You Can Clean Your Home With The Same Products as SERVPRO Professionals

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians have been developing and cleaning with the most advance products around. For over 50 years SERVPRO has been at the forefront of extreme fire and water disaster clean ups and restoration. In addition to offering our Certified SERVPRO Cleaned program, where our franchises perform a professional pathogen cleaning on your site, we are now proud to offer SERVPRO's certified disinfectant, SERVPROXIDE. This single product kills most viruses and bacteria and has an extremely low EPA toxicity rating, making it safe for everyday use.

SERVPROXIDE vs COMPETITION

SERVPROXIDE

-kills 99.999% of bacteria

-Requires no dilution

-Non bleach formulated

-No harsh chemicals or fumes

-NSF certified (safe around food)

-Lowest toxicity rating by EPA. 

COMPETION

- Kills 99.999% of bacteria

The facts speak for themselves. Add this to your daily cleaning protocol today!

Long Term Effects of Storm Damage

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

What You Need to Know About the Long-Term Effects of Storm Damage

Do you think that post-storm water damage dries without help? If you do not treat this potentially serious issue immediately, take a look at what you need to know about the long-term effects of water damage.

Flooring Failure

Water that seeps into your home and floods your flooring can sink through carpets and padding. The result is a damp rug that is slow to dry. But what happens if the rug feels dry to the touch?

In some cases, you can dry and restore storm-damaged or flooded carpeting. This does not mean you should attempt to save your carpets without help. Failure to properly dry the carpets or the padding underneath can cause additional problems for what lies underneath.

Your regular home vacuum can't pull water from under the carpet's surface. Likewise, a fan or other type of similar drier will not reach beneath into the padding. This means what may feel like a completely dry carpet can hide a wet, moldy, or dirty pad. If you have wood flooring under your carpets, a damp pad could cause serious damage over time.

The longer the moisture sits on the wood floor, the more likely the cellulose fibers in the material will soak up excess water. This can warp the wood and cause permanent damage. While other types of flooring, such as tile, may not warp, the constant presence of water can still cause problems.

To prevent warping and other related issues, contract a professional storm damage restoration company as soon as possible. If you do wait, the professional may still have ways to treat the area and restore your home's flooring.

Faulty Furniture

Your flooring is not the only part of your home that is subject to the long-term effects of storm-related water damage. If water sits on your furniture, it can also cause permanent damage. The type of damage your furniture sustains after a flood or storm depends on what it is made from.

Hard, non-porous plastic surfaces are relatively easy to clean and dry. Provided no evidence of mold growth or bacterial contamination exists, you can wipe the item with your choice of household cleaner and dry it with a towel. But if the furniture in question is made of wood or is upholstered, you will need a professional restoration expert's help.

What happens if you wait to call this professional? Like with carpeting, the water could soak through upholstered items and into the padding underneath. This can result in internal mold growth or damage wooden support frames. This destroys the integrity of the item and can cause complete failure.

Again, like with wood floors, wooden furniture can soak up water and warp. Water can also cause spotting on the surface or swelling. Even though the initial water damage may have happened days or weeks ago, a storm damage professional may still have the ability to restore these items.

Weak Walls

Water damage can extend from the floors and furniture to the walls of your home. Like with other types of water damage, the longer moisture sits on your walls, the higher the likelihood that your home will have permanent problems such as mold growth, warping, or other similar issues.

Like with flooring, a dry wall surface does not always mean everything underneath is free from moisture too. Long-term water exposure can result in seepage through drywall or plaster. The underlying wood and other building materials can warp or rot. This can cause serious or extensive structural issues. A restoration professional can evaluate the situation and create a treatment plan.

The Difference Between a CAT 1, CAT 2, AND CAT 3 Water Loss

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

CAT I

A category I loss is when the water is coming from a clean water source and will not cause harm if inhaled or ingested. Examples of this would be a broken supply line or a tub overflow.

CAT II

A category II loss is when the water poses a minimum threat. For example, a toilet overflow with only urine or a dishwasher overflow. 

CAT III

A category III loss involves water that is highly contaminated and may contain pathogenic, toxigenic, or other harmful agents. For example, water containing silt, pesticides, toxic organic substances, or metals, are all CAT III losses. 

