Cleaning and Restoring Fire Damage in Staten Island Homes

4/7/2023 (Permalink)

We're Faster To Any Size Disaster so that we can limit the fire damage to our Staten Island neighbors' homes.

The Full Spectrum of Fire Damage Recovery

After a fire damages your home, there is more to recovering this impact on your property than removing the surface damage you can see. It is essential to begin emergency services as soon as possible, which makes our 24/7 availability critical in fire recovery efforts. Once extinguishment completes, we can work directly with you to prioritize specific services that protect your home and what you value most. Some of these early services will include:

• Debris cleanup
• Water removal
• Air filtration
• Emergency repairs
• Content cleaning and relocation

Because there are many levels of cleaning fire damage in Staten Island homes, you may believe that multiple contractors or experienced professionals are necessary. The knowledge and expertise of the certified technicians on our roster help with each aspect of this complicated and intricate recovery.

The Mitigation Your Home Needs

The most critical element of the restoration service we provide for homes after fires are meant to mitigate loss. Fires rapidly spread through a structure, impacting hundreds of surfaces and contents. Mitigation is intended to keep this situation from worsening while restoration begins. Two key elements of this phase of restoration are debris removal, which can help to lessen soot concentrations and offensive malodors, and removing water used in the extinguishment process that might cause greater harm.

Trusted for Insurance Recovery Work

You are unlikely to face fire damage in your home without involving your insurance provider. This adjuster will need to work with our restoration team to set their expectations and approve a damage claim based on our estimations and recovery plan. Our professionals provide key services to help:

• Claims Inventory – This service is meant to catalog the condition of contents in harm’s way. We determine the salvageability of personal belongings and document when materials and items cannot be restored.
• Estimation – Our professionals create a detailed plan noting the hours involved, equipment necessary, and expected completion. This documentation expedites the damage claim approval process.
• Restoration Plan – We create a custom restoration plan based on your property and its needs. We continually communicate with the insurance adjuster and the customer to keep everyone informed about progress and changing conditions.

The Truth About Soot

One of the first recognizable signs of damage after a fire will be several surfaces and contents coated with a black residue. Partial combustion creates soot, a carcinogenic product that becomes a formidable obstacle in fire restoration. We have multiple solutions for removing surface deposits, ranging from solvents and detergents to more complex abrasive cleaning. Our decision in these tactics varies based on the type of smoke damage present, such as:

• Wet Smoke
• Dry Smoke
• Grease Residues

Deodorizing Products That Can Help

The burning of materials also creates another challenging hurdle for post fire cleanup. Offensive smells impact more than the open air in the spaces most heavily damaged by burning. The gaseous form of smoke during the spread of the fire allows these odors to penetrate porous materials, requiring similar deodorization practices to neutralize and address. We have multiple odor removal approaches ranging from fogging to oxidation.

The Repairs a Home Might Need

Your home may face few fire damage incidents that do not require repairs or reconstruction. With a general contractor license, our professionals can manage these needs as they arise. From early controlled demolition to reach damaged areas or prevent structure collapse to replacing removed materials at the end of the restoration period, we have a team of contracting specialists ready to help.

Experience fire damage restoration is only a phone call away. Reach out to our trusted SERVPRO of Northern Staten Island team today at (718) 750-9455.

Early Steps for Mold Damage Remediation in Staten Island Homes

4/7/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO to inspect for and remediate mold in your Staten Island Dwelling. "Like it never even happened."

Our Remediation Team Helps After Mold Damage

Mold accounts for a large percentage of Damage claims for residences every year. The discovery of mold in your home can be alarming and overwhelming, especially when you are unsure how widespread this threat has become. Worse still, many homeowners may need to recognize a developing issue that might warrant contacting professional remediation companies like ours to help.

 Mold damage in your Staten Island home is more likely than you might believe. Any prolonged moisture exposure to organic building materials and contents can create favorable conditions for microbial growth. In many cases, the discovery of mold occurs after the Organism has spread through many building materials out of sight.

