Property Damage Caused by Water

12/7/2022 (Permalink)

How can Water Damage Happen to Your Property?

There are plenty of scenarios where water can cause damage to your home or business and when something like that occurs it’s best to take action as quickly as possible. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is a trusted leader in the water damage restoration field. When you choose us to get the job done, we will complete it to your satisfaction quickly without compromising the quality of our work.

Water damage can happen due to a variety of reasons and in most cases can be impossible to predict. Pipe leaks can cause a significant amount of damage depending on where the pipe is located, if it is located behind a wall it would make it more difficult to spot until a large area is potentially affected. Appliances can also break and/or malfunction such as a supply line to a refrigerator or a washer machine. Dealing with most types of water damage situations can be difficult and a bit overwhelming when it comes to deciding where to start in regards to cleaning up and restoring it . This is where our services come into the picture.

Water Damage Restoration

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County has a dedicated team when it comes to getting any property mitigation/restoration job completed. Many of our employees have years of experience that have been built up over time from being out in the field and training that is ongoing, since there are always new solutions being implemented. We have access to top of line equipment that lets us dry an area quickly and effectively.

The first technician that arrives on site will perform a walk-through in order to determine the best approach and solution to tackle the problem. Once a plan is put into action the team will do whatever it takes to complete the job to your satisfaction. When the team is all done and everything has been finished it will be “like it never even happened.”

Winter Is on the Way

11/15/2022 (Permalink)

Get ready for the first snow fall of 2022.

Winter Weather & Your Property

It’s that time of the year again, right as you open your front door you feel the chilly breeze and see frost on the grass. Within no time northern New Jersey will get its first snow fall of the year. In most cases getting snow isn’t that bad and is mainly annoying for those of us that are driving around. When we get a storm that’s when snow can be problematic and can potentially damage your home or business. Freezing rain is another concern as well and can cause a handful of problems. If you run into a situation where your home and/or business has been effected by the harsh winter weather, SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn is here to help. We are a leader in the restoration service industry and have experienced technicians that will determine the best solution that will solve your mitigation/restoration problems.

The Variety of Ways your Property can be Effected

There are plenty of scenarios that can lead to your home and/or business being damaged from the elements especially during the winter months. We will go over a few of the issues you should keep an eye out for, so you can take action quickly.

• Ice Dams – This is one of the more frequent/common ways your home or business can be damaged during the winter. When ice builds up it clogs your gutters, when the snow begins to melt the water has nowhere to go and the water backs up under the roof and refreezes, since it isn’t being drained away from the house. It can lead to water damage, mold growth and rot if action isn’t taken as soon as it is discovered.
• Snow Damage – When snow is on your roof it may not look like much, but it can be pretty heavy and could cause structural damage increasing the chances of a roof leak. It is important to not pile up snow near the foundation, because once it begins to melt the soil may become over saturated and potentially cause property damage.
• Frozen & Burst Pipes – When it comes proper plumbing winterization, most pipes will not encounter many issues. Faucets that are located on the outside along with plumbing located in unheated areas, such as a garage or crawlspace have the highest risk of an issue happening in extremely cold temperatures. There are a few measures that a person can take that may help prevent a situation like that from occurring, keeping the facets at a trickle will keep the water flowing to avoid pressure build up and potentially prevent pipe freezes.

These are just a few common ways your home and/or business can be damaged by the harsh cold weather during the winter. The best way to prevent these situation is to make sure you are maintaining the property and staying alert by simply preforming a quick walk around to see if anything may require your attention.

What to do if you Find Storm and/or Water Damage

The best thing a home or business owner can do in this situation is get help as soon as you are aware of the damage. As soon as you call us, our office can schedule a time and date that works for you. In more dire circumstances we can send a restoration team quickly in order to prevent further potential damage from occurring. Once our experienced professionals are finished with the restoration process it will be “like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO is the Right Choice for your Restoration Needs

11/2/2022 (Permalink)

High-speed air movers drying the affected area.

Restoration Professionals

Here at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration for commercial and residential structures. Our team is equipped with the knowledge and tools to complete any restoration tasks. This is because of initial and ongoing training that keeps them up to date, allowing them to apply the best solutions to your property damage issue. Training programs such as the ones provided by the IICRC, our very own employee certification training, initial franchise training, e-learning, continuing education classes, along with building up experience throughout their careers.

Effective Tools & Techniques

As we know technology keeps marching forward and improves each year. Advancements in restoration technology also needs new and updated techniques to match the rapid advancements within our field. This gives us the ability to restore a property back to its preloss conditions quickly without compromising the quality of the work.

• Moisture detectors/hygrometers are used to help detect moisture saturation.
• Infrared camera can be used to determine the location of the water for proper removal.
• Submersible/gas powered pumps may be used to pump out large volumes of water.
• Truck mounted/ portable extraction units will be used to efficiently remove water.
• High-speed air movers are used for effective moisture evaporation.
• Industrial grade dehumidifiers keep the air in the affected area dry.

This is only a list of some of the advanced equipment we have at our disposal. In the end, this helps our team provide outstanding results for any of your mitigation/restoration needs. The final result will be “Like it never even happened.”

Northeast Bergen’s Water Damage Restoration Pro’s

9/16/2022 (Permalink)

Hard at work.

Commercial and Residential Water Damage

No matter what type of property a person may own, there is potential for a water damage event to occur. Water damage can occur from a variety of sources depending on the circumstances and the severity of the issue. It can happen to anyone at any time whether it be from nature itself or a manmade source.

Here at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn we provide suitable and efficient solutions for all types of water loss scenarios like burst pipes, sump pump failure, flooding along with many other potential causes. An incident can happen without warning and quickly spread throughout the affected property. Our certified and experienced technicians can contain the situation and begin work addressing the affected areas of your home or business through mitigation, cleaning, and recovery efforts. The onsite technicians will utilize advanced equipment like our infrared cameras, hydrometer, and moisture meter for detection. We will use powerful mitigation tools like air movers, water extractors, floor drying mats, and dehumidifiers to remove and dry the affected area.

Locally Owned and Operated

We live and work in this community which allows us to build strong long lasting relationships with our clients and the towns around us. As a locally owned and operated business, SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn is close by and ready to respond to any water damage emergency. Our team is proud to be an active member of the community and want to do our part to make it the best it can be.

No matter when water loss incidents occur, our team can make it “Like it never even happened.”

Do you have a Water Damage Situation on your Hands?

Call Today – (201) 244-0100

Why Choose SERVPRO® of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn

9/12/2022 (Permalink)

Highly Trained Restoration Specialists

The team works hard to try and be the best and makes sure that they have the proper tools, skills and experience to mitigate and restore your property correctly. We will do whatever it takes to get the job done to your satisfaction and take pay close attention to detail when restoring your home or business.

In any business there will always be companies that lack the skill and experience to get the work done properly. That’s not the case here at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn, since we provide training to all our technicians and many of them have years of experience under their belt.

IICRC Training and Certification

The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) certifies and sets the standards for the cleaning and restoration industries. Our professionals study IICRC standards and best practices in water restoration, fire restoration, mold remediation, carpet and upholstery cleaning, and other cleaning and restoration courses. Each technician takes courses throughout the year to make sure the certification are up to date.

Employee Certification Training

Our company also offers Employee Certification Training that is voluntary, which is a self-paced program designed for SERVPRO franchise employees. These programs are useful towards new hires, so they can get brush up on certain restoration topics if they are unfamiliar with the subject matter.

The entire staff has access and can utilize our web-based training programs. These programs are designed to be ongoing for our employees out in the field and in the office. Each course is then followed by a knowledge test at the end of every module. All of this keep our staff up to speed on the industry standards.

Cleaning, Restoration, Construction.

When it comes down to your restoration needs on your commercial and/or residential property, SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn would be. As you can see from the info provided above our team is highly trained and experienced in the subject. We will assist any client in need and guide them through our entire process. We also provide 24/7 emergency service since a restoration emergency can happen no matter what time it may be. If you every need restoration services we are “Here to Help”. You can give us a call at our number is 201-244-0100.

Storm Systems & Property Damage

8/25/2022 (Permalink)

Faster to any size disaster™

Common Storm Systems in the Northern New Jersey

Here in northern New Jersey our climate is diverse and can be quite different from what is happening in the southern New Jersey region. New Jersey can be divided into five main climate zones, which can experience different weather events throughout the year. Bergen County is located in the central New Jersey climate zone, but shares a border with the north climate zone. This exposes our area to weather events that occur in both regions. Around the summer season thunderstorms can be quite common and are largely responsible for most of the rainfall received throughout the year, but cyclones are becoming more frequent each year as the average temperature is increasing slowly every year. Due to most of our county being somewhat flat, certain communities during these warm rainy months are at risk of to flooding potentially causing damage to homes and commercial properties. .

Since we are located on the border of the northern and central climate zones, our winters can be pretty different then the areas south of us. This exposes us to shifts between freezing and non-freezing temperatures, which affects how much snow fall we get. We tend to get more snow than most of the state with the northern climate zone being the only exception. On average we can expect to get anywhere between 23-27 inches of snow annually. Depending on how extreme a winter storm can be can cause tree limbs to break along ice damming on roofs potentially damaging property.

What to Do if Your Home or Business is Affected by a Storm

If your property has been damaged by a storm, depending on the extent of damage you can try to mitigate and restore it on your own, but we don’t advise that unless you’re an experienced professional. Here at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn we have an experienced and IICRC certified team that can help you in a storm damage situation. We specialize in property restoration and our crew can handle cleanup after any size disaster. Client satisfaction is our priority, since we understand how stressful it can be when it comes to property damage. Every SERVPRO offers 24/7 emergency service. After a storm system has rolled on by and if by chance your home or business has been damaged, take action and give us a call at (201) 244-0100 and a technician will be on their way.

Has your Dumont Business Encountered Water Damage?

8/9/2022 (Permalink)

Water restoration services in a Dumont office building, being carried out by technicians.

The Challenges with Commercial Water Restoration

When it comes to owning and operating a business, it becomes a person’s pride and joy and an owner will do whatever it takes to succeed. Sometimes an unexpected curve ball may be thrown at us and a new challenge presents itself. If that curve ball happens to be water damage SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn has your back. During unexpected events such as a hot water heater leak, pipe bursts, along with other potential threats. Dealing with issues like this need to be addressed quickly in order to prevent further damage. Depending on the extent of the damage it can have sever negative effects on your business and can temporarily shut down operations.

Take Action

As a business owner you’re probably alert when it comes to how everything is operating, that can be applied to spotting an issue such as water damage on your commercial property. If there is a pipe leak or burst you can shut off the water supply if you have access to the area with the shut off valve. After you have figured out the source of the water, you can set up an appointment to get it fixed. Let’s not rush ahead of ourselves, since there is still all the water to deal with. This is where SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn comes in. Our company specializes in water restoration no matter what the cause is, we’ll get the job done to your satisfaction. We understand that events like these can take their toll financially and mentally. This is why we have an experienced team that has IICRC certifications that are related to the services we provide. To put it simply once the office is called and an appointment has been made, our production manager will take a look and give you a quick summary on the work that will be carried out. Once the estimator has finished, the next phase will require some paper work, man power and equipment. Our technicians are standing by and ready to take the job head on as soon as the word is given. We have specialized moisture monitors that assist our workers with determining what areas need to be dried and then water extraction if needed can begin. Depending on the extent of the damage some demolition may be required and any contents that are deemed non salvageable would be disposed of properly.

A Job Well Done

While all the hard work is being done, equipment is set up to begin the drying process. It’s standard procedure to leave our equipment for a few days to dry the affected areas. Near the end of the job our technicians perform a walk through and meter the affected area to determine if the drying is complete. If the moisture meter along with any other signs that area is dry the equipment can be removed and our job there is done, but one good thing about SERVPRO is that we offer construction services which allow us to do the rebuild, so your business can open up and resume normal operations. As a business owner if you are looking for a water restoration company that provides quality work and can get things done in a timely manner, you have come to the right place.

Give SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn a call at (201) 244-0100

How Storms can Turn Everything Upside Down

8/8/2022 (Permalink)

Large Storm Front Moving In

Storms and your Property

Mother Nature can be unpredictable at times. We rely on our weather centers and news apps to see what future weather may occur, but at times even the weatherman gets it wrong. That is why it’s always good to be ready for anything that could damage your property, whether it be extreme winds or rising waters there is always something that can be done to minimize the effect it may have on your home or business.

Mitigating the Aftermath

Even for those who are properly prepared can still encounter property damage because the power of nature can’t be controlled. This is where our services provide the community with ability to bounce back and allow the restoration process to begin. After the damage is done we are here to put your property on the path to recovery. Our experienced team of technicians will determine what affected areas are able to be saved and restored. In our line of business we have the state of the art tools and equipment that can assist with water extraction and being able to determine what materials are affected, so they can be dried or disposed of. Here at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County we understand how stressful a situation like this can be and we’ll walk you through each step until the end.

Our Services

In case of emergency events we offer 24/7 emergency service to those who need it. We offer water, fire, and mold restoration services. Not only that we also have construction services, which streamlines the entire process so you don’t have stress out when it comes to finding another contractor. Choosing us means everything can be done in one fowl swoop. So if your property has had a run in with water damage brought on by a storm or any other incident. If you are in need of our services give us a call today.

Flood Damage and Water Damage: What's the Difference?

7/18/2022 (Permalink)

Technician providing water extraction service in basement.

Is it Flood Damage or Water Damage?

Mitigating and restoration is only part of the battle when it comes to addressing water damage. With water damage the first step is trying to determine if it can be classified as a water damage claim or a flood damage claim. This information is important, since it determines what part of the loss can be covered and what can't. 

It can be complicated when filling an insurance claim caused by water damage. When trying to determine if the loss falls under flood loss or regular water damage can be difficult depending on the terms and conditions laid out in the insurance contract and by how the government defines each of those events.

How to Find Answers?

The distinction between what is classified as a water loss or flood loss, is best described by (FEMA) the Federal Emergency Management Agency defines flood damage as a general and temporary condition of partial complete inundation of two or more acres and two or more properties of normally dry land. 

Braking it down to more simple terms, if the damages were caused by the water was from a natural source and neighbors are experiencing the same issues, it can most likely be classified as flood damage according to FEMA. The main things that can cause flood damage is an overflow of inland or tidal waters, unusual and rapid accumulation or runoff of surface waters from any source, mudflow, or collapse of land along the shore of a lake or similar body of water as a result of erosion or undermining caused by waves/currents of water exceeding anticipated cyclical levels that result in a flood. 

What if my Home was Damaged by a Flood?

Let’s say the flood has caused damage to your home, it is important to figure out if you have flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program. Home insurance companies do not offer coverage on flood damage. Having flood insurance is beneficial to home owners that the slightest chance of being affected by a flood. The National Flood Insurance Program states that flood insurance policies cover physical damage to your property along with possessions. 

Under flood insurance everything from the building and its foundation, to the refrigerator and the food inside of it will be taken into consideration when a claim is filed. Flood insurance does cover basements and areas that are below the lowest elevated floor, but there are some stipulation in regards to that depending on the flood zone and the date the home was constructed. Flood damage does not cover the cover any sentimental value of any property, so be sure to remove any items such as photos, documents, or personal items that can't be replaced as quickly as possible. 

What if it's a Regular Water Loss?

If the water damage doesn't originate from a natural source and it's not affecting other properties in the surrounding area. a water damage claim is the way to go. Water issues caused by a broken, toilet, overflowing bathtub, broken pipes, or a burst water mains are all grounds for water damage claims that should be filed with your homeowners’ insurance company. 

Going Through the Process

Filing a claim for water damage or flood damage can be very confusing. At time it's very overwhelming and sometimes you may need assistance, so don't be afraid to call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn. We can help you through the remediation process. 

You can reach us at: (201) 244-0100 

What Can SERVPRO Do For You?

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

Technicians pumping water out of affected area affected by water damage.

Commercial and home restoration projects can be a massive undertaking. There must be great attention to detail because if something is missed it has the potential to negatively affect the entire project. This is why it's critical property owner should consider having an experienced team to handle their restoration needs to ensure that the work does not need to be redone or cause a setback to prevent any financial and emotional toll. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen Count, Fair Lawn can be your local restoration hero thanks to our outstanding customer service, employees, and top notch equipment.

Our Commitment to You

Here at SERVPRO we understand the stress and worry that comes with fire and water damage along with the disruption it causes to you, your home, or your business. Our objective is to help minimize the interruption to your life and quickly make it "Like it never even happened". This is key for giving our customers peace of mind during a stressful time, helping to pave the path towards a successful restoration project and positive relationship in the future.  

Experience and Certification

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn has had over a decade in experience through our amazing and loyal employees that have stuck with us through the easy and stressful times. Our employees study IICRC standards and practices in cleaning and restoration. We make it a priority to get out team up-to-date on the latest certification that give them and our company an edge.

• Water Damage Restoration (IICRC)
• Fire & Smoke Restoration (IICRC)
• Applied Structural Drying (IICRC)
• Odor Control (IICRC)
• Health & Safety (IICRC)

How to Get in Touch With Our Team

When you have a restoration need. We're located locally and can quickly arrive on site to assist you. We take pride it being part of the Bergen county community and want to do our part making it the best it can be. If you would like to schedule an appointment call us at:

(201) 244-0100

What Makes Closter Grease Fire Damage Harder to Cleanup?

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO offers fire damage mitigation service that makes your home in Closter look “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Technicians Remove Closter Fire and Smoke Damage 

A grease fire in a Closter property is not limited to a pan left on a stove to the flashpoint. Another way people have caused fire damage to their properties is by putting frozen turkeys or chickens into outdoor fryers that are operated too close to the structure. During the fire, protein residues spread throughout the room and coat surfaces. While hard to see, they are highly intense, depositing a sticky residue.

SERVPRO technicians handle different types of Closter fire damage cleanup. One situation is from a single pan that caught on fire on a stovetop, and the flames in a pan were not too large until water or flour was used to attempt to extinguish it. These actions are enormous mistakes and rapidly elevate the fire and smoke damage within the kitchen. Flour is explosive, but the real danger is using water. When water comes into contact with the hot oil, it instantly vaporizes, travels upward, and carries the flames. The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) recommends the following actions when there is a grease fire: 

• Turn off the heat source and use a tight-fitting lid on the pan
• Use salt or baking soda
• Double-check to make sure frozen items thawed before cooking
• SERVPRO advises having even a small amount of fire damage mitigated professionally to avoid spreading pungent odors throughout the property

Common Fire Damage Effects

After this type of fire damage in a kitchen, the issues can be widespread. SERVPRO technicians deal with ruined and sometimes melted exteriors of appliances, heat and smoke damage cleanup on cabinets and surfaces, and blackened walls and ceilings. Water damage used by first responders can also be an issue that requires extraction during the fire mitigation service. 

Actions During Housefire Cleanup

SERVPRO technicians section off the worksite when handling house fire cleanup to keep any airborne soot particles within the job area. Once the charred materials are removed, the technicians can inspect the ductwork to ensure no residues can carry odorous soot throughout the home. Property owners can avoid this common post-fire issue through a follow-up cleaning of the ducts and HVAC. Simply changing the HVAC filter will not lessen the potential for spreading smoke odors throughout the home. SERVPRO technicians can:

• Use unique collection methods to remove dirt and debris from the ducts
• Cleaning vents
• Using odor control within the home as needed

Surface Smoke Residue Removal

Protein fires have a lightly-colored, thick residue that deposits tiny droplets on surfaces. Although difficult to see, it has a powerful odor and, once dried, often has a bumpy texture that can be felt on smooth surfaces such as countertops. The stuck-on nature of this kind of smoke damage makes it hard to remove without the use of a strong cleaning agent. SERVPRO technicians mix their solvent-based solutions and emulsions using EPA- approved formulas. Afterward, homeowners can hand off any repairs the property needs, including installing floor to ceiling and painting walls in colors chosen by the homeowner or other cosmetic touches. 

Closter residents with fire damage trust SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 with the cleanup and restoration job. The trained, certified technicians are ready 24/7 to make the fire and smoke damage, "Like it never even happened."

What are the Main Types of Closter Water Damage Equipment?

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

Water damage can spread quickly and create a lot of damage in your Closter home. Contact SERVPRO today for all types of remediation assistance.

SERVPRO technicians Bring the Latest Water Mitigation Tools to Closter Jobs

According to a report produced by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average water cleanup in a home causes over $11,000 in damages. An average of 14,000 persons are affected by a water emergency every day in the United States. Besides the knowledge a professional restoration services company brings to the scene, professional equipment can make a marked difference in the outcome for the property and contents after water exposure. The most commonly seen devices include:

• Extraction 
• Dehumidification
• Drying

SERVPRO technicians have extensive training for handling water damage within Closter properties. Before the extraction begins, the technicians nail down the location of the water within the structure using their sensitive moisture detection equipment. It takes mere minutes to layout the actual scale of the water cleanup needs within the property. This attention to detail ensures that all areas within the worksite get adequately cleaned. 

What Factors Affect the Time Needed for Water Cleanup?

While each water restoration job that SERVPRO handles is unique with houses, contents, and water damage effects being different, there are common things the technicians apply to each service such as:

• Noting the type of water within the structure 
• The level of probable contamination
• The amount of moisture
• The time passed since the water entered the house 

What Equipment Helps With Wet Flooring?

During a water damage restoration service, one of the most important things to determine is whether the structure's moisture affects the subfloor or within the house's walls. All flooring types with water damage can benefit from the tools that SERVPRO technicians use regularly. Extraction goes quickly when the technicians use the pulling power of their portable pump units. When necessary, the technicians can use a truck or van-mounted units to remove large quantities of water. However, the hoses needed begin to lose suction when extended beyond 150-feet, making the portable pumps ideal for most residential or jobs where vehicle-mounted units are not the most helpful method. Submersible pumps are the go-to water removal method for situations where the water within the structure is greater than two inches in depth. 

Drying a wet carpet may be accomplished by using special techniques known as floating or tenting, which concentrates the airflow directly on the damp carpet portion. Hardwood flooring carries its challenges when wet. The wood can crack or have permanent damage if the moisture gets removed too rapidly. SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians handle it very carefully to ensure that the drying process goes slow and steady with frequent monitoring of moisture levels. 

No matter what type of drying equipment or method gets used against water damage, the dehumidifier is a crucial part of the process. It stops mold and mildew from having a sustainable environment and rapidly lowers the interior humidity levels. 

In situations where the potential for airborne contaminants exists with water damage, such as with a sewage backup, the technicians often utilize negative air machines. These units pump tainted air outside the worksite area and create a negative air pressure vacuum effect within the controlled area. 

Closter residents trust SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 when they need help with water damage cleanup and restoration for their properties and contents.

What Methods Work Against Closter Mold Damage?

6/30/2022 (Permalink)

Mold spreads quickly when the conditions are right. Contact SERVPRO to investigate the cause and remediate the damage on your Closter property.

SERVPRO Technicians Handle Closter Mold Infestations Professionally

It is not unusual for Closter homeowners to attempt to handle mold remediation on their own using various DIY methods. This action can work against them by causing improper cleaning methods to become airborne mold spores. Once airborne, the spores can wind up in the ductwork and get distributed throughout the home via the HVAC system or through hitching a ride on shoes and clothing. 

Attempting DIY mold damage remediation is the very situation that is sometimes the catalyst for a Closter mold damage problem. Once these airborne spores encounter damp conditions, they can germinate, grow and spread. A common misconception is spraying bleach and water mixtures on the visible mold to eliminate the problem. Using this method can allow mold behind the scenes to continue to thrive, but the bleach can also damage surfaces. SERVPRO IICRC Certified technicians can handle mold remediation in homes safely, including colony growth located in areas such as:

• Behind walls or ceilings
• Under floorboards and wallpaper
• Around leaks or damaged exterior areas 

Inspection, Repair is Better Than DIY Mold Remediation

One of the best ways to avoid mold damage in a property is to inspect it regularly. Homeowners should look up at ceilings and look for wet spots on walls. A slow leak has the potential to lead to a large-scale mold damage issue that will continue to worsen until it is repaired. Sources of moisture or humidity can invite germination in naturally present mold spores that would otherwise float harmlessly throughout the home. Frequently handled areas within properties where mold damage is typical include: 

• Air conditioning units
• Crawl spaces, attics, or basements
• Bathrooms around fixtures and showers
• Kitchens and appliances

Additions to Fight Against Mold Damage and Win

Besides looking over the home regularly and being alert for visible changes, homeowners can benefit from monitoring systems. Water monitoring can alert homeowners to leaks within the plumbing. Via a cellphone, pinpoint the likely location within the home for a fast fix before much water or mold damage occurs. Most of these systems fit seamlessly into existing eco-systems with other environmental monitoring ranging from fire alerts to air quality and intrusion.   

