Archived Commercial Blog Posts
Escape Planning
6/27/2024 (Permalink)
Although an emergency escape plan is not required for all businesses, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends building an emergency action plan to protect yourself, your employees, and your business during an emergency situation. OSHA suggests the following steps when developing such a plan.
Draw a map of each level of the building and show all doors and windows or use a blue print. Make sure all doors and windows that lead outside open easily.
Consider escape ladders for second and thirds levels. Only purchase collapsible escape ladders evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory.
Choose an outside meeting place a safe distance in front of building. Mark the meeting place on the escape plan map.
Plan for everyone in the building with special considerations for elderly or disabled individuals.
Practice your fire escape plan.
Organize an Emergency Preparedness Procedures review with employees to review your company emergency plans.
Different Restoration Tools
6/27/2024 (Permalink)
Would you know what the following do?
Moisture Sensor: used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, and walls
Moisture Meters: used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture tester provides accurate readings, allowing us to monitor the drying process
Thermo hygrometers: measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, we can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized.
Ultra Low-Volume Fogger: these will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.
Thermal Foggers: these dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor-causing particles.
At SERVPRO® we use the right tools to get the job done. Call us at SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg, and Northern Neck 804-966-1400
Is There Mold In Your Commercial Building?
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
Identifying mold growth in your home or business resulting from overlooked or unknown water damage sources is crucial for maintaining a healthy indoor environment. Mold thrives in moist environments, often developing in areas with water leaks, high humidity levels, or inadequate ventilation. Common signs of mold growth include visible mold growth on surfaces such as walls, ceilings, or floors, as well as musty odors that linger in the air. However, mold can also hide behind walls, under flooring, or within HVAC systems, making it challenging to detect without proper inspection. If you suspect mold growth but are unsure of its extent or source, it's essential to call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck at 804-966-1400 for professional assistance. SERVPRO®'s team of certified mold remediation specialists has the expertise and equipment to conduct thorough mold inspections, identify hidden mold growth, and determine the underlying water damage sources. Using advanced moisture detection tools and infrared technology, SERVPRO can pinpoint areas of moisture intrusion and assess the extent of mold contamination, ensuring a comprehensive approach to mold remediation. Additionally, SERVPRO's mold remediation process follows industry best practices and guidelines set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC). Our team utilizes specialized equipment such as HEPA air scrubbers, antimicrobial treatments, and negative air machines to contain and remove mold spores effectively, preventing further spread and ensuring safe and thorough mold removal. By calling SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck for professional mold remediation assistance, you can trust that your home or business will be restored to a clean and healthy environment promptly and efficiently. Don't let overlooked or unknown water damage sources lead to mold growth in your property—contact SERVPRO today to address mold issues and safeguard the health and well-being of occupants.
Commercial Loss
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
When it comes to commercial water damage, trusting a reputable and experienced restoration company like SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck is essential for swift and effective recovery. With a solid foundation built on over two decades of industry expertise since our establishment in 1995, SERVPRO® has been a trusted leader in the restoration industry, serving businesses in New Kent, Williamsburg, Northern Neck, and surrounding areas. Our team understands the unique challenges that commercial water damage presents, from large-scale flooding incidents to localized leaks that can disrupt business operations. Regardless of the size or complexity of the loss, SERVPRO has the knowledge, experience, and resources to handle it efficiently. Our trained technicians utilize advanced equipment and techniques to mitigate water damage, extract standing water, and thoroughly dry and dehumidify affected areas to prevent secondary issues such as mold growth or structural damage. Furthermore, SERVPRO's quick response time minimizes downtime for businesses, allowing them to resume operations as soon as possible. We work closely with business owners, property managers, and insurance professionals to ensure a smooth and seamless restoration process from start to finish. With SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck on your side, you can trust that your commercial property is in capable hands, and we'll work tirelessly to restore it to its preloss condition, minimizing disruption and helping you get back to business as usual.
Get to Know Our Tools
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of New Kent,, Williamsburg & Northern Neck uses a number of different tools to provide top notch information to correctly mitigate your home. Some of our tools include:
- Moisture Sensor: used to detect moisture in carpets, baseboards, and walls.
