Why SERVPRO Is The Best Selection for Your Restoration Needs

7/26/2023 (Permalink)

No matter what kind of damage you face, remember to call SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South for all of your restoration needs.

Every restoration effort has at least one thing in common—time. The longer damage is allowed to fester in your property, the less likely you will get away with a quick and inexpensive restoration and cleanup.

So, what makes time so important when it comes to damage? It’s the things inside your home that aren’t designed to face extended exposure to the elements. Items like flooring, carpet, and any fabric or wooden furniture will suffer immediate damage when exposed to water, with more damage happening as time goes on.

To avoid costly cleanup and an extended restoration process, you can take action before damage arrives to mitigate the potential destruction. Take steps like clearing your property of dead trees before a storm to reduce impact damage or cleaning your kitchen thoroughly to reduce any fire hazards.

In addition, you should have an emergency plan that everyone in your household knows well. Thanks to the Georgia state government, we have Ready Georgia, which compiles some great information about how you can prepare for the disasters we face here.

Unfortunately, many people will suffer home or business damage during their lives, and it’s important for everyone to know why SERVPRO is the right choice for you.

You Can Rely on Us Anytime

Our team has years of experience working with both commercial and residential damage, which gives us great insight into how stressful these events can be. No kind of damage is ever expected or planned for, so it’s important for you to have someone that you can count on day or night.

This is why our experts stay ready 24⁄7. You can call at any time of the day, and we’ll provide a quick response to help you get started on the right path to restoration.

More Than Restoration

Our professionals provide more than just constant service, however; they also become an integral part of the communities we serve. Our location is locally owned and operated, which allows us to connect with the people in our region and be more than simply a restoration provider.

Aside from all this, our team is trained to handle every kind of disaster, using industry-leading technology to get your structure back in preloss condition. With years of experience, you can feel safe trusting us with your beloved property.

No matter what kind of damage you face, remember to call SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South for all of your cleanup and restoration needs. Not only can you rely on us any time of the day, but you can also feel confident that we’ll have you back in your home before you know it.

When you suffer damage to your home or business, it’s important that you know who to call! Contact us today to get restoration started faster.

Stay Safe When Lightning Strikes

7/10/2023 (Permalink)

If your home has been damaged by a storm, contact SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South 24/7 to get the recovery process started.

While lighting striking your home may seem like a rare phenomenon, it’s way more common than you’d think. Each year, one in 200 homes is struck by lightning, and there are around 20 lightning-related fatalities annually in the United States.

Knowing what to do and where to go during storms is the best way to protect yourself from this hazard that is created by severe weather. Lightning can not only be a danger to humans but to homes as well. While the path of lightning is unpredictable, knowing the facts can help you best avoid these unexpected bolts from the blue.

The Facts About Lightning

Lightning is a strong sudden burst of electricity, which can travel at about 220,000,000 mph!

Lighting is usually produced during thunderstorms and is more likely to develop during the spring and summer seasons.

While lightning can touch down near or inside your home and create flames, it doesn’t have to strike your home to damage it. When lighting strikes items near your home such as concrete or your gutters, it can surge your home’s electrical system.

A direct hit can also cause damage to electrical and non-electrical items inside your property or severely damage your home’s foundation, chimney and roof.

Here’s how to protect yourself and your home:

Safeguard your home. The simplest way to protect the inside of your home from lighting is by unplugging all electronics before a storm or as soon as you hear a clap of thunder. Lightning is capable of ruining phones, computers and even that fancy new television you just bought.

There are other effective ways to defend your property, but they may be more costly. Of course, approaches such as installing lightning rods on your roof, grounding your home and investing in surge protectors to protect electronics are still beneficial. These precautions could significantly reduce your risk of exterior property damage from lightning.

Know where to shelter. A safe shelter is essential for avoiding lightning. Seek shelter in an enclosed building or a car with a hard-topped roof. If you happen to be outside during a storm and you are unable to seek shelter indoors, avoid bodies of water and shelter near lower trees.

The best way to know when it’s safe to leave your shelter is by listening for thunder. Wait about 30 minutes after hearing a clap of thunder before returning outside.

Unplug your stuff. As stated above, it’s crucial to unplug any electric devices before a storm touches down in your area. If lightning were to strike a nearby electrical pole, it could lead to an electrical surge and completely fry any plugged-in devices.

