Top 10 Tips for Effective Smoke Damage Restoration

8/19/2023 (Permalink)

Smoke damage restoration is a challenging process.

Experiencing a fire incident in your home or property can be a devastating event. Even after the flames are extinguished, the lingering effects of smoke damage can pose significant challenges. Smoke damage restoration is a critical process that requires immediate attention and careful handling to ensure the safety of your property and the well-being of its occupants. Below are the top 10 tips for effective smoke damage restoration to help home and property owners navigate through this trying time with confidence.

Prioritize Safety First

Before embarking on any restoration efforts, ensure the safety of everyone involved. Ensure that the property is structurally stable and free from any potential hazards. If needed, seek assistance from a professional inspector or engineer to assess the building's integrity.

Contact Your Insurance Company Promptly

As soon as it is safe to do so, get in touch with your insurance provider and report the incident. Most insurance policies cover smoke damage restoration, so having proper documentation and communication is crucial for a smoother claims process.

Seek Professional Smoke Damage Restoration Services

While some minor smoke damage may be addressed through DIY methods, it's essential to hire a reputable and experienced smoke damage restoration company, such as SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield, for more extensive damage. These professionals have the expertise, equipment, and knowledge to handle the restoration process efficiently.

Act Quickly

Time is of the essence when dealing with smoke damage. The longer soot and smoke residues remain on surfaces, the more difficult they become to remove. However, avoid rushing into cleaning without proper planning, as incorrect methods can worsen the damage.

Ventilate the Area

Proper ventilation is essential to disperse smoke and reduce odor. Open windows and use fans to improve air circulation. If the HVAC system has been affected, refrain from using it until it's been inspected and cleaned by professionals.

Separate and Protect Unaffected Areas

During the restoration process, try to cordon off unaffected areas of the property to prevent cross-contamination. Cover furniture and belongings to shield them from further damage during cleanup.

Document the Damage

Before any restoration work begins, thoroughly document the smoke damage by taking photographs and creating a detailed inventory of affected items. This documentation will assist with insurance claims and ensure nothing is overlooked during the restoration process.

Clean and Restore Contents Properly

The restoration process involves not only cleaning surfaces but also salvaging belongings affected by smoke and soot. Utilize appropriate cleaning techniques and products for each type of material to prevent further damage.

Address Lingering Odors

Smoke odors can persist even after visible smoke damage is removed. Implement effective deodorization techniques to neutralize and eliminate these odors, ensuring a fresh and clean environment.

Smoke damage restoration is a challenging process, but with the right approach and professional assistance, you can restore your home or property to its pre-damaged condition. By prioritizing safety, acting swiftly, and following these top 10 tips, you can minimize the impact of smoke damage and move forward with confidence. Remember, reaching out to a reputable smoke damage restoration company, such as SERVPRO, will ensure that your property receives the best care possible, allowing you to focus on rebuilding and restoring your space.

Fire Preparedness for Taunton, MA Businesses: Tips and Best Practices

5/8/2023 (Permalink)

Be prepared in case your business experiences a fire. These events are unexpected, but if you take necessary precautions, you could save lives!

Fires can occur unexpectedly and have devastating effects on businesses. The damage caused by fires can disrupt operations, cause financial losses, and even lead to permanent closure. Therefore, it's essential for businesses in Taunton, MA, to take proactive measures to prepare for fires. In this blog, we will discuss how to prepare your Taunton business for a fire and minimize the damage.

Develop a Fire Preparedness Plan

The first step in preparing for a fire is to develop a fire preparedness plan. This plan should include evacuation procedures, contact information for emergency services, and details on how to operate fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment. It's important to ensure that all employees are trained on the plan and understand their roles and responsibilities during a fire emergency.

Install Fire Detection and Suppression Systems

Installing fire detection and suppression systems is crucial in minimizing fire damage to your business. Smoke detectors and fire alarms can detect fires early and alert employees and emergency services. Fire suppression systems such as sprinklers can extinguish fires quickly, preventing them from spreading and causing more damage.

Maintain Fire Safety Equipment

Regular maintenance of fire safety equipment is essential to ensure that they function correctly when needed. This includes testing smoke detectors and fire alarms, inspecting fire extinguishers and ensuring they are charged and accessible, and conducting routine maintenance on fire suppression systems.

Create Fire-Safe Environments

Creating a fire-safe environment involves taking steps to reduce fire hazards in your business. This includes keeping combustible materials away from heat sources, maintaining electrical equipment, and ensuring that fire exits are clear and easily accessible.

Train Employees on Fire Safety

Training employees on fire safety is crucial in ensuring that they know how to respond during a fire emergency. This includes teaching them how to operate fire safety equipment, evacuate the building safely, and call for emergency services.

Have a Plan for Post-Fire Restoration

Even with the best-preparedness plans, fires can still occur, causing damage to your business. Having a plan for post-fire restoration can help ensure that your business is restored quickly and efficiently. This may include working with a professional restoration company to assess the damage and develop a restoration plan.

