Restoration After Fort Lauderdale Water Damage Events

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Don't let a water leak make your Fort Lauderdale home into a duck pond! Call SERVPRO for fast removal to mitigate water damage.

The Priorities of Water Damage Cleanup

As part of the second largest county in the state, Fort Lauderdale is home to a growing population nearing 200,000. With the frequency of callouts like water disasters and emergencies, the more than a million residents of Broward County rely on SERVPRO to help with critical areas of damage recovery and cleanup like:

• Water removal
• Drying
• Surface cleaning
• Mold prevention
• Deodorization

Fort Lauderdale water damage events require immediate action from experienced professionals on our restoration team. With accreditations from the IICRC in areas like structural drying, water restoration, and microbial remediation, our talented team is ready to help when disasters strike.

Priorities of Water Restoration

Every restoration situation is unique, offering site-specific challenges to return a property to preloss condition as efficiently as possible. Some of the core components of successful mitigation and damage recovery include:

-   Extraction

When mitigation gets started for water damage in area homes, one of the key efforts of this process is removing standing water from the flooring. Pooling can spread throughout the house, impacting several flooring materials, wood trim, wall systems, and other sensitive building materials. It should be prioritized to remove any lingering water like this with tools from our stock like:

• Wet Vacuums
• Carpet Wands
• Submersible Pumps

-   Thorough Drying

Wet materials require thorough drying to prevent controlled demolition and reconstruction. This effort involves many tools to help regulate moisture and protect sensitive building materials and contents:

• Air Movers - Airflow is one of the primary drying principles, and with axial and centrifugal units in our inventory, we can quickly manage surface water concerns.
• Portable Heaters - Cooler temperatures in the drying areas can slow down productive evaporation, especially by forming invisible barriers several inches above the surface of wet materials. Heaters help to increase the temperature of drying zones to combat this effect.
• Dehumidification Equipment - Regulating moisture content in the environment is also an important step in drying. High humidity slows drying so that dehumidification equipment can collect these moisture grains for removal.
• Special Purpose Drying Tools - However, water damage is not always on the surface for collection and removal. In some situations, special tools like drying mats or weighted extractors must aid in relieving materials of trapped water and moisture.

-   Cleaning Impacted Surfaces

Water can leave films and soils on exposed materials, making cleanup a critical step in restoring homes “Like it never even happened.” Most surface cleaning solutions we undertake involve wiping with chemical agents. However, more advanced restoration is often needed for areas like carpeting with our hot water extraction solutions and bonnet cleaning.

-   Preventing Mold Damage

It is not a far path from water damage to mold damage, as these microbial colonies need moist environments to develop and thrive. It is a priority for our SERVPRO IICRC-certified team to regulate conditions that could result in microbial threats, often through these three potential actions:

• Potent Products – The first direct line of defense against mold growth are the powerful sporicidal products and antimicrobial solutions that act as inhibitors on treated surfaces.
• Regulating Moisture Concerns – Mold colonies require moist environments to develop and spread. A large part of combatting these harmful scenarios relies on managing this moisture and preventing it from becoming a lingering condition in your household.
• Comprehensive Inspections – We utilize our expertise in microbial remediation to identify developing mold colonies and begin needed removal solutions.

Fort Lauderdale water damage can rapidly impact homes and businesses, creating a harmful situation for property owners. Our SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North team is an experienced unit for water mitigation and restoration solutions. Give us a call to help today at (954) 734-1006.

Overcoming Fort Lauderdale Mold Damage to Homes

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

Inspection and scoping of mold damage can mitigate the damage. Count on SERVPRO AMRT techs to get it done right the first time.

SERVPRO Helps Identify and Clear Mold Damage

With more than eleven miles of coastline, Fort Lauderdale is greatly influenced by coastal humidity and any severe weather making landfall from the Atlantic Ocean. Moisture concerns left unresolved in your home can lead to secondary effects like mold development.

When contending with Fort Lauderdale mold damage, it is essential to have experienced professionals to help. With our IICRC training and accreditation in microbial remediation (AMRT), odor removal (OCT), and structural drying (ASD), we can quickly help in ways that matter for your home.

How Do You Know Mold Threatens Your Home?

Spotting mold growth in your home is not always a given. Mold damage can be elusive and hidden, making it vital to understand how to see the signs that something could be amiss. Because many property owners do not know what to look for, mold conditions can worsen out of sight until the colonization is extensive enough to breach surface materials. Some of the telling signals of active colonization can include:

• Surface Spotting – On the surface of materials like drywall and other porous elements of the home's construction, spotting can be a clear indicator of active colonies. These irregular patches of varying colors are often easily distinguished against construction materials.
• Structural Damage – Mold feeds on organic matter, meaning that the longer colonies exist, the more structural damage results.
• Harsh Odors – Volatile organic compounds create a strong, musty smell around active colonies. Even without surface damage, this smell can show homeowners that a problem exists.