Making sure to do this ahead of storms is crucial because unplugging equipment during storms puts you at risk of being electrocuted. Staying weather-aware can help you know when it’s time to unplug any devices and seek appropriate shelter.

If your home is impacted by any weather hazards like lightning, our professionals at SERVPRO can be on the scene fast. We have years of experience restoring storm-damaged homes to their preloss state.

Top Causes of Commercial Water Damage

7/10/2023 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South help your business take measures to reduce the time that your company is closed after a disaster.

While many cases of water damage in the United States are experienced by homeowners, commercial buildings are also at risk of succumbing to water damage. Water damage is often experienced in blocks by commercial properties. While there is usually a yard between homes, there may only be a few inches of concrete between businesses.

In a place like Gwinnett County, we are no stranger to powerful storms that deal serious damage to our properties. We see everything from tornadoes to floods to the effects of hurricanes that hit the coasts.

We face an additional risk for being in such a mountainous state like Georgia, where the frequent elevation change makes it easy for water to pool together and begin flash floods more easily.

It’s common knowledge how disastrous water can be to the structures we have, impacting your business both physically and financially. The best way to minimize water’s effects on your business is to deal with the problems immediately.

Knowing the causes of water damage is also crucial to finding the right solution to the issue. We’ve gathered information on the three main causes of commercial water damage for you to keep an eye out for in your building:

Major Causes of Water Damage

Oftentimes, things that seem like minor issues can actually be growing into a much larger problem for you know it.

A minor leak can waste over 22 gallons per day, and a major leak can waste up to five times that amount depending on the size and location.

Roof Leaks

The roof is designed to limit the interior of the building from external elements like heat from the sun, rain during storms and debris that gets blown around. However, a leaky roof actually does the opposite, serving as a funnel for all of the outdoors to enter your building.

As the roof gets older, it also becomes more vulnerable to heavy rain, snow and falling debris that can result in extreme damage or even an entire roof collapse. Make sure to keep an eye on your roof, especially after storms, to better prevent costly roof leaks and the following damage.

Broken Equipment or Appliances

Sometimes, your building may have appliances like a water heater, AC, dishwasher and many others that facilitate the flow of water. Apart from appliances, there are complex piping systems in every building that can suffer damage at any time and cause costly commercial damage.

Major problems happen when these appliances are broken and no one notices. Even worse, if this were to happen during off-hours, it could leak a substantial amount of water and do extreme levels of structural damage before anyone even notices.

Inspecting your piping and appliances regularly can help you stay on top of the problem before it escalates into a destructive event.

Natural Disaster

Apart from roof leaks and broken equipment, water damage happens in commercial buildings due to natural disasters like hurricanes, thunderstorms and heavy rain that causes flash floods. Clogged gutters can also lead rainwater to flow toward the foundation of your building, making it more vulnerable to damage.

Have your gutters cleaned at least twice a year, and inspect your building regularly to identify and address any damage before it gets out of hand.

Commercial water damage is a devastating problem that any business owner can experience. While there is no way to get rid of it entirely, knowing these important causes, and some preventive measures can help you minimize the risk you face.

If you have experienced damage to your business or want to learn more about our commercial damage restoration services, contact us today. We’re here to act fast, 24⁄7.

Take Steps to Prevent Plumbing Leaks

7/10/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South can help at the drop of a hat when you experience any water emergency.

Plumbing leaks are no joke. They can spring up instantly and cause dramatic and costly damage before it can be brought under control.

In fact, the average household in the U.S. experiencing a leak loses 10,000 gallons of water per year—with over 1 trillion gallons nationwide combined yearly! While no one knows whether there is going to be an accident, there are still numerous methods to decrease the chance of a costly plumbing leak in the house.

By maintaining your plumbing, you can lower the risk of a plumbing leak and reduce the damage if one happens. Let’s consider what areas you can regularly inspect and maintain to prevent water damage in the home:

Appliance Water Supply Lines. Every appliance that uses water has water supply lines that are generally made up of plastic or metal tubing. As a result, it is critical to monitor these lines on a regular basis. Keep an eye out for corrosion, discoloration of the pipe itself and the flooring and walls around it, as well as calcium buildup in the supply line. One common modern preventive measure would be to consider upgrading to flexible stainless steel when replacing these lines.

