How Can Raleigh Mold Damage Be Prevented?

2/27/2023 (Permalink)

If your property has mold damage, call SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

SERVPRO Techs Can Removal Traces Of A Raleigh Mold Infestation

Vigilance is the key to avoiding the need for mold remediation in Raleigh properties. Homeowners should be on the lookout for sources of humidity and moisture in the home. Common areas for mold to grow within a home include:

• Around air conditioning units
• Basements and crawl spaces
• Attics
• Bathrooms
• Appliances such as refrigerators or dishwasher

To minimize the potential for mold damage, homeowners in Raleigh need to stay aware of the conditions in their homes and the state of the plumbing. It is helpful to keep and maintain interior humidity levels below 50% to discourage mold spores from germinating. This air moisture level is also too low to sustain mold colony growth. Leaks in the plumbing need to get addressed as soon as they are seen. Areas in the home that lack ventilation should have air movement methods to stop moist air from stagnating. Exhaust fans can assist in dispelling moisture. 

What Are The Signs of Mold Damage?

Although a mold infestation can grow behind the scenes in a home and can continue to spread until the conditions within the house do not allow it to sustain life. Even though mold damage does not announce itself, there are warning signs that colonies are present. One of the early warning signs that an area within the home needs mold remediation is the presence of a musty odor. Condensation on walls or other surfaces can indicate an issue with drainage or humidity in the room. Water stains on walls, floors, or ceilings can signify that mold lurks nearby. 

Types of Mold 

A single type of mold does not cause mold damage. There are over 300,000 species of mold throughout the world, and each kind needs specific conditions to thrive. Nearly all types need warm, damp conditions with little to no ventilation; mold colonies need sustenance such as wood, cardboard, and sheetrock. Mold can also consume fabrics and even dead skin cells. 

How Soon Can Mold Damage Occur After Water Damage?

If the other conditions are right within a property, mold spores can germinate and spread as quickly as 24 to 72 hours after a leak or flood damage event within a home. When the mold grows on building materials, including insulation, they require disposal as they cannot get cleaned for reuse to a sanitary level. SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians can identify the problem areas using their moisture detection equipment to show the most likely regions to sustain mold colonies. This enables the techs to target only the areas that need assistance and leave the entire home section intact. 

What DIY Methods Work Against Mold Damage?

Homeowners should not attempt to clean up a mold damage problem independently. One of the main reasons is that improper removal can launch spores into the air, and they can land in other areas of the property, and if the humidity levels and temperature are correct, the spores can grow and spread. SERVPRO technicians can safely remediate mold colonies and apply the treatments to inhibit any return of the problem. We have EPA-approved antimicrobial products to target and exterminate mold spores and colonies specifically.

SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner at (919) 615-1179 brings professional mold damage remediation services to the local Raleigh area. The IICRC trained and certified technicians can handle any size mold infestation and make it "Like it never even happened."

How Can Raleigh Homeowners Lessen The Chances of Water Damage?

2/27/2023 (Permalink)

No matter where the water damage is in your home, SERVPRO tackles it and makes it "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Tips for Raleigh Property Owners to Avoid Water Cleanup

While burst pipes or floodwater in a Raleigh property are not unavoidable, there are things homeowners can do to lessen the potential. SERVPRO put together a list of actions property owners can use to take proactive measures against many types of damage from water.

Water damage in a Raleigh home can be expensive for a homeowner. The National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) estimated in a recent report that there are 650 broken water mains per day across the United States. That number will continue to increase as the pipes across America age and do not receive timely repairs or replacement. Most homeowners should be aware that water issues in the plumbing running through their property are not the problem of the local water company. It is on the homeowner for the repairs unless specifically covered. That is why regular inspections can nip water issues in the bud before they become large, expensive, damaging events within the structure. SERVPRO offers up the following tips to point out actions that homeowners can take to inhibit the potential for needing water cleanup in their homes. 

Water Damage Potential Areas to Watch

Here is a brief overview for local homeowners to avoid water damage:

• Consider the age and state of repair for the plumbing within the home
• Notice any trees on the property that could have roots affecting pipes between the yard and the street  
• Clay soil has minerals that can corrode pipes

Older Pipes At The Root Of Water Mitigation Issues

According to the NAWC, the majority of the water pipes in the U.S. average 45 years or older. The older the plumbing is, the more likely it will need repair or undergo water damage causing a break. 

