Understanding Flood Restoration with SERVPRO of Forsyth and Dawson Counties

8/14/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Forsyth and Dawson Counties is here to help you 24/7/365 with all of your commercial and residential flood restoration needs.

Flooding can cause significant devastation, leaving homeowners and businesses grappling with the aftermath. From damaged belongings to structural threats, the effects of flooding are far-reaching. But there's hope on the horizon – and it goes by the name of "flood restoration." For residents and businesses in Forsyth and Dawson Counties, SERVPRO is your first port of call when dealing with flood-related damages.

What is Flood Restoration?

Simply put, flood restoration is the process of cleaning, repairing, and restoring (or replacing) everything that has been damaged by water. It's a multifaceted process that involves numerous steps, from water extraction and drying out affected areas to repairing structures and ensuring the environment is safe from potential health hazards like mold.

Why is it Essential?

After a flood, it might seem like your home or business will never be the same again. Water can damage everything it touches, including your walls, flooring, furniture, and personal belongings. Even after the water recedes, the moisture it leaves behind can lead to mold growth, further harming your property and potentially your health.

But with prompt and effective flood restoration, you can bring your property back to its original state, ensuring it's safe and comfortable once more.

SERVPRO's Approach to Flood Restoration

SERVPRO of Forsyth and Dawson Counties takes a systematic approach to flood restoration:

1. Immediate Response: Time is of the essence. Our team is available 24/7, ensuring that we can get to your property quickly, mitigating further damage.

2. Assessment: Before diving in, we conduct a comprehensive assessment to determine the extent of the flood damage. This step is crucial as it helps tailor our restoration efforts to your property's unique needs.

3. Water Extraction: Using state-of-the-art equipment, we remove standing water, reducing the risk of mold growth and structural damage.

4. Drying and Dehumidification: Once the bulk of the water is removed, our team uses specialized equipment to target moisture within walls, floors, and other hard-to-reach places.

5. Cleaning and Sanitizing: Floodwaters often introduce harmful bacteria and contaminants. Our team ensures your property is thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, making it safe for all inhabitants.

6. Restoration: The final step involves restoring structures and items to their pre-flood condition. This might entail minor repairs like replacing drywall or more significant efforts like rebuilding entire rooms.

Trust the Experts

When faced with flood damage, it's natural to feel overwhelmed. However, with the expertise of SERVPRO of Forsyth and Dawson Counties, you can rest easy knowing your property is in capable hands. Our dedicated team, equipped with the latest technology, is committed to making flood damage "Like it never even happened."

If you've experienced flooding, don't delay. Reach out to SERVPRO of Forsyth and Dawson Counties today and let our flood restoration specialists bring your property back to life.

SERVPRO of Forsyth & Dawson Counties- Proud to be awarded

1/20/2022 (Permalink)

Expertise.com Award for excellent water restoration services

A water-related disaster in your home or business in Coal Mountain, GA is stressful, no matter the size. While you might hope that this would never happen to you, the truth is that it happens more than you think. If your home or business has ever experienced water damage or if you know someone who has, you’re likely well aware of how much damage even minor flooding can cause—and how long it can take to restore things back to normal.

The Award: Water Damage Restoration Services in Coal Mountain, GA

Our Water Damage Specialists use advanced water restoration techniques. So if you need help with everything from unclogging a drain, to restoring your home after a second-story toilet overflow, we have the capacity to do it. We specialize in removal and extraction, drying and dehumidification, cleaning and repair, and restoration services, for residential and commercial properties alike.

Our commitment to quality of service and workmanship has earned us an A+ rating from Expertise.com.

Water Removal and Extraction

When water damage occurs, it’s important to start by removing and extracting as much of that water as possible. If not taken care of quickly and properly, water can lead to more extensive – and expensive – problems later on. At SERVPRO of Forsyth & Dawson Counties, we offer a variety of services that include water removal and extraction. Our teams can handle everything from small leaks in your basement or garage to large-scale disasters such as floods caused by storms, wind, or hurricanes.

