Smoke Damage In Your Building

10/28/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial building fire.

Smoke Damage In Your Building

Smoke damage can be a very serious issue. When it occurs in a building, it causes both structural and cosmetic damage, forcing you to pay for expensive repairs. The good news is that many insurance companies consider smoke damage to be covered under their policies. However, make sure you know the facts about coverage before filing a claim

In the event of a fire in a commercial building, smoke and water damage is typically covered. This means that even if you have an adjacent company that is not a part of your insurance policy, their property damage may still be covered if it was caused by the fire.

What to Expect in the Cleaning Process

The cleaning process will be different for each building and each fire. The type of damage and soot that your building has suffered will impact how long the cleanup takes, but in most cases, it will take at least several weeks to fully complete. Some types of soot are more difficult to remove than others; this is why it often takes so long to clean a burnt building.

If you have been affected by smoke damage in your business or home, you may not know what to expect during this time. Here's what you can expect from us:

• We'll come out right away and perform an initial assessment of your property with our crew on site (if possible). We'll determine whether there is any real danger present.
• Next step is determining whether or not there was significant damage done inside the structure itself from heat exposure as well as water used during fighting fires outside their walls.

Cleaning Techniques

While wet cleaning is the most effective way to clean smoke damage, you may be forced to dry clean in a pinch. If that's the case, be aware that dry cleaning only removes soot from walls and does not remove smoke odors. Often, further remediation is necessary, so call a professional if needed!

Smoke Damage Needs To Be Cleaned Quickly 

Fire and smoke damage is a covered loss under your insurance policy. Smoke damage can be caused by several things, such as cooking appliances, unattended candles, or incense and even fireplaces.

If you have a fire in your building and it causes substantial smoke damage to your property, you should clean the area quickly using specialized cleaning methods to prevent further damage or corrosion. However, if there was no fire involved then this is considered water damage from the sprinkler system and should be handled differently according to local regulations on how long after an incident that water must be removed from a building before people can enter again so that mold does not grow inside walls, etc.

Don’t worry about your smoke damage—we got this. We have a team of experts who are ready to help you quickly and efficiently get back up and running. Contact us today for more information!

Saving Wet Documents After a Flood

7/13/2022 (Permalink)

An experienced flood restoration company can extract water from the premises, clean, and dry wet documents.

Document Preservation Following a Flood

If your business experiences a flood in Estero Island, FL you may take urgent measures to save your furniture and equipment from water damage, but what happens to wet documents? The valuable information on original papers may not be lost forever, thanks to these document drying and preservation techniques.

Vacuum freeze-drying

This paper restoration method, also used by the Library of Congress, is the best way to restore your irreplaceable documents. It involves freezing the wet paper as quickly as possible after flooding to ensure that the ink does not have time to bleed or that delicate fibers are not compromised further. The documents then go into a sealed chamber that creates a vacuum. Controlling the chamber's temperature causes sublimation, which causes the frozen water to convert directly to gas and evaporate out of the document.

Gamma Irradiation

Flood water can carry bacteria and other pathogens that contaminate wet documents. A professional restoration company can use powerful sanitization methods to remove any traces of harmful particles without damaging your papers. The gamma irradiation process allows gamma rays to pass through the document. Along the way, they cause ionization or electron disruption at a molecular level that kills contaminants. The process does not harm the paper or ink.

Digitization

If your business has a significant amount of paper files, you may want to consider the following benefits of digitization:

-Better security and compliance
-Lower risk for damage
-Easy retrieval
-Efficient storage

A professional service with the technology to efficiently and carefully scan and digitize bulk or fragile documents can help ensure that the most sensitive information upon which your business relies is never at high risk for future water damage.
Flooding of your business can lead to significant damage.

An experienced flood restoration company can extract water from the premises, clean and, dry wet documents and prevent further problems that keep you from operating in Fort Myers, FL.

How To Deal With Electronics After a Fire

5/10/2022 (Permalink)

Even a small electrical fire may have a big impact on the vital electronics in your business.

