Navigating Property Restoration: The Vital Role of Project Management in Merging Expertise with Practical Solutions

2/21/2024 (Permalink)

In the aftermath of a property disaster, the road to recovery is a journey fraught with challenges. Project managers emerge as a linchpin in this process, playing a pivotal role in orchestrating a comprehensive and holistic restoration. Let’s discuss the aspects of project management during property recovery, emphasizing the delicate balance between training, expertise, empathy, and practical solutions. From crafting a meticulous timeline to monitoring mitigation progress, project managers shoulder a diverse and holistic role in guiding communities towards renewal.

Project managers can engage in continuous professional development by attending workshops and seminars on crisis management, empathy in leadership, and the latest advancements in property restoration.

Developing the Scope of Recovery:

The foundation of successful property recovery lies in the development of a well-defined scope. SERVPRO® project managers, armed with their training and expertise, work closely with stakeholders to assess the extent of damage and formulate a comprehensive plan for restoration. This involves not only understanding the technical aspects of reconstruction but also demonstrating empathy in acknowledging the emotional toll on property owners.

Balancing Training and Expertise with Empathy:

A harmonious blend of technical knowledge and empathetic understanding is crucial for effective project management in property restoration. Project managers navigate the intricacies of restoration, construction, and mitigation while recognizing the human element at play. This balance ensures that the restoration process addresses both the structural needs of the property and the emotional needs of those affected.

Crafting a Detailed Timeline:

Developing a well-structured timeline is a hallmark of adept project management. Project managers meticulously plan each phase of the recovery process, from initial assessments to the final touches of restoration. The ability to set realistic milestones reflects the project manager's commitment to a smooth and efficient recovery.

Project managers can improve their timeline planning skills by using project management software and tools, attending courses on project scheduling, and staying informed about industry best practices.

Tracking Mitigation Progress:

Mitigation is a key component of property recovery, and project managers are tasked with closely monitoring its progress. Whether it's implementing temporary measures to prevent further damage or coordinating with specialized teams for specific issues, project managers ensure that the mitigation phase aligns seamlessly with the overall restoration plan. This proactive approach safeguards against unforeseen challenges, demonstrating the foresight inherent in their holistic management style.

Paying Close Attention to Details:

Project managers exhibit a keen eye for minutiae, overseeing every aspect of the recovery process to guarantee precision and quality. Whether its coordinating drying equipment, managing subcontractors, or adhering to regulatory requirements, their attention to detail ensures that the restored property not only meets but exceeds expectations.

As communities strive for renewal in the aftermath of major property disasters, the role of project management emerges as both diverse and holistic. Beyond the technicalities of construction and restoration, project managers embody a unique blend of training, expertise, empathy, and practical solutions. Their ability to develop a comprehensive scope, balance competing needs, craft detailed timelines, monitor mitigation progress, and pay meticulous attention to details makes them a valued guide in the path to recovery. Our SERVPRO of Medford team is always ready to craft the solution to your disaster recovery, we are here to help during any size crisis.

Our SERVPRO construction team can help repair and restore these common property damage areas

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

Putting your Suffolk County property back together after a disaster can be challenging, our construction team takes pride in helping restore and repair residential or commercial property after a fire, water, or mold disaster! Restoring your Long Island residential or commercial property, “Like it never even happened,” is important to us, making improvements after a disaster is common. Our professionals are skilled at working with home and business owners to help navigate a rebuild or remodel, our team is here to help from disaster restoration to the final walk through after reconstruction.

5 COMMON PROPERTY DAMAGE AREAS

• Bathrooms suffer common water damage mainly because they are exposed to several water and plumbing sources including sinks and bathtubs/showers in a localized area.
• Kitchens can suffer damage from both water and fire hazards and can see major damage to floors, appliances, cabinets, and counter tops.
• Basements are prone to water and mold damage from poor drainage and ventilation, both finished and unfinished basements can see major damage from storm and environmental leakage and flooding.
• Exterior Elements such as a roof, doors, windows, and siding are all common locations to see property damage from weather, water, fire, and mold. Whether damage is small or extensive, taking care of these problems immediately can minimize continued damage to your home.
• Floors commonly suffer water damage and can significantly affect your home’s overall safety and structure, leading to costly repairs.

These common areas are ideal places to look for upgrades or remodel options when your property suffers from storm, water, fire, or mold damage. The SERVPRO construction team can help you reimagine your space and restore and rebuild your Suffolk County property to a comfortable, safe, and welcoming home or business, again. 

• Open-Concept Living: Consider knocking down a wall, creating distinct groupings for the space, and make sure to leave plenty of negative space to help separate the areas and provide space for walking around and entertaining.
• Upgrading Windows, Lighting and Fixtures: Adding a new window, skylight or new light fixtures can brighten up your space and create more flow for enhanced natural light.
• Aesthetics: Color can unify and update a dated space, research color trends, and find a style that fits your property. Adding wall art, throw pillows, and other accessories can make the space more welcoming.
• Upgrading your kitchen or bathroom: Updated cabinets, replacing a tub or shower, and new fixtures will make a huge difference, also updating your flooring, backsplash or adding an island for additional counter space are a few options.

Our team at SERVPRO of Medford is here to help, we are trusted leaders in the restoration industry, we have the expertise and manpower to address the damage and make repairs. We take pride in every detail of restoring your local Long Island property and getting your life back to normal as quickly as possible.

The benefits of planning ahead to mitigate property damage when a disaster strikes

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

With nearly 30 years of disaster restoration experience and a background in facility management, our founders have mentored and assembled a SERVPRO team of exemplary professionals capable of handling any size property disaster; no matter how complex the problem, they have a complete solution for cleanup, restoration, and repairs. Over his lengthy career, many owners and managers have expressed remorse about not being better prepared to manage and execute a plan for during an emergency and the recovery after a property disaster. According to the latest industry research, as many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster. Of the businesses that survive, most of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind.

Whether you manage retail, office, multi-family or industrial properties, every property manager should consider a well thought out emergency plan to be an essential part of their property management duties. In an ideal world you will, of course, never have to use it. However, should you ever find yourself in an emergency, knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize the extent of damage can affect your business. 

A sound emergency management strategy saves time and money

After years of experience in the restoration business, we strongly recommend including these critical points when developing your property management emergency procedures.

1. Be Ready to Respond
2. Maintain All Safety Systems
3. Keep Staff Informed and Involved
4. Have a Trusted Recovery Partner

A solid emergency plan needs to address the aftermath of a property disaster. SERVPRO is a leader in the disaster restoration industry, and we are always here to help. By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. 

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage

Partnering with SERVPRO provides full-service recovery, available 24/7. Our Disaster Restoration Specialists can collaborate with your team to develop an action plan to minimize commercial property damages and get your business open faster. 

• A no-cost assessment of your facility.
• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster.
• Establishes your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
• Identification of the proper contacts for authorizing work to begin.
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and priority contact information.

Our SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile, combines our knowledge and experience dealing with disaster restoration and the valuable details your team can contribute about your facility.

SERVPRO restores your property damage nightmares created by modern conveniences

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

Modern conveniences are extremely useful tools to have inside your home, but they can cause residential nightmares when they break down and cause problems such as water or fire damage. SERVPRO is prepared for all types of residential water or fire cleanup and restoration needs, including 24-Hour Emergency Repair Services.

Housekeeping can seem like an endless cycle of daily, weekly and monthly rituals, it’s easy to forget that many of the routine things we accomplish each day are done with the help of our modern appliances. Appliances are extremely useful tools however they require inspections and maintenance from time to time and inevitably need replacement or repairs. When these modern conveniences malfunction, it can lead to a plethora of fire, smoke or water property damage concerns. When your household appliances fight back from the endless cycle of chores with a burst pipe, puffback or accidental flood or fire SERVPRO is here to help with emergency property damage cleanup and restoration services.

SERVPRO is prepared for all of your residential water damage cleanup and repairs from a leaking dishwasher to a broken water heater our IICRC certified restoration specialists are ready to help.

When your dishwasher, washing machine or water heater fails causing a slow leak or a sudden burst, the results are the same; significant flooding and water damage throughout your home. Calling SERVPRO for quick water extraction and damage cleanup and restoration will save you time and money during your home property repairs.

Washing Machine Flood or Overflow: A broken or cracked drain hose or supply line, or even overfilling your washing machine can lead to appliance failure and cause water damage or flood damage to your laundry room or basement.

Refrigerator Supply Line Leak: Most refrigerator flooding and water damage can be attributed to a damaged or broken water line, or the hose that connects your fridge to your homes plumbing and water supply; sometimes however a clogged drain or drain pan can leak and cause water or flood damage.

Dishwasher Overflow: Dishwasher leaks can start as a slow drip or major flood either way the leak can have lasting damage on your floors, wall, cabinets and subfloor.

Water Heater Failure: Water heaters are typically designed to last for around 10 years, sometimes a water heater will start to show signs of deterioration by leaking around the supply lines or you may see puddles of water around the unit.

