Types of Wilmington Fire Damage After Disasters

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

You can count on our professionals in Wilmington with state-of-the-art equipment to quickly restore your fire damaged property.

SERVPRO Helps Clean Wilmington Fire Damage Loss

Wilmington is home to more than 70,000 residents, which does not include the thousands attending Drexel University, Wilmington University, or the Delaware College of Art & Design. Large disasters to homes and businesses like structure fires have various ways of impacting buildings and living spaces, making the restoration and recovery unique for each project. Our SERVPRO professionals must plan for several types of fire damage effects, including:

• Structural damage
• Airborne threats
• Water damage
• Soot circulation
• Smoke odors
• Debris and bulk materials

SERVPRO works fast to manage Wilmington fire damage through focused mitigative solutions and powerful restoration approaches. We appreciate the urgency of these situations, as structure fires can continually worsen for the property, even after extinguishment. With a crew of professionals ready to respond 24/7, we can start the necessary cleanup early.

What Does Fire Damage Restoration Do?

After structure fires, restoring a home or business requires several intricate, layered processes. The objective of professional restoration services is to return the property to preloss condition using soot cleanup, smoke remediation, odor removal, and other mitigative procedures. Trained FSRT-Certified technicians of our SERVPRO team complete this work from its earliest stages. 

How Do Fire Damages Get Mitigated?

Mitigation focuses on several areas of the damaged home after fire effect exposure. The priority of these individual processes is to protect the structure and its contents from continued damage, however possible. Mitigating losses happen in several ways, including:

• Contents – Contents should be relocated to undamaged building areas and protected from any migrating effects. On-site cleaning is possible, as is off-site transportation to our SERVPRO facility for focused restoration work.
• Structure – Protecting installed building materials is also a focus of fire damage mitigation steps. In some cases, this could mean demolishing compromised elements or focusing on pressing conditions that can continue to cripple the integrity of these materials, like standing water.
• Containment – Preventing the spread of fire damage effects is essential in reducing the customer's restoration costs and making the process more efficient. Physical barriers erected with plastic sheeting and frames can contain the work area.

Soot Cleaning Strategies 

Soot is formidable to remove, as the composition of this threat changes by the affected property. We must determine the answers to several questions to provide the appropriate soot and smoke solid removal techniques:

• Type of Soil – The type of soil changes based on the materials combusted and atmospheric conditions. Wet smoke, for example, requires processes like dissolving to overcome, while dry smoke can often be mostly wiped and cleaned with chemical sponges.
• Hosting Material – The underlying material also determines the cleaning method used. Some abrasive techniques can ruin installed building materials, so we test restoration solutions to ensure we have selected them correctly.
• Is it Worth Saving? – Salvageability is a crucial factor. However, the ability to preserve material does not always make it cost-effective or wise to do so. We choose restoration over replacement much of the time, but never at a higher cost to customers or their time. 

Post-Fire Damage Reconstruction

Reconstruction and repair are typical staples of the final stages of remediation and restoration after a fire. Considering how destructive high-heat blazes can be by combusting fuels, accelerants, and building materials, controlled demolition clears out remnants and prepares the property for reconstruction. We have experienced crew members with a contractor license to complete needed build-back after fires.

Fire damage in Wilmington homes and businesses incorporates a group of talented restoration professionals, our cutting-edge equipment, and our fast response. We can help homes recover from various types of fire damage effects. Give our SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere team a call now at (302) 992-0104.

Wilmington Water Damage Impacts Homes in Several Ways

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the training and equipment for any size of water damage. Call for fast and immediate action for your Wilmington home.

SERVPRO Helps Resolve Wilmington Water Damage

Because we serve the most populated metropolis in all of Delaware, more than 70,000 in the city alone depend on a fast response from our professionals when water emergencies occur. Hundreds of possible causes exist for these damage events, from leaking pipes to freezing during harsh winter conditions. Responding professionals reach New Castle County properties and begin working to mitigate loss and damage to critical areas in the house like:

• Ceilings
• Flooring
• Structural Cavities
• Crawlspaces
• Basements
• Attics

Wilmington water damage requires immediate attention and mitigative strategies. You can rely on SERVPRO to be a fast-responding team of professionals ready to mobilize when disasters strike. We are more than a slogan suggesting we are faster to disasters; we show this with our 24/7 availability and pre-stocked service vehicles in the Green Fleet.  

