Storm Damage Home Repairs

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Pam

http://www.rightwayrestoration.com

If you have been a victim of storm damage, the first thing you should do is check for downed power lines. If this is the case, then contact the electric company as soon as possible. Make sure that you do not drive over or touch a power line as it may be energized. Power lines that are damaged can transmit electrical currents through metal fences and trees. Therefore it is necessary to be extremely careful to avoid contact with these.

After the storm, check to see if the electricity has been restored. If so, then turn on your appliances one by one to avoid overloading a circuit. If there is any damage to your electricity, contact a professional electrician to deal with the situation. By law your local power company can only repair the power line coming directly into your home and the meter. Electrical systems and appliances on your home or inside your home is the homeowners responsibility. Any damage to meter box and weather heads are potentially dangerous and should be handle by licensed electricians. Do not attempt to make any repairs yourself. This is extremely dangerous and can result in fires, electrical shocks or damage to appliances and the likes. If anyone is injured, contact 911 immediately.

When all of the above has been carried out check your home for the following: a build up of water, which can cause the foundation of a home to weaken. Check for bulging or cracked areas along outdoor and indoor walls. If all appears to be well, check again over the next few weeks. Sometimes it can take months before problems caused by a storm become evident. Be aware of doors that are stuck or cracks in the ceiling, as these may be evidence that the foundation has been damaged and the house is shifting. If you are unsure or concerned about the damage contact a professional home inspector for additional advice.

Electrical components such as appliances, furnaces or outlets that have been submerged in flood waters should be replaced, as contaminates in the water can cause damage to electrical components, which could cause fires. If the heating system has been affected, have it checked by a professional cooling and heating contractor. It may be necessary to replace certain parts rather than the whole unit.

If your basement has been affected by a storm, remove items and dry the basement with fans and dehumidifiers. Check the outside for any gutters that are loose or detached and repair them immediately. Washed out soil along the foundation walls should be regraded by adding clean filled dirt and sloping it away from the house.

If you have any concerns, always consult a professional who can advice you further in this matter.

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Sewage Cleanup

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Pam

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Sewage backup into basements causes water damage, illness and can even lead to death in some cases. Several things can lead to sewage backup. The most common causes for leaks are foreign objects being flushed down toilets by children and cooking grease blocking up pipes. The waste in pipes gets backed up and bursts as a result. Homeowners are responsible for restoration of the leak and unclogging of pipes. If taken care of quickly the clean up efforts will not be costly. Sewage damage can actually effect several homes in the area as well. Sometimes carpeting may need to be removed. Although in the case of sewage, it is highly recommended to discard any carpet that has been affected. It is important for home owners to hire a professional service to take care of leaks and pipe blockage because there are severe health risks involved. Family members should be immediately evacuated and proper restoration services should be made.

Sewage clean up should only be handled by knowledgeable and skilled contractors that specialize in sewer restoration services. It needs to be done properly or bacteria and disease causing microorganisms will continue to spread. Even washing the flooded area can be dangerous for an individual and their family and can lead to waste staying in unseen areas. The harmful bacteria can also be tracked into other rooms of the home from walking through the infected area. The dangers of trying to clean up spills caused by sewage backup are from contact with fungi and bacteria. This can result from contact through inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption.

For sewage clean up to be successful it needs to be carried out by a group of workers that can adhere to the certification standards of the IICRC. These criteria provide thorough, safe restoration that can be carried out without costly measures. The amount of time for effective clean up will also be carried out quickly when these regulations are met. IICRC standards will allow team members to assess the risk of the sewage backup and to label whether it is sanitary or not, ensure that damage to property will be limited and follow laws for safety and health measures. To properly clean up an area that had flooding caused by a sewer backup, the area must be properly cleaned with disinfectant agents.

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The Importance of OSHA Regulations

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Pam

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The federal Occupational Safety and Hazard Administration has as its job, the duty to insure the safety and health of employees and of the general public. The importance of OSHA Regulations is felt first by general contractors who are visited by OSHA agents to inspect the work place and to search for hazards. Violating an OSHA posted regulation will insure the contractor a huge fee and possible shut down of the project. OSHA violators have spent time in jail. Since we know that The Department of Labor’s enforcement agency OSHA has teeth, its importance can hardly be minimized.

On the other hand, the general public should be aware that OSHA has as its mission to protect our health and safety. Therefore, we should understand how important their regulations are in keeping us safe and in case of disaster, whether man-made or natural, in providing us with emergency relief.

Hurricane relief services include regulations and procedures for water damage cleanup and repair. OSHA has trained specialists to assist in water damage cleanup and repair. A Salvage & Engineering Technical (Set) Specialist is a very important emergency service that is under OSHA.

