How to Stay Safe During a Restoration Project

11/8/2023 (Permalink)

Restoration projects can be dangerous, so it's important to take steps to stay safe. Here are some tips on how to stay safe during a restoration project:

• Wear protective gear. This includes gloves, goggles, a hard hat, and steel-toed boots.
• Be aware of your surroundings. Watch out for wet floors, exposed wires, and other hazards.
• Don't work alone. Have someone with you in case of an emergency.
• Follow the instructions of the restoration professionals. They know what they're doing, and they're there to help you stay safe.

Here are some additional tips for staying safe during a restoration project:

• Turn off the power. This will help to prevent electrical hazards.
• Secure the area. This includes boarding up windows and doors, and removing any loose debris.
• Ventilate the area. This will help to remove moisture and prevent mold and mildew growth.
• Clean and disinfect any affected areas. This will help to prevent the spread of bacteria and other contaminants.

By following these tips, you can help to stay safe during a restoration project and get your property back to normal as quickly as possible.

SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier is a trusted leader in damage restoration. We have over 20 years of experience and a proven track record of success. We're committed to providing our customers with the best possible service, and we'll do everything we can to get your property back to normal as quickly as possible.

If you're having a restoration project done, contact SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier Counties at 540-423-6688. We'll be there quickly to help you stay safe and get your property back to normal.

Don't Be Afraid of Vandalism!!

11/8/2023 (Permalink)

Vandalism is a fact that plagues home and car owners every year during Halloween season.

While timely action can minimize or prevent lasting damage, it is just as true that wrong or delayed action can increase it – sometimes beyond repair.

Following are a few facts about common vandalism occurrences and how they damage your insureds’ homes and property.

Eggs – Egg residue on paint, bricks or siding needs to be removed immediately. The protein in eggs digests and lightens paint. Brick is not only stains by eggs but, because brick is porous in nature, the egg can soak in and turn sour, thus causing odor problems.

Siding is affected in much the same way as painted wood and can be stained or discolored if the egg is not removed immediately.

Soap – Although soap itself is not damaging to paint, brick or fabric, damage often results from improper removal techniques. Scrapping or chipping at dried on soap will often cause damage to surface or pull in fabric.

Dry fire extinguisher residue – Some fire extinguisher residue can be corrosive, but many are just extremely difficult to remove because they are fine powdery residues that adhere to fabrics. Generally, standard vacuums cannot pick up all of the matter.

SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier Counties Professionals are uniquely equipped to handle all of these vandalism situations. From pressure washing of egg and soap residue to thermal fogging to neutralize odors, SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier is ready with the most up-to-date equipment and products.

Your SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier Counties technician is trained to understand the effects of each substance and how to minimize or eliminate the damage.

This Halloween do not be afraid of what vandals might do to your insureds’ property – the SERVPRO® Professional is on-call 24-hours a day.

Emergency Tips for Vandalism Damage- The following emergency tips can help minimize the effects of vandalism damage and make the repair more successful.

Do:

• Hose or wash egg damage from building exterior as soon as possible.
• Blot freshly spilled food from carpets and fabrics with a dampened cloth or sponge (don’t over wet).
• Scrape and blot (don’t rub; it may cause damage to fibers).
• Vacuum glass particles from carpets and upholstery.
• Save containers which reveal the ingredients of spilled inks, cosmetics and paint.

DON’T:

• Attempt to remove ink, paint or cosmetic stains.
• Operate damaged lamps or appliances.
• Discard wood chips, broken pieces from furniture, porcelain or other art objects.

As professional cleaning and restoration expert, SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier business is to save the insured’s property and possessions, while saving the insurance company time and money. Making your insureds aware of the steps to take when disasters occur can result in thousands of dollars saved, as well as creating satisfied customers for you.

How to Prevent Pipe Bursting

11/13/2020 (Permalink)

As the winter time approaches us it’s time to prepare and take precautions, when cold temperatures happen that can cause pipes to freeze and burst. Frozen Pipes can result in costly repairs to you as a home or business owner. The good news is there are ways to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes are a problem by themselves because they prevent water flow, but even worse, frozen pipes can eventually burst, causing damage and potential flooding. There are ways to protect your pipes from freezing. Here are some tips for this winter:

Keeping your house warm – keeping your thermostat set above 50 degrees Fahrenheit at all times is a good idea. This should provide enough heat to keep the pipes warm and to prevent any water inside from freezing.

Opening faucets - When temps hit the freezing level it is a good idea to allow faucets to drip. Allowing With the faucet open you avoid blockage in the pipes.

Leave cabinet doors open- leaving cabinet doors open will help warm air flow to the pipes keeping them warm.

Seal leaks in your home- it’s important that there are no leaks in your home. If a leak is present it can allow cold air in causing your home to get cold and potentially bursting some pipes.

Insulation is important - Foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves can help reduce the chances of your pipes bursting so make sure you’re up to date with them.

SERVPRO® of Culpeper & Fauquier Counties is here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call us at 703-644-0620

Understanding homeowners insurance

6/12/2019 (Permalink)

Insurance policy

First-time homeowners are faced with many realities of being “an adult,” and one of the things that comes with owning a new home is making sure you have proper insurance. But not all insurances are the same.

Just because you have insurance on your home doesn’t mean you’re protected from everything that could happen. In fact, often with homeowner policies, there are some very common occurrences that might not be covered.