Some signs can help you diagnose when SERVPRO remediation specialists get involved:

• Recurring Moisture – Are you dealing with moisture or damp spots that linger for prolonged periods? Wet materials are attractive to mold colonies and could be a sign of an issue even if you have not yet seen mold growth.
• Irregular Spots on Surfaces – When colonies form, you can sometimes see the initial growth forming as spots on the material. These can be a variety of colors and shapes, so any discoloration or splotches should be treated with caution.
• Musty Smells – Sometimes you will notice a developing mold colony by its smell. Active growth emits strong, musty odors that can spread farther than the colony. The scent of mold can be a powerful precursor to rapidly spreading damage.
• Deteriorating Materials – Keep an eye on materials in mold-prone areas of the house. Even growth in wall cavities ultimately shows on the surface through material degradation and crumbling.

Our Remediation Process

Remediation is a combination of several actions. We must first work to contain the damaged areas to prevent spores from spreading through pathways like the HVAC system or structural openings. Constructing physical barriers is the most effective method of preventing this movement.

Multiple approaches are suitable when it comes to removing the mold damage found in your house. Depending on the severity and materials affected, we begin by cleaning the surface where possible to preserve and salvage the hosting material. More aggressive remediation tactics are sometimes necessary, including sanding and dry ice blasting.

• Managing the Moisture Threat – It is imperative to address the underlying cause of mold damage, which is the presence of moisture. We resolve structural vulnerabilities or install proper ventilation in rooms that have become mold-prone.
• Addressing Foul Odors – We must address harsh smells created by active mold colonies. Even after the mold is removed, these smells will persist. We use multiple deodorization practices to address these concerns, from fogging to hydroxyl generators.
• Rebuilding the Damage – Our experienced team can also begin rebuilding and reconstructing any removed portions of drywall and building materials affected by mold.

Once the Mold Damage Gets Removed

Even with the initial mold threat resolved, more action is needed to protect your property in the future. Many of the surface cleaning solutions we apply can act as inhibiting barriers to stall microbial production. Additional safeguards, such as mold-resistant paint, may be applicable during repairs or reconstruction.

You do not have to deal with mold damage for long. We have experienced remediators ready to help when you discover colonies forming in your house. SERVPRO of Northern Staten Island can help with every facet of recovery and cleanup, from removal to repair. Call us when you suspect mold for a professional inspection at (718) 750-9455.

Staten Island Homes Get Much Needed Water Damage Repair

4/3/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO extracts storm water from Staten Island basements.

Water Damage Repair Helps Staten Island Residents  

Following severe weather in Staten Island that impacts local homes, remediation services arrive to treat interior surfaces fouled by stormwater. These efforts employ different methods, which depend on the kind of water, type of material, and level of damage involved. Some materials are removed from the residence, while others are wiped, vacuumed, refinished, repainted, and treated with strong disinfectants. Knowing how to deal with each particular situation most effectively saves time and money in the long run. 

SERVPRO’s water damage repair technicians in Staten Island have been extensively trained in the restoration techniques necessary for restoring different kinds of water damage. We have successfully rehabilitated homes suffering from severe, storm-related ceiling leaks, basement flooding biohazard remediation issues, and those in need of extensive flood restoration measures. In order to develop the best plan of action for restoring your residence, company experts determine the following once they are on-site: 

• The category or categories of water impacting your home – Is the water damaging your property clean rainwater from a ceiling, window, pipe, or foundation leak? Did it come from contaminated “black water” from floodwater or otherwise fouled water?  
• Material types of affected structural elements and household contents – Are water-damaged materials porous (like drywall, wooden or concrete flooring, and carpeting), semi-porous (such as varnished wood and certain types of plastic), or non-porous (like metal, ceramics, and glass)?  
• How severely structural elements and furnishings have been damaged – How long has the material been in contact with water? Is the harm resulting from increased airborne moisture levels? Is anything salvageable? 