Water Heater. Be sure to follow the maintenance instructions on your water heater carefully. A water heater can burst due to old age and devastatingly flood the room around it in minutes, potentially causing severe and costly damage to your home. A water heater should be inspected by a professional plumber every few years, and if it’s in a location where a leak would be truly devastating, consider installing a leak detector.

Drains. All sinks, disposals, showers, tubs and toilets should be consistently maintained and clean of debris. Make sure that you and other family members are aware of what should and should not be flushed or poured down the kitchen sink. Additionally, if you have a family member that is an over-consumer of toilet paper, consider installing a bidet to prevent build up in your pipes.

Finally, if a leak has sprung out of control, it’s important to know where the main water valve is and how to shut it off. It’s essential that everyone in the home is aware of how to shut the water main line off in the event of an emergency, considering you never know when the emergency can happen.

SERVPRO can help at the drop of a hat when you experience a water damage emergency. Call the experts at SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South. We are available 24⁄7 to respond immediately and get the job done professionally.

The Dangers That Occur When Severe Weather Strikes

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

If your home is damaged from flash floods, lightning, or hail call SERVPRO of Gwinnett County South 24 hours a day!

More than simply being an inconvenience, severe weather can cause serious damage in a variety of ways. In addition to being dangerous enough to cause personal injury to anyone who has not sought out adequate shelter, severe weather can also cause property damage to any homes or businesses in the line of the storm.

While severe weather can often move through an area without causing much damage, any time it is a possibility, it is wise to be vigilant so you know when to seek safe shelter to protect your family. Below, we will be taking a look at the types of hazards that happen during severe weather so you can be better prepared for their occurrence.

The Types of Hazards That Occur During Severe Weather

**Flash flooding threats.** Flash flooding is a serious problem, in part because it is quite unpredictable—hence the term “flash.” Flash flooding is more common in low-lying areas, but it can happen anywhere that receives a heavy amount of rainfall in a short period of time. Rapidly rising creeks and ponds are often sources of flash flooding, but even overwhelmed storm drains can become backed-up and impact an area.

**Fire hazards from lightning strikes.** Lightning strikes can occur any time there is a thunderstorm, and they are responsible for around 2,000 deaths per year throughout the world. In addition to being dangerous for anyone caught outside, lightning strikes can also introduce serious fire risks when they strike homes. Lightning can start a fire when it hits a home, due to the intense amount of heat it transfers, but it can also cause electrical fires as it travels through (and damages) a home’s wires on its way to seeking grounding.

**Damage due to high winds and hail.** Severe weather is often accompanied by high, straight-line winds up to 100 miles per hour—which as you can imagine, can cause serious damage. High winds can break off tree branches and turn them into projectiles, which can shatter windows, damage roofs and make homes susceptible to water damage as a result of being vulnerable to heavy rains.

*If severe weather strikes your home, you can depend on us to help. We have a team of storm restoration experts on hand 24/7—contact us today to learn more.*

Our Commercial Fire Large Loss Restoration Services

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston to restore your commercial property after a fire has caused a large loss.

As a business owner, there are a lot of things to be concerned about when it comes to keeping the doors open. One important element of running a business is having a plan when disaster strikes and strikes hard.

Disasters can come in many sizes, but one that is perhaps one of the most concerning is what is called a “large loss” to your commercial property. A “large loss” is defined as a large scale loss that has a considerable financial impact to your business.

What can SERVPRO do about a large loss for your business?

Emergency Response. We have emergency services on deck 24⁄7 to answer the call for whenever you might need us. We will act immediately to contain the damage and start the repair procedure. We’ve worked with commercial organizations of all kinds for more than 50 years, and we are the experts in cleaning up after large-scale damage and getting businesses just like yours back up and running as fast as possible.

Treating the Damage. Our pros in green consist of licensed experts who have been educated in specialized procedures for removing water and treating smoke damage in your commercial property after a fire. Even if the bulk of your building has been affected, we work diligently to rescue what can be restored and detect issues that may be invisible to the untrained eye. Getting your business back up and running is critical, and we do our best to ensure the work is done correctly and thoroughly while working as quickly as possible. With our knowledge and industry-leading equipment, we’re able to do the most comprehensive job in the shortest amount of time.

When you call on SERVPRO for large-loss restoration services, you can count on consistent communication throughout the duration of the job, the highest-quality products and unmatched customer service. We understand the worry that commercial property damage may cause.

