security, standards, technology, and accountability in the restoration industry.

The Cost of Losing Good Restorers

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Learn how program fees, pricing pressures, payment delays, and overhead affect restoration contractors’ profitability.

Wildfire Preparedness: What Restoration Companies Should Do Before the Next Fire

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Preparing for wildfires start long before the first flames ever appear. Here’s how restoration companies can use wildfire risk intelligence, real-time event data, operational planning, and consistent documentation to manage their resources, prepare their teams, and respond effectively as wildfires evolve.

Wildfire vs. House Fire: Why Your Restoration Approach Needs to Change

Annissa@firehouseeducation.com (Annissa Coy) — Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Homes that never caught fire can be affected by wildfire smoke, and it isn’t always visible. Annissa Coy shares how restorers should assess smoke contamination, evaluate affected contents, understand testing limitations, and determine when professional environmental testing and post restoration/remediation verification is necessary.

Four Lessons from 2026 to Build a Stronger Business in 2027

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Learn about four key lessons from 2026 that can help restoration companies prepare for 2027 through documentation, stronger processes, diversification, and AI.

Beyond the Burn: What's Next for Fire Restoration?

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Learn about the future of fire restoration, including assessment, decontamination, cleaning, worker safety, testing, verification, and contents restoration on this episode of Ask The Expert.

Should You Add Another Service to Your Restoration Business? What to Consider Before Investing

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Here’s how restorers can evaluate expanding their services, vertical integrations, investing in equipment, and profitability before adding new services.

Technology in Fire Restoration

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 12:30:00 -0400

Learn how technology impacts fire losses and how it helps restorers improve their accuracy, communicate, and build trust with their customers.

How Restorers Can Build Stronger Plumbing Referral Partnerships

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Here’s how restorers can build stronger plumbing partnerships through consistent follow up, building trust, timing, and a service-first approach.

Wildfire Lead Contamination in Homes: Where Does it Come From?, Part 4

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Learn how WUI fires and wildfires can spread lead-containing particles through airflow, smoke, and contamination into homes from burned materials.

Building Wildfire Resilience into Transportation Infrastructure

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 15:00:00 -0400

Wildfires threaten more communities every year and not just homes and buildings. They threaten bridges, utilities, roads, and transportation. Learn how proactive planning, resilient materials, and infrastructure can help communities ahead of the next wildfire.

The Hidden Costs of Workflow Fragmentation in Restoration

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:30:00 -0400

Nelson Higgins of DocuSketch shares how fragmented processes lead to delayed payments, lost equipment, dissatisfied customers, and operational disruptions.

What Are Contents in Restoration? Understanding Hard vs. Soft Contents

Annissa@firehouseeducation.com (Annissa Coy) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 14:00:00 -0400

Here’s how restorers can identify the differences between hard contents, soft contents, and structure in water and fire restoration with practical examples by Annissa Coy.

Wildfire vs. Conflagration: What Restorers Need for Fire Response Today

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:30:00 -0400

Learn how wildfire and conflagration risk data can help restorers improve their preparedness, disaster response, and resource deployment during fires.

Contents Restoration in the New Era of Fire and Wildfire Losses

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:00:00 -0400

On this episode of Ask The Expert, Kevin and Annissa Coy discuss fire and contents restoration, contamination, testing, and third-party assessments.

What Poker Can Teach Restoration Owners About Building a Business

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Restoration business owners can leverage three poker-inspired lessons that help them manage their risk, pursue key opportunities, and build trust while growing their business.

Reducing Fire Restoration Claims Disputes with Documentation

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:30:00 -0400

Learn how thorough documentation and clear communication help restorers support their estimates, prevent project delays, and reduce claims disputes in fire restoration.

How The Mobile Lab is Influencing Change in the Restoration Industry

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 15:30:00 -0400

Learn how AccuGuard’s Mobile LabTM is bringing onsite asbestos testing to jobsites, reducing turnaround times, and accelerating the claims and recovery process for restorers, carriers, and customers.

Wildfire Smoke Infiltration: How Standing Homes Become Contaminated, Part 3

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Here’s how embers, wildfire smoke, pressure, and wind can impact and contaminate standing homes including their wall cavities, occupied spaces, and attics.

The Human Side of Fire Restoration

Annissa@firehouseeducation.com (Annissa Coy) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:00:00 -0400

Here’s how understanding the emotional impact of fire loss can help restorers improve their customer care and communication.

New California Wildfire Smoke Laws: Is the Restoration Industry Ready?

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 09:00:00 -0400

As restorers, are we doing enough to address wildfire smoke contamination? California introduced new legislation that addresses testing, remediation, and insurance claims.

The Experience: More Than a Cleaning and Restoration Trade Show

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 17:00:00 -0400

Mike Allred of Helixco shares what surprised him about The Experience, the value of connecting with cleaners and restorers, and why restorers and cleaners should attend this event.

An Open Letter to the Restoration Industry

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:30:00 -0400

Kayla McGowan shares a heartfelt thank you to the people, teams, and industry that helped shape her journey as R&R’s Editor-in-Chief the last two years.

Understanding Protein Fires: Why “Sight, Smell, and Feel” Still Matter in Restoration

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It’s easy to underestimate protein fires because the contamination may not resemble “traditional” soot. Ryan Whitney breaks down how restorers can assess, follow pathways, properly document the loss, and build a more defensible restoration scope.

How Soot and Smoke can Spread During a Fire Loss

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 12:30:00 -0400

Here’s how smoke and soot can migrate during a fire and what restorers should include in their initial inspection to identify hidden contamination and create an accurate scope.

La Ventaja Latina: Por Qué los Profesionales Bilingües de Restauración Son Tan Valiosos

Tue, 13 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Descubre cómo los profesionales bilingües de restauración generan confianza, mejoran la comunicación y crean oportunidades de crecimiento profesional.

Beyond More Jobs: What It Takes to Scale a Restoration Business

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 16:00:00 -0400

Building and scaling a restoration business is more than adding jobs, crews, and revenue. How restorers develop their leadership, strategically plan, scale their systems, build strong teams, and maintain financial discipline help owners grow without sacrificing their foundation.

How Wildfires and WUI Fires Impact Standing Buildings, Part 2

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:00:00 -0400

Learn how fire whirls, thermal pressure, contamination zones, and smoke movement impact standing buildings during and after wildfire and WUI fire events.

Respirator Safety: What Restoration Workers Need to Know

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:00:00 -0400

Learn what restorers should know about respirator selection, cartridge changes, fit testing, use, maintenance, and job hazard.

How to Prioritize Wildfire Losses When an Entire Community Is Impacted

Annissa@firehouseeducation.com (Annissa Coy) — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 09:30:00 -0400

On this episode of Ask Annissa, she breaks down how restorers can prioritize wildfire losses using testing, safety, contamination levels, available resources, and customer needs.