That said, it is important to note that carpeting and contents generally cannot be saved if floodwaters contaminate them. Also, porous and semi-porous materials are more susceptible to moisture and difficult to save than their non-porous counterparts. 

So, whenever you need water damage repair, call your neighbors at SERVPRO of Northern Staten Island. Contact us anytime at (718) 750-9455. 

Fire Damage in Staten Island Doesn't Mean You Must Move or Sell

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

The first step to resolving fire damage is calling your local trained professionals at SERVPRO of Northern Staten Island.

We Won't Let Fire Damage Ruin Your Family's Future

A house fire in Staten Island can create terrible destruction in areas without any flames because intense heat can occur without a fire burning in that area. SERVPRO handles all kinds of fire damage, including the restoration of belongings and the rebuilding of structures with our streamlined services.

SERVPRO understands the tremendous and devastating impact a house fire can have on a family in Staten Island. Our fire damage experience can make the aftermath less stressful for your loved ones. Our team shares relevant local resources with families facing disasters affecting their homes, minimizing the event's effect. 

Here are some of the ways we reduce the effects caused by fire:

• Ensuring you make the decisions regarding cherished items
• Cleaning, deodorizing and rebuilding

Floating ash can damage blankets, upholstered furnishings, and plastic toys if it is still hot when it lands on these items. For items that cannot be restored after such damage occurs, we set them aside so you can decide regarding these belongings. We can arrange for specialists to restore things such as electronics, oil paintings, and other fragile belongings. For special mementos, we understand that even in a damaged state, they might still be irreplaceable.

Other steps we take to ensure you and your family can once again call your house 'home' include removing the soot and any destroyed structural elements. Thermal fogging helps eliminate traces of soot and its ability to cause heavy odors. Other methods are used as applicable. The changes we make to your home's interior leave new walls and ceilings where there were once blackened streaks of soot, elevating your hopes for the future and diminishing your family's stress. 

After a fire, call SERVPRO of Northern Staten Island at (718) 750-9455 for the dependable and caring professional restoration team your family deserves.

SERVPRO Offers Premier Water Damage Restoration in Staten Island

2/6/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO techs swiftly extract pooling water and dry out your Staten Island dwelling--"Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO’s Fast and Efficient Service Saves Staten Island Homes from Water Damage

Water damage to your Statin Island home can be devastating, whether from a ceiling leak, burst pipes, or faulty plumbing. It is essential to act quickly to prevent further damage and restore your property to its preloss condition.

Restorers like SERVPRO use advanced technology and equipment to ensure that water damage to your Staten Island home is brought under control before it causes a lasting impact. Our IICRC-certified techs remove the standing water from your property as soon as possible, followed by drying out the structure.  

Type of Water Extraction Equipment We Use During Water Clean Up

Several types of water extraction equipment are available to remove the standing water from your flooded home. However, it is crucial to use the right kind of equipment for the best results. Depending on factors like how much water is present and from where it needs to be extracted, SERVPRO techs use the following water extraction equipment-

• Portable extractors are small, compact machines that SERVPRO techs can quickly move to the affected area. These extractors work on electricity and are ideal when removing small amounts of water.
• Truck-mounted extractors are Large machines mounted on a truck and can handle high volumes of water removal and operate on fuel from the truck.
• Submersible pumps are designed for use in flooded basements and other deep-standing water areas that need a higher vertical lift.
• Trash pumps are heavy-duty pumps designed specifically to remove water from large areas containing a lot of floating debris and sediment.

Deep Extraction Tools

Once the techs remove the standing water, they use deep extraction tools to remove water absorbed into the carpets. These devices squeeze the carpet and pad to extract the absorbed water and accelerate drying.

Call SERVPRO of Northern Staten Island at (718) 750-9455; We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.