What Can Expect After a Partial Loss?

10/2/2022 (Permalink)

Most Common Services for Partial Losses

If your home or business has been damaged by smoke, fire, or water, then you need to contact a professional restoration company immediately. The experts at SERVPRO of Jacksonville Westside/Orange Park can get the job done quickly and effectively. Here are some of our most common services for partial losses:

Fire Damage Restoration

The fire damage restoration process is a multi-stage process that restores fire damaged property to its preloss condition. The first step of this process is to stop the spread of fire and contain it. Next, investigators will determine if there was any malicious intent involved in starting the fire. After this has been determined and if there was no malicious intent, your insurance company will work with you on the financial side of restoring your property.

As soon as a fire occurs, it is a good idea to contact a restoration professional. Our restoration professionals at SERVPRO are equipped with years of training and top-notch technology to restore your home quickly and thoroughly. We will clean any damaged items and store them until your home is ready for reentry. 

Smoke Damage Restoration

Smoke damage is often not as obvious as fire damage. Smoke can come from a variety of sources, including cooking, candles, and cigarettes. Fire damage is also caused by a range of things such as cooking or candles but tends to be more severe than smoke damage.

Board-up

A board-up is a temporary door that will protect against water damage, debris, etc., while you wait for your insurance company to pay out on your home and start the repairs process. Your board up company will secure all damaged areas of the exterior of your house with plywood, polycarbonate plastic and/or glass block windows. 

Roof Tarp

Roof tarping is a temporary measure to protect the building from further damage. It can be used to secure loose materials and prevent rainwater from entering the structure through holes or gaps in the roof. Roof tarps are also used as a protective layer over debris until it can be removed safely.

Electronic Cleaning and Restoration

Electronic cleaning and restoration is a very common type of partial losses. This type of loss includes damage from moisture, smoke and/or fire, liquid spills, power surges and electrical spikes. In many cases, electronic cleaning and restoration can restore data files or other important information that was not backed up prior to the damage event.

Electronic cleaning may include:

• Removal of moisture and contaminants (e.g., smoke) from hard drives
• Repairing circuits that have been damaged by power surges or electrical spikes
• Replacing failed components (e.g., motherboards)

Partial loss means some things that are not destroyed will still need to be restored.

This could include smoke damage, fire damage, water damage, or any of the above. It is important to understand the difference between fire restoration and smoke restoration because the methods used in each process are different.

Partial losses that require fire restoration typically involve extensive smoke damage and can include water damage as well. The first step of a partial loss requiring fire restoration is an inspection of your property by an experienced technician who will determine if there is any structural damage. 

The goal here is always to prevent further damage from occurring which means keeping air quality high enough for people living inside while also making sure nothing catches on fire again! We provide 24-hour emergency service so don't hesitate to contact us anytime day or night for any emergency restoration need!

There are many things that can be restored after a partial loss. It is important to know what you need and make sure the restoration company knows what they are doing. If you have any questions about the restoration process, please feel free call us at (904) 269-9282. We will be happy to answer your questions and provide information on how we can help you with your fire damage restoration needs.

Preparing for a Business Fire: 3 Tips

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

Keep The Following Tips In Mind

A fire can devastate your Fleming Land, FL business and cause a shutdown that might have a negative effect on your employees and profits. A business fire can start in almost any area of your commercial building, such as the basement or in an employee break room, where it is likely to spread quickly. You can protect your business by creating a fire preparedness plan, and keeping a few tips in mind as you do so may help you feel more confident in the face of fire risk.

1. Keep Exits Clear and Marked
One important aspect of fire preparation is to keep all your building’s exits clear of clutter and marked with lighted signs. Practice using these exits during fire safety exercises and remind your employees to use the exit that is closest to them during a fire emergency. If your business is on a higher floor of a building, ensure stairwell doors are clearly marked and encourage your workers to use them instead of the elevator in case of fire.

2. Maintain Electrical Panels
Your building’s electrical panel can be a major source for a business fire, especially if you forget to maintain them properly. Avoid storing products near these panels and keep all materials at least three feet away from panel doors. Ensure that access panels work properly and that no exposed wiring shows.

