Reviving Spaces with Fire Restoration in Wilmington Properties

3/31/2024 (Permalink)

Remediating fire damage in your home is a multi step process. Contact SERVPRO immediately for professional advice and services.

Professional Wilmington Fire Cleanup Solutions with SERVPRO®

Wilmington is known for its diverse population, with residents from different ethnic, racial, and cultural backgrounds. This diversity is celebrated through community events and artistic initiatives that promote inclusivity, including the annual Wilmington Flower Market and the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. As the primary urban center in Delaware, Wilmington is a significant economic center, hosting a flourishing business sector. Prominent corporations such as JPMorgan Chase and DuPont play a pivotal role in Wilmington's economy. Furthermore, Wilmington's vibrant downtown district is dotted with eclectic shops, trendy cafes, and fine dining establishments, including Trolley Square, Milk and Honey Coffeehouse & Gallery, and Chelsea Tavern, making it a magnet for entrepreneurs and consumers.

The aftermath of a fire can present a daunting array of challenges, prompting fire restoration in Wilmington. Challenges can range from structural damage to the lingering effects of smoke and soot. Successfully addressing these issues demands a keen approach to cleanup. SERVPRO services are essential in this regard, as our teams possess the expertise, specialized tools, and techniques necessary to manage every aspect of the process efficiently and effectively. Our primary responsibility is to assess the scope of the damage. Through meticulous inspections, we ascertain the regions affected by the fire, smoke, and water damage caused by firefighting endeavors. This comprehensive assessment allows us to formulate a customized plan for addressing fire and water damage cleanup.

Home fire cleanup solutions 

• Wet cleaning 
• Immersion cleaning 
• Foam cleaning 
• Abrasive cleaning 

Different materials, from wood to upholstery, require tailored treatments to remove stains and odors and restore structural integrity. SERVPRO crews tackle surfaces like ceilings, wood, walls, and possessions, including books and documents. Each item receives individualized attention, with our crews employing a combination of these restoration techniques tailored to its specific material composition and degree of damage. 

Immersion Cleaning Technique for Fire Restoration  

Immersion cleaning involves submerging items affected by smoke damage into a specialized cleaning solution. Ultrasonic cleaning is an optional immersion cleaning type. The process is beneficial for items that can withstand being completely saturated with the cleaning product, such as Venetian blinds, and non-porous or semi-porous contents, such as glassware and ceramics. SERVPRO teams are trained to offer effective ultrasonic cleaning, which entails selecting; 

• The amount of electrical power 
• The temperature of the water 
• The frequency of the sound waves 
• The type of cleaning solution based on the cleaning task 

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere finds the right solution for fire restoration. Call us at (302) 992-0104. Here to Help®.

Effective Fire Damage Restoration for Hockessin Properties

9/14/2023 (Permalink)

A fire in your home or business is stressful to deal with. Call SERVPRO 24/7 for certified professionals and advice.

Fire and Smoke Remediation Solutions

Despite its smaller size and population, Hockessin has been a recognized community in New Castle County since 1688. While it primarily serves as a bedroom community for nearby Wilmington, tourism is a significant component of the economy in this smaller town. The village is easily accessible through main roadways and positioned against the Pennsylvania border. In addition, the combination of protected lands and preserves with historic properties and landmarks makes The municipality attractive to many types of travelers.

Because fire damage restoration for Hockessin homes and businesses could be needed with little warning, we stay prepared and ready to help. For generations, the fertile soils of Hockessin have allowed for successful mushroom farming. Unfortunately, the damp environment needed to produce healthy fungal crops can influence the effects of fires throughout the region, severely threatening some historic properties that still feature the original building materials. Protected structures placed on the National Register of Historic Places within Hockessin include the Armstrong Farm, Wilmington and Western Railroad, and the Hockessin Friends Meetinghouse.

Removing Threatening Smoke Damage

Smoke and soot damage are among the most threatening elements of fire recovery. The spread of these carcinogenic particles dictates the salvageability of contents and building materials throughout the household. Our smoke remediation team helps with the following:

• Soils
• Smells
• Airborne Particulates

The aromas you might encounter with New Castle County dining staples like 2 Fat Guys, Redfire Grill & Steakhouse, and Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop might be enticing, but fire damage is another story altogether. Instead, harsh odors overwhelm your home, requiring fast deodorization solutions.

Few disasters can have the far-reaching impacts and destructive capacity of a fire. Fast recovery and cleanup services are vital for intruding smoke and soot damage. Give our SERVPRO® of Hockessin / Elsmere team a call to help when emergencies compromise your property. We are available 24/7 at (302) 992-0104.

Effective Fire Damage Restoration in Wilmington

5/18/2023 (Permalink)

Effective Fire Damage Restoration in Wilmington

Combating Direct and indirect fire damage effects in Wilmington

Fire can turn your property from a stylish refuge to a gloomy shell in a few minutes. Completing the fire damage restoration tasks that reinstate normalcy takes significant work. SERVPRO helps in such circumstances by providing skilled work crews and advanced equipment to manage the tasks.

A significant portion of the fire damage restoration in your Wilmington property is unpleasant, to say the least, as the workers move things around, blow up dust or operate loud drills and circular saws. Combining the physical inconveniences and your anguish from the monetary and sentimental loss can drive you over the edge. Leaving SERVPRO in charge can help you enjoy the tranquility away from your damaged property. Various parks and historic sites within Wilmington are worth visiting.

Parks You Can Explore

• Brandywine Park comprises 178 acres of gardens, a zoo, and walking trails along the Brandywine River.
• Rockford Park constitutes 72 acres of ample open green space with tennis courts. You can participate in guided tours of the 19th-century Gothic Manor house.
• Bellevue State Park - The facility covering 328 acres offers various recreational activities like biking, fishing, and horseback riding starting at the northern edge of Wilmington.

As you contemplate the long-term effects of the fire on your property, visiting properties that have survived for centuries can give you a different perspective. Luckily, you don’t need to go beyond the confines of the largest City in Delaware State to find such properties. 

Historic Sites in Wilmington

• The Old Swedes Church, built in 1698, offers tours of the structures and graveyard. There is an onsite museum.
• Fort Christina National Historic Landmark is a replica of the original fort and museum built by settlers in 1634.
• Delaware History Museum is set in an 18th-century building. It has exhibits showcasing Delaware’s history from pre-colonial periods to the present day.

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere is a seasoned service provider in fire damage restoration. You can reach us at (302) 992-0104.

Types of Wilmington Fire Damage After Disasters

4/3/2023 (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.

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.

Tackling Fire Restoration in Wilmington

8/5/2022 (Permalink)

All you need is SERVPRO for all your fire damage needs.

SERVPRO Can Help with Fire Restorations in Wilmington

If a fire ignites inside your apartment complex, more than one unit could be affected. Fires in apartments can easily torch surrounding units and those above and below them. Even if the flames coming from a fire that starts in a unit other than yours do not make it into your dwelling, the smoke from the blaze could still enter your unit and cause problems.

Sometimes fire restoration in your Wilmington apartment must occur even if no fire starts inside your apartment. For example, smoke particles can get very small and seep through the individual apartment units' walls. The smoke can also seep through lower door seals or enter from the outside via your door or window seals.

Once these partially combusted particles enter your home, several issues could arise. For one, smoke can solidify when it touches cooler surfaces such as your walls, ceilings, or contents. Secondly, smoke can also become the source of unpleasant, burnt smells. Microscopic smoke particles can penetrate deep into your porous items like your upholstered furniture or carpets and cause malodor particles to linger.

We can help restore your home after fire-related issues in the following ways:

• Fire Debris Removal
• Fire and Smoke Remediation
• Water and Fire Damage Restorations
• Setting Up Thermal or Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) Foggers
• Running Ozone Generators
• Packing Out and Cleaning Contents
• Cleaning Soot Residues from Walls and Ceilings

When dealing with smoke-related problems, the first step our SERVPRO technicians take is to remove any soot residues present. If foul odors still exist, we can use foggers to break deodorants into microscopic particles to mimic how the smoke traveled.