Whatever the cause of the malfunction the results are the same flooding and other water damages that can quickly lead to a bigger problem inside your home. Our SERVPRO crews are highly trained and experienced with advanced techniques, technology and equipment to mitigate any present damages and take steps to avoid secondary concerns from causing further destruction. A quick response from our emergency property disaster response team can minimize your property damage concerns, and provide fast relief with water removal, drying and repairs to your home’s damaged areas.

SERVPRO is prepared for any type of residential fire, smoke and soot damage cleanup and repair

When your oven, stovetop, dryer, furnace or fireplace causes fire, smoke or soot damages throughout your home. Fires can have devastating consequences for your home and family, even minor fires can lead to big property damage concerns. Calling SERVPRO for quick fire and smoke damage cleanup and restoration will save you time and money during your home property repairs.

Dryer Fire: According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), the leading cause of dryer fires is the lack of regular maintenance, nearly 17,000 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year.  The most common sources of ignition in dryer fires are lint and household dust.

Cooking/Grilling Fire: Cooking fires are the number one cause of home fires and home injuries. The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking. Whether preparing for a family dinner or making a quick snack, practicing safe cooking behaviors can help keep you and your family safe.

Microwave Fire: Microwave ovens can do a lot of things -- pop popcorn, heat frozen burritos and warm up leftovers. When used incorrectly, microwaves can be quite dangerous, also similarly to cooking precautions you should never leave your cooking unattended while using the microwave.

Chimney Fire and Puffback: As fires burn, they generate smoke, the smoke rises and condenses, like steam on a glass of cold water…the resulting condensed smoke is called creosote. Creosote is a black or brown gummy substance that builds up on the flue. Without proper maintenance the creosote can build up and catch fire. The resulting chimney fire can leave last damages to your chimney and smoke, fire and structural damages to your home.

Furnace Puffback: Home heating equipment keeps the inside comfortable during chilly winter months, it’s an important modern convenience that without proper maintenance and cleaning can pose a significant risk for fire and smoke property damages. A furnace puffback can occur when the furnace doesn’t operate and ignite properly and may result in accumulated soot, debris and fumes backfiring through the furnace’s exhaust system. In this case, soot often travels to all parts of your home affecting everything from walls, to furniture, to clothing.

Space Heater Fires: These commonly used heating appliances provide a quick and convenient way to raise the temperature in drafty or under heated areas of your home. Although, space heaters maybe an easy solution to your home heating concerns, it’s important to use caution with these residential fire hazards to prevent unexpected fire damages to your property.

Even a small kitchen fire or fireplace puff back can lead to extensive fire, smoke and soot property damage. Removing soot residue and smoke and odors from your home can be an overwhelming and costly task. The restoration professionals at SERVPRO of Medford have the experience and training to assist in the cleanup, restoration and recovery process avoiding secondary damages and restoring your home to preloss condition, “Like it never even happened.”

The convenience of using our modern-day appliances outweighs the risks they can bring to your residential property. Using caution and preventative maintenance can help protect your home from any potential water or fire damage concerns these machines bring to your home and property. In the unfortunate event that your home suffers from one of these appliance mishaps our full-service SERVPRO restoration and cleanup professionals are here to assist with water removal, flood cleanup, fire remediation, soot and smoke removal, and reconstruction solutions.

When unexpected water or fire damages leave you and your family dealing with the aftermath of a property disaster, our SERVPRO team has years of experience and training to rescue your property, recover your possessions and rebuild your damages. Give us a call for a FREE estimate today.

SERVPRO wants to focus on gratitude and customer feedback

11/18/2021 (Permalink)

We understand the stress that property damages can bring, and we are always here to help support your recovery in whatever helpful way we can.

This Fall, SERVPRO wants to focus on gratitude

Fall in the Northeast is a season full of change, from the changing colors of the trees and the brisk weather. November is a perfect time to appreciate and reflect on both the achievements and misses of this past year. Our team is grateful for each other-our amazing staff, partners and customers that help us support our community with needed property restoration and construction services. Taking the time to appreciate the things you have, both tangible and intangible, makes you feel more positive emotions, improves your health, and can even build stronger relationships. We are grateful for our successes and have renewed enthusiasm as we roll into the Holiday season and the New Year.

November begins a holiday season that celebrates friends and family. SERVPRO is thankful for our team, our work family. Our staff is the backbone of our company, the reason we can provide high-quality and effective restoration services to support our neighbors and friends. Our gratitude for their efforts and ability to persevere during any challenge, shows why our team is the only choice when dealing with a property damage disaster. Our customer service team is helpful and friendly, always making every effort to clarify our process and expedite your recovery. Our management and production staff works hard to mitigate further damages and provide timely and knowledgeable solutions. Our construction team is resourceful and efficient at putting everything back together after any size disaster. SERVPRO of Medford provides services that help others during a time of crisis, property disasters are difficult to overcome. Our team is proud to support each owner, family and community member dealing with property damage with an effective restoration solution.

SERVPRO is here to help your property recover after a disaster

• Cleanup: After a disaster occurs, licensed technicians focus on restoring your residence to a clean and safe condition.

• Restoration: This process can include installing new tile, cleaning your HVAC system, repainting walls, and repairing nearby carpet that may have been affected by the fire.

• Rebuilding: If the structural damage in your home from the fire requires more work to restore, SERVPRO contractors can repair flooring, install new wall joists, hang the drywall and much, much more.

Our team is available 24/7 to offer our comprehensive solutions including emergency mitigation, restoration, and reconstruction for customers affected by property damage. You can depend on our SERVPRO of Medford team to arrive quickly and provide effective property restoration.

We are thankful for our great customers, who are dealing with property disasters and trust our team to turn things around. We understand the stress that property damages can bring, and we are always here to help support your recovery in whatever helpful way we can. The feedback we get from our customers helps us evolve and makes us a better, more supportive, and efficient team. 

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The SERVPRO team managed the repairs in my home after a water damage. They were very professional, personable, pleasant, diligent, but most of all extremely efficient! Always responded to texts/phone calls within a reasonable amount of time and took the time to explain the answers to my questions. This team was very respectful. The project manager was certainly a pleasure to work and deal with and I would recommend him as manager for any job. Job well done SERVPRO!!!

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They did a great job!  In addition to being in close communication regarding the time of his arrival, he informed me of all that he was going to do and then explained what he did as we toured the house after he did what he had to.  Highly recommend SERVPRO!

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If you have a positive experience to share, we would love to hear from you!

An initial inspection is critical for SERVPRO professionals to effectively resolve unique water damage concerns in each property disaster restoration

9/16/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage is one of the most common and most serious emergencies your property can ever experience. Whether you’re facing a storm, flood, weakened roof, HVAC leak, busted pipes, overflowing appliances or sewage backup, a water problem is distressing and threatening to your property’s safety and value. Finding the cause of water damage and addressing the issue is half the battle, the other half is mitigating the damages. The extent of water damage can be misleading when looking at the outside surface but often water seeps into the deeper materials of your home. Due to the unique nature of water, the damage cost can range from high to low.  Here’s a look into factors that will affect the price of water damage mitigation.

What to Expect During Property Restoration Services

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your property damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Emergency Contact: After a property disaster or emergency at your Long Island home or business, your call to us will connect you to one of our trained SERVPRO restoration professionals to take some basic information to provide to our project managers and technicians.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name, address and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?

Inspection and Damage Assessment including Estimate: One of our trained professionals will come and assess your property damage. What type of water loss was it? How much of the property is affected? These answers are critical to addressing the unique solution for your restoration needs.

These key factors can determine the amount of mitigation, restoration and rebuild needed to recover your property following a disaster:

• The type of water affecting the property. Clean water from a burst plumbing pipe poses less risk than “black water” from the sewer or debris-laden floodwaters. The type of water that has damaged your property makes a big difference in what it will take to appropriately treat the damage.
   
• The types of materials involved. Porous materials will swell, warp, and disintegrate when it’s wet. The makeup of damaged structures and property strongly affect the approach and costs for cleanup and restoration.
   
• How deeply the structure is affected. In the example above, the stone tile of a floor may not be damaged, but water may still have damaged the subfloor. Water can cause many “hidden” losses, and a professional will carefully identify and evaluate the potential for deeper, unseen damages.
   
• How long the property has been wet. Mitigation efforts are most effective when they happen immediately after the damage happens. If a property has been standing in water for a long time or wasn’t appropriately treated when the water was removed, the damage may have worsened significantly. The growth of mold, mildew, and bacteria also becomes an increasingly major concern the longer a property stays wet.

Property Emergencies happen every day and acting fast after property damage could mean the difference between restoring your home quickly to preloss condition or needing extensive and expensive reconstruction. Our SERVPRO team never stops being READY to handle your Long Island, Suffolk County fire, water or mold property disaster, we have the best staff, with the best resources standing ready to answer your call quickly and restore your home or business, “Like it never even happened.”

