Andrew Easton of Easton Construction Group was recently interviewed on the news from area wind damages.
Friday, December 9, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Roof Claims: Hail and Wind Storm Damage
The roof of your house is your first line of defense against the elements. On a sunny day the sun can heat your roof to unbearable temperatures. On a rainy day it is the first to get soaked by the rain. On a windy day your shingles can get blown or torn away from your house. Finally, on those stormy days, a hail storm can beat up your roof and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. What kind of damage can a hail or wind storm actually cause? The most common type of roof damage is called storm damage. This is damage caused by wind, hail, or both.
In 2009 hail storms caused over $1.2 billion worth of property damage in the United States. Often times this type of roof damage is not noticeable until other parts of your home have been affected. Hail hits cause a reduction in the life expectancy of your shingles. When hail hits your shingles the top layer of granules is removed from the matting causing damage in the form of small circular marks on the shingles. These small marks eventually cause leaks leading to more costly damage such as interior drywall rot and upper roof decking damage. It may take months or years for leaks to form around these marks, but the ultimate cause is the hail. Delayed repairs can cause a lapse in the statute of limitations given by the home-owners insurance company leaving you, the homeowner, responsible for all the repairs needed. This is why it is very important to have a prompt inspection. You should not wait until you see a leak to call a storm restoration specialist.
Wind damage occurs when strong wind gusts blow the shingles in such a way that it causes them to crease, crack, or blow completely off the roof decking. Creased or cracked shingles become weaker and will continue to blow back in future storms. As the shingle tabs continue to get blown back and forth upon the weakened crease, the shingle can eventually pull away and cause the roof decking to be exposed to the elements. Other times shingles will lift up from the shingle underneath it enough for debris to lodge underneath. Once debris is underneath the shingle, it will no longer properly adhere to the roof. These kinds of damage will compromise the integrity of the roof causing leaks and additional damage.
The only way to know for sure the type of damage you have is to have a trained professional thoroughly inspect your roof. A roof restoration specialist can help you determine if you need your roof replaced.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clifford_Evans
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Professional Fire Restoration Services
Disaster can occur at any moment. If you experience severe loss from fire in your home or commercial property, you will need a professional fire damage repair or restoration service.
Professional fire restoration services help you get back to normal quickly. Emergency fire damage professionals will assess your home, give you an estimate and then, once approved repair your home to the standard it was previously. They make a detailed assessment of the damage. You might have conducted your fire damage assessment first and might think that the damage caused by fire could result in a total loss. However, a professional fire damage service can help repair fire damage and restore your home or commercial building and other possessions to their original condition.
Sometimes, water used to extinguish the fire may cause more damage to your property than the fire itself. Professional fire restoration starts by cleaning up the water damages. They use special equipment to prevent further damage to your property and restore it to its original state. Some messy things, if left unattended, may cause significant damages to your building. Hence, the professionals give special attention to clean them up. They use high powered equipment to remove any standing water and moisture from furniture, wood and carpets. Removing moisture can help prevent your home or office building from mould, mildew and bacterial growth. They even help restore your expensive carpets to their original size and condition. They know that fire damage restoration and water damage restoration go hand in hand. Hence, they use appropriate techniques and tools to make the restoration process more effective.
Professional fire restoration also includes cleaning up smoke particles, as they are acidic and therefore corrosive. Smoke can leave risky chemical traces and unpleasant odours. They have great expertise in restoring both wet smoke and dry smoke damages. They use powerful cleansers to remove the smoke and soot residues easily and efficiently. The professionals analyse the area damaged by smoke and fire carefully before providing you with a full report about the damage and loss. If fire has damaged the furniture and timbers fully, they remove them cautiously.
Damages from soot can be frustrating and hard to clean up. Professional fire damage restorations helps you remove damages caused by soot carefully. The professionals use effective chemicals that remove soot, without causing any damage to painted walls and wallpapers. Fire restoration experts can also help restore and refurbish your damaged residential or commercial property, including curtains, furniture, electronic items and other valuable things. They are dedicated to restore as much of your property as possible.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Raper
Professional fire restoration services help you get back to normal quickly. Emergency fire damage professionals will assess your home, give you an estimate and then, once approved repair your home to the standard it was previously. They make a detailed assessment of the damage. You might have conducted your fire damage assessment first and might think that the damage caused by fire could result in a total loss. However, a professional fire damage service can help repair fire damage and restore your home or commercial building and other possessions to their original condition.
