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.