Recent Commercial Posts

Business Leak

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Work Clean Up 1 testing walls for water damage, 2 cleaning up the leak before work, 3 overall damage

Our clients out of Anaheim Hills had an unfortunate leak during business hours. Once we arrived, we found the area that was damaged and immediately began to go to work. We blocked off the area to ensure that their customers were safe and out of harm’s way.

When we get on scene we first like to assess the damage and block access to it to make sure that our customers as well as guests are all safe. This leak was coming from the sprinkler system that began to misfire and leak right after.

We take pride in our work and wanted to ensure that when they stepped back into the work place they wouldn’t even be able to tell. We ensure that our customers would be satisfied with our work and we like to put things back the way they were or even better.

If you find yourself in some trouble with water damage please give us a call so we can make sure that you can get the business back into action.

Brea Leak in a Business

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

Brea work 1 dehumidifiers at work drying up the area, 2 testing the water while the dehumidifiers work, 3 another test with the dehumidifier working in the back

A business client gave us a call with the worry that they may have a leak in the wall. Upon arrival we found that their assumptions were correct, and they had an issue in the walls. This call took place in Brea, CA and took us only a few hours.

As you see, when we start our work we begin to test the inward parts of the assumed effected area to ensure that our work is precise. What we do for each treatment is put our dehumidifiers in the affected area to dry up the damp areas. Once we finish up the drying process, we begin to check again to ensure the area is cleaned and ready to go.

Our dehumidifiers hold the power to dry all the areas to make sure that we prevent any mold growth in the previously wet areas. Give us a call today, even if you are not sure we can get someone to take a look.

Small Business and Big Problem

12/9/2021 (Permalink)

Closet Clean Up 1 dehumidifier and sectioned off area, 2 closet space, 3 closet skeleton, 4 damaged ground

One of our clients who had a small business, but a big problem realized that their water pipes had been leaking and created issues in between their closet walls which then led down into the flooring of their home and left unwanted damage.

Our trained professional team was able to get out there quick enough to handle the problem and quickly start the turnover process to completely repair the damaged area. The team first sectioned off all the damage area to limit any type of harmful chemicals to leave the area to keep the business staff safe.

We then had to peel back the entirety of the wooden area that was effected and begin the drying process while getting ready to replace the old with the new. Our team at SERVPRO is equipped and ready to serve any problem, especially with our in house chemicals to ensure the effectiveness of the disinfectant and treated area. Give us a call today!

Anaheim Hills Small Business

10/21/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial Water Damage 1 under the cabinet search for damage, 2 the damaged wood and leak, 3 the water damage test

This small business in Anaheim Hills gave us a call because they had an odd smell coming from their break room. After extensive cleaning they guessed correctly and found a leak coming from their sink. They gave us a call because the leak seemed to be coming from within the wood work and they had no experience in this area.

Once our team got out there, we immediately got to work and started to fix the problem at hand. Since it was their break room their operations did not have to stop but we worked fast and diligently so they could get back to work. SERVPRO was there to serve and make their space comfortable.

Our team got out there and cleaned up the problem immediately. The photos you see show how bad the leak had gotten and damaged the surrounding wood entirely. Luckily the leak didn’t spread too far or deep that we just were able to disinfect the area and put in a new slab. Give SERVPRO a call today.

Brea Continues Business

7/15/2021 (Permalink)

Flooring Being Removed 1 floor being removed, 2 floor panels that were removed piled up, 3 the after math of all the flooring being removed

Business cant operate if you have problems going on inside the business. That is why giving us a call to take care of the problem is the best thing you can do. We handle all problems that involve, mold, water, and fire damage.

Here in Brea, a business unfortunately had water leaking through the flooring of their office and couldn’t find out why. Fortunate for them they gave us a call so we can go out there and handle the problem. We had to first remove the flooring and properly dispose of it before cleaning out the concrete that would need to be re-treated and cleaned up to dispose of any possible mold growth.

Once we finish up with the flooring and properly cleaning up the base of the floor we do let the client decide if they want us to do the flooring installation as well. If you have a problem with possible water damage but want to continue doing business while the damage is taken care of, give us a call today to take care of it.