Tree Roots Can Destroy Water Pipes

The water damage potential from a pipe back up in a home has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damages. Regularly looking for signs of a tree root invasion into a line can save homeowners the stress and expense of this situation. Signs to look for are:

• Clogged or blocked drains happen regularly
• Gurgling sounds after flushing the toilet
• Sinkholes appearing in the yard can indicate a collapsed sewer pipe

Clay-Based Soil Can Cause Water Pipe Corrosion

When there is a large-scale leak outside of the home, it is usually only a matter of time until the water damage causes problems inside the property ranging from foundation issues to mold. While sandy soils have the least corrosive properties, soil with clay can have a high chloride content to damage the pipes over time, leading to leaks or weakening enough to burst. 

Preparing for Water Damage

Another issue in Raleigh homes that can bring water damage is the sudden change in the weather. In a study completed by the ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers), a mere ten-degree drop in temperature can stress main and service lines to the point of breakage, particularly in the cases of old pipes that need replacement. It is not unusual for sudden cold snaps to occur in this area. The simple act of winterizing exterior faucets by turning off the local supply and adding a Thinsulate covering can help avoid freezing pipes when the occasional winter storm or clipper system rolls through the area. 

SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner at (919) 615-1179 serves the Raleigh area with professional water damage mitigation services. The trained technicians arrive quickly to handle the extraction and drying for the property.

What Is The Best Way To Remove Raleigh Fire Damage and Soot?

2/27/2023 (Permalink)

When your home is damaged by a fire, be sure to call our team of fire restoration experts.

SERVPRO Techs Have Certifications for Raleigh Fire Mitigation

After a fire disaster in a Raleigh property, the first action by a homeowner may be to start the housefire cleanup on their own. Everything flames contact during a fire either get consumed by fire or covered in soot or both. Because of the potential for permanent staining or damage from DIY smoke damage removal methods, outsourcing the fire mitigation service is the best option for property owners. 

Raleigh fire damage restoration services should begin as soon as the fire department or other authority figure inspects the structural integrity of the residence and states the property is safe to enter. There are several challenges associated with smoke and fire damage cleanup, including:

• Removal of soot
• Air quality
• Security 
• Water damage cleanup

Removal of Smoke Damage

Soot particles can be less than 1/4th the size of a grain of sand and may rest upon surfaces or be airborne. Due to this duality, it is difficult to remove the residues using a single method. SERVPRO technicians bring air quality improvement tools to capture and dispose of airborne particulates while removing soot from surfaces. 

Handling Air Improvement

Post-fire, the air within the home has the pungent smell of smoke, and breathing the airborne particulates can irritate some people. SERVPRO techs set up containment when the worksite is limited to a single area within the residence. For large-scale house fire cleanup, they set up multiple air scrubbers or create negative air chambers to suction out the air within the home and exchange it with fresh air from outside at a more rapid pace. 

Security Measures Can Affect Air Quality

During a fire damage mitigation service, it is not unusual for the technicians to put up security tape and use tactics such as boarding up windows or doors. These home areas frequently get broken while the firefighters put out the fire. However, when windows get boarded up, it diminishes the airflow and stops toxins, odors, and particulates from leaving through air exchange methods unless the negative air method is used. 

Water Damage Often Comes With Fire Damage

The firefighters may use copious amounts of water to extinguish a house fire, and soot-laden water flows down and saturates carpets, seeps into the subflooring, and can wreck tiles. The techs use their moisture detection equipment to determine how widespread the migration of the water is and extract it quickly. 

Special Concern During Fire Damage Cleanup: Electronics

Any electrical appliances or devices in the vicinity of the fire should be assumed to have smoke damage until cleaned and tested. Some homeowners mistake trying a machine and, seeing that it runs fine post-fire, believes all is well. However, the chemicals in soot are corrosive. Once they accumulate on circuit boards and other crucial areas within an appliance or device, they can act as conductors that disrupt the usual electrical impulses along the pathways and cause permanent damage so severely the article no longer functions. Delicate or expensive electronics can be farmed out for specialized cleaning and repair.

Professionally Cleaning Items

Removing soot from items before reuse is vital, particularly in plastic objects containing halogen. When exposed to high heat, halogen releases hydrochloric acid, a very caustic element. SERVPRO technicians have specific cleaning agents to render acidic substances left behind by smoke residues inert. 

SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner at (919) 615-1179 performs professional Raleigh fire damage restoration services for the local area. The trained and certified technicians are on-call for any size smoke and fire damage cleanup needed.

Ensuring Safety During Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Raleigh

2/26/2023 (Permalink)

Our technicians know how to handle a situation like this. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for professional remediation and mitigation services for your home.

How SERVPRO Restores Your Water-Damaged Wooden Floors in Raleigh

It can be challenging to do commercial water restoration for a Raleigh business with wooden floors. For instance, if the business we are talking about is a social hall that has just suffered a water damage incident due to a faulty sprinkler system. It helps if you act immediately so that its normal operations resume as soon as possible.

SERVPRO has the required experience and equipment to respond to commercial water damage incidents in Raleigh. We know the kind of hazards to expect when reclaiming wooden floors after a water damage incident. Some of the steps we undertake during the restoration process include:

• Inspection: During this step, we check if there is discoloration, buckling, cupping, and warping on your wooden floors. The action we take to fix such issues depends on the damage's degree.
• Water extraction: We use specialized equipment like wet-dry vacuums and pumps to extract water from the floors.
• Drying and dehumidification: We remove excess moisture from the air and dry the wooden floors using heaters, dehumidifiers, and fans. By doing this, we prevent further structural damage and prevent mold growth.
• · Sanding and refinishing: Severe water intrusion incidents may leave some stains on the floors. In such incidents, our SERVPRO technicians may decide to do sanding during the water cleanup process. Through sanding, a floor sander is used to remove the damaged top layer, and then we apply a new finish.
• Cleaning: We remove the debris and dirt and then use specialized cleaning detergents to disinfect the floors.
• Final inspection: Our team confirms whether the building is safe for occupancy and if the customer is satisfied.

Our professional water mitigation services aim to restore the original appearance of your wooden floors. Since we use the right equipment and methods to do the job, we are always successful in almost all projects we undertake.

Call SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner at (919) 615-1179 for effective, safe, high-standard water, mold, and fire damage restoration services. We aim to make your business appear "Like it never even happened" after the unfortunate incident.

SERVPRO Is One of Raleigh’s Top Mold Remediation Services

1/30/2023 (Permalink)

Finding mold on your property can be overwhelming. Call SERVPRO for effective mold damage remediation services. Our team is standing by 24/7.

Fast and Effective Mold Remediation in Raleigh

Restoring mold-damaged homes in Raleigh generally involves containment, removal, cleanup, and drying efforts. Fortunately, firms like SERVPRO are well-versed in the most effective remediation procedures and have the necessary equipment to carry out these actions. Most times, enlisting their aid is going to save you both time and money in the long run.

Unlike some other Raleigh mold remediation firms, SERVPRO technicians are specifically trained in the latest techniques and equipped with the most advanced tools of their trade. After completing their training, our recruits have developed into full-fledged mold specialists capable of performing complete mold inspection, finishing complex mold removal projects, and doing a wide range of restoration work, like black mold damage repairs. Once at your residence, SERVPRO’s experts:

• Work quickly to prevent mold from spreading to unaffected areas by sealing impacted rooms with plastic sheeting, covering HVAC vents to keep mold out of ductwork, establishing negative air pressure in containment areas, and designating decontamination buffer zones so mold isn’t inadvertently carried into unaffected places. 
• Identify and remove irreparably damaged porous materials, like insulation, drywall, carpeting, fabrics, and any rotting wood
• Clear mold from wood, concrete, and other semi-porous materials with HEPA vacuums, damp wiping, sanding, wire brushing, and innovative abrasive methods
• Remove fungi from nonporous surfaces, including those made of metals, glass, or plastics, using HEPA vacuuming or damp wiping with a detergent
• Clean up dust/settled mold spores with damp wiping and HEPA vacuuming, starting at the ceiling and working their way down to the floor, cleaning surfaces in the direction of the negative air machines, and allowing time between cleaning sessions
• Set up air mover-dehumidifier networks to return your interiors to their normal moisture levels once sufficient containment and removal measures have been taken. 

So, if your home ever requires mold remediation, rest assured that SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh/Garner can help. Call us anytime at (919) 615-1179 for assistance.

Raleigh Properties Deserve Skilled Water Restoration

12/27/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can impact your flooring, furnishings, walls, and personal belongings.

