Restoring Your Home After a Fire

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

How Do You Restore a House After a Fire

Having your home and belongings damaged by a fire can be devastating for everyone involved. However, by getting content cleaning and fire restoration services on the job right away and investing in a few things like dry-cleaning and content storage, you can help to bring your home back to its former glory. There are a few steps you should follow to get everything on track for recovery:

• Getting in touch with your insurance company
• Locating a reliable fire and smoke cleanup crew
• Finding a storage space for undamaged belongings
  
  

Contacting Insurance

After dealing with emergency services, your insurance company should be the first call you make. Your insurance professionals can help estimate how much your repairs will cost and direct you to fire cleaning professionals in Burlingame, Millbrae who are covered by your homeowners' insurance. This can help you get the financial support you need during the recovery process.

Choosing Your Crew

While your insurance company will likely suggest and endorse a number of cleanup crews, it’s ultimately up to you to decide who you want to trust with your home content cleaning. Do your research and find a company that has a reputation for getting the job done right and for following up on their results after you’re settled back into your home.

Finding Storage Solutions

During your cleanup process, crews are likely to use machines and chemicals that rid your home of smoke smells. It’s always a good idea to move undamaged belongings into a storage unit until your home is completely repaired to protect them from dust, debris, and even water from damaged roofing or pipes. Dry cleaning may be appropriate for some minimally damaged belongings.

Between dry-cleaning, working with insurance agents, and all of the other steps of content cleaning after a fire, the home recovery process can be a long one. However, it’s well worth it to feel safe and secure in your own home again.

Commercial Insurance for Flood-Related Damage

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

What To Look For In Terms Of Flood Insurance

Any attempt to make an insurance claim for flooding on a standard commercial insurance policy will quickly reveal the need for a separate flood policy. Find out why general property insurance often excludes flood damage and what to look for in terms of flood insurance for a commercial building in Burlingame, Millbrae.

Most General Policies Exclude Flooding
Primary commercial property insurance policies often exclude incidents in which external water breaches the interior of a structure, with the exception of leaks in an otherwise well-maintained roof. Check to see whether the following types of damage are cut out of a general policy:

• Flooding
• Sewer backups
• Storm surges
  
  

It is necessary to obtain endorsements or supplemental policies to cover this damage. Flood policies typically cover storm surges, but an additional rider or policy is required for cleaning and restoring sewer damage. The National Flood Insurance Program
The NFIP is a relatively easy way for commercial property owners to get coverage for flooding. Property must be located in a community that participates in the program. If the owner of a property located in an area with a high flood risk has a mortgage from a federally-backed lender, flood coverage may be a requirement. This policy may include up to $500,000 in coverage for a structure and up to $500,000 for business or personal content.

Private Commercial Insurance
If the NFIP is not available in a particular area, a property owner may want to obtain an independent flood policy through a private insurer. Check to see whether a primary commercial insurer also offers flood coverage.
If you own a commercial building in Burlingame, Millbrae you should be aware of the extent of your insurance coverage. General property insurance, flood insurance, and additional policies or riders to cover interruptions can keep a business afloat in the event of major flooding or other storm damage.

Tips for Water Damage Prevention

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

When homeowners think of water damage, they usually imagine a large flooding event from a storm or water main break, but small things such as undetected leaks can cause a lot of problems, too. Damage from water in your home in Burlingame, Millbrae, is not inevitable, though. There are several things you can do to prevent it from happening.

4 Tips to Prevent Water Damage

1. Have a Consistent Maintenance Schedule

Most water damage is entirely preventable. All you need to do is update your maintenance checklist to ensure that it includes leak prevention tasks:

• Clean gutters and downspouts
• Minimize landscaping near pipes or sewer lines
• Check pipes and supply lines for weak spots or leaks
• Maintain appliances
• Winterize pipes before the first big freeze of the year

2. Improve Water Loss Detection

Another way to prevent damage is to head potential problems off at the pass. To do this well, you have to know when they start. An unusually high water bill could be a sign of a leak that leads to water in your home. A working sump pump in your basement protects it even when you are not there.

3. Know Where Your Water Main is Located

A broken pipe is not always something you can prevent, but you can minimize the amount of water it releases by turning off your water main. The shutoff valve stops the flow of water into your pipes so that you can get the issue resolved.