Drying and Dehumidification

For a water damage restoration company, drying and dehumidification are crucial steps in a restoration project. If water is left sitting in a home or business, mold will begin to grow and spread—destroying walls, floors, and furniture in its path. Our At SERVPRO of Forsyth & Dawson Counties technicians make sure that atmospheric humidity levels are contained to 30-60% relative humidity and salvageable materials are dried and cleaned to preloss conditions before beginning the next steps in our water damage restoration process.

Restoration Services

Here at SERVPRO, we know that you don’t want to repair your home; you want it restored. Our water restoration technicians will work with you and your insurance company (if applicable) throughout every step of restoring your property to its preloss condition. We understand how stressful and frustrating water damage can be – but we also know that our dedication and expertise will help minimize stress and bring closure during a very difficult time in your life.

Call us today at (770) 887-1962 for 24/7/365 service. We are Here to Help.

We’re Ready Around the Clock | SERVPRO® of Forsyth & Dawson Counties

12/30/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damaged kitchen with soot on walls and burnt cabinetry

If you remember rotary phones in homes and “blue light specials” at the local big-box store, then it’s likely you’re old enough to remember a time when we did much more of something we hardly ever have to do now: waiting.

Remember sitting in a doctor’s office with nothing to do but twiddle your thumbs or check out a three-year-old magazine? Now you can video chat with your physician from home while you play video games in the background.

So much of our lives is instant now, and that’s a good thing—especially when it comes to the urgency of home damage. If something happens in the night or on a weekend to create an acute need for service, you shouldn’t have to wait. And with SERVPRO’s world-class, 24-hour emergency services, you won’t have to.

Fast service and quick action matter, and here’s why.

After a fire. Fire does much damage in the immediate, that’s plain to see. But soot, the sneaky discharge created when combustion goes uncompleted, works behind the scenes to create even more damage, and it starts only minutes after the fire.

Soot and smoke combine to create stains and smells for which there is a very limited window for repair. Once that window passes, the only recourse is to completely reconstruct affected walls to get rid of them. It’s doable, of course, but having SERVPRO on the scene right away will save you time, money and smelly clothes.

After water damage. It’s hard to miss the puddled water and dripping after a burst pipe, but it’s easy to overlook the fact that 48 hours after water comes in contact with your surfaces, mold starts growing. Mold growth presents a threat to both your health and, eventually, even the structure of your home. The faster your home can be dried and dehumidified, the better off you’ll be.

If storms or natural disasters happen in the night or on the weekend, you’ve got a sudden, acute need, and you shouldn’t have to wait until 9 a.m. the next business day to get help. When time is of the essence, we’re ready to act.

You shouldn’t have to wait for help, and when you link up with us, you won’t. Trust the team that’s Faster to Any Size Disaster. Trust SERVPRO.

When you need help after a home or business disaster, fast service is a priority, and there’s nobody faster or more prepared than SERVPRO. Call us anytime to take advantage of our 24-hour emergency service.

Skip the Candle and Choose an Alternative

11/29/2021 (Permalink)

String the lights along the wall or behind a curtain.

The Following Tips Might Be Helpful

Every year, thousands of residential fires are caused by lit candles. Although the tiny flame at the end of a wick doesn't look dangerous, it doesn't take much for a candle fire to get out of hand. If you have a lit candle at home, use these tips from the National Fire Protection Agency to avoid a fire:

• Place the candle at least 1 foot away from anything flammable, including loose clothing.
• Use sturdy candle holders that won't easily tip over and place the candle on a stable surface.
• Don't allow the candle to burn all the way down.
• Don't leave children and candles (or matches) alone in a room.
• Always blow out a candle before leaving the room.
• Don't burn candles in the bedroom.
  
  

These tips can help you use candles safely in your Dahlonega, GA, home. However, you can get the same cozy flicker without the risk of an open fire when you choose to use alternatives to candles.

Battery-Powered Candles
This alternative looks like a candle, and the artificial flame often mimics the real thing. The batteries tend to last for a very long time, and sometimes there are options that are scented. The major benefit of using these candles is that you can completely avoid a candle fire. Of course, you may also save some money because you won't have to replace the candles that melt.

String Lights in a Clear Container
A clear wine bottle, vase, or other clear, glass container makes a beautiful light when you fill it with a string of lights. This option has been popular lately, and crafters have paired string lights with containers in a lot of festive and homey ways.