If you ever notice smoke entering your apartment from an adjacent unit, call SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104. 

There are Smoke and Soot Residues in My Home after a Fire. How Can I Remove Them?

7/6/2022 (Permalink)

Removing smoke damage is difficult. Trust the SERVPRO professionals to restore your home.

Hire SERVPRO Technicians to Perform Fire Restoration in Your Wilmington Residence

Soot and smoke residues may seem easy to clean, but specialized skills and advanced products are required to ensure a sufficient job. Therefore, it is essential to let professionals handle the fire restoration process in your Wilmington home to avoid costly secondary damage.

Why Do I Need To Hire Professionals?

The soot and smoke residues left behind after a fire are hazardous and can cause damage, if not appropriately handled. Our SERVPRO team has the expertise and equipment required to perform fire restoration in your Wilmington home. We can assess the fire damage to determine the cost of recovery and select the proper restoration techniques and equipment.

What Secondary Damages Can Soot And Smoke Residues Cause?

It is essential to begin the fire restoration process quickly after extinguishing a fire since secondary damage can start immediately. The damage can cause costly repairs if ignored for an extended period. Some secondary damage can be irreversible, and it can raise restoration costs. Other damage like smoke odor can last for years in your home. The possible secondary damage that can result from smoke residues includes:

• Discoloration of walls and ceilings.
• Discoloration of kitchen appliance finishes.
• Tarnishing of metal.
• Etching of glass.

Can You Remove Soot From Wood Surfaces?

SERVPRO technicians have the skill and decades of experience in the restoration industry. We also have access to state-of-the-art equipment, tools, and products that help us deal with fire damage of any magnitude. Soot and smoke residues can settle on wooden surfaces, like kitchen and bathroom cabinets, shelves, furniture, and wood floors. These surfaces can be challenging to clean without the right products and skills.

Our team of technicians can restore these surfaces to their pre-damaged state. Using a white towel to apply the product to the surfaces, we can use wood crème paste to clean wood surfaces with yellowing and soot, and smoke residues. We use a white towel to apply the product to the covers and let it work for around three minutes. Our restorers then use a steel pad to scrub the affected surfaces in a circular motion until the area is clean.

What about the charcoal-like odor that is in my home?

Odors can make it difficult for you to live on the property. We use various professional products to deodorize affected homes. For instance, our restorers can use a ULV mister to apply a water-based wet mist deodorizer to the affected areas. A ULV mister produces a fine fog or mist that allows the chemical to get into surface cracks and crevices where smoke odors are present and eliminate them.

When you need fire restoration services, contact SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104. We provide fast fire damage restoration services in Hockessin, Newport, and Elsmere.

Do I Need To Clean My HVAC After Fire Damage?

6/2/2022 (Permalink)

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

Wilmington Residents Want Their Homes Properly Cleaned After Fire Damage

People living in Wilmington know that an HVAC system is a boon for any household. An HVAC helps ventilate the space and keep it fresh in the heat of summer, too.

Residents in Wilmington who need fire damage restoration might not realize that fire damage encompasses their HVAC system. That is why SERVPRO includes HVAC assessment and cleaning as part of our fire damage service.  

What Does Smoke Do To HVAC Systems?

Smoke and soot can get sucked into HVAC systems during a fire. Even if you switch the unit off, air currents can still carry particles inside. 

Soot is a sticky residue composed of tiny hydrocarbon particles produced during the incomplete combustion of materials like wood. Soot is acidic and contains all kinds of chemicals and nasties, including:

• Traces of metal
• Dust and soil
• Chemicals from charred materials such as plastic

Soot bonds easily to surfaces and are challenging to remove. Smoke and soot can make your HVAC less efficient and clog up the filters. If your HVAC contains residue, the system can spread that soot throughout your home.

Can I Clean My HVAC System Myself?

SERVPRO recommends calling in an expert to clean your vents. If you wash them yourself, there is a risk that you could dislodge particles and send them back into the air. You might also end up breathing in smoke and soot particles. Regular household cleaners are not strong enough to handle smoke residue, and household aprons and gloves do not afford proper protection.

Soot particles are tiny, and your vacuum may not be powerful enough to trap them, thus leaving them free to circulate through the air in your home.

Professional technicians know how to remove residue without compromising air quality. SERVPRO teams also come equipped with full personal protective equipment to handle all aspects of soot and fire damage safely.

What Can SERVPRO Do For My HVAC System?

We examine your HVAC system as part of fire damage remediation because we understand that smoke can compromise filters and clog vents. We aim to leave your home “Like it never even happened,” which includes removing soot sources so they cannot spread.

We take good care of your belongings while working on your HVAC system. Our team will cover nearby items with plastic sheeting and ensure that no particles fall out of the vent onto your carpets or furniture.

Our trained technicians use the most appropriate cleaning method, depending on how severely affected your HVAC system is. We use gentle scrubbing methods that do not damage vents, and we have powerful HEPA vacuums to capture the tiny soot particles. HEPA filters undergo rigorous testing to ensure they remove 99.97% of particles of 0.3 microns in size.

What About The Rest of My Home?

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere can assist you with every aspect of fire damage cleanup. Our technicians will:

• Assess your home and draw up an appropriate remediation plan
• Vacuum and pump away leftover water from fire hoses
• Clean away soot residues from the structure of your home – the floors, walls, and ceilings
• Use a range of scrubbing, spot cleaning, and immersion techniques to clean furniture, upholstery, drapes, and personal belongings.

Our teams keep you in the loop at every stage, and we will not do anything to your home without your permission. We understand that the aftermath of fire damage is stressful and will do everything to make the remediation process easier for you.

We can even talk with your insurance adjuster and give them useful information about your home and insurance claim. This makes the claims process smoother and saves you the stress of dealing with the adjuster alone.

Can You Help Me With Leftover Smoky Smells?

Yes. Deodorization is an integral part of our fire damage cleaning process. Smoky smells have an unpleasant tendency to linger long after the fire is extinguished. We take care of odors using professional equipment, including air scrubbers, carbon filters, fogging, and ozone generators. 

Cleaning your HVAC system helps remove odors by eliminating the risk of soot spreading through the ducts. Getting your HVAC system back in good working order leaves it free to ventilate your home and improve air quality, leaving your house fresh and clean-smelling.

Once your home is clean, and your HVAC system is working correctly, we remove all cleaning waste, so you cannot even tell we were there. The difference you will notice is your home looks and feels like your own once more.

If you are concerned about the effect of fire on your HVAC system, call SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104.

We Can Restore Your Smoke Damaged Clothing In Your Wilmington Home After A Fire

5/3/2022 (Permalink)

Give our SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere fire restoration specialists a call anytime at (302) 992-0104.

Dry Cleaning Smoke-Damaged Clothing In Wilmington Homes

Fire recovery is an involved process, even when the fire itself is not widespread or structurally compromising your Wilmington property. Often homeowners want to do what they can to improve the way their home looks and smells after a minor flare-up. Odor removal can be a complicated obstacle to overcome, but there are some practices that you can expect from professional restorers in your house. The more you understand about these approaches, the more you can trust the process and help to get your home to a pre-damaged condition as promptly as possible.

While fire damage in Wilmington homes requires multiple machines, products, and practices to overcome, deodorization is a priority to making fire loss “Like it never even happened.” Our SERVPRO professionals have invested substantial time in training and money in our inventory of recovery tools to provide our customers with the ideal approach for eliminating harsh smoke odors every time. As leaders in restoration, we are happy to share some techniques that can protect your clothes when you do not feel you need the full measure of professional recovery service.