- Moisture Meters: used to determine the actual moisture content of various materials. The moisture meter provides accurate readings, allowing us to monitor and optimize the drying process.
- Thermo Hygrometers: measure temperature and relative humidity. When armed with this information, we can calculate and create an environment most conducive to drying. When facing a contaminated water loss, it is not only important to dry the structure, but the structure must also be disinfected and often deodorized.
- Ultra Low-Volume Fogger: these will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that can easily penetrate the site where odor-causing residues may accumulate. This device can also be used to inject fungicides and disinfectants into wall cavities and other hard-to-reach areas.
- Thermal Fogger: these dispense solvent-based products by creating a dense fog. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that attach to and neutralize odor-causing particles.
It's pivotal to hire a company that knows when to apply each of the different types of tool to optimize drying and remediation. Choose SERVPRO®
Vandalism
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
For many commercial properties like hotels, apartments, or offices there are a range of every day disasters that can strike that don’t include fire or water damage. Some damages are unplanned and man made.
Vandalism is tragically a common issue faced by commercial buildings. Webster dictionary defines vandalism as willful or malicious destruction or defacement of public or private property. When an incident occurs we are here to help.
SERVPRO® professionals are recognized as experts at helping property owners recover quickly from fire and water damages but also when vandalism happens. It is commonly assumed that you just paint over the graffiti or other methods used. That however is not the case. SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck professionals come in and provide general vandalism cleaning and deodorization services for graffiti, egg and spoiled foods, and human or animal waste. Our professionals use a specialized product to rid a property of smell and remove the cause of the smell.
Are you having any experience with vandalism? Give SERVPRO Of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck give us a call at 804-966-1400. We have years of knowledge of cleaning deodorization that can help restore your home or business.
Commercial Damage
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
SERVPRO® handles both residential and commercial emergencies.
When handling a commercial loss, three levels of damage are considered:
Level 1 is a small commercial loss typically involving 15,000 square feet or less of affected floor space. If the facility was entirely affected, examples of a small commercial loss may include, but are not limited to, a stand-alone retail establishment, a small church, a daycare facility, a small shopping center, a small warehouse or manufacturing facility, or a stand-alone administrative building. A Level 1 loss can also be a small portion of a much larger structure.
Level 2 is a midsize commercial loss typically involving 15,000 to 60,000 square feet of affected floor space. The building or buildings involved are usually multi-level or greatly divided spaces. If the facility was entirely affected, examples of a Level 2 loss may include, but are not limited to, a small multi-family property, a midsize church or school, a small shopping center, a multi-tenant administration facility, or a midsize warehouse or manufacturing facility. A Level 2 loss can also be just a portion of a much larger structure.
Level 3 is a large commercial loss typically involving more than 60,000 square feet of affected floor space. The building or buildings involved will likely be large multi-level structures. If the facility was entirely affected, examples of a Level 3 loss can include, but are not limited to, a large church, hospital, school, or university; a large multi-family property; a mid- to high-rise retail or administration facility; a large industrial, manufacturing, or warehouse facility; or a large strip-style shopping center or shopping mall. This is the level at which it would be appropriate to refer to the project as a “large loss.”
Once our team determines the level of loss, the property is further assessed, and a team of appropriate size is dispatched to get the job done quickly and efficiently, and return your business to operation “Like it never even happened.”
Call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg & Northern Neck today at 804-966-1400 or toll free at 800-889-5002
Every Business Needs An ERP
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
According to the latest industry research, as many as half of all businesses may never recover following a disaster.
A SERVPRO® Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) is an assessment strategically designed to: 1) Prevent damage from any disaster 2) Establish clear communication and authorization for work to begin and 3) Help your business recover from any unexpected event. The ERP is not a full contingency plan but rather an addition to your existing plan.
By developing a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. The Emergency Ready Profile is a start up approach that provides the critical information needed to begin mitigation and recovery services. It is designed to serve as a quick reference of important building and contact information.