Fairy or String Lights
You don't have to put the lights into a container for a cozy ambiance. Instead, string the lights along the wall or behind a curtain. The resulting soft glow lasts for a long time and is available in many different shapes and colors.
When you use an alternative to candles, you reduce the risk of candle fire, avoid the need for smoke cleanup, and cut out the risk of wax damage to your furnishings. Ultimately, you also avoid a visit from firefighters and fire damage and remediation professionals.

How Big Is Too Big: When To Call a Mold Remediation Specialist

10/27/2021 (Permalink)

Mold growth in a Dawsonville, GA home.

When To Call a Mold Remediation Specialist

A dank or musty smell in your home in Dawsonville, GA, could be a sign of mold growth problem. How big that problem is determining who should be involved in getting rid of it. While you can probably handle very small mold issues on your own, it is better to leave most house mold remediation to the professionals.

What You Can Handle

If you see a small patch of mold growing on a dirty plate in the kitchen sink, you are probably not going to hire someone to take care of it. You can’t just wipe it off or cover it up, though. For very small mold problems such as this, you can likely handle them yourself with the proper precautions:

• Don the appropriate protective clothing, covering your hands, eyes, mouth, and nose.
  
• Clean with detergent and rinse completely.
  
• Dry items thoroughly before storing them.
  
  

Prevention is the best solution of all. You can help prevent mold by cleaning regularly and maintaining proper ventilation and airflow to all areas of your home.

What the Experts Can Do

If your house mold is a bigger problem, however, professional help is necessary. A prolonged leak can cause extensive water damage, which is a breeding ground for mold growth. If the water that caused the damage was contaminated, additional steps might be required to fix the problem. Mold in your air ducts or other parts of your home’s HVAC system requires an expert’s attention. If you suspect that mold has gotten inside your walls or under your flooring, you need certified technicians to test the area and resolve the issue.

Failure to address a house mold problem in the appropriate way only makes it worse. Unless the growth is tiny, taking care of it most likely requires the work of professional mold remediation specialists. Resolve your mold issue completely by calling in professionals when necessary.

Your Guide to Roof Repair After Hail and Heavy Winds Damage Your Shingles

9/19/2021 (Permalink)

If your home has extensive roof damage because of hail and heavy winds, request a quality inspection before investing in roof repair.

Everyone loves a good end-of-summer storm, but when the nights grow cooler and the winds grow stronger, those nice summer storms turn into damaging tempests. Hail, heavy winds, and torrential rains may be exciting to watch from within, but they're harmful to a home's structure. If your roof was recently the victim of hail and wind damage, you may be able to get away with a small roof repair—or you may be forced to invest in roof replacement.

A quality inspection can give you an indication of which you will need:

• Have your roof tested to determine its existing condition and life expectancy.
• Have a moisture survey of your roof done.
• Let a professional roofer assess the extent of the damage—is it just a patch or it is the entire roof?
• Request a weather impact condition report to see if your roof was even subject to the hail.

When searching for a roofing company, make sure that it offers each of the above services.

A Quality Inspection Is Key

Roof repair goes beyond patching a damaged area and calling it a day. If you want to ensure that your roof lasts for years into the future, and if you want to preserve the structural integrity of your home, you need to make sure that the company you hire actually fixes the issue and doesn't just cover it.

Each of the tests listed above is performed to measure the reliability of your roof's remaining materials. The last thing you want to do is pay thousands of dollars to have your roof re-shingled only to discover that the core of the roof damage lies along the deck. If that were to happen, you would be forced to remove the shingles you paid thousands of dollars to have installed, rip up the deck, reinstall a new deck and reinstall the shingles—a process which would cost you an additional good sum of money.

If your home has extensive roof damage because of hail and heavy winds, request a quality inspection before investing in roof repair. Talk to your Forsyth, GA, storm damage restoration team about the importance of a quality inspection.

Understanding Secondary Water Damage

9/7/2021 (Permalink)

The best prevention of secondary water damage in your commercial property is responding quickly when you notice there is a problem.

When you have a leaky pipe in your building in Forsyth, GA, it is in your best interest to get it fixed as soon as possible. Not only does it save you money on your utility bill, it also helps you prevent secondary water damage. Secondary damage can manifest as aesthetic problems, structural issues or black mold. It can increase the cost of your insurance claim and, as it is mostly preventable, may not even be covered by your commercial property policy.

