Asbestos: An Overview

2/27/2023 (Permalink)

Microscopic closeup of the iconic fibrous appearance asbestos is known for.

If you watch a lot of home renovation shows, or maybe you've had some renovations in your own home, you may have heard about asbestos. But oftentimes, asbestos isn't very well explained in what it is, where you can find it, and how it affects your health.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral known for its fibrous looking crystals. However, natural does not equate to healthy.

The appeal in using asbestos in building materials stemmed from the mineral's sturdiness. Resistance to heat, corrosion and electricity were all pluses in using asbestos. Then, through scientific and medical studies, it came into mainstream knowledge how terrible asbestos is for a person's health. Asbestos soon became known for causing several types of lung and colon cancer, asbestosis, and general respiratory health problems.

The EPA widely banned most asbestos containing products by 1989, but it's thought that stockpiles of these products were used throughout the 1990's. Thus, the likelihood asbestos was used in structures increases the older that structure is. But where in these buildings and homes can asbestos be found?

Well, lots of places! Starting from the roof: the roof felt and shingles, gutters, loose insulation, and even soffit boards. Within the home incandescent lighting, artificial fireplace logs, the backings of recessed lighting, and even outlets and switches. Pipe insulation, heat reflectors, boiler or furnace insulation, flooring, and more are also included in this. 

Your home may have asbestos, so it’s important to use proper safety equipment and precautions to protect yourself and your family when having any renovations, remodeling, or maintenance done on your home.

Bellevue Homeowners Trusts SERVPRO After Fire Damage

9/8/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire, it takes the correct equipment and cleaning agents to remove soot stains in your Bellevue home. Be wise and contact SERVPRO.

How SERVPRO Cleans Smoke and Soot Residues After Fire Damage to Bellevue Homes?

The goal of SERVPRO technicians during the restoration of fire damage to your Bellevue home is to return the materials to the preloss condition. Cleaning smoke and soot residue requires advanced techniques as residue can interact with heat, oxygen, moisture, and gasses. 

SERVPRO technicians understand that the different types of material and the effects of heat and smoke on them can create challenges in restoring fire damage in your Bellevue home. Hence, it is difficult to establish a fixed, defined procedure for cleaning smoke damage. SERVPRO techs understand and adapt to individual situations and formulate a most effective plan. Our goal is to restore your home “Like it never even happened.”

The Principles of Cleaning Smoke and Soot

SERVPRO technicians employ the following fundamental principles for cleaning your fire damaged Bellevue home-

• Finding and identifying the residue: The first and foremost step in fire damage restoration is to find and identify the smoke and soot residue and evaluate the extent of the damage. SERVPRO teams thoroughly inspect the damaged property and determine the best possible restoration procedure.
• Capturing and removing the residue: SERVPRO technicians use air and fluid to capture the smoke and soot particles. The two most common ways of capturing the residues include:
• Vacuuming: As smoke particles mostly contain carbon, dry smoke residue can be removed by vacuuming.
• Dissolving: Technicians use solvents to loosen the bonds between residues and the surface, allowing them to be suspended and flushed away. The type of soil and the surface involved dictate the type of solvent used.
• Disposing of residue: SERVPRO technicians dispose of any residue according to the local laws and guidelines.

Loosening Bonds Between Soils and Surfaces

The cleaning process that SERVPRO technicians use aims to break the bonds between soils and surfaces. The following four actions are used for the purpose:

• Mechanical action: Agitation is often one of the most effective ways to dislodge surfaces. SERVPRO technicians use agitation with roto pads, brushes, steel wool, and sandpaper to remove dry, non-greasy residue from surfaces.
• Lubrication: Lubrication aims to break the connection between the soil and the surface by making the residues slide into the cleaning solution. SERVPRO technicians use detergents to provide lubricating action during restorative cleaning.
• Chemical action: In some situations, the chemical nature of the residue needs to be changed to remove it from surfaces. SERVPRO technicians use bleaches and enzymes for this purpose. The bleaches chemically alter the residue removing it from the surfaces.
• Suspension and dispersion: In some cases, solvents are used to either dissolve the soils or suspend them so that they can be removed.

Specialty Cleaning Methods

SERVPRO technicians use an ultrasonic cleaner that uses sound waves to form and instantaneously implode millions of tiny vapor bubbles to clean materials that can withstand immersion into a cleaning solution. The energy produced by the collapsing bubbles makes the process efficient in providing agitation to remove residues.