To successfully run your Estero Island, FL, business, there is a good chance you rely on various electronics to make that happen. If an electrical fire happens, you need that equipment functioning to preserve and recover essential data. Unfortunately, some electronics won’t be salvageable and those that are will require special techniques and equipment for the cleanup. Understanding the type of damage is important to determine the extent of the damage.

Types of Damage

There are three types of damage that professional fire damage restoration will look for to determine salvageability and cleaning methods.

Fire: Electrical fire damage is the easiest to spot. Devices that have been touched by flames will likely have visible plastic melting or scorch marks. In many cases, fire-damaged items will need to be tossed.
Soot: This black residue drifts in the smoke and attaches itself to items. It is often oily or smears easily. Soot also has a high acidity level, which may affect the longevity of electronics even after cleaning.
Smoke: When there is smoke, there is still heat and residue drifting into devices. It also leaves a lingering odor. A professional is usually able to eradicate that odor and bring devices back to life.

The Effects of Smoke Damage

While soot and char marks are indicators of damaged equipment, smoke is a bit tricky. Even if the flames never reach a device, they can still be damaged by smoke. Smoke carries an electronic charge that may short circuit a device. This makes it important to inspect all electronics that have been in the area in which the fire occurred.
Even a small electrical fire may have a big impact on the vital electronics in your business. While it may seem easy, computer cleanup requires expertise and tools. While not all may be saved, turning to an expert may result in not having to replace devices.

3 Things You Should Know About Ice Dams

3/13/2022 (Permalink)

Install or reinforce insulation to keep the heat inside the building.

Ice Dams: Three Things You Should Know

One risk factor to observe during the winter is an ice dam. This temporary structure usually forms on the edge of your business's roof. While the icicles may give the Estero Island, FL, building a pleasant look, it can also create a variety of issues, including the emergence of black mold. Learn more about dams and act before they harm your establishment.

1. Common Causes

Ice dams occur when the heat on the rooftop is distributed unevenly. Usually, this means the snow on the top part will melt to the edges where the gutters are. However, the meltwater will freeze in those areas instead of flowing away from the building. The frozen water creates a dam that also blocks melting roof snow. With no drain system available, the water enters the building through shingles or any present cracks.

2. Effects on Business

Even though the ice dam seems distant from your business, it can affect it when left untreated. The roof water can spill on the walls, floor and other property inside, damaging it in the process. The combined humidity, present nutrients and high temperature create a perfect environment for mold growth. The problem increases if the water seeps into out-of-sight areas like between the walls. Since this mold is hard to notice and clean, it will instead develop and spread throughout the area.

3. Resolution and Prevention

Once you see the fungus, call your insurance company and a commercial mold cleanup crew. Also, bring in roof specialists to remove the dam from the affected area and repair the roof as needed. Preventative actions stop the damage before it even starts. Find and seal any areas in the roof and ceiling where heat escapes to keep the roof consistently cold. Additionally, install or reinforce insulation to keep the heat inside the building.
An ice dam can cause heavy water damage and mold growth if it is not treated immediately. Contact the right specialists to eliminate the damage and keep the roof's temperature even to prevent any more dams.

4 Steps for Mitigating Wind Damage

2/23/2022 (Permalink)

A small roof leak can quickly turn into a huge hole.

Four Steps to Wind Damage Mitigation

High winds from thunderstorms, tornadoes and hurricanes can turn small objects and debris into dangerous projectiles in Estero Island, FL. When these items hit buildings, they can cause a roof leak and broken windows. With some planning and preparation, structural damage can be kept to a minimum.

1. Maintain the Landscaping

Trees, shrubs and decorative items such as fountains and planters can turn into missiles in high winds. Keep the greenery trimmed and secure the fountains and planters. If tying them down isn’t an option, move them inside during storm season. This can prevent them from being hurled against the building or through windows.

2. Cover the Windows and Doors

Keep a supply of plywood on site to protect the windows from flying debris. It is strong enough to protect the glass from most large items and small debris such as gravel may embed itself in the surface, without penetrating all the way. Screws can be more effective than nails when securing the plywood to the building.