August is Back to School Safety Month - SERVPRO is here with some tips to help your family and community

8/23/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to help... Back to School Safety is an important part to keeping our children and our community safe during back-to-school chaos.

Back to School Safety Tips

The Beginning of school needs some extra attention from everyone.

Back to school has been challenging lately, it’s a difficult transition during the best of times. Adding some extra attention to your preparations and routines this year can help ease the transition for families, and communities alike. SERVPRO is proud to support our local community during property crisis situations, we encourage every family and neighbor to take extra caution traveling during school days and practice school safety with your family and friends.

Pay Extra Attention to your family and your morning driving routine while school starts and throughout the year.

According to research by the National Safety Council, most of the children who lose their lives in bus-related incidents are 4 to 7 years old, and they’re walking. They are hit by the bus, or by a motorist illegally passing a stopped bus.

Prepare your family and students for the start of school
Transitioning back to school can bring mixed emotions, even children familiar with the changes that come with a school routine can need some extra attention during the first days and weeks of school.

• Practice, practice, practice! Learning how to get ready each morning for the trip to school takes time and practice. It’s helpful to practice this before the actual first day. Pretend it’s a school day, and go through the steps of getting up, dressed, fed, and out the door.
• Try to make after-school time a bit special, with a snack and time for the two of you to chat. Talk to your child about his feelings about school, friends, teachers, and new activities.
• Make a portable family album. You can’t stay with your child all year, but your photos can! The process of making a photo album together is a bonding and comforting project. Use a small, soft plastic album (available at most dollar stores) that can be easily washed, carried, and kissed!
• Give your child lots of love and support, whatever you are feeling show that you are excited and enthusiastic about your child starting school. This sends your child the positive message that school is exciting and that they’ll cope and have fun. Be patient if your child wants to blurt out every little detail about school or clams up completely. You could try saying something like, ‘Tell me one good thing about your day’, rather than asking lots of questions.
• Choose a lunch box that has an easy-to-open lid. Your child can practice using the lunch box during a picnic lunch at home or in the park. Ask your child what kind of snack she wants to bring. Shop together for the ingredients and engage her in the making and packing of the snack.

Sharing the Road with Young Pedestrians & School Buses
Traffic safety is also key to keeping children safe.

• Take extra precaution traveling through neighborhoods look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks, and in all residential areas.
• Slow down and drive extra cautiously. In a school zone when flashers are blinking, stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection.
• Don’t block the crosswalk when stopped at a red light or waiting to make a turn, forcing pedestrians to go around you; this could put them in the path of moving traffic.
• When school bus lights are flashing and the stop arm is extended, traffic must stop. Never pass a bus from behind – or from either direction if you’re on an undivided road – if it is stopped to load or unload children.
• Be alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and take risks. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far enough back to al-low them space to safely enter and exit the bus.

Back to School Safety is an important component to keeping our children and our community safe during the chaos back-to-school routines can bring. SERVPRO and our team know that observing safety precautions and community support make a big difference in avoiding an emergency. These tips can help your family and neighborhood transition to a successful and safe start to a New School Year!

SERVPRO is here to help minimize seasonal allergens with professional cleaning services

4/19/2021 (Permalink)

As spring allergy season approaches, our professional cleaning services can improve your health by reducing allergens in your property. Many American adults and children suffer from asthma or allergic rhinitis, or hay fever, the symptoms of both can be triggered by dust mites, mold, and other allergens often found in air ducts. Allergies, according to the CDC, are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the U.S.

Benefits of Air Duct & HVAC Cleaning
Like furnaces and air conditioners, air ducts require proper cleaning and maintenance to perform at their best. Keeping ducts free of dust and debris can also help reduce your energy bill and improve air quality in your home/business. More frequent duct cleaning is recommended if you have indoor pets or are sensitive to indoor air quality issues for example you suffer from asthma. You should also have your ducts cleaned if you have recently renovated your home or business, as this will increase the amount of dust in your forced air system. It’s also recommended to have your HVAC system and air ducts cleaned and services following a property damage event.

Having your ducts cleaned can save you money in the long run, and create a better environment for your family, friends, employees, and your customers. Restore energy efficiency over time and reduce the possibility of microbial growth with ventilation cleaning services from SERVPRO of Medford.

Contaminants That Are Distributed Through Your Ducts

When considering a duct cleaning service, it is important to realize that your HVAC system is responsible for air circulation in your home. Some of the things that can cause irritation are:

• Pollen – Pollen is the number one cause of airborne allergies and your air duct system distributes it throughout your home if left uncleaned. Pollen is brought into your home on your clothes or through open doors and windows. Any pollen that makes it through your vent filters will simply be re-distributed by your HVAC, causing major problems for allergy sufferers.
• Dust Mites– Keeping your home dust-free is impossible if your HVAC is constantly spewing dust that has built up in your ducts. Dust mites are one of the most impactful irritants for allergy sufferers.
• Mold and Mildew– If moisture happens to enter your duct system, it can lead to mold and mildew development. If your ducts are moldy, it can spread spores throughout your property.
• Pet Dander– While we all love our pets, we don’t love the dander that spreads from their skin. Cleaning the dust with a duct cleaning service will help to prevent the redistribution of these contaminants by your HVAC.

DIY CLEANING TIPS to Help You Control Indoor Allergens and Improve Indoor Air Quality
The best way to improve your air quality is to get rid of the sources of allergens and irritants from your home or business. Take measures to avoid and reduce your contact with allergens. Also increase the flow of outdoor air into your home and reduce humidity as much as possible.
When you have environmental allergies, it can be hard to bring yourself to open a window, much less stir up dust, dirt, debris or pollen while cleaning your home or business.

Here are cleaning tips you may want to add to your regular routine to reduce indoor allergens

• Reducing dust-collecting clutter
• Regularly vacuuming carpeted floors with a double-bag or HEPA filter vacuum
• Dusting blinds and window treatments bi-weekly
• Regularly washing blankets and throw rugs
• Washing all bed linens in hot water every week
• Keeping counters and other hard surfaces clean and dry
• Getting all water damage restored quickly

However, duct cleaning is not always necessary. Our technicians will make recommendations about the best way to address any indoor air quality concerns. This can save you money and provide peace of mind on the health of your commercial or residential HVAC system.

Visual clues, like signs of mold and excessive dust around the air vents, can point to a need for cleaning. Otherwise, these additional concerns can indicate that your property could benefit from a professional cleaning.

• Has your property had a routine cleaning in the last 6-10 years, or sooner if you suffer from allergies or own pets.
• Is your property collecting dust even after you have done a regular cleaning?
• Do you notice allergy symptoms or asthma flareups when you turn on your heating/cooling system?

If indoor allergens are causing your seasonal allergies to flare up, a professional duct cleaning can remove irritants and improve overall air quality. A professional cleaning has many benefits to your property including reducing humidity and odors, our professionals are trained technicians, with state-of-the-art equipment and unique knowledge and experience. They will pay careful attention to the details that matter most when cleaning and restoring your property to a healthy work or living environment.

Our SERVPRO construction team can help rebuild and restore your property after any size property disaster

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Our team has years of experience helping local properties recover from property damages, our SERVPRO construction team is always here to help rebuild.

Over my many years in property restoration, disasters are unpredictable and happen when we least expect it, I have witnessed catastrophic property disasters with unmeasurable damages. Throughout that time myself and my team have worked diligently with property owners and families to restore their homes and businesses and their “normal.” I have witnessed many successes, I have had many lessons, my advice is having an experienced professional by your side is the most important part of any recovery. All property restorations are multi-facetted; these phases of recovery are often handled by multiple providers who perform limited services, ultimately leaving gaps in the process, costing you time, money, and resources. My goal over the past decade has been to build an experienced team to handle the complete recovery and restoration of any size disaster, from start to finish. Our SERVPRO franchise has worked hard over the last decade to develop a robust construction team, capable of general contracting, new construction, renovation and rebuild services. 

Our SERVPRO certified property restoration specialists and construction professionals have helped thousands of residential and commercial property owners recover from disastrous property damage events. Our team’s expert training, state-of-the-art equipment, science-based restoration process and construction services combine to expedite your recovery in a cost-effective manner. 

Property Disaster Cleanup & Restoration Services:

Should your property sustain damage following a disaster, our SERVPRO team is here to help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. When working on property damage restoration jobs, our first priority is to determine what steps to take to save as much of the structure and contents as possible. We use specialized equipment and methods sanctioned by the Institute for Inspection and Cleaning Restoration Certification (IICRC) to assist in accomplishing this objective. Customers can rely on our fast, quality, and reliable support to handle any size restoration, remediation, or repair project — our goal and unique recovery solution is designed to help your business or home get back to normal, “Like it never even happened.”