In conclusion, preparing for a fire is crucial in minimizing the damage to your business. By developing a fire preparedness plan, installing fire detection and suppression systems, maintaining fire safety equipment, creating fire-safe environments, training employees on fire safety, and having a plan for post-fire restoration, you can protect your Taunton business from fire damage.

Understanding Fire Alarms

7/20/2022 (Permalink)

Fire Alarms; Ionization Vs. Photoelectric

There are two types of fire alarms: Ionization and Photoelectric.
Ionization fire alarms are more reactive towards blazing fires with large flames. A tiny amount of radioactive material is positioned between two plates that are electrically charged. This ionizes the air around it, causing a small current to exist between both plates. Once smoke from the fire enters the detector chamber, there is a disruption of the flow of ions, causing a reduced current flow. This lack of current flow triggers the alarm to sound.
Photoelectric alarms are more reactive to smoldering, long-lasting fires. A light source in the detection chamber is angled to point away from the sensor, to not receive any light When smoke enters the detection chamber, the light is reflected and dispersed onto the sensor which then triggers the alarm.
Combined alarms are available, or a combination of both alarms is recommended to provide maximum protection from both fast flaming fires and slower smoldering fires in both the home and the workplace.
Maintenance of fire alarms is straightforward:

• Once per month – test the batteries by holding the button for a minimum of five seconds. If they are working it will beep.
• Every six months – Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust. Keeping the alarm free of particles will prevent false alarms and allows for easy access of smoke to the detection chamber and sensor.
• Every twelve months – Replace the batteries if they are lead or alkaline.
• Every ten years – All smoke alarms should be replaced with new ones, or earlier if this is recommended by the smoke alarm manufacturer.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Guide You and Help in Completing the Necessary Restoration Steps

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Can Guide You and Help in Completing the Necessary Restoration Steps

A fast response is crucial after fire damage incidents to forestall some problems that develop after putting out the fire. Quick action also helps guarantee faster reoccupation of the house. Although it might not appear so, planning the restoration process can be challenging because it involves several steps, and it might not be clear which ones have a higher priority.

What steps are typical in the early stages of most restoration exercises?

When choosing the steps to take immediately after fire damage incidents, the main consideration is how the incident is expected to unfold. If some materials or contents that survived the fire might deteriorate further, prioritizing steps that help stop such deterioration is essential. In most cases, the initial stages involve:
    •    Thorough scoping of the loss site
    •    Securing the property
    •    Calling the insurance company

Why is scoping essential before starting restoration?

Although it is easy to tell whether a fire extensively damages property or not, there are aspects of damage that you cannot identify without doing thorough scoping. Successful scoping requires the right skills and equipment. When evaluating a fire loss site, our SERVPRO technicians focus on issues such as:
    •    Charring depth especially on structural supports
    •    Pretesting materials for cleaning purposes
    •    Establishing the type of smoke residues left

Salvaging materials after fire damage helps reduce repair costs. Since the decision of whether to save an item depends on the level of damage, thoroughly evaluating affected materials is essential. For building materials such as frames and other structural supports, scoping helps establish whether there are significant residue deposits or charring on their surfaces. A tool such as a tar depth gauge helps establish whether charring affects more than 10% of the cross-section of frames, thus compromising their structural integrity.

Why is testing necessary before cleaning?

Cleaning is one of the activities necessary for the restoration of fire-damaged properties. Although cleaning is beneficial, it can also cause problems such as ruining the material being cleaned or spreading residues beyond the areas initially affected. Testing helps prevent such problems and also improves the ease of cleaning. Our SERVPRO crews test fabric materials such as carpets as well as finishes, such as paint on different surfaces. The tests we perform on carpets help establish several aspects that influence the cleaning processes, including:
    •    Stain resistance
    •    Level of soiling
    •    The physical condition of the carpet

Why does the type of smoke residue matter?

As the fire burns, you might notice minor differences in the type of smoke produced. For example, you might notice thick clouds of smoke, or the color can range from grey, brown, or black. Unlike the simple differences in appearance, the residue deposits from smoke can differ greatly, affecting the restoration process. Establishing the properties of such residues helps in choosing the correct cleaning procedures. Our SERVPRO technicians use several approaches to test residues, including simple ones such as running a cleaning sponge along surfaces starting from the seat of the fire and moving outwards to establish how far the residues spread. We also check other properties, such as whether the residues are predominantly dry or wet. From the information gained from testing, our technicians decide what cleaning procedures to use, including:
    •    Mechanical options such as wiping
    •    Wet cleaning with professional cleaning products
    •    Specialized cleaning with sophisticated methods such as soda blasting

How is a fire-damaged structure secured?

Securing a property immediately after fire damage helps prevent further deterioration. There are many ways to secure a property, so the steps taken depend on factors such as the level of damages and whether the property remains occupied during restoration. In case of severe fire damage, our SERVPRO technicians board up all openings in the exterior of the structure, protecting the interior from further deterioration. In case of fires localized in sections of the property such as kitchens or living rooms, we can board up those specific areas allowing access to the rest of the house.