Sometimes, water used to extinguish the fire may cause more damage to your property than the fire itself. Professional fire restoration starts by cleaning up the water damages. They use special equipment to prevent further damage to your property and restore it to its original state. Some messy things, if left unattended, may cause significant damages to your building. Hence, the professionals give special attention to clean them up. They use high powered equipment to remove any standing water and moisture from furniture, wood and carpets. Removing moisture can help prevent your home or office building from mould, mildew and bacterial growth. They even help restore your expensive carpets to their original size and condition. They know that fire damage restoration and water damage restoration go hand in hand. Hence, they use appropriate techniques and tools to make the restoration process more effective.
Professional fire restoration also includes cleaning up smoke particles, as they are acidic and therefore corrosive. Smoke can leave risky chemical traces and unpleasant odours. They have great expertise in restoring both wet smoke and dry smoke damages. They use powerful cleansers to remove the smoke and soot residues easily and efficiently. The professionals analyse the area damaged by smoke and fire carefully before providing you with a full report about the damage and loss. If fire has damaged the furniture and timbers fully, they remove them cautiously.
Damages from soot can be frustrating and hard to clean up. Professional fire damage restorations helps you remove damages caused by soot carefully. The professionals use effective chemicals that remove soot, without causing any damage to painted walls and wallpapers. Fire restoration experts can also help restore and refurbish your damaged residential or commercial property, including curtains, furniture, electronic items and other valuable things. They are dedicated to restore as much of your property as possible.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Luke_Raper
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Dry Ice Blasting Smoke Damaged Books
Dry ice blasting log cabin, smoke damaged books and lead-based paint from the Utah State Capitol Restoration Project
Saturday, November 19, 2011
ROOFTOP FIRE SPRINKLERS SAVED MY HOME!!
Here's a great idea when living in rural mountainous terrain.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Our Estimates Using Xactimate Software
Xactware® is recognized in the claims industry and used by many insurance providers. All of our restoration scopes and reconstruction estimates are generaged using Xactimate estimating software or Xactcontents for personal property.
With our estimating staff's knowledge, combined with the power of Xactimate, our estimates indicate exact quantities and materials & labor. This is accompanied with a clear description of work to be performed and graphical reference providing you with a clear concise scope of repairs that ECG will perform on your project.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Wildfire Ember Highlights
Xactware is one of the founders of the Institute for Business & Home Safety's new state-of-the-art, multi-peril research center in Chester Country, N.C. At this facility, researchers simulate disaster conditions — including heavy winds, droplet-sized rain, realistic hailstones, and firebrand/ember generation — to test building materials and structure components. They record the tests on high-speed, high-definition cameras to analyze the results.
In this experiment, researchers recreated an ember storm to study how a typical home holds up in wildfire conditions. The U.S. Forest Service and the International Association of Fire Chiefs have verified that the ember storm simulation is a realistic demonstration of a typical wildfire event.
For more information about IBHS, check out http://www.disastersafety.org.
In this experiment, researchers recreated an ember storm to study how a typical home holds up in wildfire conditions. The U.S. Forest Service and the International Association of Fire Chiefs have verified that the ember storm simulation is a realistic demonstration of a typical wildfire event.
For more information about IBHS, check out http://www.disastersafety.org.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Emergency Services - We're Here To Help
We are here to help when you need it. Providing first response to your needs 24 / 7. Our team will be dispatched to your loss, will assess the damages, explain the course of action required and with your approval start immediately preventing further loss and damages.
Post loss condition of a structure or dwelling can vary and is specific to each type of loss and the severity of the damage that has occurred. Determining the cause of the loss and the effected area is the first step and often most important. How and what steps are taken have can major impact further damages and what is necessary to prevent or limit further damages to a structure. ECG provides all emergency or temporary service solution which your property may require.