Emergency Services and Repairs 

SERVPRO responders appreciate the need for early action when water emergencies like leaks and pipe bursts occur in a household. Hundreds of individual contents and building materials can be exposed from a single event, so our responders arrive with the mindset to slow the moisture migration, eliminate safety concerns, and prevent further loss to the household. This gets achieved with controlled demolition, content relocation, cleaning, and pre-job scoping for hazards and safety concerns.

The Value of Extraction

After more significant water damage events, the most relevant and helpful mitigative strategy is removing standing water. Water removal services combine several extraction devices to eliminate standing water throughout the property and prevent greater absorption levels into exposed porous building materials like carpets, wood flooring, and drywall. Some of the extraction devices include:

• Pumps
• Vacuums
• Drying Mats
• Weighted Extractors

Addressing the Three Phases of Water Damage

Understanding the behavior of water as it moves through a structure is essential to overcome the ultimate effect this hazard can cause. Absorption into flooring and wall systems must get addressed promptly by our IICRC-certified team, as prolonged exposure can undoubtedly change the composition of the affected material and force reconstruction. Moisture impacts construction elements in three possible ways:

• Surface Water 

This is the earliest exposure stage before even the water absorbs into the flooring and wall materials. Surface water can be removed and managed using extraction devices and followed up with actions like mopping and toweling the area.

• Free Water 

While absorbed into the material, our professionals can still remove free water. With flooring like hardwood, drying mats use the capillary suction process and heat to draw moisture to the surface for removal without damaging the structural integrity.

• Bound Water 

At this stage, water is no longer removable. SERVPRO must remove affected planks of the flooring or other impacted materials. The water molecules have combined with the cellulose of the wood or the molecular structure of the building material to change its composition and make it unsalvageable.

Rebuilding After Water Damage

It is often vital to implement specific repairs and reconstruction after damage events. It is crucial to be confident that water infiltration has been resolved, including any breaks or leaks from the plumbing system. Our contractor license allows us to complete necessary build-back services to target problematic areas of the house that cause lasting harm.

Water damage in Wilmington homes comes with an urgent timeline to restore and recover the affected areas of your household. Understanding this need, our SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere team can reach damaged properties quickly with mitigative and restorative equipment and approaches. Give us a call today at (302) 992-0104.

The Impact of Mold Damage on Wilmington Homes

3/9/2023 (Permalink)

Why SERVPRO for mold remediation in Wilmington? We are professionals looking out for you!

SERVPRO Remediates Mold Damage in Local Properties

Mold is a product of moisture, spores, and suitable materials. When these conditions exist, colonies can be formed in as little as 48 hours. The impact that these organisms ultimately have on a home can be overwhelming, especially in situations where spores have been allowed to spread without preventative actions. Certain materials can be directly compromised by spreading mold organisms, including:

• Clothing
• Upholstery
• Organic building materials
• Wood
• Carpeting/padding

Wilmington mold damage might typically require several types of restorers, remediators, and reconstruction specialists to resolve it entirely. With SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere, you have a full-service contractor to address every needed phase of restoration to bring your property back to pre-mold conditions. Our 24/7 availability means you are not waiting for regular operating hours for this work to begin when it threatens your household.

The Likelihood of Mold

With Wilmington being positioned near the Christina River and the Brandywine River in New Castle County, more homes and businesses are exposed to moist conditions. These natural environments can facilitate mold growth, but the situation is even more likely following disasters like water damage or flooding to the structure.

Did You Know: Mold spores exist naturally in almost every environment, making total mold removal impractical and extremely costly. SERVPRO prioritizes active colony removal to restore safe conditions through our remediation processes.

What is Mold Damage Remediation?

Remediation is an effort to remove active colonies from the property where organisms have begun to impact materials and contents throughout a damaged structure. Depending on the severity of these situations, the type of material affected, and how widespread this damage has become, several types of mold damage removal strategies are effective:

• Sporicidal Products – Superficial treatment using biocides can eliminate spores on contact when they have not migrated beyond the surface.  
• Abrasive Action – Sanding and scrubbing with implements to remove a thin outer layer of the hosting material to eliminate penetrating organisms.
• Blasting – Abrasive cleaning with pressurized media to eradicate organisms without substantial damage to the underlying materials. 