Apart from setting up barriers, another way to secure the property is to identify vulnerable materials or contents and secure them. For example, soot has acidic properties, which corrode metallic materials and finishes. It can also stain stone materials such as granite permanently. Our Crews pre-clean such materials then apply thin oil film on their surfaces to protect them from further damages.

Taking the correct steps immediately after a fire limits the chances of unnecessary damage. 

Prevention is better than intervention when it comes to fires.

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

No Fire Can Be Totally Prevented, But There Are Steps You Can Take And SERVPRO Can Handle the Fire Damage if it Happens In Bridgewater!

Over one-fourth of all fires take place in homes. The majority of these fires happen in the kitchen. Prevention is better than intervention, but if help is needed in a home, call the professionals.

What are the most common causes of house fires?

A house fire is never a pleasant thing. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) notes, cooking is the main cause of fires in the home and the need for fire damage restoration in homes. But cooking isn’t the only thing that can lead to a residential fire. The top five reasons are:

• Cooking
• Heating
• Electrical & Lighting
• Arson
• Smoking

Kitchen fires are one of the main reasons SERVPRO gets called out to deal with fire damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) states that firefighters responded to 188,800 cooking fires in two years.

What Causes Cooking Fires

Kitchen fires resulting from a cooking fire involve a stove or cooktop 62% of the time. Unattended cooking is the main reason for this type of fire, but things like flammable materials too close to the stove are another reason. Electric stoves cause more problems than gas stoves. Improper disposal of hot items is another cause. Thanksgiving and Christmas appear to be the peak time for these incidents to occur.

How Can I Prevent a Kitchen Fire?

One of the foremost essential things you can do is to stay alert. Never walk away from the stove when you have something cooking, turn off the stove if you need to step out. Keep all flammable material away from the range. Many people use their flat surface stoves as additional counter space. That is a big mistake that could cost you dearly. Always assume the stove is hot even when off. Keep your heat at the proper level. If your skillet starts to smoke or your pot boil over, turn off the heat. Keep a cookie sheet handy to place over the top of a pan that does catch fire.

What Happens if There is a Cooking Fire?

If the worse does happen and you undergo a kitchen fire, our Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) accredited technicians are ready to go at a moment’s notice. Once they arrive, they will immediately assess the situation. Kitchen fires are often contained and damage minimal comparatively, but there are still things that need to be determined before fire damage restoration can begin. They will determine the type of smoke residue, pretest materials for the proper cleaning techniques, and decide if there is any structural damage. The goal is to restore items rather than replace them when possible.

Cleanup and Restoration

Once a course of action is decided, the Green Team of professionals get to work. With years of experience and specialized training, they can provide the necessary services for your situation. In the case of fire damage restoration, these could include:

• Debris removal – the stove may be charred and unsalvageable
• Dry cleaning – using techniques such as wiping down surfaces
• Wet cleaning – using professional chemical cleaners specific to the soot and the item getting cleaned
• Restoring wood surfaces
• Cleaning or replacing flooring
• Checking other kitchen appliances for problems arising from the fire
• Deodorizing – air scrubbers, thermal fogging, ozone generators or aroma pellets
• Cleaning HVAC duct systems

Do I Need Expert Restoration?

A minor house fire may look harmless enough and leave you thinking you can take care of it yourself. That isn’t generally the case. Smoke residue seeps into the tiniest cracks and crevices. Depending on the type of soot, it leaves behind improper cleaning can make it worse. SERVPRO uses industrial-grade equipment and cleaning supplies that the average homeowner does not have access too. Our experts know what and where to look for when it comes to fire damage.

Available Around the Clock

SERVPRO is ready to handle any fire damage that may occur, including kitchen fires. We hope that you can prevent a cooking fire, but if something unavoidable happens, we are available 24/7. Disaster doesn’t take a holiday, and neither do we. You can trust our fire restoration technicians to leave your home, “Like it never even happened.” Your life doesn’t stop because a fire happens, and we understand that. Our rapid response team will do everything they can to get you back to normal.

Cooking fires can destroy a kitchen. Contact SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield at (508) 824-0200 for expert fire damage restoration service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Smoke Remediation is Critical When Performing Fire Cleanup in East Taunton

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke damage can leave behind stains and odors. Tackle them with a call to SERVPRO for fire damage cleanup services.

SERVPRO ensures your East Taunton home is free from odorous smoke damage during the fire cleanup process

No homeowner wants to have lasting reminders of a fire event within their East Taunton property. Unfortunately, DIY house fire clean up leaves you open to remaining odorous particles from soot and smoke. Hiring skilled fire damage restorations from SERVPRO helps battle foul odors so that your newly-restored interior and indoor air quality (IAQ) match when the project wraps up.