Dry cleaning is always a great option because many of these locations use oxidation or ozone to remove odors at a molecular level. This cleaning process is often gentler on your clothes, reducing the possibility of irreparable damages from excessive scrubbing when particulates on the fabric are set into the material. With many of these clothing items enduring excessive smoke exposure, dry-cleaning is often the ideal approach. Even our SERVPRO team has dry-cleaning equipment for fabrics for this reason.

Depending on the damage, you can also potentially protect and recover your clothes on your own. This process involves spraying these damaged fabrics thoroughly with a vinegar and water solution. While the items are still damp, put them into your washing machine along with a cup of vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Before you put them in the dryer, run them through the washing machine a second time with your regular detergent of choice.

You might still encounter smoke smells throughout your house, and often these do not go away independently. We have sophisticated tools and practices to address odor removal in materials and open areas of your property. Give our SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere fire restoration specialists a call anytime at (302) 992-0104.

What Are Fire Restoration Cleaning Basics in Wilmington?

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's FSRT fire and smoke damage technicians apply the proper cleaning products to house fires in Wilmington. "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Techs Have the Professional Experience and Tools to Cleanup Fire Damage

Suspending fire damage residues in Wilmington properties is one of the biggest challenges during the cleanup. One of the first things SERVPRO technicians will ask a homeowner is to identify the areas where they attempted any cleanup on their own. These areas may need assistance first, for example:

• Wetting dry smoke can ruin surfaces
• Soot-covered metal faucets can have pitting if not properly wiped and cleaned
• Scrubbing smoke damage can drive it deeper into a surface or article

SERVPRO techs know that stubborn, stuck-on smoke damage in a Wilmington home is a common part of fire restoration service. The technicians have professional cleaning agents and the training and knowledge to mix their own solvent-based formulas as needed. Each surface with soot has its own unique qualities, and solvents are not appropriate for all types of cleaning residues. Our extensive experience often readily directs our techs to the proper solvents and tools.

Techs test items they have the slightest doubt about to learn the construction materials and if the article has color fastness or experiences shrinkage when exposed to water or cleaning agents. SERVPRO tech's attention to detail is one of the many ways SERVPRO team members can restore items with smoke damage for reuse by the homeowner.

Some cleaning methods involve using heated solvents, and other applications need agitation to get the item cleaned. The key is in the training of the technicians and the testing to determine that method that is going to give the best outcome. Finally, time is another element that is important during the mitigation service. Certain soot-covered articles will simply need a long exposure to the solution chosen to eliminate the residues. This is termed “dwell time.”

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 supports their Wilmington commercial and residential property owners with all sizes and types of fire restoration services.

Can a Professional Pack-Out Improve Fire Damage Restoration Outcomes in Hockessin?

12/17/2021 (Permalink)

You want help from the professionals after a fire in your home or business.

Let SERVPRO assess the benefits of moving some or all of your contents to our production facility during a Hockessin house fire cleanup 

It might seem that boxing and moving out the furnishings, household goods, and personal possessions from your home would increase the stress of fire damage restoration in Hockessin. On the contrary, when you allow SERVPRO to use our innovative Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) to itemize and track the precious items that make your house a home. 

When Is a Pack Out Indicated for Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup?

The aftermath of a Hockessin residential fire can be overwhelming, challenging for any homeowner to process. Amid the water and fire damage, restoration can feel impossible to achieve. You might be tempted to toss all the contents into the trash as an understandable emotional reaction and because most people have no idea how to approach fire and smoke damage remediation of the thousands of items in the average household. Removing the contents to a secure space where highly-trained content restoration specialists evaluate the damage and plan for restoration nearly always results in many of your treasured possessions returning to full function and appearance.

Does a Pack-Out Assist On-Site Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) Perform Water and Fire Damage Restoration?

Clearing your home of its contents can facilitate efficient fire and smoke damage mitigation and remediation of structural components and fixtures. SERVPRO technicians move throughout your fire-damaged dwelling without the impediments and delays caused by working around and continuously moving contents. Removing contents that carry high moisture and smoke soiling loads accelerates competition of tasks like:

• Water removal and drying, swifter with the removal of moisture sources 

• Evaluation and matching of surface soot types to appropriate cleaning products and methods, unhindered by the drift of residues from contents

• Deodorization of smoke damage stench, confined to building materials and fixtures, not hundreds of other items that can carry malodors  

Count on SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere to guide decision-making during fire damage restoration efforts, including pack-outs. Call (302) 992-0104 as soon as practical to get a jump on fire-damaged home recovery.

Where Can Property Owners Get Fire Restoration Services in Wilmington?

9/23/2021 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO immediately after the fire truck drives away to ensure a speedy and efficient remediation process.

SERVPRO Can Offer Efficient Fire Repair Services in Wilmington

Few events match the destruction of property than a house fire. If your property has undergone fire damage, turn to SERVPRO to complete the fire restoration process. Several aspects need to be handled regarding fire restoration to make a house habitable. Our fire damage repair team is insured, certified and holds the required licensing to offer expert disaster recovery.

We observe the mandated codes required to perform fire restoration services in Wilmington, and you can therefore be sure you are in excellent hands. After a fire, there usually are materials, wreckage, and debris that need to be eliminated before we complete any repairs. Our SERVPRO team can evaluate the after effects of your property to determine the extent of the destruction sustained due to the fire and what was used to put out the flames. After that, we begin our mitigation and removal operations. 

Inspecting your home is an essential part of the process because some parts of your home might be damaged, even if the fire did not touch them. Before starting our mitigation procedures, we look for the following:

• Wreckage or debris resulting from the fire.
• Residual smoke damage.
• Identifying the kind of surface the residues are on.
• Determining the type of surface to clean.

SERVPRO uses eco-friendly methods to remove odors, purify the air and sanitize the air. We take meticulous attention to detail, and ensure that the structures and contents are protected. Our estimator inspects and tests for smoke residues to evaluate the extent of the destruction to determine the cleaning services required for restoration. We also pretest different items to determine the restoration procedures. 

The structural elements in your house can also soak up smoke odors during the fire. For instance, the heat of a fire causes pores to open and get filled with smoke. When the house cools, the smoke becomes trapped in the wallboard. SERVPRO can use thermal foggers to reopen the pores and eliminate odors. 

When you need fire restoration services, having the contacts of a reputable restorer is essential. Call SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 for help.

The Importance of Seeking Professional Fire Damage Restoration in Hockessin

9/3/2021 (Permalink)

Our IICRC certified technicians are prepared to assist with any level of fire damage in your home. Call us right away.

Prompt Fire Damage Restoration in Hockessin Can Prevent Extensive Devastation

Seeing a fire threaten your home is a traumatic experience. After the devastating loss, you need support and guidance to prevent extensive damage. SERVPRO is an experienced company that can help you repair and rebuild your home so that your life can get back to normal. Our team uses advanced techniques and tools that enable us to work quickly without compromising quality. 

A fire can result in extensive destruction due to the smoke and the process of using water to extinguish the fire. Before beginning fire damage restoration in your Hockessin home, our SERVPRO technicians can assess the entire building to see if there is destruction to your belongings, floors, and walls. We can also look out for smoke and ash, which can continue causing corrosion and material destruction. Soot and smoke remain on surfaces long after a fire, and they continue causing issues when removed. SERVPRO’s proven fire damage repair process includes:

• Separating salvageable and unsalvageable contents.
• Removing charred contents that might seal in smoke, such as burned wood and insulation.
• Evaluating floor covering and carpets which might need to be removed.
• Treating affected surfaces for smoke smells.
• Evaluating contents in the structure for loss of value, loss of use, and decreased life expectancy. 

If smoke penetrates or coats surfaces, it affects the chemical composition of metals, fabrics, tiles, walls, and ceilings. Smoke residues often contain solid particles that consist mostly of carbon. We can use vacuums to remove dry particles, which are loosely attached to surfaces. The moisture that contacts the particles can cause them to be absorbed to the surface and be difficult to remove. Our SERVPRO team usually tries to vacuum dry smoke residues from a surface before applying wet cleaning products.

