Yes, there are 3 “categories” of water that can be involved
in a flood. Category 1 is fresh water. This is water that is potable, or comes
from a source that is safe for humans to drink, such as sink water. Category 2
is gray water, or water that is contaminated. One example of gray water is
water from a ruptured storage tank. Gray water is not only not suitable for
drinking, but may also be harmful for any type of contact. Category 3 is black
water, which is extremely contaminated. Black water can stem from raw sewage,
or flood water, and can make you seriously ill.
There are many common causes of water damage, even on the
Western Slope. Most often, we see water damage caused from broken pipes, broken
swamp cooler lines, small long-term leaks, broken sprinklers, malfunctioning
heaters, ice lines to refrigerators, sprinklers from fire damage, and frozen hose lines on the exteriors of homes. However,
even in arid Grand Junction, we still see regular roof leaks during rainfall,
and even occasional floods.
Dehumidification is the process of thoroughly drying out a
dwelling or area by removing excess moisture from the air. This is an important
step in the drying process, and residential dehumidifiers will not cut it for
extracting deep levels of water, once absorbed into materials.
Call us immediately. We are available 24/7 in all emergency
situations. We will immediately get your needed possessions for your coming
days ready for you, and will help you contact your insurance company to put in
a claim. At Mesa Restoration, we value our clients and understand that property
damage, especially from fires, is traumatic. Therefore, we do everything we can
to help our clients navigate insurance claims and the insurance process.
Don’t worry about this. We will place plyboard over windows,
and place a secure lock on the
front door to bar any unwanted entry.
If possible, and without risking your safety, you should
take your cash, credit card, checkbook, and ID, personal documents,
medications, and family valuables. If there is any risk AT ALL to re-entering
your home – don’t. We will secure all valuables for you ASAP.
If possible, and without risking your safety, you should
take your cash, credit card, checkbook, and ID, personal documents,
medications, and family valuables. If there is any risk AT ALL to re-entering
your home – don’t. We will secure all valuables for you ASAP.
This will depend on the extent of fire damage, the home’s layout, and how comfortable you are in your home. In almost all cases, we recommend that you leave your home or property. In even small fires, there are often countless microscopic, airborne toxins released from plastics and chemicals around the home.
Depending on your insurance policy, hotel stays and meal costs may be covered
by the ALE
(additional living expense) portion of your policy. This means that if you need
to exit your home or property during restoration services, costs may be
completely covered.
This depends on the extent of damage. It’s also important to note that there are often several interested parties who want to inspect fire damaged properties before restoration is allowed to begin. Your insurance company will want an inspection. The fire department will want an inspection. And the police department, if arson is suspected, will also want an inspection. All told, we typically expect fire damage restoration, from start to finish, to take 3-12 months. And no, that’s not just our company. There is not a “faster” way to complete fire damage restoration, properly. Trust us, if anyone says they can complete the work faster, they are cutting corners on your property’s integrity and safety.
At Mesa Restoration, we are as transparent as possible in keeping you informed
of the restoration process. We want you to know how inspections and the
insurance claim process comes into place.
Do not turn on your cooling or heating systems after a fire,
even if it was small. Your HVAC system may have suffered fire or smoke damage
without your knowledge, and by operating it, you can spread toxic smoke
particles throughout your residence or property.
Mold consists of microscopic spores that are everywhere,
inside and outside. They can get into your home through open windows and doors,
or even stick to your clothes or pets. Mold is a common and natural part of all
outdoor environments, so you can never prevent microscopic mold spores from
entering your home. This is typically no issue, however, so long as mold spores
do not grow into mold colonies.
Mold needs four key ingredients to grow: food (any organic
material such as wood, silk, cardboard, paper, etc.), temperature (68F-86F),
darkness, and water. Houses supply all four of these in many areas: kitchen,
bathroom, and anywhere moisture is present, such as at the source of a small
water leak.
Mold loves moisture, so you’ll want to address any issues
that bring moisture into your home, such as leaks in gutters, walls, roofing,
plumbing, etc. Use the fan over your range hood in your kitchen, and keep your
bathroom fan running during a shower.
While you may be tempted to clean areas with small patches of mold, it is always recommended that you seek a qualified professional like Mesa Restoration for mold removal. Disturbing mold colonies releases microscopic mold spores into the air, which can cause health problems when inhaled. Mold spores that become airborne can also travel to other areas of your home where they simply regrow into new colonies. So, just because it appears you have removed all visible mold, its highly likely that mold spore are still present in the air and surrounding areas.
Mold also grows in hidden or hard to access areas in a building, such as
crawlspaces or
insulation. Given the right environment, mold can also grow in carpeting and
furniture. Rather than risking your health or tearing your house and
possessions apart, let the professionals at Mesa Restoration properly identify
and safely remove mold from your home, while also repairing any damage caused
by the mold.
Not at all. Neither bleach nor any product on the market can
certifiably claim that it “kills mold.” The best that any product can claim is
that it can temporarily clean mold-affected areas. Bleach, however, is
particularly bad as an anti-mold agent as the residue left over from bleach can
be used by mold “roots” as food, to regrow. This is why you really need a mold
removal professional who can get to the mold colony’s roots and remove them via
demolition, or seal them off so moisture cannot ever reach them again.
The duration of mold removal depends on several factors
including the extent of mold damage, and where it is growing (such as
crawlspace or next to a shower). Generally, mold removal can take about 5 days,
but know that this varies substantially, by situation.