When handling fire cleanup in East Taunton, our smoke and fire damage team can access a broad spectrum of odor removal tools, products, and equipment. When you call us to address the fire event in your home, we may use some or all of the following:

• HEPA filtration – HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate arrestor. While using HEPA filtration tools, we can scrub the air to remove odorous airborne particulates.
• Thermal fogging – Our thermal fogging equipment works by dispersing a fine mist of special deodorizing agents. This allows it to bond with particulates, even in hard-to-reach spaces, to pull out foul odors.
• Ozone generators – This equipment works with the help of ozone gas production to help trap and remove odors and microorganisms within any given space. NOTE: all people, pets, and plants must be out of the area while this technology gets used.

There is nothing like house fire clean up by skilled technicians! Call us at SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield when you need assistance with fire cleanup and smoke remediation at (508) 824-0200.

Does SERVPRO Restore Fire Damaged Homes in Taunton?

4/24/2021 (Permalink)

Fire and smoke damage restoration for your property is no easy task to handle. SERVPRO has the equipment and experience for any size disaster.

SERVPRO Provides Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration and Cleanup in Taunton

Taunton is located in Bristol County on the Taunton River, with a population of approximately 60,000 people. The city was founded in 1637. It is considered one of the oldest communities in the United States and was nicknamed the “Silver City” for its expertise in the silver industry in the 19th century. 

It is also known as the “Christmas City,” for the annual light show on display each December.

The industry today is based on semiconductors, silicon, and the manufacturing of electronics. Taunton is 40 miles from Boston. Activities available for residents in Taunton and the surrounding area include:

• Massasoit State Park
• Watson Pond State Park
• Boyden Park
• Taunton Green
• Old Colony History Museum
• Gertrude M Boyden Wildlife Refuge
• Taunton Public Library
• Hopewell Park
• Fore Kicks
• Taunton Antique Center
• Bristol County Court House
• US Post Office
• Round One Entertainment

Massasoit State Park

Massasoit State Park covers more than 1200 acres with six lakes, numerous cranberry bogs, and trails that meander between the lakes, the wetlands, and the heavily wooded areas. The park is located in the southeast portion of the city of Taunton. There are four main trails – Massasoit, Lake Rico and Big Bearhole Pond, Massasoit Loop, and Adams Trail. Park hours are from sunrise to sunset, and there is free parking available. 

Activities at the park include camping, swimming, canoeing, mountain biking, hiking, and fishing. Hunting is also allowed; however, hunters should check with park rangers for details. There is also a boat ramp, playground, and trailer or RV hookups.

Watson Pond State Park

Watson Pond State Park is a smaller state park covering 10 acres with picnic areas on the beach, a bathhouse, a small pavilion, and a playground. It is open from late May until September from 10 am until 6 pm. Fishing and canoeing are allowed. There are several short trails to enjoy throughout the park.

Taunton Green

Taunton Green dates back to 1743, when it was used as a militia training area. There was also a meeting house. Today it is at the center of the old historic district of Taunton. The Green is the city’s holiday light display site, attracting visitors from around the area. Taunton gets its nickname, “The Christmas City,” from this attraction that continues to provide residents with a holiday event.

Providing Fire Damage Restoration Services in Taunton Residences

It is important to thoroughly clean all surfaces in homes, including contents and structural elements after a fire. When plastics burn, they produce chlorides that produce hydrochloric acid when combined with moisture. A common by-product of combustion is carbon dioxide, which produces carbonic acid when combined with moisture.

SERVPRO tests all surfaces before fire damage restoration begins in Taunton to determine the acidic nature of smoke residues. Once these surfaces are cleaned, they are retested to ensure no residual acid remains on the surface. Acids remaining on surfaces can:

• Cause discoloration
• Corrode surfaces
• Cause long term smoke damage

Completely removing and testing for acids eliminates further deterioration.

Call SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield for fire damage services in Taunton and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (508) 824-0200.

Why is it Risky to Avoid Professional Fire Damage Restoration?

3/25/2021 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot from this fire traveled throughout the home. SERVPRO has the equipment and cleaners to restore you home.

SERVPRO Helps Taunton Homeowners with Hidden Risks 

We recognize that you want to save money after fire damage. Getting in a professional cleaning crew can seem costly compared to doing it yourself. It also feels like a hassle to have strangers in your home.

However, when it comes to fire damage in your Taunton home, it is better to call for professional help. Even if you clean away visible soot, there might be hidden damage:

• Soot sinks into all kinds of materials where it can cause damage and odors.
• Smoke and moisture from fire fighting can harm structural elements and even make your house unsafe. 
• Soot is full of nasty chemicals, and if you do not treat it, those chemicals react with carpets, drapes, and upholstery.

SERVPRO technicians track the pattern of smoke throughout your home and identify risk areas. We can test for areas of hidden moisture and make sure your home is structurally sound. We can also deodorize everything from upholstery to linen to the shell of your home, to leave it “Like it never even happened.” 

Do not leave fire damage restoration to chance. Call SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield at (508) 824-0200.

Fire Damage to East Taunton Structures

2/22/2021 (Permalink)

Fire restoration services by SERVPRO are top notch. Their techs are ready 24/7 365 days a year.

Why do some contents have more pungent odors from fire damage than others?