3. Reinforce Weak Areas

For buildings that have loading docks or interior parking for company vehicles, the garage doors may be susceptible to damage caused by debris. Strengthen glider wheel tracks and add braces across the back of the door to minimize damage. Plywood can be used to cover windows and bolster the braces.

4. Inspect the Roof

As materials age, they weaken. This can result in a roof leak or missing shingles during storm season. Use tarps and plywood as temporary measures to protect weak areas and prevent an already damaged roof from getting worse.

Severe storms can devastate a business in Estero Island, FL. Untrimmed trees and downed powerlines can result in a damaged roof. A minor roof leak can become a gaping hole. If a severe weather event does strike, a disaster recovery team can help you keep downtime to a minimum, whether a passing thunderstorm or a significant hurricane caused the damage.

Tips for Maintaining a Clean Office Fridge

12/31/2021 (Permalink)

Fridge mold is a common problem in office buildings.

Tips For Maintaining a Clean Office Fridge

It's the problem that everyone knows about but no one wants to mention. As neglected mystery lunches from days gone by and forgotten leftovers start to pile up, the office fridge takes on a life of its own. It does not take long for the break room in your building in Sanibel, FL, to start to smell like fridge mold. Mold remediation experts say that it only take 24-48 hours for mold to start to develop in an area that has excessive moisture and organic matter to feed it. It is essential, therefore, to follow these tips for maintaining a clean office fridge.

1. Put Dates on Everything

Everything that goes into a communal refrigerator should be marked with the date that it entered the fridge. Keep a pile of sticky notes and a pen in a prominent place near the fridge to encourage everyone to do this. Set a limit to the amount of days an item will be allowed to remain in the fridge. If you stick to the time limit, you should never have to worry about that dreaded mold smell.

2. Post the Rules

No one sets out to be the creator of fridge mold, but without clear rules, it's difficult to know what the office expectations are. This can lead to passive aggressive hints being passed around the water cooler and the poor morale that often follows such statements. By posting the rules right on the fridge, everyone knows what is expected.

3. Put Someone in Charge

You can have the most detailed set of rules, but without anyone to enforce them, they will soon be ignored. Designating someone with the responsibility of disinfecting the fridge on occasion and throwing away outdated items is crucial to its ongoing cleanliness.

Fridge mold is a common problem in office buildings, but it doesn't inevitably have to be your problem. If you set rules and have someone who is willing to hold the office accountable to them, everyone should be able to use the fridge without fear of mold.

How Can Fire Damage Cause Water Damage?

10/31/2021 (Permalink)

Fire in a commercial building in Sanibel, FL.

How Does Fire Damage Lead to Water Damage?

In the event of a fire, your Sanibel, FL property may need a good deal of fire cleanup work, even if there was only damage from smoke. Yet did you know you may need to handle water cleanup, as well? After a fire, water damage is just as likely as smoke or fire damage.

So How Does It Happen?

Water damage usually happens in one of three ways:

• Pressure and high-volume water saturation from fire hoses used by firefighters to douse the blaze.
• Burst water mains and pipes damaged during the fire.
• Sprinklers activated by smoke.

Each of these instances can saturate your belongings in water, which can be highly damaging for electronics and inventory. Water cleanup is imperative as you recover your property from catastrophe, and to prevent additional health and safety issues caused by standing or stagnant water.

How Can I Prevent Water Damage?

It may not be possible to wholly prevent water damage when much of it happens during times when you should either be in the process of evacuating the building or should have already evacuated. However, you can make it a practice to cover your inventory with waterproof materials, and cover your electronics once you leave for the day.

How Do I Clean Up After Water Damage?

The first step of water cleanup is safety. Water conducts electricity, and after a fire, you may have exposed wiring or other safety hazards. Do not enter the building until a fire professional has cleared it as safe. Once you are able, dry the building as much as possible. Mop water from the floors and wipe down any surfaces. Open windows and doors to air everything out, and tear out waterlogged carpet and drywall. Haul anything wet out into the sun to dry. Take inventory of everything water-damaged and keep accurate records for your insurance company.

