Sunday, September 29, 2019

A Guide to Understanding Water Damage Restoration


Whether it is after a fire, burst pipes, or the result of a flood, your home must be restored from all the destruction caused by moisture. Water damage restoration will repair the house and make it safe to live in again. There are several steps to repairing your property after this type of devastation.

Assessing the Damage

The first step to repairing your home after any type of flooding is the loss assessment. This procedure is how the technicians know exactly what to do in order to repair your home. Technicians are required to work with insurance companies to determine property's injuries. Only then can a plan be devised on how to go about refurbishing it.

During the assessment, the water damage restoration company will assign one of three categories. Each of these categories signifies a different manner in which the devastation is handled and reversed. These categories are:

Category One: This is water without any contaminants such as urine or feces. The liquid comes from a clean source such as pipes or sinks. It may also come from toilets, as long as it was free of contaminants.

Category Two: The liquid comes from dishwashers, washing machines, or toilets with urine and has some minor contamination.

Category Three: The impairments are caused by an unsanitary source such as flooding, toilets with fecal matter, sewage lines, or has been standing for some time and may contain microbes.

Drying and Decontaminating the Area

Once a category has been set, the water damage restoration team can start the process of drying out the area. If the damage has been categorized as a two or a three, the area must also be decontaminated in order for the area to be livable again. It is important to understand that an entire house may not contain contaminated liquid. In some cases, it is only specific pockets of the space that must be decontaminated.

If the area is small and has little moisture absorbed into the surrounding materials, the process is much quicker. Dehumidifiers and blowers may be all that is required to restore the space to its natural state. However, a larger area with carpet or one that has deep saturation may require more equipment such as scrubbers and subfloor drying devices.

Finishing the Job

Of course, during the process, you should expect the technicians to be available on site during the duration. They must constantly monitor the equipment to ensure that the area is drying evenly. They should also verify that the entire site is completely dry before removing the dryers. The company should also be observing the area to spot any other problems that may arise once the water has been removed.

Water damage restoration is not something anyone wants to go through. However, with the right company and the proper equipment, your home can be restored to its former glory. When looking for the right group to handle the job, make sure you do your homework. Look at reviews and check out the Better Business Bureau to see if the business is accredited or has any outstanding complaints.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Why Restoration Services Should Be Done Immediately


Hiring a restoration service as soon as you possibly can after your home has been damaged can be important for many different reasons. It could mean the difference between keeping your house and not keeping it. You shouldn't let water or fire damage sit for too long for safety reasons for your health, and because the integrity of the home can suffer greatly shortly after the damage has been left. Water damage should especially be treated immediately after it occurs because of the complications that arise quickly after a flood has happened.

If you leave water to sit in your home, it can ruin the wood, foundation, structure, and livability of your home in a hurry. Drywall is easily ruined by water damage, so getting it removed and replaced to prevent the spread of dampness and mold is very important. Mold can ruin a home and be very unhealthy to breathe on a day-to-day basis, so this is the main reason why when you have water damage that you should get it fixed immediately.

Fire damage and smoke damage can be very serious to a home. As soon as you can, you should call a restoration service to assess the damage that has been done, and get them to fix it as soon as you can. You shouldn't leave your home damaged after any event if you want your house to maintain its integrity. Time is really the most important thing when it comes to fire and water damage to your home. Even after a fire is put out, or water is removed, it can still be damaging your house in ways that you cannot see, so be sure to get things fixed and back to normal in a timely manner.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_A_Buchanan/255329

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Monday, September 23, 2019

4 Steps To Help Recover Immediately After A Home Fire


Watch and learn four steps from the American Red Cross to help recover immediately after a home fire.

Friday, September 20, 2019

From Fire Water Restoration to Mold Removal, Professional Restoration Services Help Save Homes!


We've all seen it on the news or read it in the paper: "Family loses everything in fire." But when disaster strikes your home, accepting the loss isn't your only option! Don't let fire, flood, or mold mean the end of your beloved home and cherished belongings. Get help from a professional fire water damage restoration company and get your life back on track. These experts can help you minimize losses, clean up contamination, and ensure your home isn't completely destroyed. Fight back against tragedy with fire restoration, water damage restoration, and even mold removal!

Fire, water, and mold can ravage a home and its contents, but if dealt with immediately, none of these crises have to mean the end of your house or your belongings. That's because fire restoration and other restoration services can help you safely and effectively salvage both the structure itself and many of the items inside.

Fire restoration: Fire damage restoration includes both drying out the water used in extinguishing the fire and dealing with the effects of the fire itself. From removing charred building materials to scrubbing soot off walls to eliminating the odor of smoke in the air, professional fire restorers can wipe all traces of the fire from your home. They can even clean smoke stains and smells out of furniture!