Many clients wonder why some materials smell of smoke residue more than others after a fire. Several factors contribute to these strong odors.

SERVPRO technicians are trained to recognize smoke residues' characteristics from fire damage in East Taunton buildings and contents. Smoke particles are one-tenth of a micron to 4 microns in size. This small size allows them to penetrate surfaces easily. Also, the following conditions can help odor particles penetrate materials:

• Porous materials absorb odors readily, e.g., fabrics, drywall, leathers.
• Heavy concentrations contribute to higher penetrations.
• Exposure time also increases the number of particles that are absorbed.
• Heat expands surfaces allowing particles to penetrate. The surfaces contract when they cool, trapping smoke particles inside
• Humidity helps odors vaporize and carry the odor vapor to the nose, making the smell seem more substantial than in dry air.

Our team acts quickly to mitigate the fire damage and the retention of smoke odors. Removal, cleaning, sanitizing, deodorization, and sealing surfaces are among the solutions used by SERVPRO to control smoke odors.

Contact SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield for fire damage services to East Taunton and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (508) 824-0200.

Do Some Fires Produce More Smoke Damage than Others?

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

From start to finish, Count on SERVPRO for fire damage restoration in Taunton

Taunton Fire Damage Restoration Requires Professional Measures

There are many different types of fires, each causing significant damage to homes and businesses. Some fires burn hot, burning quickly and charring content and structures in the immediate area of the fire. While other fires burn cooler, they produce significant smoke and soot distributed throughout the building. There may also be organic material mixed with the soot.

We Deal with All Types of Fires in Taunton

SERVPRO trained technicians manage all types of fire damage in Taunton and surrounding areas. We provide services depending on the extent of the fire and smoke damage to your home or business, including:

• Boarding up and tarps on your roof
• Remove water and dry all content and structures
• Removal of damaged structures or contents causing odors
• Soot and smoke residue removal from ceilings, walls, surfaces, and contents
• Restoration, cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfection

Contact SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield for fire damage services to Taunton residential and commercial buildings and surrounding areas. Call (508) 824-0200. Our team is ready to respond 24/7 to help with all your fire damage needs.

Take Out Service at the Taunton Public Library

1/19/2021 (Permalink)

It will be exciting to see the community enjoying their books from the Taunton Public Library!

Safely Social Distance and Get the Taunton Public Library Goods You Wish to Enjoy

The ability to enjoy a good book or other library materials is still available to residents of the Taunton area, even during this time of social distancing. At the Taunton Public Library, you can enjoy our Take Out Services! Please wear a mask, and proper social distancing rules are still in effect. But, you have the chance to call ahead to reserve what you need. Come in for an inside pick up, or you can take advantage of our convenient curbside services. Just get in contact with us at the library or use our online portal to place your order. We will then inform you when your holds become available.

• Date: Ongoing during library openings
• Where: Taunton Public Library, 12 Pleasant Street, Taunton, MA
• Times: Inside pickup, Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm – mask required. Outside curbside available Monday through Friday 9 am to 3 pm.
• Cost: No additional cost

We want the local community to stay safe during times of social distancing. At SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield, we are always available should you need prompt fire mitigation services. Our crew arrives fast to get to work on debris cleanup and soot and smoke residue removal. Call (508) 824-0200, and we will send technicians out as soon as possible.

I Need Fire Damage Restoration Services for My Home. Who Can Help?

7/28/2020 (Permalink)

Taunton Homeowners Are Happy with the SERVPRO Approach to Fire Damage Cleanup and Restoration--We Even Eliminate the Pungent Odors

Hire SERVPRO’s Team of Experts in Taunton To Complete the Fire Damage Restoration Process.

Nothing is more traumatizing than a fire threatening your family’s sense of security. Even after the flames are gone, the secondary damage may continue to destroy the structure and pose health risks to its residents. Therefore, it is essential to act fast by contacting restoration experts in Taunton within the first 48 hours to stop further damage.

Why the first 48 hours?

Restoration experts call the first 24 to 48 hours following a fire loss the golden hours of recovery. To ensure the recovery of as much property as possible after fire damage in your Taunton home, it is critical to have an effective response that stabilizes the property. When the firefighters extinguish a blaze, the acidic soot and smoke can speed up corrosion and deterioration of building components and valuable items. To compound the issue, firefighters use water or chemicals to extinguish the flames. Our technicians can remove the left-over chemicals, water, and the odor that a fire leaves behind.

What does fire damage restoration include?

