A scope of work is a written promise about what will be done, where, how far, with what materials and with what left out. Comparing two scopes is mostly a reading exercise: put the documents side by side, line up the same rooms and the same materials, and mark where one document commits and the other stays vague. That comparison does not require you to judge whether either scope is correct — that is the job of the contractor, your insurer or adjuster, and where relevant Denver's plan reviewers. Your job is to see clearly enough to ask better questions.

Before any of this, safety comes first. If you have evacuated, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises waiting to re-enter until professionals say it is safe, with no structural, electrical or other hazards (EPA flood fact sheet). FEMA similarly advises following local officials' instructions before re-entry and confirming that electricity and gas are shut off (FEMA). Nothing in a scope should be read as permission to re-enter or start work.

1. Fix the frame before you read a single line

Line up both scopes against the same facts: the affected rooms, the date the water stopped entering, the materials present (drywall, carpet, ceiling tile, cabinetry, insulation, flooring), and who prepared each document and when. A scope written before a wall was opened and a scope written after share little ground, so compare like with like or note the difference explicitly. Denver's minor-work page shows why timing and detail matter to the city: non-structural repair due to water damage can qualify for quick review in commercial and multifamily projects, but eligibility depends on conditions such as total construction valuation under $750,000, no structural work, no change of occupancy or use, and no reviews by other agencies, and the reviewer may send a project to standard review if it is judged too complex (Denver Community Planning and Development). That page describes review routing, not a permit requirement for any specific repair, and the city makes the final call — so a good question for each contractor is simply which reviews they expect.

2. Read each scope by five columns

Make a table with five columns: area, work proposed, materials and quantity, exclusions, open question. Typical vague entries and the questions they raise (illustrative examples only, not drawn from any Denver job):

  • "Dry out affected areas" — which rooms, which materials, what equipment, and what does the contractor count as dry? EPA guidance frames rapid drying as a target, within 24–48 hours if possible, using fans and dehumidifiers, and keeps humidity below 60 percent (EPA mold and moisture guidance). That is a household target, not a guarantee or a deadline for your home.
  • "Remove damaged drywall" — up to what height, and has the scope identified what sits behind it?
  • "Clean and treat" — EPA advises cleaning mold off hard surfaces with mild detergent and water and does not recommend biocides such as bleach, while a FEMA fact sheet from a July 2025 Texas event recommends cleaning hard surfaces with bleach (FEMA fact sheet 002). Where documents differ, note the divergence and ask which product and method is proposed and why. Do not mix cleaning products, and read labels in a well-ventilated area (EPA fact sheet).
  • "Discard wet materials" — EPA generally treats materials that soak up a lot of water, such as drywall, carpets and ceiling tiles, as throw-away items, while metal, glass and hard plastic can usually be cleaned and dried (EPA).

3. Compare exclusions hardest

Two scopes can look identical and differ only in what each leaves out. Circle every "excluding," "by others," "not included" and "if required." Hypothetical examples: one scope excludes removal of base cabinets; another includes them but excludes replacement; a third says "mold remediation by others." Each is a different job, and only the written document tells you which. If asbestos or lead is known or suspected, EPA advises avoiding disturbance before removing wet wallboard or ceiling and floor tiles, and provides agency contacts (EPA TSCA Assistance Information Service, National Lead Information Center) for information — not a local inspection service (EPA). Whether a scope accounts for that is a fair question to write down.

4. Check the disposal and evidence trail

FEMA advises documenting damage with photos and video before discarding items, recording serial numbers of large appliances, keeping receipts, and retaining samples of materials such as carpeting, wallpaper, upholstery and window treatments (FEMA). FEMA also advises consulting an insurance adjuster or insurance company before signing any cleaning, remediation or maintenance agreement. A comparable scenario: one scope is silent on who photographs and samples before removal; another assigns it to the contractor with a photo log. That difference is worth writing down — not resolving yourself. The same FEMA release states that National Flood Insurance Program policies will not cover damage from mold; coverage questions belong with your insurer, not this page.

5. Ask what "done" means

EPA advises ensuring cleanup is complete before reoccupying the home and notes a mold remediation professional may be needed (EPA). Compare how each scope describes completion: a walkthrough, a moisture reading, a written closeout. Neither document here can promise drying outcomes, and a completion sentence is not a health clearance.

6. Remember the floodplain file

For structures that received special permission to be built in Denver's regulatory floodplain, the recorded non-conversion covenant requires flood damage-resistant materials below the Flood Protection Elevation and keeps electrical, heating, ventilation, plumbing and air conditioning equipment out of or protected below that elevation (Denver covenant). If that covenant applies, a scope that replaces equipment or flooring in those areas deserves a question about it. Denver's utility floodplain guidance likewise sets minimum elevations for equipment in utility projects (Denver utility requirements, Dec. 2018), but those rules address utility work, not routine interior restoration.

7. Record the comparison and keep it

Write down each scope's date, preparer, proposed work, exclusions and your open questions, then keep the record with your photos. The incident record builder lets you note proposed work and exclusions and export plain text from your own device — no uploads, no storage, nothing sent. Pair it with documenting water damage safely, organizing the timeline and questions before work starts.

Limits to keep in view: this page relays published EPA, FEMA and Denver guidance only; it does not interpret insurance, diagnose mold, promise drying results, endorse any contractor or set a deadline for your property.