Residential Property and Water Damage-Call in The Experts
March 29, 2010
When your property experiences water damage, quick action and fast timing are the most important factors to reduce or eliminate damage and mold growth.
Once water damage has occurred, the items in your home that can be restored within the first 24 to 48 hours may not be restored if response time is delayed. It is therefore important that you contact a water damage restoration company quickly. Even a simple plumbing leak in your home can cause severe damage and can potentially pose a threat to your health with mold and mildew growth. A flood damage restoration team will arrive on the scene shortly after being contacted. They will conduct a complete evaluation of the area and get to work using the correct methods to eliminate any moisture coming from the walls or floors.
Normally, heavy duty water extractors or special carpet drying agents are used, depending upon the conditions. Once the moisture has been removed, industrial grade air blowers are moved into place to dry the affected area. Then a sanitizing agent is used to eliminate the possibility of contamination. If even a trace of moisture is left, mold infestation can result which leads to health risks. Once the area has been sanitized, a fragrant deodorizer is usually applied in order to freshen the area.
It does not matter what caused the water to enter your home. Perhaps it was a plumbing problem or maybe the damage was a result of a heavy rain storm that moved into the area, causing ground water to penetrate your home. Water damage, regardless of where it originates, is dealt with in the same way. While many homeowners are tempted to take on the clean-up work themselves, it is highly recommended that professionals be called in due to the fact that they have both the expertise and equipment necessary to clean up the mess and ensure that no mold grows.
The flood damage restoration company will also offer you the peace of mind knowing that the work is done right as the service normally will include a guarantee. Their timely response and knowledgeable staff will help you to get your life back to normal as soon as possible following the residential water damage. If your home was flooded due to a heavy rainstorm, you may wish to consider having your basement waterproofed and see to it that your gutters and downspouts are clear and in good working order.
Repairing Roof Damage from a Large Storm
March 23, 2010
There’s nothing like a large storm to completely undermine the structural integrity of one’s home and the damage it can cause is extensive. One only needs to take a walk, a very careful walk, down the street after one has hit to truly understand its ferocity. The roof of a home is one of the things that can really protect the occupants from the elements. Unfortunately, that very same roof is often most vulnerable to the elements of a large storm. Strong winds can literally rip the roof right from its mooring and, in some cases; hail can cause parts of it to cave in.
Repairing roof damage is rarely something that one should attempt, unless one happens to own their personal contracting firm. It is very easy to cause oneself bodily harm while sifting through the rubble and there is always the possibility of having more of the roof cave in. Roof repair tends to be a complex process because of all the components involved. It’s not difficult to make mistakes if one isn’t trained, and then one will have to end up hiring someone anyway. It’s better to hire a qualified roofer as soon as possible after the storm.
The problem is that said roofer will have a lot of work. After all it’s doubtful that a large storm would not have affected others. So how does one protect one’s belonging from the elements? One way is to securely fix a tarpaulin over any holes in the roof. It is essential that no gaps are left since, if the wind gets under this, it can do to the tarpaulin what it did to the roof. Try pulling the tarpaulin as tightly as possible and using roofing nails to secure it. If this is done properly then there should be little chance of rain water getting into the house.
It may be necessary to find alternative accommodations while the repairs are being done. One should be aware that there may be more repairs to be done to the roof than meets the eye. What may appear to be a small hole may take a while to fix if structural components need to be replaced or patched up. If the damage was caused by a falling tree or branch, it is best to leave it there until the restoration company has had a chance to come out, unless it poses an imminent danger. This will add to the time that the job takes since they will have to remove this first.
Alexandria flooded under following massive storm
March 15, 2010
The large scale storm that has battered the East Coast for the last two days has resulted in numerous flooding disasters. One of the hardest hit communities is Alexandria Virignia, which had areas of the downtown district under six feet of water on Sunday. The major storm has been devestating to many cities on the east coast as winds upwards of seventy miles per hour have knocked down power lines and toppled over trees, causing millions of dollars worth of damages in a short period of time.
Areas in New Jersey were greeted with over six inches worth of rain this weekend, quickly leading to large scale flooding and emergency alerts being issued for the possibility of flash flooding to occur. The severe rain storm follows a winter that was unusually harsh on many of the same communities that are now being rained out. All of the additional water from the snowall and this weekends rain water will place an enormous strain on the rivers and streams that wind through many of the local communities in Virginia and Maryland. Flooding is a strong possibility for many areas that have received large amounts of rainfall with rain showers expected through the early part of Tuesday.
Property owners who have experienced flooding should work quickly in their attempts to clean up and dryout their homes or businesses. The sooner they can address the water damages, the less likely they are to deal with a mold problem in the future. Calling in an expert restoration firm will allow for a much quicker and more effecient repair process. Through the use of water extraction equipment and specialized drying equipment, properties could quickly be restored and repaired, helping to prevent future damages and rotting from excess water. You should contact your insurance carrier to review your coverage options and find out how to best repair your water damages.
Simple tips to keep you safe during an unexpected flood
March 12, 2010
Floods are among most frequent and deadliest of natural disasters that destroy lives and property in a matter of minutes. Flash floods are responsible for loss of nearly 150 people on an average each year in the US. On an average $3.5 billion worth property is damaged due to flooding.
Here is how you can protect yourself and save your lives during a flood prone situation:
1. Be alert and watchful: If it has been raining heavily for hours or if it has been raining steadily for days, be alert about a possible flood. Listen to the radio or watch a local TV news channel for up to the minute information. Listen to the distant thunder, in some cases, runoff from a thunder can be headed towards your location. If you are in a vehicle, make sure that you park it away from streams and other watery areas.
