Storm Prevention Tips From Seasoned Veterans at SERVPRO of Brandon/ North Riverview

9/7/2023 (Permalink)

Employees load service truck with water damage restoration equipment before Hurricane Idalia.

When storm prevention in Riverview fails, our SERVPRO teams have the tools and manpower to handle your flood damage cleanup needs.

Flooding brings on the potential for severe damage to your Riverview Home, so it is best to have certain safeguards in place to limit the loss. When you have unavoidable damage to your property, SERVPRO can be there within hours to begin the cleanup process. Our crews work diligently to take away the stress and worry, while also ensuring to mitigate water infiltration in areas of impact.

Even when you are not in the direct path of a major storm or flooding, you could still suffer from flood damage in Riverview. Specific preventative measures may protect your home so that you will not have a costly cleanup bill or the need for extensive repair or replacement of building materials.

Pre-Storm/Flood Checklist

• Move any outdoor furniture inside or under safe cover
• Protect potential areas of water entry with sandbags or other flood protection materials
• Apply sealants or coatings to your doorways, foundation walls, and windows
• Make sure downspouts get pointed away from your home

Post-Flood Checklist

• Ensure that all people and pets within the home are safe and free from hazards such as slip and fall or electrical dangers
• Contact SERVPRO so that we can get a team out to your property to begin flood damage assessment
• Take pictures detailing any damage and contact your homeowner’s insurance provider

SERVPRO develops a plan to safely and efficiently extract floodwater from your interior, ensuring that any hidden moisture and points of migration get addressed. We provide pack-out and off-site cleaning services to handle any items within the loss zone. High-tech moisture detection tools help us locate hidden moisture pockets so that we can target our drying and dehumidification equipment to the appropriate places.

Flood damage is no match for us at SERVPRO of Brandon/North Riverview. Call (813) 741-3473 to have a crew directed to your property should you get hit with excess water from a storm.

Click here for more information about Riverview.

What to do When Kitchen Appliances Cause Water Damage

8/25/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO experts called in after a local kitchen endures water damage.

Contact Local Brandon Water Damage Remediation Services When Your Kitchen Sink Leaks

Having a leaky kitchen sink that caused water damage inside your home can be a stressful situation. However, it is a situation that can be remedied with the right help. Whenever you find water damage in your home, always look for local and professional help as swiftly as you can. Finding help fast can help ensure that the results of the remediation are the best possible outcome.

The water damage in your Brandon home happened after a new water supply line was installed incorrectly during the previous day. As you slept, water leaked from the line, soaked the cupboard under the basin of your sink and then spread out onto the hardwood floor. Fortunately, there is help close by that can assist during such an unfortunate situation.

SERVPRO always strives to uphold our reputation of being swift to action. Whenever we get your call, we begin to put together a team of our highly trained technicians to send to your home, along with a van-full of advanced technology designed to combat water damage. No matter the time, night or day, our doors are open, and our technicians are ready to assist you.

When we arrive at your home, SERVPRO can begin by removing the standing water from your kitchen with wet/dry vacuums. Afterward, we can use infrared technology to search for all places of concern around your cupboards and then map out our drying plan with the information. Removing the toe kicks is a great way to get hot and dry air under your cupboards so that they can be dried from both sides.

SERVPRO uses advanced technological devices, such as dehumidifiers, heaters, air movers, and drying mats to address the water damage in your kitchen. Hot and dry air can be directed into your cupboard and help dry the surface of the wood, decreasing the time it takes for evaporation to occur. The drying mats can be used on your hardwood floor, using powerful suction to draw moisture out of the base of the wood. Once finished, SERVPRO can confidently leave your home feeling “Like it never even happened.”

When water damage strikes, get help swiftly. Get in contact with SERVPRO of Brandon / North Riverview by phoning (813) 741-3473. No matter the time, we're always here for you.

Click here for more about Brandon.

How to Prevent the Spreading of Mold in Your Tampa Home

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO experts were called in to assess and remediation mold damage in Riverview home.

If you smell something musty in your home in Riverview, FL, you may have a mold problem. Your first reaction is probably to open up the windows and air out the smell by getting some fresh air flow going, but that could actually contribute to the problem. Rather than stopping mold, you could be spreading mold with increased air flow. There are two main ways you can stop the fungus from disbursing throughout your whole house.