Homeowners insurance differs from state to state, so to avoid making costly assumptions, it’s important to understand what’s included with your policy.

Typically, a policy will cover the actual dwelling and some of the other structures on the property, such as a fence, garage, patio or driveway. Personal property is usually covered as well. This includes the contents inside the home, although you may need to pay a bit more in premiums for high-value items like jewelry or paintings. You’ll want to make sure this is covered in your policy.

Homeowners insurance policies typically include coverage for injuries sustained on your property where you are liable. So, if someone slips on your driveway or falls while doing repairs to the roof, you’re covered. However, this coverage is usually limited to a certain dollar value, so you need to know how much coverage you have and exactly what’s included.

Natural disasters are the one area that can cause some problems, as not everything is covered and you often have to buy separate flood, hurricane or earthquake insurance—especially if you are in an area that is highly susceptible to these disasters. You also may be able to lower premiums by better protecting yourself against damage, such as adding storm shutters, reinforcing your roof or buying stronger roofing materials.

If items are stolen from your vehicle while it sits on your property, that may or may not be covered by your insurance. Normally, this is covered by auto insurance but there are some homeowner policies that will include these items, so it’s good to know if yours will.

Many first-time buyers think they need insurance to cover the entire cost of the house, but the land under your house isn’t at risk from theft, windstorm, fire or other perils covered in your homeowners policy, so it’s not necessary to include these when deciding how much insurance you should buy. Talk with your REALTOR® and determine the best number so you have enough coverage but not too much, and that you’re not paying premiums for what you don’t need.

Service Response Guidelines

5/2/2018 (Permalink)

Have you heard of SERVPRO's Service Response Guidelines?

Within ONE hour from notice of loss, a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will contact you to arrange for service. 

Within FOUR hours of loss notification, a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will be on-site to start mitigation services. 

Within EIGHT business hours of on-site arrival, a verbal briefing of the scope will be communicated to you by a SERVPRO Franchise Professional. 

What can SERVPRO Franchise Professionals do for you?

• Fire smoke and Soot Cleanup and Restoration
• Water Removal and Dehumidification
• Crime Scene, Biohazard and Vandalism Cleanup
• Mold Mitigation and Remediation
• Contents Claim Inventory Service
• Air Duct and HVAC Cleaning
• Carpet and Hard Floor Cleaning and Car
• Stain Removal, Stain Resistance Applications
• Odor Identification and Deodorization
• Upholstery and Drapes: Wet or Dry Cleaning Methods

Emergency Ready Profile

4/9/2018 (Permalink)

Emergency Ready Profile

As a homeowner you always want to make sure you have emergency contacts close by in case anything unexpected happens. What if you are a homeowner but also a business owner? I know personally I couldn't imagine the amount of stress! SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier counties realizes that you might not think about the unexpected things that might happen to your business; flooding, tornado damage, etc. 

That's why we have our Emergency Ready Program available to you! Our ERP, Emergency Ready Profile is the best way to reduce business interruption following a disaster, plan for it now! As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. By developing a SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.
 The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage A no cost assessment of your facility. – This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost. A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. – It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. But it will save a lot of time if ever needed. A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. – This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action. Establishes your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. – You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and close by. Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. – This saves time so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money. Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. – Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance of an emergency so that during the emergency you are “Ready for whatever happens.”  Give SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier counties a call today and set up your ERP!

SERVPRO storm response

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

When it comes to fire & water damage, or specialty cleanup needs, it’s the SERVPRO brand that comes to mind. Our TEAMS work endlessly to make sure our customers are happy, and have one objective in the aftermath of disaster, to make their loss Like it never even happened.

No matter the job or the size, our SERVPRO teams are ready to handle any size loss. With 1,700+ franchises nationwide, we have access to numerous highly trained personnel and thousands of pieces of equipment. Our SERVPRO Disaster Recovery teams are strategically placed throughout the country to respond when needed. Our Teams have a proven track record for success, assisting with cleanup of floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and damage caused from frigid temperatures.

Whether it’s a major storm event, or faulty appliance, we will be there with one call. SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier counties 5404236688

Restore vs. Replace

8/18/2017 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of Culpeper & Fauquier counties, our goal on every water, fire, or mold damage job is to save more and replace less. When assessing damage in a home or business, our team will determine what can be salvaged or cleaned, such as contents, furniture, & structural materials. Our team will then perform pre-testing to determine what the best method of cleaning will be.  

To an untrained eye, it would appear most items need to be removed and replaced when it comes to fire and water damage. However our drying and cleaning methods allow us to save more every day.

What exactly are the benefits of Restoring Vs. Replacing?

• Cost effective-For example, it is significantly less expensive to dry and save flooring than to remove and replace.
• Saves Time- The drying process will return you to normalcy sooner, where as removing and replacing materials will be a timely process.
• Environmental Benefit: For every item & building material that is saved, that is one less item wastefully put in the landfill.
• Peace of Mind: Being able to save precious family Heirlooms, a child’s toy, photo or favorite item, puts that peace of mind back to our customer. In our case new isn’t always better.
• Preferred Method by majority of insurance companies. Many insurance carriers prefer working with mitigation companies like SERVPRO vs contractors when it comes to fire and water damage.

If you ever experience a fire or water loss at your property, just wondering where to start can be very stressful and overwhelming to say the least. Please call our office for a free assessment and estimate. Our professional and knowledgeable team will get you back to normal faster by replacing less, and saving more!