Our restoration services include mitigating the fire damage, water removal, and smoke residue cleanup. We conduct the restoration process as quickly as possible so that our customers do not incur costly repairs. Beyond the visible structural damage, SERVPRO technicians evaluate contents inside a property for recovery based on factors such as:

• Decreased life expectancy
• Effect of smoke and heat
• Sentimental value
• Loss of value
• Loss of use
• Comparison between replacement cost and cost of restoration

Our fire damage restoration services can include:

• Emergency board-up: Since the restoration process might take a few days, we can protect your property from severe weather or intruders. We can use plywood enforced by two-by-fours to board up any openings. If the unfortunate incident damaged the roof, we can cover the opening using a polythene paper.
• Soot and smoke residues cleanup: We use advanced products to clean the soot and smoke residues from different surfaces. We can use Liquid Crème Cleaners such as stain scrub to clean high gloss surfaces or appliances made of stainless steel.
• Thermal deodorization: Smoke odor can hide in various places, including confined areas. Even after a thorough cleanup, the odors may persist. Our technicians can use thermal fog deodorizers to combat the odors. We use a thermal fogger to apply the product in the affected areas and allow it to work overnight.

Our SERVPRO technicians also inspect the property to ensure it is suitable for inhabitation.

Do not let secondary fire damage lead to expensive repairs in your property. Contact SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield at (508) 824-0200 immediately after the fire loss for effective restoration.

Can I Retain Any Paneling After Fire Incidents?

6/9/2020 (Permalink)

Call the fire restoration pros in your Taunton area. SERVPRO can mitigate fire damage with updated equipment and knowledge.

SERVPRO Can Help You Make Informed Decisions during Fire Restoration in Your Taunton Home

You might not recognize your own house after a fire incident because of the soiling of surfaces or other damages. The possibility of saving materials such as wall paneling might seem minimal. A professional restoration team from SERVPRO helps Taunton property owners evaluate what to save.

Is a plan to save paneling realistic?

The likelihood of successful fire restoration of materials in Taunton properties depends on several factors, including the physical characteristics of the material and the purpose such material serves. Paneling mostly serves a decorative purpose and is made from a variety of products, which are affected differently by fire. Typical forms of paneling that you might want to save include:

• Acoustic paneling
• Utility paneling
• Tileboard paneling
• Decorative wall paneling

Since paneling makes your home unique, the reason for restoring it might be more than just to save the money you would spend replacing it.

What is the best way to restore damaged paneling?

Unlike other materials in the house, the kind of damage you can restore on paneling mostly involves soiling or slight charring by heat or flames. Other forms of damage could be too severe to reverse. Our SERVPRO technicians use regular and specialized cleaning techniques to remove soils effectively, including:

• Peroxide active cleaning on acoustic paneling
• Soda blasting porous surfaces
• Spraying and wiping regular surfaces

Some forms of paneling create ridges or grooves on surfaces leading to higher accumulation of soils. The unevenness of the surface can also slow down the cleaning process. Our crews overcome such challenges by using chemical sponges, which limit smudging or vacuum the affected areas to lift residues from corners.

Saving affected materials during a fire incident keeps costs manageable. Call SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield at (508) 824-0200 to address any damage on fittings, "Like it never even happened."

The Hazardous Effects After A Fire In Your East Taunton Home

5/23/2020 (Permalink)

Our SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield team can help with efficient cleaning and restoration methods available anytime that you need them.

What Lingering Effects Are Hazards After a Fire in East Taunton?

Our SERVPRO team can help to identify hazards in your East Taunton home after a fire and work around the clock to restore these damages.

Fires are not one-dimensional threats to your East Taunton home that require only one specific restoration technique to resolve. In many situations, there are multiple lingering effects after a fire gets extinguished, which can be health hazards or structural concerns for your home. Addressing these conditions requires experienced professionals like our restoration technicians working with an insurance company and the customer to get the house back to preloss condition.

Fire damage in East Taunton often requires an array of qualified professionals from our roster, including Water Restoration Technicians (WRT), Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT), and Odor Control Technicians (OCT.) Assessing lingering threats like water damage from extinguishment or soot and smoke residues can happen in the initial walkthrough and job scoping conducted by our project manager and crew chief.

Where Is Smoke Damage the Worst?

Smoke damage is one of the lingering effects that can often continue to damage a residence after a fire gets extinguished. The smoke produced during the combustion and burning of materials throughout the house can spread quickly throughout the entire structure. With open HVAC systems, smoke residues and odors can spread into almost every room of the house connected to the initial damage point. There are a few places where smoke damage is likely to be the worst, including:

    •    Near the Ignition Point - It is not challenging to assume that smoke and burning are going to be the worst where the fire starts. Before the disaster spreads in the house, it can burn the longest in this starting point. With a total burning of the ignition point, smoke effects can be the heaviest in this area.
    •    Ceilings – In the same manner that convection ovens circulate warm air, smoke rises. You can recognize the presence of smoke and ash by a blackening of ceiling tiles and drywall.
    •    Upper Portions of Wall Surfaces – Much like the ceiling surfaces, oily residues, and smoke effects can also get found on the upper halves of wall surfaces towards the ceiling.

How Challenging Are Odors to Remove?