The Importance of Containment

Mold will continually move and find new hosting materials to infest without direct action to stop this migration. Our SERVPRO professionals need to implement containment strategies early to prevent the movement of these threatening spores. Polypropylene sheeting, wood framing, tension poles, and other implements make up quickly erected containment zones.

Removing the Presence of Mold Damage Effects

Mold is an abrasive and overwhelming situation for many homes and businesses, leaving lingering effects that can be hard to remove without focused cleaning and attention. One of the most pressing concerns for the post-mold recovery of households is malodors. The movement and growth of an organism release volatile organic compounds that become a strong, harsh odor for house occupants. Deodorizing products are vital in reducing the severity of these malodors, primarily in active areas of the house. Counteractant beads and granules absorb odor molecules, making foggers and hydroxyl machines more effective later.

Preventing Mold Recurrences

It is essential to our professionals that you do not become a customer that ends up on an endless loop of mold recurrences because the underlying trigger of the organisms was never resolved or overcome. We understand the importance of having credible and accomplished contractors available to help with a state license. We can perform several types of repairs pertinent to preventing mold resurfacing:

• Addressing Water Infiltration
• Repairing Plumbing
• Replacing Removed Materials

Mold damage in Wilmington homes can be more destructive and hazardous than many property owners think. With the fast response and reliability of our SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere remediation professionals, we can quickly address the damage that mold growth can do. Give us a call anytime at (302) 992-0104.

Cold Snaps Cause Water Damage in Wilmington

3/7/2023 (Permalink)

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

SERVPRO Is Fast to Provide Water Damage Restoration in Wilmington

When the mercury dips below freezing for days in Wilmington, you might need water damage restoration when the weather warms up again. It is a dangerous time for the pipes in your home. Even if you think you’re prepared and take every precaution, pipes can freeze and crack. The problem is that you won’t even know about an issue until your pipes thaw. Even then, there could be leaks inside the walls causing damage that you can’t see until it’s too late.

Swift Action Mitigates Water Damage

SERVPRO can provide 24/7 service for water damage restoration in Wilmington. That’s why it is imperative that you call at the first sign of a problem. We need to act quickly. Our highly trained technicians can seek out every source causing potentially dangerous harm, stop it, and restore it to its pre-damage condition. SERVPRO techs can establish a course of action beginning with state-of-the-art moisture meters to seek out and determine the actual moisture content of various materials. Using powerful pumps and vacuums, we can quickly extract the water before it has time to cause any secondary damage. We can then begin the drying and dehumidifying process. Our professionals use specific measurements, such as room dimensions and relative humidity, to assess how many air movers and dehumidifiers to use to make your home dry again. Once that is done, it is all downhill from there. 

The SERVPRO team can clean, sanitize, and make any minor repairs necessary to restore your home to its pre-damage condition. So when freezing weather wreaks havoc on your pipes, and you require water damage restoration in Wilmington, don’t hesitate to contact SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.” Call SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere. We’re ready to help at (302) 992-0104.

Commercial Water Restoration in Wilmington Requires Special Gear

2/3/2023 (Permalink)

The first step to resolving water damage is calling your local trained professionals at SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere.

Well-Equipped Water Restoration Firm in Wilmington 

There have been remarkable advancements in water damage remediation in recent years, but not all services in Wilmington have progressed with the times. With that said, other firms like SERVPRO routinely use new, state-of-the-art equipment and chemical agents to restore water-impacted businesses. As a result, we typically complete our work more swiftly and effectively than other companies.

SERVPRO has gained a reputation as a cutting-edge commercial water restoration service in Wilmington. Our emergency water damage services teams employ the latest and greatest tools to quickly perform water removal services and complete water damage repairs related to ceiling leaks, burst pipes, and basement flooding. SERVPRO’s restoration process involves interior moisture detection, water extraction, cleaning, drying, and the application of any necessary deodorants. When completing these tasks, we use the following:

