Contents Restoration in San Diego

10/29/2024 (Permalink)

Contents Restoration

SERVPRO specializes in restoring contents damaged by fire, water, or mold. Our expertise and “restore” versus “replace” mentality can help you save money while preserving precious keepsakes that can’t be replaced. We'll pretest your contents to determine what items can be restored back to their condition before the water damage. SERVPRO utilizes several methods of cleaning your contents, including:

• Dry Cleaning - Used for cleaning light residues or to pre-clean prior to wet cleaning.
• Wet Cleaning - An effective cleaning method for removing moderate to heavy residues.
• Spray and Wipe -Effective for items that can’t withstand wet cleaning.
• Foam Cleaning - Used for upholstery fabrics that might shrink or bleed if wet cleaned.
• Abrasive Cleaning - Involves agitation of the surface being cleaned.
• Immersion Cleaning - Contents are dipped into a bath of the cleaning product.

Move-Outs/Pack-Outs

If your home requires extensive restoration or cleaning, SERVPRO can conduct an organized, efficient move-out of the affected area. Move-out will provide several benefits, including:

• A quicker remodeling process
• Protecting items from potential damage
• Protecting contents from further on-site damage

When restoration is completed, we will work with you to coordinate the move-in according to your needs. The services offered upon move-in may depend on your insurance coverage.

SERVPRO of Point Loma is available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready 24/7 to Help

Call Today - 619-275-2802

San Diego Residents: We Specialize in Flooded Basement Cleanup and Restoration!

10/23/2024 (Permalink)

A basement can flood at any time, although flooding most often occurs during heavy rainfall. Basements are inherently prone to flooding because they are the lowest level of a building and are normally built partly or entirely below ground level. There are a number of reasons why your San Diego basement could flood, including: 

• A blocked or failed sewer lateral pipe
• Heavy rain causes surface water to pool around your home
• Storm sewer backup
• Sanitary sewer backup
• Foundation drainage failure
• Water supply-line break or hot-water tank failure
• And many more

Have Questions about Basement Flooding?

Call Today - 619-275-2802

If flood water is not handled quickly and properly, it can jeopardize your health and safety, and cause severe damage to your home’s structure. Remember, the longer you wait, the worse the problem will get.

The bottom line: a flooded basement can jeopardize your health, safety, and your home’s integrity. It’s worth making a call to SERVPRO of Point Loma and letting our trained, professional crews handle the situation safely and correctly. We have earned the trust of hundreds of homeowners, business owners, and property professionals.

We are Flooded Basement Specialists:

• We are Available 24 hours/7 days per week
• We’re a Preferred Vendor to many National Insurance Companies
• We Bill The Insurance Directly – One Less Thing For You To Worry About
• Our Technicians are Highly Trained in Water Restoration Techniques
• We use s500 IICRC Restoration Standards
• Advanced Inspection and Extraction Equipment

Basement Flooded? Call Us Today – We’re Ready 24/7 To Help 619-275-2802

San Diego Residents: Follow These Mold Safety Tips If You Suspect Mold

10/15/2024 (Permalink)

If you see visible mold, do not disturb it. You can inadvertently spread the mold infestation throughout your home. When mold is disturbed, the mold can release microscopic mold spores which become airborne and can circulate inside your home.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact SERVPRO of Point Loma for mold remediation services.

What Not to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

About Our Mold Remediation Services

SERVPRO of Point Loma specializes in mold cleanup and restoration. In fact, it’s a cornerstone of our business. Our crews are highly trained restoration professionals that use specialized equipment and techniques to properly remediate your mold problem quickly and safely.

If You See Signs of Mold, Call Us Today – 619-275-2802

San Diego homes and businesses choose SERVPRO of Point Loma for professional fire and smoke disaster restoration services

9/19/2022 (Permalink)

Our restoration process begins with a thorough inspection of your Long Island home, assessing the damage and determining which equipment and services are necessary. Our emergency response service crews are available right away to begin the most effective techniques for cleaning and restoring your property and possessions, including soot, smoke and stain removal, odor removal and deodorizing, our restoration professionals are here to help with all the recovery solutions you need to restore your property just like it was before.

Planning your property cleanup and recovery from fire damage with SERVPRO.

