Clearing the Air: How SERVPRO® Eliminates Odors for Good!

5/9/2024 (Permalink)

Odors, it's a word that is not pleasing to the ear nor to the nose. Smelling an odor throughout your home or business can be intolerable, especially if you do not know where it is coming from. People often attempt to get rid of the odor by spraying air freshener and while it is a temporary fix, it does not completely eliminate the odor.

This is because they are simply masking the odor instead of eliminating it. Fortunately, SERVPRO specializes in eliminating persistent smells such as smoke, pet urine, and other foul scents whether it is inside or outside. Our advanced equipment allows us to target the source and leave your home or business smelling fresh. Here is how we do it in just 4 steps:

1. Remove the source of the odor. The odor removal process starts with identifying the source of the smell and removing it. If not removed, debris contaminated with odor-causing residues will continue to give off the odors which will interfere with the cleaning process.

2. Clean residues from surfaces. Once the source of the odor is removed, our technicians will properly clean the surfaces to deodorize them effectively using advanced equipment.

3. Re-create the conditions that caused odor penetration. Our technicians then distribute a deodorizer to the surface in a manner similar to the way the odor-causing substances penetrated the surface.

4. Seal Surfaces Exposed to Unpleasant Odors. This step is more for severe situations when an odor removal is impractical and the only solution is to seal the location where the odor is coming from.

SERVPRO’s priority is to leave your home or business smelling fresh and feeling clean.

Our uniquely trained professionals will identify the source of any foul odor and eliminate it from your home or business. Inside or outside, you can count on SERVPRO for your odor elimination needs at any time of the day.

What To Do When You Have Water Damage

5/8/2024 (Permalink)

Water damage can wreak havoc on your home or property. Water damage can occur from burst pipes, leaking roofs, storms, floods, and hurricanes. The consequences can be devastating, leading to structural damage, mold growth, and potential health effects. 

When facing these situations, it is best to contact a restoration company like SERVPRO®. However, here are some simple actions you can take while you wait on a SERVPRO team to arrive at your home. 

Turn off the Power 

Attempt to safely switch off the electricity and gas to avoid electrocution and gas leaks. If unable to do so due to an extensive amount of water in the home, wait for a SERVPRO team to arrive and cut the power off. 

Locate and Stop the Water Source

Identify where the water is coming from. If it is coming from a burst pipe or leaking appliance, turn off the water supply to prevent further flooding. 

If the source of the water is external, such as a storm or flooding, do your best to divert or contain the water from further damaging your home and furniture. 

Remove Excess Water

Use pumps, wet/dry vacuums, buckets, or towels to remove as much water as possible from the affected area. The faster you can extract the water, the better chance you have of preventing further damage and mold growth.  

Move Belongings Out of Water

To prevent further damage to your furniture, move them to another room that is dry. If you have heavy furniture that you are unable to lift and move around, wait for a SERVPRO team to arrive to assist with moving the furniture. 

SERVPRO also specializes in restoring any piece of furniture that has been damaged during the disaster. 

Call your Insurance Company

Once you have done all the above, now is the time to contact your insurance company and investigate what is covered in terms of water damage. Document the damage thoroughly and file a claim with your insurance as soon as possible in order for you to get reimbursed for the costs of mitigation. 

Dealing with water damage is a long and stressful process. Luckily, SERVPRO is available 24/7 with a team of certified professionals who are equipped with advanced equipment to resolve disasters like these. 

SERVPRO, the only restoration company that makes “Like it never even happened,” happen.

Safe, Effective Mold Removal for Raleigh Property Owners

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides controlled mold demolition and remediation in Raleigh. If you have mold, contact us!

Call SERVPRO® for Mold Cleanup and Remediation

Whether you live or work in Raleigh, you never want to have mold hindering your interior. Failing to address and safely clean areas with suspected microbial growth can create costly damage and possible hazards. Hiring SERVPRO® ensures you get the prompt, reliable cleanup, and remediation you need to bring your home or business back to pre-damage condition. Once finished with your project, your interior will get the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned seal of approval. 

