Why SJ Drew / Mitigation + rebuild under one roof
Mitigation and rebuild, under one roof
SJ Drew Construction Company LLC is both a restoration company and a licensed general contractor. That combination is unusual in the Midwest restoration market — and it is the single biggest reason our customers choose us over the alternatives.
Most restoration companies do mitigation (extraction, drying, cleanup, board-up) and then hand the job off to a separate general contractor for the rebuild. That handoff is where most restoration projects go sideways. This page explains why.
Call 24/7: (515) 393-2156What goes wrong when mitigation and rebuild are separate contracts
1. Two contracts instead of one
When your restoration company is not also a general contractor, you sign a mitigation contract with them, then a separate rebuild contract with whoever you can find next. Two SOWs. Two negotiations with your insurance adjuster. Two sets of lien waivers.
2. Weeks of delay between phases
The mitigation crew finishes. The GC has to bid, schedule, mobilize. Most jobs sit in a holding pattern for two to six weeks while this handoff happens — weeks when your property is open, your family is displaced, and your rental allowance is burning down.
3. Finger-pointing when something is missed
Mitigation crew says the rebuild contractor missed something. Rebuild contractor says the mitigation crew left moisture in the framing. Your insurance adjuster gets pulled into a dispute that should have never happened. Meanwhile the job is not moving.
4. Scope gaps the insurance carrier will not cover
When scope is written by one company and executed by another, items get missed between contracts. The carrier then refuses to pay for the gap because "that should have been in the original scope." You end up paying the difference.
What one roof fixes
1. One SOW, one timeline, one point of contact
SJ Drew writes one integrated scope of work covering mitigation through rebuild. One project manager owns the whole job from first call to final walkthrough.
2. No handoff delay
The crew that finishes drying and cleanup transitions directly into framing and finish work. No bidding interval. No "we will call you when we can start."
3. Unified insurance claim
One contract means one set of line items the carrier reviews — mitigation and rebuild supplements written together by the same team. The carrier cannot play one contractor against the other, because there is only one contractor.
4. Consistent quality standard
The same SJ Drew people who decided what to tear out also decide what to put back. That consistency shows up in outcomes: no mismatched trim profiles, no obvious seam lines, no "oh, the rebuilder did not know that was supposed to be there."
5. One warranty, one phone number
Two years from now, when something goes wrong, you call one number. There is no "that is not our work, that was the GC" conversation.
Frequently asked questions
What does "mitigation and rebuild under one roof" actually mean?
It means one company performs both the emergency mitigation (water extraction, smoke cleanup, mold remediation, board-up) AND the structural rebuild (framing, drywall, flooring, cabinetry, roofing, painting) after a loss. Most restoration companies only do the mitigation and then hand rebuild off to a separate general contractor. SJ Drew is a licensed general contractor, so both phases happen under one contract.
Why do most restoration companies not offer rebuild?
Most restoration companies started as mitigation specialists (drying, cleanup) and never expanded into licensed general contracting. Rebuild requires GC licensing, different crew skills, different insurance, and typically slimmer margins than mitigation. Most firms simply subcontract or refer rebuild work out.
Is it more expensive to use one company for both mitigation and rebuild?
No — it is usually less expensive overall. Integrated projects avoid the mobilization costs of a second contractor, reduce scope gaps the insurance carrier refuses to cover, and eliminate the schedule slack between phases. Insurance carriers pay on approved scope, not on how many contractors you use.
Can SJ Drew handle both residential and commercial mitigation-plus-rebuild projects?
Yes. SJ Drew handles residential homes, commercial properties, multi-family buildings, and specialty or historic structures across 9 Midwest states. Commercial projects often benefit most from the integrated approach because business interruption costs compound every day the project stalls.
What if my loss only needs mitigation and not rebuild?
That is fine — SJ Drew handles mitigation-only projects as readily as integrated projects. You are not paying for services you do not need. The benefit of a GC-plus-restoration company is that if hidden damage surfaces during drying or cleanup, we can scope and perform the rebuild without bringing in a second vendor.
One team. Start to finish.
From first notice of loss to final walkthrough. One contract. One warranty.
Call (515) 393-2156