Causes of Residual Damage

Secondary damage includes issues that are indirect consequences of a water problem. There are many reasons why this residual damage may occur:

• Lack of timely reporting to water mitigation experts
• Hidden issue undiscovered until the damage had already happened
• Improper or incomplete repair procedures
• Failure to reduce the high humidity in the building
• Problem more extensive than technicians could handle in a timely manner

Any of these situations can result in secondary water damage. Until the problem is remedied, more damage can continue to pile on.

Types of Secondary Damage

Problems such as black mold most often occur because the excess water has no place to go. It starts to evaporate the longer it sits, significantly increasing the moisture in the air and on surfaces. This is the perfect setup for mold growth. The high humidity can also affect sheetrock, drywall, and plaster, causing them to become waterlogged and sag. Flooring is affected, too, as the water loosens tiles, dissolves the adhesive that holds vinyl to the floor, and makes hardwood floors swell and buckle. The longer the area remains humid, the worse the damage is likely to get.

The best prevention of secondary water damage in your commercial property is responding quickly when you notice there is a problem. Even if you don't think the problem is that big of a deal, contact mitigation experts to cover your bases. It's better to hear that you don't need their services than to find out later that you should have called.

Do You Have To Use a Certified Hygienist To Check Your Home for Mold?

6/14/2021 (Permalink)

Mold inspection in Coal Mountain, GA.

If black mold is growing in your home, you need to know as soon as possible. It can cause all kinds of problems, not the least of which includes damaging construction materials, ruining carpets and destroying fabrics. Mold cleaning is also a complicated subject, requiring a broad knowledge of possible causes and effective solutions.
Fortunately, the process has been standardized by the American Board of Industrial Hygiene. They not only certify inspectors but also provide rigorous examinations and require training before they issue certificates in testing and mold remediation. This ensures a high degree of professionalism and is your way to be sure you’ll get your mold problem identified and corrected.

What Is the ABIH?

Since 1960, they’ve been providing training and examinations for certified industrial hygienists. This includes:

• Maintaining certification
• Ongoing education
• Adhering to high ethical standards

They require a huge breadth of knowledge, including toxicology, biology and specialized equipment use. They also must demonstrate knowledge about the most modern mold remediation methods.

Is Certification Required?

It depends on your circumstances. Coal Mountain has building codes and if mold is causing structural damage, it certainly will need to be corrected. However, different strains of mold react quite differently to the various methods, so effective mold cleaning means having detailed knowledge about what works best.
If insurance is paying for the mold cleanup, they’ll probably require you to use a certified mold damage restoration expert for testing and remediation. Mold testing can easily give false positives as well as negatives, and the insurers want to be sure the mold is really a problem before paying for the cleaning.

What if Your Mold Test Is Positive?

If your mold testing company is certified, they can also complete the entire mold restoration process as well. This includes finding the source of the excess moisture that’s needed for mold growth as well as returning the area to its previous condition.
Mold cleaning is easy when left to the professionals. If you use a certified mold testing company, you can be sure about the results and get the cleanup done quickly and at a reasonable cost.

How To Recover Documents From a Flood

2/19/2021 (Permalink)

Document restoration is possible after a storm

If your business in Cumming, GA experiences a flood, you may think that your documents are lost forever. Fortunately, document restoration is possible. SERVPRO can dry, sterilize and even digitize your damaged documents.

Document Types

At SERVPRO, our document damage restoration service can recover all kinds of documents:

• Photographs
• Papers
• Books
• Parchment
• Files

Their innovative methods of restoration can accommodate nearly all paper types. No matter what types of documents were effected, you should contact a professional as quickly as possible to minimize the damage.

Damage

Flooding can damage documents in several ways:

• Water damage
• Chemical exposure
• Contamination by bacteria or viruses

Document drying and sterilization can repair structural damage to the documents and remove any harmful substances.

Freeze Drying

Freeze drying is a method of document restoration that dries the item without harming it. The documents are frozen in a special vacuum convert the water straight from its solid to a gaseous state, meaning the documents don't get wet in the process. This method is a safe and effective method of document drying that can be used on many different types of items.