4. Fix Leaks and Damage Quickly

Even if your home is damaged by an unpredictable accident, quick pipe cleanup can help you prevent secondary damage. It's important to call water restoration experts as soon as you know there is an issue so that they can stop the progress of the seepage and prevent mold growth.

To prevent water in your home from causing extensive problems, you have to be diligent. Proper maintenance and vigilant attention to changes help you safeguard the structural integrity of your house.

Why a 24 Hour Response Matters

8/17/2022 (Permalink)

Why a 24-Hour Response Matters

As an insurance adjuster in the Bay Area, you are part of the front line for residential disasters. Some events, like those involving water, require an immediate response to slow or stop the course of damage. SERVPRO has a 24-hour response because they understand that every hour of exposure has a crucial impact on the extent of damage, and cost, since the chance of restoration goes down as the clock ticks away. Here is the typical progression of water damage to a home:
First 24 Hours

• Porous items such as drywall, upholstery, carpets, and floors begin to absorb the water immediately.
• Stains from finishes and pigments may occur from contact between items.
• Documents and photos absorb water and warp.
• Materials become saturated with water and begin to break down or crack from swelling.
• Metal begins to tarnish.
• Molds begin to grow.
  
  

After 24 Hours

• Wood studs, flooring, windows, and doors warp.
• Paint bubbles and peels.
• Metal corrodes.
• Mold and mildew multiply.
• Sitting water becomes “black water” due to exposure.
  
  

To minimize costs and damage, a 24-hour response is critical. As an insurance adjuster, you know that damage increases dramatically in a matter of hours and the costs increase exponentially during that time.

How a 24-Hour Response Is Possible

With the power of a national company, SERVPRO is always open. The national call center operates every day of the year, 24 hours a day. With this first contact being crucial, your customer will talk to a professional on the phone within the first hour and, thanks to the power of local reach, on-site work will be able to begin within four hours of that initial call. As an adjuster, you will receive your first verbal briefing within eight hours.

Selecting a national vendor with more than 2000 locations ensures a 24-hour response for your customers. You also know you can count on consistent standards and procedures, and big company quality. That fast response is why they are the preferred vendor for many national insurance companies.

Can Your Business Experience Serious Water Damage Unrelated to Weather?

7/11/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage? SERVPRO is prepared with restoration equipment and certified technicians. Call us right away!

SERVPRO can clean up and restore your Burlingame, Millbrae business after all types of water damage

Although a storm may damage everything in the area, a broken pipe or burst water heater may put just one business out of operation. If that happens to you, what should you do? Call SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae for Water damage, Clean up and restoration Here’s why:

SERVPRO water damage training:

• We’re trained in the best methods of water removal and restoration. Our technicians are IICRC certified. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification.
• We bring and know how to use the industrial equipment necessary. Specific issues often require special equipment for the best results. Pumps, wet/vacs, riding extractors, air movers, and various dehumidifiers.
• We have additional skills as needed to solve your unique water damage issues. In addition to floors, subfloors, and walls, we can help with furniture and carpets for moisture removal and water damage mitigation.
• We will evaluate the damage to determine what needs to be done and keep you informed as we progress toward completion. We’re ready to restore your business “Like it never even happened.”

When you’re facing a major water issue, you cannot afford to have the job partially done or delayed. Our job is to keep your doors open for our customers, clients, and employees.

Call SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae at (650) -651-7290 to get started on cleanup and restoration right away!

Laundry Safety

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

Laundry can easily pile up, but it is essential to practice basic safety techniques to protect your home.

Not clearing your laundry filter after each use can be dangerous. It is reported that there are over 17,000 fires related to home dryers each year.
Here are a few simple tips to follow to help prevent a clothes dryer fire:
-Clean the filter screen after each load to prevent lint buildup.
-An adult should be at home whenever the dryer is in use and the home should have working smoke alarms.
-Clean the vents outside twice a year to clean out any accumulated dust and lint.
-Commercial dryers should be cleaned out regularly because of their frequent use and shared venting system.
-Don't dry mop heads in the dryer. The dryer's heat can ignite the chemical residue on mop heads.
-Keep the surrounding area clean. The dryer's heat may ignite anything left too close to the dryer.
-The safety of your family is important to us and we hope that you don't encounter such a fire. Be sure you follow these steps to avoid a fire in your home.