3. Check Sprinkler System Regularly
Sprinkler systems can minimize the risk of fire damage but only if they operate correctly. Connect with your local fire chief to learn about building fire code safety and work with fire restoration and mitigation service to enhance employee safety drills so each individual understands how the system works in case of fire.
Being prepared for a business fire can help your Fleming Land,FL business safe and reduce the risk of serious damage if one should occur. When you and your employees treat fire safety seriously, recovery may be simpler and less costly.

Benefits of Hiring a Restoration Company After a Flood

8/4/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO brings top-notch equipment to any commercial restoration need!

No matter how vigilant you are about maintenance and repairs, a sudden water loss can harm your building in Jacksonville, FL, and disrupt your business. Some property owners try to clean up the mess themselves, but there are several benefits of hiring professionals for pipe burst cleanup.

Salvage for Damaged Items

A broken pipe does more than just destroy insulation and saturate walls. It can also damage any items in the path of the water:

• Furniture
• Electronics
• Carpet
• Documents
• Manufacturing equipment

Certified technicians who specialize in item recovery may be able to salvage things that are damaged in a flood. At the very least, they can help you discern between what needs to be replaced and what can be repaired.

Comprehensive Pipe Burst Cleanup

There are several perks of working with a company that handles both the mitigation and restoration of your building. It streamlines the process, allowing you to get back to business in a shorter period of time. Having one team that does everything improves communication and documentation, too. Finally, it makes the prevention of secondary damage easier, as the final test doesn't have to happen until the whole job is complete.

Disinfection After Sewer Backup

Not all water that floods your building may be clean. If a toilet overflows or the sewer backs up in the pipes after a heavy storm, you must make sure that the affected area is not just dry but sanitized. A sewer cleanup company takes the appropriate measures to disinfect the area and then runs tests to ensure that all bacteria are eradicated.
When you need pipe burst cleanup or sewer remediation, it's best to leave it to the professionals. Certified technicians have the training and experience necessary to take care of all your mitigation and restoration needs and can help you prevent further damage.

5 Steps for Cleaning Your Belongings After a Flood

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

Water extraction in Belleair, FL.

Cleaning Your Belongings After a Flood

Many people lose residential and commercial property to floods every year. Structures and their contents are susceptible to water damage and other types of damage. You must take action immediately to begin structure and content cleaning. The longer it's left to linger, the more damage will occur.

1. Extract Standing Water

The first job that you must do following a flood is extracting the standing water. You can do this with a mop or towels. However, the quickest and most efficient method is utilizing a wet/dry vacuum.

2. Remove Mud and Debris

There will probably be dirt, mud and debris that came in with the floodwaters. Now it's time to remove it. Get a shovel and trash can and begin shoveling it into the trash can. Only fill it about halfway, however, as mud is very heavy.

3. Dispose of the Unsalvageable

Next, you'll need to determine what's salvageable and what isn't. There will probably be a lot that cannot be saved, especially porous items, due to the extreme toxicity of black water and being too soaked to dry. There are some items that the content cleaning process won't be good enough. These items could include carpeting, upholstered furniture, mattresses, wooden furniture and even some drywall.

4. Clean and Disinfect Remains

Everything remaining must be cleaned and disinfected, including the affected area and contents. This cleaning includes washing down walls.

5. Dry Everything

Finally, it's essential to dry the entire area and all contents thoroughly. It may be necessary to hire Belleair, FL, flood damage restoration professionals to make sure it's completely dry. There are several ways to do it on your own, if you choose, including opening windows and doors and running fans, heaters and dehumidifiers.
After a flood, content cleaning must begin immediately to save as much as possible. When it's complete, have a professional inspection done to ensure there's no mold.

3 Ways To Find Mold Growth in Your Commercial Building

4/7/2022 (Permalink)

Mold can continue to spread very quickly throughout your building if it is not removed.

Three Methods for Detecting Mold Growth in a Commercial Building

If you’ve recently had water damage in your commercial building, you may find a few additional problems afterward. Whether the damage was caused by leaky plumbing, a broken appliance or a storm in Fleming Island, FL, mold is a common type of secondary damage. Some signs are easily noticeable while others may require the work of an indoor environmental specialist. Use the following to determine if this fungus is present in your building.

