Community

Quality is the name of the game for this 24-hour restoration company

ST. CLAIRSVILLE - After a fire, flood or finding mold, a 24-hour restoration company may be one of the first businesses to call. This new business hopes to provide service beyond just getting the job done.

A.D. Baker Restoration and Remodel, which opened its doors at 165 E Main St, provides rapid-response restoration and mitigation services for residential and commercial properties throughout Wheeling and the Tri-State region.

The new business is available to help residents with rebuilding and mitigation from harmful elements such as fire, water intrusion and mold. It operates in all three states of the tri-state area, with the company usually traveling up to an hour in either direction from the St. Clairsville area.

General manager Brad Kelley said the business was opened by owner Allen Baker, who also owns A.D. Baker Homes, founded in 1989.

Baker decided to open up the new business to take on some of his overflow customers for custom homes who wanted room additions, new kitchens, bathrooms and flooring.

"We are 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We have a certified staff on call 24 hours a day," Kelley said.

He said Allen owns the new location's building, so it was a perfect fit.

"There was not a restoration company in the St. Clairsville area, so we thought this would be a good market to hit," Kelley said.

He added the reception from the community has been incredibly positive so far, with people already making use of their services.

"It has been fabulous, It’s been amazing. We’ve had a lot of support from the locals here," Kelley said. "We are way busier than we ever thought we would be at this point in the game."

But Kelley said this didn’t happen just because of chance. Rather, he said Baker’s industry experience and network of business relationships means the company has plenty of people ready to subcontract when needed.

Kelley said that one thing that A.D. Baker strives to do what is different from other restoration companies is quality over quantity.

"All the other restoration companies here want to grab your work, grab your money, and then you don’t talk to them for months and months and months. We’re not doing that," Kelley said. "As soon as we get the approval from the insurance company, we’re about two to three weeks out from getting in to get their thing done, and we’re there until the job is finished. I know a lot of the other companies, go into the job and they’ll be there for a few days, and then you don’t see them for a long period of time. We’re not going to be like that. We’re going to complete the job."

Senior estimator William J. Taylor said he works directly with insurance companies and adjusters. He said the business works with all major insurance companies.

Taylor said he finds out current going rates for work and provides mock-ups of project plans through Xactimate, an industry standard tool.

"It updates every day and is a really good tool to have. It’s been a good career for me, It definitely has benefited me to learn this. It’s very accurate and very detailed," Taylor said.

He added he also works with homeowners to ensure they have their needs and wants met, using the software to “create a game plan.”

Taylor added he enjoys working under Baker and believes the new business will succeed due to the importance it places on quality over quantity.

"I had previously worked for another restoration company, and then I got this offer to come here and to produce quality over quantity, and I took that opportunity. I really like the kindness of Mr. Baker," Taylor said. "I’ve worked well with Brad [Kelley] in the past, and when he asked me to come over with him, it was a pretty easy decision to make."

A.D. Baker Restoration and Remodel can be contacted at 740-449-2380.