• Water Damage Restoration
• Mold Removal and Remediation
• Fire Damage Cleanup & Restoration
• Flood and Storm Damage Restoration

Residential & Commercial Property Construction Services:

Depending on the scope of the project, the restoration process may require several phases before completion. As a full-service residential and commercial restoration and construction company, we support your property recovery process from start to finish. SERVPRO’s preferred vendor status ensures we have a thorough understanding of the claims process, deliver premium quality services, and ensure customer satisfaction. You can trust that our team has a clear understanding of your rights as a property owner, as well as the responsibilities of your insurance carrier. Mitigating the disaster, gathering evidence, giving estimates, and dealing with any insurance adjusters are some of the important skills needed to expedite your claim. Claims negotiation is an important part of the process and another step where you really want a disaster restoration company that you can trust to be your advocate.

• General Contractor: Commercial and Residential Construction and Remodeling
• Structural Demolition and Debris Removal
• Structural Containment, Board Up and Fencing
• Interior Build-Out and Tenant Improvements
• Drywall, Painting and Carpentry

Trusted. Experienced. Certified

Putting your property back together after a disaster can be challenging, our whole team takes pride in helping restore and repair residential or commercial property after a fire, water or mold disaster! The SERVPRO brand is nationally recognized and a leader in the restoration industry; managers and technicians have IICRC training and certifications. We have spent decades building an experienced and well trained multi-facetted certified team, that is the complete package for any property disaster recovery. Our emergency restoration specialists and our highly-qualified licensed construction team are both known for innovative solutions to complex and catastrophic disaster property losses and having unique skills including property damage mitigation, remediation, thermal imaging, rebuild, new construction, and capital improvements. Whatever your fire, water, or mold emergency you can trust that the SERVPRO team will have you covered.

SERVPRO of Medford Is Always On Call for Your Property Emergency

11/27/2020 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO team never stops being READY to handle your fire, water or mold property disaster.

Property Disasters don’t have regular hours and neither does our dedicated team of technicians and project managers.

SERVPRO of Medford provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.

When property damage from fire, smoke, water strike, time is of the essence. Contacting a Disaster Restoration company within the first 24 hours after the initial damage can better prevent permanent destruction and reduce repair costs to homeowners. That’s why, SERVPRO of Medford provides 24-HOUR Emergency Support EVERYDAY! We always have a trained Disaster restoration professional here to help you with your fire or water property damage.

Our SERVPRO team is here to answer the phone ready to help with your Suffolk County property damage

As a leader in property damage restoration and repair services, we have helped countless families and businesses through very unpredictable and devastating residential and commercial property losses. We understand you may not know what to do in a disaster situation, SERVPRO of Medford can help by responding faster with professionals who can help you through the restoration process.

Know what to expect:

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your property damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed. Emergency Contact: After you have a property disaster or emergency, your call will connect you to one of our trained professionals to take some basic information to provide to our project managers and technicians.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

    •    Your name and contact information
    •    Your insurance information (if applicable)
    •    The street address of the water-damaged home or business
    •    When did the flooding or water damage occur?
    •    What caused the water damage (if known)?
    •    Is there electricity available (on-site)?

Inspection and Damage Assessment including Estimate: One of our trained professionals will come and assess your property damage. What type of fire is it? What type of water loss was it? These answers are critical to addressing the unique solution for your restoration needs.

Restoration, Cleanup and Repair: With your approval, our team of skilled technicians starts working on your restoration and cleanup. We can provide board-up, packing and itemizing your property, water, smoke or soot removal, drying and dehumidification, cleanup and repair services depending on your specific situation and restoration needs.

Your best defense against long lasting commercial fire, smoke and water property damage is a quick and rigorous response by our trained technicians. Each SERVPRO team member has been thoroughly trained in fire restoration, water restoration, carpet & upholstery cleaning, and mold mitigation before stepping foot onto your home or business. Our restoration technicians utilize state-of-the-art equipment and technology to restore and repair your entire structure and belongings as efficiently as possible.

Property Emergencies happen everyday, and acting fast after property damage could mean the difference between restoring your home quickly to preloss condition or needing extensive and expensive reconstruction. Our SERVPRO team never stops being READY to handle your fire, water or mold property disaster, we have the best staff, with the best resources standing ready to answer your call quickly and restore your home or business, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO has advanced strategies for professional residential air duct/HVAC cleaning services for Long Island

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

Air duct and HVAC cleaning services can reduce the pollutants circulating throughout your system, improve air flow, energy concerns and air concerns.

Heating Season is around the corner; here are several reasons to schedule a professional residential air duct/HVAC cleaning service this season with SERVPRO of Medford. Maintaining clean and healthy air quality in your home or business is essential this fall and winter.

Fall brings longer nights and lower temperatures, for most households that means turning on the heating and ventilation system in your home. The HVAC and air duct system in your home is responsible for circulating heated air and providing proper ventilation keeping your family comfortable throughout the fall and winter. According to the EPA, Americans’ spend about 90% of their time indoors, and the quality of your air is directly related to the amount of debris and contamination in your ducts and ventilation system. As we begin spending more time indoors and closing the doors and windows, it’s most important to focus on the health of the air your family is breathing. Here are some great reasons why fall is an ideal time to schedule an HVAC/air duct cleaning and inspection, to keep your home, family and system healthy and running efficiently. 

• Fall Is Allergy Season
  
  For many, seasonal allergies in the fall are terrible the mixture of dry air and allergens can have a negative impact on many in your family. Air ducts can accumulate allergens such as mold spores, bacteria, pollen, mildew pet dander and other harmful contaminants spreading them throughout your indoor environment and compromising your air quality.  Making an appointment for SERVPRO professionals to clean your air ducts and HVAC system can remove these pollutants that have accumulated over the seasons, to keep your family healthy and breathing easier this fall and winter.
  
• Summer Is Over
  
  Summer storms, pests and vegetation can bring debris inside your HVAC system or high humidity can cause mold growth inside or around your air ducts, vents and fans. Fall is a great time to inspect your air entrances and exists for airflow problems or dust and debris buildup. These factors could contribute to air restriction and possibly compromised air quality. Setting up an appointment for a residential air duct inspection with a highly trained SERVPRO professional is easy, give us a call to schedule an appointment today.
  
• Lower Energy Costs
  
  Turning on your system in the fall and winter to heat your home, circulates heated air throughout your duct system. When dust, mold, contaminants and other debris accumulates in air ducts, it blocks the incoming/outgoing airflow. A reduction in airflow caused by particle and debris buildup can be directly responsible for increases in energy usage when your system needs more power to continue to force air through a dirty duct system. ENERGY STAR estimates that about 20% of the air that moves through your HVAC system is lost due to leaks and duct issues. When your HVAC unit works harder to move air through dirty ducts, you use more energy and your monthly bill increases. Cleaning your air ducts in the fall will allow larger volumes of clean air to circulate throughout your home, along with several other steps air duct cleaning can help reduce the rising cost of heating your home.

SERVPRO residential air duct and HVAC cleaning services have an additional benefit, of providing a cleaner home for you and your family to enjoy. Home heating and ventilation systems can accumulate dust, mold, pollen and any number of contaminants that can cause air quality problems to develop inside your residence. As the air cycles through your duct work, vents and other parts of your HVAC unit the dust and debris will also, sometimes adding to the weekly buildup of dust and pollutants in your living areas. SERVPRO professionals use advanced equipment and techniques to thoroughly clean your air ducts, removing dust, mold and other contaminants trapped within your air ventilation system and stop them from re-circulating through your living areas. Our crews use heavy-duty vacuums, to eliminate harmful odors, particles and allergens to improve the overall air quality of your home.

SERVPRO professionals are here to help with Suffolk County residential air duct and HVAC cleaning services. Our technicians have a wide variety of services to clean and sanitize any dirty or contaminated indoor air duct systems. SERVPRO residential air duct and HVAC cleaning services can reduce the pollutants circulating throughout your system, improve air flow, energy concerns and create a healthier and cleaner indoor environment overall.

SERVPRO provides start to finish professional property disaster cleanup, restoration, rebuild and post-construction cleaning services to Long Island

7/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is committed to making the cleanup, restoration and rebuild process for our customers organized, efficient and successful.

SERVPRO PROFESSIONALS WORK HARD TO RECOVER YOUR PROPERTY DURING THE WHOLE DISASTER

When your Long Island home or commercial building faces damages from a property disaster, working with a full-service disaster restoration and cleanup company can give you the advantage you need to save money and time during the property recovery process. Our SERVPRO location offers a unique opportunity to work with a local trusted restoration and recovery team, that includes IICRC certified property damage technicians and licensed contractors with disaster restoration rebuilding experience. Giving you a complete property disaster restoration and rebuild option for cleanup and repairs. SERVPRO of Medford professional restoration and construction managers and crews work together to give your water damage, fire damage or mold remediation project a seamless time-saving and often cost effective transition, making your property truly, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO is a trusted leader in the property disaster recovery and restoration business, our on-call 24/7 emergency response teams are highly-trained and experienced with all types of property disasters losses including fire, smoke, water, sewage, flood and storm damage. Our restoration professionals near you have 30 years of experience providing high-quality commercial and residential property disaster restoration and reconstruction services to local Long Island communities every day.