Water damage restoration: Lingering moisture can create mold and decay, so it's important to get your home and furnishings dried out ASAP. Your flood restoration team can help dry out your house from top to bottom, stopping deterioration in its tracks and preventing additional mold growth. An important aspect of fire restoration, water restoration services is also practical for floods, burst pipes, and other water-related catastrophes.

Mold removal: Mold can grow almost anywhere there is excess water, so both fires and floods can easily lead to mold growth. Most fire water restoration pros also offer mold remediation and removal to get your whole home back in a clean and healthy state after a disaster.

Don't go it alone: your area fire and flood restoration company is here to help you overcome this tragedy. Offering professional workmanship and compassionate services, restoration company experts are here to care for you and your home. Call now for the most effective, complete restoration services.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4443504

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

An Overview of Water Damage Classifications and Categories


Water damage comes in a variety of forms that can be merely annoying or potentially dangerous, depending on the source of the flow. Today, we will go over the general categories of water leaks, the type of damage they can cause and the recommended steps to treat them. Water damage is split up into various categories and classifications according to standards set by the IICRC.

Category 1 (Clear Water)

This type of water damage occurs when a pipe or appliance springs a leak or overflows when left on unattended. Fortunately, in these types of situations, the water is usually clean and does not pose any real risk to you immediately. Clean water damage typically is an issue for the surrounding environment, such as carpets, books and other belongings which are not waterproof and may need restoration work done if the flooding happens over a long period of time. Additionally, water damage can potentially lead to more severe issues such as mold growth that will need the attention of a professional mold inspector and remediator.

Category 2 (Grey Water)

Gray water damage involves some degree of contamination, whether it's physical, biological or chemical. In layman's terms, gray water is dangerous but not hazardous and needs some form of remediation in order to ensure that the environment is properly restored for human inhabitation. The most common household gray water situations come from toilets, dishwashers and washing machine leaks, where detergents or food particles are mingled in with the water supply. Gray water, like clean water, may also cause mold damage in unattended situations and can also potentially lead to other structural issues depending on the type of contaminant in the water.

Category 3 (Black Water)

This is the most uncommon form of water damage as well as the most dangerous. Black water contains extremely unsanitary agents including bacteria and fungus, and contaminate all surfaces it touches. Black water damage is usually caused by natural disasters such as storms and floods, where debris is washed into the water, or from ruptured sewage lines or septic tanks. This type of water damage must be handled by a professional restoration firm and potentially the state environmental protection agency, as the consequences of leaving the situation untreated or improper treatment can be devastating to many others besides the property owner.

In addition to the types of water damage, there are also various classifications to specify the rate of evaporation for a water damage scenario. This information is subsequently utilized by the technicians to determine the proper method of dryout and an approximate timeline.

Class 1 (Slow Evaporation Rate)

This is the most benign level of water damage in which only a part of a room or area is affected, or the materials involved are relatively low permanence or porosity such as particle board, structural wood or plywood. In these situations, there is usually a minimal amount of moisture absorbed by materials and restoration time is typically fast.

Class 2 (Fast Evaporation Rate)

This class generally involves an entire room, or flood damage where water has wicked up to 24 inches on the wall. Moisture can be present in the structure as well. These scenarios are middle of the road as far as the work and time involved.

Class 3 (Fastest Evaporation Rate)

Class 3 situations commonly involves water that comes from above, either from an upstairs room or outside during heavy rain. In these scenarios, water has saturated more than 24 inches above the wall, posing severe structural risk and potential damage if not immediately addressed.

Class 4 (Specialty Drying Situations)

In this class, the surrounding structure and materials have very low permance/porosity, causing water to remain in saturated pockets throughout. Examples include hardwood, brick, concrete or other materials that do not have a high amount of absorption rate for moisture. These scenarios require very specific low humidity and ventilation solutions in order for water to be effectively removed.

While the class and categorization of a water emergency can usually be quickly inferred, be sure to double check with your water technician when they arrive on site to get the full scope of the situation after a professional inspection has been conducted. Your technician should be able to provide you with an approximate estimate of the timeframe, as well as details on the exact work that needs to be done to bring everything back up to speed. We will cover the various methods of water damage restoration in our next article so be sure to stay tuned!


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Yang

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Saturday, September 14, 2019

Friday, September 13, 2019

What To Do After A Fire: Think Straight And Sort It Out


Experiencing a fire at one's residence is very frightening, disturbing and upsetting. However, once the fire is out, there are a few very important things one needs to do. Recovering from the fire may take some time and many of the things that need doing are probably new to the home-owners. The damage caused to the property is not only from the fire itself but also the secondary damage from the smoke and the water and chemicals that are used to put out the fire. Here is a short guideline on what to do after a fire.

The first thing that is to be taken care of is protecting oneself from further losses. You will want the site protected from further damage by weather, theft or vandalism. The site left unsecured, could result in further damage. If the house has been left unsafe by the fire and one has to stay elsewhere, then the local police is notified before you leave, so that they can keep an eye on the property. Also, you will want to remove all valuables from the house.