How Likely is Mold Damage for Fort Lauderdale Homes?

Coastal Florida is known for its humidity, and homes, condos, and businesses can all suffer these effects. Poor ventilation or excessive moisture content can be contributing factors to facilitating mold growth. Because spores exist naturally in most environments, areas only await appropriate environmental conditions to allow mold to infest the hosting materials and grow.

What Do Remediators Do First?

Our remediation team's early actions can often directly impact the restoration and removal. Mitigating loss starts with the crucial steps to prevent conditions from getting worse, such as:

• Contain the Colonization – Erecting containment barriers is an effective method for resolving mold and microbial threats' spread and continued development. Physical walls with wood and polypropylene sheeting are often helpful for spore containment.
• Stop Moisture Damage – Because moisture contributes to mold damage, we must clear any damp areas of the house. We can run powerful dehumidifiers and might even encourage a permanent installation of one of these units under specific circumstances.
• Prevent More Damage – Using our general contractor license, we can actively repair any areas, allowing the penetration of moisture damage in the property or installing better ventilation to areas that need helpful airflow.

How Does SERVPRO Eliminate Mold?

Removing mold colonies is not a one-size-fits-all option for homes and businesses. Instead, several layers of consideration and planning go into the decision to eliminate active colonies and prevent recurrences moving forward. Often, the process could be surface cleaning, abrasive removal tactics, sanding, controlled demolition, or a combination of these solutions. Surface cleaning is the most preferred and least invasive, but these choices get made on the location of the damage and the severity of the infestation.

Fort Lauderdale mold damage is a fairly common occurrence for homes and businesses, especially following severe weather events that impact these structures. When mold threats exist in your home, we have competent professionals to address these conditions. Give our SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North remediators a call at (954) 734-1006.

Fort Lauderdale Fire Damage Threats Require Fast Action

3/14/2023 (Permalink)

For a "Like it never even happened," house fire damage recovery for your Fort Lauderdale residence--Just Call SERVPRO

SERVPRO FSRT Technicians Restore Fire Damage

Ft. Lauderdale and its surrounding area are home to hundreds of thousands of people, and many small shops, businesses, offices, and other commercial properties. With such an assortment of structures, it is crucial to have experienced professionals to help when situations like fires occur.

Fort Lauderdale fire damage can appear in many forms, from overloaded circuits in a condominium to a kitchen flare-up in a single-family home. We understand the urgency of these situations, making it a conscious effort to show We're Faster To Any Size Disaster with our SERVPRO Green Fleet, often arriving within hours of the first notice of loss.

Creating a Safe Work Environment

Safety must be the focus of SERVPRO professionals. There are many hazards associated with post-fire cleanup and recovery services, and the earliest efforts of experienced technicians from our roster are meant to address these possible hazards. The most pressing concerns are often airborne contaminants and structural weakness, which SERVPRO fire restorers can resolve with HEPA filtration products and controlled demolition services.

Addressing Pressing Concerns Early in Restoration

Mitigation can be one of the most productive priorities for responding SERVPRO professionals. Fire damage can be traumatic and stressful for homeowners to witness in these stages, so many early efforts are intended to keep this situation from worsening. This phase can include removing debris, cleaning up standing water, relocating contents, and conducting a thorough inspection of the property to determine how restoration should proceed.

Removing Soot Soils from Surfaces

Fire damage is often most visualized as the black, soot-laden surfaces of a home after a blaze gets extinguished. This situation can worsen until steps are taken to filter out spreading soot particles and clean surfaces impacted by this soiling. We make decisions based on the type of smoke damage present, determining the ideal restoration and removal approach. Types of soil deposits include:

• Dry Smoke
• Wet Smoke
• Grease Residues

Removing Strong Malodors from the Property

After fire damage gets cleaned up in homes, there are still additional loss effects to deal with for professionals. Lingering malodors present the most direct issues for comfortable living, and we must use a combination of cleaning efforts to overcome them:

• Fogging – Mobile fogging units can help spread neutralizing agents throughout the property. Because of the vaporous emission of the machine, these are ideal for clearing trapped odors from building materials.
• UV Cleaning – UV breaks down molecular structures circulating in the environment. Exposure to UV prevents these compounds from replicating and can even destroy these particles in some cases.
• Ozone – Oxidation units in our supply create an unstable molecular compound of O3, which can seek out odor molecules in the environment and bond. When this union occurs, the smell is neutralized. In its unstable form, ozone can be hazardous to those exposed, so it gets used cautiously.