Interior Humidity Levels Should Be Under 50%

The dehumidification unit on the home HVAC unit should be cleaned and maintained along with the rest of the system yearly. This enables the home's humidity levels to be held at levels that are not sustainable for mold growth. In the event of an unseen slow leak, the capture of humid air can assist in minimizing the amount of mold damage, if any, that happens before the repairs occur. Exhaust fans should be checked yearly to ensure that nothing is blocking the exit. Unfortunately, birds are notorious for making nests in the outtake pipes, which can block the flow of humid air and eventually lead to mold remediation. While mold spores can germinate as rapidly as 24 hours after a water damage event in a home, the lower humidity levels can assist in slowing this process down and tipping the scales in the homeowner's favor against dealing with mold damage situations. 

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 brings professional mold damage remediation services to the local Closter area. The IICRC-trained and certified technicians can handle any type or size of mold colony infestation.

How Our Experts Can Save Your Fire Damaged Closter Home

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

When fire hits your Closter home, you need to call the technicians at SERVPRO.

What You Can Expect During Fire Damage Cleanup in Your Closter Home

Fire damage is one of those home disasters that tend to look worse before it gets better. Numerous actions are necessary during the cleanup and readying for repairs and reconstruction.

One of the most common steps taken in Closter homes during fire damage restoration comes in the form of controlled demolition. This is a method that SERVPRO technicians receive a large amount of training in during the certification process. The cutting away of charred sheetrock or building materials that buckled from either fire or water damage is a necessary step in reducing odor, limiting the spread of soot, and prepping the property for reconstruction.

How Much is Too Much Fire Damage for Restoration?

There is no one-size-fits-all rule for fire loss cleanup. SERVPRO technicians examine each item and area of the home for restoration potential through various cleaning methods and techniques. Non Porous items generally fare better than things that can take in smoke odors and soot.

Stay Out of the Fire Loss Area

One of the first actions technicians practice involves establishing containment or a negative air barrier space around the area in the home with fire damage. This limits the accidental spread of soot to currently unaffected areas of the house.

Let the Technicians Know What is Important

SERVPRO knows that some things in the home are invaluable to homeowners, and when someone tells them to save their favorite 75-gallon aquarium or wedding photo album is priceless, the technicians work to find those items and ascertain the restoration potential. Through their various cleaning solutions, often complicated restorations are possible.

Taking the Stress Out of Rebuilding

After fire damage cleanup, the property receives treatments against odor and to ensure it is ready for reconstruction. Because SERVPRO has a general contractor license #13VH001305854800, they can lessen the anxiety for property owners from having to find, vet, and hire builders to perform the needed repairs and construction to restore the structure entirely.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County stands ready to handle fire damage cleanup of any size for local property owners. The technicians are available 24/7 at (201) 244-0100 and arrive on-site quickly because We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

We Will Document The Recovery Process After A Flood In Your Dumont Home

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Give us a call today at (201) 244-0100.

Documenting The Recovery Process For Flooded Dumont Homes

Whether we are working under the financial canopy of insurance companies or helping homeowners through flooding damages in a budget-friendly mindset, we can help you bring your Dumont home back to pre-damaged condition quickly. We work to help keep our customers at ease as much as possible through the entire recovery process, as we understand how stressful and overwhelming these circumstances can become. Helping you to see our progress and the stages of our approach can give you an accurate look at when you can expect to return to your property.

Documenting our recovery process and each stage is an intricate and involved service, but one that our professionals know is necessary when addressing flood damage in Dumont homes. Because this approach is a staple of SERVPRO flood recovery and water damage restoration, we have developed software called DryBook to streamline this documentation and allow individual professionals access to the information to witness milestones and the overall progress of the housing recovery. Having this software available helps in three specific ways:

•   Efficiency of Our Team – With this information accessible to our management professionals, we can dispatch new personnel and add equipment to a project when progress is not as efficient as we would like. It keeps our entire team accountable for their pace and productivity.

•   Coordination with Insurance Providers – We work alongside insurance companies in the area to meet their requirements and to keep an open line of communication with these firms. Our SERVPRO DryBook software and overall progress documentation can help.

•   Helping the Customer – We understand how stressful flooding scenarios can be, especially when you do not have coverage for these disasters with your home insurance. We strive to provide an efficient service that addresses any budget concerns you have, and part of this process is an open communication that documents our progress and drying process.

Flooding damages can be challenging to manage and feel much longer to restore without the knowledge that the restoration process is progressing. We have designed premium software to share this information with our team, insurance companies, and our clients to guarantee that there are no delays in recovery. Whenever disaster strikes, you can count on our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County specialists to make it “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (201) 244-0100.

SERVPRO Provides Efficient Water Damage Repair to Closter Homes

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Looking for a restoration company? Look no further, SERVPRO is just a call away at (201) 244-0100.

Wooden Floor Water Restoration at a Closter Property

Natural wooden floors are functional and beautiful and can last a lifetime when properly cared for. Over time, the boards are subject to a lot of wear and tear. Also, water damage may be one of the issues you probably encounter at your Closter home. Interestingly, most water damage issues are not due to heavy rains or floods. A dysfunctional appliance and excessive indoor moisture from various sources can also lead to compromised hardwood floors.

Failing to perform water damage repair at your Closter property quickly can lead to numerous issues that could be costly to fix and perhaps even irreversible. For example, moisture can seep through the subfloor and cause severe floorboard damage. Water trapped in enclosed sub-floor spaces could result in mold growth. Also, moisture can spread to other areas of your house, including nearby walls and carpets. SERVPRO has skilled technicians qualified to handle restoration on all floor types.

Signs of degraded flooring:

• Warping
• Cupping
• Buckled floorboards
• Deep stains/dark spots

Dealing With Wooden Floor Water Damage

Different wooden floors react to water differently. Some can be easily salvaged, while others cannot be due to the floor's natural characteristics when subjected to moisture. When repairing wooden floors with significant damage, the intensity of restoration is required due to several factors.

Influential factors

• Type of wood the floor is made of
• What is underneath the floor–subfloor
• The volume of the water
• How long your floor has been wet

Once SERVPRO technicians determine this, we use a vacuum or squeegee to remove the surface water as quickly as possible. This helps stop further absorption and minimize drying time. Our teams may have to remove the warping floorboards to check subfloor conditions. We cut the damaged floor planks using a saw and removed them with a pry bar. We then nail the new boards to the floor and sand the old and the replacement boards to match. Next, we apply a stain and a polyurethane finish.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn, provides efficient water damage repair. Call us at (201) 244-0100. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Is Wet Fabric Permanently Damaged?

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

If your property is overtaken by water you need to call the professionals. Call SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

Hotel Businesses that Require Commercial Water Damage Restoration in Closter can Reach Out to SERVPRO for Professional Carpet Cleaning and Restoration.

Are Wet Carpets Complicated to Clean?

Carpet cleaning can have several complications that could impact your Closter Business. One issue is that carpet fibers can quickly absorb moisture, grime, and microbial infestation when exposed to moisture. With older carpets, it may not be possible to contact the manufacturer for cleaning instructions, which means technicians may have to conduct pre-testing to discover the most effective carpet cleaning method. While waiting for a professional assessment from a SERVPRO technician, it may be worthwhile to restrict foot traffic over the affected area by staff and customers. Foot traffic can compress fibers in a wet carpet, making the restoration process longer and less likely to return to a pre-damaged condition. Often, drying the carpet while effectively mitigating loss may not entirely repair the carpet fibers. 

How Do I Get the Grime Out of Thick Carpets?

Hotels frequently use thick carpets, which may require commercial water damage restoration services in Closter, should they become wet. Our technicians can use emulsifying powders on thicker mats, which can absorb grime without introducing further moisture. Using a wet/dry vacuum, our team can remove both the emulsifying dust and any soiling that may be present. We usually complete the carpet cleaning service by buffering it with a rotary machine. These fast-rotating mechanical cleaners can buffer carpet fibers to return a thicker carpet to its pre-damaged condition without risking causing harm. In some circumstances, we may utilize spot stain removal to restore your business to its pre-damaged condition. 

How Do I Restore a Carpet fromStart to Finish?

• Identify the type of carpet or contact the manufacturer for cleaning advice
• Dry the mat while using a cleaning solution or hot-water extraction
• Buffer the mat and perform spot stain removal for any areas of soiling that remain

To reduce the chance of permanent damage to carpets in your hotel, contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Need Flood Damage Cleanup After a Storm in Closter – Call SERVPRO

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Afraid your wood floors have been damaged by a Storm? No need to stress it, Let SERVPRO fix it.

SERVPRO Provides Flood Damage Emergency Cleanup Services in Closter

Storms rolling through our area in Closter can cause a great deal of damage to homes, knocking out power systems, bringing down trees, and flooding. Many homeowners rush to begin recovering their belongings and attempting to remove excess water in dangerous conditions.

SERVPRO can help with all aspects of flood damage cleanup in Closter after a storm ravishes your neighborhood. Our team can assist, whether temporary tarps covering the roof, windows to cover, doors to board up, or temporary power to keep essential appliances operating.

We urge residents to keep safety foremost in their minds. Slips and falls on muddy wet surfaces, electrical wires sparking nearby, and even usually delicate items can be heavy when soaked with water. If in doubt, wait for the professionals to help you clean up, recover, and restore your home.

SEERVPRO provides high-capacity truck-mounted pumps, portable pumps, water extractors, air movers, and dehumidifiers to remove excess water and dry your home. Our fast response limits the amount of secondary damage caused by water absorption, allowing us to recover, clean, and dry many items.

Not everything can be recovered. We work closely with the homeowner and their insurance company to determine what must be replaced or cleaned. Depending on the amount of damage, controlled demolition techniques are utilized to limit the damage to other home areas.

SERVPRO inspects and assesses the damage before developing a plan to help the homeowner recover from storm damage. Our services are aimed at your needs and your insurance coverage. Our services include:

• Emergency services water damage repair
• Water clean up and water removal services
• Flood restoration

Call the flood damage specialists from SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn, and nearby areas for assistance. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

How About Mold Cleanup for My Home?

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians can erect containment barriers to limit cross-contamination during soda blasting mold remediations services in Creskill

Mold Damage in Cresskill Requires Professional Remediation

Cresskill homeowners want to keep their homes clean and free from contamination of all kinds. A clean, fresh home is more delightful to be in – and it also has more curb appeal should you decide to sell. If you are looking for a contractor to work on your home, naturally, you want to work with someone who uses the latest equipment and industry-standard techniques.

Mold damage in Cresskill homes requires swift and professional remediation. If left untreated, mold spores can swiftly spread throughout your home. Mold spores are microscopic, which means they can travel easily on:

• Air currents
• Clothes and shoes
• Pet fur
• Shopping bags or luggage

What Should I Do If I Suspect a Mold Problem?

The first thing you should do if you suspect you have mold in your home is to call SERVPRO. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster, and our teams are on hand 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are many signs of mold in your home. The most obvious sign is the growth of black or dark green mold colonies. You might also notice damp patches on walls or ceilings, especially around wet areas such as the bathroom or laundry room. A pervasive musty odor is another clue that you’ve got a mold problem in your house.

What is Soda Blasting?

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County trains our technicians in a range of mold remediation and cleaning techniques. One of the most popular and effective methods is soda blasting.

Soda blasting uses baking soda – yes, the same kind of soda you use to bake cakes! We air blast mold-covered surfaces with baking soda crystals. Because baking soda is mildly abrasive, it effectively scrubs the mold from the surfaces.

The baking soda crystals used in blasting are manufactured to be perfect for the job – we do not use boxes of baking soda intended for kitchen use. The crystals are angular when seen under a microscope, so they scrape off mold, but they are soft enough to use in the home.

Why Does SERVPRO Use Soda Blasting?

Soda blasting has several advantages:

• The soda crystals are soft enough that there is a minimal risk of harm to the underlying surface.
• Baking soda is chemical-free – how many other mold products are also used in baking?
• When combined with an efficient delivery system, baking soda is cost-effective – and that cost-effectiveness is passed on to the customer.
• Baking soda crystals are easily wiped away after blasting.
• Baking soda blasting is quicker and easier than scrubbing each surface by hand, so we can cover a larger area in less time without compromising on results.

Baking soda is also a natural deodorizer, so using it helps remove moldy smells from your home.

Are SERVPRO Technicians Trained in Soda Blasting?

Absolutely. We train all our technicians in the proper use of soda blasting equipment. Our teams know how to choose the correct amount of soda, the best nozzles and hoses, the right air pressure, and the optimum angle for best results.

Why is Filtration a Vital Part of Soda Blasting?

When we carry out mold remediation in your home, cleanup is an essential part of the process. Cleanup ensures all surfaces are left fresh and dry, and there is no leftover cleaning product. The same is true with soda blasting. Our technicians wipe away any residue, so all you see are clean surfaces with no mold growth.

However, cleaning up residue after soda blasting is not as simple as wiping the surfaces down. We also use air scrubbers to filter air and remove the soda crystals. Air scrubbers use powerful filtration to clean the air in your home by trapping microscopic particles. A single machine can cleanse a large area, making them very useful.

Air scrubbers capture both soda particles and any errant mold spores to leave your home as clean as possible. Using filtration after blasting makes it even more difficult for spores to re-emerge.

What Happens After Soda Blasting?

After soda blasting, we clean and deodorize your home and carry out any necessary repairs (for example, if mold has damaged a door frame or eaten through the wallpaper.) We also monitor the moisture levels in your home to ensure it is dry enough to discourage further mold growth.

It is always our aim to leave your home “Like it never even happened.” Our team will follow up with you a week after your remediation project ends to ensure you are happy with the result and answer any questions you may have.

If you need help with mold damage, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Commercial Water Restoration in Closter Demands Professional Services

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

The first step to resolving water damage is calling your local trained professionals at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn.

SERVPRO Can Perform Commercial Water Damage Repair in Your Closter Mall

Suppose your commercial property, like a shopping mall, suffers water damage. In that case, you must begin the water cleanup process right away to avoid the elevation of risks of mold damage, corrosion, and electrical hazards. It can also help your tenants get back into conducting their businesses as normal and avoid damage to merchandise due to elevated humidity levels.

SERVPRO is well equipped to quickly perform commercial water restoration in your Closter mall. Water damage in shopping malls can spread fast because they are often designed with several floors or wings.

If your mall has multiple wings, water can ruin several areas, especially if a malfunctioning sprinkler system has caused the water intrusion. If the water is coming from a higher floor level, it can flow downwards to the floors beneath. SERVPRO can handle water damage of any magnitude by taking the following steps:

• Inspection and assessment
• Water extraction
• Drying and dehumidification
• Cleaning and sanitizing
• Full restoration

Inspection and Assessment

After the inspection has given us the go-ahead, our technicians can perform a detailed assessment of the degree of damage to determine the amount of repair to be done.

Water Extraction

Standing water can continue to cause damage to your mall, requiring quick removal. We can use wet/dry vacuums or high-powered pumps to extract standing water from your premises.

Drying and Dehumidification

Our SERVPRO technicians can use industrial quality dehumidifiers and air movers to dry out materials that have moisture to prevent them from sustaining more damage like mold growth, cupping, or warping.

Cleaning and Sanitizing

SERVPRO can use wet cleaning and spray and wipe cleaning to preserve as much of your property as possible while following the sanitization and safety requirements. We can then dispose of all the damaged materials removed during cleaning.

Full Restoration

This step encompasses our efforts to get your property to its preloss condition by replacing or fixing removed or permanently damaged materials.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, Fair Lawn can lend a hand to commercial property owners in times of water damage crises. Contact us at (201) 244-0100.

How Our Advanced Equipment Can Save Your Cresskill House After A Water Damage Disaster

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Contact us so we can help you safely restore your home after water damages sections of it, “Like it never even happened.”

Necessary Safety Equipment During Water Damage Mitigation And Restoration Of Cresskill Houses

Water that seeps out from around a loose joint or appliance’s seal or comes bursting full force from a broken pipe can cause homes in Cresskill problems that gradually spread, worsen, and become increasingly more costly and time-consuming to mitigate and repair.

Residents in Cresskill facing potential water damage and related situations might feel tempted to perform the work themselves. Using proper safety measures, including personal protective equipment (PPE), keeps those wet handling materials safe. SERVPRO’s technicians use a variety of PPE, so doing the mitigation work becomes safer and less hazardous.

Even with clean water that poses little or no risk of contamination, water can change the previously safe condition of your house to one with hidden problems. Electrical issues are one of these. It only takes a little amount of water to cause short circuits. Touching wet appliances can lead to severe consequences. To avoid this, we use an electrical circuit tester. This tells us if the electricity in a house is active or off. To help us avoid cables and cords that we might step on, we use heavy sold rubber boots that also keep water out.

Cleaning up large messes generally requires the use of chemicals. To mix these, we wear both goggles and chemically resistant gloves. At times, when contamination levels seem high, we might use latex surgical gloves underneath to help us when we remove our full-body suits at the end of the day. The goggles protect our eyes from splashes and misted droplets.

When the pH of any chemicals rests at the end of the scale on either side, we often wear face protection, as well. It is always easier for us to clean up spills and splashes on equipment than to get medical treatment after an injury. Also, during the application of many chemicals, we use respirators to help us avoid breathing fumes that might affect our health.

Along with safety goggles, we also use heavy-duty gloves for removing destroyed materials. Water might cause the drywall to soften, and removing sections often exposes nails and other types of sharp fasteners. Other hazardous conditions often exist, including those where we need to use hard hats. Our building services team helps us with the worst scenarios, helping get homes back into pre-damage condition quickly and with as little expense as possible to the homeowners.

While smaller jobs do not require all this, SERVPRO always arrives, ready to start work, with the PPE needed to protect each team member from possible harm. When we find contaminated areas, we already have the additional types of PPE we need in our Green Fleet.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County always has someone to answer calls from residents in Closter, Harrington Park, and Dumont. Our 24-hour emergency line is (201) 244-0100. Contact us so we can help you safely restore your home after water damages sections of it “Like it never even happened.”

A Quick Guide to Restoring Fire Damage in your Dumont Home

4/26/2022 (Permalink)

Our technicians will take every leap and bound when it comes to your fire damage in Dumont.

We Want to Always Help Our Dumont Community, Especially With Fire Damage.

A home that has become damaged by fire is a stressful obstacle for a homeowner to overcome. Smoke and soot residues can become attached to walls, ceilings, surfaces, appliances, and ventilation spots. In contrast, some soot can be harmful if ingested. If you have the correct safety equipment, some soot can be cleaned yourself. However, you need to bring in a qualified professional to restore certain areas, remove unpleasant odors, and ensure that soot is not spread around.

If you want to tackle fire damage in your Dumont home, the first thing you need to do is contact a Fire Marshall. A quick inspection is required to ensure your home is safe to enter after minor to moderate fires. Carcinogens and monoxides, and specific soot can be harmful if inhaled, so you should make sure you open all doors and windows and wear a mouth mask to prevent tiny particles from being ingested. Additionally, you should lay down a tarp or floor covering in the affected area to prevent loose soiling from dropping onto the floor. 

Begin by vacuuming dry soot from walls and ceilings. Vacuuming should remove any loose debris without spreading damage. If soot deposits are oily, you should leave them to a restoration professional. A chemical sponge can be applied directly onto dry soot to remove them. However, you should test on a small area to ensure no adverse effects on paintwork or finish. Contact SERVPRO to arrange a visit from a certified restoration provider for areas that require professional attention.

Generally speaking, shutting off the electrical supply to the affected area, opening windows, performing light cleaning tasks with a vacuum and sponge as well as checking a homeowner can carry out appliances. SERVPRO professionals can take care of walls and clothing, which may require a pre-test of materials to determine a cleaning method that does not cause further damage. Avoid wiping any powder residues that may have been used to control a fire, as these can have a chemical composition that could erode finishes, flooring, or appliances. 

Enlisting a professional restoration provider can help by providing expert knowledge and equipment that gets your home back to its pre-damaged condition. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Obstacles for Closter Offices During Fire Damage Restoration

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO commercial damage restoration is the right choice for your business. We will have you back up and running ASAP.

Certain Fire Damage Restoration Is Needed to Reopen a Closter Office After Disasters

Specific fire restoration and recovery actions are beneficial in getting an office up and running again after a fire. As devastating as these loss effects can be, we prioritize a few specific steps.

Improving Air Quality

Fire damage restoration in Closter office buildings cannot be done without addressing air quality. Circulating soot and smoke particles create a volatile environment for even experienced restoration professionals, so we use HEPA products to trap:

• Ash
• Smoke Solids
• Contaminants
• Carcinogenic Particles

Removing Water Damage

Fire suppression is greatly needed to put out the blaze, but it can leave damage of its own behind. Standing water and pooling can be significant obstacles for restoration after extinguishment. We have several extractors and drying tools to help regulate post-fire water damage effects.

Cleaning Contents and Equipment

The damage that could befall your equipment and contents in the office building after a fire could be substantial. Isolating the damaged area can help protect these contents by allowing a safe and clean storage portion of the property to take furniture and equipment out of harm's way. There are on-site cleaning solutions and pack-out procedures to help recover fire-damaged office items.

Overcoming Malodors

Among the final significant obstacles to getting production started again in the office after a fire is removing malodors from the structure. Combustion can generate harsh and offensive smells throughout the building, much of which can spread far beyond the fire-damaged area. We must address these concerns with deodorization products and equipment from our inventory to neutralize these threats.

There are several hurdles in the way of getting your doors back open and production rolling after the fire damage incident. With how traumatic fires can be to commercial structures and how quickly the effects can spread through open areas, our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team is ready to help 24/7 at (201) 244-0100. 

Is a Mold Remediation Technician Necessary for Mold Damage in Closter?

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

Mold remediation is no DIY project. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for fast and immediate service.

Call a Mold Restoration Company as Soon as Mold Appears

Mold spores in your Closter home may grow and spread without you realizing it. Mold grows indoors and outdoors, whether there is light or not, but some environments are more suitable than others. Furthermore, complete mold removal is not a realistic expectation, but controlling its spread is not only possible but important to prevent the potential adverse health effects it may have. Keeping mold at a reasonable level is the ultimate goal.

In Closter, mold damage to help keep mold growth at bay is possible with the help of SERVPRO’s mold remediation team. Our staff is ready with the proper cleaning solutions and equipment to control the sources of moisture and the excessive mold growth happening in your home. If you are wondering when it is the right time to enlist the help of our SERVPRO staff, you only need to look at the telltale signs of mold presence:

• Existence of leaks or flooding now or in the recent past- if there has been a change in moisture levels in your house, mold may suddenly spread faster.
• Presence of a musty odor- if your home suddenly smells different, conduct a thorough inspection and give us a call so we can also take a look using our advanced technology.
• Visible signs of mold- if you see mold or discoloration in your ceilings or walls, it is time to call us and let us give you our expert opinion.

Let SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County help you when mold multiplies in your home. When you call us at (201) 244-0100, we become your greatest ally in keeping your home in top shape, looking and feeling “Like it never even happened.”

Can Water Damage in Closter be Fixed with a Wet Vacuum?

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO water damage restoration specialists use the latest technology and equipment for every disaster.

 Water Damage Restoration in Closter Needs an Array of Specialized Water Extraction Equipment

Homeowners may be at a loss when they need emergency water removal services in Closter. Well-meaning friends may come to your aid and offer advice on how to handle the situation after a water leak floods your home, but finding a professional staff to address the problem is worth the investment. Finding the right team with the expertise and access to industry-recommended equipment helps mitigate your loss.

Wondering who can handle water damage in Closter is not necessary. Our SERVPRO crew is present in the community and ready to take the toughest water extraction jobs with equipment specific to your needs. Standing water is a powerful threat, even if it doesn’t appear very deep, so using the right tools to counteract their impact translates into a safe and clean home.

