Fire Damage to a Commercial Property
4/8/2020 (Permalink)
Smoke and fire do more damage than most people realize. More often than not, it is unsafe to enter your place of business even after a fire has been put out, because there could be major structural damage. It is crucial for smoke and fire damage to be mitigated as soon as possible in order for the building to be returned to its safe, pre-fire condition.
Smoke Damage
The types of materials that are burned in a commercial fire leave behind powerful odors. Electronics, carpets, plastic, metals, and engineered-wood furniture are all burned and create odors and ash that can corrode, etch and discolor as well as cling to the remaining structure. These types of fumes from fire seep into the walls and floors and may contaminate the indoor air much later if they are not removed. These cannot be removed with a typical cleaner. It takes special equipment and the expertise of professionals to mitigate smoke damage, so the building is odor-free.
The different types of damage include:
- Metals that tarnish or corrode
- Plastics that melt and change color
- Fiberglass that cracks
- Wood that may need refinishing/replacing
- Finishes on appliances that turn yellow
The situation worsens the longer you wait to call a professional mitigation contractor. After the fire is out, the smoke and ash remain. It is also more cost-effective to get the repair started as soon as possible. Even if the fire damage is contained in a small part of your commercial building or office space, smoke damage can permeate a greater area.
Getting Smoke Damage Cleaned
Smoke and heat will distribute ash through the home and it can remain in cracks and crevices. One of the best ways to remove smoke odor is through thermal fogging. This technique opens the pores in the walls and floors to neutralize the odor from the smoke that has entered deep into them. Then, use dehumidifiers and high-powered fans to thoroughly dry the water damage cause from putting out the fire.
Professionals Know the Job
The best fire-damage professionals are expertly trained and certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). They take extensive coursework to get their certification. They will identify all the affected materials in your home and find the source of any odors. Experts know what can be salvaged and what needs to be discarded. They use specialized detergents that have been designed to treat specific types of odor.
Professionals can also increase the possibility of saving property rather than needing to replace it, and they can clean out your vents and ducts. Some of the services offered are:
- Removal of smoke and odor
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Professional deodorization
- Temporary protection of surfaces already cleaned
- Removal of carpets and pads if required
Fire damage is devastating, but it is not over when the fire is out. To get your business back to pre-damaged condition, professional fire and smoke mitigation is essential.
SERVPRO of The Main Line is a 24/7 emergency restoration, repair and cleaning company. Our technicians are highly trained and experienced with every fire and water damage situation; from water leakage to total flooding, fire, smoke and mold damage, and catastrophic events cleanup and restoration.
Commercial Cleaning
2/5/2020 (Permalink)
Most businesses don’t have the time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils their offices. When grime, odor, and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular cleaning staff that’s when you call SERVPRO of the Main Line. SERVPRO is available whether it is to remove an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can CALL US AT (610)-640-9533.
SERVPRO of The Main line offers cleaning services ranging from cleaning carpets to removing bio hazard contaminants. We have specialized technicians that are trained to use the proper products and techniques to get your property or business back up and running. We specialize in the following:
Have Questions? Call Us today at (610) 640-9533
Flooded Basement in a Commercial property
2/4/2020 (Permalink)
A water main broke in a vacant commercial property causing an unbelievable amount of water to enter the basement of the property. That’s when SERVPRO of The Main Line was called to save the day. At SERVPRO We specialize in 24 hour emergency service for water and fire damage. In the basement of this property, we pumped out over 10,000 gallons of water! And that was only the first step in the restoration process. The flooring and drywall were then removed; the contents in the area were moved out, documents hung to be dry, and equipment was set up. Specialized air movers/fans and dehumidifiers were used to draw the remaining moisture out of the basement. From start to finish the job took 3 days and 1 very long night.
Rapid response can mean the difference between restore vs. replace
1/14/2020 (Permalink)
The first few hours after a commercial water damage can be the most vital. Rapid response will many times be the determining factoring between restoring and replacing. The photo captioned is what the employees of this office building saw when they came into work one morning. A quick call to SERVPRO of The Main Line and a crew was on their way. Clean up began with extraction of carpets. Other crew members moved and blocked contents. Even more crew members removed the vinyl cove base and drill holes in the lower drywall to allow airflow to more efficiently dry the walls. Holes are always punched below the trim line to allow for the new trim to cover the holes. Drying equipment was set up by a manager as he walked through to ensure nothing was overlooked and properly document the job for the insurance company. The SERVPRO team came in like a wave, just as the water did a few hours before.
Job timeline:
- The water damage was discovered on a Friday morning at 6:00 AM.
- The crew arrived at 7:45 AM.
- The work was completed by Friday evening at 6:30 PM.
- Crew returned Saturday and Sunday to take moisture readings and re position drying equipment for optimal drying.
- Crew arrived 6:00 AM Monday to install new cove base and remove equipment.
- By Monday 9:00 AM, the property was put back together and it was business as usual for this company. Employees that had off that Friday never even knew anything had happened!
If you have a water damage in your commercial property, remember that a quick response from SERVPRO of The Main Line can make the difference from a inconvenient weekend to weeks of construction and loss of use. Call us today to help make it "Like it never even happened."
Containment makes all the difference
3/8/2019 (Permalink)
Wayne hotel days before Villanova graduation
Business owners face unique challenges dealing with property damage. Missing walls and ceilings, noisy drying equipment, busy crews working in plain sight, and construction related dirt and debris can make for a miserable customer experience.
SERVPRO of The Main Line believes that no business should have to jeopardize their customer experience for property damage. We have over 30 years of experience cleaning up and restoring business. We know how to minimize the disruption and keep you open during a difficult time. That is why we construct beautiful containment barriers around the work area while remediation and repairs can be made out of sight and out of mind.
Picture below shows a Wayne, PA hotel only one week before the Villanova graduation. A sprinkler head burst in the lobby; the ceiling collapsed, custom cabinets were damaged, wallpaper walls destroyed, carpet saturated. The SERVPRO of The Main Line emergency crew arrived within hours and cleaned up the damage then began the drying process. The drying was finished 3 days before guests would begin to flood the hotel. The hotel repair crew began immediately, but problems arose. The wallpaper was out of stock and wouldn’t be available for three weeks. The custom cabinets were on rush but would not be completed for two. Time was an asset the hotel did not have.
Luckily SERVPRO of The Main Line set up a containment barrier that kept the work area out of sight and the lobby clean. While the hotel was not able to use a section of the lobby, the customer experience remained intact and the hotel did not loose any business.
If you’re a business owner in need of emergency cleanup, trust the professionals at SERVPRO of the Main Line to make it "Like it never even happened." while it is currently happening.
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