IICRC-certified SERVPRO restorers can help deal with the damage to your Bellevue home. Our technicians are available round the clock to help you, and We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Call SERVPRO of Bellevue West at (425) 454-3900 today.

SERVPRO Saves Bellevue Properties from Water Damage

9/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's extensive inventory of water extraction and drying equipment mitigate the damage to your Bellevue home.

How SERVPRO Technicians Plan Water Damage Restoration of Bellevue Properties

Meticulous planning is a crucial step in the restoration of water damage to your Bellevue property. A well-thought-out plan can save time and resources and prevent any accidental secondary damage to your property. Hence, SERVPRO puts a lot of stock in proper planning and coordination during restoration work.

The process of water damage restoration of your Bellevue home begins with SERVPRO technicians thoroughly inspecting the property and identifying the problem areas. The next step is to prepare the worksite before the restoration activities begin. Technicians set up a staging area within the premises as a central hub for coordinating all activities. Some of the planned restorative activities might include-

• Extraction of accumulated water
• Detecting hidden moisture with the structural components
• Providing humidity control
• Controlled demolition to accelerate the drying or remove damaged material
• Deodorization

Extracting Excess Water from Your Property

SERVPRO technicians prioritize removing any standing water present on the property as water can damage structural components. The longer the water penetrates components, the more damage it can cause.

We use state-of-the-art equipment to extract water, such as-  

• Truck-mounted or portable extractors
• Trash pumps 
• Submersible pumps 

Water from carpets and subfloors is extracted using special tools called carpet wands and squeegee wands. Technicians dispose of the extracted water following applicable laws and regulations.

Detecting Hidden Moisture

Once the standing water from the property is removed, the technicians identify hidden moisture in structural components. Some of the most common moisture sensing equipment that SERVPRO technicians use in water damaged Bellevue homes include-

• Moisture Sensors: Technicians use these pieces of equipment to detect moisture present in carpets and padding. The moisture sensors have sharp probes penetrating the carpets and pads to detect dampness. Technicians can detect but not measure moisture using these sensors. 
• Thermal Imaging Cameras: Also called infra-red cameras, restorers use these to detect and monitor the moisture level in building materials. The cameras also allow the technicians to visualize how water traveled through the structure and detect moisture that otherwise would never have been discovered.   
• Moisture Meters: SERVPRO water restoration experts use moisture meters to measure the actual water content of various materials. 
• Thermo-hygrometers: Technicians use these instruments to measure the relative humidity and temperature of air masses. Some of the more advanced thermos-hygrometers that we use are capable of monitoring vapor pressure and dew point. 
• Inspection Cameras/ Borescopes: Allow the technicians to look into cavities for a visible inspection of the extent of water damage. We also use motorized cameras for use inside the ductwork. Cameras and borescopes can take still images as well as record videos. 

Where Are Moisture Measurements Done?

SERVPRO technicians use moisture monitoring equipment to determine the moisture content for five areas:

• Air in affected areas
• Air in unaffected areas
• The air outside the structure
• Air processed through dehumidifiers
• Air coming out of HVAC systems

After comparing these moisture readings, the technicians determine the best possible operating conditions and placements for dehumidifying equipment and air movers.

SERVPRO technicians work hard to leave your home restored “Like it never even happened.” We are just a call away if you need to deal with water intrusion in your Bellevue property. Call SERVPRO of Bellevue West at (425) 454-3900; We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.  

You Need SERVPRO to Mitigate Mold Damage in Bellevue

9/8/2022 (Permalink)

Water leaks fixed, control demolition, and mold remediation completed by SERVPRO for our Bellevue customers; We Are Here To Help.

Why is SERVPRO So Effective in Remediation of Mold Damage in Bellevue?

One of the biggest objectives of remediation of mold damage to your Bellevue property is to prevent mold spores, fragments, and dust from spreading to unaffected areas. SERVPRO technicians take extra care to avoid this 'cross-contamination of airborne contaminants by following the S520 guidelines suggested by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).   

SERVPRO restorers erect critical barriers with polyethylene sheeting as a first line of defense to prevent the spread of mold damage in your Bellevue home. Isolating contaminated areas and establishing robust containment zones ensure that the situation does not worsen. SERVPRO mold specialists then use state-of-the-art equipment to clean and remove the contamination.