As is the case with many loss incidents like flooding and biohazard cleaning, odors can often be one of the most challenging and persistent threats to the structure. ‘Airing out’ the problem zone does not resolve the problem. Instead, deodorization is a process that relies heavily on sophisticated tools and equipment available to our SERVPRO professionals. Depending on what materials and what area of the house has become affected by foul smoke and burning odors, we can choose among multiple odor removal devices, including:

    •    Thermal Foggers – by heating a deodorizing compound to a vaporous gas, we can quickly and thoroughly spread out this neutralizing product throughout the affected area. In a gaseous state, the process is likely to also help trapped odors in materials get neutralized.
    •    Hydroxyl Generators – these devices work in two different ways to help the home after a fire loss. Through UV cleaning the environment and producing radicals, these machines can eliminate odor molecules on contact. The onboard HEPA filter can also reduce the present particulates and soot in the environment.
    •    Ozone Machines – These units are not safe to use with living things around but are among the most definitive and authoritative weapons in the battle on lingering odors. By breaking apart oxygen compounds, single molecules get produced, which can bond with odor groupings and break them apart.

Can I Clean Soot on My Own?

Soot can be one of the most unsettling symptoms of a recent fire, especially when you understand the immense challenge it can be to remove. There are several strategies that our SERVPRO team implements depending on its location and severity. These include:

    •    Water-Based Solvents – Oily residues often require water-based solvents to remove, but they can also be effective at times against the acidic soot particles.
    •    Media Blasting – By utilizing pressurized air and soft media like sodium bicarbonate, we can often remove much of the soot adhered to the surfaces of affected materials.
    •    Controlled Demolition – While it is always the focus of our professionals to restore before replacing, controlled demolition is one of the most surefire ways to remove soot from the household.

Many homeowners believe that the worst is over with fire once it has gotten extinguished, but there is still much damage that can happen. Our SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield team can help with efficient cleaning and restoration methods available anytime that you need them. Give us a call anytime at (508) 824-0200.

What Is The Best Way To Restore A Mansfield Kitchen After Oven Fire Damage?

5/1/2020 (Permalink)

You can depend on our SERVPRO technicians to respond quickly to remove fire damage from your Mansfield home.

The Most Important Thing You Can Do After A Fire Incident Is To Have An Experienced Team Of Professionals Like SERVPRO By Your Side.

According to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) data from 2016, cooking fires alone accounted for 630,000 of all reported home fires. These fires typically involve the use of the stove or oven, and oils and proteins are among the most common sources of flames. Manby homeowners can mistakenly spread damage by opening oven doors before a fire has been smothered entirely or trying to douse a grease fire with water, spreading the flames to nearby surfaces. 

When a cooking mishap leaves your Manfield kitchen needing fire damage mitigation, the pros at SERVPRO are always ready to restore your home. Fire damage comprises more than just soot and odors in your kitchen: invisible protein residues and soot in your vents can spread unpleasant odors throughout your home that consumer-grade products are ill-equipped to address. SERVPRO also offers licensed general contracting services (#CS-108357) to restore your home as thoroughly as possible after a disaster.

Safely Using Your Oven as a Smoker

• Put the food you wish to smoke in a bowl or container and season as desired. Use a disposable or reusable oven smoker bag, which typically has wood chips and seasoning in the lining. 
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit for at least five minutes before inserting the smoker bag on a cookie sheet. Reduce the temperature and cook per smoker bag instructions.
• Maximize ventilation by opening windows and turning on your range's hood fan. 

Removing Soot Residues From Ceiling to Floor

After an oven fire, kitchens typically require soot cleanup with both wet and dry cleaning methods, particularly in and around nearby cabinets. Food stored in or near affected areas may require disposal, including cans and jars, because heat and residues can penetrate packaging or otherwise alter the container. Smoke damage on and inside the stove can be cleaned with EPA-registered all-purpose industrial cleaners as well as gently-applied abrasive or alkaline cleaners. Enzyme digesters can combat protein residues in your kitchen.

SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield is a service you can count on to be Faster to Any Size Disaster. Call (508) 824-0200 to have a team of IICRC-certified technicians at your home in as little as four hours.

Learn more about Mansfield.

How Can I Get Immediate Restoration Help After a Fire in My House?

4/19/2020 (Permalink)

The aftermath of a fire can be quite overwhelming. Contact our certified technicians if your home suffers fire damage. We are standing by 24/7.

Our SERVPRO Professionals Can Reach Your East Taunton Home Fast Whenever Fires Happen to Begin Vital Mitigation Efforts. 

When fires occur, it can be a hazardous situation for your home, especially considering that many homeowners are ill-equipped to handle the immensity of fire loss recovery. With dozens of threatening circumstances present all at once, it is critical to get mitigation and restoration efforts started as soon as possible. The sooner that professionals like our SERVPRO team can get to work on restoring your home in East Taunton, the less widespread and compromising many of these effects might become.

Our fast response when fire damage threatens East Taunton homes is part of the reason that we have become a trusted name throughout Massachusetts. We have dedicated professionals devoted to fire and water loss recovery to maximize our efficiency when you need it most.

What Are the Emergency Services SERVPRO Offers? 