If a surface has soils and residues, which are not loose particles, we dissolve them before removing them. When we dissolve the residues and loosen their bonds with the surface, it is easy to suspend them in cleaning products and flush them away as the cleaning products are extracted or rinsed away from the surface.

If you need fire damage repair services, contact SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 for effective restoration. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Lessen Time and Cost in Wilmington for Fire Damage Restoration by Calling Skilled Technicians

8/3/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. Call now for the help you need.

Wilmington Homeowners can Count on SERVPRO for Prompt Arrival and Efficient Fire Damage Restoration Efforts.

Fire and smoke damage throughout your Wilmington property is something that no homeowner wants to deal with. After the initial blow from the fire event itself, you need to get started on the necessary steps to return your interior to pre-fire condition. The good news is that SERVPRO features skilled technicians and proven methods to ensure everything gets left “Like it never even happened,” so that you can go back to your routine. All you have to do is give us a call, and we can have a team at your door to start a house fire cleanup within hours. 

Smoke remediation and controlled demolition are two aspects of most fire damage restoration projects in Wilmington. When you contact us for assistance, these are some of the benefits you will enjoy:

• Lower Costs – SERVPRO works fast while trying to repair rather than replace whenever possible. Less time and materials mean fewer expenditures for our clients.
• Shorter Restoration Times – Not only is DIY tedious and often ineffective, but it takes much longer than having a skilled fire restoration team on the job. We have advanced technology and proven methods to get the job done faster.
• Safety Protocols – We always ensure our team is protected and never work until first responders deem your structure safe for entry. We take the time to evaluate all structural elements and indoor air quality (IAQ) as we work to identify and handle all potential risks. Residential Contractor License #: 1992104829

Fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup is an area where our crew at SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere shines. Contact us day or night, 24/7, for emergency response by calling (302) 992-0104.

What Cleaning is Prioritized When Hockessin Families Stay in the House After a Fire?

7/17/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage in your kitchen is no DIY project. Let the trained professionals of SERVPRO work their magic! Fire damage restoration is what we do.

SERVPRO has certain mitigation actions to help create a safer environment for Hockessin families after fires.

Some situations like kitchen fires or small flare-ups do not require the family to be displaced while fire restoration gets underway. There are special considerations and obstacles to providing a safe environment for these individuals in this event.

What Emergency Services Can Improve Conditions After a Fire? 

While fire damage restoration for Hockessin homes can involve many steps and stages, the first actions taken by SERVPRO professionals can often be among the most valuable. When the occupants intend to stay in the fire-damaged residence, our team can help with:

• Deodorization – After conditions like a protein fire, odors can be overwhelming and require partial deodorization.
• Cleaning – Specific areas of the house must be cleaned early for access and use by the house occupants, including the kitchen or bedrooms.
• Dry Cleaning – Helping out with laundry and clothing needed to continue a normal life in the house requires dry cleaning services. Occupants are asked to select the required clothing items so that deodorization and cleaning can begin.

A fire does not always displace the house's occupants, making several initial mitigation steps critical to making the situation bearable and less intrusive. The fast response of our SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere team can help in this regard. We are available 24/7 at (302) 992-0104. 

Can I Find Trustworthy Hockessin Fire Damage Restoration Services?

4/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage is a job for a professional outfit. SERVPRO has the manpower and equipment for any size fire damage restoration service needed for you.

SERVPRO Can Provide You With Trustworthy Hockessin Fire Damage Restoration Services!

Experiencing fire and smoke damage in your home can be an overwhelming and frightening event, even for a longtime homeowner. Here at SERVPRO, we try our best to make this time easier and provide you with the services you need. Our technicians are fire damage experts and have the integrity to help get your home back to its pre-fire state in the most cost-effective way for you. 

Call for professional and local Hockessin fire damage restoration services immediately. If our SERVPRO techs arrive as soon as possible, more of your possessions could be saved, as well as materials in your home. 

SERVPRO can provide you with Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup! 

When we remediate fire-damaged homes, we understand we are dealing with far more than just soot. Our technicians can provide the following services to your home when you need them: 

• Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup
• Water & Fire Damage Restorations
• Smoke Damage
• Fire Restoration
• House Fire Clean Up

Fire fighting services can often render your home flooded with water, alongside the soot, debris, and smoke. However, here at SERVPRO, we have the advanced technology to handle all of those issues and more. We can set up air scrubbers for malodorous particles while we clean up with wet/dry vacuums. Our technicians always try to leave you feeling "Like it never even happened," by the time we're done. 

If you are grappling with fire damage restoration, don't struggle alone! Speak with SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere by dialing (302) 992-0104. We're available 24/7!

Does a Fire Mean Replace All Damaged Property?

2/9/2021 (Permalink)

Yes, I am the crew chief for SERVPRO fire damage restoration in Wilmington

Can a Wilmington Residence Be Restored After Severe Damage? 

Thanks to smoke alarms, most home fires are put out quickly with minimal damage. With some fast-burning fires, however, there is often an excessive amount of damage before the fire department can extinguish them. 

Wilmington fire damage response needs to be as quick as the fire itself. Upon arrival, SERVPRO technicians perform a fast inspection to determine what can be cleaned or repaired, and what must be removed immediately for disposal.

Eliminating Threats to Area Homes

After stopping a fire, soot and burned property can still cause damage:

• Soot, if left on surfaces, can pit and otherwise scar surfaces. Technicians use an extensive inventory of cleaning agents that not only eliminate the physical threat but also remove the odors that these particles generate which can spread through the home farther than the fire itself.
• Burned items like carpets and furniture also generate odors and can be especially pungent. Team members immediately remove them and set up fans to circulate the air to clear lingering odors. 

To begin fire damage restoration, contact SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 today.

Sunday Brunch and Music for Hockessin Residents

11/13/2020 (Permalink)

It's a good idea to hire SERVPRO for fire remediation at your home.

Hockessin Locals Can Enjoy Soulful Sundays at Celebrations On Market

On Sunday, December 6, artist Toni Trower & Co. is hosting Soulful Sunday at Celebrations On Market. This acclaimed Market Street eatery features the culinary stylings of award-winning Delaware chef Marc-Anthony Williams of Bliss Catering and Events. Soulful Sunday events showcase live music from such genres as jazz, blues, and funk for an entertainment fee of only $5.

Soulful Sunday offers the following:

• Enticing brunch drink specials on mimosas and Bloody Marys
• Exquisite Afrocentric cuisine inspired by Floridian, Mexican, and Caribbean fare
• Live music from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. during brunch

Doors open for this event at 11:00 a.m. While advance tickets are not required, reservations are highly recommended to enjoy entertainment, food, and ambiance during this brunch event.

Toni Trower is best known for such singles as "Keep It Moving" and the recently-released "Butterfly." During live performances, her vocals are often accompanied by pianist Monty Q. Pollard.

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere offers rapid-response smoke and fire cleanup for Hockessin property owners when they call our team at (302) 992-0104.

What Action Should Homeowners Take After Fire Causes Damage in their Home?

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

Although small in scope, damage from this fire traveled throughout the home.

Homeowners Can Call SERVPRO Technicians in Wilmington to Get Fire Restoration Services.

After a fire loss, homeowners wonder how to deal with the primary and secondary fire damage. Coming to terms with the situation and knowing what measures to take after such a devastating incident is the initial step in putting life back together. SERVPRO can help you in restoring your Wilmington home to its preloss state.  

What can I do after a fire?