Summer's Natural Disasters

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

Every summer, the U.S. goes through an “active weather” season. The middle of spring through summer is a prime time for hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, thunderstorms, and fires. Here at SERVPRO, we’ve already begun to see the impact of the severe weather. In California, we have already experienced a massive amount of fires. Luckily, our SERVPRO team is here for any natural disaster. We respond to water, wind, and fire damage! Here are some weather events to look out for during the spring and summer months:

• Hurricanes–Hurricanes, with the accompanying wind, water, and flood, cause a lot of destruction in areas where they hit. When hurricanes gather strength, buildings, trees, and water infrastructures are commonly destroyed. The storms can also knock down power lines, posing a risk of electrocution.
• Tornadoes– Tornadoes are characterized by whirling winds and debris and can endanger life and property. They are common from spring until the middle of summer but can occur any time of the year.
• Floods– Floods are becoming more common in the U.S., with flash floods as the top weather-related killer. A few inches of water could bring extensive damage to homes and buildings. Heavy rains, levee breaches, and tsunamis cause floods. Many floods occur in areas that cannot absorb rainwater.
• Fires– The heat of the summer and the years of drought experienced in many parts of the country can precipitate massive forest fires that, in many instances, affect dwellings. Spontaneous combustion, volcanic eruption, and faulty electrical wires are other common causes of fires.

 Call SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae if you are ever in need after a natural disaster!

Drying Up After Water Damage

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

When water affects your business or home SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae is here to help with equipment and trained staff.

This business had water damage after a heavy rain storm in a short amount of time. The water came into their building and affected the entire location. We extracted the standing water and set equipment. We set a total of 65 fans on this particular job, as well as desiccants and generators as you can imagine it took lots of power to run all this equipment. We have the means to be able to dry the structure.  Airflow is a big part of the drying process. Having the right amount of airflow is crucial to the drying process.  We use calculations to figure out the right amount of equipment needed to properly dry the structure and contents in a facility.  We are here to help you with our trained professionals when disaster happens to get you back to your home and business faster, making it "Like it never even happened."

Urgent and Immediate!

6/12/2022 (Permalink)

Disasters can strike your commercial property while you are sleeping! We understand the urgency for immediate repairs and can act fast to help minimize further damage. SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae emergency response helpline is always open and standing by to take your phone call 24/7!
 
Regardless of the cause, we will fast respond and help you assess problems or issues the water damage produced and start the mitigation and recovery process. Before emergency repairs are started, we remove any salvageable items and assess the extent of the damage and contamination to put together a repair plan.
 

SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae has professionals with the training, experience, and equipment to manage water and flooding damage. Whether you have a large water emergency or a small water damage event, we will respond fast to mitigate the damage and manage the restoration project through to its completion.

SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae provides a wide scope of services. Some are biohazard cleanup and removal, and general construction for rebuilding and remodeling structures. Those are in addition to the fire, water, and mold cleanup and restoration services you may already be familiar with. Below is a list of some of our services offered.

• Fire, Smoke, and Soot Cleanup and Restoration
• Water Removal and Dehumidification
• Crime Scene, Biohazard, and Vandalism Cleanup
• Mold Mitigation and Remediation
• Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning and Care
• Stain Removal, Stain Resistance Applications
• Odor Identification and Deodorization
  Upholstery and Drapes: Wet and Dry Cleaning Methods

If you are unsure if we can help with an issue you are having, give us a call at 650-651-7290

Fire Mitigation Process

6/12/2022 (Permalink)

When you have a fire it can be devastating. Most of the time the hard part is losing so much of your content. When you have fire damage, you also have soot, odor, and water damage.

We at SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae want to help restore as much as we can for you. We have specialized training in doing just that.

First, we do an inspection and fire damage assessment to begin to form a plan of action.

Immediately if needed, we will properly board up your home and a roof tarp. 

The water removal will begin immediately as well as the drying.

We have specialized equipment and techniques to remove smoke and soot from ceilings, walls, and other surfaces.

We will clean, disinfect, and sanitize all of the restorable items. 

SERVPRO of Burlingame, Millbrae can even help you with the restoration process afterward! Give us a call for any and all questions you may have about the fire mitigation process!