Types of Containment During Mold Remediation

The IICRC recommends three types of containments during mold remediation projects-

• Source Containment: SERVPRO technicians use source containment to address relatively small areas of mold growth. Some examples of source containment include:
• Using self-adhering plastic or taping polyethylene sheeting on a moldy surface before removing it
• Wrapping, bagging and securing moldy contents in a 6-mil polyethylene sheeting
• Local ‘mini’ containment: SERVPRO technicians use local containment when dealing with moderate contamination levels. Technicians build an enclosure to separate the affected area from the unaffected area within a structure during such containments. Technicians use PVC pipes, wood framing, and spring-loaded poles to construct the enclosure and cover it with 6-mil poly film.

Technicians also install HEPA filtered negative air machines to create negative pressure differentials within containment areas.

• Full-scale containment: If the mold growth is extensive and can't be controlled with source or local containment, the IICRC recommends a full-scale containment. An entire room or a section of the structure is usually a containment area. All the exposed surfaces such as walls, ceilings, and floors are sealed off with poly barriers.

The Role of Air Flow in Mold Mitigation

SERVPRO mold specialists control the airflow and use air exchanges between the clean and contaminated areas to dilute airborne spore concentrations. The direction of the airflow is always maintained from clean to contaminated areas.

As the containment areas are under negative air pressure, it is essential to exchange the air with fresh air from outside. The IICRC recommends a minimum of four air exchanges per hour for containment, ventilation, and dilution.

All the air leaving or entering the containment zone is passed through a HEPA filter. SERVPRO technicians use only well-constructed professional HEPA filters to retain the fungal spores and fragments.

The Need for Dehumidification

SERVPRO technicians address the underlying moisture problem using strategically placed dehumidifiers. The pieces of equipment serve two purposes- drying the structure and maintaining a condition that does not support microbial growth. Not all mold problems result from moisture issues, and hence, dehumidification is not required in all cases.

Dealing with mold damage without professional help can be stressful and overwhelming. Our technicians are available 24X7, and We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Call SERVPRO of Bellevue West at (425) 454-3900 to talk to one of our technicians and discuss your restoration needs.

Our ERP Makes Water Mitigation More Efficient in Bellevue

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

Commercial damage restoration services for your business need to be handled by SERVPRO. We have the manpower and equipment.

You can be Prepared for Water Mitigation and More

The Emergency READY Profile (ERP) from SERVPRO helps businesses prepare for disasters by giving their employees a dedicated series of steps to take when a disaster strikes. The ERP keeps the overall costs of water mitigation manageable in Bellevue.

The ERP is a no-cost program that helps us arrive as quickly as possible to start working on saving your business in Bellevue. Water mitigation work helps protect your business from needing additional services related to the initial disaster. The information business owners include in their Profile means we can provide a highly targeted and precise response.

When your business requires water mitigation or other disaster-related response, you want experienced professionals who know how to work efficiently. The ERP is something all businesses can benefit from, regardless of their size. Companies that add our ERP to their disaster preparedness plan fare much better than companies that decided not to use the program. Here are some major benefits of enrolling in SERVPRO’s ERP:

• Accessibility for all managers through our apps,
• Includes information to help keep your employees safe, and
• Details on unique information regarding your facilities.

Information regarding insurance, permission for services, the location of shut-off valves, and other crucial information is accessible through our ERP. These details are available via our app, which is compatible with both Android and Apple phones.

Evacuation plans show the quickest route out of a building while occupied. Not all disasters happen during off-hours, and your employees are your most valuable asset. The ERP can show areas to avoid, also, or that require specialized gear before entering.

You can include helpful explanations of interior architecture that might create hindrances to our technicians or their equipment, like split levels that might become hidden in a water emergency. Out-of-the-way entrances to your building that we can use can help by keeping your usual entryways open in their customary manner.

Call SERVPRO of Bellevue West at (425) 454-3900 to learn more about how the Emergency READY Plan can help your business recover after a disaster.

Fire Damage Experts Reduce Odors and More in Clyde Hill

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

When fire damage restoration is needed, SERVPRO is the team to call. We are ready at a moment's notice.

Make Your Home Cleaner-Feeling after Fire Damage

Smoke residues left inside your home can leave it dusty, dry, and with a persistent foul odor. SERVPRO is always available to help homeowners confronted with fire damage in Clyde Hill with soot removal services. We do not need to get into areas holding trapped soot particles to control the situation for you and your family.