Testing Your Business for Invisible Mold

7/22/2021 (Permalink)

Mold testing

Mold grows anywhere moisture and oxygen both reside. This is often visible in areas such as near water pipes, on carpet or near walls. If there is a strange musty smell or water damage but no mold to be seen, you may have mold lurking somewhere out of sight. Leaving it unattended allows it to spread everywhere it can and become more of a nuisance. Luckily, an indoor environmental specialist can assist in locating any mold at your business.

Where Water Runs, Mold Can Hide

Mold growth can be in unknowingly wet areas of your commercial property. There are several locations where mold often hides:

• Behind wallpaper
  
• Behind removable panels
  
• Above ceiling tiles with leaky pipes or roofing
  
• Under carpet or padding
  
• Under porous liners of ducts
  
• Around drain pains inside the building’s HVAC
  
• Behind mostly stationary furniture
  
  

While it is hard to identify these by sight, a professional mold test is adequate for figuring out which hiding place your mold problem has chosen.

Specialists Who Know Mold Can Find It

With scientific protocols, mold can be found by an indoor environmental specialist no matter where it is. Using technology such as a digital hygrometer, the specialist evaluates the moisture in the air around porous building materials such as drywall and wood.

If the hygrometer is not enough to locate the problem, he or she will use an infrared camera to look for hidden moisture with thermal imaging. The specialist’s methodology and expert use of the tools will locate the mold to allow you to act upon the problem.

Experts Who Know Mold Can Eradicate It

Once the indoor environmental specialist has identified the problem, the burden of cleanup falls back to you. Fortunately, there are professional mold cleanup companies that can ensure the area is free of mold and remains inhabitable to further mold growth. Mold should only be invisible at your Ft. Meyers Beach, FL, business, not because you don’t know it’s there. It should be invisible because it’s nonexistent.

Tips for Returning to Work After a Flood

7/10/2021 (Permalink)

Storm after affects in a dental office.

Tips for Returning to Work After a Flood

If you are listening to the weather channel, you can sometimes hear that 50 mph winds and record-breaking rainfall are happening in Sanibel, FL. Consequently, your business is located there. As the floodwaters recede, you check in at your property. Contaminated, black water is everywhere. You are worried about shutting down during the restoration process but do not want to endanger the safety of your employees. At what point during the flood cleanup process can they return to work?

Employees Leave Premises

Stay away during the early stages of the flood cleanup process. Reasons include:

• Flood water and mud are considered contaminated. This black water carries viruses and bacteria that can make you and your employees sick.
• Professional restoration specialists use specialized equipment and are trained in handling this type of water. Excess flood water and related debris are safely removed using professional grade pumps.
• Not all parts of the building can be properly cleaned; some must be discarded. The restoration experts remove soiled insulation, wet drywall, carpet padding and other contaminated contents.
• Remaining structures and objects that came into contact with flood water are sanitized and disinfected.

Employees Return To Work

It is safe for workers to return during the final phases of restoration. Reasons include:

• Once the contents of the commercial property are sanitized, your employees’ health and safety are no longer a concern.
• During the rebuilding and restoration process, it is safe for employees to be present. Air filtration devices may help retain the quality of the air during this time.

When a storm floods your business in Sanibel, FL, the resulting black water is a health concern for you and your employees. It is not safe to be on site for the initial stages of flood cleanup, including removing excess water, discarding contaminated structures and disinfecting remaining contents. Once the rebuilding and restoration phase begins, it is safe to return to work.

How Does Smoke Damage Spread?

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke cleaning should take place after fire damage cleanup.

Factors That Cause Smoke Odor

Smoke damage can spread throughout a structure after a fire in or near a commercial building in Estero Island, FL. From airborne transmission to the increased damage that may be caused by direct contact with or foot traffic through soot, here are a few factors that cause smoke odor to become detectable in every part of a building.