After a fire, it is advisable to reach out to well-trained experts to perform fire restoration in Wilmington homes. It would help if you did the following after a fire:

• Take care of your family's emotional needs because a fire incident can be traumatic. Schedule counseling if necessary.
• If your pets are frightened, tend to them to ensure their comfort and safety.
• Contact your homeowner's insurance provider to start the claims process.
• Read and acknowledge the fire report's specifics that the responding fire department issues and ensure you obtain a copy. This report is an official document that details the fire loss's specifics and is vital for insurance purposes.
• Document the fire loss by taking photos and detailed notes of damaged structures and contents.

Can I clean some items and surfaces myself?

It would be helpful if you let professionals clean up your home after a fire. SERVPRO can help in cleaning the affected structures and contents. Did you know that every material has unique characteristics and specific cleaning needs? If you use improper cleaning products or inaccurate dilution rates, further damage can occur to each item and household surface.

Our restorers know the most efficient and safest cleaning techniques for various items. We identify the type of surface that requires cleaning to determine which cleaning products and methods are safe to use on the specific surface. We take care to preserve the materials we are cleaning. 

Dealing with fire damage is an overwhelming task and calls for the help of professionals. The experts at SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere are qualified to carry out fire restoration services. Contact us through our hotline (302) 992-0104.

A Fire Caused by a Cooking Appliance Left a Homeowner with Severe Fire Damage. Where Does a Homeowner in Wilmington Seek Help?

9/27/2020 (Permalink)

A fire in your house can cause much more damage than you’d expect. Contact SERVPRO for fire damage remediation services to get life back to normal.

Talk to SERVPRO Technicians to Help You Deal With the Fire Damage in Your Wilmington Residence.

The secondary damages of a fire are not only traumatizing but also tricky to handle. Watching your belongings and building materials damaged or covered in soot can cause massive stress. Fortunately, SERVPRO professionals in Wilmington can mitigate the damage and get your property to its preloss state.

What can I clean myself?

It can be overwhelming to handle the fire damage in your Wilmington property without the right equipment, products, and expertise. Proper training, hi-tech equipment, and advanced cleaning products are essential in getting your property to its pre-damaged state. If you try to clean any surface by yourself, you can worsen the destruction.

However, before our technicians get to your property, you can set aside items that require urgent restoration. Valuable items such as TV's and computers can have priority over items like glassware. That way, you can make the fire mitigation work a bit easier for our restorers.

Can the type of fire affect the restoration process?

The cause of fire and items burned determines the type of residues that settle on various surfaces. This can affect the cleanup process significantly. For instance:

• If protein-based substances such as beef or chicken were involved in the fire, the greasy film could spread in your kitchen. Also, the grease can burn various surfaces when heated further, and only powerful chemicals can remove it. We can use concentrated wood oil soap to clean your finished wood surfaces such as paneling, kitchen cabinets, and wood floors.
• If natural substances such as wood, paper, among other organic materials, were involved in the fire, a gray or black residue could cover surfaces in your property. Our crew can rely on a powerful vacuum and approved products to clean the area.

Can restorers remove the smoke odor in my property?

Even after cleaning smoke residues, your property can still have a charcoal-like odor. Our SERVPRO technicians can use appropriate tools, products, and cutting-edge techniques to remove the odor from your property permanently. Some products we can use to remove the odors include:

• Odor counteracting beads
• Water-based wet mist deodorizers
• Solvent-based thermal fog deodorizers

We can also use air scrubbers to combat the odors. The equipment draws indoor air through several filters to capture gases and odors and exhausts clean air into your property.

The primary and secondary damages of a fire can lead to costly home repairs. Contact SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 for proper restoration. "Like it never even happened."

Click here for more information about Wilmington.

How Does Soot Get Removed from Fire-Damaged Newport Homes?

9/3/2020 (Permalink)

You can count on our professionals with state of the art equipment to quickly restore your property so you can return safely after a fire incident.

Soot is one of the most destructive effects of a fire loss, making it a priority to remove when restoration and mitigation get underway. 

Fire losses that threaten Newport homes and businesses can damage the property in many ways. Among the most challenging to overcome is the presence of smoke residues and soot. Puff backs are a typical example of this threatening black residue throughout the house when an oil furnace has a small explosion in the ignition chamber. Soot can also occur through partial combustion of exposed materials and contents in your home. A thick residue can be a substantial burden for cleaning technicians and present hazardous conditions for the property, so our SERVPRO team works to remove this carcinogen wherever it gets found. 

There are many layers and levels of fire damage in Newport homes that responding technicians like ours must address and overcome. While much of these concerns can get resolved during the mitigation phases with the application of advanced tools and technologies, soot can be a threat in multiple ways. From circulating particles to thick surface residues, there are varying strategies to resolve each of these types of soot and soiling damages to the structure and its contents. 

How Does Airborne Soot Get Removed? 

Circulating soot particles are microscopic, meaning that you might not always be able to identify their presence with the naked eye. Their small size is also hazardous in that breathing in these particulates can allow them to sit deeply into the lungs of those exposed, leading to respiratory conditions or worse. Removing these particles often requires several strategies that begin with addressing the present free-floating carcinogens and the residues on surfaces and contents throughout the structure. A combination of filtering and air purification tools can screen out particles as small as .03 microns with HEPA filtration screens. Tools and tactics for clearing the air often include:

• Air Scrubber
• Hydroxyl Generators
• Air Duct Cleaning 

What Steps Are Necessary for Soot Removal on Surfaces? 

Soot and smoke residues often vary based on the material affected and the combusting materials. Protein residues, for example, get produced from grease fires in the kitchen. The incomplete combustion of fuels like wood produces thick smoke soiling that coats wall surfaces, ceilings, and floors throughout your house. There are multiple solutions to address these acidic residues, and they get selected based on the underlying materials impacted. We can pre-test potential cleaning strategies through small sample spaces to determine the most efficient approach for your specific construction materials, paints, wallpaper, and other involved products. These strategies for residue removal often include:

• Soda Blasting – With pressurized air or even water combined with media like baking soda, this cleaning approach can dislodge and blow away thick soot residues on surfaces without damaging the underlying substrate. 
• Agitative Cleaning – Brushing, vacuuming, and feather dusting can be useful in removing dry smoke residues and a preliminary action to take with thicker soot residues before emulsification. 
• Chemical Solvents – Oil-based soils can benefit from the application of oil-based solvents. Testing the effectiveness of specific cleaning products can identify the type of residue and the best approaches for removing it. 
• Controlled Demolition – When all else fails, removing the impacted material entirely and later replacing it is the most direct restoration path. 

How Do Damaged Contents Get Cleaned? 

Your personal belongings can often also get highly damaged by circulating soot particles and residues forming on the surfaces of exposed items. Relocating these belongings to our nearby facility can allow for intricate cleaning and restoration actions to take place, such as:

• Ultrasonic Tank – Hard materials like glass and ceramics coated with soot residues can benefit from time in the immersion tank. Millions of exploding microscopic bubbles loosen soils on the damaged item and thoroughly clean every crevice. 
• Surface Cleaning with Solvents – Surface cleaning is necessary for many of the items brought into our SERVPRO warehouse after a fire. We can identify the type of soiling and use chemical solvents, agitative practices, and abrasive methods to remove surface soot. 
• ESPORTA Wash System – Clothing and soft materials that cannot stand up to the immersion tank can get thoroughly cleaned with a gentle cycle with this advanced restoration technology. 

Soot is often one of the most challenging obstacles for our team and homeowners to overcome after a fire loss incident. With so many variations of how this can damage your property, our experienced SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere team can help with multiple approaches tailored to any soot presence in your house. Give our emergency line a call anytime at (302) 992-0104. 

What is the Best Response to Extensive Fire Damage Incidents in Wilmington?

4/26/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO from the Wilimington area can restore your home after fire damage

SERVPRO Can Offer You the Professional Assistance Necessary to Determine What to Discard or Salvage

When a fire ravages your Wilmington home, you might have a difficult time determining whether to remove everything for disposal or try to find ways to save some of the contents. The decision is rarely easy since several factors play a role, including:
• Level of damage on the items
• The monetary or sentimental value of items
• The level of work needed to salvage items

How does SERVPRO help determine what to save?

