>> HI, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME TO "HOUSTON LIFE."
I'M DERRICK SHORE.
IT HAS BEEN SUCH A DIFFICULT AND
EMOTIONAL WEEK FOR OUR CITY TO
SAY THE LEAST.
PARTS OF HOUSTON ARE STILL UNDER
WATER AND THE RELIEF EFFORT
CONTINUES AROUND THE CLOCK.
A HUGE PART OF THAT EFFORT IS BY
THE AMERICAN RED CROSS.
FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS, THEY'VE
BEEN THERE WHEN TRAGEDY STRIKES,
PROVIDING FOOD, SHELTER, COMFORT
AND SAFETY.
THIS WEEK KPRC TEAMED UP WITH
THE RED CROSS TO RAISE MONEY FOR
VICTIMS OF HURRICANE HARVEY'S
FLOOD WATERS.
AND IN TWO DAYS, WITH THE HELP
OF OUR VIEWERS AND SEVERAL
CORPORATIONS, WE RAISED
$4.3 MILLION.
THEN WAL-MART STEPPED IN AND
DROPPED OFF A $10 MILLION CHECK.
THAT'S MOR THAN $14 MILLION
GOING TO THE RED CROSS TO HELP
PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER, COMFORT
AND SAFETY TO OUR FELLOW
HOUSTONIANS.
ON TODAY'S "HOUSTON LIFE," WE'RE
CONTINUING TO HIGHLIGHT
RESOURCES FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY
FLOODING AND HOW TO HELP OUT.
FROM HOME REPAIRS TO AVOIDING
MOLD TO HELPING ANIMALS IN NEED,
WE'VE GOT TIPS AND EXPERTS
THROUGHOUT THE SHOW AND WE ARE
TAKING YOUR QUESTIONS.
SO WE'RE GONNA JUMP IN RIGHT
NOW.
SO MANY HOUSTONIANS HAVE DAMAGED
HOMES, BUT BEFORE YOU BEGIN HOME
REPAIRS WITH A CONTRACTOR, THERE
ARE SOME VERY IMPORTANT THINGS
TO KEEP IN MIND.
CLARITIN FARMER WITH THE GREATER
HOUSTON BUILDERS ASSOCIATION IS
HERE TO KEEP US ON TRACK.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR
CLAYTON ABOUT HOME REPAIRS AND
REBUILDING, GO AHEAD AND GIVE US
A CALL AT 713-778-8976 AND WE
WILL TRY OUR BEST TO GET THOSE
QUESTIONS ANSWERED DURING THE
SHOW.
SO CLAYTON, A LOT OF PEOPLE
COMING HOME TO A MESS, WHETHER
IT'S AN INCH OF WATER, THAT'S SO
DAMAGING EVEN JUST AN INCH, OR A
FOOT OF WATER.
WHERE SHOULD PEOPLE BEGIN?
>> THE FIRST THING THEY NEED TO
DO, THEY NEED TO START BY
GETTING THE HOUSE DRY.
GETTING ALL THE WATER OUT.
YOU DON'T WANT TO HAVE THAT
WATER LINGER.
THE LONGER THINGS STAY WET, THE
MORE PRONE YOU ARE TO MOLD
GROWTH, WHICH IS GOING ON
RAMPANT RIGHT NOW.
>> DOES THAT MEAN REMOVING ALL
THE ITEMS?
>> IF IT'S WET, EITHER DRY IT OR
GET IT OUT.
YOU WANT TO BE VERY CAREFUL
ABOUT HOW YOU START DEMOLISHING.
A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT TO BUY A
SLEDGE HAMMER AND IMPACT AWAY AT
WALLS.
YOU HAVE TO BE REALLY CAREFUL
BECAUSE IT COULD BE GAS LINES,
ELECTRICAL LINES THAT YOU'RE NOT
AWARE OF.
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE LEVEL OF
EXTENT OF DAMAGE AND WHERE WATER
IS, IT'S BEST TO GET SOMEBODY
THAT HAS A THERMAL IMAGING
CAPABILITY TO GO IN AND IDENTIFY
ALL THE PLACES WHERE WATER HAS
GOTTEN.
THERMAL IMAGING WILL HELP
IDENTIFY THAT.