Water Won't Stop Business in Brea

6/10/2021 (Permalink)

Sectioned off work 1 the section off damaged area to ensure control, 2 the start of bottom wall removal, 3 the pipe leak area

Are you a business that is suffering from a water leak but don’t want to stop business? Well here at SERVPRO we have you covered. This business in Brea had a problem with their toilet as it began to leak and eventually overflow onto the restroom floor.

Luckily the problem was quickly addressed which allowed our team to get in the business and minimize the damage that occurred. As we addressed the problem we wanted to make sure we limited any other surface damage that could have occurred so we took the precautions to cover the effected area to ensure the spread was minimized.

Water damage can happen fast and creep into the crevices of the building before you even know it. It is always good to keep an eye out for such instances just in case it happens in your office building. If you feel that there may be a leak in your building, give us a call today so we can check it out and prevent any damage from taking its final course.

Mold Remediation for Small Business

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Mold in the Breakroom 1 roof mold, 2 breakthrough from ceiling to roof from decay and mold, 3 air drying and purifying the air

Mold can be a harmful issue that could cause risks in the workplace. If you didn’t know, our SERVPRO team is equipped and ready to take on any mold or other harmful bacteria. For example, this company who worked in a small office space first gave us a call for possible water leak.

When we arrived on scene we noticed that there was internal damage to the structure and led us to figure out that there was more to the problem than the eye could see. In the break room of their office there had been some minor leaking that took place which ultimately led to the moldy space.

Luckily we were prepared and began working on the remediation of this as soon as we got back on sight. These jobs can be stressful because it could raise questions about the health of the environment but there’s no need to worry because our SERVPRO team are experts at removing such harmful areas.

Hallway and Office Water Damage

4/7/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial Restoration 1 containment area, 2 carpet uplifted to ensure precise drying, 3 dehumidifiers hard at work

What a year 2020 was, especially for business. Our team was able to continue to serve the community within the Anaheim Hills area and helped this business continue to operate. This business unfortunately had to fight back a water flood in their commercial business.

Water damage can be devastating if it isn’t handled properly but our SERVPRO team is ready and equipped to handle the situation. This business had a leak coming from their restroom into the hallway and led into the office space, which got a little messy. Our team felt it necessary to uplift the carpet to ensure that the drying process completed throughout the material and especially the floor.

We use dehumidifiers to dry up any left-over excess water to reduce the chances of mold growth or any other spots. Give us a call today so we may see if we can help out your commercial area.

Hotel goes Underwater

9/10/2020 (Permalink)

Shows how we completed the job #1 our machine to help speed up the drying process, #2 contained material being moved, #3 shows the removal of carpet, #4 shows our dehumidifiers

Water damage is devastating in itself, but imagine when it comes through your hotel room stories above everyone else. Our clients owned a well known resort which led to worry about their clients stay. 

Luckily our SERVPRO team knew how to handle and attack the job in all the right areas to ensure that one: spread wouldn't continue throughout any other rooms or floors, and two, that they knew how to contain the room in all the right areas. 

This all happened from a pipe malfunction in the room next door and luckily it was only spreading throughout one room. Once we get there and assessed the problem our team jumped on board quickly and resolved the issue. 

We removed all the damaged carpet that was affected and immediately staged it in a contained area which was later removed by our hazmat team. 

This job wasn't an easy one but our team worked its hardest to ensure that we left the client satisfied with the work but also that no spread of water or mold would occur once we were finished. 

The Layered Walls Saved this Workspace

8/25/2020 (Permalink)

Overview of the workspace Photo 1 shows removal of boards, 2 shows the dehumidifiers, 3 shows chemicals, 4 shows minimal work being done

It isn’t always a complete and total loss when it comes to the damage caused by water. For instance, this commercial building got lucky with some minor damage that kept the cost of the repairs to the bare minimum.

After receiving the call and the inspection by our team we realized that this job would take minimal drying effort because of the layout of the walls between businesses. This was tied into a store front that was connected with many other businesses and unfortunately their neighbors had a water leak from a pipe bursting and leaking on the other side of the wall.

Since this was layered with multiple walls the water was unable to leak through which led to minimal damage to their portion of the building. Our team only had to remove the base boards of the walls to then properly dry with our dehumidifiers. Since it was minimal the cost of the repairs went way down because it wouldn’t need any special reconstruction attention.