Scoping a property thoroughly after fire damage incidents in Wilmington is crucial in determining the appropriate response. Our technicians perform several steps during the scoping process to understand the loss better. We establish crucial details, such as:
• Depth of charring in wooden materials
• The type and amount of residue deposited on materials
• The items that have a sentimental value to you
During the scoping process, we also separate items into categories of salvageable, unsalvageable, and questionable based on the level of damage we identify.

Does professional restoration increase the chance of saving valuables?

Saving items affected by fire requires several processes, including cleaning, deodorization, and resurfacing, among others. Our technicians help by utilizing specialized techniques when performing these steps or liaising with specialized restoration services, which perform precise procedures for us, thus improving the outcome. Advanced cleaning procedures help with stain removal, removal of residues from surfaces without causing additional damages, among other things.

There is a variety of specialized restoration services out there offering services such as restoration of electronics, furniture refinishing, dry cleaning, document restoration, and art restoration. Our crew chiefs make the necessary plans, including contacting the specialty restorers and creating a schedule for them to collect the item at the job site or our warehouse in case of a move-out.

We attempt to restore fire damaged content to preloss condition whenever possible, "Like it never even happened."

The right response helps make fire loss bearable. Call SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How Can Soot Damage Your Wilmington Home?

1/18/2020 (Permalink)

Our team of experts are available to help you day or night. Give us a call anytime.

Improving Air Quality While Working to Protect You and Your Wilmington Home From The Harmful Effects Of Soot

While many people hear the word soot and think of charming chimney sweeps from films of days gone by, the actual presence of soot is much more threatening to Wilmington homeowners than these nostalgic productions might have advertised. Soot is a collection of particles created by incomplete combustion, each of which is smaller than individual mold spores, dust, or dirt particulates.

As organic materials burn up in your house, this is one of the fire damages to Wilmington homes that can almost always exist. Because of its microscopic size, particles of soot are harmful if inhaled by humans and pets, and they can get deep into the lungs of the affected individual and lead to potential health effects. For this reason, it is always a priority of our SERVPRO team to focus on air quality control when we first begin mitigation services. Even our project manager, walking through the address before we start our work wears the appropriate personal protective equipment to prevent inhaling the circulating soot.

Air regulatory equipment can get deployed to trap and remove most of these circulating soot particles from the environment. For this specific purpose, one of the most common choices is our air scrubber tool. We must also remain mindful that through practices like a controlled demolition and debris removal, that soot particles could get airborne and become a threat again.

As a residue, soot can continue to be threatening to the material supporting this layer of carbon. Because soot is acidic, direct exposure to many surfaces can ultimately lead to marring and irreparable damage without the intervention of our SERVPRO professionals. We have numerous cleaning strategies for soot-damaged surfaces, including agitative pre-treatments and potent products, to dissolve residues before wiping them from the surface. One of the most important and basic pieces of equipment in our arsenal for surface cleaning of soot and other residues is a small, portable HEPA filtered vacuum. 

Because we understand how destructive that soot can be, we ensure that its management and containment are among the chief elements of mitigation tasks. Our experienced SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere team can make any fire loss situation “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (302) 992-0104.

Want to see more about Wilmington?

SERVPRO Offers Tips for Buying Second-hand Appliances in Wilmington

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

Before you buy, check used appliances for frayed cords and other defects.

Thoroughly Checking Second-Hand Appliances Helps Prevent Fire Damage in Wilmington 

Finding used appliances for sale in the local paper saves money in many situations. However, it would be best if you had more than a clean appliance. Plugging in the appliance gives you a chance to make sure it works before purchasing and taking it to your Wilmington residence. It is also useful if you use that time also to examine the cord and mechanical components, listen for any abnormal noises, or smell any odors that indicate smoldering parts.

Depending on the severity of any problems you detect, fixing them after you buy, but before you use them in your Wilmington home, can keep fire damage from becoming a reality. A frayed cord might develop when a washing machine ‘walks’ due to an uneven floor or unbalanced seating. This defect is entirely different than finding worn out internal motor parts. You can easily repair a cord by replacing it with the correct gauge, but a new motor might pose more of a challenge.

Lamps and chandeliers often have the highest wattage you can safely use in these fixtures shown in a prominent place. Using a 100-watt bulb in a lamp stating 60 watts or less can start a fire. This might happen because of overloaded wiring or because of materials that melt when you leave the higher watt bulb on for too long.

The danger of fire damage from the much smaller-sized lights used in holiday decorations comes from any nicks in the wiring, lost or burnt-out bulbs, or the accumulation of heat that ignites something near the lights. All lights used in the previous year need to be checked before use. Also, a smart habit against fire damage is to never leave electrical decorations on when leaving the house or overnight while your family sleeps.

Unfortunately, even with precautions, fire damage can still happen. SERVPRO has the specialists and technicians needed to make things “Like it never even happened.” Mitigation of areas affected by fire, smoke, and intense heat, followed by restoration work, undoes the damage. For the worst, most intensive damage, our building crew, under license number 1992104829, teams up with us so we can still provide our customers with a rapid recovery and excellent work.

SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere is nearby, also serving Newport and Greenville. We hope your family home does not experience fire damage, but if it does, call (302) 992-0104. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster and can help reduce the stress associated with such disasters, any time of the year.

Learn more about Wilmington here.

Call Us When Fire Impacts Your Wilmington Home

11/26/2019 (Permalink)

This fire was a result of a stove top being left on and unattended for too long. We arrived right away and began restoration.

What to do When Fire Devastates Your Wilmington Home 

Fire damage is a devastating reality for people who experience a fire in their homes. After you ensure everyone in the house is safe, you must go about the task of recovery and restoration. Time is of the essence, especially with significant fire damage. There are some things you may be able to do on your own, but you should also contact the professionals right away. 

Fire damage in your Wilmington home is traumatic, but springing into quick action could ensure restoration instead of replacement. SERVPRO is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to assist in your time of need. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

During the time that you wait for professional assistance, first and foremost, make sure you are safe. Safety should always come first. Walking on soot-covered floors can be a serious slip and fall risk. After ensuring everyone in the residence is safe, secure valuables, keepsakes, and relevant documents. Move them off the premises, if possible, to keep them away from the lingering odor of smoke. 

When trained professionals from SERVPRO arrive, they assess the damage. The amount of fire, smoke, and soot damage dictates the extent of the repairs. This is a critical step in developing a plan of action. Right away, technicians board up windows and any gaping holes, as well as tarp roofs to keep the structure safe and protect against secondary damage. 

Next, SERVPRO technicians tackle removing and cleaning soot from your belongings. Then we attack the odor. Smoke odor is often the most stubborn part of fire damage. Smoke can permeate through every nook and cranny of the home. We use specialized deodorizers and equipment, catering to your unique situation. If clouds of smoke filled your home, we similarly fog the house to make sure the deodorizer reaches everywhere throughout the home. After your home is clean and deodorized, technicians begin rebuilding structural damage. We are general contractors, license number 1992104829, and have the skills to restore your home. 

When fire damage impacts your home, contact SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104. We want to help restore your house, "Like it never even happened."  

See more about Wilmington.

Ways to Prevent Fire Damage and Accidents that Protect Your Family in Hockessin.

11/17/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO knows prevention, let us show your Hockessin home.

Let us help your Hockessin home prevent fire damage.

A fire requires both fuel and oxygen to burn. While it produces heat, it also requires initial heat to start consuming both fuel and oxygen. A fire can happen in any part of your Hockessin home, damaging both your belongings and your family members. Fire can begin in different ways and places.