At SERVPRO, we use wet vacuums to remove standing water as one of our methods. They are portable and powerful, so they become a ready solution for many of the jobs we perform. They help extract water from flooring materials, and they are easy to plug in and operate. Our team, however, also has access to other specialized equipment such as:

• Drying mats
• Injecti-dry Technology
• Submersible and truck-mounted pumps

Having access to different water extraction and cleanup options allows us to address each area affected with its required solution. Call when you are looking for the most reliable and efficient group of experts to take care of your home. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is reachable around the clock at (201) 244-0100, and let us leave your home “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Saves Closter Homes from Lasting Effects of Flood Damage

2/11/2022 (Permalink)

When flooding occurs, professional help is often required. Contact SERVPRO to mitigate the flood damage situation in your family’s home.

How do SERVPRO techs use science to dry your Closter home after flood damage?

After the SERVPRO techs remove standing water from your property, the next goal in restorative cleaning is to get rid of residual moisture. The lasting effects of flood damage in your Closter home can be controlled if SERVPRO techs successfully dry the structure. 

SERVPRO techs employ several scientific principles to speed up drying during the restoration of flood damage to your Closter home. Our techs use psychrometry- the study of air and its property, to establish a drying plan that is quick and effective. Techs manage three psychrometric conditions to accomplish this goal-

• Humidity
• Temperature, and
• Airflow

How do SERVPRO techs select a drying system during flood restoration of Closter homes? 

A drying system is a set of conditions that dehumidify the air to speed up the drying process. SERVPRO techs use two types of drying systems in Closter homes- 

• Open: If the outside air is drier, an open system uses it to reduce indoor air humidity. The exchange happens through open doors and windows with the help of air movers. SERVPRO techs use this system only if the outside air is significantly drier than the indoor air. 
• Closed: A closed system uses a series of strategically placed air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the indoor air. The affected area is sealed so that there is no interference from the outside air. The open system works in most flood-affected homes as the outside air is usually quite moist.  

Controlling the temperature

SERVPRO techs use electric and space heaters to heat the air, especially in closed drying systems. Increasing the temperature increases the water holding capacity of the air, increasing the drying rate. 

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100; our techs are available 24/7 to help you.

Why Trust SERVPRO for Fire Restoration of Cresskill Properties?

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot residues can quickly damage the contents and the structure of your home. Contact our certified technicians right away for restoration.

Fast service makes SERVPRO the first choice for fire restoration in Cresskill

SERVPRO techs understand that time is of the essence when dealing with the smoke and soot residue during fire restoration of your Cresskill home. The longer the residues stay on the walls and ceilings, the more damage they can cause. The situation gets even trickier when wallcoverings like wallpapers are present. 

SERVPRO’s level of success cleaning wallcoverings during fire restoration of your Cresskill home depends on several factors-  

• Whether the coverings are porous or non-porous
• Is the material resistant to heat and smoke?
• How is the material affected by the various cleaning products?  

SERVPRO techs consider all these factors before they devise a plan to clean the smoke and soot from your fire-damaged home. 

Types of wallcoverings SERVPRO techs encounter during house fire cleanup in Cresskill. 

SERVPRO restorers typically encounter the following basic kinds of wallcoverings in Cresskill homes-

• Paper wallpaper: These are porous and can absorb water-based cleaning products. Hence, dry cleaning with a sponge is the only option available. 
• Vinyl wallpapers: As vinyl is non-porous, SERVPRO techs use water-based cleaning products. However, some solvents might damage the vinyl, so a pre-test is often required. 
• Foil wallpaper: These are non-porous; however, acidic cleaning products might affect the metallic finish. SERVPRO techs use water-based basic cleaning solutions to clean foil wallpapers. 
• Grasscloth: Made from dried natural fibers like flax and hemp, these are porous and are only dry cleaned with a sponge. 

What precautions do SERVPRO techs take while cleaning?

SERVPRO techs exercise necessary caution while cleaning wallcoverings. We always ensure to pre-test the surfaces to avoid causing additional damage due to cleaning solutions.  

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100; we are available 24/7.

How SERVPRO Handles Fire Damage Restoration in Closter Homes?

1/30/2022 (Permalink)

Sometimes the ideal thing to mitigate the situation is to remove the home contents in order to restore the fire damage. We are standing by 24/7.

Why might SERVPRO recommend a pack-out during fire restoration in Closter homes?

A pack-out involves moving the affected contents to a remote location during fire damage restoration of your Closter home. Pack-outs might facilitate SERVPRO techs to save time during the restoration of the damaged structure. 

Although pack-outs are labor-intensive, SERVPRO might recommend them in certain situations if the additional expenses are justified. Some of the most common reasons that justify a pack-out include-

• Moving contents may enable a quicker remodeling process
• A pack-out can protect content from potential damage during the remodeling process
• If the structural damage is extensive and it poses a threat to security and safety
• If the structure is saturated with water so much that humidity can damage the contents

SERVPRO takes utmost care of the contents if a pack-out is unavoidable. We meticulously box, catalog, tag, and scan each piece of content to minimize losses. 

Phases of a pack-out during water & fire damage restorations of Closter homes

The primary tasks involved during a pack-out of your Closter home fall into the following six phases:

• Conducting the initial scope and estimating the damage
• Pack, tag, and inventory 
• Sort, clean, and salvage items
• Move the contents to a warehouse for storage
• Clean, deodorize and repack the contents
• Move the contents back in the property

How do SERVPRO techs try to make the process as smooth as possible? 

The key to a successful pack-out is communication. SERVPRO techs communicate clearly and consistently with you throughout the process. Despite the most comprehensive system of checks and double-checks, unexpected situations might come up, and SERVPRO techs keep you abreast of the changing situation. We are committed to having your home restored “Like it never even happened.” 

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 with any questions.

Why Should Closter Homeowners Look to Mold Removal Companies for Remediation?

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses EPA registered products for all mold damage remediation services for your property. Call now!

SERVPRO Offers Fast, Safe, and Efficient Mold Remediation for Closter Property Owners and Companies Alike

Taking the DIY approach is never advisable when it comes to something like black mold that brings potential health effects. Regrowth within your Closter home is always a possibility, which means the proper course of action is enlisting the help of a mold remediation team that has thorough training and experience. If you have visible mold or notice musty odors, it is time to contact the professionals. SERVPRO is available to alleviate your black mold concerns so that you can keep your property safe and healthy for both humans and pets.

Why call mold removal companies in Closter? What can I expect when I have SERVPRO at my home? While each bathroom mold or basement mold project is different, some similar steps are taken, including:

• Mold remediation begins with an inspection. Our mold specialists ask a series of questions to help determine the safety materials and equipment we need to do the job.
• SERVPRO’s technicians scrutinize any areas that could be mold-infested. This gets followed by containment and removal using the latest methods, technology, EPA-registered products.
• Your HVAC system will also need to be turned off to prevent spore spreading. We conduct containment procedures using sheeting and negative air chambers to keep spores from moving into other zones. 
• Some of the equipment used for mold remediation include vacuums and air scrubbers with HEPA filtration to trap spores carefully. 

Of course, an essential part of the mold cleanup process is ensuring all surfaces get thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. If necessary, we can move belongings off-site for detailed cleaning, restoring everything to pre-infestation condition. We also offer controlled demolition to remove and replace any unsalvageable building materials.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is ready to go whenever you need a team at your door to begin mold cleanup and remediation service. You can reach us any time by calling (201) 244-0100.

Do Not Attempt Water Damage Repair on Your Own in Cresskill

1/9/2022 (Permalink)

When you have water damage restoration needs, SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians have you covered from start to finish.

Skilled SERVPRO Water Damage Repair Technicians Know Best Practices to Yield Quality Results in Your Cresskill Property

Some Cresskill homeowners may see a small amount of water intrusion and think they can deal with it independently. However, water that migrated below flooring and behind baseboards can cause warping, degradation, and mold development. SERVPRO wants you to know that repairing damage from a water event, big or small, means hiring a skilled team to get the job done right. Even beyond water removal services, fixing saturated and unsalvageable building materials requires a professional touch.

Many benefits come from hiring professionals for water damage repair in Cresskill. When you have basement flooding or ceiling leaks, a good restoration company like SERVPRO gets in fast to limit cost and downtime. Just a sampling of the advantages that come from enlisting SERVPRO’s help include:

• Efficiency – Emergency services water damage calls require fast mitigation if you want to thwart secondary damage and water migration. Our crew scopes the area to formulate a plan to get going on cleanup and repair as quickly as possible.
• Safety – Caution is our middle name at SERVPRO. Not only will our certified team assess all potential risks, but we will also wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for each project.
• Industrial-Grade Equipment – Our Green Fleet comes fully stocked with pumps, various attachments, moisture detection tools, and EPA-registered cleaning products to help us facilitate our water damage restoration goals.
• Insurance Assistance – You already have a lot on your mind when facing a water emergency. Because your insurance may cover the water event, we take the time to ensure all paperwork is to help your claim go as smoothly as possible.

Water damage repair does not have to be stressful when you have professionals on your side. Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 when you need to have a crew dispatched to your property.

Can Pipes Freeze in Closter Homes Under Cold Conditions?

1/4/2022 (Permalink)

Storm and flood damage mitigation services by SERVPRO are second to none. Call now for fast and immediate service.

Frozen pipes are a costly and destructive situation for Closter residences. 

The winter months can bring about steep temperature drops and cold snaps that expose a home's vulnerabilities and its exterior protection. As compromising as these water damage events can be, much of them can be prevented with a few early steps.

How Do Pipes Freeze?

Frozen pipes and ice damming in Closter can both be destructive and crippling to a home when water damages result. Pipes freezing is a common callout for our SERVPRO professionals, as many do not realize plumbing is underinsulated until these lines succumb to the low temperatures.

What Causes Plumbing to Burst in These Conditions?

While the standard in modern plumbing installation has transitioned to PEX materials that are more durable against threats of expansion and warping, many homes still have lead and copper service lines that are highly sensitive to the growth of water as it freezes. When ruptures occur, many materials can be damaged like:

• Cabinets
• Wall Assemblies
• Ceiling Systems
• Wood Flooring
• Carpeting

How Can You Prevent Frozen Lines?

It is possible to avoid the costly damage that frozen pipes can cause when they burst. The first step of this process is to ensure that vulnerable water lines have sufficient insulation to protect against direct environmental conditions that can cause a freeze.

When Does SERVPRO Need to Help?

It is not challenging to see when water damage occurs after these events, showcasing a clear need for professional restoration and recovery. With powerful mitigation tools like pumps and vacuums, we can quickly regulate threatening conditions to protect properties from irreparable harm.

Regardless of how water damage threatens your home this winter, our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team can help with efficient mitigation and restoration solutions. Call when you need us at (201) 244-0100.

Need Fire Damage Restoration for Your Commercial Building in Harrington Park? – Call SERVPRO

12/14/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO simplifies the fire damage claim for your Harrington Park business by working closely with you and your carrier

SERVPRO Provides Commercial Fire Damage Restoration for All Types of Surfaces in Harrington Park

Whenever there is a fire in a commercial building in Harrington Park, the first question, the owner of the building and the tenant, if they are not the same person, want to be answered, is when I can get back in the building and resume operations? Employees cannot perform their jobs without access to the building, and customers cannot purchase their goods and services. Even with insurance coverage, they need to be back up and running as soon as possible

SERVPRO provides commercial fire damage restoration to customers in Harrington Park and the surrounding area. Within four hours of your call to our office, we are on-site, assess the situation, and prepare a damage restoration plan based on the amount of fire and smoke damage sustained by your building. We take all the issues into account, including safety, recovery, and cleaning of equipment and products, staging environments for cleaned or recovered items, and restoring all damaged structures.

Some products and structural items will only require to be sprayed and wiped to remove smoke residues. We apply foam cleaning to products and materials that could be further damaged by excessive moisture from cleaning products. We also complete demolition activities if needed. Often many items are moved to temporary quarters or staging areas until the building is ready for occupancy once again. Our team works with your insurance company, and your business needs to get you back in operation as fast as possible.

SERVPRO provides the following services:

• Water and fire damage restoration
• Smoke damage restoration
• Coordination with your insurance company and your business needs

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for commercial fire damage restoration in Harrington Park and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

Homeowners in Closter Who Need Water Mitigation and Drying Services Call SERVPRO

12/4/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can salvage plywood subfloors in Closter homes with water extraction, carpet removal, and drying walls

SERVPRO Provides Water Removal, Drying and Restoration Services in Closter

Water leaks or sinks overflowing can distribute a great deal of water in Closter homes in a very short time. The water soaks into many porous flooring materials commonly found in our homes, such as carpets, padding, many pressed wood products, and even hardwood flooring materials. Removing the water and drying within a short period is important to prevent secondary damages such as mold infestations, pressed wood products swelling and losing structural integrity, and hardwood floors beginning to buckle as the wood absorbs water.

SERVPRO utilizes a variety of water mitigation techniques in Closter techniques to prevent secondary damage in homes in Closter. Our fast response within four hours of your initial call lets us get to work immediately removing excess water. We also deploy weighted water extractors, air movers, and high-capacity dehumidifiers to remove moisture and dry the area.

Our water removal technicians will also determine whether carpets need to be removed to expose the underpad and subfloor to allow faster and more thorough drying. Carpets exposed to water longer than 72 hours could exhibit mold growth, and subfloors could have absorbed moisture, causing them to lose structural integrity. Carpets installed over hardwood or laminated floors may also need to be removed to dry the wood floors under the wet carpet. Our water removal technicians will determine the best course of action to mitigate immediate and secondary damage caused by the water leak.

SERVPRO provides the following water mitigation services:

• Water cleanup and extraction
• Drying of carpets in place as well as removal for thorough drying of subfloor materials (floating)
• Mold mitigation and remediation

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for water mitigation in Closter and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

Need Smoke and Fire Restoration Services in Cresskill? – Call SERVPRO

11/22/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has skilled technicians to mitigate fire damage and odors to upholstered furnishings and drapes in Cresskill

SERVPRO Provides Clean Up and Restoration after a Fire in Cresskill

After even a small fire in Cresskill, there is often plenty of smoke residues on non-porous surfaces such as countertops, appliances, and cupboards. Residue also settles on fabrics or porous materials near the location of the fire or even in adjacent rooms. Air currents caused by the fire and forced air furnaces can distribute small amounts of residue throughout the house. These residues may be oily in nature if there was a grease fire on the stove, or they could be light and fluffy from a higher temperature fire.

SERVPRO specializes in fire restoration techniques for homeowners in Cresskill who have unfortunately experienced a fire in their homes. Every fire is different due to the length of time the fire burned. Also, the cause of the fire, materials burned in the fire, and the temperature of the fire are factors to be considered. We use a variety of solvents, including water and soap, to wipe down and clean non-porous surfaces. Everything is washed several times as part of our fire restoration process.

Textiles, Fabrics, and Upholstery

Fabric cleaning and porous materials require a variety of cleaning processes. Some materials can be wiped down using a hand wash and rinse approach. We also utilize upholstery cleaning machines to wash and rinse many fabrics with the appropriate solvent based on the type of fire and the material to be cleaned. We also immerse items in tanks filled with cleaning agents. Our restorers control the amount and type of products used to clean items depending on their exposure, residue, and the material being cleaned.

SERVPRO fire and smoke restoration technicians are trained to bring your property back to its pre-fire condition. Our services include:

• Water and fire damage restoration
• Smoke remediation and restoration
• Controlled application of cleaning products appropriate for the material and type of fire

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for fire restoration in Cresskill and nearby areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

Managing Water Damage Cleanup in Closter Commercial Buildings – SERVPRO

11/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO removes water and moisture from storms or leaks in Closter business buildings while protecting contents with poly sheeting

Drying Walls with Water Damage in Closter Business Buildings – Call SERVPRO

Water leaks often occur inside walls of commercial buildings in Closter. Older pipes and joints gradually degrade, springing leaks that can release hundreds of gallons of water in a few hours. Water spreads inside the walls, onto the floor, and across the entire area of your building. One of the best methods to mitigate damage to flooring materials is to begin mopping up the water immediately once the source has been controlled. But what can be done with water inside walls, especially walls covered in vinyl wallpaper?

SERVPRO provides Closter commercial water damage mitigation and cleanup services. Our team responds in less than four hours from your call and immediately assesses the situation, deploying water removal and drying equipment to protect flooring materials and the contents of your building. The water inside walls presents additional challenges. Many commercial building walls have a vinyl covering on the walls, which act as a vapor barrier. Removing the vinyl barrier, e.g., wallpaper, may involve the entire room, which can be costly.

Our SERVPRO team drills small holes behind the removed floor trim work into the wall to release excess water from the wall's interior. We also use vacuum wands to vacuum excess water from cavities. We force dry air into the wall's interior using air movers attached to a wall venting system. In extreme cases, we remove the drywall and vinyl to properly remove all of the water, moisture and dry the space before completing repairs. We can rig injecti-spray equipment to fit the need of a specific water drying task.

SERVPRO water removal services include:

• Water clean up
• Water damage restoration
• Wall cavity water removal and drying
• Poly covering of furnishings

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for water damage removal in Closter and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

Does SERVPRO Provide Fire Damage Restoration in Closter

11/3/2021 (Permalink)

Luckily for our Closter customers, SERVPRO works with you and your insurance company to optimize the fire and smoke damage cleanup and rehab

Fire Damage Restoration in Closter by SERVPRO

Homeowners often feel so much pressure to get moving with cleaning and recovering from a fire. On the list of things to do are calling the insurance company, making arrangements for someplace to stay, recovering important documents, ensuring your belongings are safe, talking to neighbors and friends, and wondering where to begin restoration. The owner may need to meet with the fire investigation team to assess how the fire started, the insurance adjuster shows up, perhaps even the police if arson was suspected. Homeowners need help to clean up and restore their homes, but who should they call?

SERVPRO provides fire damage restoration in Closter, and while we cannot help you find a place to stay, we can make sure your home and contents will be safe from the weather and nocturnal visitors. We provide emergency service to our customers and can be onsite within four hours of your call. Once the fire department has given the green light, we can cover the roof with a tarp if needed and board up windows and doors to protect your home.

Our team develops a plan to restore your home and reviews the plan with your insurance adjuster and your family. SEERVPRO’s experience shows that it is much less costly, and we can get you back into your home faster by removing fire damaged debris, water, drying, and cleaning your home and contents vs. replacing many items. We can explain our cleaning approach in detail to ensure that you fully understand our process.

Our services include:

• Emergency fire, smoke damage restoration, and cleanup
• Dry and wet cleaning processes to remove smoke residues
• Industry approved disposal of cleaning materials
• Restoration of your home, “Like it never even happened.”

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for fire damage restoration in Closter and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

Minimize Fire and Smoke Cleanup Expenses in Cresskill Homes – Call SERVPRO

10/25/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO offers fire and smoke cleanup and restoration to many types of structures in Cresskill

SERVPRO Provides Highly Trained Experts for Fire and Smoke Cleanup in Cresskill

Many clients assume they must replace everything damaged by the fire and smoke in their Cresskill home or business. Whether structural or loose contents, the replacement cost can be extensive and take a great deal of time to find replacements and have them installed. Porous items absorb water, odors, and smoke residues from the fire much more than non-porous items. Knowing what can be cleaned and restored vs. what must be removed for disposal requires trained personnel familiar with many cleaning products.

SERVPRO can help with fire and smoke cleanup after a fire in your Cresskill home or business. SERVPRO works closely with our clients and their insurance adjuster to manage the total cost of cleanup, restoration, and repairs. Our extensive training and experience with fires and cleanup help us determine which items we can clean and those needing replacement. SERVPRO saves our customers time and money by assessing the residues and surface and using the right cleaning agents to remove smoke residues. We always try to restore and not replace fire damaged items.

Most porous and non-porous items that are not damaged by the fire can be cleaned and the odors removed. Structural components such as drywall can be cleaned and repainted. Most vinyl, tile, and hardwood flooring materials can also be cleaned and sanitized.

SERVPRO will help you recover quickly from a fire in your home or business and reduce time and expenses. We provide the following services:

• Assessment of the damage from the fire and smoke residues
• Removal of damaged structure and contents
• House fire cleanup and sanitize
• Complete restoration and repairs as required.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for fire and smoke cleanup in Cresskill and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

What Type of Damage Can Be Expected After Flood Damage in a Closter Property?

10/13/2021 (Permalink)

Minor storm damage to your home needs to be addressed ASAP. SERVPRO IICRC certified techs are trained and experienced for what you need.

SERVPRO Serves the Local Closter Community for Cleanup After Water Damage

Even minor storm damage can open up a Closter property to more extensive structural damage. For example, given, a small leak in a roof can allow water into the attic that drops through a ceiling and causes a sagging ceiling and damaged walls. 

SERVPRO has decades of experience handling flood damage in Closter properties. An inch of water may not look like much in a home, as it does not even cover a baseboard along a wall. However, a mere inch of floodwater can result in thousands of dollars in damages to a home as it migrates under flooring and wicks into walls. 

Frequently seen damages that homeowners see are:

• Ruined building materials
• Articles in the home that require disposal
• Need for extraction and drying

Locating the migration path of any water damage is crucial and never more so than when dealing with floodwater. SERVPRO technicians extract the water quickly and then use their moisture detection equipment to determine any areas within the property that need additional attention. The use of infrared cameras assists with this task and allows the techs to peer behind walls and within ceilings without putting holes in these areas. If the display on the camera shows blue, indicating cooler temperatures, the techs mark off that area to dry. Equipment such as the Injectidry System may get used as it is ideal for forcing a large amount of warm, dry air into a small, focused space. The techs limit the number of building materials that need removal due to water damage to save the homeowner from the cost of replacement materials whenever possible. 

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 supports the local Closter community with professional water removal and flood damage cleanup in both commercial and residential properties. 

Can Water Restoration Limit Damage in Cresskill Properties

10/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO techs will be on-site within 4 hours of the initial call. Water damage restoration is a specialty of ours.

SERVPRO Technicians Have Extensive Training in Handling All Kinds of Water Damage in Cresskill Properties

It does not matter how the water damage happened in a Cresskill home; what matters is how quickly it gets cleaned up. Waiting for water to recede or DIY methods can lead to ruined walls, sagging ceilings, and bearing the cost of replacing carpet or other floorings. 

Water-damaged Cresskill property owners utilizing water restoration companies have a much better chance for a positive outcome after a water spill in a residential property. Particularly in the case of contaminated water, which may be floodwater or a sewage backup. SERVPRO technicians have both the training and experience to utilize their myriad of professional tools to give the best outcome after water damage within a home. Some of the most common tools used during home cleanup jobs include: 

• Extraction pumps in all sizes
• Moisture detection devices
• Drying and equipment controlled demolition  

Structural elements are not the only plus of using a restoration services company with trained, certified professionals. Home contents benefit as well. Any article that water with contaminates penetrates may require disposal unless it is a washable textile. SERVPRO technicians have access to the Esporta Washing System, which can clean and sanitize washable fabrics in a single cycle. The technicians have access to freezing and drying machines exactly like the ones utilized by the Library of Congress. This can assist in restoring important documents, books, and other paper items. Each of these restoration techniques gets used on a case-by-case basis as there is no one-size-fits-all for restoration jobs. These are a huge number of variants that contribute to the overall outcome of each job. 

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 has the training and equipment to handle any size water restoration in Cresskill properties. The certified techs are available 24/7 to make the water damage, "Like it never even happened."

Why Hire a Professional Closter Fire Restoration Company?

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

Fire, smoke, and soot damage restoration services by SERVPRO are top-notch. We are dedicated to having your property back to preloss condition.

SERVPRO has Trained and Certified Technicians to Handle All Phases of Fire Damage Cleanup

After fire damage occurs within a Closter property, if only a small area of the home receives the effects of the smoke and heat, it can be tempting to self-clean to save money. However, in the long run, this decision can wind up costing more money. 

SERVPRO technicians have the tools and experience to handle Closter fire restoration of any size or type. Handing off the job to a professional company is a smart decision for property owners because:

• SERVPRO communicates with the insurance carrier, so every action taken is within the scope of coverage
• Professional equipment makes a difference in the outcome
• Avoid health hazards from airborne soot or structural dangers 

Soot forms during the fire because items such as upholstery, textiles, wood, plastic, and building materials do not burn cleanly. Some soot contains potentially toxic materials, and the technicians wear full-body protection, including respirators.