1. Visible Discoloration and Textures

Depending on where the mold is located, it may be very easy to find. Mold growth can make itself known through discoloration on various surfaces. While you may first think of black mold, it can come in a variety of colors, from green to pink to orange. You may also notice different textures ranging from slimy to fuzzy.

2. Unusual Odors

If you cannot see the mold, you might be able to smell it. If there is a musty odor in the building without a clear source, there could be mold growing inside of the walls or underneath the flooring. If this is the case, a professional mold remediation company can perform a mold test to find it.

3. Professional Inspections

Mold can grow in nearly any environment if there is moisture present. Even if you cannot see or smell it, there may be a hidden infestation after water damage. An indoor environmental specialist will have the right training, experience and equipment to locate any mold for you. An inspection done by a professional is the best way to locate this growth if there are no physical signs.

Mold can continue to spread very quickly throughout your building if it is not removed. For this reason, it is important to have mitigation and restoration done as soon as possible. An indoor environmental specialist can perform a thorough inspection of the building to help determine what actions need to be taken.

How Contaminated is Flood Water?

2/2/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage to an office in Lakeside, FL.

Anyone who played in a puddle after a spring rain as a child (or maybe even as an adult) may have a hard time associating the flood water from a storm with contamination. The truth, however, is that this water is considered Category 3 water. As a result, cleaning it up when it floods your commercial property in Lakeside, FL, involves more than fixing the water damage.

What is Category 3 Water?

Category 3 water is dirty. It can contain:

• Dangerous microbes, bacteria or fungi
• Harmful chemicals
• Sewage
• Dirt or debris from the ground
  
  

If water from a storm floods your building, you must take special care not to let anyone touch it while unprotected. Full personal protective gear must be worn before entering or handling the flood water. You and your employees should not let it touch skin, and it should never be ingested.

How Do You Handle Category 3 Water?

Cleanup of storm damage should be handled by flood restoration experts. They are trained and certified to remove the water, tear out unsalvageable materials and disinfect every affected surface that remains before replacing the floor, walls and ceiling that were removed.

The first step is the extraction of the contaminated water. A pump that removes both water and debris will likely be used. Then technicians assess the damage caused by the flooding and remove all materials and items. They dry and sanitize everything that the flood water touched. After the area is tested and confirmed clean, they restore the building and make it look “Like it never even happened,” by matching new walls to old walls and new floor tile to the remaining tile.

When your building becomes a victim of flood water, it is important to take every step necessary to ensure the safety of everyone in the building. Keep people away from Category 3 water, and let the experts handle the rest.

Can a Mitigation Company Also Rebuild?

1/4/2022 (Permalink)

We can get your business back up and running.

Three Benefits a Complete Service Can Provide

A property owner can facilitate the fire damage recovery process by relying on the same service to perform mitigation and restoration. Rather than seeking estimates from separate fire mitigation and restoration companies in Jacksonville, FL, an owner can provide an insurance adjuster with a single estimate. Learn more about three benefits a complete service can provide.

1. A Comprehensive Schedule

A mitigation and restoration company can offer property owners and insurers schedules that account for the duration of the recovery process. If more extensive work is needed, it will be easier to adjust the schedule without worrying about the availability of other companies.

2. A Coordinated Effort

When more than one service is involved in a recovery effort, it is necessary to carefully communicate and verify a shared understanding of requirements. An all-in-one service will have access to a single set of records, including an estimate and schedule. This can ensure that the process of mitigating fire damage goes smoothly and can be adjusted as needed.

3. A Complete Restoration

There is less of a risk of requirements getting lost in the shuffle when a single service undertakes fire mitigation and restoration. Rather than worrying about miscommunication or differences in opinion with regard to the best methods, a single service can develop and stick to a unified plan. This can prevent delays and help to ensure that a restoration effort will be complete.

A damage mitigation company that also specializes in restoration can transform a fire-damaged building back into a functional commercial property. The property owner will be able to provide a commercial insurance adjuster with a single estimate. Insurers are more likely to cover claims that involve work done by a company with a track record of successful cleanup and rebuilding projects. Look for a one-stop shop to mitigate and restore fire damage at a property in Jacksonville, FL.