Fortunately, there are many ways that residents in Hockessin can prevent fire damage from harming their property or causing injuries that hurt their family members. Many of these involve keeping heat sources away from fuels. Oxygen makes up almost 30% of the air, so we need to control errant sparks, instead. 

Fuel sources come in many forms – wood, paper, carpeting, clothing, plastics – in short, almost everything inside your home can feed a fire. Sparks and localized areas of intense heat happen within our homes in many ways that we often do not notice. Friction creates enough heat to light a match or lighter, or it can also wear a hole into an electric cord. 

Electrical cords

Exposed wires can spark, catching fuel items on fire. Because of this, SERVPRO technicians never place cords underneath rugs or mats. We also check our equipment for cuts in cords and make repairs before they can worsen. Sometimes this means replacing the cord with a new one of the same gauge. Smaller wires should not be used because smaller cords cannot handle the amount of electricity needed to power the equipment. Hanging cords on nails or hooks can also cause the wires inside to break. 

Cooking

Cooking fires do not always happen because of grease or oil that caught on fire. Fire damage can start when towels are hung too near the stove. Frayed edges on a time-worn pair of hot pads or oven mitts can also catch fire. For the same reason, avoiding loose sleeves while cooking is always advised. Handles turned away from the edge should not force anyone cooking to place their hand over another burner. Microwave ovens, toasters, and electric grills need space around them to not only keep boxed foods and other items from burning, but to also prevent heat building up inside the appliance.

Storage areas

Garages and other places where dampness occurs might seem like an impossible place for a fire to start in stacks of newspapers or old magazines, but spontaneous combustion can happen if just the right chemical reaction takes place. These items also provide bedding for pests, and disposing them avoids many problems. Storing flammable liquids should only happen in well-labeled containers. When using gas-powered items like lawnmowers or chainsaws, you should let the motor cool down before refilling.

There are many ways in addition to these to help prevent problems that can cause fire damage or personal injury. When someone becomes injured, seek medical help immediately. When your home in Newport or near Greenville sustains fire damage, call SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere at (302) 992-0104. We're here, 24 hours each and every day of the year.

To learn more about Hockessin, click here.

The Benefits Of Professional Restoration Services After A Fire In Your Wilmington Home

9/10/2019 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

Reasons Why Wilmington Homes With Fire Damage Benefit From Professional Restoration Services

After fire damage, numerous secondary damages have the potential to occur. Homeowners should outsource the fire loss cleanup to ensure there are not costly issues to deal with after the fact.

Wilmington homes with fire damage often also have water damage from fire extinguishing efforts. SERVPRO technicians carefully scope the property to determine any areas water migrated into with their moisture detection equipment.

Complete Water Extraction
After locating any leftover water in the home, SERVPRO technicians use different kinds of professional extraction equipment to extract it. Fast action on this step of mitigation assists in increasing the potential for less loss due to water damage.

Protection Against Mold
Mold spores exist both outdoors and indoors, and when there is excessive moisture in a house and ambient temperatures over 70F-degrees, they can germinate within 24-hours and spread quickly. Along with thorough drying and frequent monitoring of the air quality during mitigation, SERVPRO technicians perform proactive applications to inhibit the growth of mold, so it is not an issue in the future as a result of the fire.

Using a Single Company for Everything
No doubt, dealing with fire loss in a home is one of the most devastating situations a homeowner's faces. SERVPRO has a general contractor license, and upon completion of the fire loss mitigation efforts, they have the expertise and experience also to complete any reconstruction necessary to restore the home to its preloss condition.

Odor Control
Before reconstruction occurs, SERVPRO technicians remove any remaining smoke odors from the residence. For light scents, they may use methods such as time-release gel pellets. Technicians often rely on equipment such as thermal fogging units or hydroxyl generators for the removal of heavily embedded scents.

Fire damage requires fast cleanup to limit loss and SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere is ready to assist local property owners when needed. Call (302) 992-0104 and the emergency response team is available to come to your property 24/7 and make it “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Wilmington click here.

Working Fire Alarms Save Lives

3/12/2019 (Permalink)

Working Fire Alarm

Smoke alarms save lives. There are many smoke alarms you can have in your home or business. It is easy to take smoke alarms for granted if you have some already in your property. Protecting what matters most, your life and your property, should make you stop and think about the last time you had yours serviced or replaced. There are many types and brands available on the market today. Most smoke alarms run on batteries. Have you changed your batteries lately? It is up to you to make sure they are working batteries. Perhaps making it an annual “to-do” item may help resolve this. Some smoke alarms are hardwired into the electrical system of your home or business. These fire alarms have different features you can utilize. Just because you may have hard wired fire alarms, you may still need to change those batteries as well. Again, setting up reminders to complete this task is a good thing to do. Help keep your family and property protected by keeping working fire alarms.

Some Fire Prevention Tips

1/10/2019 (Permalink)

Clear Stove Top

When one thinks of fire it may remind them of destruction and loss. It may be hard to think what we can do to prevent fires however, in some cases we may be able to prevent some. Accidents happen. That is why they are simply called accidents. A bit of common sense can aid help us. Some examples would be: such as not leaving candles lit, forgetting about them or placing them near something too close, leaving food or containers on the stove while walking away, plugging in too many cords into the same receptacle, cooking barbecue too close to the house or trying to light it with gasoline. Simple precautions and thinking ahead before we do something are good rules of thumb. If you see something that you think could cause a problem fix it or get rid of it. Those of us who are old enough to remember, there use to be a little TV cartoon, Smoky The Bear. The cartoon told of how you can help prevent forest fires. We can use the same mantra when it comes to helping prevent housefires. Be careful, think what you are doing and hopefully, prayerfully, you never will have an event that causes destruction of property damage or even perhaps personal injury.

Preventing Dryer Fire With Maintenance

12/27/2018 (Permalink)

Preventing Dryer Fire With Maintenance

Dryer Fires are common all year round and simple cleaning maintenance can help prevent them. Keeping your dryer vents clear and free from lint plays an important part in fire prevention. Did you know lint is extremely flammable? People keep lint from there lint screens and keep it in bags so they can later use it to start fires in fireplaces, outdoor fire pits and campfires. This is a wonderful technique, especially for outdoor fire building. However; since it is extremely flammable, keeping it in your dryer can cause problems. Lint build up can become hot and ignite a fire. Keeping your lint screens clear and having a cleaning on dryer vents will help. Some people do not want to call upon SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere to have their dryer vents cleaned because there is a cost associated with this. In the long run simple maintenance out weighs the risks.

Soot on a Clock

12/6/2018 (Permalink)

Soot on a Clock

Soot and smoke clean up can be a tedious task. Soot is very invasive and penetrates a lot of nooks and crannies of a home. When the smoke goes into all these cavities it causes odors. SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere specializes in accurately assessing the extent of damage and helps develop a comprehensive plan of action. Each smoke and soot damage situation are different therefore requiring different techniques. Depending on what caused the fire from what actually burned or melted in the fire makes a difference. There are different types of smoke that will play a factor in determining which cleaning method is best to do. Wet Smoke, mostly from plastic and rubber will differ from Dry Smoke, mostly paper and wood and they both will differ from Protein Smoke. Since every situation is different calling upon a specialist and trained company such as SERVPRO of Hockessin / Elsmere can help restore your property properly.

Fire Prevention

10/29/2018 (Permalink)

Fire Extinguisher

Fire Prevention Week is in the month of October. During this month we want to help you think of ways and inspire you to increase safety of fire in your home. Every year, the majority of fire deaths in North America happen at home. Plan an escape if your home were to catch fire. Home fire escape planning and drills are an essential part of fire planning and safety. A fire escape has to be planed and practiced in order for it to be a developed escape. Consider the following: properly working and installed fire alarms, all possible exits from every room (Doors and windows), a meeting place outside the home to meet after the exit and know how to dial 911. Another way to think of fire safety is during cooking. Remember to stay in the kitchen while you are cooking. Keep flammables away from your stovetop and have an up- to-date fire extinguisher near your kitchen if an emergency were to happen. These are just some ways to think of fire safety in your home.