Post loss condition of a structure or dwelling can vary and is specific to each type of loss and the severity of the damage that has occurred. Determining the cause of the loss and the effected area is the first step and often most important. How and what steps are taken have can major impact further damages and what is necessary to prevent or limit further damages to a structure. ECG provides all emergency or temporary service solution which your property may require.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Easton Construction Group Specialties
Easton Construction Group, Inc. ( ECG INC ) specializes in property and structure restoration. ECG INC is a full service restoration provider.
ECG INC provides a single claim solution (SCS) for all property and structure damages resulting from fire damage, water damage, smoke damage, storm damage, Vandalism and structures damage cause by vehicle impacts.
Call us at 925-757-6000, or 510-473-5070, or 209-910-5070 for more information.
ECG INC provides a single claim solution (SCS) for all property and structure damages resulting from fire damage, water damage, smoke damage, storm damage, Vandalism and structures damage cause by vehicle impacts.
Call us at 925-757-6000, or 510-473-5070, or 209-910-5070 for more information.
Friday, November 4, 2011
How To Spot Water Damage Before It Wrecks Your Home
Water just may be your home's worst enemy; and it's a sneaky, insidious foe. Your home could have a slow leak for weeks before you see the first signs of damage.
Take the case of my friend Tom, who recently spotted a strange puddle outside his brand new townhome. For some reason a small, hand-sized pool of water would sometimes appear on his back porch next to the bedroom wall. He didn't think much of it, until he spotted water stains on his inside wall, directly opposite the puddle. Uh-oh.
When workmen pried the planks off his exterior wall, they found a PVC drainpipe that had been sliced-through during construction. Workers installing the hardy plank exterior during construction had trimmed the planks in place with a power saw, not noticing that there were slashing the drain pipe in the process. The entire time Tom had lived in his home, water had been leaking into his wall.
Unless you are alert for small signs like this, water damage can go unchecked, emerging only when it has caused serious damage to your home.
The key is to spot telltale signs of damage before they turn into big problems. Here are a few things for which you should be on the lookout.
Finding Interior Leaks
Leaks can happen anywhere inside your home, but they are most likely to occur where water pipes and drains connect to appliances. That means your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room are the most likely problem areas.
1) Water Stains
Stains on your drywall are the most obvious sign of interior water damage. Check your window frames and exterior door frames for any sign stains, and apply caulk or molding as needed.
Any unusual stain on your interior walls should be investigated immediately since, as my friend Tom learned, they could be a sign of a leaky pipe or drain inside the wall.
2) Warping or Buckling Floors
Also keep an eye out for any buckling or warping of your wooden floors. Even if your home doesn't have hardwood floors, vinyl, tile surfaces and carpets are often installed on top of a wooden particle board layer that will swell and warp when exposed to water.
3) Meter Readings
If water lines inside your home are leaking, you may be able to tell by reading your water meter. Turn off all the water inside your house, and then check your meter's current reading. Wait about an hour, and then check it again. If the meter reading has changed, you've got a leak.
Spotting Exterior Problems
A leaky roof, poor drainage around your home and clogged or leaky rain gutters are the biggest causes of exterior leaks. The key to detection is to check your home during a rainstorm. If you can't wait for rain, spray your roof with a garden hose.
1) Check the Attic
It's a good idea to periodically inspect your attic for stains and other signs of water infiltration. Pay special attention the valleys where two roof planes intersect. Also check the flashing where the roof meets a wall, and flashing around any chimneys and roof vents.
You should also check your roof from the outside for damaged flashing and missing, cracked or curled shingles.
2) Standing Water
If you see standing water anywhere outside your home, it's cause for worry. A puddle could be due to poor drainage in your yard that makes water flow toward your house. It could also be a sign of leaky rain gutters or gutter downspouts that don't carry water far enough from the house.
3) Drip Lines
Water dripping off your roof can cause erosion on your patio or driveway. This issue is tricky, because by the time you see erosion in the stone or concrete, the damage is done. You need to spot drip lines before they do damage. Walk around your house when it's raining and look for drip lines.