2. If you notice the first signs of flooding and you live in a susceptible area, evacuate immediately. Floods can strike without warning and so it is important that you leave without a moment’s notice
3. Listen to local authorities; they are well-versed with the place and will be able to tell which areas to avoid while you are evacuating
4. Move to a higher ground; always see that you save yourself and not your belongings. Once the flood waters become deep, it is impossible for vehicles to wade through, leave alone human beings.
5. Stay out of areas that are prone to flooding. For instance, canyons, dips and other low spots are best avoided
6. If you come to an area where the water is above your ankles; turn around and go the other way. Do not try to walk, swim or drive through swift water. If the water is moving swiftly, even six inches deep water can sweep you off your feet
7. If you are driving, stay away from flooded areas and do not cross flowing streams. Even two feet water can be problematic and enough to trap your vehicle. Rapidly rising water can halt the engine, trap the vehicles and its occupants and sweep them away. If you are driving and come across a flood prone area or rising waters, turn around and move the other way. If your vehicle is stalled or surrounded by rising water. It is better to abandon the vehicle and move to higher ground.
8. Help people who are trapped. Infants, older adults and disabled people need your guidance.
9. Co-operate with the authorities who have come to rescue people. Do not enter any building till the authorities or local officials allow you to do so. Buildings may have hidden damages, floors or ceilings can break or crack due to flooding. Additionally, there are equally threatening problems of gas leaks, waterline damage or short circuit of electric lines
10. Seek prompt medical help at the nearest clinic or hospital. Contaminated flood waters can lead to infection. Also use a stick to poke through the debris; snakes, reptiles and other animals come out their homes during flood.
Protect your home or business from tornado damages
March 7, 2010
Protect Yourself from Tornado Damage
Not everyone is going to have to face a tornado at some point in their lives. The one good thing about tornadoes, if one could call it that, is that they need very specific conditions in which to spawn. If the right conditions of moisture, temperature and wind patterns are not present then the tornado will not form. That might be good news for the rest of the world but not for those living in areas with just these weather conditions.
Tornadoes are one of the most dangerous forces on the face of the planet. With winds exceeding even a hurricane, it can completely obliterate a home in a matter of seconds. There is very little that anyone can do to protect one’s home from this monster as it can destroy wood, concrete and pretty much anything that’s thrown its way. There has been some research done with different types of building materials and it has been found that having a structure comprising of two concrete walls separated by insulation material can have some impact when it comes to stopping flying debris from smashing through the home.
If one is now going to build in a tornado-prone area then this is something to look into. Other than that, one should invest in storm shutters for the windows and ensure that all doors are able to be properly looked. This might not be adequate protection from so-called super tornadoes, but it will protect from flying debris if the home isn’t hit directly or if the tornado is weak. Most times one will have some warning of a tornado; either through the town’s warning system or the sight and sound of the tornado itself. That should be enough to everyone into the house, including pets.
Those who have lived in tornado-prone areas for a long time know the value of having a basement of some sort of underground shelter. This has been known to save lives when very bad tornadoes have hit. This should be checked every so often to ensure that ground water isn’t getting in and should have an adequate supply of tinned food and drinking water. The basement, or storm shelter, should be equipped with that same emergency survival kit as any other situation. This may seem extreme but it is better to expect the worst than to be surprised by it.
Tornadoes can be devastating and can cause small amounts of damage or can completely obliterate a home. There have been many cases where one home has been hit will and adjacent house has been spared. Do what one can to protect one’s home and have a reputable restoration company on hand to deal with the repairs.
Record snowfall could increase home flooding potential
March 3, 2010
Record snowfall in the east coast of the United States may cause problems for homeowners as spring rolls around. The massive amount of snow was falling at a rate of two inches per hour. In some areas from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Washington D.C received more than twenty inches of snow. With warmer weather in the near future the melting snow may cause potential flooding and water damage problems for homeowners and other property owners. Making certain you are taking the right precautions and steps to ensure your home is safe can save you a lot of money in repair costs.
There are some strategies you can follow to help keep your property exterior and interior safe. Even before snow begins to fall it is a good idea to clean out gutters systems. If gutter systems are blocked by leaves or other debris it can lead to water leaking into roofs or puddles around the homes foundation. Also making sure that roofs are properly insulated can make the difference in the cold snowy weather. Improper ventilation in attics can lead to ice dams forming. Ice dams can cause roof damage and when they melt the water could leak into attics and down the interior of houses walls. Along with water damages the risk of mold forming come into play. Make sure that drainage systems are diverted away from the homes foundation. When the snow melts you don’t want it to puddle around the homes foundation. This can lead to flooded basements and other damages. When temperatures get in the freezing ranges it’s important to keep your pipes safe. Cold weather can result in pipes to burst or crack. This can lead to flooded basement, damaged interior walls, collapse ceilings, and damaged furniture. One simple thing you can do is to open a faucet to allow for a slight trickle can help stop pipes from freezing. The constant flow of water cannot freeze which in return can help safe your piping. Be aware of excessive amounts of snowfall building up on trees and other objects. Tree branches and power lines can fall causing damage to homes, garages and vehicles. If bad weather is nearing make sure to be prepared. Make sure to stock up on food and water in case hazardous road conditions make it difficult to get to stores. Having a generator is a good item to have in the event of power failure.
In the event that your home or property is damaged, contact a professional restoration contractor that has the experience to help repair damaged homes from flooding, roof damages, and any other damages from the weather elements. A good restoration company can work directly with you or your insurance company at your preference.