OSHA ‘s fire damage service is outlined in part of their regulation Fire Protection as part of their regulations. The agency has regulations for Fire, Marine, and Casuality Insurances. The importance of OSHA regulations in enforcing their regulations for these insurances to be carried only becomes apparent to people when they find themselves facing fire damage not covered by their personal insurance.
OSHA’s A Brief Guide To Mold In The Workplace is very important to read and to correct violations before a visit by OSHA usually following a medical emergency due to fungi caused disorders. Their fines and possible shut down of the site can only be called remedial in that the damage to people will have already occurred.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, have added another facet to public safety and hazards caused by collapsed structures other than by natural disasters. OSHA has formulated a process of entering structures that have collapsed due to terrorist activity. FEMA or Federal Emergency Management Agency will be contacted if the collapse warrants it and a trained Specialist in structural collapse from Urban Search and Rescue will make the onsite evaluation of how to best rescue personnel. The Structure Specialist will provide services in hazard control, primarily in assessing structural instabilities and in sanitation in controlling the possible contamination of other structures.

The importance of OSHA regulations are in their being implemented in workplace settings and in their availability for remediation following an emergency caused by water, fire, air pollutants, and terrorists damage.

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Water Damage Clean Up

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Pam

http://www.rightwayrestoration.com

Water damage restoration is an arduous process, but it can be done. The first thing you need to do before you begin the water damage clean up is to turn off the electricity in your home. Water is a conductor of electricity and you don’t want to get shocked.

The second step is to figure out if the water is clean or dirty. If the culprit is a broken pipe or a leaky pipe, determine if it’s a sewage pipe or a water pipe. If the damage in your home is from dirty or contaminated water, such as sewage, you will have to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of disease and infections from the sewage to your family.

You need to begin the water removal process. You want the water out as soon as possible. Even clean water, if left sitting, will begin to breed bacteria and mold. If you get the water out quickly you may be able to avoid a mold remediation process. To get the water out you can use sump pumps and / or a wet dry vacuum. These can be bought or rented. If this process seems like more than you can handle yourself you should call a water damage clean up company immediately.

Pull up any soaked carpets and carpet padding. While you may be able to save your carpeting the padding and any materials underneath the carpet will need to be thrown away and replaced. The carpets will need to be cleaned and disinfected before they are safe to put back in your home.

While the rugs are up off the floor, the next step is to pull up the baseboards. The baseboards are the strip of wood that connects your drywall to the floor or sub flooring. This is necessary because you want to create air flow to dry any water that has seeped into the walls. If you skip this step the result will be mold in you walls and in your home.

Once these steps are complete the area needs to dry out completely. Fans and dehumidifiers can facilitate this process. Water removal and water restoration are big jobs. It is imperative to retaining the value of your home that it is done correctly. A water damage restoration company can do all the work for you and certify that the job is done right.

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How to Dry Out Water Damaged Structures

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Pam

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When a structure has been exposed to large amounts of water, such as during a flood, it’s very important to immediately take steps to dry out the building, make repairs and plan water damage restoration.

The first step to take during water damage cleanup is to turn off the power to the building. Make sure any gas services are turned off as well, to prevent leaks. Also, document all damage with pictures before you clean up to help when you deal with your insurance company.

For a flooded basement, first wait for the ground outside and around the basement to drain off. If you pump your basement first, uneven pressure will be created and cause damage to the walls, possibly resulting in a collapse.

The best thing to do about water damage is make sure there is proper air ventilation throughout the entire structure. Open all windows and turn on ceiling fans to draw air in and around the room. In addition, find out whether you have plaster or sheetrock. If you have plaster it can probably be dried out. Sheetrock, however, will most likely require complete replacement. It’s important to consult a water damage company to find out the best method to fix water damage to your building’s walls.

Any wood features in the structure should fare well after water damage. Wash down any trim or doors to remove all mud and residue. A Clorox and water solution can be used to wash off mold and mildew. Remove all wet carpeting and furniture and wash down all wood floors with fresh water. Although the floors may start to warp as they dry, keep drying. They should go back to their original shape, especially if weights are used to decrease buckling and warping. It should be noted that the success rate for this method is not as great as you would like and often the floors will need to be removed.

All insulation in the home should be removed. Wet insulation is useless and will cause mildew, mold, and damage to all wood and metal in the home. Check the attic, walls, and under the floorboards to be sure you get out all wet insulation.

A professional water damage restoration company will probably be required to take care of many problems, including treating wallpaper, as well as paintings, photographs, and furniture that has been damaged by the water. A water removal company can help in the entire process of drying out a water damaged structure, ensuring it’s done safely and properly.