To help prevent potential mold growth we applied a special anti microbial to the affected area. This chemical is a chemical made by our professional team that is SERVPRO ready at any job site. This is something the client appreciated because they were able to continue operation.

Our team wants to help you continue operation, whether your leak takes out the business floor or if it is just a minor problem we are ready to help. SERVPRO is here for the community and if you need us we are just one phone call away.

New Business Mold Remediation in Yorba Linda

7/13/2020 (Permalink)

Mold from the Ceiling to the Floor The mold can clearly be seen in the picture as it creeps down from the ceiling to the floor. This was just one room in the upstairs unit.

A small rain look turned into a big problem when a small start up company did not realize they had a small roof leak during the rainy season. They had just moved into a new two story building to accommodate a workspace for their employees. As rain leaked in and the building and hot temperatures came around it caused humidity within the wet areas which then led to mold. In the picture you can see the dark areas which have infected the walls  all the way down to the floor. The ceiling tiles were also removed to ensure a safe removal of all infected areas. 

The removal included of all the porous materials such as: ceiling tiles throughout the second floor,  drywall, laminate flooring and carpet. After the removal we took steps to clean walls, floors, and provided a mold treated to the wood framing for mold removal. The last step we took was to treat all infected areas with a disinfectant and scrubber to create a safe and healthy workplace. 

During the work process we took steps to keep employees safe and working while we removed all mold infected areas. To do so, we quarantined all of the second floor and a portion of the first floor to allow the business to keep working as the client requested. SERVPRO also took steps to keep dust particles away from the employees with a commercial air scrubbers. We also took the weekend to finish off the last steps to prioritize the safety of the employees and keep them away from any dust or chemicals that would have been in the air. We like to make sure that our clients are safe and comfortable especially when they are working. 

To keep their employees with a clear state of mind the client chose to hire a third party environmental testing company to confidently say that the rooms were no longer unhealthy. We ended that test with flying colors. The client also appreciated that throughout the working process of the clean up we provided written updates so they could share with their employees and important parties, or we would update them as requested. We love to take any steps that would keep our clients happy, and SERVPRO will always do its best to accommodate such matters.

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea Hygiene Tips for Small Businesses

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea, health and safety are our top priorities. During this difficult time with the current outbreak of COVID-19, we must protect our employees.

Here are some tips to protect yourself, others and minimize the exposure during this pandemic:

  • Washing your hands frequently (scrub hands for at least 20 seconds under running water)
  • Practice coughing and sneezing etiquette by covering your mouth and nose with a tissue
  • Clean/Disinfect frequently specially “high touch” areas such as  workstations, countertops, doorknobs, and light switches
  • Practice social distancing when possible which may include non-contact methods of greeting
  • Minimize face-to-face contact when possible and use alternate methods such as videoconferencing
  • Clean/Disinfect “high touch” surfaces like telephones, headphones, charging devices, keyboards, and other high frequented office accessories
  • Consider adjusting or postponing meetings or gatherings

For more information please visit the CDC web page, cdc.gov/coronavirus

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea assists business in the City of Brea with a sudden flood

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

When a pipe bursts, a quick response is vital to avoiding secondary damages. Here at SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea we understand the sense of urgency when it comes to sudden bursts and know to act promptly. Extraction services needed immediately are our top priority.

We were called upon to the City of Brea when a bathroom urinal battery malfunctioned and caused a leak overnight. That morning the employees of the business arrived to find several rooms flooded including a bathroom and hallway. SERVPRO was quick to arrive that morning and assist with extracting the water. The business was thankful for SERVPRO’s quick response as they were able to continue operations without any down time.

After the emergency services were completed, the SERVPRO team got to work with setting up the drying machines. It’s imperative that after the initial extraction has been completed that the structure be dried properly in order to avoid secondary damages such as mildew growth. Within a few days of our drying equipment running, the structure was dry.

Have a bathroom related burst or has any other source of water damage affected your business? Contact SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea today! Our staff knows what to do to help your business quickly. SERVPRO 714-701-0207

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea assists with dry out of local hotel

4/10/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/Brea recently had an opportunity to assist a local hotel with a sudden water flood. The General Manager contacted our office seeking assistance with the water flood that seeped into 6 guest rooms and a hallway.

