How to Repair Storm Damage to Your Home

2/3/2023 (Permalink)

Whether you're a homeowner, renter, or condo dweller, it's important to know how to deal with storm damage. Storms can cause severe damage to homes and make it harder for people to get back on their feet in their own homes after a disaster. This guide will help you prepare before storms hit and help you repair your home if there is damage after the storm passes.

Prepare for the Worst

The first step to recovery is preparation. Here are some tips to get you started:

Make a list of important documents, such as your insurance policy, medical records, and bank account information. Keep this list in a safe place just in case you need it later on. You can also store digital copies of these documents somewhere offsite if you have them on your computer or phone.

If you live in an area prone to flooding or storm damage, contact your insurance company and let them know where you are located. This will help ensure that they understand the risks associated with insuring someone who lives in such an area and can adjust their rates accordingly when necessary.

Store an emergency supply kit near your main exit point from the house so that it's easy to grab when needed (e.g., during storms). The contents of this kit should include water purification tablets/drop neutralizers, food rations sufficient for three days (including non-perishable items), canned goods for two weeks worth of meals (including meat), toiletries (toothbrush/paste etc.), clothing suitable for warm weather conditions (i.e., tank tops/shorts)

Evaluate the Damage and Document It

After the storm is over, you will want to quickly assess the damage. Start by documenting all of the damage with pictures. After you've documented the damage in detail and photographed it (with your camera or smartphone), make sure you keep copies of these images stored on a flash drive or other secure electronic storage device. This way, if there's ever an issue with your insurance claim you will have proof of the damage. They may need documentation of what happened within those first few days after the storm passed through your area and you want to make sure you have that readily available.

Cut Off the Power

If you have a home generator, turn it off at the main switch and make sure all gas lines are shut off. If you have an emergency power system, ensure that it is not connected to the grid by turning off the circuit breaker for your house and checking that no electrical panels are attached. Shutting off power can be dangerous because of the risk of electrocution or fire from electrical appliances. Therefore, it is important only to do so if a qualified professional recommends it or after giving yourself plenty of time to do so safely.

After turning off power in your home, check for potential hazards such as gas leaks (use a flashlight) and fire hazards (remove flammables). You may need to call emergency services if any such hazards exist before proceeding with repairs on your property.

If you suspect there has been damage due to high winds or other weather-related events like tornadoes or hurricanes, refrain from using any electrical appliances until they have been inspected by a licensed electrician

Contact Your Insurance Company

Your policy should tell you how to contact your insurance company, so be sure to have a copy of it on hand before you call. They will want to know what happened and how much the estimated damage is. Make sure they know that there could be additional costs if the storm caused flooding or other damage outside of what was immediately visible like broken windows or roof shingles coming off. If you aren't insured, then there's no reason for them to make any payments towards repairs because they won't get paid back by any third party (like the government). If this is the case, then expect that any expenses associated with fixing up your home will fall entirely on you!

Clean Up

Here are some tips to starting the cleanup process:

1. Remove any damaged furniture or belongings from your home.

2. Clean up any broken glass in the areas affected by flooding or severe hail and wind.

3. Make sure there are no exposed electrical wires before you begin cleaning up water and mud/dirt. If there is, shut off all power to the area where they are found and call an electrician immediately! Even if you don't know what circuit breaker turns off this particular switch, it's better to be safe than sorry when dealing with electricity!

4. Remove hazardous materials like chemicals, pesticides, oil-based paints or cleaners (as they may contain asbestos), gasoline/diesel fuel from tanks on boats/cars (as these can leak into groundwater), etc., as soon as possible by contacting a disposal company.

Dry it Out

You can use fans and dehumidifiers to start the drying process in your home. In most cases, if the damage is extensive, it is a good idea to call a professional like SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake to get your Hendersonville, NC home dry. 

Repair or Replace?

A contractor will help you determine if the damage is something that can be repaired or replaced. If you have the skills and equipment, you may be able to do this yourself. You may need to hire a contractor if the damage is extensive and/or complicated in nature. Again, SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake can help with this process!

It doesn't matter what season it is or where you live—disasters can happen at any moment and can be caused by natural or human-made occurrences. No matter what kind of storm hits your home, safety should always be the first priority for everyone involved. If a storm comes through your area and causes damage to your home (or any other building), make sure that everyone stays safe until the danger has passed, and contact local authorities about getting repairs done as soon as possible.