Cleaning

Flood water can contain harmful substances that can contaminate documents. These documents can be cleaned using gamma radiation. This removes chemicals and kills microorganisms without damaging the documents.

Digitizing

Technicians can help you digitize your documents during the restoration process. This ensures that you have backup copies of important papers that are accessible virtually. This will also help you get rid of unnecessary clutter and organize all the documents you need.
Whether you lost photos, papers, books, files, or other items, SERVPRO understands that your documents are important to you and your business. They use advanced document restoration techniques, including freeze-drying and sanitizing with gamma radiation, to help you minimize losses. They can even create digital copies of all of your documents so you never have to worry about losing them again.

Why Cleaning Up Mold Isn't As Easy As You Think

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

Mold remediation services in Cumming, GA

Reasons Why Cleaning Up Mold Isn't As Easy As You Think

After a significant water leak at your business in Cumming, GA, you want to handle the cleanup quickly and inexpensively. You know that your insurance will take care of some things, but why shell out to have an expert cleaner come when you can do the work yourself? For fungus cleanup, it's extremely important that you know exactly what you're dealing with before you begin. Mold is made up of spores that are released into the air on contact. Not only do you need to wear protective equipment, but you need to know how to kill the mold at the root. Bleach isn't going to cut it. 

1. Mold and Sewage
Mold in the bathroom that is caused by contaminated water, especially from a toilet backup, involves a complex process to cleanup mold. You aren't just dealing with mold but also with the bacteria from contaminated water. For this type of project, you need a plumber and a remediation company that can handle both water and mold damage. This is not a project to take on yourself.

2. Mold and HVAC
If you're suspicious that your HVAC unit may have a moldy filter or has been damaged, it's important to shut off the system immediately. By continuing to run it, mold spores spread all over the building, and the fungus cleanup gets to be a bigger project.

3. Mold and You
For a very small mold problem, which is defined as smaller than 10 square feet by the EPA, you can try to clean it yourself. For a hard, nonporous surface, you can scrub it with detergent and water, and then let it air dry in a well-ventilated area. For any porous surface, it's still best to consult a professional to ensure that the damage doesn't go deeper than what the eye can see.
Fungus cleanup is a much more intense job than it appears. For the long-term benefit of your company, it's best to trust the professionals to restore your building.

Common Questions About Black Mold

11/24/2020 (Permalink)

Black mold damage in Dawsonville, GA

Read On To Have Your Most Common Questions Answered

If your home in Dawsonville, GA is experiencing unwanted fungal growth, black mold is most likely the culprit. If you're unsure which type of mold you're dealing with, then it's a good idea to have a professional mold inspection conducted, even if it only serves to confirm your suspicions. In the meantime, read on to have your most common questions answered.

1. What Does Black Mold Look Like?
Much like the name implies, this fungus appears black or dark green in color. When you find it, it looks like a dark stain spreading across the surface of the affected area. In some cases, it may even have a fuzzy or a slimy texture.

2. Where Does it Typically Grow?
This specific variety of mold needs water in order to thrive. As such, you can typically find it growing in areas of your home that come into contact with a lot of water, such as your kitchen, bathroom, basement, laundry room and garage. It's not uncommon to discover it growing in areas that have recently suffered from water damage as well.

3. How Do You Get Mold?
House mold is a result of excessive moisture. This can come in the form of especially high indoor humidity levels, excessive amounts of condensation or simply neglecting to clean spills and puddles for too long. Mold growth is also a form of secondary damage after a flood. If your home has recently suffered any type of water damage, then you should have a professional mold inspection conducted.

4. How Can You Get Rid of Mold?
The good news is that you should be able to solve the majority of mold problems by yourself, provided they haven't gone unnoticed for too long. You can use commercial mold cleaners to do the job, or create your own non-toxic cleaner using equal parts white vinegar and water.
Always make sure to call for a professional mold inspection if you're unsure of the situation. Likewise, you should contact mold remediation experts if you find that your home's mold issue is too large for you to handle by yourself.