• Infrared cameras peer behind structural elements to locate hidden sources of leaks, and sensors to detect moisture in carpeting & padding and identify which materials it has migrated into
• Wet vacs to remove small standing water messes, truck-mounted extractors to treat impacted carpeting & padding with hot water and cleaning agents, portable extractors to clean flooring in high rises/other areas where truck-mounted units aren’t practical, and rotary floor machines to buff/strip finish from vinyl tile or wood flooring 
• Upholstery and drapery machines to clean, treat, and extract moisture from upholstered furnishings and wall coverings
• Rusticide (#116) to eliminate rust strains from carpeting and other natural/synthetic fibers; Fabric Rinse and Color Set (#205) to clean materials and stabilize colors; Wall and All Surface Cleaner (#351) to wash all painted and cleanable surfaces; and Vanquish (#175) to cleanse and disinfect water-impacted materials
• Scientifically-designed air mover-dehumidifier networks and Injectidry systems to thoroughly dry interiors
• Commercial-grade deodorants like Wintergreen Deodorizer (#155F) and Carpet Deodorizer (#309) to neutralize unwanted smells

So, whenever you need quality commercial water restoration, don’t hesitate to call SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere. We’re always ready to help at (302) 992-0104.

Need Fire Damage Cleanup in Wilmington – Call SERVPRO

1/4/2023 (Permalink)

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

SERVPRO Provides Fire Damage Cleanup, Repair, and Restoration Services in Wilmington

The damage caused by a fire in a Wilmington home can be overwhelming. There is soot on everything, and there are charred remains of cabinets and contents spread everywhere. Water, chemicals, and debris are spread over the fire area and into rooms located immediately below the fire.

SERVPRO provides fire damage cleanup and repair services to residents of Wilmington and the surrounding area. Our fire cleanup teams are available 24/7 and can be on-site in less than four hours from your initial call. After completing an initial assessment, and proposing a cleanup and repair plan to the homeowner and their insurance company, our team of professionals can begin the cleanup and restoration of your home.

We remove all charred and damaged beyond-repair contents, cabinets, and structures, including ceiling tiles, drywall, and flooring materials. We utilize controlled demolition techniques to minimize further damage while removing fire-damaged materials. All remaining items and surfaces are cleaned, dried, and deodorized. Soot and smoke residues are removed before cleaning and deodorizing your entire home.

SERVPRO's building services provide construction, building, and remodeling services to facilitate the rapid restoration of your home. We coordinate all the trades, including temporary board up, temporary warehouse space for storage, electrical, plumbing, drywall, flooring installation, etc., to restore your house to its original condition "Like it never even happened."

We handle all types of emergencies, including buildings damaged by fire, and our services include:

• Fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup
• House fire cleanup
• Ceiling repairs from water damage

Call SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere for fire damage cleanup services and restoration. We provide service to Wilmington and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (302) 992-0104.

Stormwater Restoration in Wilmington Is Better when Done by Experts

12/6/2022 (Permalink)

Having an issue with fire damage in your Wilmington home. Call SERVPRO for the help you need.

SERVPRO Can Restore Your Stormwater-Damaged Wilmington Residence

Homeowners can find themselves being affected by stormwater damage. Some of the destruction associated with a storm include structural damages, leaking roofs, flooded basements, and cracks in foundations. When left to stand for more time, the damage can escalate, making your house inhabitable, and causing you to have to tear down and rebuild some sections or the whole structure, at which time the cost may be even higher.

You can avoid this situation by contacting SERVPRO to perform stormwater restoration in your Wilmington home. Some of the reasons you need professionals to handle the problem for you include the following:

• Preventing mold growth. 
• On its own, water can pose dangers by exposing you to contaminants you might not know how to avoid.
• Since we are experts, we have a better idea of handling and carrying out the process as effectively and quickly as possible.

Extraction of the standing water is a crucial stage of the water damage restoration process. For such storms, SERVPRO can use powerful centrifugal pumps to remove all the standing water since they can move huge volumes of water within a short period. This makes the steps that follow in the process more efficient and successful. It also helps prevent the water from spreading to other parts of your house where the stormwater has not yet been affected.

We also set up dehumidifiers and air movers so that the building, its structures, and affected contents can dry out properly to bring their moisture levels to normal. If the damage is extensive, our SERVPRO technicians can cut out affected drywall and apply antimicrobials to prevent the multiplication of microorganisms. In the whole restoration process, SERVPRO aims to restore a house to its pre-damaged condition.

Restoration of a stormwater-damaged house requires the full attention of professional restoration contractors. Therefore, when you find yourself in such a situation, contact SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104. We can make the stormwater damage seem “Like it never even happened.”

Hockessin Mold Remediation Takes Superior Mold Inspection Methods

11/4/2022 (Permalink)

Sometimes mold damage does not need a SERVPRO inspection. We can remediate and fix this Hockessin home.

