Saturday, October 29, 2016

Don't Let a Renovation Demolish Your Relationship | Consumer Reports


Renovations can be stressful, especially on your relationships. Stay focused on what's important. Keep the lines of communication open with your partner. Consumer Reports' recommends learning from a smaller project before tackling a large renovation.

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Surviving Home Disasters, Major or Minor: Fire/Water Restoration and Other Pro Services Can Help


Damage from fires, floods, and other incidents don't have to mean your home is beyond repair. Turn to fire, water, and other restoration professionals to preserve your house and weather the storm with minimum loss and maximum peace of mind.

Your house is your biggest investment, but it's very often so much more than just an inhabitable savings account. It's also your home, the place were lives are lived and memories are made. Which is why when disaster strikes, the devastation can be doubly costly. When your property has suffered from a fire, flood, or other incident, major or minor, you need to act quickly to not only preserve the structure in terms of a financial investment but also to restore your house into a home that's safe and welcoming for you and your family.

Water Damage Restoration

Natural disaster, roof leaks, burst pipes: no matter how the water entered your home, when you're dealing with a flood, you've got a real mess on your hands. It might be easy to just throw your hands up and call your property a total loss, especially with both fire and water damage, but instead of giving up on your home, bring in a professional flood restoration company. You'll be amazed at what these experts can do to evacuate standing water, dry out absorbed moisture, and stop the damage in its tracks. You may have to replace soggy drywall and refinish your floors, but when you call for water damage restoration in time, you'll be surprised at how well this professional team can contain the damage and stop the problems from compounding with concerns like mold growth and wood rot.

Fire Damage Restoration

When you have a fire in your home, you typically end up with the double trouble of both damage from the fire itself and damage from the water used to extinguish the flames. However, even these dual concerns don't always mean the space isn't salvageable. Modern technology offers a full range of fire restoration techniques including structural drying, smoke and soot removal, and odor elimination. Fire/water restoration companies in your local area have the necessary tools and training to tackle these problems and help you minimize losses.

Additional Services

In addition to the large-scale drying and cleaning services offered by nearly all fire and water damage restoration companies, you may also find yourself in the market for specialized services such as mold removal, carpet cleaning, or tile and grout cleaning. These additional options can help you to clean away evidence of the incident from walls and floors that are in good enough shape to preserve. By revitalizing these finishes, instead of tearing them out and starting over, you're able to help keep the cost of the job down while still returning your home to a clean, beautiful condition.

For major home disasters such as extensive flooding or serious fires, you might want to ask around until you find a disaster restoration company that is also a general contractor. That way, if/when your project requires rebuilding walls, reinstalling flooring, and other major changes, you won't have to deal with juggling multiple service providers. Working with a general building contractor from the get-go who also specializes in fire and flood restoration can help make your life just a little easier during this stressful time.


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Sunday, October 23, 2016

Water Damage - It's Not the End of the World


When it comes to things that can wreak havoc upon the safety and structure of your home, water damage is undoubtedly one of the more devastating issues that may need to be addressed. Unlike a fire, it can be a very complicated and multi-faceted process, because there are many other issues that must be considered when making the repairs. It isn't enough to simply remove the wet items and address any destruction that may have been left behind on the surface, because the parts of the home that aren't visible and are rarely considered may have been affected. Because of this, it isn't advisable for homeowners to tackle repairs without at least a basic level of professional help.

Although flooding from hurricanes, storms, and other natural disasters is the primary reason most water damage repairs are necessary, there are a number of other things that may cause your home to fall victim to destruction. It is able to easily seep through cracks in the walls and floor, as well as weaknesses in your foundation. Minor problems may occur from leaky pipes, or you may experience full blown flooding as a result of broken or burst pipes. Related appliances such as your water heater are common sources of destruction, as well as backed up drains or even a leaky roof. There's no way to prevent your home from suffering some of the catastrophic side effects, but you can help keep the repairs and the cost minimal by acting quickly at the first signs of a problem, and through making sure your home's insurance policy includes flood and water damage coverage.