Fires Can Be Devastating

10/1/2018 (Permalink)

Fires Can Be Devastating.

Fires can be very devastating to experience. When your home or office goes up in flames and your possessions inside are still there, it can be traumatic. We here at SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere work day in and day out training and perfecting the craft of cleaning up the aftermath from a fire loss. Our technicians have training and experience. After the firemen have cleared the scene and the smoke clears, the SERVPRO team can come in and do an assessment of what needs to be performed. Once the full scope has been created and discussed we begin the process. The process can vary depending on the scope. It can range from demolition to cleaning. The team will work day after day to complete the phase of fire cleaning. Sometimes after we are done repairs or painting may need to be performed. SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere strives to make the process "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Mobile App

3/12/2018 (Permalink)

Our Free SERVPRO ERP App/Service can help your company organize and better prepare your properties in a customized format. Businesses that use our ERP app gain preparedness and security in the case of an emergency. Here are some of the ways businesses benefit from our Emergency Ready Plan App.

Location Management: Businesses with multiple locations are able to manage all of their buildings' emergency needs from this app. Some of our clients use this ERP service for on building, while others use it to manage multiple locations.

Strengthens Protocol: In many cases, our businesses have to address an emergency while the authorized personnel is not on-site. Our ERP App breaks down important information for all employees including water lines, floor plans, and breaker locations.

Faster Response: The ERP app allows you to contact us directly through the app which can be a more direct way to contact us and provide all the information we need to get to the emergency.

Fire Extinguisher

1/11/2018 (Permalink)

This photo shows the damage that not only a fire can do, but also the damage that a fire extinguisher can do. Even if someone used a fire extinguisher and contained or put out a fire, there can still be a strong odor and chemicals that need to be removed from the building/home.

The chemicals from a fire extinguisher can coat a room quickly and leave a thick dust behind. Normally this extinguisher dusting comes along with a coat of soot. Even if a fire has been small and quickly put out, the smell and chemicals left behind should be properly cleaned out of the space. You can see in the photo how apparent the soot and extinguisher's affects are. This is just one corner of the room, but this entire living room was impacted.

Winter House Fire

12/28/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians surveying the property

Recently our SERVPRO technicians were called out to a property after a large fire. Along with the home owners, our team surveyed the house and the damage to what was left. In this photo, our technicians stand inside the home with the front yard totally visible through the burnt walls. The home was considered a total loss and there was not much left within the property for our team to clean or assist with. As SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere, we did our best to lend a helping hand to the family in any way that we could especially since this trauma occurred right before the holidays. We assisted them in their move to a temporary living space and checked in with them often to make sure they were okay. 

Before Board Up

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Damaged Room

This picture was taken right before our SERVPRO team cleaned out and boarded up this house. As you can see, there was a major house fire here that affected almost every single room with either fire or soot damage. The fire originated in the kitchen and spread into the dining room, living room, and then to the bedrooms. Luckily, even with the large size of the fire, the structure remained intact and our technicians were able to save and clean some of the contents. Once our team was sure the structure was secure, they started on the demo of the home, removing all soot and fire damaged sections. After the home was rebuilt and brought back to livable conditions, SERVPRO moved the family's cleaned contents back in for them. 

The Colder Months are Coming

11/7/2017 (Permalink)

The colder months of the year are coming and for those who have a working fire place in their home, it's important to know the how to operate it safely. Before anything else, you should make sure that your fire extinguisher is accessible and that it works correctly. You should also check you smoke detector and your carbon monoxide detector. The fireplace should be clear of anything around it that could catch fire. You should give the fireplace a range of three feet around it with nothing flammable nearby. Cracks and pops of fire from the fireplace should be sure to not land on anything. Before lighting the fire, check the chimney to make sure there are no blockages or animal nests that are lodged in the chimney. You should have you chimney swept every few years as well.

Once you have taken all of these precautionary steps, you should be ready to put your fire place to use!

Our Services After a Fire

10/18/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Damaged Kitchen

After a fire, SERVPRO offers many services to restore your home/office/building back to it's pre-fire damage state. We offer Structural Cleaning, which includes cleaning of the ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors as well as paint preparation cleaning. We also offer Contents Cleaning. Contents cleaning is the cleaning of the items that were affected by the fire, which includes electronics, wood furniture, artwork, kitchen items, bedding, clothing, and much more. After our main Structural Cleaning, SERVPRO offers Deodorization, which is conducted using our leading technology that attacks the source of smell rather than just covering it up. Beyond these services offered when our customers endure a fire, we also offer other related services. These services include Board-ups, Inventory, Move-Outs, Duct Work, and Metal Polishing.

Before SERVPRO Arrives

10/13/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has Arrived on the Scene

• Leave soot on surfaces until a SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere professional arrives and can assess the Fire damage. Cleaning surfaces may further damage furniture and walls.
• Restrain from walking, cleaning, or sitting on damaged furniture, carpets, upholstery, and walls until a SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere professional has arrived.
• Electrical appliances like televisions sets, radios, microwaves, etc. that may have come in contact with water, soot, or fire should be avoided. Touching or cleaning electrical appliances should be handled by a SERVPRO professional or after consulting with an authorized repair service.
• All food, drinks, and water that are close to a fire damage or a water damage may be contaminated. All consumable goods should not be eaten, they should be thrown out. 
• Leave all ceiling fixtures off. Moving air throughout the damaged rooms may cause more damage. Fire damage or water damage to the electrical wiring of ceiling fixtures are likely to heighten the risk of shock. 
• Do not send damaged clothing and textiles to the dry cleaner before consulting with your insurance agent and your SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere professionals. Damaged clothing and textiles are likely to be mishandled at a dry cleaners rather than with the use of SERVPRO of Hockessin/Elsmere's Esporta services.

Fire Damage Tips

9/13/2017 (Permalink)

• Prevent soot particles from further damaging your furniture and carpets by keeping movement throughout the home to a minimum

• Change your HVAC filter but leave systems off until a professional can come check the home

• Cover HVAC air registers with layers of cheesecloth to prevent soot particles from getting in/out of your HVAC system

• If your home electricity is off, empty your refrigerator and freezer to prevent mold and odors. Keep your refrigerator doors open after removing food

• In the case of your heating being off during the winter, pour antifreeze down your sinks, toilet bowls, tubs, and holding tanks to avoid freezing and bursting pipes

• When walking on damaged carpets and floors, place towels down to prevent tracking of soot and further damage

Roof Hole

4/25/2017 (Permalink)

Roof Tarp

Here is a team of SERVPRO men attending to a hole in the roof as well as the side wall.  In this picture you can see the men working to put down a tarp and securing it with furring strips. They also placed a board over the side window. After a mishap has taken place in a home or building sometimes the structure needs to be secured from additional outdoor elements. Additional elements may be something like additional rain and winds.  The furring strips are placed to help raise, level or help secure the tarp and/or wood. They are placed perpendicular to the joists and then they are nailed in place.  This is a temporary fix until the roof can be properly repaired by a roofer.   

SERVPRO of Hockessin makes the News!

7/15/2016 (Permalink)

Servpro of Hockessin/Elsmere doing what we do best!

While driving by a burning house, a bystander had noticed a man still within the residence. With great heroism, the young man was able to get inside and save the mans life. As the scene had calmed, and fire stopped, SERVPRO of Hockessin was on site and had came upon the residents pet, still alive! While delicately removing the wreckage and debris, they were able to safely get the pet out and get him to care. While in shock and distraught with what had just occurred, the owner was pleased to find out that his beloved pet was in fact saved. With the great bravery of a young man, and the great help of SERVPRO, a man and his beloved pet were able to be rejoined and saved.