Stop Air Flow

Mold spores travel through the air, so it logically follows that air flow can help mold spread. What is normally a natural phenomenon that poses no real threat to your home can become a big problem when you actually have significant black mold growth. Air flow comes from several sources:

• HVAC system
• Open windows
• Fans

To keep from spreading mold, you first have to contain the mold problem. Turn off your air conditioner or heater. Close your windows, and turn off all the fans in the house. If you need to close the doors to the parts of your home that tend to be draftier, do that as well. Do whatever you can do to limit the opportunity for mold to spread.

Get Pro Help

Don't try to fix your mold problem by yourself. If the problem is significant enough that it requires attention, that attention should come from professional mold remediation specialists. You can help contain the mold by shutting off air flow, but the professionals are probably going to seal the affected area entirely. You may have lots of detergent and elbow grease, but they have professional-grade chemicals to help them eradicate mold. They also treat the underlying problems, such as water leaks.

You deserve a home that is fungus free. Instead of spreading mold by trying to air everything out and take care of it yourself, enlist the help of those who are certified to resolve the problem.

What Happens When Building Material Have Water Exposure?

7/26/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO water restoration technicians execute demolition efforts after drywall was damaged by water in Riverview home.

Water damage affects various building materials in different ways. From crumbling drywall to swelling wood, here are a few of the effects that exposure to water can have on common materials.

Drywall

Water can begin to penetrate drywall within hours. This building material may react in several ways, including

• Disintegration
• Swelling
• Supporting mold growth

Drywall exposed to water should be torn out and replaced only after the surrounding area is completely dry.

Flooring

Wood flooring and carpeting respond to water damage differently. Wood floors are particularly vulnerable after water permeates the polyurethane coating. You may observe some of the following effects:

• Cupping
• Swelling wood
• Splitting planks

Solid wood flooring may be restored through several methods, such as

• Sanding
• Scraping
• Refinishing
• Removing and retrofitting planks

Regardless of flooring type, wet subfloors may need to be replaced. Moist concrete at the base should also be completely dry prior to restoration.

Carpet exposed to clean water from a supply line break may be dried if the damage is quickly discovered and mitigated. If carpet remains saturated for hours or days or is initially exposed to contaminated gray or black water, it should be torn out and replaced.

Metal

Metal may become discolored and begin to corrode within days or weeks of exposure to water. Rust-proof coatings may provide some protection.

Wood

Untreated wood may become stained within minutes or hours of exposure to water. Wood may start to split, swell, or warp within hours or days. Depending on the type of wood, duration of exposure, and structural significance, these components may need to be replaced.

Take action to mitigate water damage as soon as it occurs at your home in Riverview, FL. Contact a plumber for water pipe repair. A residential restoration service can advise you about swelling wood and which building materials can be safely restored or will need to be replaced.

Commercial Water Damage: Facts You Need to Know

6/19/2023 (Permalink)

Incoming calls from commercial water loss are answered by the SERVPRO professionals getting the truck loaded for extraction..

Water damage is a common problem faced by commercial building owners and managers that can have serious consequences. Water can infiltrate buildings through various means including roof leaks, flooding, burst pipes, damaged HVAC systems or failed appliances such as washing machines. When left untreated, water damage can deteriorate building structures, compromise safety, and result in costly repairs. Prompt action is crucial when dealing with water damage in commercial buildings. Any delay in addressing the issue can exacerbate the damage and lead to secondary problems such as mold growth and bacterial contamination. After identifying the source of the water intrusion, the affected area should be isolated and the source of water removed or repaired. It is important to seek the assistance of professionals to assess the extent of the damage and provide remediation services. Our team has led the industry standards and serviced your community for decades, and we are prepared to make sure you endure the least amount of setbacks when it comes to water damage. The water-logged area should be dried out and sanitized to restore the building to proper and safe condition. In addition, preventative measures such as regular maintenance of building systems and appliances can help avoid future water damage incidents. In the event of water damage in a commercial building, it is essential to act quickly and decisively to minimize the extent of damage and mitigate potential harm. Employing the expertise of our SERVPRO certified professionals and adhering to proper preventative measures can ensure the safety of building occupants and the longevity of the building itself.

If A Water Damage Emergency Occurs In Your Brandon Home, You Need To Call The Team At SERVPRO!

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of North Riverview is called in to extract water out of local, flooded home.

Why SERVPRO Is The Right Water Damage Restoration Company For Your Brandon Area Home

Everyone involved in your Brandon home’s restoration process has a responsibility to attend to your situation professionally. As the customer, you deserve to have access to a company that provides you with an immediate response and knowledgeable personnel.