Emergency services are the initial actions that our technicians take when we respond during a fire damage disaster in East Taunton. As the first professionals on the scene after your property gets turned back over to your care, there are immediate steps that our team can take to lessen the destruction that can continue after extinguishment. Some of these actions include:

• Temporary Construction Solutions  

With an in-house team of residential contractors (General Contractor License #: CS-108357), we can do more than implement approaches like controlled demolition. Because many structural breaches might exist after a house fire, or even man-made openings for immediate access for extinguishment, your home does not remain exposed to the elements. We can start roof tarping and board up services right away.

• Damage Assessment 

Scoping the work to get done through mitigation and restoration phases is an essential element of maximizing production and efficiency. By carefully planning out the actions of responding technicians and the placement of restorative equipment, we can provide a faster turnaround on recovery.

• Content Management 

We understand how valuable your belongings are to you, and during a fire disaster, you might consider many of these items to be a total loss. Through focused relocation of your possessions and designations for which contents need on-site cleaning or off-site recovery, we can do more to protect what matters most to you.

• Air Quality Control 

Between odors and circulating ash, debris, and soot, the quality of the air in your home after a loss incident is hazardous. By deploying machines like air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators, we can do more to clean up the environment with onboard HEPA filters.

How Hard Is It to Clean Soot Myself? 

There are a few reasons why it might not be advisable to attempt the cleaning and removal of soot in your home on your own. These include:

• Fine Particles 

Soot is almost microscopic by the individual particle, making it a hazard for those directly exposed without the appropriate personal protection equipment. When attempting to clean up settled residues, these particles can recirculate and become a health concern.

• Thick Residues 

Because soot can collect in thick layers on the surfaces of exposed materials, cleaning these residues might be harder than you think. Wipe cleaning is often ineffective and can stain or mar surfaces when the soot layer smears.

• Varying Cleaning Approaches

Similarly, many materials react differently to soot deposits. While some surfaces require soda blasting to clean, other affected contents or structural elements could get wipe cleaned or vacuumed. Knowing what your home needs is one of the benefits to trained and educated restoration technicians like our SERVPRO team.

Is Demolition a Necessary Restoration Step? 

As much as we always seek to restore before replacing, fires often make it impossible to avoid demolition entirely. There are several benefits to choosing controlled demolition during the mitigation phases, including:

• Access to Damaged Areas
• Removing Hazards that Could Collapse
• Reduces Concentration of Soot and Odors

What Happens When We Do Not Need to Relocate After a Fire? 

Many fire losses do not force the relocation of the affected family. In these situations, our professionals can still work to provide an efficient result through containment barriers that isolate the affected areas and prevent cross-contamination from those in the living space, however possible. Through physical, structural barriers, we can reduce the migration of fire and smoke odors, soot particles, and other compromising effects.

Getting skilled professionals to your house quickly to begin mitigation after a fire loss incident is vital. We have an extensive inventory of cutting-edge equipment and tools to maximize the efficiency of our SERVPRO of Taunton / Mansfield technicians in the field. Give us a call anytime that you need us at (508) 824-0200.

Our Professionals Have The Proper Techniques To Restore Your Taunton Home After A Fire

3/2/2020 (Permalink)

The light fixture in this home caused a fire and our restoration experts arrived right away and began mitigation. We are available 24/7.

Cleaning Up After Fire Damage in Your Taunton Home

Having a minor fire in your home means that you have a lot of clean-up from smoke residue and long-lasting malodors. If not handled right away and properly, you may be smelling smoke for weeks and months to come.

Dealing with fire damage in your Taunton home requires a lot of patience, and often professional assistance to use the proper cleaning techniques, products, and equipment. The same fire can produce different types of residue that require differentiated cleaning, making it challenging for homeowners to clean up properly.

There are basic cleaning principles after a fire that works as a process to clean and deodorize correctly. This process aids SERVPRO fire restoration technicians with ensuring your home is returned to preloss condition.

Locate the Smoke Residues

It helps estimators to trace the trail that the smoke traveled throughout the structure. This confirms the total distance the smoke traveled and helps technicians formulate a restoration plan. This helps prepare technicians the degree of the fire damages.

Determine the Type of Residue and Surface

Technicians test surfaces to determine the type of residue to decide the appropriate cleaning tactics. For example, different types of paint may need different types of cleaning. Sometimes surfaces are porous, and smoke residues penetrate deep within the fabric, making it difficult to remove. Fabrics and upholstery hold smoke residue differently from hard surfaces.

Remove Captured Residues and Dispose

Depending on the type of residue and surface, technicians vacuum or dissolve the soils. Technicians vacuum when particles are solid, usually made up of carbon. If moisture accidentally comes in contact with these solid particles, they may become tough to capture and remove. If a residue is not an individual particle, it needs to be dissolved before removal; this way, technicians can rinse and flush away the loosely-bonded residue. The most important consideration with residue disposal is that you dispose of it according to regional and state regulations. SERVPRO technicians do not dispose of it in gutters, septic systems, or sewer lines.

For assistance after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Taunton/Mansfield (General Contractor License #CS-108357) at (508) 824-0200.

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