Ask Restoration Master

It is quite common for businesses to not have a previous relationship with a disaster restoration professional when a disaster strikes.  After all, it takes a disaster for businesses to reach out to a disaster restoration professional in the first place.

If a disaster occurs that causes damage to your business, a reputable disaster restoration professional will provide a timely response and quality services regardless if you have had a previous relationship with them or not.  However, there are some disaster restoration professionals that will establish a relationship with businesses which will give them priority in a large-scale disaster.  This means that if a flood affects your town and your business has a previous relationship with a disaster restoration service provider, they will arrive to your property quickly because you have priority.

If you are interested in establishing a relationship with a restoration professional before a disaster occurs, call the reputable restoration professionals in your area and ask them how they can help.  This is a good step to take if you want an immediate response after experiencing a disaster to help limit the property damage as well as the cost of the restoration.

If the same spot of the roof was leaking for 3 months, then yes there is a good chance that there could be mold above the ceiling tiles.  If you believe that the mold is the reason you are not feeling good, pay attention to when you feel these symptoms.  The main symptoms of mold allergies are headaches, skin irritation, and cold-like symptoms like coughing, nasal congestion, itchy eyes and throat, and trouble breathing.  If you experience these symptoms while at work, but they stop when you are not at work, then mold could be the issue.  Prolonged exposure to mold can lead to asthma and more serious infections so you need to act quickly if you are exposed to mold.

The best thing you can do if this is happening to you where you work is to talk to your supervisor or manager and have them check for mold in the affected area.  Hopefully, your employer will act quickly to correct the problem if there is indeed a mold issue.  Unfortunately, depending on what state you work in, there may not be a law that makes business owners obligated to quickly remove mold growth.  If you are not the owner or main decision maker within your business, the best you can do is make them aware of the situation and hope they take action to correct the problem.

The answer to this question depends on several variables.  These variables include what is being removed, the material of the treated surface, the size and complexity of the surface, the abrasive used, the type and size of the nozzle, the blast pressure, and the skill of the technician doing the soda blasting.  The area in which you live will also have an effect on the cost of the job.

Professionals that provide soda blasting will typically charge by the square foot, but they may also charge by the hour.  The average cost per square foot for household surfaces like concrete and brick looks to be between $3 and $5.  But remember, this number will vary based on the variables listed above.

Sewage is a biohazard material that can threaten your health and well-being if it finds its way in your home.  If a sewer pipe failed so close to your home, there is a good chance that the contamination could be tracked in.

For safety reasons, there is not a test that a homeowner can do themselves to tell if their property is contaminated by sewage.  Testing for sewage should be done by an environmental or restoration professional.  If you believe your home is affected, call a local health or environmental professional to test your property.  You can also reach out to a restoration professional that provides sewage cleaning to see if they can test your property or recommend a professional in your area who can.  It is important to do this immediately because the longer you live with a sewage contamination, the more likely you are to experience adverse health reactions.

If the sewage contamination did get inside your home, restoration professionals can identify the affected areas and ensure they are restored to safe conditions.  They use powerful cleaning products and effective methods to remove dangerous and clean affected objects and surfaces.

For more information, you can consult our following blogs:

Why Cleaning up Sewage is Never a DIY Project

How can Sewage be Cleaned Up?

This is an important question as the foundation of your home is highly vulnerable to water damage if certain actions are not taken.  Excess water from flooding or rain can find its way into your home through the foundation if it pools near your home or if the soil is saturated.

The first thing you should do is check the condition of the foundation of your home.  Look for cracks in the foundation wall and other types of damage.  You can fill in small cracks using caulk.  If there is significant damage to your foundation that cannot be fixed with simple caulking, it is best to call a professional.

After checking the condition of the foundation, you should take the following steps to keep water away from your foundation:

• Grade the soil around the foundation: The ground immediately surrounding your home should be graded to slope away from the home. This will cause all water near the home to drain away from the foundation and prevent pooling.  The slope should be at least 6 inches and it is best to use dense soil for the grading.
• Install a drainage system: If grading is not enough, you can install drainage systems to help keep water away from the foundation. Installing a drainage system involves a lot of digging and the installation of several different parts which may require calling a professional.
• Ensure functional gutters and downspouts: It is important to keep your gutters and downspouts clear and in good repair to ensure proper drainage. If the gutters are full of debris, then the water will not drain from your roof properly and could end up running down the side of your house.  This can cause water damage to the siding and windows and result in water pooling around the foundation.  The gutters must be clear of debris and the downspouts should be at least 10 feet from the foundation.
• Install a sump pump: Sump pumps are effective for pumping rainwater and groundwater away from your foundation. The water in the soil around your home drains into a sump basin and when this basin fills, a sensor will go off and prompt the sump pump to activate and pump the water away from the home.  Make sure that the water is pumped a safe distance from your home and do not pump the water into the sewage system.

For more information on preventing water damage through the foundation, check out our blog How to Protect Your Home’s Foundation from Water Damage.