Recent Storm Damage Posts

3 Reasons To Hire Professional Flood Cleanup

8/22/2022 (Permalink)

Drying equipment loaded in a green truck box SERVPRO is ready to mobilize for any disaster, from fires to floods and anything in between!

Reasons To Hire Expert Flood Cleanup

A heavy storm near your home in Rolando Village, CA, can cause a lot of water damage. Water can leak in from damaged areas of your roof, through broken windows or even from an overtaxed sewer. If your home needs repairs, it is better to call flood mitigation professionals than try to clean up the mess yourself. Here are three of the many reasons why experts are necessary.

1. Thorough Assessment

Certified professionals have the training and experience needed to determine the repairs your home needs. Without reliable testing, you may end up with a mold problem that festers in the damaged areas your own inspection misses. Technicians can root out the cause of the problem so that it can get completely resolved.

2. Proper Disinfection

Flood water is considered black water, or Category 3 water. Category 3 water is contaminated with bacteria, viruses and other microscopic organisms that you don’t want living on the surfaces in your home. Storm remediation isn’t just a matter of cleaning up water damage. Experts can also disinfect all the affected areas so that your home is free of any germs brought in by the storm.

3. Claim Information

Hiring professional mitigators can give you the information you need to file a successful insurance claim. The specialists can provide an itemized list of repairs you need and how much each repair costs. This list can be especially helpful if your insurance adjuster is delayed by the volume of claims in the area. Having documentation means you don’t have to wait on the adjuster to arrive to start the restoration process.

If a storm causes water damage to your home, one of your first calls should be to a local restoration company. Professional technicians can help you by identifying the whole problem, making sure cleanup includes disinfection and providing vital information for your insurance company. You may find that such services are well worth the cost.

How Can You Protect Your Home From Roof Damage?

5/25/2022 (Permalink)

Two men on top of the roof of a house, carrying out inspection For roof inspections, you want a qualified team on your side.

Steps To Preserve Your Roof

Of all the structural elements of your Normal Heights, CA, home, the roof is among the most important. A strong roof protects your home from the elements. It provides safety and security. If your home suffers roof damage, you need to act decisively and appropriately. Following the right steps will help ensure that you can preserve your roof.

1. Understand the Common Issues That Can Cause Damage
A well-built roof can last up to 20 years or more. However, problems can arise under certain conditions. Be aware of these so you can minimize any damage and the need to replace the roof.
Wind damage can blow off shingles. Hail damage can break shingles and put holes in the roof. Excess moisture can rot the building material. All of these issues can expose your home to flooding or other environmental concerns.

2. Inspect for Roof Damage Often
A professional should regularly inspect the roof of your Normal Heights, CA, house. In doing so, the technician can identify emerging problems and concerns, pointing out areas that need immediate attention and allowing you to get on top of any damage before it gets worse. Have your roof inspected once or twice a year. It is especially important to inspect it after heavy winds, excessive rainfall and hailstorms.

3. Hire the Right Professionals
For inspections, repairs and installations, you want a qualified team on your side. Assessing and repairing wind and storm damage requires the expertise of storm restoration professionals. The team should be ISO-certified and have experience using moisture survey technology. Make sure the company is thorough and performs a visual inspection of the membrane and flashings. You also should look for professionals who do core analysis testing.
Roof damage can have a detrimental effect on your home. There are ways to prevent significant problems. Careful attention and hiring the right people will give you peace of mind and keep your roof strong.

3 Tips for Preventing Mold Growth in Your Business

4/6/2022 (Permalink)

Employee removes mold-damaged debris. A storm caused mold growth in this home, so our SERVPRO teams responded immediately to begin containing and cleaning!

There are many ways for professionals to remediate the impact of water damage. Mold growth can occur within 24 hours of a flood, so experts in San Diego, CA need to get to work immediately to protect your building. However, commercial property owners should invest in preventing mold in the first place rather than waiting until it actually occurs. While you may not be able to stop mold from growing entirely, you can reduce the likelihood through some simple tips.

1. Have Someone Inspect Your Building Regularly

The problem with mold is that it tends to grow in dark, damp areas of buildings. You may not visit every single corner of the building frequently, so you should hire someone to come out and inspect things every so often. An annual inspection can help greatly, and a water damage restoration expert will know what to look for.