Remember, water damage restoration is obviously less expensive than replacing your Brandon area property. However, that does not mean that you have to settle for anything less than excellence when it comes to knowing that everything is being done to limit the losses you experience. We understand how discerning your situation is and work with your agent or adjuster to keep the cost of your claim down while also providing you with the best results possible.

Your local SERVPRO is run by kind, caring individuals that want to serve their surrounding community. We do everything to restore your belongings and other household contents whenever possible, only recommending replacement when there are zero alternatives. Our team performs pretesting on every item to determine restorability, keeping you informed about every decision. It is, after all, your home, and you should always have the final say regarding how far you want us to go to save a particular item.

On top of all this, each technician employed by the company goes through extensive training before they ever step foot on your property. We provide you with measurable results and competitive advantages. SERVPRO’s superior, time-tested training helps ensure that you receive the level of service you deserve. Our technicians train to fulfill the highest standards in water damage cleanup and restoration while also attending continuing education classes through our state of the art IICRC Approved Training Facility.

All of SERVPRO’s technicians understand how important it is to reassure our customers while performing quality services and giving timely updates throughout the process. We help your insurance adjuster concentrate on interpreting your policy and making adjustments to your claim by working together and striving to save time and money whenever possible.

SERVPRO of Brandon / North Riverview stands ready to assist with 24-hour emergency response teams who perform qualified damage mitigation and loss assessment geared towards overall customer satisfaction and results. Call today (813) 741-3473.

Click here for more about Brandon.

A Complete Guide to Storm Damage Remediation in Riverview, FL

2/22/2023 (Permalink)

Crew is called in to restore structure from storm/ water damage in Riverview, FL.

A Complete Guide to Storm Damage Remediation in Tampa.

In a violent weather event, you should notify your insurance provider as soon as possible. If you notice any burst water mains or felled trees, it is beneficial to contact the water-company and environmental agency here in Riverview, FL. Our restorers can mitigate massive amounts of loss at your property, providing that we receive your call and arrange service quickly.

Are you a certified water restoration company?
SERVPRO technicians undergo extensive training to become part of our storm damage team here in Tallahassee. Our qualifications come from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certifications (IICRC) which is a nationally recognized body. Our experienced roster covers water restoration technicians (WRT) as well as applied structural drying (ASD) and applied microbial remediation technicians (AMRT.) While WRT technicians are part of our core services, and adverse weather event can throw up many different challenges involving microbial growth and water migration. By utilizing a diverse set of technicians with a range of skills, you can ensure the property has a strong chance of returning to its original condition.

What coverage am I likely to have for storm-related damages?

You should check your insurance policy before the winter months to ensure that you have the proper coverage for these types of emergencies. These areas include:

• The structure as well as the crawl space and foundation of your home
  Wiring, as well as plumbing, can malfunction in wild weather.
• Make sure your policy covers electric and plumbing systems.
• Essential appliances such as your refrigerator, stove, washing machine, dishwasher and dryer.
• Structural contents like permanent carpets as well as panels or other materials used in the building construction.
• Detached garages generally need to be listed under a separate insurance policy.
  How do I clean up my home after a water intrusion or flood?
• Cleanup after a severe flood in Tallahassee can be a time consuming and arduous process.

You can undertake this task in three key stages.

The first is emergency services which mainly focus on preventing further loss rather than reversing existing damage. SERVPRO emergency units can drain your property using pumps for large amounts of standing waters and extractors for smaller amounts.

Floodwaters have high levels of contamination. Water contamination can affect both your possessions and the building materials in your home. Our technicians can wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to safely enter a building that may contain raw sewage, herbicides, viruses, debris or saltwater. WRT technicians have cross-training to aid them with biohazardous substances. We can seal affected areas, decontaminate and remove any salvageable items. Doing so can remove the risk of spreading contaminants or other debris into unaffected areas of the house.

When both stages are complete, we can undertake the restoration. Restoration involves repairing any material harm to the property. These steps may include installation of drywall and the repair or replacement of permanent fittings like blinds and carpets. Depending on the scope of harm, restoration may take several days or several months. Properties with expensive material construction, like hardwood flooring and tiles, generally take longer and require more expertise to restore fully.

If you identify water damage, it's best to hire professionals to fix it. That's where we come in. When you need an experienced professional to assess and restore your home in Tampa, we're here for you. Contact us at any hour of the day and we'll be there to help.

Professional Fire Damage Restoration for Brandon Residents

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

Residues and soot can affect every part of your home after fire damage in your Brandon home. Contact our experienced team to assess and remediate.