Check how your home's gutters handle a heavy rain. Do the gutters overflow? Your gutters need to be cleaned periodically to keep them free of leaves, or you may need to install gutter covers or screens to keep leaves out.
Check the gutters themselves for leaks. Many homes still use old-style seamed gutters with welded joints. Check these points for signs of rust or separation.
These simple checks can go a long way toward keeping your home safe from water damage and the mold infestations that can come with it. Try to make them a regular part of your home maintenance.
Mike Milliman is a managing partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading online seller of gutter supplies and copper gutters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1195898
Take the case of my friend Tom, who recently spotted a strange puddle outside his brand new townhome. For some reason a small, hand-sized pool of water would sometimes appear on his back porch next to the bedroom wall. He didn't think much of it, until he spotted water stains on his inside wall, directly opposite the puddle. Uh-oh.
When workmen pried the planks off his exterior wall, they found a PVC drainpipe that had been sliced-through during construction. Workers installing the hardy plank exterior during construction had trimmed the planks in place with a power saw, not noticing that there were slashing the drain pipe in the process. The entire time Tom had lived in his home, water had been leaking into his wall.
Unless you are alert for small signs like this, water damage can go unchecked, emerging only when it has caused serious damage to your home.
The key is to spot telltale signs of damage before they turn into big problems. Here are a few things for which you should be on the lookout.
Finding Interior Leaks
Leaks can happen anywhere inside your home, but they are most likely to occur where water pipes and drains connect to appliances. That means your kitchen, bathroom and laundry room are the most likely problem areas.
1) Water Stains
Stains on your drywall are the most obvious sign of interior water damage. Check your window frames and exterior door frames for any sign stains, and apply caulk or molding as needed.
Any unusual stain on your interior walls should be investigated immediately since, as my friend Tom learned, they could be a sign of a leaky pipe or drain inside the wall.
2) Warping or Buckling Floors
Also keep an eye out for any buckling or warping of your wooden floors. Even if your home doesn't have hardwood floors, vinyl, tile surfaces and carpets are often installed on top of a wooden particle board layer that will swell and warp when exposed to water.
3) Meter Readings
If water lines inside your home are leaking, you may be able to tell by reading your water meter. Turn off all the water inside your house, and then check your meter's current reading. Wait about an hour, and then check it again. If the meter reading has changed, you've got a leak.
Spotting Exterior Problems
A leaky roof, poor drainage around your home and clogged or leaky rain gutters are the biggest causes of exterior leaks. The key to detection is to check your home during a rainstorm. If you can't wait for rain, spray your roof with a garden hose.
1) Check the Attic
It's a good idea to periodically inspect your attic for stains and other signs of water infiltration. Pay special attention the valleys where two roof planes intersect. Also check the flashing where the roof meets a wall, and flashing around any chimneys and roof vents.
You should also check your roof from the outside for damaged flashing and missing, cracked or curled shingles.
2) Standing Water
If you see standing water anywhere outside your home, it's cause for worry. A puddle could be due to poor drainage in your yard that makes water flow toward your house. It could also be a sign of leaky rain gutters or gutter downspouts that don't carry water far enough from the house.
3) Drip Lines
Water dripping off your roof can cause erosion on your patio or driveway. This issue is tricky, because by the time you see erosion in the stone or concrete, the damage is done. You need to spot drip lines before they do damage. Walk around your house when it's raining and look for drip lines.
Check how your home's gutters handle a heavy rain. Do the gutters overflow? Your gutters need to be cleaned periodically to keep them free of leaves, or you may need to install gutter covers or screens to keep leaves out.
Check the gutters themselves for leaks. Many homes still use old-style seamed gutters with welded joints. Check these points for signs of rust or separation.
These simple checks can go a long way toward keeping your home safe from water damage and the mold infestations that can come with it. Try to make them a regular part of your home maintenance.
Mike Milliman is a managing partner of GutterSupply.com, the leading online seller of gutter supplies and copper gutters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/1195898
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