Our certified technicians can perform soot removal tasks as part of our services for fire damage in your Clyde Hill residence by clearing the air. We know soot’s characteristics and how to remove this substance. When removing it is impossible, we know methods that still render it incapable of future disintegration (which had allowed it to become light enough that air currents could whisk it into the air you and your family breathed).

Cleaning soot-covered surfaces involve several factors that can affect how easily we can clean certain items. Here are two main factors that affect cleaning after fire damage occurs:

• The type of soot, with dry soot being the easiest to clean away from even porous surfaces, and
• The kind of surface affected by soot.

Dry soot occurs with fires that burn fast and at high temperatures. We find wet soot after a fire with little available oxygen smoldered and burned slowly. Because wet soot soaks into porous surfaces, more care is required to remove it than what we need to do with dry soot. Cooking fires often produce soot with little to no visible color while producing an alarming level of unwanted odor.

Absorbent surfaces include textiles which often require solvents to dissolve the soot, allowing us to flush the surface with clean water. We can clean small items with an ultrasound unit, often with extraordinary results. Shiny surfaces throughout your residence can become dull if exposed to soot for too long. We can often buff the fine etching off the surface. Walls and countertops often come clean with special soot-erasing sponges.

Call SERVPRO of Bellevue West at (425) 454-3900 for this and other specialized services.

Controlled Demolition during Fire Restoration for Bellevue Homes

9/2/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO fire damage restoration services are second to none. Call now for the help you need.

Fire Restoration can Mean Rebuilding from Scratch

The losses sustained by a fire-gutted house can look worse than what the property owners in Bellevue expect. SERVPRO can use such destruction to your advantage with controlled demolition. Fire restoration work does not always require that we rebuild according to the previous floor plan.

We discuss all possible options when preparing for fire restoration work in your Bellevue residence. Insurance adjusters do not always require exact substitutes during restoration projects and often approve modifications to our customers’ houses, especially if they carry added advantages.

Below we discuss some aspects of fire restoration that can affect your home:

• These sometimes include modified floor plans because they can make a home safer,
• More modern materials, while of better quality, carry a lower price tag, and
• Other times, original materials no longer exist, such as asbestos-containing tiles.

Many homes built twenty years ago would need modifications made because of changes to housing codes. Such changes might include entryway latches, the rise of staircases, and other similar changes. Wider hallways can make your home feel more welcoming and safer. The layout of your bathroom might change for the better.

While it is possible to locate original shag carpeting, more modern and easier-to-clean styles are available. Even where historical value requires similar replacements, carpeting that looked like contemporary styles did exist. They are merely much more affordable now. Certain styles of

Some floor coverings no longer exist, and tiles contain asbestos. Many paints used only a few decades ago had the lead as an ingredient. Insulation in attics sometimes contained asbestos. We work with certified and highly trained experts in asbestos removal and lead-paint handling, ensuring your home’s work is always up to code. Plumbing and wiring are other areas that often get upgraded after a fire happens. We explain every step before taking action, as we want you to remain fully informed with no surprises occurring that would add to your stress.

Call SERVPRO of Bellevue West at (425) 454-3900 for dependable restoration experts that you can rely on to make everything “Like it never even happened.”

Overcoming Threatening Flood Damage to Bellevue Homes

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO flood damage restoration specialists have the training and experience for all phases needed for your home.

The Focuses of Flood Damage Cleanup

Flooding is a fast-paced threat to your home. As leading restoration professionals, we have specific mitigation and recovery objectives that must begin as soon as possible to limit out-of-pocket expenses. Emergency services can include:

• Containing the impact
• Repairing structural concerns
• Protecting personal belongings
• Cleaning exposed surfaces
• Drying the structure

Containing the Floodwater

Containment is one of the initial focuses of cleaning up flood damage in Bellevue homes and businesses. Preventing surface water movement and migrating moisture protects more of the structure and reduces the possibility of widespread microbial growth and contamination.

Preventing Harm to Contents

Personal belongings can quickly find themselves in the damage path of migrating flood loss effects. Standing water and potential contaminants can render contents unsalvageable, so prioritizing relocation and preserving these objects is vital. 

