Chapman Development Group makes damaged buildings better than before

When disaster strikes and one's home or business is damaged or destroyed, be it from natural causes or otherwise, it's good to know that there are people out there who can act quickly and efficiently to fix the damages.

Since 2009, Chapman Development Group has been in the business of restoring homes, businesses and industrial buildings to what they once were prior to experiencing fire, water, smoke or any other sort of damage.

For its good work, the East Ridge-based full-service insurance restoration contractor earned the 2012 Local Hero Award from the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce for bettering the community, said Chapman Development President and owner Christy Chapman.

"It's a rewarding business to be in," she said. "We get to see the joy people experience when we restore their home or business to better than what it was before being damaged."

Serving the nine area counties of Hamilton, Bradley, Marion, Sequatchie, Meigs, McMinn, Polk, Bledsoe and Rhea, Chapman Development strives to respond to the needs and claims of its clients within 24 to 48 hours, and sooner if an emergency arises, Chapman said.

While most of the work is performed in-house by Chapman's own contractors, the company occasionally subcontracts out work as the need and job arises. The majority of the jobs Chapman Development faces include damages caused by storms and hail, but the company's representatives are more than capable of handling needs such as interior and exterior trimming and painting, structural reconstruction, tree removal, custom bath work and even smoke removal from clothing, Chapman said.

Moreover, Chapman Development mostly fields claims made by insurance companies, but also handles independent, non-insurance related restoration projects.

"Regardless of whether it is an insurance claim or not, we will work one on one with the client and their insurance company, if they're claiming the damages through insurance, to ensure the job is done right," Chapman said. All of Chapman Development's work and services come with a five-year warranty and the business offers free estimates and assessment of damages, Chapman noted.

With the recent occurrences of tornadoes and severe weather this area has experienced over the past few years, she also noted that no job is too big or too small for her company, and that as soon as disaster strikes, Chapman's representatives will take action to try and save your property. Emergency services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

"The storm damage during April and May of 2011 kept us busy, but it broke our hearts and was devastating to see the carnage that the tornadoes left behind," Chapman said.

In addition to being awarded the Local Hero Award, Chapman Development is one of the preferred area vendors for several national insurance companies and is a member of the Home Builders Association of Tennessee, Chattanooga Claims Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Federation of Independent Business.