Seeing a favorite table covered in soot may give the impression the piece is only fit for disposal. SERVPRO techs can inspect the table for heat or water damage at the joints. If the table is intact, it probably has good potential for restorative cleaning. Dry cleaning sponges are great for lifting off dry smoke, which usually has a fine powder texture. The techs have access to various wood-specific cleaning solutions to lift away the residues without harming the wood. The professional cleaning agents are particularly useful in cases where wet smoke is the type of residue that needs removal. These greasy, thick substances deposit on surfaces and can be difficult to remove without using a solvent-based solution.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 brings compassion, professionalism, and years of expertise in fire restoration to every Closter job.

Do You Need Professional Water Damage Restoration after Water Incidence in Your Closter Home?

9/16/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses state of the art moisture detection equipment in your home for thorough drying after a water incident takes place.

SERVPRO’s Water Damage Restoration Can Help Closter Homeowners Deal with the Aftermath of a Water Incidence 

Water damage is one of the most common problems faced by an average homeowner. An unmitigated water issue can quickly turn into a disaster, whether it is due to burst pipes, ceiling leaks, or faulty plumbing. Hiring professional water damage restoration experts at your Closter home is the right thing to do in such a situation.  

SERVPRO's technicians have years of experience providing water damage restoration to Closter homeowners. Our crew is highly trained, IICRC certified, and equipped with advanced equipment to tackle water damage of any proportion. With 24-hour emergency service, SERVPRO professionals are always ready to go. We can start the restoration process within a matter of hours of hearing from you; We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.  

How Can SERVPRO Save Closter Homeowners Money in Water Damage Restoration costs? 

SERVPRO technicians are driven by the fact that restoration through mitigation is less expensive than replacing. Our water damage restoration experts also work tirelessly to help you lower the insurance claim costs. 

• SERVPRO’s emergency mitigation services help to minimize the spread of the water damage to unaffected areas of your Closter home. Our restorers work hard to prevent the secondary damage associated with water incidents, such as mold growth. 
• Our technicians use advanced equipment such as thermal cameras, moisture meters, and thermo-hygrometers to detect hidden moisture. 
• The advanced drying techniques that we use helps to remove any residual moisture from the structure and contents. We use state-of-the-art dehumidifiers and air movers to dry the affected area as quickly as possible. 

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100. We are available 24 a day, seven days a week, to assist you with any water-related issues in your home. 

SERVPRO in Closter: A Top Mold Removal Company

9/10/2021 (Permalink)

When SERVPRO remediates mold, we always check for hidden growth.

Hiring Professional Mold Removal Companies Like SERVPRO Can Protect Your Closter Home from a Mold Disaster

As a homeowner, you should promptly address mold damage if you don't want the situation to turn into a full-blown disaster. Professional mold removal companies like SERVPRO have the tools, experience, and know-how to protect your Closter home from the effects of mold.   

Mold can spread throughout your home in a very short time, and hiring mold removal companies like SERVPRO of Closter can help prevent it. Our mold specialists adhere to the S520 Mold Remediation Standard laid out by IICRC during the remediation of contaminated buildings in Closter. One of the most important aspects of the remediation process is to limit the spread of the mold spores to the unaffected area of the building. SERVPRO technicians establish a containment barrier equipped with a negative air system to achieve this. 

SERVPRO in Closter for Mold Inspections, Remediations, and Removal

Trying to get rid of mold without professional help is not a great idea for various reasons. Hiring experienced mold specialists from SERVPRO can benefit you in more ways than one-

• Professional mold remediation experts can prevent the spread of mold to unaffected areas by engineering containment zones.
• It is more likely for a specialist with years of experience to find hidden mold damage that you might miss. Hidden spaces like attics, crawlspaces, ventilation ducts can often be inspected using professional equipment.
• A SERVPRO restorer can help you restore the existing damage and advise you about the ways to prevent mold from returning.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100. Our mold specialists are available round the clock to answer any questions you might have.    

Can SERVPRO Restore Flood Damage to Cresskill Homes after a Storm?

8/25/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding is no match for SERVPRO. We are equipped and ready at a moment's notice to restore your home.

Cresskill Homeowners Can Rely on SERVPRO for Fast and Efficient Flood Damage Restoration 

Floodwater accumulating on your property after a storm can be heavily contaminated and must be promptly removed to avoid any secondary damage. SERVPRO technicians are prepared, experienced, and capable of handling any size of flood damage to your Cresskill home.  

The course of action that SERVPRO restorers take after flood damage to your Cresskill home depends on the severity of the contamination in the accumulated water. In most flooding situations, the water is often heavily contaminated, and the SERVPRO professionals need to evacuate the occupants. The technicians that work on the site use protective gear, including a full-face respirator with HEPA filters and a full bodysuit. The next step in flood restoration is to establish containment zones with negative air pressure to limit the spread of the contaminants to the unaffected areas of the building. 

How do SERVPRO Techs Extract Water and Remove Bulk Material During Flood Restoration of Your Cresskill Home? 

Apart from water, SERVPRO techs often need to remove solid waste, debris, and silt from your flooded Cresskill home. The restorers use various equipment, from rakes and shovels to high-capacity trash pumps for this purpose. 

It might be necessary to treat the contaminated water with a disinfectant before pumping it out in some situations. Removing water from basements and crawl spaces can be quite tricky, especially after long exposure to floods. The soil adjacent to the walls and foundations can become saturated with water causing structural integrity issues. SERVPRO techs often extract water from such places in batches to monitor the effect of the water on mortar joints or signs of structural failures in the wall.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for a fast and efficient water damage restoration service that you can trust.   

Can SERVPRO Help with Water Mitigation in Closter?

8/13/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage and libraries don't mix. Call SERVPRO for the professional help needed for your business.

SERVPRO Provides Water Mitigation Service to Protect Your Commercial Building in Closter

Many of our customers wonder why water mitigation in Closter is so essential. As long as the water is present in your commercial building, it continues to cause damage to any materials that are porous and absorb moisture. These materials are permanently damaged as they absorb moisture and swell. Drywall, particleboard, and wood floors easily absorb moisture and swell if water mitigation is not immediately undertaken. Mold colonies can grow in less than 24 hours.

SERVPRO provides water mitigation service to commercial customers in Closter 24/7 with a response time of fewer than 4 hours. We know how important it is for your business to return to normal operations. We focus our water mitigation efforts on removing water and moisture as quickly as possible before the damage causes extensive damage and keeps your business closed.

We aim to remove water and moisture, dry the premises as well as contents. We deploy our teams and equipment 24 hours a day to capture and remove water and moisture. We can decrease operations downtime significantly if we can implement water removal immediately. As soon as the water is observed, call SERVPRO to avoid prolonged operational outages.

Our services include:

• Water removal services
• Water mitigation services
• Emergency service water damage restoration.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for water mitigation in Closter and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100. 

Can SERVPRO Provide Emergency Power While Responding to Flood Damage in Cresskill?

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

When a storm strikes SERVPRO responds! Call now for all the storm damage restoration needed for your home.

SERVPRO Provides Emergency Services for Flood Damage in Cresskill, Including Emergency Power

With the power out and broken windows allowing torrential rain to pour into your home in Cresskill, water can soak your contents in minutes. Colored fabrics can bleed into carpeting that is also soaked, and if the water is not removed quickly, drywall can swell and may also damage hardwood flooring.

SERVPRO responds to flood damage incidents in Cresskill regardless of the situation. We can mobilize all of our equipment and technicians, with the first team members on-site within four hours of your call. Our electrical generators can power pumps, water extractors, and drying equipment to remove the water and humidity before it can do serious damage to your home.

Water and moisture after a storm provide a great incubation environment for mold colonies to take hold and grow. Mold spores can turn into mold colonies in less than 24 hours. Once the power is restored, we transfer the air movers and dehumidifiers to traditional power sources. We can operate the units until everything is dry and humidity levels have returned to normal levels.

Our response to flood damage incidents includes the following services:

• Mold inspection, remediation, and removal
• Board up services for broken windows to reduce additional rain from penetrating the home
• Water removal and damage repairs

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for flood damage in Cresskill and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

Can SERVPRO Fire Restoration Crews Remove Smoke Odors in Closter?

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

Fires may start anywhere in your home. SERVPRO has all the manpower and experience needed for the fire damage restoration for your home.

SERVPRO Provides Smoke and Fire Restoration Service in Closter

Even small fires can be devastating to the homeowner in Closter, and the lingering odors after the fire can last for months unless the home and the contents are thoroughly cleaned and deodorized. Many homeowners will self-clean their homes after a small fire on the stove since there is minor physical damage. However, removing the smoke odors is often more challenging, especially if smoke residue was carried throughout the home.

SERVPRO can help with fires restoration in Closter regardless of the size of the fire and the amount of damage. Our team of fire restoration technicians can assess the damage, develop a plan to restore the damage, and remove the odors that remain after a fire. We use specific cleaning agents that work well on porous and non-porous materials to remove the odor.

Our services include:

• Complete house fire cleanup
• Water & Fire damage restoration
• Smoke residue and odor remediation

All hard, non-porous surfaces are hand washed and rinsed, then toweled dry. Our specialized upholstery cleaning machine washes and rinses most fabrics, although dry cleaning may be used to properly clean fabrics in some cases. Hard non-porous surfaces can be sprayed and wiped. We also use foam cleaning on materials that may be damaged by high moisture levels associated with some cleaning products.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for fire restoration in Closter and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (201) 244-0100.

SERVPRO’s Premier Water Mitigation Service Saves Closter Homes from Long-Term Damage

7/15/2021 (Permalink)

When water damage occurs, you need the help of SERVPRO. Our IICRC certified techs are ready 24/7 365 days a year.

Closter Residents Trust SERVPRO with Water Mitigation of Their Homes

Water mitigation at your Closter home involves activities that prevent the damage from spreading and becoming worse over time. SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians ensure that the water damage is contained and rectified before it gets a chance to cause secondary issues. 

SERVPRO techs begin the water mitigation of your Closter home by scoping the structure to locate the moisture and determine the extent of the damage. A successful and complete water damage remediation is contingent on the ability of the SERVPRO restorers to identify hidden moisture. We use several state-of-the-art pieces of equipment for this purpose. While some equipment such as thermal image cameras helps to detect hidden moisture in the structure, others such as thermo-hygrometers help determine the air's humidity and moisture content. Moisture meters, on the other hand, give the actual moisture content of the material. 

How do Moisture Meters Help SERVPRO Experts During Water Cleanup from Your Closter Home? 

SERVPRO techs use moisture meters to determine the amount of moisture in various structural elements in your Closter home. 

The moisture meters that SERVPRO techs use are often calibrated to measure moisture in the wood. They have a wood scale ranging from 5% to 30% and indicate the percentage of water in the wood. These meters can't measure the exact moisture content of non-wood materials but can still provide valuable information regarding the relative amount of moisture in these materials. Moisture meters generally come in two forms-

• Penetrating type- Has probes that need to be penetrated in the material to be tested.
• Non-penetrating type- Ideal for measuring surface moisture content

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100; we are available 24/7 to help you.

Why is SERVPRO the First Choice of Closter Homeowners for Mold Remediation?

7/9/2021 (Permalink)

Mold remediation services by SERVPRO are second to none. We use the latest technology and equipment for every size of disaster.

SERVPRO Experts are Quick and Efficient in Providing Mold Remediation to Closter Homes

If mold is left untreated or goes unnoticed, it can cause severe problems to your home. Professional mold remediation of your Closter home by SERVPRO ensures that the problem is safely tackled and the proper steps are taken to prevent future growth. 

SERVPRO experts use a strategy during mold remediation of your Closter home that aims at accomplishing several goals-

• To identify the damaged areas by thorough mold inspections
• To establish a containment zone and prevent the spread of the mold spores to unaffected areas
• To remove the damage using state-of-the-art equipment such as HEPA filter equipped air scrubbers and vacuums
• To dry the water-damaged areas by using equipment such as dehumidifiers and air movers
• To prevent the growth of mold in the future by an application of biocides and antifungals

Why SERVPRO Techs Use Containment Measures During Mold Removal in Closter? 

Containment is a significant part of SERVPRO mold specialists' strategy during remediation in Closter. It is crucial to contain the mold as mold spreads by producing tiny, microscopic structures called spores. These spores are held very loosely on top of the filamentous body of the mold called the hyphae. 

Even the slightest disturbance is enough for these spores to become airborne and spread to other unaffected areas. Establishing a containment zone with a negative air pressure ensures that the spores released during mold removal stay confined to a small area and not spread far and wide. It is also easier for the SERVPRO experts to decontaminate a smaller area once the mold damage is removed.  

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100; our experts are here to help you 24/7. 

How can SERVPRO Protect Your Cresskill Restaurant from Water Damage?

6/27/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage to your restaurant will hurt business. SERVPRO will be onsite within 4 hours of the initial call.

SERVPRO Restorers Helps Cresskill Eateries Get Back into Business after Water Damage in no Time

Water damage to your restaurant in Cresskill can be devastating for business. You might lose valuable business hours during the restoration, and there is always a risk of long-term damage if you hold it off for too long. Hiring IICRC certified SERVPRO experts can help you get the job done efficiently and get your business back on track in no time.

One of the toughest challenges for SERVPRO technicians after water damage to your Cresskill establishment is eliminating the residual moisture from the structure and contents. If the surface is not dried promptly, the moisture can interact with the material and cause irreparable damage. SERVPRO technicians use several pieces of equipment to speed up the drying process during water damage repairs. Reducing the humidity ratio is one of the most common ways to accelerate drying during water damage restoration. We use state-of-the-art dehumidifiers for this purpose. 

What is a Desiccant Dehumidifier that SERVPRO Techs use During Water Damage Repairs in your Cresskill restaurant? 

SERVPRO techs use several types of dehumidifying equipment during water damage remediation in Cresskill establishments. Desiccant dehumidifiers are popular as they work even in colder and drier conditions, where conventional refrigerant dehumidifiers do not. 

Desiccant dehumidifiers use chemicals called desiccants with a high affinity for water and can rapidly absorb moisture from the air. Once the desiccant absorbs the moisture, heated air passes over it, causing the release of the absorbed moisture. Finally, the moisture-laden air is vented outside the structure, and the desiccant is ready once again to dehumidify the air.  

We will be happy to help you 24/7; call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Call Us When A Flood Has Damaged Your Home In Closter

6/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's professionals can restore all of your water damages and make your house feel like home again.

Different Ways Professionals Help After Flood Damage In Closter

If you are a regular person and have vast experience dealing with a flooded property, you must be very unlucky. Most people deal with one or just a few incidents over many years, so you are not alone, even though you might not know which steps to take when your property floods. Luckily, professional flood mitigation experts have the necessary training and experience to handle such situations best since it is part of their day-to-day work. Hiring such an expert helps in different ways.

Water Removal Services

Among the common aspects of flood damage in Closter is soling of different parts of the property. A flood dumps contaminated groundwater, silt, mud, and other soils into a property necessitating thorough cleanup. Professionals rely on advanced equipment to speed up the cleaning process. Our SERVPRO technicians rely on pressure washers and multi-surface scrubbing equipment to remove soils. We also have pumps to extract any standing water. Sometimes, the water or other aspects of the flooding can leave physical damages such as soggy drywall. We do controlled-teardown to remove the affected materials then rebuild the area to deal with the damage “Like it never even happened.”

Documenting Flood Damage Repairs

Although insurance covers most of the damages left after flooding, if you have the right policy, filing a claim can be difficult. Insurers require proper records and even evidence of the damages suffered. Professionals keep records as part of the flood damage restoration, making it easier to file claims. Our SERVPRO technicians fill electronic Content Claim Inventory Service (CCIS), especially if we have to move out items providing a clear record of fully or partially damaged items for insurance purposes.

Mold Removal

Microbial growth is a common outcome of a flooding incident.  Some steps taken early during the restoration can help prevent such growth or limit their spread. Our SERVPRO technicians spray EPA-registered disinfectants in all areas affected by the incident. We also dry excess moisture from the structure by increasing air movements using air movers and extract moisture from the air using dehumidifiers.

For better response after a flood damages your home in Cresskill, Harrington Park, and Closter areas, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to help. We are available at (201) 244-0100 any time.

Our Team is Ready To Inspect Your Closter Home After A Fire

6/4/2021 (Permalink)

After your home suffers fire damage, you need a team of professionals to assist you with cleanup. Call SERVPRO right away! We are always available.

SERVPRO - Restoring Fire Damaged Homes In Closter

Accidents and disasters can happen in your home in Closter, so when residents need to clean and restore their homes, they call SERVPRO to get the job done right. 

Inspection After Fire Damage

Eliminating the effects of fire damage to Closter homes means starting with a thorough inspection. After the Fire Marshall gives the OK, our response team leaders enter the house and then examine everything from the carpet to the roof. 

Demolition and Removal

The next step is demolition and removal. Our specialists break down and dispose of everything that was physically damaged by the heat and flames. They do this for two reasons. First, it allows team members to get into the support structure and determine if further demolition and replacement are needed. 

Second, removing the damaged property takes out the source of many of the odors left behind after a fire. That allows our technicians to find the source of the remaining odors, usually trapped in support structures, and eliminate the odor-causing particles. 

Fire Damage Restoration

Next, SERVPRO technicians begin restoring the home. If there is only minor surface damage to the wall framing and overhead supports, they sand down the surfaces to remove the fire damage. Then, they hang new drywall or other building material to restore the interior walls, dividing the rooms once more. If required by the homeowner, our restoration teams can also paint the interior to match the original appearance. 

As they replace the walls, other members restore the interior. Technicians carefully strip the old varnish from the wood floors, clean them to remove soot and smoke residues left by the fire, then apply new varnish to seal the wood and protect them against future damage. With the floors restored, other team members replace damaged ceiling panels or tiles to return each room to a normal appearance. 

At SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, our goal is to restore each home to a clean, safe home after fire damage. If you need us, call (201) 244-0100 today. We are here for you.

How Do Trained Technicians Restore Water Damaged Homes in Closter?

5/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the proper equipment needed to fight against water damage in your Closter home. Call on our experts for assistance.

SERVPRO Responds Quickly To Water Damage Incidents in Closter

You have no time to waste when your Closter home needs water damage restoration services. Whether you are dealing with a flooded basement, a serious issue with your sewer backup, a leaking appliance, or a broken pipe, an experienced restoration company like SERVPRO should be your first option. Many structural problems and safety challenges are likely to arise when the unfortunate incident strikes, so that is why you need to work with our technicians to stop the water source and put in place appropriate restoration steps to return your property to normalcy.

When is it Safe to Enter Your Closter Home after a Water Damage Incident? 

It is hard to determine if your Closter property is safe to occupy after a water damage incident. The incident can present several unexpected hazards such as slip, fall, and many more such as electrical dangers and mold damage which is likely to cause health effects. Our SERVPRO technicians wear appropriate personal protective equipment when protecting your valuables. For instance, we wear rubber gloves and boots when lifting your furniture off the carpeting and where necessary, we place tin foil beneath the seat's feet to protect stains from developing on the carpets. We also do:

• Remove wet rugs from the floors and determine whether they can be restored or replaced
• Dependent on the degree of water damage; we can decide if your furniture needs to be fixed or discarded
• We can install air movers to hasten the drying process

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is Faster to Any Size Disaster, whether commercial or residential. Call (201) 244-0100 to work with our experienced and certified technicians.

Why Choose SERVPRO for Closter Fire Damage Cleanup?

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

Fire, smoke, and odor removal is a specialty of SERVPRO. Our technicians are IICRC certified for any size disaster.

Detailed documentation shows why SERVPRO pack-out strategies support owners of Closter fire-damaged homes.

During fire damage cleanup in your Closter home, you quickly learn why SERVPRO delivers successful results promptly. Nothing we do is left to chance, improving the odds for a consistently good recovery from fire and smoke damage. One suggestion SERVPRO often makes to Closter clients to speed the process and document claims for your insurance is a partial or complete pack-out of furnishings, household goods, and personal possessions using our detailed Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS).

Why Does SERVPRO Encourage Closter House Fire Clean Up Pack-Outs? 

Professionals expect that post-blaze Closter families need water and fire damage restorations. The water used to quell the flames is a complicating factor at nearly every fire and smoke remediation call. Heavy furniture and assorted possessions are hard to manage and move as technicians travel through your home to remediate smoke and fire damage and clear away residues. Many different tasks must occur almost simultaneously during the project inside your Closter dwelling, why SERVPRO urges we “clear the decks” for the team to work at optimum efficiency to deliver:

• Water Removal Services
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Smoke Remediation
• Odor Elimination

Strict adherence to fire damage restoration protocols and a reliable pack-out system are two reasons why SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County earns high marks from satisfied customers. Call us at (201) 244-0100 today to schedule an assessment and start the planning.

Contractor Licenses:

General: 13VH001305854800

Can Safe and Effective Mold Removal Help Your Cresskill Business?

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

Mold remediation in your commercial building will become very hazardous. SERVPRO has the manpower and equipment for the fix you needs.

SERVPRO mold remediation Cresskill-area specialists use research-based strategies for commercial mold removal and prevention

Some industries are subject to frequent mold inspections, with remediations and removal needed promptly. Businesses in Cresskill struggling with these issues require fast and professional support, available from SERVPRO’s mold specialists. For example, mold in your Cresskill restaurant or hotel can discourage repeat business and impact your reputation. Mold can cause health effects for susceptible individuals, making the reluctance of your clientele to risk mold exposure in your Cresskill commercial building understandable. You want to find mold remediation specialists who can handle active, current mold removal as well as work with you to inhibit future infestations.

What Mold Remediation Protocol Does SERVPRO Follow?

Often businesses in Cresskill need bathroom mold removal, as excess moisture is typical in that space. SERVPRO used the mold remediation protocol developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA procedure stresses moisture management and containment to prevent mold spores and debris spread. Expect interrelated 

• Mold Inspection
• Mold Removal
• Black Mold Damage Repairs

Do not delay reaching out to SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County for mold remediation assistance in your business property. Find out how we can get your operations back on track with one call to (201) 244-0100.

Does Living in an Older Home in Closter Increase Water Mitigation and Remediation Risk?

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will start and finish your water-damaged home. We will even help with the build back with our general contractor. Call now!

Historic homeowners in Closter count burst pipes as a persistent worry SERVPRO can address

Rumors and disagreements about the personage memorialized in the Closter borough seal continue to this day. The circular seal features the stylized outline of a single rider, appearing to wear attire dating to Revolutionary War times. In actions similar to those attributed to Paul Revere's famous ride, an anonymous farmer either from Closter or the surrounding region rode from what is now Bergen County south to Fort Lee with urgent news that helped the Continental army.

What Are the Details About the Closter Horseman?

The story related over the years focuses on British Commander Lord Cornwallis landing and disembarking at Closter Dock with thousands of British and Hessian troops. Closter Dock was on the Hudson River at the Palisades, several miles away from the center of the land-locked borough now known as Closter. Upon viewing the watery arrival, the unknown farmer and his plow horse sped off with the news. The bare bones of the story include the following facts:

• The date was November 20, 1776.
• The Continental garrison at Fort Lee was 10 miles away.
• The stores and munitions at Fort Lee were depleted, exposing the Continental Army stationed there to significant risk from attack.
• The intelligence from the Closter horseman permitted George Washington time to lead the Fort Lee troops to Hackensack.
• The relocation by Washington eventually took the Continental Army to Pennsylvania.
• The time and space gained allowed Washington to plan and implement a successful attack on British troops at Trenton on December 26, 1776.

Were Other Factors in Play Interfering with the Closter Dock Escapade?

In addition to the warning, other Closter-area patriots got in the way of Lord Cornwallis and his troops. The British allegedly marched in the wrong direction because of inaccurate maps and intentionally confusing advice from the locals.

Does SERVPRO Offer Reliable Water Mitigation to Closter Homeowners?

Failing plumbing systems and structural wear and tear can result in an enhanced need for water emergency services and water damage repair in Closter properties. Burst pipes and ceiling leaks impact Closter's historic homes with some regularity. The affinity residents have for the older homes means Closter water damage repair preference is for halting or mitigating the harm without changing the integrity of beloved interiors or treasured antique contents. 

Can SERVPRO Water Damage Restoration Maintain Closter Homes' Function and Appearance?