These steps can help you get back on track after a storm, but if you’re in doubt about any of them, don’t hesitate to call your insurance company. Their experts can guide you through the process so that you can focus on recovery instead of worrying about paperwork or repairs.

Can You Use Bleach for Mold Removal in Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake?

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

Better leave mold cleanup to Fresno experts

If you have fungal growth in your home, it is natural to want to deal with it right away.

It is best to get help with Fresno/Shaver Lake mold removal sooner rather than later. The fungus can cause all kinds of damage, including:

• Structural damage to wooden floors or beams.
• Breaking down of drywall and insulation.
• Peeling paint or wallpaper.
• Damage to upholstery, textiles, and paper items.

Bleach is a popular remedy for mold, and many websites will tell you to use it. However, applying bleach is not a good idea and can even make the problem worse.

Bleach can hide the discoloration caused by mold, but it does not tackle its root cause. Many commercial bleach cleaners have high water content and can even provide the moisture mold needs to thrive. If you notice signs of decay in your home, it is better to call SERVPRO right away. We have the tools and techniques required to remediate mold without causing further damage.

For efficient mold removal, call SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake 559-7797-4041.

When They Call You, Call SERVPRO

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Mitigation requires quick action. The faster a SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake arrives on-site to perform fire, smoke, and soot cleanup and restoration, the better the results— including lower claim costs. Within four hours of loss notification, we can be on-site to help ensure a fire damage is handled by utilizing the following services.

Structural Cleaning
   After a smoke or fire damage, ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors will often need a thorough cleaning. We can pretest to determine the extent of damage, then use the specific equipment and cleaning products required to clean and protect the different types of surfaces found in your structure.

Contents Cleaning
   All of the restorable contents in affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. This includes area rugs, furniture, and upholstery. SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake can provide wet or dry cleaning services. Additionally, all the other restorable contents will be cleaned and deodorized to preloss condition. This includes electronics, art, wood furniture, kitchen items, clothing, bedding, and much more. Finally, we can provide an inventory list of all “to be claimed” items for your insured.

Deodorization
   SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake provide specialized services that rid your insured’s home or place of business of offensive odors left by fire or smoke damage. We do not merely cover up lingering odors with a fragrance; they seek out the sources of the odor and remove them. 

Call us today! 559-797-4041

The Science of Drying

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? The knowledge of psychometric is essential to restoring a water damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages. If your business suffers a water damage, 
SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.
• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does “speed up Mother Nature” mean? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material–but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature often takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out. For this reason,
SERVPRO has been trained to use top-of-the-line equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more.

SERVPRO also uses state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business. The bottom line? Your local SERVPRO of Fresno Northeast/Shaver Lake have the training and equipment to help make it “Like it never even happened.” 

Quick, Professional Fire Damage Restoration

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Efficiently Remediate Your Property After a Fire

If you find yourself facing fire damage in your home, obtaining qualified professional help is easier than you might think. You are not alone and should never take on the task of working on your property by yourself after a fire occurs. It can be hard to address every damaged item correctly, especially without the proper training and equipment.  

SERVPRO technicians perform deodorization and cleaning methods on a daily basis, successfully restoring many homes no matter the damage level.   
SERVPRO is available throughout your local community; we offer customers full-service solutions to fire damage situations of all shapes and sizes. Regardless of how the fire began on your property, we can help provide you with much-needed answers and solutions that get things back to normal as quickly and efficiently as possible. We can also help you prevent future events from occurring, and give quality recommendations that avoid future losses. 

Avoid following someone else’s failed attempts at restoring their home alone. Contact SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake for access to qualified professionals 24/7, 365. We respond quickly, helping you restore your property.

24/7 Service

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today! 559-797-4041

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO Fresno NE/Shaver Lake has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake

SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Let Us Put Your Worries to Rest After a Fire

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

For homeowners who suffer fire damage, one of the most devastating and noxious issues is the ongoing presence of odors. They serve as a reminder of the fire, and they also present a potential health hazard.

Controlling those odors is a multilayered process, but the SERVPRO fire damage experts in Fresno NE/Shaver Lake use a complete set of procedures to solve the problem. And that process starts with basic knowledge involving the nature and characteristics of odor particles.