SERVPRO Is Here with Proven Fire Damage Techniques in Brandon

Fire damage becomes a challenging situation for clean-up and restoration, whether commercial or residential. Once you go through a fire emergency, your property will need rapid, detailed cleanup and repair. Fire damaged homes mean the destruction of building materials, structural elements, and personal belongings. When you hire a professional crew like our team at SERVPRO, you will have all the manpower necessary to reclaim your property!

Do you feel at a loss when dealing with fire damage in Brandon? We have professional fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) with the answers if you wonder how you can begin gaining control and restoring your interior. We can scale our services as needed to ensure all clients in the area get the fire restoration results they deserve.

Handling Fire House Fire Clean-up Quickly and Efficiently

Fire can destroy many areas of your home, including intrusive smoke particles making their way into zones untouched by flames. The good news is that we get there fast – our crew can arrive within hours of your initial point of contact with our customer care team. This allows us to begin the assessment to start removing charred debris and unsalvageable materials or contents as soon as possible.

• SERVPRO is equipped to handle fire clean-up, bring the latest equipment, perform tarp up and boarding, etc.
• Our IICRC-certified technicians select the best solutions even with large-scale fire restoration, including burnt items and smoke stains. 
• We will safely remove ash, soot residues, and other debris left after the blaze to help bring your home back to pre-fire condition.

Commercial Fire Clean-up to Save you Time and Money

We know that you already have a lot on your plate as a business owner, so you need prompt action and proven methods should there be a fire in your building. Our highly-trained fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) ensure safety throughout the fire zone, getting to work quickly so that you have a chance to either stay up and running or get back to business quickly.

How Does Professional Fire Restoration Save Money Versus DIY?

At SERVPRO, we work to restore versus replace whenever possible. Rather than discarding belongings or pulling out materials immediately, we have insider techniques that help us salvage as much as possible. Some of this includes tackling corrosive, pungent soot, and smoke residues after a fire.

• When fire damage is left to sit or takes too long to clean up with DIY, it can worsen over time.
• Smoke odors linger as it settles into the walls, but they can fester under your floors. 
• We attack harmful, intrusive soot and smoke particles before they have a chance to settle to discolor materials or cause pitting and etching. 

As with any fire restoration, odorous elements are always on the agenda. SERVPRO’s Green Fleet comes armed with a full arsenal of odor combatting equipment and products that help us make it “Like it never even happened.” Thermal foggers and ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging equipment along with odor counteractant beads, air scrubbers with HEPA filtration, specialized cleaning agents, and deodorizers help us to remove odors rather than masking them. 

Depending on the need, we also have powerful hydroxyl generators or ozone equipment to achieve our restoration goals.

Do you need to know more about handling the fire damage on your property? We are always here to help at SERVPRO of Brandon/North Riverview! Give us a call at (813) 741-3473 or request help online at your convenience.

Save Money in Brandon with Expert Water Damage Cleanup

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

We have the cleaning and restoration equipment ready to be dispatched to your Brandon home that has experienced water damage.

SERVPRO’s Water Damage Crew is Available 24/7 in Brandon!

While you may feel as though you are saving some time and money by embarking on a DIY water cleanup journey in your Brandon home, it could cost you more in the long run. The truth is that water migration is a big problem with many spills, burst pipes, and flooding. Moisture can get trapped under flooring, cabinetry, and other tight spaces whenever water travels. You could be in for costly secondary damage and the onset of black mold and bacteria if this occurs. SERVPRO is there as your number one choice in the area for all of your water restoration needs!

Water damage in Brandon is something that you need to address as soon as possible. Action is paramount whether you had a major appliance malfunction in your kitchen or noticed a slow leak with your bathroom plumbing. SERVPRO offers a wide range of services tailored to your needs so that we can help you bring your property back to preloss condition. Some of the things that set us apart from the rest include:

• Customer care center availability 24/7
• IICRC-certified and highly-trained water restoration technicians (WRT)
• Proven methods and state-of-the-art equipment
• Proud to be a locally-owned and operated franchise
• Assistance with insurance claims for efficiency and peace of mind

When a Storm Hits, We Have Crews Ready to Assist!

Storm flooding is something nobody wants to experience, but it is often unavoidable when the weather changes. Even if you stay prepared at your home or business, you could still take on contaminated water that must get handled fast! SERVPRO’s disaster recovery team is highly-trained and ready to deploy as needed. We are skilled in storm damage assessment and extractions and restoration to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Proven Processes, Trusted Results

Once you discover a water emergency like ceiling leaks, burst pipes, or another issue, you need someone there to assess the area and get to work carefully. We deploy our Green Fleet within hours of your call so that we can begin water mitigation as soon as possible. We bring all the right equipment for extraction, drying, moisture detection, and cleaning to achieve our goals quickly. Rather than a DIY project that could leave you with hidden damage and extensive costs to fix issues in the future, we do not sign off on the project until we are satisfied with the results. 