SERVPRO Can Help with Post-Fire Repairs

Few structure fires do such minimal damage to residences that no replacement materials or repairs are needed. Because this is a standard part of the recovery process, it is beneficial that our SERVPRO team has a general contractor license. With this license, we are permitted to complete several build-back services your home or business might need, starting with controlled demolition and material removal through utility repairs, roof repairs, and new construction.

When you contend with Fort Lauderdale fire damage, you need experienced restoration professionals to help. As leading fire recovery specialists for Broward County, SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North is ready to help with the restoration and recovery services you need most. Call now at (954) 734-1006.

Work With Certified Technicians During Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Fort Lauderdale

3/13/2023 (Permalink)

We can demolish and repair a water damaged subfloor. Our team is trained and always standing by.

SERVPRO Repairs Damaged Subfloor During Commercial Water Removal in Fort Lauderdale

Commercial water damage restoration services can ensure normalcy resumes in your business within the shortest time possible after the scare. If, for instance, the unfortunate incident happens in a building with several floors, operations might come to a standstill. Also, the water might flow to other floors and cause costly damage.

Our SERVPRO technicians can demolish and repair a damaged subfloor during commercial water damage restoration in Fort Lauderdale. It is a layer located between the foundation and the flooring. If the water is allowed to sit in the building for a long time, it may affect the subfloor – resulting in serious structural problems.

The following are some of the steps that our team follows to demolish and repair a damaged subfloor when offering water damage remediation services:

• Site preparation: During this step, we remove personal belongings, furniture, and other office items to ensure the site is clear.
• Moisture mapping: We use the technique to identify the exact locations the moisture affects. Since the information can highlight the damage's extent, we can decide whether such areas must be demolished and repaired.
• Demolition:

Our SERVPRO technicians remove the damaged sections of the subfloor. If the damage is severe, we might be forced to remove the entire subfloor.

• We dry and sanitize the affected areas to lower the chances of mold growth.
• Subfloor replacement: We repair the existing subfloor or install new layers of plywood or appropriate material.
• Finishing: We install appropriate flooring, vapor barriers, and insulation.

Our team has the right tools to make the water mitigation process successful. We also document all our work and hold frequent meetings with stakeholders to update them accordingly. The documentation is valuable if you stand to be compensated by your insurer.

Call SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North at (954) 417-7074 for professional commercial water damage cleanup services. We're Faster to Any Size Disaster and promise to exceed your expectations as we work to return your property to its preloss state.

Mold Removal with Damp Insulation in Fort Lauderdale Homes

2/7/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides mold removal, inspection, and repair services to Fort Lauderdale residents dealing with mold infestations.

SERVPRO Provides Mold Removal and Repair in Attics in Fort Lauderdale

Mold spores need moisture or high humidity, warmth, and organic food sources to thrive, often available in Fort Lauderdale homes. Plumbing leaks, roof leaks, and high humidity levels are common in our area, especially in attics, leading to compromised insulation and roof structures.

SERVPRO provides mold removal, inspection, and repair services to Fort Lauderdale residents dealing with mold infestations. The impact of high humidity in the attic leads to conditions that compromise the insulation in your home:

• Insulation inefficiency due to matting and wet materials
• Rockwool insulation may rust when wet due to its metal content
• Insulation may be full of mold spores and colonies
• Structures may be compromised with long-term mold infestations

Vapor barriers are installed to prevent moisture from passing into your home into the interior and vice versa. Vapor barriers also impede the drying of insulation and attic spaces, increasing concerns about further mold growth in these areas.

SERVPRO's IICRC trained techs carefully remove all insulating material exposed to mold and is too wet to dry appropriately with ventilation from high-capacity air movers. Once the insulation has been removed, dry air is blown into the attic to dry all cavities and spaces inside the attic before reinstalling new insulating materials.

We utilize moisture meters to check for high moisture conditions inside walls, cavities, and attics. We may create holes in the walls or ceilings to access any high moisture areas and blow dry air into these areas to dry the cavity and drywall. SERVPRO may remove drywall to access the site and complete the mold cleaning.

Once mold removal is complete and the space dried, SERVPRO finishes all repairs and restoration needed to return your home to its original condition “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North for mold removal services. We provide service to Fort Lauderdale and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (954) 734-1006.

Effective Water Damage Repair by SERVPRO in Fort Lauderdale

1/10/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO says we repair water damaged drywall in Fort Lauderdale "Like it never even happened."

