The Focuses of Floodwater Damage Cleanup in Falmouth Offices

9/14/2023 (Permalink)

When your business suffers from flood damage, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Call SERVPRO 24/7 for certified technicians ready for the job.

Flood Mitigation Happens in Stages

Flooding can breach the exterior of an office building without warning and begin spreading through large areas of the facility. Post-storm disaster recovery and relief services are critical to getting your doors back open and coordinating the entire process through your insurance provider. SERVPRO® can help.

Removing Standing Water

Floodwater damage cleanup for your Falmouth office building will always begin with removing any standing water if it exists. Sometimes the water has receded when our professionals arrive, so we can focus on drying and cleaning services at the forefront of mitigation. When standing water is a concern, we have productive extractors to simultaneously manage high volumes of liquid and debris.

Assessing Structural Integrity

The next step is seeing how the flood impacted the structural elements of the office. Like a pipe bursting in the ceiling and causing tiles to collapse, water destroys the office. For example, drywall can be heavily damaged by standing water and spreading moisture. While the metal framework of many commercial buildings can withstand contaminants, we must often remove impacted elements like drywall, short-pile carpeting, and trim.

Protecting Contents and Furniture

Contents are an essential consideration of your office building as well. Content management is a vital component of the mitigation process, from furniture like desks and chairs to file cabinets, electronics, and other loose items. On-site cleaning is not always practical with Large Loss recovery, so we coordinate with your property management to transport objects to our SERVPRO facility, where we offer:

• Cleaning equipment
• Esporta Wash System
• Ozone deodorization chamber
• Climate-controlled storage

While much repairs and demolition are necessary to get your office looking its best again after flooding, we are with you every step of the way to help. SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands has experienced professionals to help with extraction, cleaning, demolition, and build-back services typically needed for commercial properties after a violent storm. Give us a call at (508) 888-5985.

Get Reliable Water Restoration Services in Falmouth with SERVPRO

5/23/2023 (Permalink)

Don't let storm damage go unchecked in your home.

SERVPRO’s Expert Team Provides Swift Water Restoration in Falmouth After a Storm 

Whether from flooding, heavy rainfall, or a leaky roof, water damage from a storm can take a heavy toll on your property. Hiring professionals like SERVPRO for water restoration of your Falmouth home can help limit damage and speed up recovery. 

SERVPRO techs quickly assess the damage and provide equipment and expertise during the water restoration of your Falmouth home. We take steps to prevent further damage to your property, such as installing tarps or boarding up windows to protect against rain or wind. 

Removing the Standing Water During Flood Restoration

One of the most challenging tasks SERVPRO restorers face when they arrive at your flooded property is removing the standing water. As floodwater is often contaminated (category 3), techs must remove it quickly to prevent secondary damage. 

SERVPRO techs use different types of water-extracting equipment to speed up water removal.

• Truck-mounted extractors are large, powerful extractors mounted on a truck, and techs use them for large-scale water extraction. They have a higher capacity and can extract water faster than portable extractors.
• Portable extractors are one of the most common water extraction equipment used in restoration. These machines are typically mounted on wheels, and techs can quickly move them from room to room.
• Trash pumps are especially useful during floodwater extraction as they can remove water that contains sediment and other debris. 

Decontamination After Water Clean Up

SERVPRO techs use antimicrobials to decontaminate your property according to the IICRC S500 guidelines. We only use chemicals approved by the EPA during the decontamination process and strictly follow the local regulations regarding their usage. 

SERVPRO techs apply antimicrobials only after the affected area has been cleaned and dried. 

Call SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands at (508) 888-5985 for immediate help. Remember, We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Ways Falmouth Residences Can Contain Mold Damage

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

Wherever you find mold damage in your Falmouth home, team SERVPRO can help remediate the damage. Contact us 24/7 for services.

Falmouth Homeowners Benefit From SERVPRO Mold Remediation

Mold is a progressive problem in terms of damage to properties. The incident at your Falmouth home can leave a mild impact or develop into a full-blown crisis that requires elaborate restoration procedures. Unlike other property disasters, you can influence the result of mold damage in your property based on your actions.

The action you can take in Falmouth to contain mold damage might depend on the timing of discovery. If the issue is in its formative stages, you only need to take the steps that curtail microbial growth and perform the cleanup. However, removing deteriorated materials is necessary if the contamination has taken root. Whatever the situation, assistance from SERVPRO is beneficial.