SERVPRO Professionals are highly trained for any category of water loss you may have. Our team is ready and available day or night, 24/7. 

Long-Term Effects of Storm Damage

5/18/2022 (Permalink)

What You Need to Know About the Long-Term Effects of Storm Damage

Do you think that post-storm water damage dries without help? If you do not treat this potentially serious issue immediately, take a look at what you need to know about the long-term effects of water damage.

Flooring Failure

Water that seeps into your home and floods your flooring can sink through carpets and padding. The result is a damp rug that is slow to dry. But what happens if the rug feels dry to the touch?

In some cases, you can dry and restore storm-damaged or flooded carpeting. This does not mean you should attempt to save your carpets without help. Failure to properly dry the carpets or the padding underneath can cause additional problems for what lies underneath.

Your regular home vacuum can't pull water from under the carpet's surface. Likewise, a fan or other type of similar drier will not reach beneath into the padding. This means what may feel like a completely dry carpet can hide a wet, moldy, or dirty pad. If you have wood flooring under your carpets, a damp pad could cause serious damage over time.

The longer the moisture sits on the wood floor, the more likely the cellulose fibers in the material will soak up excess water. This can warp the wood and cause permanent damage. While other types of flooring, such as tile, may not warp, the constant presence of water can still cause problems.

To prevent warping and other related issues, contract a professional storm damage restoration company as soon as possible. If you do wait, the professional may still have ways to treat the area and restore your home's flooring.

Faulty Furniture

Your flooring is not the only part of your home that is subject to the long-term effects of storm-related water damage. If water sits on your furniture, it can also cause permanent damage. The type of damage your furniture sustains after a flood or storm depends on what it is made from.

Hard, non-porous plastic surfaces are relatively easy to clean and dry. Provided no evidence of mold growth or bacterial contamination exists, you can wipe the item with your choice of household cleaner and dry it with a towel. But if the furniture in question is made of wood or is upholstered, you will need a professional restoration expert's help.

What happens if you wait to call this professional? Like with carpeting, the water could soak through upholstered items and into the padding underneath. This can result in internal mold growth or damage wooden support frames. This destroys the integrity of the item and can cause complete failure.

Again, like with wood floors, wooden furniture can soak up water and warp. Water can also cause spotting on the surface or swelling. Even though the initial water damage may have happened days or weeks ago, a storm damage professional may still have the ability to restore these items.

Weak Walls

Water damage can extend from the floors and furniture to the walls of your home. Like with other types of water damage, the longer moisture sits on your walls, the higher the likelihood that your home will have permanent problems such as mold growth, warping, or other similar issues.

Like with flooring, a dry wall surface does not always mean everything underneath is free from moisture too. Long-term water exposure can result in seepage through drywall or plaster. The underlying wood and other building materials can warp or rot. This can cause serious or extensive structural issues. A restoration professional can evaluate the situation and create a treatment plan.

Clean Water Damage

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

What to DO:

-Shut off the source of water if possible or contact a qualified party to stop the water source.

-Turn off circuit breakers for wet areas of the building, when access to the power distribution panel is safe from electric shock.

- Remove as much excess water as possible by mopping and blotting.

- Wipe excess water from wood furniture after removing lamps and tabletop items. 

-Remove and prop up wet upholstery cushions for even drying. 

- Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpeting.

- Use wooden clothespins to keep furniture skirting off damp floors.

- Hang draperies with coated hangers to avoid contact with wet carpet and floors.

- Hang furs and leather goods to dry separately at room temperature.

What NOT TO DO:

- Enter rooms with standing water where electrical shock hazards may exist.

-Enter effected areas if electrical outlets, switches, circuit breakers or electrical equipment are exposed to water. Always avoid electrical shock hazards.

-Leave books, newspapers, magazines or other colored items on wet carpet or floors to cause staining.

- Leave oriental rugs or other colored rugs on wet wall-to-wall carpets to cause staining.

-Use your household vacuum cleaner to remove water, possibly causing electrical shock or damage to the vacuum cleaner. 

- Use TV's or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

- Turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet or enter room where ceilings are sagging from retained water. 

Water Damage from Contaminated Water

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

What to DO:

-Avoid all contact with sewage and items contaminated by sewage.

-Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with contaminated items.