2. Decrease Moisture Levels

Depending on the city in which you do business, the air may be naturally humid all the time. This increases the chances of mold growth, but you can decrease humidity within your own building. You should consider installing a dehumidifier in rooms that are likely to have excessive moisture. Placing these items in the bathroom and basement can help tremendously.

3. Make Essential Repairs Quickly

Leaky roofs, cracked window frames and broken foundations can all increase the likelihood of mold developing. As soon as you realize a part of the building is damaged, you need to address it immediately. Even a small leak can lead to mold if you are not careful.

Ultimately, mold prevention is entirely dependent on remaining vigilant and taking care of any problematic issues as soon as they come up. It is much easier and much more affordable to prevent mold than to get rid of it. Your employees will thank you for being so proactive in addressing water damage.

Signs, Symptoms and Causes of Indoor Mold Growth in Commercial Spaces

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

Employee cleans up mold damage. Our highly trained professionals are equipped to remediate any mold damage loss!

Indoor mold growth due to moisture is a common issue for many businesses in San Diego CA, whether it is caused by broken pipes or broken supply lines, high humidity levels or storm-related flooding events. To protect your property, you should know these key factors in recognizing risks and some methods to prevent mildew and address fungal infestations.

Sources of Indoor Mold

Mold and mildew are propagated through tiny, microscopic spores that are ubiquitous in both indoor and outdoor spaces. Moisture and oxygen are all that are required for these fungal invaders to take foothold on nearly any surface that contains an organic nutrient source. This includes food, paper and wood as well as building materials like insulation, drywall and carpeting. While major flooding events are one major source of mold issues, small leaks and even high humidity can be enough to create an ideal environment for growth.

Risk Factors

When it comes to minimizing the spread of aggressive mildew or mold strains, early detection is essential. While mold can take hold nearly anywhere in a building, these are common areas to inspect for visible signs:

  • Tile grout and wallpaper seams
  • Window sills
  • HVAC drip pans
  • Ceiling corners

Wall switch plates

Additionally, any areas that show evidence of water damage should be monitored carefully. In many cases fungal colonies grow behind the scenes, whether behind wallpaper or tiling or within insulation and drywall, rotting structural elements from the inside out.

Remediation Processes

Whether you only notice a distinctive musty smell or your building is having issues with water damage from broken pipes or flooding, it is important to contact a professional mold remediation company as soon as possible to minimize restoration complications and costs. These trained specialists will be able to quickly assess the extent of damage, remove standing water, identify strains of mold or mildew present and perform thorough dehumidification of affected spaces to eliminate all residual moisture.

Staying Safe This Flood Season

1/5/2022 (Permalink)

Contaminated water floods a house, the water reaches up to the stairs Flood-damaged in a home in Colina Del Sol Park, CA.

Keeping Safe During the Flood Season

Hopefully, you've prepared your home for potential flooding in Colina Del Sol Park, CA, this year, but now it's time to prepare yourself. The importance of brushing up on flood safety information before disaster strikes cannot be overstated. Here are four safety tips to ensure your well-being if your home is affected by flooding.

1. Watch out for floodwater. Assume any floodwater you see is contaminated. These waters may have come into contact with sewage or other hazardous materials (such as chemicals). Debris carried by the water may have sharp edges, and dangerous insects or animals could be lurking just under the surface. Floodwater is also much stronger than it seems. Do not attempt to wade through moving water; you can quickly be knocked over or swept away.

2. Use good judgment around electricity. Always turn off all power and gas before entering a flood-damaged home. Never attempt to use electrical appliances that have come into contact with floodwater until they have been checked for safety. Avoid downed power lines and keep yourself far away from any standing water in their vicinity.

3. Know how proper sanitation affects your health. Sound flood safety practices include discarding any flooded items that cannot be sanitized. This includes water-retentive objects like rugs and stuffed animals, cosmetics and toiletries, and any wooden kitchen utensils. Always inspect and disinfect packaged food before use. Even things that appear to be sealed may have punctures or cracks you cannot see. If you just don't know, let it go.

4. Be mindful of physical dangers. Most serious accidents occur during the clean-up process. Be careful when moving heavy waterlogged objects, wear protective clothing to avoid cuts, and don't do anything that might result in a dangerous fall. It's always safer to consult with restoration experts before attempting difficult cleanup procedures yourself.

Though you'll want to quickly survey any damage and begin cleaning up immediately after a flood, the most important part of any post-disaster restoration is assuring your family's well-being with proper flood safety. It is always possible to repair your home. It may be more difficult to repair your health.