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10 Tips to Prevent Water Damage

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Pam
http://www.rightwayrestoration.com

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“Typically the water damage that occurs inside of your home could have been avoided if you had followed a few steps to prevent the damage before it happened.” It’s not unusual to hear this claim from a water damage team expert. Below are 10 simple tips that will help in avoiding thousands of dollars in unnecessary water damage cleanup expenses.

1. Every once in a while check beneath all sinks in your house to see if there are any pipe leaks. Also, play close attention to slow-draining pipes as they may have blockages. In addition to these checks, it wouldn’t hurt to re-caulk around sinks that appear old and/or may have began deteriorating.

2. You can check for water leaks by monitoring your water meter while all the faucets and water using appliances in your home are in the off position. For about an hour, check the meter in 4-5 minute intervals to see if there are any changes. Any water usage during this time may mean you have a pipe leak.

3. Give your self easy access to the “MAIN” water shut-off valve in your house. By being able to quickly stop the flow of water in an emergency, you can often save yourself from further damage.

4. If your bathroom floor is tiled, make sure there aren’t any cracks and/or missing areas of grout. To minimize the effect of water damage in this area,ensure that all grout is intact and sealed.

5. If your refrigerator has a built in ice-maker or water dispenser, periodically check the connecting hose for leaks. Any leaks should be taken care of immediately with a replacement hose.

6.The common source of water damage in the kitchen is caused by the dishwasher. Check the dishwasher for discolored/warped materials. Also periodically inspect the connecting hose from the dishwasher to the main water line.

7. In your bathroom check the caulking around the bathtubs and toilets. If there are any discolorations,cracks or mold, then you may have some water damage. Be sure to re-caulk any area showing these initial signs of damage.

8. It never hurts to have a working fan in your bathroom. Almost any home improvement store supplies them, and they’re relatively easy to install. These will reduce any moisture and  build up of mildew from running hot water.

9. If you have a washing machine in your house, inspect the connector hose every few weeks or so for any signs of damage. Even if there aren’t any problems, the hose should be replaced about every 3-4 years.

10. Air conditions should be serviced by a qualified contractor every couple of years. they will be able “fish-out” obstructions that may cause water damage in around the supporting window.

These tips are not a guarantee water damage will not occur in your home, but following these preventive measures can lessen the chance of it happening.

 

 

 

 

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Water Damage Can Lead To Mold So Act Quickly

Posted on March 22, 2012 by Pam

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If you own an apartment or a house, how you take care of it will go a long way as to how safe it becomes. One hazard that may not be at the forefront of your mind is mold remediation. And, believe it or not, mold can be a huge safety hazard. Your property can also be influenced by other forms of mold and water damage that you may not be aware of. The mold that occurs after water damage can be the cause of multiple respiratory diseases. Whether or not you are concerned over these issues, you will be doing yourself a big favor by paying attention to clues in your apartment or home prior to suffering from mold. There are several signs to look for when water damage has occurred.

Discoloration is a clear sign that water damage has taken place. And  the ceiling of your home is where discoloration often surfaces. If you discover yellow and black on the walls and/or ceiling of your property, you will most likely find a water stain has formed in the same place. This applies if your home has suffered from a ruptured pipeline. It is important to quell the damage as soon as possible, before it spreads throughout the property. You should contact a plumber that can assist with the use of special equipment and tools that can save valuable time. And you should place a call to your insurance provider, as well. Remember, if not acted upon quickly the damage can spread between floors. If, for instance, you notice your basement ceiling has become discolored, the first floor will now be exposed to the risk.

A good place to check for additional damage is in the baseboards of the area under the sink and between the cracks in the walls. This high risk area is a center of many pipes that, during extreme temperature changes, is vulnerable because of the possibility of multiple leaks and breaks. It is possible to find the leak before digging into an area of high mold by noticing the symptoms of mold, such as the aforementioned discoloration.

Ceilings or roofs may display damaged shingles, which occur normally on the side of rainwater from the roof. You need to ensure that your roof has a stable foundation for such corruption. Even inside your home, people are vulnerable to the threat of water stains on the ceiling or the floor because of instability.

There are other ways to prevent extensive damage before it is too late. Be wary of smells in the house as soon as you notice something wrong in the region, as it is often a kind of condensation. Spilled drinks or other liquids in your property are an ideal way to develop molds over time, especially when there is not ample ventilation in the area. If you wet the inside of your property, be sure to get it dry enough, or it could cause problems later on down the road.

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How to Remodel Your Living Room

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Pam

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If you are looking to add a little style or just to update your living room then check out this process of renovation.

The first thing you want to do when remodeling a living room is pick out the new look and design you are going for. There are many things you can do to remodel a living room, such as adding a new coat of paint, buying new furniture or restoring some of your worn out pieces of furniture to give them new flare.