Upon arrival, SERVPRO immediately began the water mitigation efforts. Furniture was moved out of the wet areas to prevent damage and water was extracted from the soaked carpet using one of our commercial-grade, high-volume extractor. Once all the water was extracted, SERVPRO focused their efforts in delivering and setting up the drying equipment consisting of dehumidifiers and air movers.

SERVPRO worked with hotel management and service personnel to ensure the safety and comfort of hotel guests while the dry out efforts took place. SERVPRO understands the importance of continuing business operations after a water disaster and is ready to help make the necessary accommodations.

SERVPRO was able to dry the walls and flooring in place without having to perform extensive demolition. The owner was thankful that we successfully dried the structure in minimal time.

If you need assistance with water damage, please contact us at 714-701-0207. We will send out one of our professional team members to meet with you.

You can learn more about what our clients have said about our work at:

https://www.SERVPROyorbalindabrea.com/testimonials

Water Damage in a Yorba Linda Rental Home

7/4/2019 (Permalink)

Yuck! Imagine the smell from this.mold, not to mention the wall stains or the potential risks. Not a problem for SERVPRO Yorba Linda/ Brea!

Being a landlord is tricky business.  You have to ensure that your property is in market condition but doing that means you have to rely on your tenants to be on the lookout for things that could go bad before they actually do.  Failure to spot warning signs usually means that, at some point or another, there is going to be a disaster.  Unfortunately, tenants are not as mindful about your property as you would be for a simple reason; it’s not theirs!

Recently, SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea had an opportunity to assist one of our clients in such a situation. In this instance, as in many projects we’re involved in, not only did we work with the property owner but we also worked with the insurance adjuster, and the tenant in order to achieve a happy ending for everyone.  This is one important way of ensuring that our slogan is always true; we work hard to make you feel ‘Like it never even happened.’

What happened was that a Yorba Linda landlord of a rental house was notified by his tenant that mold had formed in the guest room.  Being a room that was not used very often, the tenant was not sure exactly how long the mold had been there.

Upon receiving the call, our Dispatch Manager, Xochitl, scheduled Project Manager, Cesar Arcila to go to the home and perform an inspection and present the landlord with a quote.  Cesar’s inspection revealed that there was major water damage.  A pipe that ran through the guest room’s closet wall had been leaking for quite some time – as evidenced by the amount of mold that had been allowed to form, the fact that the drywall was saturated and that it was soaked down to the carpet and baseboards.  Upon the owner’s agreement to the quote and our contract, Cesar asked our Crew Chief to bring out our team of highly trained and personally committed technicians.

Tackling the water damage proceeded as follows:  We placed a dehumidifier to control the moisture content in the room.  As the room was drying out, we demo’d the impacted drywall, carpet and carpet padding.  Once exposed, we were able to scrub all mold from the studs using sand paper and an anti-microbial spray.  The room itself was isolated from the rest of the house via a containment system (thick plastic sheeting).  This was necessary to prevent spreading mold spores (part of the life-cycle of mold and the way mold colonizes new areas).  We used a HEPA filter to scrub the air to EPA standards. 

Because of the possible health risks, mold remediation should not be attempted without proper training and the use of special hazmat suits and ventilators.

It took several days to fully dry the room.  The homeowner was very appreciative of our expertise and knowledge concerning the potential hazards of mold. 

Are you currently facing a mold challenge of your own?

We’d be happy to send our team out.  We guarantee your satisfaction.  Want proof? See any of the testimonials on this site or view any of the number of recent testimonial videos.

Convinced and ready to roll?  Give SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea a call at 714-701-0207.

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea Cleans Up For Church!

1/17/2019 (Permalink)

On this project, our strengths in storm and water restoration as well as in mold remediation made SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea the right choice!

It’s not exactly like the headline sounds, but we’re still proud of how things came out.

During our last round of rain, the roof over the daycare center that’s annexed to a Christian church in Anaheim Hills started to leak and four about four days, the rain just built up inside the building, overflowing into four adjacent rooms.

The custodian at the daycare center reached out to their insurance company, and as often happens, was promptly referred to SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea.