As a service to our valued customers, SERVPRO holds a general contractor's license, permitting us to streamline mitigation, remediation, and water damage restoration for Closter properties. Control of Closter water mitigation projects from assessment to build back saves time and money and allows precise and consistent communication. During water clean up and flood restoration, Closter homeowners depend on SERVPRO to keep their families safe and homes true to their origins while also providing needed:

• Water Removal Services
• Ceiling Repairs from Water Damages
• Basement Flooding Cleanup
• Cleaning Up After a Sewer Backup

Reach out to SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County when water damage threatens. We are ready to do battle with the forces interfering with the quiet enjoyment of your comfortable home. One call to (201) 244-0100 gets our troops on the move.

Contractor Licenses:

General: 13VH001305854800

Protect Your Closter Store From Further Damage During Fire Restoration

4/16/2021 (Permalink)

You can count on our professionals with state of the art equipment to quickly restore your property so you can return safely after a fire incident.

Fire Restoration Means Being Safety Conscious in Closter

Fire can cause havoc in your store. You might find yourself facing inventory loss or building damage alongside a sizable cleanup operation.

If you need fire restoration in your Closter store, it is essential to be aware of the damage that might happen after the fire. What do we mean by that? Surely the fire has caused enough damage? Some damages that might occur after the fire include:

• Water damage because it rained and there was a hole in your roof due to the fire.
• Opportunistic thieves got in through a window that was blown out by the fire and stole some of your stock.
• A ceiling fixture fell, or a wall or floor collapsed because it was weakened by fire.
  
  

In many cases, insurance does not cover these damages. It only covers damage caused at the time of the fire. That is why SERVPRO puts securing your premises top of our priority list. We will board and tarp up as needed, survey potential health hazards, and do our best to mitigate them.

For a thorough fire restoration service, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Can Flood Damage Harm Closter Home Foundations?

4/9/2021 (Permalink)

If you find water damage in your Closter home, Call in the experts at SERVPRO right away.

Flood Damage Could be Bad News for Closter Houses

Storms can arrive without warning and cause damage throughout your home. It is essential to be aware of the potential extent of storm damage, so you can take steps to remediate it.

If a storm causes flood damage to your Closter home, there is always a risk of foundation damage. When the ground around your home swells with flood water or rain, it might put pressure on the foundations and cause cracking. We know a few things you can do to protect your foundations:

• Ensure your garden slopes away from your home and not towards it.
• Keep your downspouts in good repair, so they do not pour extra water around the foundations.
• Check for pooling water around foundations.
• Make home maintenance a priority.

Do not ignore signs of water issues in your home. Water problems indoors can turn into water problems around the foundation, which means the foundation is weaker and more prone to flood damage. Call SERVPRO – our technicians can use monitoring equipment to seek potential problem areas before the issue worsens.

If you want help keeping your home safe from flood damage, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Why Is Inventory a Key Part of Cresskill Water Mitigation?

3/25/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians know all the steps to take after water damage strikes in your home.

SERVPRO Helps Cresskill Residents With Water Mitigation and More

Cresskill is a borough of just over 8,000 people located in New Jersey. The area got its unusual name from the wild watercress that grew abundantly there before the area became more urban and from the stream that runs through it. “Kill” is an old name for a stream, strait, inlet, or other small body of water. Cresskill grew quickly thanks to it being so convenient for New York, and the appearance of a railway there increased its growth and popularity.

Cresskill is an excellent base for exploring New Jersey and New York. It is near to such famous sites as Times Square, the Empire State Building, and Central Park, but it is also close to plenty of state parks and hiking areas.

Enjoy Good Hiking and Good Food Near Cresskill

Cresskill offers access to plenty of lovely natural areas, including:

• The Tenafly Nature Center offers 400 acres of woodland to explore. The center is entirely member-supported and exists to educate the next generation on the importance of living in harmony with nature. The walks are clearly signposted, and you can pass a happy afternoon strolling beside the brook and ponds.
• Demarest Nature Center offers walks that can last for a couple of hours, or just five minutes, which means you will always find something to suit you. There are well-marked trails along with heavily wooded and marshy areas where you can see plenty of wildlife.
• Closter Nature Center is a hidden gem! You can explore most of the site in under an hour, and yet you will feel like you are miles away from civilization. A great place to birdwatch or enjoy the antics of the many squirrels and chipmunks who live there.
  
  

If all that walking works up an appetite, do not worry. Cresskill has plenty of eateries to refresh you. Some popular choices include:

• Samdan Restaurant offers authentic Turkish and Middle Eastern cuisine in a friendly atmosphere with very reasonable prices. Be sure to check out their set menus for a delicious meal on a budget.
• Umeya offers fresh sushi made to authentic recipes. You can order takeout or eat in. If you are eating in, sit at the sushi bar and watch the chefs at work for the ultimate experience. If you are ordering takeout, do so in advance, as they get swamped.
• Jack’s Lobster Shack is a family-run establishment that serves only the freshest lobster and seafood. They also offer delicious fries and slaw.
  
  

Do You Need Inventory During Water Mitigation?

One of the first things you will need to do after water damage is to call your insurance company. And one of the first things your insurance company will do is ask you for an inventory and evidence of losses.

SERVPRO understands that creating an inventory is stressful. We also know that a thorough inventory is key to liaising with your insurance company. That is why we include an inventory service as part of water mitigation. We can:

• Provide a detailed estimate of what has been lost and what must be replaced.
• Pretest all items to determine if we can salvage them or not.
• Give you an electronic spreadsheet with a full loss inventory.
  
  

For help with post-water mitigation inventory, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

The Multi-Step Process of Removing Closter Fire Damage Residues

3/8/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is ready to help local property owners with any size fire damage problem. Call today at (201) 244-0100.

When Vacuuming Fails, Fire Cleanup Specialists Succeed.

Removing fire and smoke residues from your home is not easy. Store-bought cleaning agents fail to eliminate the deep-set particles that result from these accidents. SERVPRO uses advanced methods to handle these problems.

The first step in removing residues from fire damage in Closter is to vacuum up whatever materials we can. After this step, much of the ash and smoke remains. At this point, we must dissolve the residues to remove them. This is a multi-step process:

1. We analyze the damages to determine the type of fire and smoke.
2. Experienced technicians select appropriate specialized cleaning agents.
3. We repeatedly wash, rinse, and dry the area, changing out cleaning agents as needed.

Throughout the whole process, we take care to avoid disturbing residues elsewhere in the area. Without the right precautions, a single blunder could stir up ash and dirty an area once more. Between working fast and implementing fire damage mitigation measures, our professional team avoids these situations.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County has the equipment and experience to handle any size or type of fire damage. Call us at (201) 244-0100.

The Superior Training of SERVPRO Mold Damage Technicians in Cresskill

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

Mold spreads quickly when the conditions are right. Contact SERVPRO to investigate the cause and remediate the damage on your property.

Mold Remediation in Cresskill Means Following the Protocols

Picking SERVPRO to handle your mold damage situation is easy when you consider the impressive array of certifications and training that our technicians boast. We go above and beyond official standards to make sure that our team receives training for any incident.Handling mold damage in Cresskill takes more than a bit of handiwork and chemicals. With many different fungi species present in most American homes, it can be tricky to find and apply the appropriate treatments for a situation. Our technicians train full-time for weeks to learn everything from the science behind mold growth to the differences in treatment methods. Their trainings include:

• Full IICRC certification--Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification
• Detailed web-based training suites
• Real-life simulations to test learned skills

Once fully certified AMRT applied microbial restoration, these technicians work with a veteran employee to learn on the job and develop an adaptable skill set. Every SERVPRO mold remediation team includes at least one experienced technician to oversee the project and correct potential mistakes. As a result, the speed and efficacy of our crews is unmatched.

Stop mold from taking over your home by calling SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Our Closter Water Damage Repairs Target the Source

2/24/2021 (Permalink)

Call in the professionals for water cleanup, to avoid additional water loss in your home. our SERVPRO technicians are available 24/7.

Sip a Freshly-made Bubble Tea at Closter's First Establishment

One of the most noteworthy culinary phenomena spreading across the nation has, in recent years, been bubble tea. Closter residents would need to travel far to find a shop selling these teas, but now, a location has opened up in our community. Gong Cha is the most popular nationwide chain of bubble tea specialists, and they chose to open their first shop in New Jersey right here in Closter.

The concept of bubble tea began in Taiwan several decades ago. It involves a multitude of tea varieties that are typically served cold and with milk. What sets a glass of bubble tea apart from ordinary milk tea is introducing tapioca pearls in the bottom of the cup. Besides adding flavor and texture, the pearls are often mixed with fruit, spice, and other creative additions. The result is a layered tea with complex flavors.

With a modern and relaxing interior, Gong Cha hopes to create a more welcoming atmosphere than the fast-paced air of Starbucks and other coffee shops. Swing by, here in Closter, for a cup of bubble tea to see if it lives up to the hype.

Perhaps the Best Fine Dining in Closter

Living near one of the world's culinary capitals may be great, but many of us in Closter lack time to travel into the city every night for dinner. Thankfully, one of the city's most highly-regarded chefs, a native to our Closter community, now cooks here instead. The Hill is one of the highest quality dining experiences in the entire region, and if you have not tried it yet, perhaps a dinner service may be what you need.

Owned and operated by chef Ben Pollinger, The Hill serves seasonal American dishes while being unafraid to take elements from foreign cooking styles. Pollinger was a Michelin-starred chef in New York before relocating here in 2018, founding the restaurant of his dreams. In addition to an evolving menu composed of top-quality ingredients and dishes, the establishment also offers an impressive array of wines and craft beers that pleases even the most discerning connoisseur.

The Hill is open seven days per week for lunch and dinner service and features a kids' menu for family outings. Check them out if you have not already experienced one of the best dining experiences in the entire Closter region.

Water Damage Repairs Need to Target Hidden Threats

One of the most important reasons insurance companies encourage homeowners in Closter to contact water damage repair professionals like SERVPRO is the difficulty that many handymen face in finding the source of the issue. Throughout your home, many permeable materials may transfer water into hidden places, which can later seep back into the common areas to cause long-term issues. Our inspectors utilize many tools to contend with this threat, including:

• Infrared scanning devices
• Thermal imaging tools
• Penetrating moisture detectors
• Isolated demolitions for visual assessment

Once we identify the source of the problem, we can begin treating it. The thorough inspection process ensures that no sign of the water damage is present after we leave.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is professional, fast, and cost-efficient with any water damage restoration project for Closter and the surrounding area.. Call us at (201) 244-0100.

What Can Be Done to Prepare a Home for Flooding in Closter?

2/8/2021 (Permalink)

Storm damage is no easy task. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for their IICRC certified trained technicians. No flood damage is too big or small.

Lessen flood damage with these tips for flood preparation

Flooding is always a concern in New Jersey, and this past year has seen an increase in storms and rainfall. Closter residents need to know how to prepare and what to expect. 

Preparing Your Home for Flood Situations

Floodwaters in  are a serious concern. They ruin homes by sending contaminated waters surging through homes. But being prepared can make a difference. Here are ways to lessen the impact of flood damage in Closter:

• Keep gutters, storm drains, and ground-level drains free of debris and leaves
• Store essential documents and valuables in containers that are waterproof.
• Prepare an emergency kit with things like flashlights, batteries, and bottled water.
• Have an emergency plan in place and practice it.

Safety is Paramount

Keeping your family safe is your first concern. When it is safe to enter, SERVPRO can provide flood damage mitigation. Never try to enter your home to save belongings. We understand the hazardous circumstance that comes with flooding. If you have treasures or heirlooms you want to be rescued and cannot enter your home, we do our best to retrieve them. 

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 if you need flood damage service in Closter.

What Can Be Done After a Closter Business Fire?

2/1/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damaged restoration is no DIY project. Call the professionals at SERVPRO their technicians are trained and ready for any size fires damage.

Our Professional Technicians Provide Emergency Mitigation and Fire Restoration Services

When a fire breaks out in your business, you need help fast.  Many times, the damage is from sprinklers or firefighting efforts.  Immediate mitigation is the key to getting your business back up and running.

SERVPRO Helps Businesses Recover From Fires

If a fire occurs in a business, your insurance may require you to hire a fire restoration service in Closter.  Our technicians are experts at helping companies recover from fire damage.  The process includes cleaning, repair, and restoration.  While everyone’s situation is different, there are specific steps that are basic to each one.  These include:

• Scoping the damage and assessing the immediate needs
• Removal of debris and charred remains
• Soot, residual water, and odor mitigation
• Content cleaning

Our fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) work with business owners to determine which mitigation efforts are right for rebuilding their business.  Our goal is to clean and restore your facility and leave it “Like it never even happened.”

Rapid intervention is the key, and our fast response helps minimize damage and loss.  It is critical to remove soot and smoke odors as quickly as possible.  Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for fire restoration services in Closter.

Cresskill Residents Count on SERVPRO When Water Damage Occurs

1/26/2021 (Permalink)

Water mitigation is no easy task. Call the professionals at SERVPRO, their technicians are trained for the water restoration and build back.

 SERVPRO provides prompt water mitigation to homes with water intrusions 

Cresskill got its name from the watercress that grows along the many streams in the area. It is a small borough in New Jersey. It was incorporated in 1894 when Bergen County went through many remote locations, becoming boroughs.

The Railroad & Chickens Boost the Economy

Like many small cities, the railroad made a considerable difference in Cresskill residents being able to travel to different parts of the state. It also brought revenue and customers to Cresskill. One of the primary sources of the local economy was a chicken hatchery. By 1897 it was the largest in the world. The poultry farm was owned by W.C. Baker and held 2000 laying hens. It could produce a quarter-million broiler chickens every year. That’s a lot of chicken!

Camp Merritt & WWI

The railroad was the reason the establishment of Camp Merritt was possible. More than a million American troops got sent through this major debarkation point on the way to the battlefront. The camp could hold 38,000 transit troops. The troops were transported via two different routes to their sending off point. Local railroads would carry the men south along with one of the routes. The other route involved groups of up to 3000 men marching to the northeast. They would march for an hour and then board ferryboats that would take them to Hoboken. They then would travel by train to a terminal on Long Island and their final destination of the embarkation piers. Approximately one million of the four million troops sent to the Western Front during World War I would pass through Camp Merrit. The camp was decommissioned in 1919.

National Register of Historic Places

If you are one of those who enjoy historical places, Cresskill has several. These include:

• Blackledge-Gair House – one of the Early Stone Houses of Bergen County, the building is an architectural delight.

• Demerit-Atwood House- a distinct brick and wood two-story home that was built in 1793.

• Peter Huyler House – located on the Captain John Huyler Homestead, this land once belonged to a loyalist. The stonework is some of the finest in the county.

• Benjamin P Westervelt House – a local militia member was the original owner. The main wing of the house is in the Dutch colonial style. The Westervelt family has continuously occupied the site since 1778. It has been used in several films.These sites are worth checking out for the architectural value alone. 

SERVPRO Provides Water Mitigation Services to Cresskill Residents

When a water intrusion occurs, you want fast mitigation to avoid further damage to your home. SERVPRO provides both water mitigation and restoration. Our technicians use the following mitigation techniques when cleaning and restoring your home:

• Dealing with safety concerns

• Water extraction using pumps designed for the situation

• Setting up the humidifiers and air movers

• Establishing drying goals

• Relocating content to unaffected areas

• Furniture blocking

• Containment to prevent water migration.

Once our technicians have done all that, we move on to the restoration process. This may involve repainting walls and redoing wallpaper, and replacing drywall and ceiling panel sections if needed. We may also need to replace insulation if it could not be dried. We also refinish water damaged wood surfaces. Any impacted content is cleaned and dried. 

If you need water mitigation in Cresskill, contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Therapeutic Art Workshop Delivered Virtually in Closter

1/25/2021 (Permalink)

Raise your hand for creative and professional SERVPRO fire damage restoration for your Closter home!

Weekly Lesson to Help Closter Residents Use Art for Better Mental Health

Expressing yourself in art can be a great way to blow off steam or challenge your capabilities. Creating art can also have a therapeutic effect, thus helping people cope with mental issues such as the isolation that the pandemic has introduced. The type of art can range from painting, drawing, coloring, collage, or any other exciting thing. However, guidance is necessary to maximize the benefits. Since you may not know other people in Closter that might be interested, the virtual Therapeutic Art Workshop can be of great help to you.

The main aspects of the event include:

• Weekly classes held on Tuesdays starting from 11 AM
• The instructor, Sarah Serrano, is a Master's graduate from Pratt Institute in Creative Arts Therapy
• The event is organized by SocietyX, which brings hyper-niche creatives who share or teach various engaging lessons for the benefit of the public

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County brings together highly trained and experienced technicians who help Closter homeowners carry out successful fire and smoke restoration. Call us at (201) 244-0100.

Conflict Management Classroom Training for Cresskill Managers

1/18/2021 (Permalink)

Hey Cresskill Property Managers--Don't Be Conflicted about Mold Remediation--Just Call SERVPRO!

Conflict Management and Communication Skills Workshop to Help Resolve Issues in Cresskill Workplaces

When different people interact, especially in a work environment, conflicts tend to arise. If not adequately addressed, they can lead to animosity or other extreme outcomes. Whether the conflicts develop between workmates or between staff members and clients, the person in a leadership position must find a way to diffuse the situation and resolve the issue collaboratively. You can gain the skills necessary to handle such situations through training or experience. Another alternative is through interactive training that involves role-playing. The Conflict Management and Communication Skills workshop can impart the skills you need when running your Cresskill business.

The key features of the one-day event include:

• An 8-hour intensive and interactive session with industry experts
• Case studies and role-play to help practice the lessons learned
• Demonstration by the trainers on how to break down barriers that lead to conflict or prevent resolution

The event starts at 9 AM, ending at 5 PM, once a month. You can reserve a seat for the January session scheduled on January 22nd, 2020.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County helps perform mold remediation to restore Cresskill business premises to their preloss state. Call us at (201) 244-0100 for fast assistance.

Spice Up Your Friday Night in Cresskill with Tango

1/4/2021 (Permalink)

A fire in your Closter Home? It takes two to tango--The local fire department and SERVPRO for the cleanup and restoration

Pair Up with Your Partner and other Cresskill Tango Enthusiasts for an Evening of Fun

Dancing tango is great for many reasons, apart from the thrill of enjoying music. Some people do it for physical exercise, emotional health, and social interaction or improve their cognitive abilities. Although the most popular thing about tango is that it takes two people, other aspects such as music or other people's presence are equally important.  You can enjoy all the thrills of this spectacular dance in Cresskill at The American Legion Hall.

The event is organized every Friday by Club tango to promote the dance art in New Jersey. If you would wish to take part, you should note that:

• Seating is limited, so you should make a reservation before the day.
• Participants enjoy both traditional and Nuevo dancing style and music
• Beginners get a free lesson
• A community wine table plus food provided

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County helps provide professional fire damage cleanup in Cresskill properties. Call us at (201) 244-0100 to help restore your property to its preloss state.

Dedicated Local Service Helps Deliver Convenient Water Mitigation Services in Closter

12/29/2020 (Permalink)

Closter is a lovely historic hub in the Northern Valley--But for water damage--Call SERVPRO

SERVPRO Provides Advanced Resources that Simplify Water Mitigation in Closter Properties

Closter sits in what used to be the homeland of the Lenape people. They used to fish the rivers and streams, hunted in the woods, and tilled the land for their daily food needs. The Lenape were also known as the Delaware people or Lenni Lenape. They inhabited most of the northeastern United States and some parts of Canada. The territory they occupied was collectively known as Lenapehoking.

The expanding European colonies and inter-tribal fighting among the indigenous people pushed the Lenape from their homelands in the 18th century. The Dutch were the first settlers to occupy the area and christened it New Netherlands before the English took over. The name Closter is thought to have originated from the Dutch word Klooster which translates to a monastery or a quiet place. In addition to the name, there are other remnants of the Dutch influence in the borough, including some of the buildings they constructed, which appear in the national register of historic places:

• Tallman-Vanderbeck House located on the Piedmont road. It was constructed in 1778
• Abram Demaree House located on Schraalenburgh and old hooks road
• William De Clark House built in 1776

Although there are several old homes, there are no museums in the area apart from the Belskie Museum of Art and Science, which is relatively recent. It was set up in 1993 by the Closter Lions Club then donated to the borough. Initially, it was set up to showcase Abram Belskie, a resident of the area who was also a medical illustrator and Sculptor. Belskie was famous for the Birth Series sculpture artworks in 1939, which he collaborated with Dr. Robert Dickinson to create. Some of his creations were exhibited at the 1939 World Fair. Another popular set of works was the Norman and Norma sculptures, which represented the statistically ideal male and female body figures. He created them using data collected over time by Dickinson. The museum also exhibits works from emerging artists in the Northern New Jersey area. Visitors get free admission to explore the different pieces exhibited there.

A Nice Quiet Town

The area lives up to its name as a nice quiet place since there are numerous green spaces in this area as well as several modern amenities like retail outlets, schools, wellness centers, and even a miniature golf course, which is no surprise since New Jersey is one of the top recognized locations for mini-golf. Some of the top-rated parks in the area include:

• Schauble Park was named after Kenneth W. Schauble, a marine from Bergen County who served in Vietnam and was killed-in-action on July 6, 1969. The park located on top of a hill has various amenities, including a jogging and walking track encircling the entire park and a skinned softball field. In the woods section, there is also a small BMX course.
• Ruckman Park Renaissance is an excellent place for kids to play. There is an open grass field as well as swings and slides. The park is surrounded by a patch of dense woods, making it a great place to hang out or have a picnic.
• Closter Nature Center is a unique oasis in the middle of suburban New Jersey. It comprises 136 acres of brooks, ponds, meadows, and forests that visitors can explore. The park offers educational tours and lectures for individuals, groups, and schools.

Shopping Amenities in Closter

Although it is relatively small at only 8.5 km², there are sufficient amenities, especially for general or specialized shopping needs. Some of the notable establishments include:

• Target retail chain for general home goods, electronics, and clothing. It is conveniently located on Vervalen Street. The store was established in early 2016 as one of the first "flexible format" locations in the New Jersey area.
• Whole Foods Market for groceries and houseware. The store focuses on organic and natural grocery items. It has many positive reviews for offering fair prices, especially for cooked foods. Amazon Prime members can also place orders online and collect the items as curbside pick-up.
• Northern Valley Sports Academy (NVSA), a specialty sporting goods chain offering athletic apparel and footwear. It also stocks fitness equipment and outdoor gear. In addition to selling products, the facility also offers lessons, clinics, summer camps, and rental spaces for events.
• The Metropolitan Farm, a unique establishment that is also the oldest working farm in New Jersey. It is a one-stop-shop for gardening needs because it sells fresh farm products, shrubs, perennials, ornamental trees, and even pottery.

Which Water Mitigation Services Does SERVPRO offer in Closter?

Although water is a great utility that serves different purposes in homes, it also readily damages materials when they are exposed unintentionally. Such water exposure can happen when pipes burst, releasing significant amounts of water within a short time or small leaks hidden over long periods. Regardless of the mode of leakage, finding the right solution to mitigate the damage is essential to restore the Closter property to its preloss state.

When there is a water intrusion incident, removing any stagnant water and drying affected materials are the two crucial processes to halt the deterioration of materials through staining, mold development or warping, and other physical changes in wooden materials. Completing the removal at the right speed is also essential since hasty removal can cause damages such as cracking or transfer of moisture if the removal is done too fast. SERVPRO provides all the resources necessary for a properly managed removal process.

• We use various types of dehumidifiers to regulate the amount of moisture in the air before starting water extraction or during the drying phase
• We use water extractors with sufficient vacuum lift or specialized capabilities to extract water below surfaces such as tiled floors
• We use air movers to expedite the evaporation of water from wet materials

Our IICRC certified water restoration technicians also perform various calculations to determine the correct ratio of extraction and drying devices to complete the job within an appropriate timeline.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County offers water mitigation services in Closter. Call us at (201) 244-0100 for immediate assistance.

A Behind the Scenes Look at the Giraffe House of Turtleback Zoo Opens for Closter Residents this Christmas.

12/11/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is looking forward to the view at the Turtleback Zoo!

Closter Residents Can Take a Short Trip to Turtleback Zoo on Weekends Throughout December to View the Amazing Giraffe House.