Once you know how you want to remodel your living room and what design you are looking for; start removing any furniture you want to get rid of, or restore, so you will have room for painting or measuring for new furniture. Once you have the living room completely empty you can start comparing paint colors to see what color you would like to go with. The remodeling process usually includes a new paint color, new furniture and a new layout to add some style to your interior decor. So once you have a good paint color tested out and you like what you see, lay out the painters tape and get started. Painting is a job that you can do yourself, but if you want a professional look you can hire a company to do the job for you.

Once you have the new layer of paint coated on, you want to add primer to keep it lasting for years to come. So, with the walls covered in their new color you can check out your furniture options. A great way to remodel your living room furniture on a budget is, instead of buying new furniture, just have yours restored with a new layer of fabric on the couches and a new layer of stain on your wooden items.

With the paint and furniture taken care of, you want to look at the overall layout of your room and move things around to where they compliment the overall living room style. A well designed living room will be open and have couches facing each other for when you have company. So with the furniture layout complete you can start taking off your painters tape and move things into place.

So overall, if you are looking to remodel your living room without breaking the bank, check out what a new coat of paint and some furniture restoration can do for you.

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Hidden Costs of Water Damage When Flipping Houses

Posted on March 20, 2012 by Pam

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Real estate prices are at a level unseen in recent years. Money to invest could be well placed in the right piece of property. However, buying real estate with the intent of reselling for a profit carries a number of variables that can dramatically affect your bottom line.

The current real estate market has left many houses vacant for long periods of time. A small leak in a pipe, over time, can lead to the formation of toxic mold within the walls of this seemingly perfect home. The adverse health effects of mold, which is a form of fungus, can be hazardous, especially to children. The cost of clean up, extensive!

Not all problems occur in neglected homes. What about a wonderfully maintained home of a great couple with two adorable children? The children enjoyed their baths every night, playing in the tub is a great way for children to spend their time getting clean. However, continually having water spill over onto the bathroom floor there is a possiblility of extensive damage to the subflooring of this beautiful bathroom.

Check all possible areas for signs of water damage, including the roof. Soft spots in the roof or attic could be due to a leaking roof; another potentially high priced repair. Look closely at all walls and ceilings for any sign of discoloration or “bowing”, both of which could indicate a water leak. All accessible pipes should be examined to ensure that fittings are secure and there is no sign of leakage. A damp, musty smell under a cabinet could be a sign of a previous water problem. You must beware of any evidence you find that indicates a problem does currently exist or may have existed at one time. Improperly repaired water problems can result in more extensive repairs later. If possible, check previous water bills. Extreme fluctuations in water usage could signify a problem, either inside or outside the home. A damaged pipe underground could carry a high excavation cost, definitely devastating to your bottom line!

A thorough inspection is imperative anytime you are considering a real estate investment, simply because water damage isn’t always easily detected and has the potential to be very costly. You can’t always see what is behind the pretty paint and wallpaper or under the beautiful ceramic tile.

It’s your investment and you want to protect it. Once you become the owner of this property, you also become owner of any and all water problems.

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Body Decomposition Cleanup

Posted on March 19, 2012 by Pam

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Ever wonder what happens to the body of a victim of a violent crime after the investigators are done and the crime scene has been processed? It’s not something you are likely to see on the Discovery Channel. Believe it or not, there are a bevy of companies who make their very living by cleaning up the biohazards associated with this type of cleanup. Their services are professional, thorough and necessary to protect us from coming in contact with various substances that may make us sick.

When a body begins to decompose, several elements go to work. First, the bacteria that live on each and every living organism begin to consume the body, changing the solid structures into liquid. Insects and other opportunistic bugs move in and begin to eat away at the body. The internal organs will liquefy and the smell is intense. Gases from the breakdown of the organic material begin to build up inside the body cavity, sometimes causing it to explode. After the coroner removes the body from the scene, there is generally a large amount of residue, both liquid and solid, for the cleaning companies to remove. After a thorough cleaning has occurred, the workers must also ensure that everything that has come into contact with the body or fluids is properly sanitized and that any insects or larvae of parasites are killed to avoid cross contamination with another person. Coming into contact with any of the bodily fluids or other matter is of the utmost concern for the cleaning crew and anyone else who may inhabit the same space due to bacterial infections, viruses and other communicable diseases, or the growth of mold and fungi.

Body decomposition cleaners have the training and expertise to ensure that the cleanup is quick thorough and sensitive to the grieving family and the cost is usually covered by the deceased person’s homeowners or automobile insurance, allowing the surviving family members to only have to deal with the sensitive subject once.

Hiring a professional to attend to this specific need is paramount to ensuring a thorough, health conscious job and giving the family the peace of mind in knowing that this unpleasant matter is being tended to with the utmost in professionalism and care.

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