Our Project Manager, Jonathan, was on-site within forty-five minutes of our receiving the call.  Jonathan is one of our best Project Managers.  He can identify the most efficient path towards a restored building as well as he can comfort a worried custodian.  His patient, methodical, step-by-step explanation of our approach was very effective in helping the customer understand that the worst was already over. 

We began by extracting the pooled water.  Then we removed the base boards and removed drywall in most of the daycare center.  Four days of standing water had saturated the drywall, soaking the wood studs.  Unfortunately, in that amount of time, mold had begun growing as well.

Mold remediation is also an area where we excel, and we often encounter this work in water damage or storm damage situations.  Mold remediation is not something that should be done by people who have not been trained.  It’s more complicated than what ‘meets the eye’.   Perhaps the trickiest thing about mold is that unless the right precautions are taken, its tiny spores (part of the reproductive stage of its life-cycle) will go air-borne through the air currents present in any structure.  As soon as they find the right environment (wood fibers and moisture)  the spores take hold and mold begins growing on the new surface.  Second, special protective clothing and masks must be worn by the person/ people doing the remediation work.  Coming into contact with mold, or inhaling mold may affect your health.  We have the experience and training and very importantly, the right chemicals and machines.

Another major task was pulling the water from the carpeting that was in part of the daycare center.  Because of its placement in the center, it had not received as much water as the rest of the structure.  Using a LAM/ floating floor we were able to pull the water out of the carpeting and it was salvageable.

In total, this job took us about four days to complete.  During that time, the church was intent on keeping its daycare service operating so as not to disrupt the lives of the parents and children who depend on that service.  Our workers were very careful to plan the work and stage the equipment in ways that allowed concurrent restoration work with their operations.

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea is the #1 SERVPRO franchise in California.  We got this way because we’re very good at two things.  One is restoration work.  The other is caring for our customers.  We approach every job with our six company values firmly in mind.  They include:

  • Knowledge: Our training and experience instills trust and confidence.
  • Integrity: Faithful execution of our commitments. Our word is our bond.
  • Relationships: Earning your trust t every opportunity through compassion, fairness and excellence.
  • Consistency: We’re only as good as our last job.  Our high standards set your expectations.
  • Urgency: We are there when disaster strikes and you need us now.
  • Cleanliness: Committed to restoring safety and health to your environment, giving you peace of  mind.

Need more confirmation?  Check out our customer testimonials at https://www.SERVPROyorbalindabrea.com/testimonials

Commercial Damage Restoration Following a Rain Storm in Rancho Cucamonga

12/26/2018 (Permalink)

Are you facing water damage in your commercial structure? SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea has over a dozen years in restoration.

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea recently had an opportunity to serve a client in Rancho Cucamonga following a heavy rain storm.

The rain had been so bad that it had actually gone through the structure’s exterior wall, flooding the office.  Cubicles were wet, so was the carpeting, and the drywall.

We sent one of our best project managers, Gilbert, out to meet with the business owner.  We were awarded the business because of the personal touch Gilbert takes with each client.  Like all our technicians, we know that panic can easily set in during a time like this.  We know that the business is what an owner wants to focus on, not a flood.  Certainly, there was no time in the busy owner’s schedule to be shut down for any length of time.  Gilbert won the owner’s confidence that we would quickly and professionally provide the restoration services that he needed.  Within the hour, our team was on site and we were fast at work.

We use only the best technology in our work.  On this project, we used a water extractor and a group of air movers to dry the structure.  Our customer was relieved when we told him we could salvage his carpeting.  However, it was necessary for us to open several walls in order to completely dry out the inner wooden studs.  Failure to do that usually leads to a mold problem as well as additional costs.

Another thing that the business owner remarked about was the care we took of the office equipment, cubicles and tiled walkways where we had to walk in order to perform our work.  We always lay runners down on the floors so as not to track dirt in.  Likewise, wherever necessary, we hung plastic sheeting  to further ensure nothing got dirty.  In cases where we had to move certain equipment, we also carefully moved everything so that it was safe as well as out of the way.

It was definitely a long work day for us.  We arrived at 8:30 in the morning, and finally drove off at 10:30 pm, taking all the demo’d dry wall we’d removed earlier in the day.