Turtle Back Zoo is rated as the number one Zoo in New Jersey, with 20 acres of parkland inhabited by 200 different animal species. This December, Closter residents have the opportunity of getting an up-close and personal look at the Giraffe House. The tour is running every Saturday and Sunday throughout the month, starting from December 5th. The tour is around thirty minutes long and takes guests into the Giraffe barn, where they can meet Turtle Back's Giraffe Keeper. The tours start at 2 pm every day and include full admission into the surrounding zoo afterward. 

• The minimum age requirement for seeing the Giraffe House is six years old. An adult must accompany all under 18s.
• Face coverings must be worn at all times while group-sizes are limited to 10 guests to ensure that proper social distancing is adhered to. 
• Cancellations can be made for any tickets providing they are at least seven days before the tour.

Rising river tides can lead to overflow and flash flooding of your property. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Christmas Shopping For Children at the Kids Market Near Closter.

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

It will be exciting to see the community at the Westfield Garden State Plaza for the scavenger hunt!

The Unique Holiday Market for Closter Families Starts on the 7th of December at Westfield Garden State Plaza.

This year Westfield is providing a supervised shopping experience for children between the ages of 5 and 12. The adventures run for 30 to 40 minutes to teach children about managing budgets, creating shopping lists, and exploring a large indoor environment like Westfield's plaza to do their Christmas shopping. The tickets start at just $5, including two socially-distanced, live puppet shows and a scavenger hunt. Kids are given clipboards, shopping lists, and pencils to provide a real-experience of Christmas shopping and gift-giving. A strong focus on individual and independent play is present during the holiday shopping market. 

• Tickets are registered on a timeslot basis and can be booked through Eventbrite. 
• The kids market is separate from the central mall on level two of the plaza. Guardians and children receive matching wrist bands.
• Parents can observe the shopping experience from the sidelines of the kid's market, but it is encouraged to explore and shop by themselves for the full experience.

The presence of damp spots in your home can lead to the rapid proliferation of mold spores. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Cresskill Residents in Need of Professional Fire Damage Restoration.

11/28/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage is certainly unwelcome. Contact SERVPRO if your home has sustained damage after a fire.

SERVPRO Technicians Can Identify and Repair the Damages Caused by Fire in your Home.

In the Palisade cliffs region is Cresskill of New Jersey. The quaint township was incorporated at the end of the 19th century and bordered by Dumont, Alpine, Demarest, and Bergenfield. Of the 7,000 plus residents are 2,161 families residing nearby the Hudson River. Cresskill in North East Bergen County has three major airports nearby, including LaGuardia, Newark, and John F. Kennedy Airport.  The suburb itself is around an hour's drive from New York City, which attracts families and individuals looking for a quieter life while still enjoying weekend trips into the surrounding metropolitan area. 

The area of Cresskill has several unique sites that are on the National Register of Historic Places. These include unique architectures from the 18th century and properties owned by famous citizens, military personnel, and politicians. Among these is the Blackledge-Gair House on Madison Avenue that was home to carton inventor Robert Gair, The Peter Huyler House, which predates the American revolution, and Dutch Colonial period property the Westerveld house on County Road. Cresskill's proximity to both New Jersey and New York makes it an ideal getaway that still offers a host of activities, just a short car, bus, or train away. 

• Sports and entertainment are just a short drive away at the Metlife Stadium, New Jersey. Met life plays host to two massive sporting franchises, the New York Giants and the New York Jets. The stadium also opens itself to live music and entertainment, with previous headliners being made up of rock royalty the Rolling Stones and pop sensation Taylor Swift. Tickets for sports or shows are purchased through the online ticket office. 
• The shopping options rival any of those found in the United States. Westfield Garden State Plaza is an enormous mall with over 300 stores, restaurants, and entertainment businesses. The mall is great for younger children with its Nickelodeon Universe Theme Park, Sea Life Aquarium, Dreamworks waterpark, and Legoland Discovery Center. Bargains are abundant thanks to the tax exclusion for clothes and shoes throughout Bergen County. 
• There are many outdoor activities to experience around Cresskill with Horseback riding, medieval jousting, skiing, and golfing. The Palisades region is renowned for its spectacular views of Manhattan, the Hudson River, and New York. Local hiking and biking trails are available for download from the Bergen County official website.

Exploring the Gateway Region From Cresskill, NJ

The Gateway Region is a historic interchange that passes through the lower bay and moves Northeast along the Hudson River. This area holds some of the largest cities in New York and New Jersey and famous sites like the Statue of Liberty. The region gets its name from the history of immigration through Ellis Island. As a result, the stretch of waterways, rivers, and bays has among the most diverse populations in the US and incorporates over four million citizens. At the northern reaches of the Gateway Region is the Palisades, which stretches up to 540 feet high with Cresskill, one of the many boroughs below. 

The first village of the Gateway Region, Pavonia, was established by the Dutch East India Trading Company in 1660 and remained the oldest municipality. A few years later, the British entered New York Harbor creating ElizabethTown. Bergen County arrived much later with the borough partitioning in 1675, where it gained its name as Jersey. The Gateway region became a center for innovation and technological excellence with mass production of steam trains, lightbulbs, photographs, and rocket engines being either invented or produced here by the Industrial Revolution. During the 20th century, much of the landscapes surrounding natural beauty became the preservation object, which has led to stunning park trails and wildlife reserves. 

There are several annual festivals and events to be celebrated throughout the year, including the All Points West Music & Arts Festival, the New Jersey Film Festival, and the Black Maria Film Festival initially founded by Thomas Edison and made up America's first production houses. Tours, along with the Gateway Region via the Hudson River, are available. However, many visitors choose to explore the natural getaways themselves by taking Kayaks or traversing the hundreds of trails and walks. During the year, ski enthusiasts take to the Palisades Interstate Park to enjoy cross-country as well as chutes.

• Ski season tickets are on sale now at the Campgaw mountains for 2020/2021 passes. Rental equipment includes snowboarding as well as skis and tubing.
• The Begen Equestrian Center offers riding schools and after-school programs for Cresskill and wider Bergen County residents.
• The Bergen County Zoo has live animal shows in their Amphitheater every day and offers educational tours.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County Can Help Cresskill Residents with Fire Damage Restoration. 

The inspection and removal of fire soils, soot, smokes, or odors can be challenging. Our staff is dedicated to restoring homes in the area by using advanced cleaning techniques, which can reduce the expense and timespan of restoration. Our odor control technicians are well-versed in both finding and counteracting unpleasant fire smells. We can restore furniture, structure, and building assemblies using a combination of chemical agents and deodorant solvents. When items are damaged beyond repair, our team can quickly bag up these items and dispose of them correctly. Trained experts in the SERVPRO roster carry out reinstallation of drywalls, carpets, pads, or other parts of your home. 

• Our team can combine odor pellets, emulsifying agents, and ultra-low volume fogging (ULV) of your home to neutralize unpleasant odors.
• Using a range of solvents and water-based cleaners, we can remove most soils or stains from the property and ventilate it thoroughly. 
• Our crew chiefs have years of experience transforming damaged homes to a preloss condition. Contact us to arrange restoration within four hours of notification of loss. 

Housefires do happen. By enlisting professional services, you can get your home back quickly with minimum inconvenience. Contact SERVPRO of North East Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 now.

Spice up the Seasonal Treats You Serve Your Closter Home’s Visitors

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

While you make holiday treats, let SERVPRO treat you during the holidays. Our technicians will leave your water damage "Like it never even happened."

Residents in Closter can Take Part in the Holiday Mocktails Online Class.

Held on December 9, 2020, at 7 PM, the Holiday Mocktails class on Zoom can help you make 2020 end with a more favorable and memorable tone. Because of social distancing, many want to make the most of what little interaction that takes place. Call the Ramsey Free Public Library at 201-327-1445 in advance for your Zoom login credentials.

Attendees should be prepared to take notes on paper as they learn about:

• Mocktails that children can also enjoy,
• Infusions to create flavorful teas not found in a box,
• Syrups that you can use to flavor milk, ice cream, and a multitude of other desserts, and also
• Garnishes that are safe to eat, beautiful, and tasty

Plumbing accidents can happen at any time. When freezing temperatures cause you grief, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for certified water damage repair technicians, even on the holidays.

Does a Home Need Mitigation or Restoration After Water Damage?

10/26/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO rescues the Closter Home Theater from water damage with a rapid response using advanced equipment.

SERVPRO Uses Both Mitigation and Restoration to Return Your Closter Home to Pre-Loss Condition

Many homeowners do not grasp the difference between mitigation and restoration. They may even assume that two different companies are required to provide the needed services. But a professional water restoration company in Closter, like SERVPRO, does both.

What is Mitigation?

When a water intrusion occurs that requires water extraction in Closter, emergency mitigation occurs as quickly as possible. The focus during this time is preventing further damage to your home and the impacted content. Mitigation processes could include:

• Water extraction
• Setting up dehumidifiers
• Establishing drying goals
• Removing content to unaffected areas
• Blocking up furniture
• Containment to prevent water migration
• Dealing with safety concerns

What is Restoration?

Returning water-damaged items and structural elements to preloss condition is the focus of restoration. Once everything has been cleaned and dried, the restoration process can begin. Controlled demolition can be a part of the restoration. Examples of the restoration process would be:

• Repainting walls or redoing wallpaper
• Refinishing wood surfaces
• Replacing drywall and ceiling panel sections
• Replacing installation

These are just a few processes involved in water damage restoration. Effective water restoration requires qualified technicians. Our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certifications (IICRC) techs have hundreds of hours of training under their belt. IICRC training means they are professionals and experts at mitigating water damage and restoring homes. Their expertise includes:

• CCT – carpet cleaning
• OCT – odor control
• RCT – rug cleaning
• UFT – upholstery & fabric cleaning

What is Controlled Demolition?

Mitigation solutions often require implementing controlled demolition techniques. It can help regulate the spread of water migration and help with water extraction. With controlled demolition, materials too damaged to salvage get discarded, reducing the amount of cleaning and recovery needed. Only affected portions get removed, and the build-back of the home is easier. This means a more efficient and less costly restoration.

After a water incident, everything from flooring to furniture can be impacted by the moisture. Hygroscopic materials, such as drywall, readily absorb moisture both from standing water and water vapor. Certain materials are more susceptible to damage from water loss leading to controlled demolition. They include:

• Ceiling tiles
• Carpet and padding
• Wood framing
• Drywall
• Cabinets
• Hardwood flooring

While it is always our goal to restore rather than replace, there are certain items such as particle board cabinets, that are cheaper to replace. Examples of controlled demolition in conjunction with water extraction could involve drilling holes at a certain level evenly across a wall near the bottom. This allows for moisture to flow out and air to flow in enhancing the drying process. The technicians then use effective cleaning methods to remove the mess caused by the demolition. They use cleaning products to remove residues and adhesives from surfaces. Dry vacuuming with HEPA filters is also done.

What Tools Does SERVPRO Use for Water Cleanup?

After a substantial water intrusion, standing water can be a big problem. Items become oversaturated, and the risk of secondary damage like mold increases. SERVPRO professionals use professional water extraction equipment to get rid of excess moisture. We have at our disposal a variety of pumps, including powerful truck-mounted pumps, submersible pumps, and portable pumps. Dry mats, carpet wands, squeegees, and rovers are other tools in the restoration arsenal. 

Industrial strength dehumidifiers and air movers get used in the right ratio to complete the drying process. The process from start to finish is monitored and assessed with moisture meters, moisture probes, and thermal imaging. Our technicians use EPA-registered cleaning agents. If mold or contaminated water is a concern, antimicrobials and antifungals are applied to affected surfaces. If there is a problem with odors, we have deodorizing tools and agents to take care of that as well.

Professional & Caring Service

As homeowners and residents in the Closter area, we understand how even a minor water accident can impact your home life. Nobody wants to have technicians in and out of their homes. But if a water situation does happen, you also want the best possible company that understands water extraction and home restoration. Our SERVPRO technicians have a solid reputation for providing mitigation and restoration services to local homes.

 We know a water incident can occur at any time of day or night, which is why we are always available. Time is crucial when dealing with water extraction, and we strive to arrive as quickly as possible. We come prepared for both mitigation and restoration. There is no need for multiple companies to do one job.

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for expert water extraction service. We are licensed and bonded – Contractor Licenses: General: 13Vh001305854800. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

The Breakroom Refrigerator Leaked & Mold Developed – Does the Store Need a Professional?

10/12/2020 (Permalink)

Your employees enjoy the break room. Keep it clean and safe by checking for water leaks and mold damage.

SERVPRO Provides Immediate Mitigation for Water Damage and Mold Removal in Your Cresskill Store 

A clean break room is meaningful to your employees. Whether your business is small or a large corporation in Cresskill, it is a crucial part of your company. In this store, the refrigerator ice maker leaked, allowing water to pool underneath. After remaining unnoticed, mold grew in the tubing, wall, and the floor under the fridge. 

Can the Drywall Be Saved? 

Whenever there is moisture, mold can develop quickly. Mold spores absorb the water and swell rapidly. As the spores grow, they shoot out hyphae, which attaches to the surface of various materials. Mold colonies love porous material like drywall as it absorbs water well. It also means that the drywall's impacted areas may need to be removed unless the damage is exceptionally light. Controlled demolition allows the removal of the infected areas. SERVPRO technicians understand how to mitigate mold damage in Cresskill. Restoration is preferred over replacement, and if the drywall can be saved, our techs can do it.

Returning Your Breakroom to Pre-loss Condition 

In this situation, we were able to scrub the tile floor to remove the mold. The drywall was repaired once the moldy portions were removed. The refrigerator was repaired by a local serviceman who was able to replace the tubing. Everything got sanitized with EPA registered antimicrobial and antifungal agents. 

Mold can spread rapidly. If left untreated, this breakroom's mold could have spread into the cabinets, along the walls, and onto the content. Food items and other appliances could have been affected too. If you suspect mold infestation of any size, call in the professionals who can provide fast mold remediation.

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for expert mold damage service. We are licensed and bonded – Contractor Licenses: General: 13VH001305854800.

Is a Water Damage Restoration Team in Closter the Same as an Insurance Adjuster?

10/9/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is the central axis to coordinate services when storm damage occurs.

A Professional Water Damage Restoration Team Works to Restore Your Closter Home, and the Steps it Takes Can Supplement the Information Provided to an Insurance Company.

In Closter and throughout the nation, homeowners who face floodwater in their homes are often at a loss regarding the next steps. When an emergency occurs, it is hard to understand the relationship between insurance and a professional restoration team. At SERVPRO, we focus on restoration, but the documentation we keep is often crucial as support to the insurance claims our clients file.

You don’t need to face flood damage to your Closter home on your own. Call our team at SERVPRO and let us walk this process with you while lending our expertise. The presence of floodwater in your home should be addressed as soon as your home is safe to enter, but it needs to respond to a clear path to restoration.

Our crew develops and shares that plan with you and provides documentation as appropriate. For example, our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) is an essential tool in categorizing your home contents based on whether they can be salvaged. As we remove some items to restore in an offsite location, the CCIS inventory becomes a working document essential to your insurance claim.

What ancillary services does SERVPRO provide?
Flood damage requires the ability to extract water and disinfect your home, which our SERVPRO team achieves by applying state-of-the-art techniques when they arrive at your home. The presence of debris and bacteria makes removing some items essential to your health. Upholstery and carpets are generally removed from your home since they are naturally porous, while we clean other surfaces with EPA-approved cleaning solutions suitable to each surface. However, far beyond the removal of floodwaters, you can count on us for the following:

    •    Provide move-out and pack-out services for items needing restoration and cleanup offsite
    •    Electronic restoration for things such as computers if needed
    •    Document and photograph drying to preserve your priceless memories

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is the central axis to coordinate services when storm damage occurs. Call us at (201) 244-0100 and let us apply our expertise to your benefit. Together, we can leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

How Can SERVPRO Clean Up and Restore A Flood-Damaged Home?

9/29/2020 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO help you get your Closter home back from flood water.

Our Skilled Professionals Employ Their Extensive Expertise and Time-Tested Procedures to Return Your Closter Residence to Its Pre-Flood Condition.

New Jersey is infamous for its rainy weather and the borough of Closter generally conforms to this statewide norm.  Throughout the year, stormy weather is always a distinct possibility in the area.  Strong coastal weather patterns routinely pass over our community, bringing with them powerful winds and heavy rains.  The massive rainfalls these storms bring often swell the nearby Hudson River, as well as local streams and reservoirs, producing substantial flooding for local residential areas.  When this happens, the floodwaters can rapidly inundate homes in the borough and surrounding areas.  Worse still is the fact that these waters are usually filled with dangerous microbes and toxic wastes.

What Factors Determine the Severity of My Flood Damage?

SERVPRO relies on the classifications established by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to determine the severity of flood damage in Closter area homes.  The organization holds that there are three categories of water, ranging from clean to severely polluted, and that floodwaters are among the most polluted types of water.  These extremely damaging “black” waters generally contain such things as sewage and toxic chemicals.  With all that said, the severity of your water damage is also affected by the amount of water materials absorbed.  The IICRC categorizes absorption levels into the following four classes:

1. Class 1:  When contact between water and surfaces is minimal, impacted materials are not very porous, and the materials do not absorb much moisture.  This situation allows technicians to complete their remediation efforts with little-to-no drying after removing the standing water.
2. Class 2:  This is when affected materials are more porous and come into contact with more water.  When this is the case, more drying is required after water extraction to mitigate potential damage.
3. Class 3:  Significant volumes of water impact exceedingly porous materials, requiring extensive drying efforts to prevent substantial damage.
4. Class 4:  Represents the most difficult situation to remediate, when water saturates extremely porous materials and flows into hard-to-access areas.  This class of damage, which can occur when flood water containing sewage saturates walls and floors, requires advanced specialized equipment and drying methods to clean up properly.

With all that said, in general, only structural elements can be saved when your home suffers flooding.  Household contents coming into contact with the contaminated waters usually have to be disposed of.

How Does SERVPRO Handle the Most Severe Flood-Related Issues?

SERVPRO technicians are highly skilled in remediating even the most severe flood-related damage.  When resolving class four water absorption situations, our experts:

• Rapidly extract large volumes of standing water with powerful extractors and submersible pumps
• Remove remaining water with wet vacs and mops
• Properly shovel up remaining hazardous debris and destroy contaminated contents according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) standards
• Aerate and dry the interior of your home with high-velocity box fans, air movers, and dehumidifiers
• Thoroughly dry flooring, walls, ceilings, and difficult-to-access areas behind structural elements with Injectidry systems and specialized drying mats
• Fog/inject Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-approved antimicrobials and deodorants into impacted areas/materials with cutting edge foggers

After all of these efforts have been completed, your home is often saved from further flood-related damage and freed of the associated hazardous microbes and persistent unpleasant smells.  In this way, SERVPRO returns your residence to its pre-flood condition.

What Can Happen If My Flood Damage Is Not Effectively Remediated?

Several exceedingly negative things can happen if your flood-related issues are not successfully cleaned up.  These problems can persist for an extended period of time and cost you dearly over the long term.  Some of the various effects of improperly remediated flood damage are:

• Structural elements, like walls and floors, could be ruined and require extensive reconstruction efforts
• Dry rot could weaken support beams and cause collapses
• Mold/mildew growths could damage and discolor surfaces
• Foul flood-associated odors could remain in your home indefinitely
• Flood Water-borne bacteria and fungi could cause health effects

As you can clearly see, it is in your best interest to find the best service to clean and restore your flood-impacted home.  Contacting a quality service like SERVPRO is essential if you need to recover from the effects of a flood as soon as possible.

We are all attracted to the convenient suburban lifestyle of this fine community.  In particular, residents appreciate its beautiful parks, relaxed lifestyle, and proximity to the city.  All of these things make Closter an ideal place to live for those commuting to the nearby urban areas for work.   Of course, nothing good ever comes without drawbacks.  In our case, the difficulties we face as local homeowners are connected to stormy weather and the related flooding.

So, if flooding one day damages your home, remember that your neighbors at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County are always here to help.  Whenever you need us, call (201) 244-0100.

Can Wood Furniture Be Saved After a Fire in Closter?

9/13/2020 (Permalink)

Even a small fire in your home can cause your family stress. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for professional remediation services for your home.

SERVPRO’s Goal is Always to Restore Instead of Replace if Possible

In this Closter home, a small fire broke out in the living room. A spark from the fireplace landed on the curtain. The fire was promptly contained, but the smoke residue settled through the room.

Can the Smell Be Removed from My Coffee Table?

Smoke odors can easily penetrate unfinished wood furniture. Coffee tables, end stands, and desks can have unfinished sections. For example, the underside of the coffee table, the bottoms of drawers, and the back of desks. Our professional technicians use several cleaning methods depending on the type of soot. Dry cleaning sponges are often used as is denatured alcohol. 

My End Table Was Affected by The Fire

While soot and smells can often be removed from wood items that are soot damaged, there are situations in which the item cannot be salvaged. If the end table was exposed to high heat or direct flames, you might not be able to save it. Signs that the item is a loss include:

• Severe surface blistering
• Joints that are water-logged
• Cracked joints from the high heat
• Permanent staining of light-colored wood
• Severely charred areas

 If the coffee table has a finished surface that has mild damage, there are some semi-refinishing techniques our technicians can use. This can be done when there are slight stains from water damage that can come with a fire. A solvent-based cleaner can remove watermarks, chalky spots, and light staining. 

Even small contained fires can cause damage to a home. We understand fire damage and fire restoration. Our certified technicians look at each case individually and use whatever restoration methods the situation warrants. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244 - 0100 for professional fire restoration service you can trust. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Click here for more information about Closter.

How Can I Remove Excess Water On My Own in Closter?

9/7/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is here to assist you in deciding on the water damage in your home.

Removing Excess Water from your Closter Home on Your Own May Leave you at Risk for Aggravated Water Damage. Call a Professional Restoration Service for a Thorough Cleanup Process

You may look at the damage left behind by a leaky pipe in your home and think that water extraction is a simple process. As you prepare to mop your floors and open all your windows to accelerate evaporation, take a minute to consider the risks of leaving water hiding beneath your floors or within your walls. The longer your Closter home is exposed to water, the higher the chance that its foundation and structural elements weaken due to excessive moisture.

Thankfully, our Closter neighbors facing water damage can call our SERVPRO team around the clock for help. As we arrive at your home, we assess the damage by inspecting your home and using state-of-the-art technology to monitor humidity levels, thus detecting any accumulation hiding from the naked eye. If needed, we rapidly establish a staging area where we can protect your belongings and avoid cross-contamination. In the meantime, we also discard any items damaged beyond recovery and begin to extract water with our industrial-grade equipment.

What does SERVPRO do differently in terms of water removal?
Our water restoration technicians' training is certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), which validates our knowledge base of all matters about the treatment of water damage. We particularly understand the perils of leaving moisture behind, as it can damage your property and create a suitable environment for bacteria, such as mold, to prosper. As we use our pumps equivalent to the volume of water we need to extract, we consistently monitor the environment to optimize our efforts. The following equipment helps record these observations and guide our next steps:

    •    Moisture sensors to detect humidity in carpets, upholstery, and other porous surfaces
    •    Moisture meters are similar to sensors, but they allow us to probe behind walls and baseboards for a more thorough assessment
    •    Flexible cameras enable us to review hard to reach places without having to create further damage in gaining access

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is here to assist you in deciding on the water damage in your home. Call us at (201) 244-0100 and let us leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

Will My Flooded Closter House Ever Feel Like Home Again?

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

PreLoss Condition return after a flood in Closter means cleanup of tiled flooring and "flood-cuts" of wallboard to minimize demolition and build back.

Summer’s Severe Storms Can Strike Closter with Significant Flood Damage, and SERVPRO Has Expertise in All the Specialties Needed to Bring Residential Properties Back to Pre-Loss Condition

Torrential rains and high winds make their way up the Atlantic coast periodically during hurricane season, occasionally causing flooding concerns in Closter. Water from these storm systems enters your home a variety of ways:

• Overland flooding, sweeping into your basement/lower levels through doors and windows, carrying a wide range of contaminants
• Seepage through your foundation after several inches of rain during training storms saturate the ground around your home
• Water drainage from storm damage to windows, roofs, and siding

Do I Need to Take Care of Safety Issues Before the Water Damage Restoration Company Comes?

Struggling with significant flood damage in your Closter house can be overwhelming. Partnering with a full-service flood damage recovery contactor allows you to rely on a company with the equipment, training,  and experience needed to take your scenario from assessment through damage repair and rebuilding, integrating all intervening floodwater mitigation remediation. Safety is always a priority, and our inspection and controls shield your loved ones and our technicians from harm during the project.