The subsequent difficulties caused by smoke, water from firefighting efforts and structural damage might make your business seem irreparable. You can put your confidence in our technicians, who will work hard to treat the damage, identify any objects that need restoration or replacement, and even coordinate with your insurance provider.

Allow SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston to restore your commercial property after a fire has caused a large loss and interruptions to business. We are on hand 24⁄7, ready to take your call right now.

Your Partners in Business

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston is your local commercial restoration expert. Contact us today should you experience any damage.

When running a business, to say that it can be stressful at times is quite an understatement. As a business owner, you know how difficult it can be to have things always run smoothly. Major damages or accidents can cause major losses to a company, and that’s something we want to help you avoid.

That’s why you can count on SERVPRO to become your partner in the business world. We are locally owned and operated, and we will help you work through or recover from anything that can possibly take away from your business. Our goal is to help you and your business continue down the road to success.

Large loss recovery. The top cause of financial loss for businesses across the United States are fires, storms and flooding. These things can and likely will cause large amounts of damage, especially if you wait before dealing with the problem. That’s where SERVPRO can come in with our highly trained professionals to help get you on the road to recovery.

Emergency Ready Plan. Preparation is key, which is why you need to prepare your business before disaster strikes. We will help you create and put the perfect plan into place, so that when disaster comes, you know exactly what to do. There are specific things you should consider when planning, like having an emergency chain of command, alternate meeting or work sites, and how to handle restoration needs.

Cleaning of All Kinds. We can help you with any specialty cleaning needs you have, like biohazard removal,, as well as routine cleaning needs like carpet cleaning or upholstery restoration. No matter what the messy issue is, we will come up with a solution to get it cleaned.

Restoration Services. Whether you’re dealing with storm damage or a small kitchen fire got out of hand, these things require cleanup and restoration services. SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston has all the bases covered, offering comprehensive restoration services for water damage, fire damage and storm damage, among other emergencies.

Industry Specialization. We have spent years learning about commercial enterprises, so we know that we can help anyone. We know the ins and outs of a variety of industries and stand prepared to handle those needs. Because we understand how important your business is, we will often enclose a work area during restoration so that your business operations aren’t disrupted. Whatever your recovery need may be, and whatever your commercial property may require, trust SERVPRO to get the job done. Contact us today to get started on an Emergency Ready Plan or find out how we can serve your business.

How to Prepare Your Home for Severe Weather

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

??If your home has been damaged by a storm, call SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston to help you recover faster.

The weather can be unpredictable. Severe storms that bring floods, heavy winds, hail and other hazards can suddenly sweep through and destroy lives. That’s why it’s advisable to take precautions around the house ahead of time to minimize damage.

Water damage and ruined infrastructure are the most costly consequences of a strong storm. And it can be costly—the national average cost of repairing your home after a storm is around $9,800. Preparing your Conyers home before storm season could save you money in the long run.

Start with these precautions you can take around your home to secure it before a storm:

Keep valuables safe. Flood water is notorious for ruining valuables within the home. Items such as family photos, clothing, heirlooms and other valuables can be protected from water damage by storing them in a watertight container. Keep them up high, preferably on a shelf or in your attic, where floodwater can not reach them.

Secure your roof. Your roof protects the interior of your home by keeping water out. When preparing for a storm, it is critical to reinforce your roof. Keep it well-maintained by nailing down or replacing any loose shingles. Once a storm has passed, have the roof inspected to ensure it’s still in good, working condition.

Clean your gutters and downspouts. July is usually the wettest month in Conyers, but storms can arrive at any time, bringing heavy rain that will rush through your gutters. When functioning optimally, the gutters and downspouts keep rainwater from running down the sides of your house and causing structural damage. Be sure to clear them of any leaves, twigs and any other debris to keep the water flowing.

Do some yard work. Cleaning up around the lawn can keep trees and debris from falling on your house during high winds. Trim any large branches that reach for your roof or are close to your house since they can break off and damage anything in their path. Clear dead plants, branches or shrubs to keep strong winds from blowing them against your windows or walls.

You can’t completely avoid storms, but you can do everything you can to protect yourself and your house. Regular weather maintenance and awareness is an effective strategy to safeguard your belongings and property from the consequences of severe storms.

If your home has been affected by water or infrastructure damage as a result of a major storm, we specialize in home restoration. Contact us right away, and we can restore your home to its preloss condition.

Areas we Inspect After Storm Damage

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston will help you with the whole restoration process after a storm. Call us today.