Smoke Is Carried Through the Air
Smoke consists of fine particles and gases that are small and lightweight enough to become airborne. A wide variety of chemicals that includes the following substances may be present in smoke:

• Carbon monoxide
  
• Metals
  
• Methane
  
• Volatile organic compounds
  
  

Immediately during and after a fire, particles and gases that contain these substances may circulate in a structure. Gusts of air that occur as a fire spreads can spread smoke throughout a building.

Smoke Gets Into a Building HVAC System
In addition to lowering the quality of interior air, smoke damage can also spread through an HVAC system. Particles that enter vents and linger in ductwork cause smoke smell to persist. It is important to shut off the HVAC system in a smoke- or fire-damaged structure and arrange for cleaning during restoration.

Smoke and Soot Can Affect Nearby Locations
Smoke and soot can travel through the air and affect nearby businesses. Fortunately, smoke and soot damage are covered perils for the primary location affected by a fire, surrounding areas in a commercial building and nearby structures. Smoke cleaning is necessary to keep the telltale odor of fire from lingering and affecting building occupants.
Smoke damage cleanup may involve using air filtration and odor neutralizing treatments to lower the concentration of particulate in interior air. If a fire has occurred at a commercial property in Estero Island, FL, cleaning up ruined materials and soot is the first step toward restoration. Smoke cleaning should take place after fire damage cleanup.

5 FAQs About IICRC Certifications

2/17/2021 (Permalink)

Any individual with the proper cleaning, restoration, inspection, or mitigation certificate can certify their company.

The best disaster remediation companies have and want their employees to have an IICRC certification. Here is some more information on these certifications and what they mean.

1. What Is This Organization?

IICRC stands for Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. This is the standard and certification setting organization for the remediation industry. It has partnered with other restoration organizations to help set the standards in many countries across the globe. It does this by offering different training courses.

2. How Do You Get a Certification?

To get an IICRC certification, individuals must take an approved training course. At the end of the course, they are expected to pass an exam.

3. Do You Need To Maintain These Certifications?

Individuals who receive their certification have to work to maintain them. Inspectors are expected to earn a certain number of credits every 2 years. Technicians need to earn a certain number of credits every 4 years. Masters in a certain specialty are expected to earn a certain number of credits every 2 years.

4. Are Their Annual Registration Fees?

Once someone has become a certified business or technician in Sanibel, FL, they are expected to pay annual registration fees. These ensure that their certifications are current and give them access to continuing education credits.

5. Can a Company Be Certified?

Any individual with the proper cleaning, restoration, inspection, or mitigation certificate can certify their company. They do this by submitting an initial request. The organization will process this. Once it has been reviewed and approved, the company will be considered certified and is listed on the firm locator. Additionally, firms will receive organization logos, to use in their advertising material.

A technician or company that is certified by this organization is a highly trained professional. They can be expected to stay up to date on their education and provide high-quality service.

5 Requirements for Making a Business Interruption Insurance Claim

2/14/2021 (Permalink)

To prepare for a large water damage scenario, it is important to know when you can file a claim with your business interruption insurance.

If you experience a disaster, like flooding or a broken pipe, in your business in Estero Island, FL, you will probably want to file a claim on your business interruption insurance. However, there are few things you should know about the requirements for making a claim.

1. There Must Be Physical Damage to Your Property

This type of insurance is typically added to your property insurance. Therefore, your property must sustain some damage, like flooding, and the associated costs, such as hiring water remediation professionals, before you can file a claim.

2. The Damage Must Be at the Property on Your Policy

Sometimes there may not be damage on your property, but a neighboring business with serious damage can prohibit you from running your company. In this case, you will probably not be eligible to file a claim.

3. A Covered Accidental Peril Must cause the Damage

If the damage was caused by a covered peril, like an accidental fire, you could receive benefits for the time you had to shut down to recover. However, if it was caused by something that is not covered, such as flooding from a hurricane, you will not receive funds from your claim.