As you might expect, odor particles are microscopic. They’re typically measured in microns, with a size range of 0.01 to approximately 4 microns.

As small as that number sounds, it becomes even more startling when compared to other tiny objects. For instance, the tip of a human hair measures 75-100 microns, making it dozens of times larger than a typical odor particle. That tininess is what allows odor particles to easily penetrate surfaces in your home after a fire.

To eliminate them, deodorant particles must be used to penetrate those same surfaces. This allows them to combine with the odor particles and neutralize them.

This is where SERVPRO expertise comes into play. SERVPRO techs know how to create the right conditions for deodorant particles to work so the problem can be solved quickly and completely.

SERVPRO techs also use several other characteristics of odor particles to help eliminate smoke odors. One is the surface porosity of the penetrated materials—the more porous the material, the more likely it is to absorb odors. Another is the concentration of residue on penetrated materials. The more concentrated the residue, the larger the amount of surface area that is typically impacted.

The other two major factors are heat and the amount of exposure time. The longer the surfaces are exposed, the larger the number of odor particles that penetrate surfaces. And heat makes porous surfaces expand, which in turn allows odor particles to penetrate more deeply. When the heat is removed and the surfaces contract, the odor particles are left behind and trapped, and once again deodorant particles are the solution.

Smell Something Funny? It Might Be Water Damage

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

Do you know when to be worried about a funny smell? Most new homeowners are not water damage specialists, but the human nose is an excellent tool for sniffing out trouble.

The sooner you notice a problem, the sooner you can call us to help mitigate ongoing damages. When you notice a problem, a highly trained SERVPRO professional can assess the extent of your damages. We can use our specialized equipment to remedy the issue fast.

What should you keep an eye out for when you do your regular cleaning? Start at the top. When looking for roof damages, obvious water stains aren't the only problem. Swollen insulation is usually an indication of water retention. Check your flashing (where the roof meets the walls) for cracks and look for missing shingles as well as more obvious signs like holes. Look at door frames and molding. Unusual stains or dark spots on the walls can mean trouble.

Inside, make sure you check your appliances after you move in to be certain they are not leaking where you cannot see easily behind them. Cracked hoses and loose connections can be tricky. Ripples, buckling, and changes in texture can tell you the flooring has a water problem. Remember to trust your nose. If it smells wrong, it probably is.

Outside water damages and mold are often caused by improper drainage. Check your spouts to see that they are clear and make sure you do not have water pooling around the foundation of your new home. At the first sign of damage, you can call SERVPRO.

No one wants to find water damage in their new home. If you do, SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake is available at 559-797-4041 24 hours a day. We can make things “Like it never even happened,” so you can relax in your new house.

1-4-8

9/20/2021 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake we pride ourselves in being the fastest out to any size disaster!
We follow the 1-4-8-hour timeline.

Within 1 hour of notice of loss, we always get in contact with our customers and get all required information from you over the phone.

Within 4 hours we will arrive on site to begin work. At your home we do an inspection and walk you through the steps we will take to complete the project to make sure you are comfortable with the process.

Within 8 hours of our on-site arrival we will contact your insurance company or property manager. We will give a verbal briefing of the damage and what we foresee will be needed to be done to get the structure back to good standing in the shortest amount of time. With these guidelines our customers know SERVPRO of Fresno NE / Shaver Lake is there fast in their time of need.

Give SERVPRO of Fresno NE/Shaver Lake a call at 559-797-4041

Preventing Large Losses in Commercial Buildings

9/9/2021 (Permalink)

A large loss in a commercial building can be detrimental, not only to the building itself but also to the business itself causing huge losses and putting business on pause while the issue is taken care of.

A thorough, routine, scheduled investigation of your building can help reduce a large loss at your home or business. 

Why are workplace inspections important?

Workplace inspections help prevent incidents, injuries and illnesses. Through a critical examination of the workplace, inspections help to identify and record hazards for corrective action.

What is the purpose of inspections?

Inspections are important as they allow you to:

• listen to the concerns of workers and supervisors
• gain further understanding of jobs and tasks
• identify existing and potential hazards
• determine underlying causes of hazards
• recommend corrective action
• monitor steps taken to eliminate hazards or control the risk (e.g., engineering controls, administrative controls, policies, procedures, personal protective equipment)

If you have fire, water, mold, or asbestos issue give SERVPRO a call today at 559-797-4041.