Contact SERVPRO in Raleigh for Trusted Water Restoration

You count on your house to protect you, your family, and your pets from the elements, which means keeping wind, rain, and other factors on the outside. But what do you do when water damage occurs due to internal sources like a hidden leak or burst pipes? Accidents happen, and when they do, SERVPRO is in the area and ready to work 24 hours daily, each day of the year. We handle all your water restoration needs so you can ensure your Raleigh property is back to how it was before the water-related incident.

If you have water damage anywhere on your property, it can impact your flooring, furnishings, walls, and personal belongings. Additionally, there could be concerns regarding your home’s structure depending on the damage severity. Hiring professionals from SERVPRO for water restoration in Raleigh includes water removal services, thorough drying, reconstruction, and more.

Our water restoration process follows these steps:

• Assessment of your interior
• Removal of all standing water
• Loss mitigation
• Drying and dehumidification
• Antimicrobial application/odor control measures

The SERVPRO Green Fleet is stocked up and ready for all restoration projects. Our water restoration technicians (WRT) know how to look for hidden moisture pockets, especially those in hard-to-reach spaces. With equipment like borescopes, the Injectidry system, and other applied structural drying techniques, you can feel confident that no moisture gets left behind to cause further damage or mold growth.

We Have All Areas of Your Restoration Covered

You already have plenty on your mind, so SERVPRO is here to make your life easier by ensuring all facets of your project get handled.

• Our crew chief adjusts our drying process as the project progresses to ensure we reach our goals.
• We bring backup power to use should electricity to a portion of your home be turned off.
• Count on us to act as a liaison with your insurance company to help you facilitate your claim.

Request help online or call SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh/Garner at (919) 615-1179 when you need water restoration services for your home or business.

Fire Damage Restoration Services Help Raleigh Breathe Clean Air

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration is no easy task. SERVPRO has a team of experts ready to help you. Make that call for the help you need.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration is Economical

House fires in Raleigh create an uncomfortable environment. The soot deposits and smoke residues continue to make a chemically dirty place. These substances exist in the air, also – not solely on surfaces. Fire damage restoration workers prioritize removing as many of these contaminants as possible.

Any blaze in your residence in Raleigh needs a fire damage restoration team. While kitchen fires are often the worst, any fire that does not burn at a near-100% combustion rate produces pollutants. Almost every house fire has copious amounts of soot, oils, and other by-products. Fires that burn synthetics are more challenging to clean than those that burn wood, paper, and other natural materials.

Cleaning the home after a fire means your family can breathe more easily. We can provide several services the majority of houses require for a full recovery, including:

• Physical removal of soot and other deposits,
• HVAC system cleaning, and
• Thermal fogging.

Cleaning with special sponges and different pleasant-smelling botanicals traps a fire’s by-products so they no longer can reach your nose, but the new scent comes as a pleasant change.

If your HVAC system was operating during the fire’s short span, contaminants now lie along the surfaces, waiting for air currents to push them into your family’s living space. We can remove this and ensure that only clean air heats and cools your house.

Thermal fogging works well because the heated vapors act as the smoke did during the fire. Now, instead of pushing particles around, trapping them in tiny enclosed places, the fog moves an encapsulating agent into those same areas. As it cools off, it bonds with solids like soot particles, making it almost impossible to break down and slip out into air currents like it used to do. This doubles as a primary deodorization service.

When you need fire damage restoration services, call SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner at (919) 615-1179. We’re local, and We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Preventing Storm-related Flood Damage in Raleigh

9/27/2022 (Permalink)

Flood damage restoration services are no DIY project. Call SERVPRO for fast and immediate service for your home.

SERVPRO Flood Damage Teams Can Save your Home and Belongings

Unexpected weather events can affect your home. Often, these manifest in the form of floods, which can affect the bottom levels of your home, garages, and crawlspaces. Local weather warnings can help prepare you for adverse weather; however, protecting your home and belongings can be difficult. SERVPRO is a nationally recognized organization that enables homeowners to overcome flooding by performing expert emergency mitigation and restoration services. We can help with things like:

• Basement flooding
• Rainwater intrusion
• Floodwater mitigation

Attempting to reverse flood damage in your Raleigh home is challenging. Floodwaters contain high levels of contamination. Contaminated waters can impact the materials they come into contact with, causing permanent damage. Typically porous materials in the home suffer the most from contaminated waters. These materials include drywall used in wall assembly, textiles like carpets, and organic matter. We can replace materials deemed non-salvageable and professionally install the new drywall, carpet, or fittings in your home. Non-porous items like appliances, hardwoods, glass, metal, and plastics are often salvageable using cleaning agents and equipment. 