You never know when you might suffer property damage due to bad rain, storm damage, wind or debris. In the wake of severe weather, you’ll want to contact SERVPRO to inspect, document and restore any damages to your business for you.

There is a lot you can do to mitigate storm damage, but it’s never completely preventable. Storms can be extremely costly to businesses.

In fact, experts predict that storm and flood damage could cost businesses over $13 billion in 2022.

It’s not always easy for the untrained eye to spot damage after a storm, and damage that goes unnoticed can grow and become even more costly and destructive. When you call SERVPRO to inspect the damage, here are just a few of the main areas we would look for when inspecting your property:

The Roof

Roof damage is one of the most often-occurring kinds of storm-related property damage. We will inspect the roof for loose, curled, missing or cracked shingles.

Additionally, dark patches on asphalt shingles may indicate water damage. Dents or weakened areas on the shingles are indicators of hail storm damage.

We will check for water damage indoors that has sneaked through a damaged roof. Water stains or leaks running down the wall, through a skylight or pooling in the center of the ceiling are further indications that the roof has a leak.

However, not all indications of water damage are obvious. The wisest course of action is to hire an expert to evaluate your house and search for indicators of a leaking roof.

The Exterior

Following a severe storm, you’re likely to find debris scattered around the exterior of your property. These pieces of debris may strike your property, cars or other structures, such as barns or machinery.

We will inspect the whole exterior of your property for loose or broken siding, doors, windows and gutters, among other things. Oftentimes, the exterior can be a significant source of unwanted water leakage that can cause interior water damage and flooding during a storm.

Dents or bends in gutters are often the result of hail, wind and/or debris damage. It is critical to employ an expert to evaluate, record and repair any possible damages precisely and safely.

Windows and Doors

Windows may potentially sustain damage during a severe storm, especially one with heavy winds. Our technicians will inspect the glass for broken panes, shattered glass, chips, scratches and fractures. Additionally, we will search for indicators of damaged seals that allow water to enter through windows and doors.

SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston will help you with the whole restoration process after a disaster, from damage assessment through restoration and rebuilding. Do not hesitate to contact our professionals to get your storm damage emergency repaired immediately and properly.

SERVPRO's Process for Fire Restoration

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

When your home or business endures fire damage, you can count on SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston from start to finish.

After a fire strikes your home or business, you’re left with damage from the fire as well as water saturating everything from the firefighting efforts. None of that would be a surprise to our experts here at SERVPRO, as we have the specialized fire restoration expertise to return your house to its pre-fire state.

Every fire damage situation is unique and necessitates a unique remedy, but the overall procedure remains the same. The following is how we will handle a “normal” fire damage situation.

Initial contact. We are on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week, including all holidays. Disaster doesn’t wait for office hours to strike, and we don’t wait to respond. When you contact us, the restoration procedure starts. Our experts will ask a number of questions about the fire damage so that we can get started immediately with the necessary equipment and resources.

Inspection. To establish the degree of the fire, water, smoke and soot damage, we will thoroughly check and test every room. By doing this, we are able to formulate the proper strategy. Fires can cause the air quality to be unsafe, so it’s important not to re-enter the property until experts have determined it is safe to do so.

Water removal. If there is water damage present as a result of firefighting efforts or sprinkler systems, we will begin the water removal procedure immediately to ensure the bulk of the water is removed. If there is any remaining water, it will be removed using dehumidifiers and fans, and the drying process will begin from there.

Cleaning. SERVPRO removes smoke and soot from ceilings, walls and other surfaces using highly specialized state-of-the-art equipment and processes. We’ll clean up all of the fire-damaged items and areas that can be cleaned and repaired. We will also work to return your possessions to their pre-fire state by applying a number of cleaning processes. We can clean and restore electronics, documents, upholstery and more. We also specialize in industrial air scrubbers and fogging equipment to eliminate odors.

Restoration. If during the cleaning process we determine that certain areas of your property cannot be cleaned, we also provide comprehensive restoration and rebuilding services. Restoration and rebuilding efforts include everything from modest repairs like drywall replacement, painting or carpet installation to substantial repairs like the complete rebuilding of different areas or rooms in your home or property.

When your home or business endures fire damage, you can trust that SERVPRO of Stone Mountain/Clarkston will be ready to be a helping hand and will get your home restored quickly and thoroughly to its pre-fire condition.