What Can I Expect As Professionals Attend to Flood Damage?

Dozens of tasks and steps complete as SERVPRO workers strive to make it “Like it never even happened.” General phases that encompass the project details are as follows:

• Safety and damage assessment
• Hazard control and site security
• Emergency services
• Water removal/extraction
• Moisture detection and measurement
• Controlled demolition to release and reach trapped water
• Contaminated fluid containment and disposal
• Cleaning and disinfection with EPA-registered products
• Applied structural drying
• Repair and build back of storm damage and controlled demolition

Wrap around restoration services from SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County remove the stress of homeowners to act as general contractors for complicated water restoration jobs. Call us at (201) 244-0100 to get the project started.

More about Closter right here.

Contractor Licenses:

General: 13VH001305854800

What Are the Phases of Fire Restoration Cleaning for Closter Homes?

7/29/2020 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating. Let SERVPRO restore your home and make it, "Like it never even happened."

Knowing What to Expect When Fire Restoration Technicians Arrive at Your Home can Help you Appreciate the Need for Qualified Professionals 

There are distinct advantages to entrusting your Closter property to our competent cleaning and restoration professionals after a fire loss. As traumatic as these situations can initially appear, the immediate actions taken to counteract loss and damage can protect the structure, its contents, and its occupants. Our SERVPRO professionals have extensive training and coursework in specific restoration niches such as Fire & Smoke Restoration (FSRT), Odor Control (OCT), and Upholstery Cleaning (UFT.) 

Despite our experience and knowledge in managing fire damage for Closter homes, our preparedness for these emergencies is our service's efficient element. We understand the value of restoration preparation to reach a damaged address quickly and make the recovery process more thorough and intricate.Having customers that can realize these additional levels of our restoration process can appreciate our commitment to making these fire losses "Like it never even happened." 

How Does SERVPRO Set Up for a Fire Loss?  

Preparation can happen in many stages that occur before our technicians officially arrive and begin emergency services or mitigation tasks. As much as homeowners might believe that technicians' immediate arrival might be beneficial, unprepared professionals cannot adequately protect or preserve any impacted elements. These initial conversations with the customer and the insurance company can keep all parties on the same page moving forward with restoration and recovery efforts. Our SERVPRO team sets up for fire losses by: 

• Allocating resources
• Comprising the available budget
• Work orders to detail work to come  

Helping customers understand what to expect after a fire loss incident can offer peace of mind in a trying time. Communication is a vital element to preemptive restoration and recovery work, as we strive to meet your expectations and priorities. No one understands your home as well as you. 

How Does Job Scoping Aid Restoration?  

Initial inspection and evaluation of the fire damaged property in Closter are critical to understanding the extent of damage and what must get done to return the house to the preloss condition. As overwhelming as this restoration might appear when debris and charring exist throughout the property, our trained project managers can work around these hurdles to determine:  

• Present damage
• Catalog losses
• Note pre-existing conditions 
• Identify safety hazards  

This information gets documented in multiple programs used to determine both the progress of drying, the necessary reconstruction efforts, and the expected costs of the work to get performed. Xactimate and SERVPRO DryBook are two of the standard ports for data entry access to the responding technicians and insurance adjusters working to approve a damage claim for the house.  

What is Staging?  

Another preemptive action that we can take involves preparing a safe and undamaged area near the work zone for staging equipment, products, and devices. Because fire restoration happens in so many different stages, the volume of equipment and products needed to accomplish these tasks is substantial. Bringing these tools in before they are needed is beneficial in multiple ways:  

• Saves time
• Prevents cross-contamination 
• Allows for work areas to be less active
• Keeps equipment readily available 

Staging is most effective when it occurs in an area adjacent to the workspaces. This space can also serve as a decontamination or clean room, meaning that professionals passing through can reduce tracking ash, soot, and residues through the rest of the house. This buffer room provides adequate opportunity to remove shoe coverings, Tyvek coveralls, and other protective equipment before entering other unaffected areas of the property.  

What is the Benefit of a Final Walkthrough?  

Once the work has completed on the job, including any reconstruction and repairs necessary to return the property to its original conditions, we must complete a quality control inspection of the work areas. This walkthrough is foremost to ensure that all of the projected tasks to recover the property have completed successfully and ensure that the customer is satisfied with these results. It is possible that, through the eyes of homeowners that know the property best, punch list items can get identified that must get resolved before we can say the job is complete.  

Fire loss incidents can present substantial obstacles for even experienced restoration professionals like our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team. Providing quality results and positive customer experiences are vital parts of the fire restoration process for our professionals. Contact us anytime at (201) 244-0100.

How Involved is Water Cleanup and Restoration?

7/22/2020 (Permalink)

Should water damage affect your home, call SERVPRO! We have restoration equipment and trained workers to restore your property.

SERVPRO Takes Necessary Measures to Handle Water Damage So Your Closter Home is Restored to Pre-Loss Condition 

Within any home or office building, water damage brings the potential for significant harm to the structure and the contents inside. Cleanup is just one piece of the restoration puzzle if you want to be sure that you bring your Closter home back to pre-water damage condition. SERVPRO has the technology and speedy response times to reduce the loss and get you back to your routine faster. 

Calling SERVPRO to help with your water damage in Closter means you have trained technicians on your side using proven methods and planning techniques. Once we arrive, we begin with our restoration process, which includes: 

• Full assessment of the cause of your damage as well as the extent.
• We explain all of the damages in detail to go along with our restoration solutions.
• All water is promptly extracted from the water loss zone.
• We initiate the drying phase of your structure along with any content to reach our goals.
• Dehumidification equipment and other tools get used, keeping hidden moisture from causing more damage. 

Are All Restoration Methods the Same? 

Our team has worked to perfect our restoration efforts and planning, but we always grow and evolve with changing technology, equipment, and techniques. We use a proprietary planning method to execute each water restoration project as quickly as possible. The goal is to work and adjust to facilitate drying to give you as little disruption while salvaging everything we can. 

After the water damage in your home gets under control, our technicians follow up by searching for hidden moisture pockets and thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing all surfaces. Everything this is left, “Like it never even happened.” 

We have your water damage needs covered at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County. Call us 24/7 to have a crew deployed to your location at (201) 244-0100 to get started! 

More about Closter.

Flood Damage Has Ruined My Closter Home – Can It Be Salvaged?

7/18/2020 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for quality flood damage service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster.

SERVPRO’s Team of Technicians Provide Professional Emergency Water Mitigation That Restores Your Closter Home and Helps You Get Back to Normal

Seasonal weather brings storms and flooding that cause severe damage to Closter residences. Our technicians are available 24/7 to undo the havoc caused by heavy rains.

What kind of training do your technicians undergo?

To provide the proper techniques in treating flood damage in Closter homes, our technicians undergo intense training. They can assess a situation and put into action a water mitigation plan quickly. You can trust our Green Team to have accomplished the following:

    •    Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) – Cleaning and restoration industries follow the standards set by this certification. Our techs learn how to best deal with everything, from general water and fire restoration to mold remediation.
    •    Employee Certification Training – Technicians learn in-depth ways to deal with water restoration, carpet cleaning, and upholstery cleaning.
    •    Initial Franchise Training – Hands-on training that provides the needed experience to tackle the restoration customers need.
    •    Continuing Education & E-Learning – Ongoing training keeps the staff up to date on cutting-edge technology and new cleaning and restoration methods.

Giving You Back Your Home with Advanced Technology

After something as devastating as a flood, you want your life back. SERVPRO is committed to restoring your residence, enabling you to get back to work, family, and everyday life. We use advanced technology to mitigate the flood damage and clean all areas affected, even the areas you can’t see. These include:
    •    Moisture Detection & Measurement Equipment – Infrared cameras, hygrometers, and more provide information that determines where water is and how much saturation there is.
    •    Powerful Water Extraction Equipment – Both truck-mounted and portable pumps are employed. Our pumps can be gas-powered or submersible.
    •    Drying Equipment - Industrial grade dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air, and heavy-duty air movers help everything try faster.
    •    Deodorizing Techniques – removes the smells that occur with water damage.
    •    Sanitizing Agents – making sure everything is as clean and decontaminated as possible.

We know catastrophes do not take vacations, and neither do we. We are available around the clock, including holidays.

Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 for quality flood damage service that is Faster to Any Size Disaster.

We Have Flooding in Our Closter Office, What Can We Do?

6/28/2020 (Permalink)

To have a crew deployed to your office as soon as possible to begin flood damage restoration, call SERVPRO.

Flood Damage is No Match for SERVPRO – Call Us to Begin Cleanup of Your Closter Office Today!

Whether a pipe burst or there was another incident that brought on the emergency, you need to know that you have access to skilled water restoration services. Commercial spaces, in particular, call for unique processes to ensure the flooding gets cleaned up promptly so that your employees and visitors have as little disruption as possible. SERVPRO features a team of certified water restoration technicians (WRT) that you can count on to ensure your Closter office setting sees little downtime. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, and you can always reach us 24 hours a day for emergency service!

This is Overwhelming: Where Do We Begin?

For flood damage in Closter, you should have a solid plan for restoration. SERVPRO has a unique process when called for commercial flood restoration, so that way, we can quickly spring into action. We follow best practices for water extraction while doing what we can to salvage interior contents, furnishings, necessary paperwork, and more. Everything gets done to limit secondary damage from taking hold while ensuring that our crew and your staff are safe. When you need fast flooding mitigation and restoration services, you can trust our team for:

•    Training and techniques set forth via the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
•    Detailed and organized pack-out services, if required
•    Water removal using advanced water extraction tools and technology
•    Controlled demolition and the prompt, ethical removal of unsalvageable materials
•    Moisture detection using professional-grade equipment
•    Efficient drying using best practices and the latest techniques
•    EPA-registered, commercial-grade products for cleaning, sanitization, and disinfection

We Have Our Own Cleaning Crew, Can We Have Them Begin Cleanup?

There are some instances where untrained personnel can make water damage worse when trying to address flooding. Having trained technicians that follow best practices for mitigation and restoration is best. There are a few things to keep in mind when you are faced with flooding and water loss in your commercial space:

•    Floodwater, of any kind, should never be left to linger. Water must be removed from the building promptly to help lessen the damage, the cost, and to get it restored to preloss condition.
•    If the water gathers contaminants along the way, the need for careful measures is enhanced. Try to set up a barrier to cordon off the loss zone until the SERVPRO team can arrive to start with the loss and flooding assessment.
•    Your staff should always have emergency protocols in place that help you handle water damage situations in the future. High levels of water create devastating and costly damages, so ensuring that your cleaning team and employees know how to act goes a long way until the skilled technicians arrive to get to work.

What Type of Damages Am I Looking At?

For a flooding event in your Closter office space, there can be several issues to worry about. All of the potential damage depends on the amount of time and the level of exposure to water. Some of the effects of the flood loss may include:

•    Breakdown of structural materials: Lingering water causes wood to swell, warp, and crack. For any drywall throughout your office saturated with water, it can start to warp and crumble. Painted surfaces can begin to bubble and peel, or you might notice discoloration and musty odors on the walls or flooring. Professional drying must take place soon before the materials are no longer salvageable, especially if you have carpeted areas of the office.
•    Potential onset of mildew and mold: Organic or porous materials within the building like subfloors or drywall can take on water. When this happens, it creates an environment that is the perfect platform for microbial growth. Mold and mildew thrive on organic materials whenever the temperature and relative humidity are just right.

Upon our arrival at your commercial location, SERVPRO technicians use commercial-grade extraction and drying techniques mixed with OSHA-approved agents and biocides that help inhibit mold and mildew growth.

How Does the Flooding Cleanup Work?

Our crew knows that you have a plethora of valuable information, office equipment, and furnishings within your space that must be used regularly. We know how to inspect every element to determine the best course of action during our restoration process:

•    Thorough inspection, to include measuring moisture on surfaces using moisture sensors and moisture meters
•    Water extraction using wet/dry vacuums, truck-mounted extractors, suction pads, and more
•    Expedient drying to include strategic placement of fans, air movers, and dehumidifiers
•    Odor control and sanitation management using specialized anti-microbial solutions and cleaning agents
•    Restoration tasks necessary to wrap up the project, including structural repairs and finishing details

To have a crew deployed to your office as soon as possible to begin flood damage restoration, call (201) 244-0100. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is here to make it “Like it never even happened.”

What Should I do About Humidity in my Kitchen?

6/17/2020 (Permalink)

Excessive moisture in kitchens can case moisture issues which can lead to water damage.

Excess Moisture in Your Closter Kitchen Needs the Attention of a Water Restoration Technician

If you detect an odd smell in your kitchen or any other room in your Closter home, it is best to call a water restoration technician to explore its cause. You may see some discoloration or peeling paint along with a smell of moisture, which could point to a leak or even the presence of mold. Rather than guessing the cause and extent of the damage, a team of professionals can make an educated assessment of the issue and take corrective action.

As you research water restoration companies in Closter, you find our SERVPRO team readily available to visit your home and apply our expertise to your specific needs. We hold certifications by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) verifying our technical expertise, which we accompany by on-the-field experience in our community. A call to our 24/7 hotline gains you access into top industry experts ready to work for you.

How do I prevent mold?

Excess Humidity has many consequences, including tile discoloration, compromised flooring materials, and even mold. While some issues are merely cosmetic, others can threaten your health. Moist places invite microorganisms to multiply and become part of your environment. To control their existence, our SERVPRO team takes corrective action which includes the following steps among others:

• Application of thermal imaging to identify problem areas, including those hiding within wall cavities or your subfloor
• Use of injectidry and other drying technology to speed up water evaporation
• Cleanup of your ventilation system to prevent the spread of mold spores and bacteria

At SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, we treat your home like it was our own. We strive to mitigate your loss efficiently. Call us at (201) 244-0100 and let us apply our industry knowledge and best practices in your home. Our goal is to leave your home, "Like it never even happened."

More about Closter.

How Can I Quickly Reopen My Closter Business After Water Floods It?

6/11/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage to your office rather big or small, SERVPRO can get your business where it needs to be.

Hire SERVPRO to Quickly and Safely Reopen Your Closter Business

Now that Closter area businesses are reopening, owners are discovering the problems associated with being inactive for an extended period. Pipes rust and seals on appliances dry out quickly when not in use, leading to water spills across their structure. Regardless of how small or large they might be, each one can cause damage if left unattended for very long. 

How Long is Removal Going to Take? 

It depends on the business. Using a sports training facility as an example, Closter commercial water damage can be simpler for SERVPRO technicians to remove but still take longer. The floors are concrete with rubber pads on top to protect them from the equipment and customers which makes drawing off water faster than in a regular office space. The floor area is far larger though and requires additional time to move equipment to remove all of the water. 

Is that The End of it?

No. Now, team members dry the floor. To complete this task, they use three devices: Fans, Air Movers, and Dehumidifiers. 

• Fans draw the damp air out of the business and force it outside.
• Air Movers generate a warm airflow that dries trace amounts of moisture, sending it into the surrounding air.
• Dehumidifiers draw moisture out of the air, reducing the indoor humidity and supporting the operation of the other two devices. 

What about the Walls of my Business?

If the water remained on the floor for more than a few hours, then wall paneling can absorb quite a bit. One of our inspectors performs a visual check and tests for water content. To remove it, they use the same equipment for drying out the floors. For more complicated extraction and drying we can use injecti-dry devices. These can create positive or negative air pressure inside the voids. Small holes are drilled through the removed baseboard area and warm air is introduced.

To schedule an inspection here or in Cresskill, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 today. We are here to help you reopen for business as soon as possible.

What Can I Do To Regain Control After Flood Damage in My Cresskill Home?

5/29/2020 (Permalink)

The scope of flooding incidents can make you feel helpless.

SERVPRO Can Help You Establish Control through Damage Evaluation and Taking Preventive or Restorative Steps in Cresskill

When a flooding incident affects your Cresskill property, it is disempowering. Whether the incident happens when you are at home or if you find your property already overrun by the water, the feeling that all is lost is familiar for many people. Even taking a few simple steps or seeking help can put you back in control of the situation.

What simple steps can help manage ongoing flood damage in my Cresskill home?

    •    Documenting everything
    •    Safeguarding the structure
    •    Protecting yourself

Flooding incidents in Cresskill can vary greatly. For instance, water intrusions from heavy downpour flashfloods can clear in just a matter of hours. However, intrusions from a swollen water body can last for days before the water recedes. Since wading into the floodwater presents many dangers, including exposure to contaminants and hazardous materials, the only way you can take steps that help you regain control is by first protecting yourself.

The protection should shield you from the chemicals and biohazards in the water, sharp objects, fumes, and the risk of electrocution. Our SERVPRO technicians can help because we have a wide range of personal protective equipment, including:
    •    Rubber boots
    •    Heavy-duty gloves
    •    Respirators and splash goggles
    •    Full body protective suits

How can I protect a structure that is already flooded?

Most people are aware of the steps that can help protect a home from flooding, including:
    •    Raising the home on piers or stilts
    •    Installing sump pumps or vents
    •    Grading the lawn away from the house

What people are not familiar with is how to protect the structure once flooding happens. For others, it is a question of whether the effort is necessary since the damage is already done. Even if you do not think it is useful, there are reasons for taking protective measures, including meeting the requirements of your insurer.

To protect the house, you need to have an idea of what sort of damages can happen after the initial flooding. Damage to contents by small animals that find a way into your house as they seek shelter from the swathes of water is common. The standing water in the house evaporates, increasing humidity levels all over the property, including rooms in the upstairs. Higher humidity levels affect items in different ways, including causing rusting in internal components of electronics and sparking microbial development.

Sealing off openings on the outer walls or roof can help keep out the animals. Our SERVPRO technicians help by boarding up wall openings and installing roof tarps. Inside the structure, we can use engineering controls to seal off hallways or openings connecting the affected areas from the dry ones, thus inhibiting moisture movement. Moving contents from the wet areas also help protect them. We also start moisture control steps early by running dehumidifiers in the property to keep humidity levels constant while we perform other restoration steps.

How does documenting flood damage help control the situation?

Documenting involves many things, but the ultimate goal is to have as much information about the loss as possible. The information can help you in many ways ranging from filing insurance claims to locating your valuables. One easy way to document is taking photos or videos since you can do it as you perform other steps. You should take general shots and close-up photos that capture specific details of the damage.

Our SERVPRO technicians also help with loss documentation. Apart from photos and videos, we also keep other records. We take moisture readings from various parts of the structure. We also keep small samples of materials such as carpets that we remove from the site to ensure the replacements we make match what was there initially, thus undoing the effects of the loss, “Like it never even happened.”

In case we need to move-out some items for cleaning or to facilitate the restoration of the structure, we keep well-structured records using an electronic CCIS. With such records, we can trace where we pick the items from and the exact storage pallet holding the items. That makes it easy to access specific items should you need them while we still have them in the storage facilities. When it is time to move the items back in, it is easier to rearrange your home.

The scope of flooding incidents can make you feel helpless. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can help you find a way to control the situation. Call us at (201) 244-0100 to assist you in restoring your Closter, Harrington Park, or Dumont home to preloss state.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned – a defensive cleaning program

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

Our defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers ongoing safety and assuredness.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open in Closter, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

• Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
• Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
• Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County today at (201) 244-0100 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

What Can I Do To Save My Cresskill Carpets After Fire Damage

5/20/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can help clean your carpets or rugs caked with fire residues.

Advanced Carpet Cleaning Resources from SERVPRO can Help Restore Fire Damage in Your Cresskill Home

Carpets are vulnerable to fire damage in many ways. The fibers can burn from the intensive heat and flames during the fire. The water that quells the fire can also cause damages. Finally, residues such as soot deposited on the carpet surface at any stage of the incident can cause damage.

Is carpet damage from fire incidents preventable?

As the fire rages, saving contents such as carpets is probably an afterthought since the main concern is quelling the fire. However, fire damage in your Cresskill home is likely to continue even after the flames are out. Some typical secondary damages include:
    •    Separation of backing due to moisture exposure
    •    Stains from soot and other fire residues
    •    Stains from dyes or rust

With help from our SERVPRO crews, it is possible to prevent or reduce some of the secondary damages using a combination of simple or complex cleaning techniques, and use of other restoration resources.

What simple steps help save carpets?

Before trying to save the carpet, it is good to establish how the fire affects it since it is hard to reverse burning or heat action. When the problem involves soiling or moisture, simple steps can help save the carpet:  
    •    Timely vacuuming dry residues
    •    Lifting rather than dragging furniture during movement
    •    Pilating the carpet to prevent matting

The combination of people moving around the loss site and powdery residues such as soot and ash leaves sections of the carpets heavily soiled. Our SERVPRO team pre-treats such areas and use spot removal for isolated soiling. We apply specially formulated cleaning products to break the heavy soiling then agitate the areas thoroughly using pilating brushes or roto. We use rotary jet extraction, showcase, as well as, deluxe precondition and rinse for restorative cleaning.

Planning the cleaning process also helps. For instance, starting with areas further away from the exit helps prevent re-soiling through movements, thus expediting the cleaning process.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can help clean your carpets or rugs caked with fire residues. Call us at (201) 244-0100 to help.

For more about Cresskill click here.

Is There A Way To Save Hardwood Floors From Water Damage Without Demolition in Closter?

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can help save your beloved hardwood floor.

Your Local SERVPRO can Help by Using Sophisticated Equipment to Reverse Water Damage in Your Closter Home

Hardwood flooring is deemed a great choice considering the visual appeal it gives to property and its durability. Unlike other options such as carpets, or laminate, it can last a lifetime. Unless something unexpected, such as water damage happens.

Why are hardwood floors vulnerable to moisture?
Looks can be deceiving is perhaps the best way to describe water damage in Closter homes if it affects hardwood floors. The surface of the floor may appear dry while water penetrates from the bottom or sides of the planks. Wood also has a high affinity for water – even high humidity levels in the air can lead to damages. With help from a professional team like SERVPRO, it is possible to reverse the effects of water exposure.

What solutions are available for drying?
    •    Use of drying mats to extract water vapor
    •    Using drying chambers to manage the drying process
    •    Dehumidifying

In cases where the water spills are discovered in time, our SERVPRO technicians use drying mats to remove the water before it causes extensive damages.

Are there unique steps necessary when using drying mats?
Although the mats are highly effective, improper use can affect the outcome. Essential steps when setting up the mats include:
    •    Placing the long edges of the mats perpendicular to the floorboards
    •    Spacing the mats with even spaces between them and the walls
    •    Using an extractor with sufficient lift capacity

Our technicians also test the vacuum seal during extraction by lifting the edges of the drying mats to ensure they are airtight. In case the floor finish is uneven, we tape the mat edges to secure them. Depending on the level of exposure, we can also set up a drying chamber by taping a plastic sheet over the floor, then using air movers to circulate dry air over the area.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can help save your beloved hardwood floor. Call us at (201) 244-0100 to help. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Closter click here.

Water Has Pooled in My Bergenfield Home, Whom Should I Call?

4/27/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County also provides water restoration services in Closter, Cresskill, and Harrington Park.

Waste No Time and Call SERVPRO to Perform Water Cleanup in Your Bergenfield Residence

If there is excess water in your home, you need to address it quickly before it ruins building materials, carpeting, upholstered furniture, and other porous items. Water damage cleanup is a technical process. So, it is reasonable to have questions about how to clean up your home. Our SERVPRO team can answer your questions and restore your house to its original condition.

What are the Typical Effects of Water Damage?
The ability of water to get into hidden places makes it one element that can cause the most significant destruction in your home. To solve the issue, you need to perform effective water cleanup in your Bergenfield home. The typical effects of water damage include:

    •    A ruined building, decreasing its overall value.
    •    Rotting wood flooring
    •    Damage Carpeting
    •    Mold infestation in hidden areas
    •    Chipping of paint
    •    Musty odors

Hiring professional water damage restoration services can prevent structural damage and reduce restoration costs.

