Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts
How the Pros Restore Your Building After a Fire
6/22/2022 (Permalink)
If your Weymouth, MA home or business has been damaged by fire, you can trust our SERVPRO of Weymouth & Hingham team to respond quickly.
How Professionals Restore Your Building After a Fire
A fire can be devastating to any business. One could destroy your building, along with the materials and items inside. Fortunately, fire restoration is possible, even in the most severe circumstances. With the right professional response, you can once again safely work in your office building and even salvage your belongings inside.
1. Inspection and Board-Up
Your first step in a fire rebuild should be to call a professional disaster response and cleanup company. In the event of a fire, you can reach technicians 24/7. They should be able to arrive at the scene of the fire on the day of your call. Technicians will first examine the building to determine the extent of the damage. The team will then formulate a restoration plan. Technicians will begin by boarding up windows and doors, as well as tarping the roof. This provides security and safety in your Weymouth Landing, MA, building.
2. Removing Water and Smoke
In a fire, firefighters use a lot of water to extinguish the flames. This can leave standing water in some places, as well as significant water damage. The fire restoration process includes completely removing all water and thoroughly drying the affected area. Doing this reduces the risk of mold buildup. Using proven techniques, the technicians will also remove smoke and soot from the ceiling, floor, walls, and furniture.
3. Sanitizing
Getting rid of water and soot isn't enough. To prevent bacterial growth, technicians will also sanitize all surfaces in the building. The team will also make note of any items that technicians can save, and will clean and restore them. These include electronics, furniture, and documents.
4. Rebuilding Services
You'll want your building to look as good as new. The restoration team will repair and rebuild walls, building materials, and other areas of the structure and office that suffered loss.
For fire restoration, you need to rely on professionals. These steps can make your building a safe place to work once more.
Cleaning Water Damage in Your Rental Property
6/14/2022 (Permalink)
Powerful Pumps Quickly Remove Water After A Loss
Water Damage Repair in Your Rental Property
When you have water in your home for rent after a flood, broken pipe, or storm in Hingham, MA, you compete against the clock. It's essential to remove the moisture from the belongings as quickly as possible to avoid mold or permanent damage.
Use Proper Equipment
Some items you need include:
- Waterproof boots
- Protective gloves
- Safety goggles
- Buckets
- Shovels
- Wet/dry vacuum
Get In When You Can
When it is safe to enter the property, do so but get clearance first from your local authorities. Assess the damage and determine what you can do.
You may need to call a professional remediation specialist if you have extensive damage from water in your home for rent. The company can assist with water removal, dry cleaning delicate items, remodeling, and repairing.
If the property has power and it's safe to use it, turn on the air conditioner to help dry the space. Use a dehumidifier as well. Leave the windows closed unless you don't have air conditioning. In that case, run fans to move the air around and open the windows to increase circulation.
Assess the Belongings
Mop excess water from the floors. Wipe down wood furniture with dry towels. Take wet cushions off of couches and chairs and prop them up to dry. Slide aluminum foil sheets between furniture legs and wet carpet.
Rinse belongings with clear water if they are wet. If they're already dry, dust them with a soft brush or cloth to remove residue. Soak wet photographs in water until they separate — do not pull them apart. Air dry them by clipping them to a rope or wire or lay them flat on absorbent paper.
Wet fabrics are heavier than dry ones. Don't stack them up. Remove debris with gently running clean water and blot them dry.
Remove as much water in your home for rent as soon as you safely can. Call a professional remediation company if you have extensive damage.
When Should You Replace Bathroom Supply Lines?
4/26/2022 (Permalink)
Examine the warranty carefully for signs of supply line damage. Water damage can be avoided by taking preventative measures.
When Should Bathroom Supply Lines Be Replaced?
The supply lines in a bathroom may be rated to last anywhere from five years up to decades based on the material. Manufacturers’ warranties can give homeowners a good sense of when these lines should be replaced. Supply line damage may necessitate replacement sooner rather than later at a home in Weymouth, MA.
Check the Supply Line Warranty
The warranty on different types of supply lines range from five years up to a lifetime. Here are the average warranty lengths for common supply line materials:
- Copper lines may have 50 year or lifetime warranties
- PEX lines may have a 25 year warranty
- CPVC lines may have a 10 year warrant
- PVC lines may have a five to eight year warranty
The covered causes of malfunction vary based on usage. Although specifics vary, warranties give homeowners an idea of the length of time for which you can expect properly installed pipes to function without elevated risk of a bathroom leak.
Inspect Supply Line Condition
It is important to look for any signs of supply line damage regardless of the age of pipes. Make sure fittings are intact and in good condition and that pipes do not show signs of wear.
Replace Burst or Leaking Lines
While it is helpful to replace lines in advance of a supply line leak or break, homeowners often disregard these components until an emergency occurs. A plumber can replace broken lines, but experts can also inspect plumbing on a regular basis to anticipate disaster and prevent a pipe break.
If a line fails before the end of the warranty period under normal conditions of use, it may be possible to reduce the expenses associated with replacement. Carefully read the warranty and look for indications of supply line damage. Taking a proactive approach may make it possible to avoid major water damage at a residence located in Weymouth, MA.
Why Quick Water Damage Response Matters
2/11/2022 (Permalink)
Make things easy on yourself – reach out to a 24 hour water damage restoration specialist for a fast response that minimizes long term damage.
Why Is It Important To Respond Quickly To Water Damage?
When water damage strikes, it can be easy to drag your feet to respond. But a slow response to water damage is one of the easiest ways to ensure the damage becomes worse. That’s because water problems can progress very quickly. Check out this water damage timeline to learn just what happens after water damages your Weymouth, MA, building and why finding a 24 hour, always open water damage specialist is critical.
Within Water Damage
Water damage describes various losses caused by intruding water after attacking a material or system. Some of the fallout of such breaches include:
Minimizing the chances of any of the above depends on how fast you respond. Unfortunately, water damage can start multiplying quickly.
Within Minutes
Minutes after flooding, or another type of water catastrophe, walls, floors and other porous materials begin absorbing fluid. Furniture finishes begin to bleed, while the process of permanent staining begins on things like carpets. Paper goods, such as books and photographs, rapidly begin to swell and become irreversibly damaged. This is an ideal time to contact a 24 hour cleanup specialist.
Within 24 Hours
Within a day of water damage, drywall can begin to swell, leading to significant structural damage. Expect exposed metal surfaces to begin tarnishing, while furniture progresses from staining to swelling and cracking. At this point, an odor may also appear.
Within One Week
A week of water damage can be devastating to your belongings. After a week, anticipate warping of doors, windows and wood materials like floors. Meanwhile, odors may progress to rank mold and mildew.
In as little as a week, water damage can take your property to the point of no return, increasing costs and headaches while causing catastrophic damage. Make things easy on yourself – reach out to a 24 hour water damage restoration specialist for a fast response that minimizes long term damage.