>> BUT LET'S SAY, BECAUSE SO
MANY PEOPLE -- EARLY ESTIMATES
ARE SHOWING AT LEAST 100,000
HOMES AND SOME OTHER MORE GRIM
ESTIMATES ARE SHOWING THE NUMBER
DRAMATICALLY HIGHER.
BECAUSE THERE IS SUCH A GREAT
NEED AND SO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS
SITUATION, WHAT IF YOU DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO A PROFESSIONAL
WHO CAN USE A THERMAL IMAGING,
BUT YOU'RE SITTING IN A HOME
THAT SMELLS LIKE MOLD.
>> YOU WANT A REPUTABLE
CONTRACTOR.
YOU DON'T WANT THE GUY FROM
BOSTON MARATHON IN A TRUCK.
YOU WANT TO FIND OUR LOCAL
RESOURCES.
KEEP THE MONEY HERE LOCAL.
USE OUR LOCAL PEOPLE THAT ARE
INVOLVED IN THE COMMUNITY.
GO TO THE WEB SITE LIKE GHBA.ORG
AND FIND ALL REMODELS AND
BUILDERS, ALL KINDS OF
CONTRACTORS.
THE GHBA HAS ABOUT 1500 MEMBERS.
>> GREATER HOUSTON BUILDERS
ASSOCIATION.
MY COMPANY, BLUE GILL, INK, IS A
MEMBER AND A LONG-TIME MEMBERS
OF THE GHBA.
YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
PEOPLE THAT YOU WANT TO HAVE
COME OUT, THAT THEY HAVE
ADEQUATE INSURANCE, THAT THEY
HA A REPUTATION THAT YOU CAN
CHECK THEIR REFERENCES.
GHBA IS WONDERFUL ABOUT KEEPING
UP TO DATE RECORDS PEOPLE.
>> AS YOU MENTIONED, THE PEOPLE
COMING DOOR TO DOOR --
>> YOU GOT TO REALLY WATCH THAT.
>> SOMEONE COMES TO YOUR DOOR,
MAYBE THEY'RE GOING TO DO WORK
FOR YOU THAT DAY.
BUT THEN YOU MAY NEVER SEE THEM
AFTER AT THAT DAY.
>> NEVER PAY SOMEBODY UP FRONT.
NEVER SIGN A CONTRACT THAT
SOMEBODY JUST SHOVES IN YOUR
FACE.
YOU NEED TO REVIEW IT.
REMEMBER THE CONTRACT IS NOT TO
PROTECT THE HOMEOWNER.
THE CONTRACT IS TO PROTECT THE
CONTRACTOR.
SO YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE
READING THAT CONTRACT REAL GOOD
AND KNOWING WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS
THAT WE CAN VET THESE
CONTRACTORS BECAUSE ARE THERE
WEB SITES LIKE Y, LP THAT ARE
GOOD ENOUGH?
SOMETIMES IF YOU GO ONLINE AND
LOOK AT A WEB SITE, IT SAYS THIS
COMPANY HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR
HOWEVER LONG.
SINCE 2001.
THAT COULD ALL BE FAKE IN AN
EXTREME CASE WHERE THEY'RE
TRYING TO SCAM PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WHAT ARE SOME GOOD RULES OF
THUMB?
>> YOU KNOW, DO THEY HAVE THEIR
ACT TOGETHER?
DO THEY HAVE A BUSINESS CARD?
ARE THEY PROFESSIONAL?
ARE THEY PRESENT ON THE WEB AND
SOCIAL MEDIA?
SOCIAL MEDIA IS GREAT, LINKEDIN,
FACEBOOK, OBVIOUSLY THE GHBA WEB
SITE.
FOR ANYBODY THAT NEEDS AIR
CONDITIONING OR HAS CONCERNS
ABOUT AIR CONDITIONING, IT'S
REAL IMPORTANT TO GET THAT STUFF
BACK ON.
YOU CAN GO TO TACA.ORG.
YOU CAN FIND REPUTABLE AC
CONTRACTORS THAT CAN COME OUT
AND GIVE YOU A CORRECT BID.
I'M HOLDING IN MY HAND SOMETHING
FROM A LENNOX MANUFACTURER.
THEY GIVE GUIDANCE HOW TO
RECOVER DAMAGED OR FLOODED
SYSTEMS.
>> WHAT WAS THAT WEB SITE?