Containing mold contamination requires:

• Limiting growth
• Limiting debris spread
• Preventing harmful exposure

Mold requires sufficient moisture and a source of food. It develops when spores on surfaces sprout, spreading hyphae and creating a colony. Disrupting growth is possible by stopping all water sources supplying an area or inhibiting microbial growth processes. Our SERVPRO technicians help by extracting stagnant water or drying wet materials. Inhibiting growth processes is also by applying chemical agents with antifungal and antibacterial properties on surfaces. For example, after removing the carpet and pad, we use the biocide on the floor surface before laying a new carpet.

Handling Mold Debris

In a moldy property, debris comes from several sources, including loose colony fragments, deteriorated materials, and dust from the drilling or cutting process when removing unsalvageable materials. Any heavily contaminated porous material like drywall, carpet, pad or insulation is deemed unsalvageable since cleaning and other restoration procedures cannot remove the root-like hyphae that penetrate its surfaces. 

Controlling the spread of mold debris takes erecting physical barriers. Our SERVPRO technicians take the initiative to ensure such barriers are airtight. We use 6-mil plastic sheets supported with PVC pipes or spring-loaded metallic rods. An adhesive tape helps secure the edges. We also establish negative air pressure, which contains the debris released into the air when materials are disturbed through agitation, demolition, or cutting. 

Containment barriers are not necessary for every type of contamination. However, debris control is essential in all cases. If demolition is not required, more straightforward techniques can help control the spread of spores and moldy materials. The crucial thing is to understand what needs protection from such materials. Protecting cleaned areas while the remediation is in progress is a helpful step. Otherwise, it can turn too repetitive, taking unnecessary time. Residue capture is also an alternative solution since it directly removes soils from contaminated areas to the waste collection containers.

Specific actions that help include:

• Directional cleaning 
• Limiting airflow 
• Extractive cleaning like vacuuming

Vacuum cleaning and air filtration are two great extractive cleaning solutions. Our SERVPRO technicians use devices fitted with High-Efficiency Particulate Air filters that capture 99.97 percent of residues. Such filters can remove residues as small as 0.3 microns. Vacuuming helps eliminate residues embedded in cracks or crevices. On the other hand, the air filtration process has additional benefits, such as minimizing odors by capturing or neutralizing malodor molecules.

SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands has the necessary resources to control mold damage "Like it never even happened." Call us at (508) 888-5985.

Diverse Reasons Why Falmouth Properties Develop Water Damage

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

Our staff and technicians have extensive cleaning and restoration training and equipment to handle any size of water damage in Falmouth.

Can Falmouth Water Restoration by SERVPRO Deliver?

Many materials that form the house structure, whether in the floors, ceilings, walls, and trim, deteriorate if exposed unnecessarily to moisture. The water damage your Falmouth home develops can be instantaneous or gradual, taking weeks or months to become noticeable. The deterioration from gradual water exposure is usually dire since exposure time for materials is unlimited. 

Knowing why your home in Falmouth can develop water damage is essential in preventing or limiting extreme deterioration from gradual moisture exposure. Moisture retention or intrusion are the two most likely reasons for such damage. SERVPRO professionals can help inspect your home, revealing where such risks might emanate from. 

A house can retain moisture because of a drainage system problem that prevents regular evacuation, especially wastewater, as intended. Partial clogging is especially problematic since it might go unnoticed or ignored over a long time. Moisture retention can also happen without involving plumbing systems. Condensation is one of the main processes that can cause such retention. Condensation occurs when humid air cools down, converting the vapor it holds back to liquid water. The kitchen and bathroom are the most likely vapor sources of condensation in your house, leading to water damage. 

Water intrusion occurs from:

• Pipe leaks
• Roof leaks
• Appliance malfunction

Effects of Moisture Exposure

Water is benign in everyday use, but when left to interact with materials over an extended period, it triggers several problems ranging from swelling, staining, warping, and delamination. For example, you might notice that doors operating smoothly suddenly start getting stuck, indicating warping trim or swelling door materials. 

Since water is by far a standard substance, the effects moisture has on materials depend on the physical properties of the said material. Some materials can withstand extended exposure for weeks or months, while others are ruined within a day. 

Factors Affecting Moisture Processes

• Composition
• Permeability
• Porosity

High moisture levels readily damage highly porous materials and those made up of composite parts because of higher absorption rates and the deterioration of cement or glues holding the distinct materials together. On the other hand, permeability is the possibility of moisture passing through materials at standard vapor pressure. Permeance is measured in grains per hour on a square foot of a surface. Permeance determines which materials act as a vapor barrier locking in moisture within a material, thus hampering mitigation efforts such as drying. 