Emergency Repairs and Building

Our general contractor license allows us to complete needed controlled demolition and emergency repairs, which begins as soon as we arrive. We can reconstruct damaged utilities or seal/patch over structural vulnerabilities allowing floodwater penetration. Repairs might include rebuilding the roof, replacing siding, or patching breaches in the foundational masonry.

Effective Drying for Flood-Damaged Materials

Drying is one of the foundational elements of every water and flood damage scenario. We have hundreds of air movers and dehumidifiers specifically tasked with evaporating surface moisture and managing humidity. We can also utilize portable heaters to increase the temperature of wet surfaces for faster drying and a greater relative humidity capacity in the structure.

Surface Cleaning and Disinfection

Cleaning up impacted surfaces can be one of the best methods of combatting the possible contamination associated with flooding. We have potent disinfectant agents, chlorines, and phenolics to eliminate surface soiling and microbial threats.

Flooding can be a compromising disaster for your home. Our SERVPRO of Bellevue West team gets cleanup started as soon as we arrive. Call now at (425) 454-3900.

Clyde Hill Homes Need Flood Damage Drying from Air Movers

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians are ready at a moment's notice. Call now!

Flood Damage Is Mitigated with Air Movers

Flooding can be a widespread concern for your residence, especially when building materials and contents begin to absorb this migrating moisture. It is imperative to start drying approaches as soon as possible, and air movers are among the most important tools for this process. Varieties of this equipment include:

• Axial
• Centrifugal
• Low-Profile

Continuous Beneficial Airflow

The most direct benefit of air movers in recovering flood damage in Clyde Hill homes is the manipulation of air. Many materials are affected by saturation and absorption, but air movers provide a steady dispersal of focused warm air against damp surfaces to evaporate the moisture. SERVPRO technicians can frequently move these high-velocity units to provide a stable output of effective evaporative drying.

Raising Vapor Pressure

Vapor pressure is an essential principle of effective drying in residence. Increasing the temperature in the affected room by using air movers to circulate the warmth increases the drying process overall in the designated workspace. When temperatures of trapped moisture increase, kinetic energy and molecular movement also increase. Vapor pressure increases in this scenario as more efficient vaporization of surface moisture occurs.

Removing the Vapor Barrier

When evaporation occurs, a natural barrier of cool air begins to form just above the material's surface. This boundary can prevent efficient drying. Air movers can help by blasting through this cool air barrier and continuing to impact the underlying wet surface. Centrifugal units are specifically designed to focus a blast of warm air at a designated point on the wall or ceiling to overcome this challenging layer.

Air movers are one of the most common drying tools used by our SERVPRO of Bellevue West team when removing surface water and trapped moisture. We can overcome several obstacles in the drying process with various types of these units. Do not wait to get mitigation started after a flood - call us now at (425) 454-3900.

Professional Mold Removal and Inspections for Bellevue Homes

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO mold remediation technicians have the tools and training for every phase needed for your home.

Mold Removal Starts with Tracking Colonies

The possibility of mold growth and development is more common in area homes and businesses than you think. Some do not easily notice signs of microbial infestation, allowing the situation to worsen. Some signals of possible mold damage in your home include:

• Spotting hosting materials
• Strong, musty smells in the affected areas
• Continuous moisture concerns
• Deteriorating building materials

Professional Mold Inspection Services

You might not be capable of telling on your own when you need services like mold removal in your Bellevue home. Mold damage can be elusive if it occurs in low-traffic areas like the attic or basement. If you suspect mold growth could be a concern, professional inspections and testing can confirm or negate this development.

What if Mold Is Found?

The mold is not likely to go away on its own, even if much of the moisture in the affected area is somehow resolved. The only suitable solution is to have our SERVPRO professionals begin remediation steps to eradicate active organisms and protect underlying substrates formerly hosting the colony.

Mold Removal Options for Your Home

When you know mold exists in your home or business, we must work quickly to resolve the situation. Microbial colonies continue to spread through the house and deteriorate hosting materials, so remediation must begin as soon as possible. Surface cleaning is the preferred option, but if the problem impacts more than just the outermost layer of an affected building element, more aggressive measures like dry ice blasting or controlled demolition might be necessary.

A mold discovery in your home can be alarming and stressful, especially when you do not know how to proceed to remove it. Our experienced SERVPRO of Bellevue West remediators can help with removal strategies and repairs that make mold damage "Like it never even happened." Call now at (425) 454-3900.