• Solid-waste pumps can help to remove heavily contaminated bodies of water from the home quickly.
• Biocides and anti-microbial chemicals are often applied onto non-porous surfaces to return your property to a sanitary state.
• Inspections for potential water migration into cavities or subfloors are standard in our flood restoration service.

If your home is flooded due to storm conditions, contact SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner for flood damage restoration at (919) 615-1179.

Water Restoration for Saturated Garner Office Carpeting

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial water damage restoration is a job for SERVPRO. Our technicians have the training and experience you need.

Cleaning Flooring During Water Restoration

Disasters impacting your office can overwhelm building materials and the structure's contents. With sensitive elements like low-pile, glue-down carpeting a standard in many industrial parks and corporate buildings, SERVPRO must resolve water damage quickly to prevent the material from becoming unsalvageable.

Reducing Standing Water

Before much of the water restoration for Garner office buildings can get underway, SERVPRO professionals must remove standing water threatening the work areas. Pooling is expected with larger water disasters, as there is often no porous material beneath the carpeting for water to absorb, like OSB board, padding, or plywood. A concrete subflooring leaves much of the water damage accessible with extraction devices like pumps, vacuums, and carpet wands.

Assessing the Carpet's Condition

With the majority of the water extracted and drained from the structure, our professionals must now look to determine the carpet's condition. Short exposure times can often leave flooring able to be restored and preserved, but the opposite is true with longer contact time or conditions like flooding.

We have several deep cleaning solutions that can help following the drying of carpets to prevent tear-out and reconstruction. However, there are some reasons why this replacement might make more sense for your business, including:

• Staining
• Deterioration
• Wear
• Mold damage

Floating the Carpet Layer

Detaching glue-down carpeting from the room's edges allows our SERVPRO team to introduce low-profile centrifugal air movers between this upper layer and the concrete subflooring. Running these machines helps to dry the carpet and its backing more completely, reducing the creation of secondary effects like mold and microbial threats. SERVPRO knows to create exhaust points on the far end of the carpeted flooring to prevent stretching.

Water damage can be one of your commercial structure's most common challenges. Our Large Loss response team is ready to help when disasters strike. Give SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner a call today at (919) 615-1179. 

Overcoming Difficulties of Cleaning Raleigh Fire Damage

8/23/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration services by SERVPRO are top-notch. our IICRC techs are read at a moment's notice.

SERVPRO Equipment Helps Quickly Manage Fire Damage

Having the right products and equipment to help after a fire loss emergency ensures that your home gets the immediate help it needs. We work closely with local insurance companies to meet the requirements for starting mitigation and restoration as soon as possible after first responders leave.

Moisture in the Environment

A wet environment can be challenging for cleaning fire damage in Raleigh homes. Water damage is common after extinguishment as first responders often use highly pressurized water hoses to extinguish the flames. The result is widespread pooling on the surface and a moist environment to make soot removal and smoke damage more of a challenge to remove and contain. Tools to help might include:

• Dehumidifiers
• Air movers
• Extraction devices

Thick Soot Deposits

Wet smoke and thick smoke solids coming to rest on surfaces present multiple issues simultaneously. Soot particles are often carcinogenic, corrosive, and potentially marring. The longer they are allowed to rest on surfaces, the more likely that permanent damage results. Removing them requires a combination of products and equipment to protect the underlying material affected, which might include:

• Alkaline cleaners to balance acidity
• Solvents to dissolve stubborn soot
• Pairing agents to lift soils and wipe them away

Confined Spaces and Accessibility Issues

Overcoming challenging areas to clean starts with preparation and planning. We determine needed tools and cleaning attachments to reach difficult surfaces and evaluate if and where controlled demolition might ultimately make restoration and recovery easier to manage and complete. Because we have a contractor license, we can complete the material removal and any subsequent repairs needed to return the house to preloss condition.

Fires leave many surfaces and building materials in dire need of cleaning and restoration; without prompt action by certified restoration technicians, irreparable and permanent damage results. Give our SERVPRO of Southeast Raleigh / Garner team a call today at (919) 615-1179.