Water Damage Considerations for Commercial Property Owners

8/25/2018 (Permalink)

Landscape maintenance and building maintenance. Two sides of a single plan to avoid water damage at your commercial property.

Here are a few water damage considerations for Orange County commercial property owners to consider.  From Anaheim to San Clemente, adopt these suggestions to avoid water damage at your commercial property!

Firstly, any water that hits or surrounds your building should have a well-planned route to follow that leads away from the building. 

Think of the grounds around your building and  the structure itself as a single unit.  The crew of people working on the grounds and the folks working on building maintenance should come together as a single team with a holistic view of the property.  If anyone on the overall team should notice a water problem, there should be a clearly known communication path.

Roof Leaks

If landscaping is not properly maintained, water from a rainstorm can actually flow clear up to a roofline by following the vegetation around the building.  This water can even leak behind the siding and flashing where it can eventually penetrate to the interior walls. 

Tree roots can clog underground drain pipes.  For example, at SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea, we’ve had clients who have experienced major sewage seepage caused by choked sewer lines. 

The point is, grounds maintenance personnel can be instrumental in avoiding this type of damage by knowing whom to communicate with and by taking pre-emptive steps to avoid this kind of structural water damage.

Avoiding Damage

Be alert for water flow around the grounds and watch your older trees to see what, if any impact their root systems may be having on the plumbing.  If necessary, take the step of removing or replacing larger vegetation if it becomes a threat to the structure.

Regularly communicate with the landscaping team and your building maintenance personnel and stay abreast of all potential water damage causing hazards.

Parking Lots

A well-planned parking lot will lead rain water away from the building and towards properly placed and maintained drains.   Drain maintenance is very important.  Dirt, leaves and other things that clog the drain pipes can foil even the best planned drainage system.  To keep your drains cleared, follow these useful tips:

Routine inspection and maintenance

Watch out for standing water.  Water that collects around a drain is a good indicator that you have blockage that needs clearing.

Irrigation Systems

Lawn sprinkler systems can be easily damaged by mower blades or other maintenance equipment.  Sprinkler systems with broken heads can create flooding, especially since a lot of these systems are timed to work at night when no one is around to notice faulty operation.  Standing water in isolated places around the lawn or other places is a red flag that you may have this problem.

Corrective Actions

Regularly inspect the irrigation system by walking the property and looking for broken heads or standing water. 

Manually run the irrigation system and watch out for ‘geysers’ that stem from broken water pipes. 

Make needed repairs on a timely basis.

Time to Re-think Your Property’s Landscaping?

Many properties in Southern California were planned in times when water was not as scarce as it is becoming in this era of climate change.   Older landscaping plans require significant amounts of water.  Reducing your watering requirements is also a good way to reduce the risk of water damage to your structure(s).  Newer landscaping plans reflect the fact that Southern California is a desert and property owners are installing more desert-scape and even decorative hardscape around their property. 

Even with the best planning efforts, accidents and disasters still happen.  When the threat of water damage becomes an actual problem, it’s important to have a partner you can rely on.  SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea has been helping commercial and residential customers with water damage restoration for over eleven years.  Over that time, we’ve become the #1 SERVPRO franchise in California.  Commitment to our core values – integrity, knowledge, sense of urgency, consistency, and cleanliness – have helped us achieve this position that we do not take for granted. 

You can learn more about what our clients have said about our work at http://www.SERVPROyorbalindabrea.com/testimonials

Need immediate assistance?  Call us at 714-701-0207.

We’ll make you feel “Like it never even happened”!

Managing Mold: Considerations For Commercial Property Owners

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea carefully erects mold containments like this one to prevent mold spores from spreading to uncontaminated areas.

So you’ve identified a mold growth challenge somewhere in your commercial structure.   Beyond remediating the immediate mold growth, what should you, as a business owner, be doing next?

Obviously, your number one concern with mold is to protect the health and safety of the people working, visiting or living in your building.  You definitely should have a moisture and mold remediation plan and it should contain the steps needed to eliminate the moisture source, identify all the protective equipment you should have on hand and the steps you will follow to contain and remove any moldy building materials.

How Big a Problem Do You Have?