Our Superior Disaster Property Damage Restoration Process

Step1: Emergency Contact

Step 2: Inspection and Fire & Water Damage Assessment

Step 3: Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service (if needed)

Step 4: Water Removal and Drying

Step 5: Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces

Step 6: Cleaning and Repair

Step 7: Restoration & Rebuild

Property disasters including property damage from storms, fire, flood and water can leave your Long Island property unsafe for family and friends, contacting a one-stop shop for all disaster restoration services is an important step to property recovery and a faster return to normal. Our experienced SERVPRO restoration specialists are trained to clean and restore your property with as little disruption as possible. Fire or water damage to your Long Island business is frustrating and needs to be dealt with by trained professionals to ensure further damage does not continue to impact your commercial property down the road. We understand the level of importance that surrounds maintaining a safe, healthy environment in your Long Island restaurant. You need access to SERVPRO of Medford’s team of qualified professionals who are ready to provide you with the expert restoration services you deserve, a company that puts every effort into making damages on your property disappear, “Like it never even happened.” 

Fighting a Pandemic with Professional Cleaning and Disinfecting

4/6/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO’s crews stand ready to provide advanced cleaning and disinfecting options for your commercial or residential property.

SERVPRO® professionals have been helping local communities across the country flatten the curve performing residential and commercial deep cleaning and disinfecting services. In response to the coronavirus crisis, SERVPRO offers proactive and reactive cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection options for commercial and residential properties with the goal of minimizing the transmission of emergent viral pathogens, including the coronavirus.

We’re Here for You in a Time of Crisis

As a corporation, SERVPRO is in a unique position to perform these essential services at a time of urgent need. In just about any disaster situation, the team at SERVPRO of Medford is prepared to offer—the expertise, training, equipment and personnel to quickly clean up and restore your home or business.

About the Coronavirus and Covid-19

The coronavirus is believed to spread primarily through personal contact, between people who are within about six feet of one another, through airborne respiratory droplets that are produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It may also be possible to catch the virus by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

“Social distancing” has become the new watchword and the key to slowing the pandemic. In this rapidly changing situation, Americans are experiencing unprecedented canceling of events and widespread closings of schools, restaurants and workplaces. Along with avoiding large crowds and keeping a six-foot distance from others, the most common advice from experts is to wash hands frequently and avoid touching faces.

Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website for the latest and most accurate information on the coronavirus and Covid-19. Because this outbreak is unfolding rapidly and unpredictably, we at SERVPRO encourage you to check back with the CDC frequently for updates.

The Importance of Proactive Cleaning

According to the CDC, “Cleaning of visibly dirty surfaces followed by disinfection is a best practice measure for prevention of COVID-19 and other viral respiratory illnesses in households and community settings.”

Today, when the need is most urgent, SERVPRO of Medford is prepared—right now—to clean, sanitize and disinfect your home or business to eradicate traces of coronavirus or other pathogens.

Whether you have no indication of existing contamination, or you are aware that your structure may have been contaminated with coronavirus, SERVPRO’s crews stand ready to provide increased assurance that you, your family, your customers and your employees will not be exposed to coronavirus within your building.

Many types of businesses can benefit from SERVPRO’s proactive cleaning, which targets the coronavirus and other pathogens:

• Restaurants and bars
• Retail stores
• Offices, especially medical offices
• Schools
• Nursing homes, senior centers and rehabilitation facilities
• Gyms
• Hotels, B&Bs and other hospitality sites
• Libraries
• Theaters and entertainment venues
• Apartment buildings
• Factories and warehouses

Please be aware, however, that while SERVPRO’s cleaning process can remove existing viral pathogens, including the coronavirus, structures we clean proactively will not be protected from future coronavirus contamination if an infected person subsequently enters the building.

Mold Is A Growing Issue for NASSAU & SUFFOLK COUNTY Home and Business Owners on Long Island During Winter and Spring

2/26/2020 (Permalink)

The proper mold remediation solution for your home or business depends on the amount of mold growth and types of surfaces on which the fungus appears.

Mold needs moisture, warmth and food to grow, so why is it becoming such a problem for property owners during cold winters?

Proper insulation is important to save on energy costs and keep you warm and cozy during winter temperatures, but without proper airflow and ventilation you could be creating a WINTER MOLD DISASTER.

Proper air circulation is crucial to avoid water and mold damage to your residential or commercial property, especially during winter. Airflow and ventilation regulate temperature, removes impurities, prevents mold and creates a more healthy and safe breathing environment.

SERVPRO of Medford has your home and business mold disaster answers; our team can protect your property from additional water and mold damage we offer remediation services throughout Long Island including Medford. Our professionals are certified in mold remediation and removal, we are a trusted leader in the mold remediation industry and have been helping local home and business owners in this community for nearly 30 years. Our technicians are near you, and available to help access your property damage and provide quick and efficient mold remediation and removal services with highly qualified technicians and state-of-the-art tools and equipment. You can trust SERVPRO to work hard to restore your property, “Like it never even happened.”

While mold is generally thought to thrive during the warmer months, mold growth in the winter is now becoming a more common problem for home and business owners. Mold needs moisture, warmth and food to grow, during winter turning up the heat in your well-insulated and tightly sealed home or business may feel like the best way to shield yourself from the cold, but without proper ventilation that warm moist air can’t escape, especially in high-humidity areas such as the bathroom, kitchen, basement or attic it forms condensation on your windows, walls and other areas of your property that can cause water damage and mold.

Trouble Spots for Mold and Moisture

Most Long Island homes and businesses have numerous trouble spots for mold and moisture, in residential properties the places that get most easily affected by mold are bathrooms, kitchens, basements, attics, garages, and laundry rooms. In commercial or municipal buildings; bathrooms and kitchens, cafeterias, gyms with showering or pool areas, HVAC systems, and any area that has high moisture content will be an ideal breeding ground for mold.

Several factors lead to increased concerns about mold during the winter months.

• For one thing, moisture conditions indoors can lead to the growth of mold and mildew; certain areas of the home may experience intensified levels of humidity because of a lack of ventilation.
• Bathrooms and kitchens are particularly susceptible to this problem; the accumulation of steam from showers, washing dishes and cooking in the kitchen all add moisture mixing with heated air.
• Moisture that travels through the air from your basement, bathrooms, or kitchen may condense when it meets a cold wall. Because of cold weather, windows aren't usually open, and condensation collects on indoor surfaces such as cold walls or windows and their frames, often creating ideal conditions for mold growth. 
• Less than optimal insulation, mold can also grow during the winter on the inside walls, especially on the surfaces closest to the outside of your home or business.

SERVPRO IS ALWAYS HERE TO HELP WITH MOLD PROPERTY DAMAGE

Mold can be a major problem for residential and commercial property owners, using the prevention tips outlined above can help keep your property mold-free. If you do discover mold in your home or business, the best thing to do is call our professional mold remediation team at SERVPRO of Medford.

We use various containment procedures to prevent mold spore from spreading and we have specialized filtration equipment that allows our professionals to capture microscopic mold spores out of the air. The proper mold remediation solution for your home or business depends on the amount of mold growth and types of surfaces on which the fungus appears. Our mold remediation team at SERVPRO of Medford has the tools and equipment to inspect and assess the damage and determine the best methods to contain and remove the mold, clean and restore your contents and property and, help identify the cause of the water or moisture problem so that it doesn’t cause additional damage in the future.

The SERVPRO Advantage: Knowledge and Advanced Technology and A Quick Response

2/25/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides a quick, effective and complete restoration plan for the full cleanup, repair and rebuild of your property following any disaster

How the SERVPRO Advantage makes a difference in your Suffolk property damage cleanup and restoration

Property Emergencies happen every day, acting fast after your Long Island property damage from fire, smoke or water could mean the difference between restoring your home quickly to preloss condition or needing extensive and expensive reconstruction. We put the best people, in the best locations, and give them the best resources to give your property the BEST results.

The Brand You Know and Trust

You can recognize and trust the SERVPRO name... as a leader and innovator in the restoration industry, our team and equipment stand out above the rest.

Serving America Since 1967

Since 1967, SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have been assisting client's fire and water damage cleanup and restoration needs across the United States, locally owned and operated, SERVPRO of Medford has been helping local Long Island residents and business owners with property losses in this community for nearly 30 years, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is an extremely important component to the service advantage that the SERVPRO near you can provide.

OUR Experience - Following a fire and smoke or water property damage to your home or business a courteous SERVPRO professional will lead the way. Our skilled technicians perform an inspection; checking for hazards and making a detailed list of professional services that can help restore your business, home and contents. After explaining everything in detail, our technicians get to work restoring your home. You’ll see the SERVPRO advantage with a team on site, each performing different tasks designed to reach a specific goal. At the end of our restoration process, our technicians make sure you are satisfied with the work we have done, we have corrected any existing problems and remove our supplies and equipment making sure we have achieved the desired goal of restoring your home or business.