>> TACCA.ORG.
>> SO SADLY IT SEEMS LIKE THERE
IS NO SILVER BULLET 'CAUSE THERE
IS NO ANGEL WHO IS GOING TO
SWOOP IN AND SORT OF SOLVE THESE
PROBLEMS.
YOU HAVE TO DO A LOT OF RESEARCH
ON YOUR OWN TO INSURE.
>> PEOPLE ARE SCARED RIGHT NOW
IN HOUSTON.
THEY'RE SCARED.
THEIR HOUSE IS A WRECK.
SOME PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN GET BACK
TO THEIR HOUSE RIGHT NOW.
SO THEY'RE SCARED.
THEY WANT TO FIND ANY HELPING
HAND THEY GOT.
BUT THEY GOT TO WATCH OUT THAT
HAND DOESN'T BITE THEM.
>> I WANT TO BACKTRACK A LITTLE
BIT BECAUSE YOU MENTIONED A LOT
OF PEOPLE MAY BE -- ONCE THEY'VE
GOTTEN FURNITURES OR RUGS THAT
OUTSIDE, A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY BE
TEMPTED TO JUST PICK UP A SLEDGE
HAMMER AND START TEARING OUT THE
DRYWALL.
YOU'RE CAUTIONING AGAINST THAT
BECAUSE OF PLUMBING LINES AND
ELECTRICAL AND GAS LINES.
BUT LET'S SAY AGAIN, SOMEONE IS
SITTING IN THEIR HOME RIGHT NOW,
THEY HAVE WALL BOARD AND DRYWALL
THAT'S EXPANDING WITH ALL THE
WATER.
WHAT CAN THEY DO IF THEY'VE HAD
TROUBLE SECURING A CONTRACTOR OR
A REPUTABLE PROFESSIONAL TO COME
IN AND START THE CLEAN-UP
PROCESS?
>> BE GENTLE.
DON'T BE A HORSE IN -- BULL IN A
CHINA SHOP.
>> SO THERE ARE SOME DIY THINGS
THAT PEOPLE CAN DO.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> JUST DON'T TAKE A SLEDGE
HAMMER TO THE WALL?
N JUST BE CAREFUL.
IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S BEHIND
THE WALL, DON'T TAKE A SLEDGE
HAMMER.
WHAT IF YOU HIT A GAS LINE?
BIG PROBLEM.
>> BUT PEOPLE SHOULD, IF THEY
CAN, REMOVE THEIR OWN DRYWALL.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT MOLD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
YOU GOT TO GET THE HOUSE DRIED
TO AVOID MORE DAMAGE.
YOU GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN
YOU DO REPAIR THINGS, USING A
REPUTABL CONTRACTOR, IT'S VERY
GOOD ADVICE TO G SOMEBODY WHO
HAS MOLD CLEARANCE TESTING WHERE
YOU CAN GET IN THERE AND TEST
THE HOUSE, MAKE SURE NO MORE
MOLD GROWTH IS PRESENT BEFORE
YOU START MOVING STUFF BACK IN.
>> SORRY I'M ON THIS DRYWALL
QUIET.
I WANT TO BE SURE THAT VIEWERS
UNDERSTAND HOW TO PROCEED.
SO IF YOU'RE NOT USING A SLEDGE
HAMMER, BUT YOU'RE REMOVING
DRYWALL, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO
DO IT?
>> GET A DRYWALL SAW.
>> WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT?
>> GO TO HOME DEPOT.
THEY'RE ABOUT THREE BUCKS.
>> OKAY.
WHAT IF YOU CAN'T GET HOLD OF A
CONTRACTOR?
SOME OF THESE DIY THINGS, IT'S
OKAY TO SORT OF PROCEED, RIGHT?
AND I BELIEVE TIFFANY ON THE
PHONE HAS A QUESTION ABOUT
EXACTLY THAT.
TIFFANY, IF YOU CAN HEAR US, ASK
YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING MY CALL.
I'M LIVING IN THE WOODLANDS
AREA.
MY HOME WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE
FLOODS.
WE'VE BEEN GOING OUT TO
DIFFERENT HOMES AND HELPING THEM
CLEAR OUT THEIR DAMAGED AND WET
AREAS.
