Three Minutes on a Park Bench with Andrew Lukis, Vice President of Paul Davis Restoration

Andrew Lukis of of Paul Davis Restoration tells the Patch about the most rewarding aspect of his job and discusses the three easiest things homeowners can do to increase the value of the their property.

Patch: What services does your business offer?

Andrew Lukis: Insurance restoration contracting, water damage mitigation, fire damage restoration, mold remediation and 24 hour emergency service response.

Patch: What are some of the most common issues or problems you see in homes?

Andrew Lukis: We often see various problems related to water damage. It is very common for us to see an ice maker supply line failure, washing machine line failure or plumbing back up problem, which can cause larger floods than you would imagine.

Patch: What are the three easiest improvements homeowners can make that will improve the value of their properties?

Andrew Lukis: Don’t let any moisture infiltration problem in your home or business go unaddressed; if you have any kind of water damage, rectify it with a professional Paul Davis emergency service responder right away. If not cleaned up properly, it can lead to much more significant and costly problems, such as mold, which we can also clean up. Check that your toilets are working; broken flappers are easy to spot, yet can cause small floods in the home.

Patch: How did you get into the restoration business?

Andrew Lukis: I'm a third generation roofer, but my family has always been involved in other aspects of building restoration work also. Our specialty is slate and tile roofing with an emphasis on exterior historical restoration, but we often handle the entire restoration project, including tuckpointing/masonry, painting, scaffold, windows and carpentry. Over the years, we have completed work on Soldier Field, the Museum of Science and Industry as well as many churches and unique residential properties. Our new Paul Davis Restoration of Will County business gives us an opportunity to do work right in our own community for many people we know and where we all live.

Patch: What has been the toughest restoration during your career and why?

Andrew Lukis: We had a very large mold project that occupied our entire staff for two weeks. The basement had flooded and had been cleaned a couple of months before, but it was not done properly and the owner discovered a terrible mold problem. The most difficult aspect of the job was the amount of contents in the 3,500 square foot affected basement area. There were so many things to move and clean that it made just getting to the core of the issue very difficult. We got the job done, passed the air quality test and got a big thank you from the homeowners for taking care of their problem before it took over the whole house, which was rewarding.

Patch: What is your favorite part about the restoration business?

Andrew Lukis: Helping people rebuild their lives after disaster strikes and seeing them smile again after a very difficult and sometimes traumatic situation.

Patch: When should a homeowner call in a professional as opposed to try fix the problem by himself or herself?

Andrew Lukis: If possible it is always better to call in a professional, especially in water damage situations, since serious issues can occur if the work is not handled properly. For example, if the dry out is not perfect, mold can become a problem and a serious health hazard.

Patch: What is the best business advice you have ever received?

Andrew Lukis: Be human! It is easy to focus on the transaction in business. Remember that customers and employees are people too. Take a minute to recognize that there is another person on the other side of you.

Patch: How can readers contact you or find out more?

Andrew Lukis: Online at http://pauldavis-willcounty.com or by phone at 779-333-7355.