Fort Lauderdale Drywall Water Damage Restoration

Water intrusion in your Fort Lauderdale property disrupts normalcy. It can seep into cracks and crevices, soaking into nearby structural materials and belongings where all sorts of problems develop. Drywall is one of the readily affected materials. It would help if you repaired water-damaged drywall as soon as possible, as it can cause even more significant issues, such as mold growth. Depending on where water has intruded and damage accrued, you can partially or entirely replace the drywall.

Homeowners should limit further damage by prioritizing water damage repair in Fort Lauderdale. A water-damaged property poses many hazards which can be dangerous. For example, if wet drywall is due to overhead flooding, the ceiling might collapse, putting your safety at risk. In this case, have your home’s structure evaluated by a professional restoration company, such as SERVPRO. Our teams know how structures are built and inspect the entire assembly to extract moisture successfully.

Other hazards

• Electrical
• Biohazards
• Molds

Safety precautions are essential as some old drywall joint compounds contain asbestos. Also, the electrical system runs through the wall and could cause electrocution when not handled with care.

Drywall moisture removal

To start working on moisture-damaged drywall that requires cutting out some sections, SERVPRO crews clear the area by removing or pulling back items like wet furniture, carpet, and padding. Our crews utilize moisture meters to probe moisture content or level on drywall before deciding how much to cut out. Depending on the damage extent, we may have to remove damaged wall studs, flooring, and cabinets. Once the damaged section is removed and bagged, our crews dry the area around and inside the wall using air movers and dehumidifiers, treat it to remove any odor and prevent microbial growth, then install the new drywall pieces.

Some useful tools when cutting out damaged drywall

• Keyhole saw
• Rotary saw
• Kett saw
• Reciprocating saw

SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North provides quality drywall water damage repair. Call us at (954) 734-1006. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Reasons Expert Fire Restoration is Best in Fort Lauderdale

12/13/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration services are not an easy task. Call SERVPRO, who are IICRC certified.

Call SERVPRO 24/7 in Fort Lauderdale for Pro Fire Restoration

Some Fort Lauderdale property owners understand that the quicker you act after a fire to begin cleanup, the better. But why? The IICRC-certified team at SERVPRO wants all area businesses and homeowners to know why prompt mitigation is the only way to save time, money, and belongings. When you call us for fire restoration and cleanup, we mitigate the damage quickly to restore versus replace whenever possible. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. 

Response times matter in all occurrences 

Rapid response is imperative after a fire as it limits loss and helps reduce secondary damage. Charred debris and pungent odors are just a few aspects SERVPRO addresses once called to help with fire restoration in Fort Lauderdale. Never wait to contact our team for professional cleanup, nor try handling your fire damage as a DIY project alone.

These are some of the reasons to call the trained fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT):

• Faster response and expert services – We arrive within hours of your initial call, and our IICRC-certified technicians know proper practices for handling all fire and water-related emergencies. You can count on us for efficient soot and smoke residue cleaning, removal of charred building materials, and odor control.
• Careful inspections and accurate evaluations – Initial assessment of your property help us to determine all levels of damage and the right equipment and methods to use for cleanup. We have a dedicated crew chief that looks at the damage to formulate a plan for fire mitigation, restoration, drying, and reconstruction/repair.
• Deep cleaning you can count on – You want to re-enter your home or business without hazards, odors, or reminders of the fire. We have EPA-registered antimicrobials, odor control technology, and everything else necessary to make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North strives to provide exemplary fire restoration for commercial and residential customers. Call us at (954) 734-1006 to speak with our customer care team about dispatching our Green Fleet to your door.

The Impacts of Flood Damage on a Fort Lauderdale Home

11/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides fast and immediate storm damage restoration services; call now!

SERVPRO Helps Minimize Damage after Fort Lauderdale Flood

A flooding event can be quite invasive. You should evacuate to higher ground immediately and avoid driving in flooded areas. Typically, one of the first things you would notice when you return to your house is the smell and physical deterioration of your belongings. The impact on your home depends on several factors. These include the type of flooding that has occurred, whether fast or slow-moving waters, the volume involved, and the duration your house has been submerged.

Addressing flood damage quickly in Fort Lauderdale properties is the best course to take within 24 to 36 hours of the disaster. Contact a restoration services provider such as SERVPRO as soon as possible. SERVPRO immediately dispatches restoration technicians to your home who takes you through the expected restoration process and answers any question you may have. If it is still raining, we temporarily patch any holes or breaches in your ceiling and walls to keep as much extra water out of your house as possible.