What NOT TO DO:

- Spread contaminated water by walking unnecessarily on damaged or wet areas. 

- Turn on the HVAC system in there is a possibility of spreading air.

- Use household fans to dry the structure and spread contamination.

-Use products for personal hygiene and cleanliness if exposed to the contaminated areas. 

          Harmful Waste 

(Sewage, bloodborne pathogens, etc.)

What to DO:

- Stay out of effected areas.

- Call emergency service personnel if the situation is life threatening.

- Treat all bodily fluids as if they are contaminated.

What NOT TO DO:

- Attempt cleanup of any kind.

- Touch or handle items that might be contaminated with bodily fluids. 

Roof Damage

4/13/2022 (Permalink)

Roof damage is always a major concern when big rain or snow storms come through. Usually, the signs are very evident. Water spots on the ceiling, curled shingles, wet walls or winter ice damage are are all very easy ways to determine if your roof is in need of a little TLC.

Missing shingles are always a sure tell sign but you should also pay close attention to any possible damage done to the remaining shingles. 

Missing flashing at the edges of the roof, vents and chimneys should also be attended too in order to prevent unwanted water from entering your home during the next storm. 

pealing sealant can also cause problems so be sure to look for that as well.

SERVPRO of Lapeer is on call 24/7. We can restore or replace any issues with your roof.

Do not hesitate to give us a call today....

810-664-1000

Benefits to Choosing SERVPRO for Large Loss Events

3/2/2022 (Permalink)

Easier Insurance Claims Process

SERVPRO will help you navigate the insurance claims process and coordinate the necessary paperwork for a quicker, easier experience.

Commercial Large Loss Division

Our Disaster Recovery Teams are composed of elite technicians who have the training and resources to handle large-loss events for industries that have included hospitals, universities and government facilities.

Available 24/7

Storms and other disasters can strike at any time of the day or night, so we are ready to help as soon as we’re needed.

Personal Attention

Each large loss project is managed by a project manager from your local SERVPRO location. They’re backed by the SERVPRO headquarters operations team to help you have the smoothest restoration experience possible.

Strategically Located

We have more trained and certified technicians than any of our competitors at more than 1,900 locations in the United States and Canada. This gives us a larger network of professionals, supplies and equipment to get the job done, regardless of size.

Facts About Storm Damage

2/28/2022 (Permalink)

Is Storm Damage Covered by Insurance?

Storm damage may be covered by your insurance policy, but you’ll need to reach out to your agent to get specifics about your particular coverage. It’s important to note that your home must be maintained to a reasonable standard. Otherwise, it could be hard to prove that the storm was the cause of the damage versus a lack of proper maintenance and general wear and tear.

Who Do I Call After A Storm?

SERVPRO provides many of the services you may need after a storm blows through your area. We provide emergency roof tarping and board-up services to help prevent additional damage from the elements and provide security to your property. This service may be needed immediately if your property was damaged by falling trees, hail, high winds, tornado debris or fire. A SERVPRO location near you offers 24/7 emergency service and is available to help.

How Long Does it Take to Fix Flood Damage?

The time it takes to fix flood damage depends on the severity of the flood. We’ll inspect your home or business and discuss with you the severity of damage and our plan to help return your property back to preloss condition. We’ll then work to remove the water that shouldn’t be there using pumps and water extracting equipment. Once the excess water is gone, we use dehumidifiers and other specialized drying equipment to help return the area to its normal moisture level. This is a closely monitored process, with our teams continually making adjustments to equipment to help ensure the area is recovering as quickly and as safely possible.

Residential Construction

2/15/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Lapeer is your one-stop shop for residential construction. The last thing you want to worry about when you need home restoration is contacting and managing multiple repair crews in your home, which can be time consuming, disorganized, and expensive. With one phone call, our highly trained professionals will oversee your project from start to finish. We offer all services needed to get your home constructed. This includes inspection and estimating, mitigation, restoration and reconstruction. In addition to these services, we offer premium services for dust control and protection from COVID-19 and other contaminants using our proprietary, EPA-registered products. We are competent and experienced and believe in delivering quality workmanship, so your house will feel like home. We’ll work with your insurance company to restore your home to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Lapeer 

Available 24/7-365 days a year

810-664-1000