Professional assistance helps identify the uniqueness of materials and establish the best remedies to halt or reverse damages. Our SERVPRO technicians check for moisture barriers such as gloss paint on surfaces or 4-mil plastic sheets installed behind drywall which might stall drying. 

Whatever materials the intrusion effects, performing thorough drying is essential. Our SERVPRO crews facilitate drying by increasing airflow around the wet materials using specialized equipment. We successfully set up several air movers and a dehumidifier unit to cover the wet areas. An air mover is a technological device that uses fans to harness and direct airflow in a specific direction. We also apply heat when necessary, but in most cases, the warm exhaust from dehumidifiers is sufficient in providing the essential heat.

SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands can help evaluate your property to determine the source of water damage if it is not readily apparent. You can reach us at (508) 888-5985.

Simple Approaches Used in Falmouth to Ease Fire Damage Repair

4/10/2023 (Permalink)

We have state-of-the-art equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your Falmouth home after fire damage.

SERVPROs Simple Tactics Ease Falmouth Fire Restoration

Problems in Falmouth property can vary significantly after fire incidents. Hazardous structural areas, heavy soiling, and odors are some typical issues. Resolving the problems can be time-consuming, costly, and generally inconveniencing, so most people opt to hire a professional to handle fire damage. 

Although the Falmouth professional delivering fire damage restoration services may be popular for using advanced techniques or sophisticated equipment, simple actions also form a significant portion of the restorative actions taken. When done correctly, the process can be easier or faster. SERVPRO has developed various strategies over the years.

Simple strategies that ease cleaning

• Doing a thorough inspection
• Changing cleaning water frequently
• Using products at the proper pH levels

Clearing heavy soiling from surfaces or materials can take longer if unnecessarily repetitive. The proper preparation processes and execution strategies can cut down the time involved. Our SERVPRO crews prioritize inspection before most of the other remediation steps. Assessment helps reveal the soil type or how stubbornly it is embedded on surfaces. Fire residues vary from fine dry soot to wet or smeary smoke residues. Wet residues are considerably challenging to wipe off from surfaces. Dry soot, on the hand, might penetrate beyond the surface since the intense heat of combustion opens up pores in materials.

The inspection done during fire restoration can be a simple or elaborate process. For example, rubbing a brightly colored cleaning sponge over surfaces to track residue spread patterns is a form of inspection. Other inspection approaches include doing chemical tests to establish the properties of residues or the affected materials. Chemical tests are beneficial when preparing to clean fabrics since they help reveal issues like propensity to stretch or dye bleeding.

Cleaning is more successful when applying unique approaches rather than standard techniques. Under most circumstances, that means using elaborate cleaning methods. However, it can also include simple techniques that you could easily dismiss while completing diverse tasks. Changing cleaning water constantly and maintaining the pH of the cleaning solution are two simple techniques that help improve the outcomes of fire cleanup exercises. Our SERVPRO FSRT-certified technicians manage pH levels by choosing products in the correct pH range which can be acidic or alkaline depending on the cleaning task. For example, heavy-duty cleaners that strip away greasy fire residues are highly alkaline, with a pH of around 10 to 14. Maintaining the pH level is also essential. Our technicians add a buffering agent in the cleaning solution to keep that range throughout the cleaning, thus maintaining its effectiveness.

Other Fire Damage Restoration Strategies 

Since most blazes are usually limited to a specific house area, the location or position of damage influences the ease of restoration. Heavy smoke deposits or charring on elevated house sections such as ceilings or wall sections are particularly challenging to address because of the difficulty reach. Also, when cleaning, it is easy to soil contents and materials lying below the affected area creating unnecessary damage.

Simple solutions include:

• Doing move-outs
• Elevated access resources
• Special cleaning equipment

Manipulating contents or moving them from the property ensures they do not stand in the way or incur damages from debris and cleaning solutions. Our SERVPRO teams efficiently manage the contents that need to move out of the way since we have enough workforce and handy tools such as handcarts. For elevated reach, extension poles and ladders come in handy.

SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands helps simplify fire damage restoration. You can reach us at (508) 888-5985. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

What Falmouth Residents Should Know About Fire Damage

4/9/2023 (Permalink)

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire can be quite stressful. Contact SERVPRO for trained technicians using trusted tools for the remediation tasks.