If your home has been damaged by flooding or other problems that have resulted in flooding inside your home, the first step in dealing with the problem is to remove all household items and furnishings affected by the accident, including furniture, personal mementos and homed decor, storage boxes, linens, clothing, window treatments, and anything hanging on the walls. After this step is complete, begin to remove the excess moisture from the home. Depending on the volume of liquid inside the house, this can be accomplished with a mop and bucket, a wet/dry vacuum, or through calling a service to handle the removal of water from your home. Only after these things have been accomplished can you get a true sense of the extent of the damage, and call in both your insurance company and repair professionals.


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Thursday, October 20, 2016

Calling in the Fire Damage Restoration Experts


A house fire, large or small, is a traumatic event and even if the fire was a relatively minor one there are some important steps to take to return to normal. One of the most important factors is to try to keep a level head so that your thinking is clear. Panic or rushed decisions might simply result in more damage on top of the initial fire damage.

A fire does more than simply burn the house and the items inside the house. A fire leaves behind smoke damage, soot and structural damage that must all be dealt with correctly. The most sensible course of action is to call in a fire damage restoration expert to deal with the restoration process properly.

Fire and smoke damage is a very particular problem and requires more work than simply washing down surfaces. Smoke gets deeply into hard surfaces such as walls and floors and if it's not treated quickly, will linger for many years no matter how often you clean them.

Soot can coat surfaces and belongings and must be carefully cleaned using the correct specialist equipment. Soot covered fabric such as lounge chairs, bedroom furnishings and clothes can all be restored if treated properly. But equally, taking the wrong approach can result in permanently damage being done.

Finally, structural damage must be assessed to determine how much repair work will be required and whether it is safe to stay in the house until repairs can be made.

A good fire damage restoration specialist will be capable of performing all of these important tasks, not to mention others such as organizing and carryout packing and storage of belongings and general damage assessment. The sooner a fire damage restoration expert is called in the more chance you can be sure you will save your belongings.

There are many tasks that can be performed while waiting for a fire and water damage restoration professional to arrive. Leaving it to the experts is the ultimate aim but taking matters into your own hands can also mitigate the damage with a lot to consider to get the most out of a fire damage cleanup.

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Monday, October 17, 2016

Pick Colors Early in Your Home Renovation | Consumer Reports


You might think color is one of the last decisions in your project. Consumer Reports' experts say it's not just about the wall color. For a color scheme to work, you need to think about the whole room so all the pieces of your space work together.

Friday, October 14, 2016

Fast Response Can Make a Difference With Water Damage


How you respond in a water damage emergency can make a difference in thousands of dollars of repair costs. Ultimately, it can also determine whether you save your carpets or not. It can be tough to know what to do when faced with water damage in your home. That is why it is a good idea to be prepared ahead of time. This can help you to act fast and take control of the situation. The number one solution is to always call a professional immediately. They can provide the best guidance for how to handle your specific situation. Follow these tips to help protect your home.

Water Damage Tips

The first step is to identify the source of the incoming water. It may be that you can stop it. There have been times that an entire house has flooded thanks to a faucet that was unknowingly left on. In the case of a pipe break, you may be able to shut off the water at the source. If the water is coming from another source, you may have to call a professional to handle the problem.

If there are electrical appliances in the flooded area, you will also need to shut off the electricity. Do not wade into the water in order to do so. The electricity should be turned off at the source instead.

The next step is to remove any furniture from the area. This can do two different things. First, it helps to protect the furniture from further damage. Second, it protects the carpet from getting stains or rust damage from areas of contact. Something that many people forget about includes closets. Always be sure to empty the closet floors in particular. If there are cardboard boxes stored anywhere, these will need to be taken out promptly. Otherwise they can leave a stain.

Things to Avoid

When a professional arrives at your home, they will begin the drying process. Prior to their arrival, many people attempt their hand at drying the carpet on their own. Unfortunately, this can cause permanent damage. Do not try to rip up the carpet and pad. When done improperly it can damage the carpet. Also, do not use an electric heater to dry the area. The problem with this method is that it is not powerful enough to dry the pad. It will only dry the surface of the carpet. A professional will evaluate your specific situation and will take the right steps to restore your home.