From sightseeing and dining to family activities, there is plenty in the area to enjoy. If you are experiencing musty odors or mold Damage in Raleigh, SERVPRO is available 24/7 with proven methods and training to get the job done right the first time. As we are working on your remediation, you can check out some of the local hotspots, such as:

• North Carolina Museum of Natural Science: As the largest natural history museum
• Located in the Southeast, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science features unprecedented special exhibits and hands-on educational opportunities. See live animals, take in the wonder of whale skeletons, and learn all about dinosaurs, all while spending time with the family.
• Pullen Park: This is the perfect area to enjoy nature and the serene sounds of water while getting lost in a book or having a picnic with friends. There is a park café on the grounds where you can grab concessions like pizza, snacks, and beverages. Many people come here during their lunch break on a nice day, or couples take a walk while waiting for nearby dinner reservations or entertainment. 
• Clouds Brewing: Located in the Glenwood South neighborhood, this restaurant/bar features a fun atmosphere and excellent service. There is also outdoor seating if you want to people-watch over some of the top brews and appetizers on the menu. 

Contact SERVPRO of Cary/Morrisville/Apex if you suspect issues with mold development in your home or business. We are available 24/7 for Raleigh area customers – so call us at (919) 615-1160 or request help online at your earliest convenience.

Finding Professional Help for Flood Damage in Raleigh

5/16/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO tech drying contaminated water from a Raleigh attic. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO Provides Raleigh Flood Recovery Services

The craft beer scene in Raleigh and Wake County is booming, a relaxing and refreshing invitation to slow down and partake to locals and travelers in town to enjoy some of the many free museums in the North Carolina capital. The rise of dozens of breweries in recent years offers excellent opportunities to kick back and explore drinks and foods unique to the city and region after a busy workday or hours of fun but thirst-provoking vacation activities. Take advantage of events planned by the Raleigh brewery community, including tours, informative classes, and festivals, to round out your visit or enhance your life as a citizen of the shady Oak City.

Have no fear that storm-related flood damage will cancel Raleighite's plans for a night out or visitors' enjoyment of exploring attractions in this vibrant city. Weather prediction is an inexact science, but if torrential rain and high winds cause flood damage, SERVPRO is ready 24/7 to respond promptly to requests for an expert hand with commercial water extraction and structural drying. Highly qualified and well-equipped crews are on duty as soon as practical, poised to make it “Like it never even happened” by:

• Containing and removing contaminated water
• Cleaning debris and residues from surfaces
• Sanitizing the affected area
• Returning commercial spaces to normal moisture levels

Before you know it, destinations dealing with water incursion issues are back in business because of SERVPRO. Galleries and museums open again, and brewpubs welcome you for a drink, snack, or meal.

Whether you prefer the more intimate ambiance in a neighborhood bar or dare to venture into the Guinness World Record-holding world of the three-story Raleigh Beer Garden with 350 varieties on tap, the city’s breweries are ready to wow you with variety and innovation. Pick your favorite scene and enjoy.

SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex can turn a commercial flood damage disaster around in record time. One call to (919) 615-1160 puts the industry leader in charge of flood water mitigation and remediation.

SERVPRO Properly Deals with Mold Damage in Your Raleigh Home

5/2/2023 (Permalink)

If you have mold like this after a storm, call SERVPRO of Raleigh 24/7. We are faster to any size disaster.

Signs Your Raleigh Home Has Mold Damage

Mold might be present in your Raleigh home if the mitigation was not correctly done following a flood. It can also develop from humidity issues if systems that regulate humidity levels are unavailable. With high humidity, there is too much moisture, thus creating condensation on the building materials. Moisture is a key to microbial growth. You can see or smell mold on clothing, furniture, and drywall. If there is visible mold in your house, there is hidden mold too. It may be underneath or behind appliances, flooring, or walls.

The first stride in managing mold damage at a Raleigh property is performing a thorough assessment of the affected areas to determine the problem's significance. Then, irrespective of the size of the affected area, it is advisable to let professionals handle mold contamination. SERVPRO has the tools and skills to manage a mold situation in your home appropriately.

Signs of mold damage in homes

• Stale and musty odors
• Persistent moisture buildup in certain areas
• Discoloration on walls, ceilings, and floors
• Spotting and fuzziness on walls

Cleaning Mold Contamination

Our crews identify all contaminated structural materials and personal belongings. If the mold growth has spread or eaten away material such as rugs and drywall, we remove and dispose of them properly. Efficient mold remediation can be achieved by following specific procedures.

Essential steps in fixing mold damage

• Isolate the contaminated area
• Remove all contaminated materials
• Dry all sections of the structure properly
• Remove the mold colonies

Mold proliferates by spores; therefore, any removal can trigger their release. By isolating the contaminated area, our teams can minimize the possible spread of the infestation. First, we cover all doorways and other openings with six mil polyethylene sheeting and seal every seam with duct tape leaving only a slip entrance. Next, we remove wet porous materials and all items heavily infested by mold and double bag them in plastic garbage bags six mils thick. We follow this up with the cleaning of non-porous surfaces.

If you need assistance with mold damage at your home, SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex is available 24/7. Call us at (919) 615-1160. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Skilled Professionals for Restoring Raleigh Fire Damage

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

Fire damage can leave many lasting effects on your home. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 - 365 days a year for soot and fire cleanup services.

SERVPRO Overcomes Smoke and Fire Damage

Every structure fire and loss event features multiple layers of damage that must be overcome and restored. Because these conditions compound and spread rapidly, trained technicians can be valuable in returning a property to a preloss state.

Experience is paramount with Raleigh fire damage events. Understanding the necessary steps to make a damaged home safer after extinguishment and beginning required restoration actions is where SERVPRO can help. We have a growing roster of technicians providing expertise in several restoration niches to overcome the full spectrum of threats after fires. Our team includes:

• FSRT – Fire Restoration
• CCT – Carpet Cleaning
• UFT – Upholstery Cleaning
• OCT – Odor Control
• ASD – Applied Structural Drying
• CDS – Commercial Drying

A Safer Work Area

Before much of the restoration and cleanup can get underway in a damaged residence, the property must be made safe enough for this work to occur. There are pressing concerns and hurdles to the recovery process beginning as soon as our IICRC-certified technicians arrive. Our primary objective from our first response to the incident is to make the work area safer for technicians and occupants. Focuses include:

• Air Quality - Trapping circulating soot and smoke particles can make the air inside a fire-damaged home more favorable while potentially reducing the concentrations of soot deposits on surfaces.
• Structural Integrity - Restoration professionals of our team must assess where significant structural fire damage has occurred, which could lead to a need for demolition and replacement. Temporary construction solutions are also needed to cover openings and vulnerabilities.
• Water Damage - Extinguishment typically requires high volumes of water, which can cause concerns for the household. Our professionals provide focused extraction and drying solutions to help in this need.

Handling the Insurance Work

Whether you rent or own your residence, a fire incident likely involves working with an insurance provider to secure the funding and claim approval for the needed restoration. We are a preferred vendor for insurance build-back and recovery services, whether the hundreds of thousands of homes in the region or iconic structures like the North Carolina State Capitol Building. We can help you streamline claim approval and get work started fast.

Protecting What Matters Most

Another objective of the restoration professionals addressing fire damage in your home is to manage and handle compromised contents. With how quickly fire and smoke damage moves through a structure, many of your personal belongings can be in harm’s way. Relocation solutions are the fastest option to prevent damage, but off-site cleaning at our SERVPRO warehouse might be necessary when exposure has already occurred.

How Destructive is Soot? 

Soot is corrosive and destructive to the surfaces and materials impacted by fire damage. Cleaning up these residues and soil deposits often requires a combination of approaches. While surface cleaning is the least invasive and aggressive of the restoration strategies, more abrasive and direct measures are often needed. These solutions can include media blasting and controlled demolition if the conditions are damaging enough. The choice of the preferred cleaning method depends on multiple factors:

• Type of smoke damage
• Location of buildup
• Hosting material
• Environmental conditions

Eliminating Lingering Malodors 

The lingering harsh odors are among the more challenging obstacles when much of the cleanup has been completed. Burning materials, especially chemicals, accelerants, and plastics, can overwhelm enclosed spaces with powerful malodors. While surface cleaning can counteract these intense scents, a combination of deodorants and neutralizing equipment completes this process.

With Raleigh fire damage events, it is vital to work fast to mitigate loss and prevent greater harm to the structure. Our professionals are ready to help 24/7 with stocked trailers and production vehicles ready to mobilize for all of Wake County. Call our SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex team today at (919) 615-1160.

Vital Phases of Restoring Raleigh Water Damage Incidents

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

Our team has various water damage restoration tools available for water extraction and the drying of your Raleigh home.

Our SERVPRO Team Knows Water Damage Cleanup 

Information is the best way for homeowners to be more at ease with work that must be done on their properties following water emergencies. From leaks to burst pipes, the impact of water on the house can be swift and widespread. Our services include:

• Emergency Services
• Extraction
• Drying
• Repairs

Raleigh water damage requires direct and fast action. As reputable restoration professionals for all of Wake County, we have team members ready to move when these disasters first impact your property. Our Green Fleet is standing by 24/7 for quick mitigation solutions.

Early Services for Water Damage Threats

Mitigation is one of the most necessary actions to alleviate the out-of-pocket expenses for the customer and protect the property from avoidable harm. While this could describe dozens of actions, mitigation often focuses most on relocating preservable contents, water removal services, and conducting any needed temporary construction or demolition before restoration starts.

Water Removal Services

Surface water is among the more significant initial challenges for responding technicians, primarily because it requires several types of units to achieve. Multiple extractors are often simultaneously needed, depending on the spread and severity of pooling and standing water concerns. Each type of water removal tool in our inventory is ideal for specific conditions:

• Pumps – Pumps and submersibles are the more powerful extractors in our stock. These provide continuous and high-volume water removal services within a couple of inches from the flooring surface.
• Vacuums – Vacuums manage a smaller volume of water that does not typically exceed more than an inch or two in overall depth. The portability of wet vacuums makes them ideal for extraction in some of the multi-story structures at NC State or the Downtown District.
• Specialty Extractors – Units like drying mats, weighted extractors, light wands, and others can be used in particular water damage situations to help pull out moisture from flooring and wall assemblies before more significant harm to the structural integrity results.

The Focus of Full Drying

Drying is one of the critical elements of every water restoration project our IICRC-certified professionals undertake. Failure to fully resolve trapped moisture and damp pockets in wall and ceiling assemblies can provide suitable conditions for mold growth or allow the degradation of building materials. We must contend with water removal in three phases:

• Surface Water - Surface water describes the state where moisture has yet to penetrate a material. This can be the pooling of water that must be addressed with extraction devices and the wet outermost layer, which is often the most widespread drying need.
• Trapped Water - When water begins to move through porous building materials and find new, dry areas to impact, some of this moisture becomes trapped. Free water within a building material can be drawn out with equipment like drying mats, but only in the time before it begins to chemically bond with the material.
• Bound Water - In the state where water becomes chemically bound to molecules in a hosting material, the affected element is no longer the same. Distortion, warping, bloating, and other potential changes to the material render it unsalvageable and require removal and discarding.

Needed Water Damage Repairs 

Repairs and reconstruction are often required to restore a home or business after a water emergency fully. Because we are full-service professionals, we provide a wealth of build-back services as needed following disasters. Some of the more common areas where these repairs are necessary are:

• Plumbing
• Wall Assemblies
• Ceiling Systems

Raleigh water damage incidents keep our SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex team ready to respond when needed. There is no set time for disasters to strike, so trained technicians must be able to mobilize rapidly in a crisis. We keep our Green Fleet ready to roll out at the first notice of loss when you call (919) 615-1160.

The Purpose of Raleigh Mold Damage Remediation

4/5/2023 (Permalink)

Mold damage in your Raleigh home is an issue that has to be dealt with quickly. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for remediation and mitigation services.

Understanding Mold Damage Removal Solutions

With more than 40 inches of rainfall each year and a population rapidly reaching half a million, Wake County structures in Raleigh are susceptible to mold development and damage. The longer this situation goes unchallenged with remediation strategies, the more widespread and destructive it can become. Mold is an overwhelming presence in damp environments, impacting: 

• Structure
• Contents
• Soft Materials

Raleigh mold damage is more common than many homeowners might think. More than this, mold and microbial threats can permanently impact the structure. Our SERVPRO professionals respond quickly with remediation and recovery solutions aimed at hosting materials and developing colonies. The greater the area affected by humid conditions or water damage, the more widespread and overwhelming the spread of mold organisms becomes. 

What is Mold Damage Remediation?

When microbial growth becomes a concern in your home, remediation is the solution that can help. Unlike broad claims to remove all mold spores from a structure, which is impossible, SERVPRO targets active mold colonies and organisms causing a threat to your residence. Without the moist conditions and damp pockets, naturally occurring mold spores do not cause issues for a home. Only when these spores are allowed to interact with organic matter in moist conditions is action necessary. 

Trained and Certified Technicians 

DIY mold remediation and cleanup seem cost-efficient and straightforward, but there is more to recovering a mold-damaged home than many realize. Failure to address all developing colonies can leave your residence continually contending with recurrences. Several industry niches are involved to sufficiently resolve the present mold, the causes of colonization, and the effects on the household. We have professionals for:

• AMRT – Applied Microbial Remediation
• ASD – Applied Structural Drying
• WRT – Water Restoration
• CDS – Commercial Drying
• OCT – Odor Control

How Does Mold Damage Remediation Work?

While mold remediation and removal might describe different approaches, remediation hinges significantly on the ability of SERVPRO professionals to eliminate active colonies. This is achieved through multiple methods and focuses, which can be selected based on the degree of damage and the type of material hosting the colonies. Options include: 

• Surface Treatment
• Sanding
• Media/Dry Ice Blasting
• Controlled Demolition

Removing the Malodors

Volatile organic compounds created by a growing mold colony spread throughout the affected area of a residence. A defining trait of these compounds is their harsh, musty odor. While many homeowners can be grateful for this recognizable smell when needing to identify or speculate on the presence of mold damage, removing it can be a substantial obstacle. While counteractant products like beads and granules combined with surface cleaning can reduce odor severity, neutralization often falls to a combination of thermal/ULV fogging and hydroxyl generators. 

Mold Prevention with Damage Repairs 

Many remediation solutions cannot be fully completed until repairs, and reconstruction efforts have occurred. Not only does build-back need to happen to resolve structural vulnerabilities that allow moist conditions in the house, but materials are often requiring replacement. As full-service contractors, we can inspect areas like a leaking roof and temporarily board up these openings until we can complete the full reconstruction when inside cleanup and recovery near their end. 

For some households, Raleigh mold damage incidents are unavoidable. Groundwater or water leaks can create the ideal conditions for microbial development, and these colonies will spread through the structure until actions stop this progress. With experienced AMRT-Certified professionals ready to mobilize quickly at the first notice of loss, SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex is a trusted name throughout Wake County to help. Call now at (919) 615-1160.

SERVPRO Offers Commercial Water Damage Repair in Raleigh

4/4/2023 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO to effectively tackle the water damage in your property. Call now!

Commercial Water Damage Repair in Raleigh Requires Skill

Water damage in buildings with features like substantial square footage and multiple HVAC systems is unfortunate but not uncommon. It can bring business operations to a halt and cause extensive property damage. 

Commercial water damage is usually more extensive than residential water damage because of the complexity and size of the mechanical systems in large buildings. That's why you need a trusted firm like SERVPRO to repair commercial water damage in your Raleigh apartment property. By handling water damage quickly, you can mitigate its impact. 

Your apartment building's appearance and safety speak volumes to potential tenants. So, when the need arises for emergency repair services, call SERVPRO. We provide comprehensive restoration services that can prevent the loss of lease income from tenants who cannot live in damaged apartments. Our restoration process includes several steps, including the following: 

• Inspection
• Water extraction
• Drying and dehumidification
• Cleaning

When inspecting for water damage, it may be necessary to check several dwelling units. Our team can note the damage, its severity, and its scope by photographing and recording your event's description. 

Water damage can pose safety threats to tenants. Wet areas can cause accidents-whether from unstable moisture-impacted structures, slick floors, or faulty appliances. Water can soon leak into ceilings, floors, furnishing, walls, and costly equipment. Wooden components like doors and windows can swell or warp. Our SERVPRO team can use extraction equipment to remove it.

Our SERVPRO team also monitors the drying process regularly to know how the building is drying. We create written monitoring reports that indicate moisture content readings of contents and structure and specific humidity readings. When we monitor the moisture measurements of damp materials and record them on the monitoring report, we can determine if the wet materials have dried satisfactorily or if it is necessary to alter the drying process.

Repairing commercial water damage is challenging, but SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex has the right team and equipment to tackle it. Contact us today at (919) 615-1160 for repairs. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Trust SERVPRO for Fire Restoration in Your Raleigh Home

3/2/2023 (Permalink)

Even a small kitchen fire in Raleigh gains the attention of multiple SERVPRO experts.

Fire Restoration in Raleigh Demands Professionalism

A fire has ruined several building materials and items in my home. Who can help me bring things back to normal? You can trust professional restorers to repair your residence.

SERVPRO is available 24/7 to perform fire restoration in Raleigh homes. Working with specialists is vital because a fire can ruin your home’s structural integrity in ways that are not visible immediately. Some signs that your home might have structural problems after a fire include the following:

• Cracks in concrete, masonry, or bricks,
• Cracking or warping steel 
• Visible charring in wood
• Warped drywall

Apart from the apparent issues a home fire causes, like blackened walls and melted plastic or glass, smoke and soot can keep causing damage. Soot has acidic properties that can ruin your home’s structure. The acids in sulfur and carbon corrode items like locks, cabinet pulls, and door knobs. This damage can make your home unsafe or difficult to sell.

Smoke also discolors porous materials in a home. Plastic and some types of stone, like marble, can become permanently discolored after exposure to smoke. Smoke may also discolor carpets, walls, clothes, curtains, and upholstery.

The water from firefighting efforts can create ideal conditions for mold infestation. Mold can be difficult to manage and requires expert remediation. Our SERVPRO technicians can remove the standing water in your home using equipment like electric submersible pumps or wet/dry vacuums. We can use air movers to sweep saturated air away from surfaces and replace it with dryer air. Once the moisture is in the air, our SERVPRO team can use dehumidifiers to remove it.

Another concern after a fire is air quality. Removing all hazardous chemicals and toxins from small enclosed spaces like closets and cupboards is essential to ensure safety. Our SERVPRO technicians can use air scrubbers to remove airborne particles, gases, and odors from the air. We capture these particles and introduce clean air back into the environment.

SERVPRO of Cary / Morrisville / Apex has expertise in fire damage repair. Call us at any time for help at (919) 615 1160. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.