Next, watch out for the electric wiring, gas or fuel, and any structural damages such as weakening of walls, roofs, etc. because of the fire. Power should only be turned back on after seeking professional advice. Edibles and medicines were probably damaged by the fire, and so check them and discard if needed in the proper way.

If you have insurance, collect all the receipts for the money spent on the fire loss and keep them for the perusal of the insurance company. You should keep all the damaged goods as well, until after they are shown to the insurance people. The sooner you contact the insurance company, the quicker they can process the claims as the damage is more easily investigated. If one has to leave home, one should leave the alternate contact options with the insurance professionals. You could also ask the insurance people to recommend the best fire damage restoration companies according to them.

Depending on the type of fire damage that occurred, the type of restoration done is also different. The restoration work could be done by property management teams, building maintenance staff or the homeowners themselves, if the damage is minimal, however, it is best to ask for professional help. This is because they are trained on fire damage restoration, not to mention their extensive experience.

To sum up, one shouldn't lose one's head after a fire. You want to take action to secure the site and the necessary precautions are taken care of. The insurance company and the police should be notified at once. In case one has to leave the premises, one should take identification, vital medicines and valuables along, and tell the important people of the new contact details. Let's not lose our heads over what to do after a fire.

We all hope to never be there, but when a disaster happens to your home you want to be sure that you have the right coverage on your insurance to help you through those tough times. You don't want to have to think about all of the details like what to do after a fire, damage repair assessments, and insurance claims. Finding a great company online to handle all of this for you would be the best option for you and your family.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ariel_Norton/975691

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Sunday, September 8, 2019

Home Restoration Services - Different Types, Services and Precautions



Restoration can be defined according to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary (1975) as a process that is 'a bringing back to a former position or condition.' Restoration is a necessity for antique lovers when it comes to preserving the beautiful framework, historical importance, and aesthetics. Yet sometimes it is just an unavoidable process due to natural calamities or other damages. At times there can be some sentimental or traditional memories to be taken care of. But regardless of the reason behind restoration, it is always the highest concern of both the restorer and the client to return back into the home's original shape and design.
Types of restoration services:
Three major types of damages affecting the homes can be mentioned, for which home restoration services are needed:
  1. Water Damage restoration services
Water damages can range from natural catastrophe to simple faults in household contents, like floods, heavy rains, toilet overflow, plumbing leaks, dishwasher leakage etc. Whatever the reason is, it causes great damage to homes and is often followed by molds.
  1. Fire and Smoke Damage restoration services
Fire damages can take place due to heavy lightning strikes to simple candle fire, even smoking. It also includes faulty wires or electrical equipment, natural gases and fireworks. It is the most dangerous form of damages, as it can spread out so easily and frequently destroying even a whole city.
  1. Mold Damage restoration services
Due to poor ventilation, high humidity and darkness molds start to grow at homes. Molds are also side-effects of water damages. And sometimes it occurs to a greater extent because of not taking it seriously at the very initial stage.
Steps in restoration services:
Whatsoever the damage type is, at first the restoration team will monitor the place thoroughly and after analyzing they will make a plan to execute. Then they will take the necessary steps according to the damage type. Generally, the steps include limiting the damage, draining out excessive water (if any), evaporating contents, helping family members in disinfection, odor treatment, cleaning up the residues and lastly decontaminating everything.
Precautions to be taken:
Both a huge amount of expenses and effort can be saved if several precautions can be maintained. Using waterproof materials for household contents and raising the electrical systems' level can prevent severe water damage. Incorrect cleaning and using defective electrical appliances should be avoided. Smoke alarms and fire exit doors should be planned for each and every house. Using organic materials and controlling moisture at home can prevent molds to grow.
Health hazards:
There are possibilities of being highly infected by these damages, especially molds. It can be allergic reactions, fungal infections, asthma problems and also inflammatory infections. So molds must be taken care of at the early stages.
Time plays a vital role in affecting the walls, rooftops, furniture, electronic appliances and everything else as a result of these damages. So it should be treated with high priority as soon as possible, as it spreads out fast with time. Also the right procedure and appropriate materials usage count regarding this. It is highly recommended to contact with home restoration professionals in all above cases. At the time of restoration process, some factors should be kept in mind with high priority, such as: using cheaper painting, mixing different types of materials, lack of knowledge etc. can even lower the durability.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9189026

Friday, September 6, 2019

Restoring Your Home After a Natural Disaster


What you need to know to rebuild. This video covers potential hazards that could arise after a disaster such as lead, mold, asbestos, CO2, and other hazards and how to address them as you rebuild. It will discuss tips to hire contractors that are licensed and capable of addressing the scope of the work and will highlight things to keep in mind during construction.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Your Home and Wildfire. Choices That Can Make a Difference.


Extreme wildfire conditions and loss of life and property are increasing. Residents play a key role in reducing the risks.