Fire Damage Restoration with SERVPRO Gets Results

With how frightening the fire statistics are across the United States, it is more essential than ever that home and business owners safeguard their properties from damage. However, fires are an awful reality and come without notice, so SERVPRO is here to help ensure Falmouth property owners know about the fallout of fire and how to proceed when picking up the pieces.

Housefire statistics in the United States

The National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and other agents have released multiple statistics regarding fires across the country:

• It takes 30 seconds for a minor flame to morph into a major blaze. 
• Roughly 358,000 homes will have a structure fire each year.
• Throughout a five-year span, home fires cause several thousand fatalities and billions in property damage.

Did you know?

Along with the statistics listed above, there are many other facts about housefires that property owners may not be aware of. For example, the top causes are electrical malfunctions, heating equipment, and cooking-related incidents. Throughout the fall months, roughly 45% of fires are caused in homes using fireplaces as a heating source.

SERVPRO is always here to help

Once you have a fire in your home, it helps to know you have a trusted restoration team you can turn to for cleanup and reconstruction. We handle everything from start to finish, ensuring we leave no stone unturned to make it “Like it never even happened.” From debris removal and contents cleaning, we carefully handle every aspect of your property to help you return your home to pre-fire condition. – General Contractor License #: CS-108357

Whether you had a fire break out in your kitchen or faulty electrical work that caused a great deal of smoke damage, we can be at your Falmouth property within hours to get started. Call us at (508) 888-5985, and our SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands team will mobilize and head to your location.

Rapid Water Restoration in Falmouth Businesses Minimizes Damages

3/6/2023 (Permalink)

Our techs are ready 24/7, 365 days a year.

SERVPRO helps Combat Water Damage in Falmouth

Water intrusion in commercial spaces is a common occurrence. The after-effects can severely impact structural components and cause business interruptions. If no rapid measures are taken, the water gradually spreads through the building soaking into materials. Over time, wet materials expose employees to contaminants, and the materials risk developing mold. Therefore, water damage in Falmouth business premises should be addressed as swiftly as possible to avoid extensive damages and business interruptions. SERVPRO takes water damage matters seriously and rapidly responds by sending a well-equipped team.

Water restoration in Falmouth business premises should minimize damages and maximize recovery efforts. The worst water damages occur when repair efforts are not performed correctly. A quick clean-up may allow you to resume operations faster, but you risk facing closure later as anything you miss fuels continued deterioration. By involving a restoration company like SERVPRO, you can expect a rigorous inspection disinterring all damages.

Some ways water damage affects businesses:

• Destruction of documents and records
• Damage to equipment and furnishings
• Water-logged flooring
• Mold development
• Lost revenue due to temporary closure

Water intrusion immediately impacts the flooring materials and other structural components but can also significantly affect stock. Books, documents, fixtures, and valuable equipment are vulnerable to damage. The longer the problem remains unresolved, the higher the chances of major financial loss since you won’t be able to provide service to customers. All these can be prevented by acting quickly before the damage escalates.

Water Restoration Equipment Facilitates Quick Recovery

Completing water extraction fast and setting up air moving and dehumidification equipment for drying helps speed up the recovery efforts. Specialized drying equipment, such as centrifugal and axial air movers or structural drying equipment, may be necessary for efficient property drying. SERVPRO restoration teams also help with delicate processes such as document recovery through methods such as:

• Air-drying
• Freezer drying
• Vacuum freeze-drying
• Vacuum thermal-drying

SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands offers quick and thorough water restoration services allowing you to minimize business interruptions. Call us at (508) 888-5985. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO’s Fast Water Removal Service Saves Falmouth Homes

2/10/2023 (Permalink)

Our techs are ready 24/7, 365 days a year.

Falmouth Homeowners Trust SERVPRO with Water Removal 

Removing the standing water from your property is a crucial and time-sensitive step in water restoration. If water removal from your Falmouth home does not happen quickly, water can seep into the structural components causing widespread damage.   

SERVPRO restorers employ several pieces of equipment during the water removal of your Falmouth property. While pumps and extractors remove the standing water, deep extraction tools and light wands remove water absorbed into the carpets and pads. 

Deep Extraction Tools in Water Damage Repair

One of the best ways to accelerate the drying rate is by removing as much liquid water from the structure as possible before using dehumidifiers and air movers. Once the pumps and extractors remove the standing water, the SERVPRO techs focus on the water absorbed into the carpet. 