Our process is as follows:

• Initial contact – Once you call our customer care team, a representative gathers information and guides you through so that we can formulate a plan with all of the appropriate personnel and resources.
• Water damage assessment and inspection – Once on the scene, our crew chief looks at the water issue, determines where moisture traveled, and what contaminants (if any) may pose a problem.
• Water removal services – Extractions begin almost immediately so we can pull up as much water as possible with wet-dry vacuums, submersible or gas-powered pumps, and truck-mounted extractors. 
• Drying and dehumidification – Restoring relative humidity (RH) is paramount with any water cleanup project. We set up drying mats, centrifugal air movers, dehumidifiers, and more to help us reach our drying goals.
• Sanitizing and cleaning – Leaving any bacteria behind just begging for musty, foul odors to develop. We take the extra time necessary to thoroughly clean all surfaces, sanitizing and deodorizing as we work to ensure all surface areas are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned!

Call us for water damage assistance at SERVPRO of Brandon/North Riverview at (813) 741-3473. A representative is happy to schedule a crew or go over more details about our restoration and reconstruction services.

Why Hiring SERVPRO for Mold Damage Cleanup Is Important in Brandon

8/12/2022 (Permalink)

If your house in Brandon suffers mold damage, call the professionals at SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

Mold Damage Help with SERVPRO Gets Results for Brandon Residents

There are many popular myths about black mold, mildew, and bacterial growth. Whether you suspect mold development in your home or business, how you approach it will significantly impact your results. Rather than trying DIY and making it worse, you can get the help you need and fast with the team at SERVPRO. We use research-based mold cleanup methods and industrial-grade products to ensure your interior is Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned when we get done. 

Mold damage in Brandon is something that you may not even be able to see with the naked eye. If you start to suspect there may be a moisture problem or mold colonization, time is of the essence so that the issue does not worsen. 

Mold Spores are All Around Us, and in the Air

Many people fail to realize that microscopic mold spores of all kinds are around us each day, indoors and outdoors. While you can live in harmony with mold and be completely safe, excessive moisture is the enemy. With the correct moisture levels and organic materials for food, mold colonization accelerates in as little as 24 to 48 hours.  

Some of the most prevalent areas for mold to reproduce include:

• Areas where water overflows from bathtubs, showers, sinks, hot tubs, aquariums, etc.
• Spots where there might be unnoticed or slow leaks, including slight drips from bathroom or kitchen pipes. 
• Condensation that develops around windows, exterior walls, or AC units. You may even have condensation that builds in your laundry room and improperly vented kitchens or bathrooms.

What Makes SERVPRO Qualified for Mold Remediation?

The team here at SERVPRO undergoes extensive training to assess, trace, and mitigate water damage that leads to mold development. With any mold project, we carefully inspect the area to determine the root cause of the problem to fix it so that the mold problem does not come right back. Our crew utilizes mold remediation protocols set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that links the importance of managing moisture to help thwart mold growth. 

What Happens After you Call Us to Help with Suspected Mold Growth

Once you initiate services by contacting our customer care team, we gather information so that we can select all the right tools, products, and the number of personnel to handle the job. Our Green Fleet then arrives filled with everything we need to inspect, assess, and begin cleaning your residence carefully. We always wear personal protective equipment (PPE), including full bodysuits, gloves, goggles, boots, and eye protection. 

The process you can expect once we arrive includes:

• Assessment to determine the extent of the mold infiltration
• Inspection that helps us locate the root cause of the moisture issue so we can get it fixed
• Containment of the work zone to create a safeguard and keep mold spores from traveling into unaffected areas of the building
• Set up of dehumidifiers and air scrubbers with powerful filters to remove mold spores from the air
• Careful cleanup of all residues with vacuums and other tools, followed by the disposal of any hazardous waste
• Application of antimicrobials and sanitizing agents to keep mold from coming back
• Specialized measures by our Odor Control Technicians (OCT) to eliminate any foul, must odors

Mold damage restoration is something we do best here at SERVPRO of Brandon/North Riverview. If you want to know more about our processes or wish to mobilize our crew to your property, you can reach us by dialing (813) 741-3473. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.