Every property disaster is unique, our experts will assess your specific situation, the amount of damage, and if there are any safety concerns for you, your family and our team members. Before professionals can get the fire restoration process started, our team will determine the extent of damage by using some of the following methods:

• Testing for soot or smoke damage
• Documenting the destruction
• Determining which assets are salvageable

Our SERVPRO manager and crew chief will formulate a plan based on the amount of damage to your property from your fire disaster to restore your home to its original condition. Our team will explain the plan, the timeline, and the overall cost. Once a plan is in place, homeowners can focus on their personal recovery and trust our experts in fire damage recovery to work on their behalf to expedite the phases of the mitigation, restoration, and rebuilding process. Our SERVPRO rapid response team offers real-time mitigation solutions designed to protect the contents and the structure of your home as much as possible, sometimes areas of your home are too badly damaged to restore. We can use controlled demolition techniques on the fire-damaged structural elements of the property to remove only what cannot be saved. When this happens, our licensed contracting division can help provide comprehensive support to our customers from the initial inspection through entire reconstructions of leveled properties. Along with our mitigation and restoration tactics, our licensed contractors work to efficiently replace the removed materials to minimize our impact on your life in this traumatic time to get you back into your home quickly.

SERVPRO SMOKE, SOOT & ODOR REMOVAL & CLEANING SERVICES

• Immediate placement of HEPA air scrubbers and hydroxyls to begin soot and odor mitigation
• Contact insurance carrier/adjuster to give them the size and scope of the project
• Clean the ash and soot residue that builds up on surfaces, including walls, cabinets, and furniture
• Coordinate the cleaning of soft goods, such as clothing, bedding, draperies, furniture, etc.

Customized Soot Removal

Smoke and soot damages are especially invasive attacking every space of your residential property, including areas far from the actual fire. The residue from the fire travels with the air coating surfaces SERVPRO of Oakdale/North Bay Shore will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Quick action is crucial to minimize damages; soot must be removed before it begins etching, distorting, discoloring, and disintegrating wood, carpeting, fabric, drywall, plastic, metal, and glass.

After your home suffers a puff back, the spread of soot can cause wide-spread damages throughout your home and can feel especially overwhelming and discouraging. SERVPRO restoration professionals have extensive training and experience to clean and remediate the damages your property is facing.

Our team will perform a complete smoke and soot damage cleanup, loss documentation, oil smoke odor removal, property recovery and disposal of non-recoverable items, and a tailored solution to return your building and contents to preloss condition and reverse the signs of your oil burner property damage event. Calling SERVPRO after a home or business puffback provides an advanced cleanup and restoration solution complete with advanced equipment, expert knowledge, and experience that you can trust to restore your home and possessions, “Like it never even happened.”

The Process of Making a Flood Cut

8/14/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding often leads to water damage, and water damage often leads to the removal of affected items and structures. If your home in San Diego, floods during a storm, mitigation experts may have to use a flood cut to determine how much of your wall to tear out. A flood cut is a mark that is made 12-18 inches above the perceivable water damage to a wall to mark the point to which the technicians need to remove the drywall. Here are the steps of using a flood cut.

1. Determine Necessity

A flood cut is not always necessary. If water damage is minimal or the water is clean, the wall probably doesn't need to be removed. When the flooding is the result of a storm, however, the contamination of the water seeps into the walls. It's best, therefore, to mark them with a flood cut and remove the walls, especially if they are saturated.

2. Prepare for Mess

Removing the drywall is usually a pretty messy process. You will probably see the professionals put a tarp down before they begin. It's also advisable for them to wear gloves and protective clothing, especially if they will be removing damp insulation that's behind the wall.

3. Remove Wall

Once there is a tarp down to catch the falling drywall, the demolition process can begin. Technicians start at the flood cut and remove everything below it, ensuring that all the water damage is gone.

4. Clean the Mess

The wall that they tear out has to go somewhere. Another benefit of using the tarp is that it makes for easy cleanup. They can just gather the edges to contain the mess and head to the dumpster.

5. Replace Wall

Many mitigation professionals are also restoration experts. They can put new insulation and a new wall back up and blend the paint so that it looks "Like it never even happened."