We use the following types of extraction tools to remove this water-

• Self-propelled tools have an independent motor moving the units over the carpet constantly. The tool compresses the carpet and the pad to squeeze out the liquid water and remove it using a vacuum system. Some tools are designed so that the restorer can stand on them while it works to provide additional weight. 

• Stationary tools don’t have a motor, and the restorer extracts water section by section by manually moving the tool from one part of the carpet to the other. The techs must use their weight to increase the efficiency of the tool.

• Light wands are used to remove residual water on the surface of the carpets after a stationary tool has been used.   

Water Removal is Necessary

Removing as much liquid water from the water-damaged structure as possible is crucial. Not only does liquid water continue to damage the structure, but it is also very difficult to remove by evaporative drying alone.  

Call SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands at (508) 888-5985.

Steps to Conduct Mold Removal in Falmouth

1/4/2023 (Permalink)

Call your local professionals at SERVPRO to ensure your home is dry and sanitary.

SERVPRO Can Assist with Mold Removal Services in Falmouth

Fungi exist naturally in many places outdoors, but issues can arise if a fungus grows inside your home. Mold only needs moisture, an organic food source like wood or paper, the proper temperatures, and time to develop. Once a fungus forms, its spores can get into the air and cause the contamination to spread to other parts of your structure. 

Luckily SERVPRO is available 24/7 for mold removal services in Falmouth. Since mold can cause problems, it is wise to call professionals to remediate the issues. If we take action before the spores spread, we can help prevent contamination of materials far from the initial source. 

When our SERVPRO technicians first arrive at your residence, we start by inspecting your building to determine where moisture entered. For example, if you found mold in your attic, we would look for leaks in your roof where the water entered. If the mold formed by rainwater enters a leak in your roof, then we can seal your roof so that no more moisture enters during the restoration process.

We can also use moisture sensors to find other places where building materials could be wet. During the initial inspection, we can inspect hidden, tight spots to ensure there aren't fungal formations anywhere else in your house. Once we find all of your structure's contaminated areas, we can spray them with an antimicrobial solution. Next, we can remove the contamination from the surface of the affected materials.

We can remove contamination in the following ways:

• Dispose of contaminated materials in sealed bags
• Sandblast surface mold from wood
• Soda blast surface mold from various materials
• Scrub surface mold on non-porous materials with steel wool or a sponge

We can also set up air scrubbers and seal affected areas while we work on restoration to prevent spores from getting into the air.

If you ever notice any black mold forming inside your house, call SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands at (508) 888-5985.

SERVPRO Provides Water Mitigation Services to Reduce Damage in Falmouth

12/6/2022 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands fix it, Don’t stress it.

Quick Water Mitigation Reduces Extensive Secondary Damage in Falmouth – Call SERVPRO

Residents of Falmouth appreciate the fast water mitigation service provided by SERVPRO. When water leaks occur, water spreads everywhere, seeps into every nook and crack, and is absorbed by porous materials. Even hardwood floors can be damaged if exposed to water and high moisture levels for an extended period.

SERVPRO believes in being onsite to begin water mitigation efforts in Falmouth homes and businesses within four hours of your call. Our technicians know that if they can quickly remove the water and the moisture, they can prevent significant secondary damage to porous materials. 

Carpets, underpads, subfloor material, hardwood flooring, drywall, and furniture/cupboards manufactured from particle board products can be damaged permanently if the water is not quickly removed.

Older carpets may delaminate and need to be replaced. Under-pad material soaks up water and causes the subfloor to lose structural integrity. The drywall expands and crumbles. Hardwood floor planks cup, buckle and warp if exposed to water for too long. Kitchen and bathroom cupboards made from particle board materials also disintegrate.

Mold can also infest a home in as little as twenty-four hours after a water leak. Mold likes to grow in dark warm areas with moisture and organic materials available, which are abundant in our homes.

SERVPRO utilizes high-capacity pumps, water extractors, vacuum floor mats, vacuum wands for difficult-to-reach locations, air movers, and dehumidifiers to rapidly remove water and moisture from your home. Our quick response and focused efforts reduce the probability of secondary damage significantly.

Our fast response to your water event can mitigate many of these issues. Don’t hesitate, call now.

Our services include the following:

• Water clean up
• Ceiling repairs from water damage
• Mold inspections, remediation, and removal

Call SERVPRO of Upper Cape Cod and The Islands for water mitigation and restoration services. We provide service to Falmouth and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (508) 888-5985.