Mold: Always There But Preventable

9/30/2020 (Permalink)

Black mold growth on the corner of a window

What To Do If You Have A Mold Problem And It's Not Going Away

When your Cumming, GA, home is your castle, the last thing you want is a musty odor to linger. Unfortunately, even if you have addressed a black mold issue and think your home is free and clear, this pesky fungus has a way of never really going away.

A Common Problem
When it comes to mold cleanup, it can seem like a never-ending battle. No matter how old or new a home is, these spores are everywhere. To reduce the potential of mold damage, it is important to understand how it works.

This simple microorganism only needs food, moisture, and a pleasant temperature to grow. Homes are filled with tasty organic materials they can thrive on when water is present.
Since the spores are microscopic, they can easily find their way into a home through HVAC systems, vents, and open windows or doors. They can also attach to clothing and pets.
They are everywhere indoors and outdoors, so it’s never possible to completely eradicate them from a home.
Spores only need a few days to start forming a colony and begin growing.

Tips to Reduce Growth
Since black mold has the potential to grow anywhere and come back, mold remediation and prevention are the keys from it spreading. Below are a few tips to minimize the spread:

• Keep humidity levels under 60 percent.
  
• Regular dry, clean and sanitize porous materials.
  
• Repair leaks as soon as they are discovered, whether it is from an appliance, old pipe or HVAC drain. Replace dilapidated old pipes.
  
• Dry wet items before storing them in the home.
  
• Ensure your home is well-ventilated and has good airflow.
  
• At the first signs of growth, contact a professional water and mold damage restoration company to have the problem properly addressed.
  
  

Finding black mold is unpleasant, especially if it keeps turning up. Taking a few proactive measures and getting help that is Faster to Any Size Disaster can minimize the potential of spores from growing.

Does Your Commercial Insurance Policy Cover Mold Damage?

9/9/2020 (Permalink)

Mold damage in Ludville, GA

After a flood, leak, or similar disaster, you do not just have to worry about water damage in your building. The increased moisture could also encourage the growth of mold. You may thus be wondering if your commercial insurance policy covers the cost of mold cleanup.

More About Mold

Mold is a fungus that reproduces using spores. These spores grow anywhere that has:

• Oxygen
  
• Heat
  
• Food
  
• Moisture
  
  

Mold can thus appear in many parts of your Ludville, GA, commercial building. It can spread on wood, paper, carpet, and drywall. It may also be in hidden locations such as the ducts. Mold becomes particularly problematic in humid or moist areas.

Mold and Insurance
To limit the spread of mold, you should thus address any moisture problems on your property right away. This is particularly important because most commercial insurance policies include fungus exclusions. In other words, they do not cover most losses that result from mold.

Limited Fungus Coverage
You may still have some mold insurance coverage, however. Many policies will help you pay for mold damage repairs if the fungus resulted from a specific loss such as a fire, sinkhole, or burst pipe.
This coverage applies to any direct damage or loss caused by the fungus. The insurance additionally covers mold remediation services. This includes the cost of tearing out and replacing walls to reach the contaminated areas. Any tests you perform to ensure the mold is gone should be covered, as well.
Keep in mind that this insurance is only available if you take all reasonable steps to limit the harm to your property. The coverage is also usually limited to $15,000 per year or occurrence.
You may be able to use your commercial insurance to pay for black mold cleanup. However, mold damage that does not result from a sudden peril may be excluded. You also may be denied coverage if you fail to take proper steps to mitigate mold growth.

3 Tips for Keeping Your Bathrooms Free of Mildew

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

Bathrooms with a shower should be properly ventilated to prevent mold growth due to humidity

Tips To Keep Your Bathroom Free of Mildew and Mold

Bathrooms are one of the most humid areas in your home. Between steamy showers, blow-drying, and sink usage, heat, and moisture can easily become trapped together in this small enclosed area. Bathroom mildew is a common occurrence in residential bathrooms. It can present itself in stained or decaying grout, mold in toilets and sinks, or even on walls and counter surfaces. In order to keep your bathroom looking and smelling fresh, try these three tips to keep your bathroom free of mildew and mold.

1. Prevention
One of the best methods for preventing bathroom mildew and mold is with proper ventilation. If your bathroom is equipped with a window, try cracking it after showering to release some of the moisture trapped in the air. If this is not possible, using a circulation fan regularly will help keep fresh air flowing through the space. Airflow will reduce the humidity in the room. Likewise, toweling off wet surfaces to reduce sitting water can help preserve areas where mildew is common such as in shower corners or along grout lines.