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Tuesday, October 11, 2016

How Communication Makes a Home Renovation Easier | Consumer Reports


Consumer Reports' experts say staying in close contact with your general contractor and architect throughout the entire process of your project will help you stay on schedule, on budget and minimize surprises.

Saturday, October 8, 2016

Sparky the Fire Dog® Shows How to Find Out the Age of a Smoke Alarm


“Don’t Wait – Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years”, Sparky the Fire Dog® reminds everyone that smoke alarms don’t last forever and need to be replaced every 10 years. He also shows how to find out the age of a smoke alarm.

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Restoration After Water Damage


We sometimes take for granted the things that are most important to us like our home. Some of us may never be prepared for a devastating weather to occur. Some even fail to buy homeowner's insurance and may suffer consequences in times when harsh, unexpected weather may occur. One problem that can occur is water damage. Thousands of people are often affected when strong storms move through their areas. Some of these storms, depending on the nature, may leave behind serious damage leaving so much to repair and some temporarily homeless.

So, if water damage finds you, where do you begin to restore the damage and how does it work? There are many local restoration companies to rely on if it is needed. It is a good idea when looking for these companies is to check certification and experience. This will ensure that the job will be done. With water damage to certain elements in a home or business, the damaged areas must be treated immediately to prevent mold and mildew, like with carpet, for example. If restoration is an option, the company you choose for repair may start from the floor up.

Restoring carpet and other flooring is by all means, cheaper but may not be saved without a fast response. In some extreme cases of water damage regarding carpet, the carpet may be removed and treated with fungicide before re-installation. There are options to research techniques and facts about water damage restoration on websites and it may be a good idea in the event that your home, businesses, or commercial property suffers.

Many wonder, how some things are to be restored after taking in a large amount of water. Many companies across the country have created special techniques to help those who pay this consequence. Another common problem, seen often after flooding has occurred is mold. We all know that mold can create numerous problems including exposing us to dangerous bacteria. We should all take precaution not to allow this to happen. Water damage restoration can in fact aid this problem.

Trained technicians can sometimes remove mold using scrubbing and sand blasting techniques, not only from large areas but the hard to reach as well. There are even treatments for hard wood floors and tile, debris removal and odor control techniques for that terrible smell left behind by water. To learn more or find information about water damage restoration, check local water damage restoration companies and websites. You never know when you may come in contact with water.

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Sunday, October 2, 2016

Things to Consider If You Need a Restoration Service


When you find yourself the victim of a natural disaster or fire and water damage, it is only natural to feel as if you have lost everything. Don't despair and lose hope. When disaster strikes, don't assume that all is lost. Simply contact a restoration service and let them take care of everything. Keep in mind that at first, you may be shocked about what has happened to your home, but with the right team of professionals on your side, you can and will get through this ordeal.

You are going to need to do some things before the restoration service can get started. One of those things is to file a police report so that your insurance company will cover the cost to fix any damaged components of your home. A reputable restoration service can get things back to normal the fastest way possible. If some part of your home needs to be rebuilt because of extensive damage or if some part just needs to be remodeled, you don't have to go out looking around for a company that would be willing to take on your home with the type of damage it has sustained.

There are several reasons why you should hire a professional company. One is because emergencies and disasters can happen any time of day or night. You don't want to have to wait for assistance if it is after hours. By hiring a professional team, you have assistance available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They are there at your beck and call to help.

Because there is so much urgency in times of dire need, it may not be possible for you to properly screen all contractors that offer a restoration service. That is why you should hire a restoration service that has employees. A reputable company will be certified by several government agencies, in addition to having all of the required credentials and insurances for your protection. When you are faced with this type of situation, it is best to get started right away to reduce the severity of your loss or damage. The right company will get your property secured and cleaned up in no time.

You want to hire a company that will work with your insurer so you don't have any unexpected or out of pocket expenses. They can fill out the necessary paperwork and speed up the processing time for your claim. This will help you to get back on your feet.

Keep in mind that you need to hire a restoration service that is available around the clock. They need to have workmen's compensation insurance and liability insurance on all of their workers. The longer they have been in business shows how well they cater to the needs of their customers. Ultimately, you want a company that can take care of all of your needs from start to finish, which will make the whole process less stressful and easier to deal with.


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