If you have flooding in your home, you may need a flood cut to mark the spot where the wall gets removed. Understanding the steps of the process can help you know what's going on when the professionals arrive. 

Commercial Insurance Basics

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

Property coverage is an essential item in every business budget. Most commercial insurance policies cover damage to your structure in San Diego, as well as any equipment, furniture or other items that are marred or destroyed in a fire. The answers to the following questions can help you decide which policy to purchase.

What Does a Commercial Insurance Policy Cover?

A basic policy is designed to pay for sudden, accidental occurrences that cause harm to your property. It prevents you from having to pay the cost of fire damage mitigation services out of pocket, and it doesn't just cover the building itself. Other features of your property may be included in the policy:

• Office equipment
• Furniture
• Landscaping
• External structures
• Fences
• Inventory
• Important documents
• Manufacturing machines

What Factors Affect Cost?

Most commercial insurance coverage provides comparable protection, but if there are factors that put your business at a higher risk of fire, your policy will likely cost more. For example, a restaurant owner is probably going to pay more for insurance than someone who runs an office building. Newer buildings with better safety features such as fire-resistant building materials and a state-of-the-art fire suppression system can often get better insurance rates. When you meet with your insurance agent, be sure to ask about the factors that affect the cost of your policy.

Does It Matter Whether You Own or Rent?

If you own property, you need insurance to cover all the items listed above in the event of a fire. If you are renting from someone else, though, you still need to protect yourself. Your landlord's policy will probably only cover the items he or she owns. You still need coverage for the items inside, such as computers, phones and files.
A commercial insurance policy can save you a lot of money in the event of a fire. Make sure you have the right coverage for your business.

Most Common Causes of House Fires

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

Fires can start in the smallest of ways and turn into the biggest problems. It's important to check your home regularly and be aware of the most common ways a fire can start to protect you and your family. 

So, what are the most common ways that a fire can start in your home? 

• Lighting: Most people do not think that lighting can be the cause of a home fire. Make sure that lamps cannot be knocked over, and that lamp shades are not too hot. 
• Cooking: Be sure to not leave foods that are being cooked on the stove unattended to. If you need to leave the kitchen, ask someone to keep an eye on the food. it is very easy to get distracted by a phone call or tending to a child and forget you have food on the stove. 
• Flammable Liquids: Do you keep flammable liquids in your garage? If you answered yes, you are not alone as most people do keep flammable liquids in their garage. Be sure to keep them away from heat sources and check the label before selecting an area for storage. 
• Smoking in Bedrooms: It's best to not smoke in bedrooms as the cigarette bud can still be lit for hours after the cigarette bud has been put out. 
• Bad Wiring in your Home: If you notice the lights go down with you use a certain appliance, this could be an indication that the wiring in your home is bad. To be safe, have an electrician come out to check. 
• Children & Curiosity: Make sure to keep matches, and lighters away from children. Teach your children how to stop, drop and roll just in case!
• Portable Heaters: Be sure to keep portable heaters away from fabrics as they can get really hot and cause a fire. 
• Candles: Candles are a great way to add ambiance to your home and fill the room with your favorite scents! Be sure you don't leave candles unattended to, they're kept away from fabrics, and also kept on sturdy surfaces and away from children. Practice these tips so you can continue to enjoy your favorite scents every season.

Flood Damage from Bathtub Overflow

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

When you forget to turn off the water in your tub to take a phone call, a child starts the water and leaves it without telling anyone, or your overflow drain was not working correctly, you have accidental water damage. This can cause severe damage to your home that you need to address quickly.

Flood damage can affect your carpeting, subfloor, drywall, the ceiling and walls underneath the tub, and more. Depending on how quickly you call a remediation company like SERVPRO to repair the water damage, many of these can be saved. When you let the issue sit for several days, you may deal with a strong odor and microbial growth behind the drywall. Plus, since the water had time to soak into the subfloor, the floor's moisture content is very high, creating the need to remove the subfloor to ensure that it dries thoroughly.

When water goes down through the ceiling, you have damage to ceiling tiles or sections of your ceiling. We need to take these down to properly dry the area above them and replace sections of the ceiling. A setup of ducting can be inserted into the ceiling area affected so we can pump warm, dry, dehumidified air into the cavity to speed up drying and guard against the growth of mold.