We Offer High-Quality Mold Inspection in Hockessin

Hockessin residents are encouraged to have their homes routinely inspected for mold. These regular evaluations inform them of any potential mold-related issues before they morph into more serious and costly problems to resolve. Fortunately, SERVPRO offers high-quality inspection services to local homeowners concerned about possible mold outbreaks and associated damages.

SERVPRO’s mold inspection experts in Hockessin employ only the most advanced equipment and techniques to locate potential leaks and any fungal growths arising from them. Company mold specialists have easily found hidden attic mold, bathroom mildew, basement fungus, and black mold using their cutting-edge methods. Moreover, such procedures have enabled SERVPRO to better plan mold remediation efforts. Once onsite and inspecting a home, our technicians generally:

• Look for any visible signs of mold damage on structural elements and furnishings first before trying to visually identify possible water sources fueling mold by searching for exposed ceiling, pipe, appliance, or container leaks
• Next, use high-tech infrared cameras to peer behind ceilings and walls to locate all hidden water sources that are now or might in the future contribute to mold development
• Then, attempt to find out which structural materials and household contents have excess moisture in them with state-of-the-art moisture sensors
• After that, assess the severity of the water damage done to impacted materials with moisture meters
• water vapor in the ambient air, to determine how much airborne moisture must be removed to facilitate efficient drying.

All these steps set the stage for the remediation work that follows. So, the more detailed and extensive they are, the easier the cleanup and restoration phases are to complete.

Considering our mold inspection expertise, it’s no wonder why so many local homeowners have their residences evaluated by SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere. Call us anytime at (302) 992-0104 for assistance.

Mold Growth in Basement

10/26/2022 (Permalink)

Mold growing on efflorescence on basement walls.

While mold can exist everywhere, this basement has too much.  This is what can happen if the moisture problem is not properly addressed.  This mold was producing strong musty odors and the relative humidity was supporting its growth. After the mold was addressed, we were able to help with our advanced techniques to alleviate the humidity levels. Dehumidifiers can also be set up to help remove excess moisture from the air.  Did you know the target relative humidity in a Delaware basement can vary depending on the season? Summer months an ideal level could be between 30-50 %, while winter months ranging from 25-40 %. If you sense lingering musty odors from your basement, crawlspace or even your attic, call SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere (302) 992-0104 for an estimate on your property.  

Water Cleanup In Your Wilmington Kitchen

9/7/2022 (Permalink)

Don’t let your property be a victim of water damage, SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere is only a call away.

Slow Leak Gets Fast Water Cleanup in Wilmington Kitchen

When a supply line breaks or an appliance such as a washing machine malfunctions, a large amount of water damage has the potential to occur, and slow leaks can be even worse. They slowly soften and ruin sheetrock, encourage mold growth, and can be the root cause of more expensive repairs for homeowners.

A slow leak in a Wilmington Kitchen created the need for water cleanup when the supply line to the kitchen sink gave way. The homeowner shut off the water to the home at the main and called SERVPRO.

Scoping Yields Answers to Water Loss

The techs used their moisture detection equipment to determine the areas of excessive moisture found around the supply line that leaked for an extended period. Much of the sheetrock at the back of the cabinet showed softening and too much water absorption.

Removal of Damaged Sheetrock

As building materials with that much exposure to water have zero restoration potential, the technicians cleanly cut it away to remove the damaged areas and stop any further wicking of water.

Challenging Extraction Needs

Little standing water remained in the kitchen, but SERVPRO technicians used their portable extractors to lift away as much residual moisture as possible from the interior of the kitchen cabinet and under it by removing the toe kick.

Drying the Kitchen

Air movers deliver high-velocity airflow into the wet areas, and the force causes embedded moisture to rise. The dehumidification equipment captures the water vapor and ports it away. This cycle creates expedited drying and is especially useful in closed areas, such as within cabinets.

Repairing the Water Loss

Returning the kitchen to its pre-damaged condition involves making the necessary repairs to the sheetrock and replacing the toe kick under the cabinet after the repairs to the supply line are completed by the plumber hired by the homeowner. SERVPRO has a general contractor license #1992104829, allowing the techs to go straight into the final repairs after the water mitigation efforts conclude.

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 has certified professional technicians ready to come to your home for water cleanup and restoration services 24/7. With their experience and advanced equipment, they make the water loss “Like it never even happened.”