OUR Training - SERVPRO’s team of highly trained employees never stop preparing. Each team member has been thoroughly trained for fire restoration, water restoration, carpet & upholstery cleaning, and mold mitigation before stepping foot inside your home or business. Our skilled SERVPRO technicians have ongoing training extending far beyond their initial IICRC training, with continued education programs and e-learning seminars and courses our technicians cultivate skills to make them more efficient with mitigation, remediation and ALL other advanced restoration techniques. We pride ourselves on providing industry-leading equipment and training to our teams to make your property damage cleanup and restoration process quick and effective.

OUR Equipment - Our teams use high-quality products and advanced technology equipment to provide you with the most effective cleanup and restoration results. SERVPRO equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing the amount of damage sustained to your property and possessions following a fire, smoke or water loss. Our state-of-the-art equipment including, portable water extraction units, air scrubbers, high powered air movers, industrial-strength dehumidification equipment, and thermal imaging cameras all have crucial roles in the mitigation, cleanup and restoration process. Our SERVPRO of Medford technicians are specially trained to use these tools and equipment to diagnose what areas of your property sustained damage and give them a distinct advantage to determine the most effective and efficient way to cleanup and restore your property damage.

Are you looking for a reliable restoration company, SERVPRO of Medford can quickly and effectively reverse your property’s fire, smoke, water or mold damage, and restore your home or business, “Like it never even happened.” 

SERVPRO is here to help with mold remediation for all types of Long Island businesses.

9/17/2019 (Permalink)

When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains.

Mold colonization in commercial facilities and warehouses can quickly get out of control without the appropriate intervention, SERVPRO is here to help with mold remediation for all types of Long Island commercial facilities.

Commercial flooding and other water damage most often have far reaching consequences on commercial property, leaving the need for many different types of property damage restoration services including water removal, demolition, deodorization and decontamination, drying and dehumidifying and rebuilding. Whether your property just weathered a season of heavy rain, experienced a common appliance malfunction or plumbing leak, commercial water damage cleanup and restoration can be complicated. It most often requires a detailed set of steps to make sure the water is properly extracted, cleaned up, dried and mitigated, when these steps aren’t taken, and moisture continues to plaque your business you could end up with a mold infestation and the need for professional mold remediation. Any commercial property can quickly become infested with mold if a source of water is present, the key to preventing excessive mold growth is to control moisture. Mold grows quickly and can spread throughout a property in as little as 24-48 hours. That’s why it’s important to act quickly if your commercial property experiences a water damage or you see any signs of hidden water or visible mold within your commercial facility. SERVPRO is a leading provider of mold remediation services across the country, our mold certified technicians can assess your commercial warehouse or building to evaluate the extent of your damage and advise owners and managers of the proper steps to remediate and restore your facility, “Like it never even happened.”

How Does Mold Damage Your Commercial Warehouse or Building?

Mold is a microscopic, airborne fungus that exists all around us, it occurs naturally in our surroundings and mostly reproduces by releasing spores into the environment. In nature, mold plays an important role in the decomposition of organic material. Mold requires both organic material and a consistent source of moisture to grow. Many materials in homes and business contain the organic materials conducive to mold growth. When excessive moisture accumulates indoors, drywall, wood, paneling, ceiling tiles, carpeting, insulation, paper, cardboard, fabric, upholstery and even paint will encourage mold growth. If there is a consistent water source, mold will continue to colonize and break down organic material into a dusty, dirt-like material. Leaving mold damage unattended to for an extended period can cause unnecessary damage to your home and possible health effects to the occupants. It’s never too early nor too late to address commercial property mold damage.

When excessive moisture accumulates in buildings or on building materials, mold growth will often occur, particularly if the moisture problem remains undiscovered or unaddressed. It is impossible to eliminate all mold and mold spores in the indoor environment. However, mold growth can be controlled indoors by controlling moisture indoors.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends these tips to prevent commercial property mold damage

Ensure all leaky plumbing is fixed; Correct all noticed wet spots;

Completely eliminate condensation through insulating or increasing air circulation;

• Reduce the moisture level in the air and add ventilation to reduce humidity;
• Maintain indoor humidity level below 60% with a goal of 30-50%;
• Conduct routine building and HVAC inspections;
• Provide proper drainage and sloping to eliminate wet foundations.

What is Mold Remediation

Mold remediation is the process of finding, containing, and removing mold and damaged materials from an affected area and the air around it. It’s crucial to contain the damaged areas, because spores are microscopic and can easily spread to other areas through the air or by attaching themselves to clothes or objects throughout the remediation process. SERVPRO mold removal specialists are specially trained using techniques to contain the damaged areas and mitigate the spread of mold, using air pressure and physical barriers to seal off the infected area, including ductwork during the remediation process.

Moldy items such as furniture, carpeting and inventory are cleaned if the infestation is minor or removed if it’s extensive. In this commercial warehouse our mold remediation team setup on-site clean rooms to more efficiently remediate damaged materials and contents. Damaged parts of drywall are removed, replaced, and repainted. Large storage racks can be hand cleaned with antimicrobial agents, all items in the area must be cleaned and sanitized, even if they don’t have visible mold. Mold can be very illusive and can grow behind wallpaper, inside books or files and other hidden areas. Our SERVPRO professionals have advanced equipment and top tier training to remediate mold and return any commercial property mold damage back to a healthy, safe and operation work environment.

Commercial Mold Remediation for Long Island

The Environmental Protection Agency has a guide for Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings on their website.

How Does SERVPRO Stop the Spread of Mold During the Remediation Process

SERVPRO mold remediation crew members are train to use the highest restoration industry standards, mastering Applied Microbial Remediation through IICRC courses. We employ the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed protocols to contain and remove active mold colonies. Our crews also use EPA registered antimicrobial products to treat surfaces after removal to inhibit additional growth. During remediation, we protect our employees and your occupants from the hazards of mold remediation by creating zones where we remove and bag the mold and contaminated debris. Physical barriers provide one kind of protection, and we also install HEPA filtered exhaust ductwork and use negative air pressure to prevent airborne mold and residues from infiltrating unaffected areas of the building.

Containment of the Affected Area

One of the main concerns, when indoor mold is present, is the dissemination of airborne mold spores. When a remediation project is initiated the first step is to set up containment or isolation of the affected area. Containment will help our SERVPRO professionals control the spread of these spores while assisting the remediation process in returning the affected area to normal conditions. The act of removing or disturbing a mold source tends to distribute large quantities of mold spores into the air. If proper containment is not utilized, this can affect adjacent spaces to the work area and cause cross contamination.

When setting up containment of the work area, the first step is to install a HEPA Filtered Negative Air machine. This is a fan which pulls air from the affected area and exhausts the contaminated air outside of the structure via flexible tubing or ducting. Doing this will begin to draw the airborne mold spores away from the airspace, eventually creating a negative pressure environment.

The second step is to install physical barriers in the work area, creating zones. This is most typically done with the use of heavy plastic. The main goal when creating this physical barrier is to completely isolate the work area from any adjacent, non-affected areas. All HVAC systems or shared airways between other rooms would be taped or covered in plastic, and all electrical outlets and light fixtures would be covered. Basically, any area that could allow air flow between the mold infested area and another non-affected area should be properly sealed.

If you discover mold or are experiencing a musty odor in your commercial warehouse or building, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Medford to help. Our highly-trained and IICRC certified Long Island mold remediation specialists are here to help, to explain and assess your property’s commercial mold cleanup and mitigation needs. Our priority is to keep you informed of your specific remediation solution and get your commercial property’s mold damage concerns under control. Our teams will cleanup, remove damage and remediate your commercial mold problem, restoring your facility, “Like it never even happened.”

Source: https://www.epa.gov/

SERVPRO provides start to finish professional property disaster cleanup, restoration, rebuild and post-construction cleaning services to Long Island

7/29/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will guide you step-by-step through the cleanup, restoration and reconstruction process and make your experience fast and effective.

When your Long Island home or commercial building faces damages from a property disaster, working with a full service disaster restoration and cleanup company can give you the advantage you need to save money and time during the property recovery process. Our SERVPRO location offers a unique opportunity to work with a local trusted restoration and recovery team, that includes IICRC certified property damage technicians and licensed contractors with disaster restoration rebuilding experience. Giving you a complete property disaster restoration and rebuild option for cleanup and repairs. SERVPRO of Medford professional restoration and construction managers and crews work together to give your water damage, fire damage or mold remediation project a seamless time-saving and often cost effective transition, making your property truly, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO is a trusted leader in the property disaster recovery and restoration business, our on-call 24/7 emergency response teams are highly-trained and experienced with all types of property disasters losses including fire, smoke, water, sewage, flood and storm damage. Our restoration professionals near you have 30 years of experience providing high-quality commercial and residential property disaster restoration and reconstruction services to local Long Island communities every day.