With SERVPRO, the moisture content is checked daily with moisture meters, hygrometers, and hydro sensors. Snake cameras may also be employed to give visual confirmation that confined areas such as under cabinets or in the wall cavities are thoroughly dry.

Other areas that were hit by the water below the bathroom are dried using containment, air movers, and dehumidifiers. The containment minimizes the volume of air to be dried. It speeds up the drying of the ceiling because of water moving from an area of high water concentration to an area of low concentration.

If you experience a water loss due to an overflowed bathtub, call the professionals at SERVPRO of Point Loma to make it “Like it never even happened.” 

Why SERVPRO of Point Loma?

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

Should you happen to have fire damage or water damage at your property, would you know who to call? Would you know who to turn to?  Across Mid Missouri the majority of insurance agents trust one name in the industry: SERVPRO of Point Loma. So, why SERVPRO? The same reason local insurance agents choose us.

In a recent survey, local insurance agents said they are extremely satisfied with the results they received from SERVPRO of Point Loma. That is because we are committed to creating happy customers, happy insurance agents, and happy customers of insurance agents.

Fire and water damage can be highly unpredictable. If it strikes your home or business, you can feel confident knowing SERVPRO of Point Loma will be there to help you in your dire time of need. We will be there to help you put life back together. We will make the damage, “Like it never even happened.”

You can be equipped with the knowledge that our experienced and qualified professionals here at SERVPRO of Point Loma will treat you and your customers with the utmost respect, compassion, and dignity. Integrity is a word that we take seriously here at our local franchise. We are Here to Help. We will help you get back in business and back to your life.

If you have fire or water damage at your property, would you recommend us? Or, if you knew a friend or family member who had damage, would you recommend us? Many local insurance agents state that they will always recommend SERVPRO to their clients. Additionally, a majority of local insurance agents say they would recommend SERVPRO to their clients over any other mitigation and restoration company in the business in water or fire claim situations.

For any damage that strikes your residential or commercial space, rely on the premier cleanup and restoration company that local insurance agents choose; SERVPRO of Point Loma. We are available to you and your customers 24/7, 365 days a year for all your emergency service needs.

Tips for Protecting Your Commercial Business from Vandalism

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

What is Vandalism and Who is at Risk?

The legal definition of vandalism varies from state to state, but the term generally means the intentional damage, defacement, or destruction of someone’s property without the owner’s permission. It is a criminal act and is prohibited by state laws, which may qualify as a misdemeanor or a felony, depending on the financial damage that is involved. Additionally, there are some states that refer to vandalism as malicious mischief or criminal mischief.

As far as who may be affected by vandalism, the answer is all business properties, especially vacant buildings. Unfortunately, experiencing vandalism can impact a business in numerous of ways. The most obvious is that it creates damage to the property, which will take time and money to repair.

Tips for Preventing Vandalism

While it is impossible to prevent all acts of vandalism, you can prepare your property so that it discourages vandals.

• Maintain good lighting. The property should remain well lit, especially at night.
• Install and properly maintain cameras. If a crime does occur, police can use your surveillance to identify and catch the perpetrators.
• Keep property tidy. An unorganized area tends to attract vandals.
• Plant shrubbery or fencing. Not only do fencing and shrubbery offer cosmetic appeal to any property, but they also function as the first line of defense against potential intruders.
• Invest in break-resistant glass. Utilizing a break-resistant glass will make the act of breaking in more difficult for vandals to break in.
• Don’t ignore it! If you do experience vandalism, don’t put it off. Vandalism encourages more vandalism.
• Contact authorities. Report vandalism to your local department as soon as possible. If it is not reported, nothing will be done. The department may increase the number of patrols in your area if it is known.
• Share information. Check in with the neighboring businesses to see if they have experienced any sort of vandalism. Sharing information helps reveal the criminals’ patterns that could potentially aide in stopping the vandals.
• Join a business watch group. Like neighborhood watch groups, there are resources available to either start a group or join one. It is a good way to reduce crime by keeping an eye on each other’s property.

Has your place of business been affected by vandalism? SERVPRO® of Point Loma can assist with any damages that have occurred.