As a restoration company, the sooner we receive a call, the sooner we can have staff on site. Establishing SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg, & Northern Neck as your Priority Service Provider means we can respond to your emergency faster than normal and get your business open ahead of schedule.
We offer our ERP free of charge to any local businesses.
To learn more details about a SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile, call our office today 804-966-1400 or 800-889-5002
Williamsburg Commercial Water Loss
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
A water incident can strike at your Williamsburg commercial property without notice at any time. The impact of such water damage can be devastating for any business owner, but our trained technicians at SERVPRO® can be there fast to get to work as soon as possible. We handle each step of the water removal process through to drying and then disinfecting all affected areas. With one call, we can be there to start in so that your commercial space is “Like it never even happened.”
What Do I Need to Do?
Once you call us at SERVPRO, we send out a team quickly to begin the assessment. If you or your maintenance team can shut off the area to a burst pipe or put towels or blankets down with a flooding incident to keep water from migrating, do so. You can then contact your insurance agent to inform them of the event. We take care of detailing every step of the project to turn everything in for your insurance claim.
Water damage may occur at your Williamsburg place of business at any time. Some of the leading causes include:
• Frozen or broken pipes
• Storm floods
• Natural disasters
• Leaking roofs
• Sewage backups, and more
Do you need help with water damage to your commercial property? SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg, and Northern Neck is available 24/7 with crews on standby. Call 804-966-1400.
Thermal Energy System
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
The Thermal Energy System more commonly known as TES is a special drying technique SERVPRO® offers. This system allows us to combine controlled heat with air flow to produce high-speed evaporation for the drying of major water damages.
TES is not a drying method that is used for all of our everyday water damage as it does use high temperatures of heat. It is not ideal for all homeowners, as some would will continue living in their homes during the restoration process.
Special Uses
However we can use the Thermal Energy System to aid in the drying process in areas such as:
- Crawlspaces
- Hardwood floors
- Increasing the productivity of dehumidifiers
- Supplement drying for hard to dry places
The TES system may raise concerns for you as a homeowner when we say high heat temperatures. Worry not, our Hero Ready Team has put safety switches in place. These help to keep the TES machine from reaching over a certain temperature or air flow rate which is set and control.
Construction Clean Up
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
If your business was just built or went through a renovation, who do you call to cleanup the mess that was left behind? It is so important for a business to open as quickly as possible after a major project or renovation. SERVPRO® is always ready to assist with any cleaning needs.
Along with out restoration and rebuild services, SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg, and Northen Neck provides customers post-construction cleanup services. Our professional, and highly-trained team will tackle everything and anything that needs addressing.
Cleanup includes:
- Walls
- Light fixures and Fans
- All trimmings
- Floors
- Ceilings
- Doors
- Air Ducts, Vents, Baseboard Heaters
- Windows
- Cabinetry
- Any trash or plastic left behind
- Counters
IF your property needs a thorough, post-contraction cleaning, call the trusted professionals at SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg, and Northern Neck at 804-966-1400 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002 We can handle any size, no matter how big or small!
SERVPRO cares and wants to help in your time of need, If you have a property that needs cleaning up we are the professionals for the job give us a call to day! Any size job can be handled by us
No Job Is Ever Too Big!
6/24/2024 (Permalink)
The SERVPRO® Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are prequalified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any size disaster.
Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation.
At SERVPRO, the difference is our ability to dispatch trained production professionals and cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor. Get the professionals, call SERVPRO.
Clients for the Commercial Large Loss program include the following:
- The Hospitality Industry
- Property Managers
- Universities
- Municipalities
- Warehouses
- Office Buildings
The SERVPRO Disaster Recovery Team can provide help whether you're dealing with a tornado, hurricane, blizzard or flood. The SERVPRO System has a network of strategically positioned storm teams on standby should a disaster strike near you. Available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, we are prepared for the unpredictable.
Should a storm or major event strike, call SERVPRO of New Kent, Williamsburg, and Northern Neck at 804-966-1400 or toll free at 1-800-889-5002
We want you to rely on SERVPRO to get the job done