4. The Damage Must Cause the Suspension of Your Business

Occasionally, business owners will want to shut down their company after a small disaster to remodel the place. This is not considered suspension due to damage, and if business owners can run their business after a disaster, their claim will bring no benefits.

5. Your Business Income Must Be Completely Stopped

Business owners often want to file a claim because they experience financial cuts due to a disaster. However, this doesn't guarantee benefits. You will only receive funds when your business operations must be completely stopped due to damage.

Disasters, such as large water damage scenarios, can be devastating for businesses and force them to shut down. To prepare yourself for this situation, it is important to know when you can file a claim with your business interruption insurance.

3 Steps To Confirm Commercial Mold Coverage

2/9/2021 (Permalink)

Give your agent a call and ask them about mold coverage.

3 Steps To Confirm Commercial Mold Coverage

The cost of cleaning up a mold infestation in a commercial building can add up to thousands of dollars. Building and business owners may want to carry sufficient commercial insurance coverage that includes at least a limited amount of coverage for mold. These three steps will help you confirm your current level of coverage for mold remediation at a building in Estero Island, FL.

1. Review Your Property Policy
Check the terms of your property insurance policy with regard to water damage and mold damage. You should also review any relevant endorsements and exclusions.
While many general property policies cover primary water damage, coverage for secondary damage may be cut out or limited. It can be challenging for a business or commercial property owner to account for every factor that could impact coverage levels.

2. Consult With an Insurance Agent
It may be more effective to go over your coverage with a commercial insurance agent. Professionals can identify circumstances under which mold coverage could be available, as well as factors that could prevent coverage.
You may also find it helpful to review limit amounts in light of the average costs of cleaning up and restoring the damage. The average cost of mold damage remediation ranges from $15 to $30 per square foot. Be aware that some insurers require agents to report clients’ intention to file a claim.

3. Consider Additional Mold Coverage
Owners of flood-prone properties may want to obtain mold coverage as a rider on an existing policy or a supplementary policy. Ask an expert about how multiple policies such as general commercial property insurance, flood insurance and mold insurance could affect coverage.
Expenses can add up during the removal of mold from a commercial structure in Estero Island, FL. Check your level of commercial insurance coverage and take timely measures to restore water damage to reduce the degree of secondary mold damage.

3 Things To Expect from Fire Damage Cleanup

1/6/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Sanibel, FL

Three Tips For What To Expect During The Cleaning Process

In addition to structural repair at your business in Sanibel, FL, there are some other things that you hope to be able to restore. From personal items to business essentials, content cleaning is possible when you depend on the fire restoration services of a local mitigation company. Here are three tips for what to expect during the cleaning process.

1. Dry Cleaning
Soap and water isn't the only way to remove smoke smells and soot stains from items. Some items that need to be cleaned only need a gentle once-over with a dry rag and a degreaser, while it's important to remove build-up from other things prior to deep cleaning using another method. Dry-cleaning most often refers to take clothing and other fabric items to be cleaned by a professional to remove smells and soot.

2. Ultrasonic Cleaning
Ultrasonic cleaning is a newer cleaning method that can salvage just about anything. If dry-cleaning didn't work, it is possible that the ultrasonic method might. This method of cleaning involves a special piece of machinery that gently cleans and dries your items and removes smells and damage after a fire.

3. Foam Cleaning
For items that can't be dry cleaned and don't fit in an ultrasonic cleaner, foam cleaning may be the solution. Especially with upholstery where the color may bleed if you use water or shrink if you try to wash and dry it, a foam cleaner can prevent additional damage when applied by a professional.
Depending on the severity of the fire damage to your business and the amount of structural repair you're facing, you may need to move your items to a different location. Content storage after cleaning is often offered by the mitigation company that is servicing your home so that you know your belongings will remain clean and secure until you're ready to set up for business again.
Whether dry-cleaning, ultrasonic cleaning, or foam cleaning, professionals will use the best methods they know to salvage your personal and businesses items after a fire.