Ways flooding can affect your home include:

• Sewage and bacteria
• Damaged electrical and natural gas lines
• Emergence of sinkholes
• Mold development

The invading water can hide dangerous debris, like glass or metal fragments, mostly if muddy. Additionally, the water can displace animals, insects, and reptiles. It may also contain sewage, dead animals, and chemical hazards, not forgetting the electrical circuitry throughout your home, which might be below the water line. Submerged outlets, appliances, and electrical cords can put you at risk of electrical shock. With training, tools, and availability of safety equipment, SERVPRO crews can manage such situations well.

Noticeable structural changes after inundation

• Doors swell and jam
• The drywall swells and becomes fluffy
• Furniture joints loosen

SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North has the resources to respond to any flood damage situation “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (954) 734-1006.

Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Ft. Lauderdale Calls for Expert Assistance

9/12/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO commercial damage restoration services are top-notch. We are the team of professionals you want.

SERVPRO Handles Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Ft. Lauderdale

Water damage in any building is usually a catastrophe, but the risks can elevate in an office building. When not quickly and properly handled, it can cause some debilitating effects; it halts business activities such as mobility of the workers and availability of services to your customers while also leading to the destruction of merchandise and the structure.

We would love to see commercial property owners back on their feet in the shortest time possible, which is why at SERVPRO, we have a team of restorers experienced in performing commercial water damage restoration in Ft. Lauderdale. Our main aim is fast and efficient restoration with as less destruction of property and frustration of movement inside the building as possible.

The initial assessment our SERVPRO team does helps us identify the level of damage and the risks posed, some of which might include:

• Electrical hazards that might comprise power strips in the wet offices and water that from above impacts lights, junction boxes, and fire alarm systems
• Slipping and falling, which we can reduce by extracting the water, erecting warning signs, and also restricting entry into the affected areas
• Contamination of the HVAC system risks bacteria and microorganisms becoming airborne and deteriorating air quality.
• Damage to electronic equipment like multifunctional printers, computers, and smartphones.
• Mold growth can cause structural damage by eating away the component of building materials. 

Water can also ruin supplies and stock. Our SERVPRO technicians can remove stagnant water quickly using powerful electric submersible pumps. These pumps eradicate suction lift limitations and operate continually and quietly.

SERVPRO also has centrifugal air movers that come in handy when drying out the building. The equipment moves large volumes of dry air, accelerating the water evaporation rate from the building structure and materials affected. We also use dehumidification equipment to eliminate water vapor from the air. This gives us room to restore all recoverable materials to their original state sufficiently.

Your commercial property deserves experienced and well-equipped professionals to work towards its prompt restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North for help at (954) 734-1006. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO Has the Expertise Required to Offer Mold Remediation in Ft. Lauderdale

9/12/2022 (Permalink)

Mold remediation services for your home is no easy project. Trust the professionals at SERVPRO for fast and immediate service.

Safe Mold Remediation in Ft. Lauderdale Requires Expertise

I have identified mold in my home. What’s the next step I should take? The next step is ensuring effective mold remediation. When considering the potential permanent property damage that mold can cause, removing it from your property as fast as possible is essential.

You can trust the professionals at SERVPRO to perform mold remediation in your Ft. Lauderdale home. Different kinds of mold exist. Our technicians can identify the mold strain in your home and remediate it. We take several steps to remediate mold, including the following:

• Fixing moisture problems
• Isolating moldy areas
• Discarding absorbent materials
• Cleaning the mold away
• Thorough drying

Fixing moisture issues

If your home still has water ingress, remediating the mold is difficult. Therefore, if the mold problem results from a leak, our SERVPRO team can fix it first. Additional ventilation may be necessary if the mold issue is present in a naturally wet environment like the bathroom.

Isolating moldy areas

Any airflow occurring across moldy surfaces can cause mold spores to spread around the building. We can isolate moldy areas from unaffected areas before demolition, drying, or cleaning to prevent cross-contamination.

Discarding absorbent materials

Removing certain items that mold has affected, especially porous ones, is necessary. We can use specialized techniques to clean such items or discard them. For instance, furniture and carpets have fibers where mold can remain after cleaning them. Discarding them prevents the issue from recurring.

Cleaning away the mold

Once we remove highly affected porous materials like gypsum board, our SERVPRO technicians can clean remaining materials like Douglas fir framing and plywood subfloors. We can remove the visible traces of mold and then use a biocide or antimicrobial spray to clean the surfaces through wet wiping.

Thorough drying

During the mold remediation process, it is necessary to perform thorough drying. We accomplish this using air movers and dehumidifiers. Our SERVPRO team can also use moisture meters to determine if the affected materials are dry.

Mold remediation requires a great deal of care. Contact SERVPRO of Ft. Lauderdale North at (954) 734-1006 to remediate the mold in your home.