This might be the first question to pin down.  The more mold, the more you’ll need engineering controls.  This term describes the system of special plastic-walled containments and negative air-flow that you’ll need to erect in order to prevent mold spores from moving out of the contained area and into the structure’s open airways. 

What If You Can’t See It?

If the mold is visible, visual assessment is very important to identify the extend of the contamination.  But it isn’t always visible.  In those cases, fiber-optic borescopes can be useful to measure the problem in spaces like wall cavities.  Also, moisture meters, infrared thermography and temperature/ humidity meters are important tools. 

Also, don’t forget that people who use the building regularly can be important information sources.  They can tell you about past leaks, and they might also have information such as where has mold ever been painted over. 

Sampling for Mold

If mold is visible, actual lab tests are not necessary to identify the problem.  They are important though if medical personnel are trying to diagnose a specific infection and treatment protocol.  Lab tests may also be required for legal or insurance purposes.   The testing lab brought into the situation will have a specific protocol that they’ll follow. 

Remediation

There are a few things to consider in the remediation stage.  These include:

  1. How large the affected area is.

What kind of materials need remediation.  Basically, if you’ve got mold growing on porous materials – books, wallboard, upholstered furniture etc., you’re not going to be able to salvage anything.  These things should be bagged and discarded.  Your remediation company will take care of this.  This is because mold is a living organism and by now it has grown entangled within the fibers.  There’s no way to completely eradicate them. 

The news is better if the mold growth is on non-porous materials such as metals and plastics.  In these cases, biocides (special chemicals used to kill and remove mold growth) are used to do the heavy lifting. 

  1. A further consideration is the population in the building.

If the people using the building are sensitive or if they are children, they should be considered in the exact protocol that’s brought to bear on the remediation process.  Children in day care centers or senior citizens in nursing homes should also be considered sensitive populations.

Mold remediation is something that should only be done by highly trained, certified professionals.  For over eleven years, SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea has been helping home owners and commercial property owners eliminate mold growth challenges.  Our knowledge, consistent results, concern for our clients and integrity over the long run have made us the #1 SERVPRO franchise in California.  You can learn more about what our past clients have said about our work by visiting our testimonials page, here:  http://www.SERVPROyorbalindabrea.com/testimonials

If you need immediate assistance, please contact us at 714-701-0207.  We’ll send one of our professional technicians out to meet with you the same day, often within an hour of receiving your call.

We’ll make you feel “Like it never even happened.”

Restoring Your Commercial Property After Storm Damage

8/22/2018 (Permalink)

Storms can really do a number on roofs and rain can cause water damage inside. SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea can help!

My long-time client and friend, Roger, sat in the rain-drenched interior (yes, I said interior) of his law office with a dazed look in his eyes.  The last storm had done a real number on his roof, and through the gaping hole in his roof, hundreds of gallons had poured through a steady rain and hail storm.  “This is going to cost me…”, he said.

All I could think was that this same story was playing itself out in thousands of homes and businesses across the world lately.  Although the geniuses in Washington say it’s ‘not a thing’, the annual cost of climate change is now in excess of $40 trillion annually.   Roger is a friend and a good client, though.  And to us, he's more than just part of a terrible statistic.  This office and his practice are his bread and butter.  And it’s important to us that Roger get’s back on his feet as quickly as possible.

That’s how we see things at SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea.

As the weather continues to get more and more crazy, storms wreak havoc on buildings. They break into the protective surface of the roof.  When this happens, the wood swells and later disintegrates.  When the wood starts to rot, mold moves in.  Inside the building, ceilings start to sag.  Mold sets in.  

We feel good about the work we do.  We know we're helping guys like Roger.  Here’s what SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea does to help:

  1. Thorough examination of the inside and outside of your commercial structure.  Doing this helps us identify the type of damage you’ve already experienced. 
  2. Competitive estimate.  The nature and extent of the damage will establish the processes we need to follow including the type of equipment used, the size of the crew we’ll send out, the types of materials we’ll use, and the number of hours required to complete the project.  We work with nearly all major insurance carriers.
  3. Get a jump start.  One very important step that property owners can take to reduce the overall cost of restoration is to attack the situation immediately.  Don’t wait.  Waiting to start the drying process can actually lead to more structural weakening and mold growth.  Mold will take hold in less than 72 hours.  All it needs is moisture and a food source (cellulose, such as wet wooden wall studs for instance).
  4. Restoring Your Structure.  Assuming that the damage began with a leaky roof, we are going to start there by sealing and renovating it.  Next, we’ll address the ceiling and restore it to its former condition.