SO MY QUESTION IS, WITH THE
HIGHEST DEMAND OF PEOPLE WHO ARE
GOING TO BE NEEDING CONTRACTORS
TO DO THIS WORK, IT WAS
RECOMMENDED TO WAIT FOR THEM TO
COME AND ASSESS WHAT IS WET,
ASSESS THE DAMAGE AND TO HELP
REMOVE ITEMS AND DRYWALL FROM
THE HOME.
BUT HOW LONG COULD WE EVEN WAIT
OR ANYONE WAIT TO HAVE SOMEONE
COME IN BEFORE THE HOMEOWNER
SHOULD JUST TAKE INITIATIVE AND
DO IT THEMSELVES AND IF THEY
NEED TO GO AHEAD AND DO THAT,
WHAT ARE YOUR TIPS FOR PEOPLE
DOING IT ON THEIR OWN OR WITH
VOLUNTEERS?
>> YEAH.
THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
HOW LONG SHOULD WE BE WAITING
FOR THE PROFESSIONALS?
>> THE IMPORTANT THING IS START
TO GET THE HOUSE DRY.
IF YOUR AC IS NOT WORKING.
THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS
DEHUMIDIFICATION.
THE BY-PRODUCT IS COLD AIR.
IF IT'S NOT WORKING, YOU GOT TO
START REMOVING SOME OF THAT
EQUIPMENT.
YOU CAN GET CARPET.
YOU CAN GET WOODS, CABINETS, ALL
THOSE THINGS CAN BE DONE, BUT
YOU GOT TO BE MINDFUL OF WHAT'S
BEHIND THE WALLS.
I WOULD NOT ADVISE SOMEONE TO GO
AND JUST START WHACKING AWAY AT
STUFF BECAUSE WHAT YOU'LL END UP
HAPPENING IS YOU'LL CAUSE
ANOTHER PROBLEM.
WHAT IF YOU HIT A SEWER LINE?
WHAT IF YOU HIT SOMETHING ELSE?
JUST GET A DRYWALL SAW AND BE
VERY CAREFUL ABOUT HOW YOU
REMEDIATE WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S BEHIND THE WALL.
SO IF YOU WERE TO GET LIKE A
THERMAL IMAGING, THEY CAN
ACTUALLY HELP YOU IDENTIFY SOME
OF THOSE THINGS AND TELL YOU
WHERE YOU CAN SAFELY GO AND
WHERE YOU CAN'T.
NOW, GETTING AHOLD OF ONE OF
THOSE PEOPLE AND EVERYBODY IS
SLAMMED RIGHT NOW, IT'S A LITTLE
HARD.
BUT I WOULDN'T JUST SIT AROUND
ON YOUR WET COUCH WAITING FOR
SOMETHING TO HAPPEN.
YOU CAN START WORKING ON THINGS.
BUT YOU DO WANT TO GET A
CONTRACTOR OUT THERE THAT CAN
HELP ADVISE YOU AS BEST THEY CAN
AND START MOVING DOWN THAT ROAD
TOWARD GETTING THAT HOUSE DRY.
I JUST WANT TO CAUTION PEOPLE,
I'VE SEEN IT BEFORE WHERE YOU
TEAR INTO A WALL AND YOU CAUSE
MORE DAMAGE AND YOU HIT A GAS
LINE.
THEN YOU GOT TO GET OUT.
YOU JUST GOT TO BE SMART ABOUT
HOW YOU DO IT.
>> FIRST PRIORITY IS TO GET THE
WALLS DRY.
GET THE HOUSE DRY.
GET ALL THE WET ITEMS OUTSIDE.
IF YOUR DRYWALL IS WET, GENTLY
REMOVE IT ON YOUR OWN IF YOU
DON'T HAVE A PROFESSIONAL YET.
DON'T JUST SIT AROUND AND WAIT
FOR MOLD TO GROW.
>> AND THAT INCLUDE INSULATION,
TOO.
>> PULL OUT INSULATION?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> EXCELLENT POINT.
CLAYTON, HANG OUT THERE.
FOLKS, HE'S GOING TO STICK
AROUND TO ANSWER MORE OF YOUR
QUESTIONS.
SO IF YOU DO HAVE A QUESTION
ABOUT CONTRACTORS, REPAIRING
YOUR HOME AFTER A FLOOD, CA
>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DONATE
OR VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED CROSS,
THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES