The Basics of Remediating Mold Damage in Fort Lee Properties

5/12/2023 (Permalink)

Don't let mold damage go unchecked in your property. Call SERVPRO for help to avoid further damage.

Steps SERVPRO Takes to Improve Fort Lee Mold Remediation

You can think of mold growth in many ways, but whichever way you look at it, there is an aspect of inconvenience. Appropriate remediation steps help limit mold damage inconveniences, restoring your Fort Lee property to its preloss state.

You may know some issues requiring remediation after mold damage at your Fort Lee home, while others may surprise you. Changes such as dark spots as the contamination consumes materials are common. However, other insidious issues exist, such as degraded indoor air quality. SERVPRO helps probe and resolve all problems developing on your property.

Interventions necessary for moldy properties

• Identifying all moldy and vulnerable areas
• Using potent cleaning methods to remove mold colonies 
• Improve mold resistance in materials 
• Comprehensively addressing moisture issues

Mold contamination readily spreads where organic food sources and moisture are sufficient. The fungus particularly ravages porous materials causing irreversible damage, so drywall panels, wallpaper, and wooden furniture incur significant damage. Identifying all moldy areas and hidden moisture are two critical remediation steps since it paves the way for other corrective measures.

Removing Mold from Surfaces

The masses of colonies growing on surfaces, spots, and discoloration need to go for the mold problem to be fully addressed. Cleaning requires appropriate methods that remove soils without fueling further proliferation. Our SERVPRO crews use different approaches to agitate surfaces, collect debris and manage musty odors. 

Helpful Cleaning Methods

• Soda and dry ice blasting
• Vacuuming
• Damp wiping with antimicrobials

Exhaustively cleaning the moldy areas is only one part of the remediation. Taking steps to limit further proliferation is also essential. For example, our teams can help dry structural areas or contents to guarantee this. In addition, we use LGR or desiccant dehumidifiers since they are highly effective in minimizing the moisture levels in materials. Another step that may help limit further proliferation is painting surfaces, especially in exterior areas of your home, with mold-resistant paint, which creates a hostile environment for mold spores.

SERVPRO of Fort Lee can help you take appropriate steps to facilitate successful remediation after mold damage in your property. Call us at (201) 496-6024. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Repairs Needed for Severe Storm Damage Repair in Fort Lee Homes

5/1/2023 (Permalink)

Disaster may strike at any time in Fort Lee. Call SERVPRO for the storm damage restoration.

Water Damage Repair Takes Many Forms 

Storms and water damage can be extensively disruptive and destructive to your home. We have experienced professionals to help with needed repairs and reconstruction during our restoration process. 

Classifying Your Storm Loss Event

The need for water damage repair in Fort Lee homes is relative to the damage classification. Loss events can be broken into one of four categories:

• Class 1 – Storm and water damage of this type include only portions of rooms. In all, this classification is designated for restoration projects that are small in scale. Impacted materials are either slow to absorb water or non-porous. 

• Class 2 – The second class refers to a greater scope of water damage where absorption is more of a factor. Carpet and padding have been impacted by intruding water. OSB board or plywood for structural support might also be affected at this stage.

• Class 3 - When storm water damage has come from floors above to lower levels of the house by passing through structural assemblies like the ceiling and insulation, you have the chance of material collapse with a dire need for cleanup and drying.

• Class 4 – This is the worst classification of water damage in which materials are so widely impacted by intruding stormwater that even resistant materials like concrete and masonry units are wet. This final classification of possible water damage requires longer drying times and extensive repairs.   

Full Reconstruction and Repair for Your Damaged Home

Our SERVPRO team can help with full reconstruction and build-back after a storm. Severe weather can leave the building envelope compromised and needing direct attention by our licensed and certified professionals. Our fast response allows some of these repairs to begin right away.

When you need water damage repair after a storm, you can count on SERVPRO of Fort Lee. Call us at (201) 496-6024.

What Signs of Mold Damage Should Fort Lee Homeowners Be on the Lookout For?

3/20/2023 (Permalink)

Mold damage was discovered and remediated by SERVPRO AMRT technicians in this Fort Lee home.

SERVPRO Techs Support Fort Lee with Mold Remediation Services

Since New Jersey has frigid winters, many people assume that mold is a three-season problem in the Fort Lee area. However, mold grows and spreads within a structure any time of year. If the temperatures indoors are comfortable for the residents, it is probably in the range of sustainable temps for a mold colony residing behind a wall or underneath a floor.

There are some signs that mold damage signals its presence in a Fort Lee home. SERVPRO has many tips for property owners to keep in mind to identify the need for a mold remediation service before the problem spreads throughout the house.

Slow, Unseen Water Leaks Often Harbor Mold Growth

Small leaks that remain unrepaired and are allowed to continue can create the perfect environment for mold damage to occur. Places in the home most likely to have this issue are:

• Supply lines to appliances such as dishwashers and refrigerators
• Radiators and boiler units
• Under sinks in kitchens and bathrooms

How Does SERVPRO Identify Where Mold Damage Resides?

SERVPRO techs have a large inventory of equipment that is especially good at targeting the moisture behind walls such as moisture detection tools, and infrared cameras. With these devices, the techs can map out where high moisture conditions exist without opening portions of the wall. This straightforward method of scoping a property allows our Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians (AMRT) to pinpoint areas most likely needing drying and mold remediation. To confirm visually, a SERVPRO team member may drill small holes to confirm the presence of a mold infestation. The mold colonies can spread behind the walls and baseboards, under the flooring of all types, and underneath the wallpaper. 

Condensation on Windows and Plumbing Can Be a Warning Sign

Poor ventilation can lead to frequent condensation buildup on windows and nearby pipes. This area can become a central location for mold damage to set up a home base. One of the most common areas of mold infestation occurs in bathrooms with exhaust fans that either operate poorly or have a blockage in the duct to port away moist air after a steamy bath or shower.

Attics, Basements, and Crawlspaces Can Have Mold Damage

A slow leak in an attic, damp basement, and a crawlspace that takes on water with every rainstorm or snowmelt can all create a place that harbors mold damage. The techs use their equipment to bring down interior humidity levels to unsustainable levels for mold and remove the dried matter. Followed up by proactive treatments to inhibit the return of the infestation. SERVPRO technicians can perform temporary repairs during mold remediation services and recommend actions post-mitigation such as:

• Environmental monitoring of plumbing for leaks
• Installation of dehumidification units in basements
• Encapsulation in crawlspaces

SERVPRO of Fort Lee at (201) 496-6024 is available for Fort Lee property owners that need mold damage mitigation. Our skilled technicians are available 24/7 for any size remediation required.

Signs of Walls with Water Damage in Fort Lee Properties and What to Do About It

3/20/2023 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO mitigate the water damage to your Fort Lee home and hardwood flooring with a rapid response--We're Faster To Any Size Disaster

SERVPRO Supports Fort Lee Residents with 24/7 Water Restoration Services

One of the most frequently encountered water damage in Fort Lee residential properties is a leaking pipe. A burst pipe may result in the sudden need for cleanup, but it can actually be less of a mess than a slow leak that went on within a wall for months until the deterioration was so severe that it finally showed the signs of wear from the water damage.

There are usually some small signs when a home has a slow leak in a wall causing water damage in Fort Lee. Homeowners that know what to look for can catch these early signals and potentially save themselves from a costly large-scale water restoration service. Things to look for on and around walls for clues water damage is occurring include:

• A feeling of dampness or musty odors
• Water stains on walls or visible mold growth
• Paint bubbles or peeling paint
• Warped or buckled sheetrock
• Misshapen flooring or baseboards

Dampness and Musty Odors

If an area in the home, particularly a basement, has a musty odor or feels humid, take a good look with a watchful eye as there may be a yet-undiscovered water leak. As moisture absorbs into sheetrock or wood, it can produce a distinctive odor.

Water Stains or Visible Mold

Once moisture seeps into a wall, naturally occurring airborne mold spores may find a great new home if the temperatures (60 degrees F. or higher) are suitable to sustain their germination and growth. Water stains show up as darkened areas and show be immediately investigated to halt any further water damage.

Paint Bubbles and Peeling Paint

Constant moisture levels can cause paint to bubble on the surface of a wall. It looks like a balloon, and if it is popped, water may run out. Peeling paint (usually Latex-base) has lost its adhesion to the surface, often due to moisture in the wall. Neither surface can be merely painted over, and both situations are signs that the home needs water restoration services.

Warped or Buckled Walls and Ruined Flooring

Drywall does not handle exposure to moisture well. A slow leak can destroy a significant portion of a wall as the cardboard backing absorbs moisture, resulting in the need to remove and dry the interior wall void. Tile can lose adhesion from water running down a wall into the floor and subfloor. Hardwood flooring can show signs of damage by warping or nails in the boards protruding from the surface. This type of water damage should always get professional mitigation.

Getting Rid of Water Damage

Once signs of water damage are found, they should get cleaned up professionally as rapidly as possible. SERVPRO technicians can bring in professional-grade equipment that:

• Find the areas with moisture
• Extract and dry the affected materials
• Handle any removal of water-damaged building materials
• Conclude the service with a build back

SERVPRO of Fort Lee at (201) 496-6024 handles all types of water damage restoration services for the Fort Lee community. The trained, certified technicians are available 24/7 to make it, "Like it never even happened."

What Happens During a Typical Fort Lee Fire Damage Restoration Service?

3/20/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians can wipe and clean kitchen assemblies soiled by soot and fire damage pleasing Fort Lee homeowners.

SERVPRO Serves the Local Fort Lee Community with 24/7 Available House Fire Cleanup

SERVPRO handles fire damage cleanup regularly for local Fort Lee properties. While every fire and structure is a unique scenario, the science behind the cleanup process is often managed in the same organized manner to ensure the best outcome every time.

A Fort Lee homeowner seeing fire damage in their residence for the first time may feel that nothing within can be saved. This is particularly true if the first responders used a fire-fighting method that takes burning room contents, pulls them into the center of a room, and douses them with water. Leaving a big, wet pile of possessions and building materials in the middle of the floor. As soon as the fire department gives the "all-clear" to enter the structure, SERVPRO starts the process of cleaning up the fire damage, which typically includes:

• Inspection of the area with fire damage
• Removal of ruined materials
• Extraction of water and structure drying as needed
• Setting up cleaning stations for articles with restoration potential

The cleaning stations outside the restoration service area are where SERVPRO technicians inspect and choose the appropriate method for cleaning for each item. The removal of smoke damage from objects can include some of the following ways:

• Spray and wipe surface cleaning
• Absorption cleaning
• Immersion cleaning

Common Types of Smoke Damage Cleaning Overview

One of the most common methods of getting rid of the soot left behind by fire is the spray and wipe method. SERVPRO technicians have many cleaning agents, some specially formulated for our company, to choose for specific types of residues that coat porous and non-porous surfaces.

Fragile articles that cannot withstand cleaning with water or solvent-based applications can sometimes benefit from absorption methods. The technicians use a fine powder sprinkled over the item and then allow the residue within to get pulled up and into the powder. The techs then gently vacuum the article without any marring of the surface. Porous surfaces such as unsealed marble, concrete, and brick can all benefit from pressure washing or pressurized dry ice pellet blasting to remove soot residues.

The cleaning stations also include technicians that use immersion cleaning methods. This type of fire damage cleaning gets used on items determined not fragile and has no issues with colorfastness. The ultrasonic tank immersion process is used for delicate knick-knacks, porcelain objects, crystal, and even lighting fixtures where soot and oils may be deposited in detailed areas. The sound waves produce many thousands of minuscule bubbles that implode causing the water and detergent to remove the soils with no fear of breakage.

What Happens to Items with Too Much Fire Damage for Restoration?

SERVPRO technicians have the ultimate goal of saving as much of the structure and contents as possible during a fire damage cleanup job. However, that is not always possible, and some items require disposal. The technicians get approval for an article that needs removal and document the condition with photographs and a written report to assist the homeowner with any insurance claims.

SERVPRO of Fort Lee at (201) 496-6024 brings professional equipment, years of experience, and compassion to each fire damage restoration service.

Quick Water Removal Means Your Fort Lee Home Sustains Less Damage

3/19/2023 (Permalink)

Dealing with water damage in your home can be quite overwhelming. Contact SERVPRO for effective remediation services.

Our Fast Water Removal Process Reduces Drying Time

There are countless ways that a home in Fort Lee can spring a leak inside. It could be a broken pipe, a water line that shook loose from a dancing washing machine, or a dishwasher overflowing because of the wrong detergent. If this happens to your family, you need an experienced water removal team.

SERVPRO’s specialists have experience in the various materials used to build houses in Fort Lee, making rapid water removal tasks possible. After pumping out standing water, additional tasks are involved in getting your home “Like it never even happened.”

Here are some of the different flooring types commonly found within area homes, followed by explanations of how we remove traces of water from each:

• Wood flooring,
• Tile over a concrete slab, and
• Carpet over wooden underlay.

Our team responds to remove the water from not only on top of the wood planks but also underneath them and within them. We do this with our InjectiDry system’s floor mats, which combine heat and suction to pull moisture from the area covered.

The glue that adheres tile to concrete slab disintegrates if saturated in water, leaving your floor in pieces. We save what tiles we can and then find tiles to replace those lost. Air movers force air through the room, whisking moisture out of the pores in the concrete. When dry, we can reposition the tiles, leaving you with a beautiful floor again.

When carpet gets soaked, we often dry the carpet and the underlay in one step by a process called “floating’ the carpet. During this, we detach part of the carpet to force warm, dry air inside the newly made space. As soon as the carpeting and underlay register within normal limits for moisture content, our carpet technicians reattach the carpet and ensure no additional stretching is necessary.

SERVPRO of Fort Lee has the equipment to protect your property from disasters. Call us at (201) 496-6024 for dedicated technicians.

Prepping a Fort Lee Facility & Its Contents for Water Restoration

2/8/2023 (Permalink)

Disaster may strike at any time in Fort Lee. Call SERVPRO for the water damage restoration services needed for your property.

Water Restoration Helps Business Operations Resume

Regardless of the source, water that finds its way into your warehouse's interior in Fort Lee can quickly become a problem. Once there, it can start damaging the interior and anything stored inside. For your company to get the most out of water restoration, SERVPRO needs to prepare your facility.

Specific steps make water restoration faster for Fort Lee area businesses. These precautions also protect your inventory and equipment from water's harmful destruction, including rot, mold, and corrosion.

For some aspects, we work with your employees, such as moving inventory and other valuable items into safer areas. Other aspects of preparing for water restoration require specialized skills and training. Our IICRC-certified technicians carry out the following:

• Handling the source of the water,
• Removing the water, and
• Drying out the facility.

Flooding, broken pipes or sprinkler systems, a torn roof during a storm, and many other possible situations can initiate a catastrophe in your warehouse. Our technicians know how to respond to each of these and stop the water threatening to damage your investment.

We always scale our services to the needs of our customers' situations, so water extraction and removal might begin with hand-held wands, a riding extraction unit, or our powerful pump truck. While we do this, we are also wiping down and drying anything that is more prone to damage from high humidity, keeping an eye out for electrical and gas hazards, and taking baseline readings to help with the drying process and the restoration stage.

More than removing the water is needed for restoration to begin, however. We also need to establish dry conditions that pose no risk to new materials after their installation and also protect the contents in your building. Airflow is very efficient at getting things dry, but we add to it with directed heat. For large-scale flooding, we also use desiccant machines.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Lee at (201) 496-6024 for professionals who care about your business and want to see it successfully recover after any disaster.

Fire Damage Restoration in Your Fort Lee Residence

1/10/2023 (Permalink)

With advanced equipment, SERVPRO restores property to pre-damaged conditions, "Like it never even happened."

Fort Lee Property Fire Cleanup by SERVPRO

After the fire department extinguishes a fire in your Fort Lee home, work is still to be done. A professional restoration company needs to handle the damage left behind by the fire and even the water from putting it out. 

Fire damage restoration for your Fort Lee home involves returning the property to its preloss condition. SERVPRO has professionally trained and experienced technicians who can help you anytime. Rely on FSRT fire and smoke damage technicians to get it done right. Restoration for fires presents challenges different from routine repair and cleaning. The combined impact on a structure from intense heat, burning fire, smoke residues, and moisture from the efforts of firefighters challenge our team to provide various services.

Restoration Services

Fire restoration services can be put into five categories:

• Mitigation Services – The goal of mitigation is to secure the structure and stop further damage. This can include winterizing the plumbing to prevent frozen pipes, boarding up openings, and establishing a temporary electricity source.

• Structural Cleaning – The cleaning process focuses on removing smoke residues ad deodorizing odors. Our technicians consult and advise you on which components can be cleaned. Repair and replacement are needed for anything that won’t respond to cleaning.

• Contents Cleaning –   Sometimes, the contents can be cleaned on-site, though often, we pack out the contents for precision cleaning at our warehouse. 

• Specialty Restoration – For specialty cleaning of certain items like electronics, dry cleaning of clothing, furniture restoring, and cleaning expensive artwork, we can partner with other professionals specially trained for this type of work.

• Reconstructive Services – Sometimes, structural components can be damaged to the point they can’t be restored. Reconstructing and repairing fire-damaged structural components can require different skills than standard home remodeling. We prepare the unit to be free of odors, dry, and ready for build-backs as needed.

SERVPRO of Fort Lee is the one to trust with your fire damage restoration needs. Don’t hesitate to contact us immediately at (201) 496-6024 after a fire has disrupted your life.

Need Mold Damage Remediation in Fort Lee – Call SERVPRO

12/12/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides mold damage remediation and repairs to Fort Lee area consumers and businesses. Call us today!

SERVPRO Provides Mold Damage Remediation and Repair in Fort Lee

Mold spores are everywhere, waiting for the right conditions in homes and businesses in Fort Lee. Condensation, a leaky pipe in a ceiling or inside cabinets, and windows dripping with condensation or leaking are excellent sources for mold colonies to establish and grow. Many consumers are unaware of the problem until they notice a strong, must odor or observe stains appearing on walls or ceiling tiles.

SERVPRO provides mold damage remediation and repairs to Fort Lee consumers and businesses. Our professionals are onsite within four hours of your call, and they will assess the situation and review the proposed plan to remove any mold infestation found in the building. Correcting and eliminating the moisture source is paramount to providing a long-term solution. Failure to remove the source of moisture can lead to further mold infestations in the future.

Our IICRC trained team can make repairs, perform controlled demolition of mold-infested materials, and disinfect and clean the impacted area before using dehumidifiers and high-capacity air movers to dry the room. We also bag all of the contaminated material in place before removing the material from the room. We use negative pressure rooms to prevent mold spores from migrating to other building areas.

Consumers should consider maintaining humidity in the affected area below 45 percent to prevent future outbreaks. Not only does SERVPRO remove the damage caused by a mold infestation, but we can also help with repairs. We have a highly trained team to help make it “Like it never even happened.” Our experts can advise consumers and business owners on how to avoid mold infestations.

SERVPRO provides the following mold damage-related services to our customers:

• Mold Inspections, Remediation, and Removal
• Attic Mold Removal
• Bathroom, Ceiling, and Basement Mold Removal

Call SERVPRO of Fort Lee for mold damage repair services. We provide service to Fort Lee and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 496-6024.

SERVPRO Provides Reliable Flood Damage Restoration in Fort Lee

11/9/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides various types of water pumps to remove flooding, especially contaminated water, from your Fort Lee property.

SERVPRO Uses Advanced Tools to Restore Flood Damage in Fort Lee Homes

Flood damage restoration of your Fort Lee home needs to happen fast to prevent any lasting aesthetic and structural issues. The longer the floodwater stays in contact with the building material, the more harm it can cause to its structural integrity.

Consequently, professional restorers like SERVPRO prioritize water extraction when dealing with flood damage to your Fort Lee home. As flood water often contains debris and solids, restorers need different types of pumps to remove the standing water from your property. The goal of restorers is to remove as much water as quickly as possible. 

Types of Pumps SERVPRO Techs use

A pump is one of the most useful pieces of equipment to remove water from a flooded structure. SERVPRO techs use different types of pumps that vary in mechanism and capacity during flood restoration.

Centrifugal pumps are commonly used in the restoration industry. A centrifugal pump converts the rotational energy from a motor to power for moving fluid against gravity. The centrifugal pumps we use in flood restoration include-

• Self-priming trash pumps
• High-pressure pumps
• Electric submersible pumps

The type of pump required depends on the size of solids present in floodwater and the distance through which water needs to be transported.

Electric Submersible Pumps

As these pumps are portable, work on electricity and provide continuous operation, they are the most common types used for water extraction. Submersible pumps are available in various capacities and can remove from 100 to 18,000 gallons of water per hour. Large industrial units can provide up to 265 feet of discharge head. However, if the floodwater contains solids or other debris suspended, then trash pumps are the best option.

Call SERVPRO of Fort Lee at (201) 496-6024. Our restorers are available 24/7 to help you.