Emergency Response Property Disaster Restoration Services

SERVPRO of Medford is committed to making the cleanup, restoration and rebuild process for our customers organized, efficient and successful, after a frustrating and confusing property disaster event. Whether your home or building sustained damages from a storm, flood, fire or water disaster, you’ll have trusted and compassionate professionals by your side. We will work with you to survey the extent of the property damage, develop a plan for cleanup, restoration and reconstruction.

Disaster restoration and repair for your Medford commercial or residential property is best left to professionals. Our SERVPRO professionals are skills with the complexities of removing water and the water extraction, drying, dehumidifying, disinfecting and removal equipment required to complete the job properly. Our expert team has the experience, certifications, and equipment to complete any size restoration and repair project quickly, correctly, and affordably.

Some of our property Restoration services include:

• Water Removal and Extraction: This important and often first step in the process involves us removing and extracting standing water from all areas of your property. Our SERVPRO technicians utilize industrial grade equipment to move large volumes quickly and efficiently to minimize long term hazards and damage
• Property Drying: After the bulk of the water is removed hazardous levels of moisture can still exist fibrous structural and aesthetic components in your home or business building. We utilize specialized equipment to pull moisture from the air to create an environment suitable for drying of these important pieces and may also attempt to speed the drying process with heat.
• Cleanup: After water and moisture have been removed and dried it’s important to conduct thorough cleaning of the affected area to prevent future health hazards. Flooding from rivers and sewers can pose exceptional risks to health and welfare due to the silt and bacteria they carry. Our team will remove damaged items that are beyond repair
• Soot and Smoke Mitigation: SERVPRO’s full-spectrum restoration capabilities has many benefits when it comes to fire and smoke damage restoration. We often use air scrubbers that creates negative air pressure to force contaminants through HEPA filters before exhausting to the outdoors. Air quality is improved, including the clearing of any fumes from cleaners or solvents used to remove protein-based soot from kitchen fires.

Our team dedicated team, provides professional and prompt emergency restoration services for all local Long Island commercial businesses and homeowners. SERVPRO of Medford’s building services gives our location a unique opportunity to streamline the entire property restoration and recovery process, while mitigating challenges and providing quick and seamless professional service from start to finish.

Property Repair and Reconstruction Services

Once the emergency mitigation services have been performed, our Restoration Project Manager will coordinate with our construction team, your insurance company and adjuster to plan the next steps. Our full-service disaster restoration services provide all the necessary steps in the cleanup, mitigation, restoration and rebuild process from start to finish. Our crews and managers work closely with you and your insurance provider to restore your property to preloss condition. Our mission is to leave you with the home and/or business you recognized before any damages occurred, as well as minimize any stress or strain associated with handling a restoration and construction project on your own. We have rebuilt and reconstructed countless walls, floors, kitchens, bathrooms, structures and more.  While some floods and fires are small and require minor remediation techniques, others are large and require complete reconstruction of walls, support beams, floors and sub-floors.  Our experience goes beyond removal of wet, damaged and/or mold saturated carpet, rugs, and drywall.  Not only can we remove such items, we can also replace them.  We provide all necessary reconstruction services and work seamlessly with highly vetted vendors for plumbing, roofing and electrical.

As construction begins a SERVPRO Construction Project Manager will work closely with you and your insurance adjuster to guarantee the highest level of satisfaction and most time-efficient execution of any and all construction requirements and needs. Our goal is to restore and repair your home or business back to its original condition, but also allow for any changes or upgrades to the property at your request (these upgrades may NOT be covered by insurance). This will afford you the opportunity to make any alterations to your property during the reconstruction phase. This will save you time and money on any of those home or business improvements you may have been planning but putting off!  

Our construction professionals can make suggestions to match replacement materials with your current home decor, our managers can assist with upgrading or renovating parts of your home for a completely new look. We work closely with local licensing agencies to guarantee that your home reconstruction project and any upgrades are compliant with local and state regulations. Our goal is to finish your restoration and reconstruction project promptly, efficiently and professionally so that you are satisfied and can return to your routine and property as soon as possible.

Types of Construction Services available by SERVPRO of Medford

From simple repairs and remodeling, to total reconstruction or improvement projects, our construction and remediation crews have the resources and knowledge to offer these services:
    •    Site Containment / Temporary Shoring
    •    Selective Demolition
    •    Full-Scale Carpentry
    •    Complete Exterior Reconstruction
    •    Interior Build-Out and Finishes
    •    Complex Installation and Interior Finishes
    •    Historic Reconstruction and Restoration

Our Disaster Restoration and Reconstruction crews are committed to helping home and business owners and managers navigate the aftermath of a property disaster.  You are not alone – SERVPRO will guide you step-by-step through the cleanup, restoration and reconstruction process and make your experience as quick and efficient as possible. We have helped countless local property owners in your situation, and are here to help you, too.

Still have questions about Restorations and Repairs?

Let us answer your questions about ANY of our property disaster recovery phases, our professionally trained SERVPRO staff is available 24-hours a day to provide answers to your concerns, or setup an inspection to get your property back on the road to restoration and recovery. Give us a call!

Why Choosing a Professional Disaster Restoration Company, like SERVPRO is Important?

5/23/2019 (Permalink)

Big and Small Steps you can take now to prepare for a residential or commercial property disaster.

Contacting SERVPRO Restoration Professionals near you is important to avoid costly secondary damages, and trust that your commercial or residential property will be restored quickly and correctly.

When a property disaster strikes your Long Island home or business it can be difficult to know what the next step is… there are so many options for what you “should” do next. It makes sense to call local Suffolk County restoration professionals, our SERVPRO of Medford staff has the experience, training and equipment to handle your cleanup, repairs and restoration needs from start to finish.  Our crews and managers have been helping local home and business owners with property damage emergency services for nearly 30 years. Our staff is well trained in dealing with the aftermath of both commercial and residential property damages following fire and smoke damage, flood and water damage, sewage and biohazard cleanup and mold remediation. Working with trusted SERVPRO restoration professionals following a fire, water, flood, sewage or mold property damage event will give you peace of mind, and a friendly, highly-qualified restoration specialist by your side.

Big and Small Steps you can take now to prepare for a disaster

Preparing in advance to handle a Brookhaven property disaster can seem a little ominous, but after helping countless local home and business owners during property damage recoveries in our community we know it can make a huge difference during and following a property emergency. Here are some key steps to take in advance that can be important to the recovery process and the overall restoration of your property.

• Know the hazards that are present in your area.
• Review your insurance policies and confirm you have adequate cover against each type of disaster you are vulnerable to. Also check your sum insured to avoid being underinsured.
• Take a household inventory and store copies in a safe location or online. Cataloging your belongings with a home inventory might sound tedious, but how easy would it be for you to recall all the contents of your home if you lost everything? Taking a home inventory can help you determine if you have enough insurance and can save you time and headaches when filing a claim following a disaster
• Prepare a disaster plan. Your plan should start with having somewhere safe to go. Think of someone who could house you and your family and talk to them about what might happen in the event of a disaster. Then talk to everyone who lives in your home about what to do if there’s an emergency and you are unable to return
• Have an evacuation plan. In some cases when you need to evacuate, there may not be a lot of time. Plan how to evacuate your home quickly and make sure everyone knows the evacuation plan. Make sure everyone has a list of emergency contact numbers they can phone
• Make sure to regularly check safety devices in your home, such as smoke alarms and fire extinguishers

Spring Cleaning Offers Perfect Opportunity to Create a Property Inventory

Spring a great time to spruce up and declutter your Long Island home or business, taking a broad look at the state of your property and check all areas of your proper for potential hazards and maintenance needs. While you’re deciding what to keep, trash and donate, it’s a great time to create or update your Suffolk County home or business inventory, review previous emergency plans and supplies and consider any revisions.

Keeping an inventory of your belongings will help you make sure you have enough coverage on your insurance policy and can put your mind at ease if something were to happen to your home or business, such as a fire, flood, or theft. In the event you experience an emergency like this, having a property inventory on hand can help make the claims process easier.

Tips to create a property inventory:

• Create your inventory online or keep a hard copy away from your home. If you create a home inventory but then it’s destroyed along with your other possessions, it won’t be of any use to you. Keeping it on a password-protected online database that you can access anywhere will ensure you don’t lose it.
• Document details like values, receipts, and date of purchase. The more information you include when documenting your items, the better. If you have receipts, appraisals, or product information for your items, be sure to document that along with the name, place of purchase and description of the item. You may even want to include the serial number for big appliances like your dishwasher or washing machine.
• Take photos or video of the items. Even if you have receipts, photos or video of the items in your home will help confirm proof of purchase when it comes to filing your claim. Taking a video can also make the inventory process easier — just video yourself going over each item in your home!
• Organize items by room. If you have damage to only one part of your home, having your list organized by room will help you determine what may be missing. Going room by room will also help you ensure you don’t miss anything — don’t forget to check spaces like closets, attics, and basements.
• Keep track of the date. Each time you update your home inventory, you should make note of the date. This way, you’ll know when you last added new items, updated values of old ones, and can plan for when you’ll need to update again.