Our complete storm damage restoration services include:

  • Rapid Emergency Response
  • Immediate Business Continuity Planning and Execution
  • Commercial Project Management and Trade Coordination
  • Damage Assessment and Reporting
  • Building Surveying and Estimating
  • Salvage and Debris Removal
  • Building Drying and Monitoring
  • Thermal Heat Transfer Systems for On-site Drying
  • Emergency Board-Up Service
  • Perimeter Fencing
  • Water Mitigation
  • Roof Repair (Hail, Wind, Storm)

Don’t let the unpredictable and often savage affect of storm damage put you out of your business.  Your reliable friends at SERVPRO of Yorba Linda/ Brea have been serving Orange County home and commercial property owners recover from fire and water damage as well as storm damage for over eleven years.  Our exceptional customer service, consistently excellent results, respect for our clients and their property, knowledge and integrity have made us the #1 SERVPRO franchise in California. 

Visit our customer testimonials page to hear what our clients have said about us.  http://www.SERVPROyorbalindabrea.com/testimonials

Need immediate assistance?  Call us at 714-701-0207.

We’ll make you feel “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Yorba Linda/ Brea Brings Fresh Air to Stinky Problems!

6/25/2018 (Permalink)

Flush with pride in his work, A SERVPRO Yorba Linda/ Brea service technician puts his back into eliminating a bacterial hazard.

As diligent as most businesses are, unseen problems are difficult to avoid until it’s too late.  This is something one of SERVPRO Yorba Linda/ Brea’s customers recently learned.  We were happy to move this foul problem in a more positive direction. 

In this recent example, an obstructed water main and an untimely flush led to a sewage backup into our client’s work space.  In both the men’s and ladie’s restrooms, sewage began flowing from the toilets and across both bathrooms and into a large portion of the work area.  Technically speaking, this is a category three spill requiring containment of all impacted areas, shut down of all ‘facilities’ and SERVPRO Yorba Linda/ Brea’s hazmat trained technicians rapid extraction of all waste.

Our customers know they can trust us to treat their emergency as if it was our own.  With sense of urgency, skill, confidence, and concern for the welfare of everyone who works in their facility, our team does has developed a stellar reputation in the industry.  That’s why we’re actually the number one SERVPRO franchise in the state of California!

After our fifteen years of diligent, professional service across Southern California, we’ve earned a reputation as the team to turn to for remediation in water and fire damage, and mold abatement.  Whether the problem is residential or commercial in nature, our reputation has led insurance companies to frequently refer us, and to customer testimonials that attest to the caliber of the work we do.

Our experience and training benefits our customers.  Without our advice, some of the required work may have been delayed due to a planned remodel which was to begin in the near future.

“Mr. Thompson, “ our technician began, “I wouldn’t delay this.  This is a septic contamination.  You wouldn’t want to risk the health of your employees, vendors, or visiting customers due to exposure to the bacteria now present in your walls or floor.”  We’re glad the customer agreed with us.

To deal with a sewage contamination disaster, our team of capable technicians donned HAZMAT suits and began by quarantining the affected areas.   We then followed all required protocols to safety extract all the waste.  Following that, we disinfected and deodorized all the floors.  Our remediation work required us to take up the carpeting and remove the drywall from the floor and up the wall two feet.  In all, 60 linear-feet of drywall was removed so as to allow us to begin drying the walls behind the studs.  To completely dry the impacted area, we used a combination of commercial grade dehumidifiers and air dryers.  All in all, this was a four-day project, including one day of demolition, and another three days of drying and dehumidifying. 

We’re proud of the work we do and we’re proud of the reputation we’ve established.  We’re proud to know that the property manager at this location was impressed by our response time, and his final remarks made us grin; “I hate to say this, because you’ve done a wonderful job.  But I honestly hope we don’t meet again… but if I do have a problem like this, you guys are the ones I’ll call!”

Thanks, Mr. Thompson.  The feelings mutual.