2. Treatment
If mildew or mold does occur in your bathroom, start with a simple cleansing method such as one of the following:

• Baking soda and vinegar
  
• Bleach
  
• Ammonia
  
• Rubbing alcohol
  
  

If the mildew or mold has caused dark staining, try soaking the area with a cleanser for several hours before scrubbing the surface and rinsing with clean water. When the stain is removed, dry the affected area with a clean cloth to prevent mildew and mold from reoccurring.

3. Removal
In some cases, a severe humidity problem can lead to more permanent damage. If mold and mildew have had a lasting effect on bathroom fixtures or flooring a Mcdaniel, GA, mold removal company may be needed to assist you in the restoration process. Taking out disintegrated grout, tile or carpeting can help get rid of unpleasant bathroom mildew smells and stains.

3 Dangers of Sewage Backup

6/13/2020 (Permalink)

A sewage backup is a serious problem, one that can damage your property and derail your business

3 Dangers of Sewage Backup

A sewage backup can strike at any time, but it is especially common after a hurricane or flood. Even without a natural disaster, a clogged pipe can cause massive damage to your Dahlonega, GA, business. Here are three of the biggest dangers of waiting to call a fast-response sewage cleaning service after a toilet overflow or other sewage-related event.

1. Safety Hazard
Most obviously, sewage backup represents a health risk to you and your customers. The EPA cautions that overflow can contain intestinal worms, mold, fungi, and other pathogens. Exposure to blackwater — sewage that contains human fecal matter — can lead to life-threatening illnesses such as cholera, hepatitis, and dysentery. Thorough cleaning with the right equipment is the best way to neutralize these dangers.

2. Loss of Revenue
Given the nature of these safety hazards, a sewage overflow cannot be managed properly while your business is still open. Depending on the kind of damage, your business could be closed from a couple of days to several weeks. Closing your business means losing revenue, which is why immediate, fast sewage cleaning is an essential part of any disaster response.

3. Water Damage
The amount of time it takes to clean and restore a business after a sewage backup is entirely dependent on the kind of damage the backup does. Blackwater can cause more serious damage and expose people to dangerous microorganisms, but even uncontaminated water can leave permanent and unsightly stains. Experienced, well-trained water restoration specialists from SERVPRO can mitigate this damage and complete the job quickly to get your business running again.
A sewage backup is a serious problem, one that can damage your property and derail your business. Calling a SERVPRO sewage cleaning team gives you the best chance to prevent further damage and allows you to reopen promptly with the confidence that your business is as safe and secure as possible.

We are Cleaning Experts

3/20/2020 (Permalink)

We can handle residential and commercial sanitization jobs

SERVPRO is Here to Help during this time of need 

During this unprecedented time caused by the global pandemic of coronavirus, this is a reminder to our customers that we are specialists in cleaning services, and we adhere to the highest cleaning and sanitation standards. 

Specialized Training 

We are prepared to clean and disinfect your home or business, according to protocols set forth by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We have years of experience in dealing with biological contaminants, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform on a daily basis. 

The CDC encourages cleaning of high-touch surfaces such as counters, tabletops, doorknobs, light switches, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and tables. Other spaces mentioned in the CDC’s guidance for commercial spaces include: 

• Kitchen/Food Areas 
• Bathrooms 
• Schools/Classrooms 
• Offices 
• Retail Spaces 
• Water Fountains 
• Shelving/Racks 
• Sales Counters 
• Carpets and Rugs 
• Stair Handrails 
• Elevator Cars 
• Playground Equipment 
• Fitness Equipment 

Specialized Products 

The CDC recommends usage of a labeled hospital-grade disinfectant with claims against similar pathogens to the coronavirus. Multiple products in the SERVPRO product line carry the EPA-approved emerging pathogens claims. While there is currently no product tested against this particular strain of the coronavirus, we are following all guidelines as provided by the CDC and local authorities. 

Call Today for a Proactive Cleaning 

If your home or business needs deep cleaning services, call the experts today – SERVPRO of Forsyth and Dawson Counties, (770) 887-1962