What to include in your home inventory

When it comes to your home inventory, it’s better to over-document than to leave something off. Even smaller items, like clothes and shoes, can add up quickly. For those items that may not hold significant value, keeping a list of how many of each you have will suffice. For everything else, like high-end items, jewelry, appliances, and electronics, you’ll want to document with more detail.

How to Declutter Your Long Island Home or Business, Room by Room

Focus on one room, one space, or even one zone within a room, completing the job fully before moving on to the next space. This will also build confidence as you experience visible success at each step. 

Five easy ways to organize your chaos to reduce clutter:

• Keep: This container is for items that have crept out of their storage spaces.
• Recycle: This container is for items that need to be recycled, such as paper, plastic or glass.
• Fix/Mend: This container is for items that need further attention
• Trash: This container is for items that are simply trash
• Donate/Sell: This container is for items that you can donate to a charitable organization or another person.

You can use bins, baskets or even just cardboard boxes for this task. You can bring these bins into each room as you organize or leave them in a central place in your home while you work.

Some other things to keep in mind to have a successful seasonal purge:

Don’t Bite Off More Than You Can Chew

Do not set aside an ENTIRE day to organize your WHOLE house. Very few people have the energy and/or focus to spend 8 hours organizing. You’ll likely become frustrated and less efficient as the day progresses. It’s much better to spend a few hours — 2 or 3 — on one project or space. This way you’ll feel motivated to do more, not be burned out by the process.

Complete Each Task — Completely

Of course, you will need to sort things into categories (e.g., toss, recycle, donate, give to friend, put in deep storage). But here’s the crucial part: Once you have decided where something is going to go — take it there. Never keep bags for charity or boxes for friends in your home to deliver later. Do it now. Finish the process. Take the bags and boxes out to the trash or recycling immediately. If you’re donating something or giving something to a friend or family member, put the items in your car or plan a visit to drop them off.

Good Enough is Enough

Very few people have closets and drawers that resemble those in catalogues. You will ultimately be disappointed if perfection is your goal. The goal is to set up a space that works well for your needs. That is success.

We also love these great decluttering ideas:

Get Rid of One Item Each Day

Want to take your spring-cleaning a step further? Don’t just organize your things get rid of them! To make it easier to let go, choose one item to part with each day over a certain period. This will allow you discover which items in your home you use, or which items are merely collecting dust.

Host a Garage Sale

Make a little extra pocket cash by hosting a garage sale! Choose a Saturday morning – preferably on a cool Long Island day – and set up the stuff you want to get rid of with price tags, then sell away!

Tips for a Successful Garage Sale

You’ve done some spring cleaning and have a corner of the garage full of items you’re ready to Donate/Sell. If you’re considering a garage or yard sale, there are some tricks to making it worth your time and energy.

• Pick the Right Day and Time
  Saturday is the most popular day for a garage sale, but if you have a lot of items, consider adding Friday and even Thursday to make it a multi-day event. Regarding timing, start as early as 7 a.m. and go no later than 2 p.m., as most sales drop off in attendance by this time.

• Get Organized
  When it comes to garage sale organization, keep like items together. Pick out the best items of clothing and consider hanging them on a makeshift rack to help catch the eyes of customers.
  
  
• Set the Price
  It’s best if you price items individually as this will help you keep things organized. Keep prices fair and be willing to negotiate. When it comes to bigger-ticket items, know ahead of time just how low you are willing to go. Consider giving a discount for buying several similar items.

• Offer Mystery Bags
  Put those plastic grocery bags to good use and offer mystery bags. Mystery bags can work well with children’s clothing or small baby toys. Consider putting several items in a bag, such as a bag of children’s pants, and offer it for a set price. Just make sure to note the clothing size and gender if you go this route.
  
  
• Have Plenty of Change
  Stop by the bank the day before your sale to stock up on change and $1 bills. Be sure to have plenty of nickels, dimes and quarters. If you have some pricier items for sale, make sure to have some $20 bills on hand just in case.
  
  
• Have Bags and Boxes for Customers
  Keep leftover plastic grocery bags around for customers to carry their purchases. Small cardboard boxes may also come in handy for customers purchasing a set of dishes or tools.
  
  
• Group Like Items Together
  When you group like items together, the goods look more abundant and makes for a better display. Also, shoppers looking for something specific can find it faster, and they're more likely to buy multiple pieces.
• Display Big Showy Pieces Closest to the Street
  Place desirable sale merchandise at the street end of your yard or driveway, especially seasonal items and large pieces (such as furniture). Even if you're setting up most of the merchandise in the garage, it's makes the sale look bigger and better, and it gives drive-by browsers a reason to stop.
  
  
• Have an Outlet or Extension Cord Handy
  Customers expect to check electrical items. If you don't have an outside outlet, run a heavy-duty extension cord from your house or garage. Keep a light bulb on hand for testing lamps too. 
  
  
• Straighten and Rearrange the Tables
  Yard sales get hectic and shoppers make a mess of the merchandise. When you have a moment, do some straightening before the next wave of shoppers arrive.

Moisture & Mold Issues and Solutions for Your Home or Business

9/25/2018 (Permalink)

If your long island property mold damage is larger than 10 square ft, it is recommended you contact a mold remediation service like SERVPRO of Medford

Indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50% are ideal.

Moisture problems in your home have a variety of causes and can lead to major property damage and encourage harmful mold and mildew growth.

Common causes of Moisture and Mold in your home can be:

• Water from a leaking water pipe, toilet, shower or bathtub, also weather related flooding in your home. Depending on the severity, conditions can lead to rot, structural damage, premature paint failure, and a variety of health problems.

• Excessive moisture from condensation and high humidity can have negative effects on your property and may indicate that poor ventilation or repairs are needed.

• Water can seep into your house from the outside through a leak in your roof, foundation, or small gaps around windows or doors.

• Normal activities such as cooking, bathing, clothes drying and dish washing also add moisture to the air.

All of these common problems contribute to overall high indoor humidity levels leading to mold and mildew growth. Mold can grow quickly and spread fast if moisture is left untreated, under ideal conditions (optimal temperature and level of humidity) it takes 24-48 hours for mold growth to occur. Typically you will start to see visible mold in 12-20 days, the more time passes the greater chance for mold to develop and spread through your home.

When you find mold damage in your Medford, long island property it is essential to call for remediation services as quickly as possible, as mold can cause adverse health effects. Additionally, mold also leaves behind a musty smell and has the power to rot organic materials. For health safety reasons, when you find mold, you should contact SERVPRO of Medford professionals and have them remediate it for you.

When SERVPRO arrives at your home, we can swiftly inspect the mold damage and then identify a remediation strategy. The first step to containing the problem is to set up plastic sheeting, block vents and doorways, so the spores cannot spread while the colony is being removed.

Certified professionals have the training and experience to:

• Identify moisture sources
• Evaluate mold growth (visible or suspected)
• Contain damage to the smallest area possible
• Physically remove contamination
• Dry materials to ensure that mold will not return
• Perform or recommend procedures for returning property to a preloss condition

It is a good idea to inspect your house regularly for any damage caused by moisture, if you notice any problems, take immediate action to fix them before they cause further damage or balloon into larger, more complicated issues. Here are some way you can reduce moisture and prevent damage in your home from water and mold.

• Install vent fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
• Run a dehumidifier.
• Cover dirt floors in crawl spaces with a plastic vapor barrier.
• Seal air and duct leaks.
• Houseplants can absorb moisture from the air
• Never let wet clothing or other fabrics lie around
• Avoid activities that add moisture to the air on humid days, such as taking hot showers and boiling water on the stove.

Houseplants that help absorb moisture:

These are perfect plants to have in your home to help decrease moisture in the air, with the added bonus of purifying your air of certain contaminants at the same time.

Reed Palms, English Ivy, and Boston Ferns

These plants will reduce humidity levels by absorbing moisture from the air through their leaves.

Some moisture problems require more complex solutions, and sources of moisture may be hidden.

Consult SERVPRO of Medford for a complete inspection if you have serious water damage or mold problems due to humidity, condensation or a water leak or flood. Luckily, our team at SERVPRO of Medford is highly qualified and trained in water and mold remediation and restoration services. Every long island water and mold restoration situation is unique and we treat them that way.

We are here for you in these very stressful times, our team is Always Here to Help! Contact SERVPRO of Medford @ 631-732-4952!

Our experts will come in and assess your Long Island water or mold problem, take the proper steps to limit additional damage. Our teams work quickly to eliminate the water, prepare the area for our advanced drying techniques, inspect for additional damage or mold and work with you to restore your property back to a stable, safe and healthy condition.