Can My Water-Damaged Carpet be Saved?
Carpets are costly, and you can be especially concerned about finding yours ruined. Fortunately, it is possible to fix carpet water damage through professional water damage restoration and carpet cleaning services. We consider several factors to determine if it is possible to restore a carpet, including:

    •    The extent of water damage
    •    How long water pooled on it
    •    The type of water that damaged it

We can restore your carpet if clean water from a broken pipe or any other source pooled on it for a relatively short time, typically 24 to 48 hours. The water does not contain contaminants, and it is safe to consume. The pollutants in category one water damage are usually few, and we can clean them. Taking action quickly can mean the difference between being able to save your carpet, and in turn, money from not having to replace it. We have expertise in cleaning textiles. Our team can identify, remove, and properly dispose of soils, which is the key to cleaning surfaces effectively. Soils are the microorganisms and unwanted foreign matter on a surface.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County also provides water restoration services in Closter, Cresskill, and Harrington Park. Contact us at (201) 244-0100 for immediate assistance.

For more about Bergenfield click here.

How Do I Get Rid of Floodwater in My Closter Home?

4/17/2020 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO, taking care of our neighbors isn’t just a job for us, it is a privilege to be of service to each of them.

Engage SERVPRO Flood Damage Technicians to Dry and Clean Your Closter Home

Any standing water can rot and erode both structural and personal property. As floodwater comes into your home, it also brings in soil and other contaminants that can speed up the rate of decay, making removing it an immediate priority.

How will Technicians remove floodwater from my home?
SERVPRO technicians have a large inventory of pumps, extractors, and other equipment to quickly draw out water from Closter small apartments to mini-mansions.

    •    With water about an inch or higher, they use one or more pumps to pull water out of basements, laundry rooms, and other rooms where the floodwater pools and settles
    •    For more shallow water, we use extractors that are designed to draw it off the hardwood and other floorings without damaging the surface. Set on a higher drawing speed, these devices are excellent for pulling water out of carpets.
    •    Neither type of device can get all traces of the floodwater, so Technicians also use dehumidifiers to draw moisture from the air, which increases the rate of natural evaporation.

How much of my property can be restored?
As long as we can quickly remove the floodwater and eliminate the threat of mold and other contamination, the most property can be restored. Walls and floor trim can be wiped down and sprayed with an anti-bacterial agent to eliminate the health threat. An exception to this is carpeting. Our Technicians cannot guarantee that carpets are safe to use again after using even the strongest cleaning agents in our chemical inventory.

What about the mold and other bacteria in the floodwater?
Before bringing in a pump or extractor, SERVPRO Technicians spray the surface of the water and surrounding property with a powerful anti-bacterial cleaner that kills most contaminants quickly. After removing the floodwater, they spray all now, exposed surfaces to eliminate the threat.

At SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, taking care of our neighbors isn’t just a job for us, it is a privilege to be of service to each of them. If you have had recent flooding or suspect there is still a problem from previous years, contact us at (201) 244-0100 today to schedule a service call. We are here for you.

For more about Closter click here.

Commercial Water Removal Closter

4/7/2020 (Permalink)

We have the experience, specialized training, and state-of-the-art equipment to restore your property to pre-damage condition.

What is the right response when you need Commercial Water Removal Services in your Closter Business?

To minimize loss of revenue and property damages, contact water removal professionals, SERVPRO. Commercial water losses can be beyond the scope of your control and be the result of a broader flood, storm, or internal plumbing issue. The sudden arrival of massive volumes of water in your property can force a temporary closure of a business. Your response is paramount to how well your business responds to this crisis, and you may find that you do not have the resources or equipment to manage the transition back to regular trade. SERVPRO can help you get back on track faster and with a minimum loss of revenue.  

How does commercial water removal differ from other water-related scenarios?

Water loss affects businesses at some point or another. However, the way that your business is affected can change considerably. Many water-loss scenarios are the result of moisture buildup over time. These can be because of low vapor barriers, malfunctioning sump pumps, or an inability for the structure to adapt well enough to atmospheric pressure changes. Typically commercial water removal is a requirement when the damages are sudden and involve large bodies of water rather than degradation over time. 

What equipment and services should you consider when large amounts of standing water are in your commercial property? 

Typically, the leading equipment that SERVPRO use for commercial water removal is pumping equipment, extraction devices as well as dehumidification. Each type of equipment needs adapting to the specific needs of the structure. Some waters may contain solid waste, in which case our technicians need to use self-priming trash pumps, which allows solid waste up to 5/8" to pass through. If standing water is confined to subterranean levels, we may need to use high pressure pumps to transit water uphill and out of the property. 

Extraction equipment is less effective overall than pumping equipment. However, once standing water levels reduce, they can be more efficient at removing residual moisture. Generally, SERVPRO technicians can decide between weighted or light extraction tools. A carpeted business property may require weighted extraction to squeeze the fibers of the carpet and remove moisture. Harder surfaces such as tiling found in retail outlets may benefit from lighter extraction tools. 

What type of harm can standing water cause to my business?

Water in a structure that is not designed to sustain it can be catastrophic. Several ways standing water levels can affect your property in both the immediate moment and over a more extended period. SERVPRO distinguishes water loss issues between primary emergencies and secondary damages. 

The impact of Water weight on a structure 

Large bodies of standing water create a significant downward pressure onto the structure. At upper levels, large amounts of water can result in ceiling collapses or damage jointing at the base level of walls. Often interior structures are made using wood frames that can absorb moisture and expand. In severe cases, standing water levels can cause permanent harm to a building's structure. SERVPRO can reduce standing water levels quickly using a combination of pumping and extraction equipment, thereby minimizing the immediate concerns of standing water. 

How to Limit Water migration

Water migration can be a defining factor when limiting the losses. The guiding principle is that water always moves from wet to dry. The longer you leave large amounts of standing water with your business, the more likely it is for that water to spread and affect other areas. SERVPRO technicians can use a combination of thermal imaging cameras, moisture meters as well as moisture sensors to understand how far water migration is occurring. In some cases, we can provide applied structural drying technicians to restore wall cavities and other areas of the home. 

Water degradation

When any amount of moisture is residing in a property, there is a potential for water degradation. SERVPRO estimates that a clean water emergency can transform into a black water emergency in as little as seventy-two hours. To ensure that we provide the fastest response to our business communities, we use local technicians and can mobilize equipment resources to suit the emergency at hand. Water degradation occurs because microbes have space and time to grow. We act fast to remove large bodies of water then dry the structure effectively to reduce the potential impact of degradation or secondary water damage in your Laconia business.

The primary tools that SERVPRO use to tackle these issues on behalf of commercial property managers are variable depending on the situation. Generally, we use:

- Measuring Equipment

- Gas or Electric Pumps

- Extraction Tools

- Drying equipment

- Anti-microbial treatments

Water loss events can have a seismic effect on your business. You may find that your ability to manage water restoration is only possible by using a team off trained professionals. SERVPRO has extensive experience working with the business community here in Closter. Our training qualifications are awarded by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certifications body, which operates on a national level. You can trust us to perform responsible water loss recovery at your business. 

While we understand that re-opening is of the utmost importance to your bottom line, we are also a responsible restoration service that can handle a project from start to finish. Our process begins with emergency mitigation, which can help you to overcome the immediate harm as well as potentially saving your thousands of dollars worth of costs in restructuring or remodeling. Our attention to detail can help to ensure that secondary harms are kept to a minimum. 

Our services can also help to protect your business against future losses. By using anti-microbial treatments as well as proper drying techniques, SERVPRO can reduce the likelihood of microbial damage, which can build up over time. For any size business, you can reach us twenty-four hours a day to arrange a service. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Want to know more about Closter?

How Do I Deal with Water Damage in My Home?

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

From drying and saving carpets to entire houses and their contents--Closter area Homeowners Rely on SERVPRO

Many Locals in Closter Experiencing a Water Loss Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration

For conscientious homeowners, few problems are more vexing than water damage. The causes can be tough to isolate, and the cost of fixing the problem in Closter can run into thousands of dollars.

If you’re a homeowner in Closter with water damage, though, SERVPRO is a great option. Few companies offer the right combination of experience, the advanced equipment necessary to fix the problem, and a comprehensive solution designed to provide complete satisfaction.

What is the water damage restoration process?

• SERVPRO project manager or crew chief can begin investigating within four hours of notification, first by inspecting the premises. After that, we give you a comprehensive evaluation of the problem.
• Once the issues have been defined, SERVPRO can dig in and start to solve it. That means finding the source of the moisture, then checking to see if the water is contaminated.

What are some steps in the water extraction process?

• Moving furniture
• Evaluating the condition of the carpets, then deploying advanced equipment for extraction
• Disinfect and dispose of any damaged, or contaminated material Reinspect the flooring, walls, and subfloors.

The drying equipment handles moisture removal, but post-analysis is also used to measure temperature and humidity as part of a final air quality test. We strive to leave your water damaged home in a healthy and wholesome condition, "Like it never even happened."

This includes floor prep, carpet and pad installation, seaming, carpet cleaning, and cleaning the furniture and the contents of the house. Another important aspect of SERVPRO’s commitment to you as a customer is to respect the privacy of your personal belongings. Our team also places a priority on health and safety, and we can provide you an approximate timeline for completion of the job along with a final report.

The conclusion is obvious: if you have water damage problems and wish rapid, honest, and professional remediation, then call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 224-0100. We provide emergency services to mitigate the damages.

Fire Damage In Your Cresskill Laundry

3/21/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County offers a mitigation service that makes your home look, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Removes Fire Damage from a Cresskill Laundry

Failure to clean the dryer and remove flammable dust or lint is the leading cause of approximately a third of all dryer fires. Not only can these disasters char your laundry room and destroy the dryer, but soot residues can create long-term corrosive damage that eventually causes other appliances and structural materials to decay.

When the utility room of your Cresskill home requires fire damage mitigation, SERVPRO technicians offer IICRC-certified training in mitigation techniques that restore your home. The Institute of Inspection Cleanup and Restoration Certification determines the universal standards necessary to return homes a clean, safe condition after various types of disasters occur.. Your local SERVPRO is also licensed to offer general contracting services (#13VH001305854800) for your home.

Preventing Clothes Dryer Fires
    •    Keep the lint filter clean. Check it both before and after use. This is especially crucial because dryer lint is one of the primary ignition sources in clothes dryer fires.
    •    Examine the venting system behind your dryer. Is it damaged or dusty? Is there enough clearance between the dryer and the wall? Consult the manufacturer or a licensed installer for troubleshooting if needed.
    •    Unplug the dryer when away from home. If you plan to take a vacation, you can minimize fire risks due to electrical system failures by keeping appliances unplugged while you are away.
    •    Replace damaged components ASAP. Do not operate a dryer with damaged hoses or without a lint filter.

How SERVPRO Saves Your Laundry Room
If your laundry has wood or vinyl paneling around or behind the source of the fire, it may need removal. Synthetic wood options are generally more cost-effective to replace than repair, but real, finished wood can often be restored. Wet cleaning methods are adequate for light to moderate soiling of paneling. More substantial damage may require SERVPRO's Wood Creme Paste, which can be gently applied with #0000 steel wool to treat wood without removing finishes.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County offers a mitigation service that makes your home look, “Like it never even happened.” You can call (201) 244-0100, no matter when your home is affected by a disaster.

For more about Cresskill click here.

We Get You Back In Business In Closter After A Water Loss

2/28/2020 (Permalink)

We have the equipment to handle your dry-out needs. In this photo we have several air movers running as well as a dehumidifier.

Commercial Water Cleanup for a Closter Florist

Water damage is a frustrating prospect for any commercial space to consider. It can cause huge headaches for small businesses that specialize in merchandise that requires plenty of water, like plants or flowers. This damage not only affects the appearance of your store but can also introduce the risk of mold and bacteria proliferation into your facilities.

If your Closter small business requires commercial water cleanup from an experienced team, you can count on the IICRC-certified technicians at SERVPRO for rapid, reliable service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays. SERVPRO's constant availability ensures that you get the help you need, even outside of regular business hours. This team's focus is on maximizing safety for your customers and staff while minimizing the risk of loss to your possessions and structure.

Detecting Water Damage in Wood Flooring

• Damage equals saturation plus time. In many cases, visible damage on wood flooring takes time to build up. If you notice it on the surface, the water has likely been an issue for some time. 
• Warping or cupping planks. As the wood absorbs moisture, it expands and warps, which can eventually cause whole planks to buckle.
• Dark stains. If you notice this staining along the edges of one plank or spreading through several planks, there are a couple of common causes for this, including mold and rust from nails. The tannins in the wood may also change color from long-term contact with minerals in the water. 

SERVPRO Extracts Water Quickly

SERVPRO has a variety of tools available to remove water from your floors, including portable extractors, mops, squeegees, wet/dry vacs, and suction pads designed to pull moisture out of flooring. If only a few planks are affected, these can be pulled up, dried, and replaced. If the subflooring is also saturated, technicians can position air movers and dehumidifiers to pull up moisture from surfaces and replace it with warm, dry air from both above and below the flooring by removing a few planks and replacing them after drying. 

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County wants to ensure that your business looks, "Like it never even happened." Call (201) 244-0100 for quality commercial cleanup. 

See more about Closter.

Flood Damage Restoration In Your Cresskill Home

2/23/2020 (Permalink)

Floodwaters are severe and potentially dangerous to both yourself and your home.

Using Staging Areas to Increase Efficiency of Flood Damage Restoration in your Cresskill Home

Flood situations can be particularly traumatic for a homeowner because they can involve displacement of contents and significant structural damages. There is also a requirement of quick, mitigating actions to make sure your property does not sustain permanent harm. But there is more to flood restoration than equipment. Our team focuses intently on the organization from start to finish to increase the efficiency of our services and reduce permanent losses. The speed of service begins with our twenty-four-hour emergency call line.

While flood damage in your Cresskill home may be a traumatic event taking time to set up correctly can make a massive difference to the turnaround of a restoration. SERVPRO technicians set-up staging areas on-site to reduce the amount of time traveling between site and truck. Ideally, we set up staging areas close to a water supply, which allows us to mix chemical cleaners quickly and easily. Tools, as well as portable power supplies, can also be set up in a staging area.

SERVPRO technicians communicate with you from start to finish. Once permission to set up a staging area is given, we can begin to run an organized, efficient cleanup. We can protect the area by placing plastic sheeting on floors or against walls. When entering wet rooms, this can reduce the chances of spreading moisture or soiling to an unaffected area of the home. SERVPRO may need to assess contamination levels of any floodwaters in the home to prepare appropriate safeguards. Category three contamination levels may require you to temporarily evacuate the building while we deal with human pathogens or other harmful materials.

Category three contamination may include raw sewage, bloodborne pathogens as well as herbicides and pesticides. These contaminants can quickly spread with foot traffic or by moving equipment from one room to the next. To make sure of limiting damage, our crew chiefs must set up a decontamination chamber to allow safe entry and exit of the affected area. Decontamination chambers are generally set-up using polyethylene plastics and tension poles to erect the containment chamber. These precautions can be vital in limiting the losses of a flood in your home.

Floodwaters are severe and potentially dangerous to both yourself and your home. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

For more about Cresskill click here.

Flood Damage In Your Closter Home

2/7/2020 (Permalink)

The certified techs arrive fast and work until the damage to your home is, “Like it never even happened.”

Extreme Flood Damage in Closter Home

Flood damage is the worst type of water loss to hit a residential property. The reason is that the water carries a rating as a category three biohazard, as it picks up anything it encounters along the way, such as debris, sewage, and chemicals, then dumps it into the home when it arrives.

That is why one of the first actions SERVPRO technicians perform on arrival at Closter homes with flood damage is testing the water on-site to determine the nature of any contaminants, bacteria, and other harmful factors. The techs wear protective clothing and often put up containment around the worksite to inhibit chances of cross-contamination from airborne water vapor.

Electricity Out? Not an Issue
When the floodwater causes power outages in the home, it does not hold up the restoration process. The techs bring every single piece of equipment required in their green service vans, including generators to power their pumps, fans, and more.

Preparing the Structure for Drying
Once the water extraction phase of mitigation completes, the technicians cut away damaged sheetrock using a technique known as flood cuts. The techs measure several inches above the water line and remove the portion where water wicked into. This action opens up the wall cavities and framework for drying.

Flooring Takes a Beating
Whether it is tile, hardwood, or carpet, it often receives the brunt of the water loss. Prolonged exposure to moisture causes glue-down tiles to delaminate, requiring removal. Carpet does not have the potential for sanitization from this type of water and needs replacement. The techs remove the water and cut it into strips, so it is lighter and safer to handle.

Rebuilding Services
Once the water -damaged get removed and the property dried, the prepping for reconstruction begins. This phase of the restoration involves odor control, to remove any lingering musty odors and proactive treatments for mold. SERVPRO has a general contractor license #13VH001305854800 and handles both the cleanup and necessary repairs and final touches to bring your home to a pre-flood condition.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 has emergency response teams available 24/7. The certified techs arrive fast and work until the damage to your home is, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Closter click here.

Stuck? Try These Tips to Streamline Your Flood Damage Remediation Services in Closter

1/30/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding can affect your cloth and leather furniture. Make sure that your remediation experts specialize in restoring different materials.

Renovating Leather Upholstery of your Closter Home in a Flood Damage Situation

Flooding emergencies can be among the most devastating types of property damage a homeowner encounters. Large bodies of water entering an indoor environment can immediately degrade and impact furnishings. This degradation is particularly pronounced in situations where rain comes from an outside source such as flash flooding or nearby road overflow. The severest areas of harm may be your possessions and particularly furnishings or upholstery. Typically, these items can be tough to remove from the affected area as they are naturally bulky and becomes more burdensome as they take on more moisture. 

Our restoration services encompass contents that may suffer flood damage in your Closter home. As a specialist in the renovation of materials, we can counteract the ill effects of floodwaters on upholstery and leather furnishings. Leather items can suffer badly with an introduction to water and can dry out, crack, or even have further color distortion during the restoration procedure. We provide qualified leather cleaning technicians (LCT) at SERVPRO, who can help to return your sofas and seating to its preloss condition. 

Leather can be at a high risk of permanent damage both when coming into contact with water and during the drying or cleaning procedure. During the drying procedure for contents leather that drops below its standard moisture content can become cracked. Equally, cleaning methods can scratch or discolor the finish. SERVPRO uses moisture sensors to gain real-time knowledge of moisture content and use sensitive cleaning materials to prevent discoloration. 

Sometimes leather upholstery may not restore to its exact color. At SERVPRO, we use leather butter to refinish the surface texture of leather and cover over any cracks. Sometimes refinishing leather may change the color hue. To combat this discoloration, LCT workers apply leather butter across the entire upholstery to ensure that colors remain uniform. Providing that we arrive while surface textures are still wet, there is a strong chance that we can restore your leather upholstery to a preloss condition. 

For a restoration team specializing in upholstery renovation, contact SERVPRO of North East Bergen County at (201) 244-0100.

Click here to learn more about Closter.

We Act Fast In Cresskill To Restore Your Home After A Fire

1/22/2020 (Permalink)

Our ozone machine was used in this home to counteract the smoke produced from a fire in this home. We are available 24/7 so call us right away.

Cleaning Out Your Closet After Fire Damage in Cresskill

Considering the other damage in your Cresskill home after ablaze, the last thing on your list is going through your closets and dressers. The expense and aggravation of replacing your wardrobe and those of your family would be significant, pushing this task more to the forefront once you realize the impact of waiting to cope with it. Our technicians understand the urgency of evaluating and responding to the condition of your clothing. Let us help.

Synthetic Fibers Pose Remediation Challenges

When fire damages your Cresskill home, countless toxic gasses, vapors, and chemicals form. The synthetic fibers found in many items of clothing can bond with these hazardous emissions, causing discoloration, deterioration, and persistent smell. Clothing damaged with heavy smoke can be hazardous to wear, requiring disposal for the health and safety of your family. Our technicians sort clothing into three main groups:

• Clothing you need immediately (during the restoration time frame)
• Clothing that you need shortly
• Clothing that is specialized or seasonal

Off-Site Clothing Cleaning

Once the sorting and detailed inventorying complete, specially trained SERVPRO technicians or subcontractors get to work, often at our production facility, removing the residues and odors so the items are refreshed and safe to wear. We have industrial washers and dryers and fire damage restoration-skilled dry cleaner resources to return clothing to preloss condition.

Examples of Equipment and Strategies

As a first step, SERVPRO workers often blow away loose fire debris with compressed air. The evaporation process accelerates, deactivating some odor particles. Items are then laundered or dry cleaned, depending on the material. One detail with which most homeowners would not be familiar is the need to remove clothes from metal hangers. The corrosive action of fire residues can oxidize the metal, transferring the discoloration to the clothing.

Deodorization

We chose from among several solutions if odor persists in your clothing. Proprietary SERVPRO solvent-based odor counteractants are a possibility, sprayed on and allowed to dry. Thermal fogging is another option. We place the clothing into garment bags, directing the fog inside. 

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is a full-service fire damage recovery company. Give us a call at (201) 244-0100 for help with all your smoke and residue-damaged possessions.

See more about Cresskill.

SERVPRO Skilled Team Provides Closter Properties with Fire, Smoke, and Odor Mitigation Services--And Fast!

1/3/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke, Odors, Fire Damage in Closter Have You Down? SERVPRO Can Lift You Up--"Like it never even happened."

Restoring Air Quality from Fire Damage in Restrictive Spaces of Your Closter Home

Fire Damage Closter
A fire situation can cause catastrophic harm to your home environment and indoor air quality. The combustion process- when materials burn- releases myriad gases into the air. Synthetic materials, in particular, can release gas that is noxious and odorous in the form of smoke. When these hot smoke plumes come into contact with cold surfaces, they can leave behind staining as well as soiling. In high-pressure fires, soiling pushes beneath the surface and may require intensive agitative to remove.

When restoring fire damage in Closter, our technicians conduct a pre-test before any work begins. Pre-testing allows us to understand the different types of smoke damages. By following the composition of soiling, SERVPRO can apply cleaning solutions and strategies that are effective. Wet smoke deposits, for example, produce greasy smoke signatures that require oil-based solvents. Dry smoke deposits, on the other hand, usually respond well to water-based cleaning solutions and products.

While several gases may deposit particulates on the walls of your home, some may remain airborne. Odor-causing particles can bond with particles in the air, causing them to linger. In some cases, you may not be able to re-enter your home until harmful particles in the air disperse. This dispersal usually takes around an hour or more after a fire is put out. However, you should always wait to receive an all-clear from a fire marshall before re-entering your home. SERVPRO recommends that you check before opening windows immediately to ventilate the space and remove gases and odorous particles. Unintended consequences can exacerbate the smoke and fire damage.

Some areas of your home may be tough to ventilate in normal conditions. You may find that hallways, stairwells, and small spaces like attics become difficult to ventilate thoroughly. SERVPRO technicians can deploy air filtration devices (AFDs) to help restore indoor air quality in restrictive areas. AFDs draw air through layers of filters that can capture odorous particles. The clean air then exhausts back into the home, removing gases and odors. Under severely compromised air quality, HEPA filtered air scrubbers can do the heavy lifting to clarify the air.

Take back control of your indoor air quality IAQ. Contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen at (201) 244-0100.

Closter Water Leaks and Tired Pipes? Call SERVPRO for Advice and Help

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

With Our Skilled Team, Closter Homeowners Are Always Pleased with Our Water Damage Restoration Services--"Like it never even happened."

Preventative Plumbing Repair Can Reduce Water Damage in Closter

As plumbing breaches can become a common culprit to widespread and destructive water losses in Closter homes, it stands to reason that some preventative care and maintenance can reduce these risks. Fixtures and fittings can often be among the most likely areas of your system to fail, as substantial pressure, long-term degradation, or pipe-freezing might occur to burst straight portions of the plumbing. Our SERVPRO professionals want to help you prevent costly water losses, and that is why we have put together some helpful strategies to limit these possibilities as much as possible.

Not every homeowner feels experienced or daring enough to replace worn portions of plumbing and put in new fixtures, even if it means reducing potential water damage to their Closter residence. We have a licensed team of general contractors that can help with these requests and can even undertake more substantial remodeling and renovations of your bathroom and kitchen to your exact specifications. These revitalizations of your property can often address the state of your pipes, faucets, and spouts.
 
The installation of a new shower, bathroom vanity, or kitchen sink can often come with the need for newly installed fixtures, which can become one less area to worry about as elements of the plumbing network wear down. Our skilled team can show you the areas that require attention and the most cost-effective and long-term solution to address these concerns. Backed by our General Contractor License #: 13VH001305854800, we can complete the restoration, "Like it never even happened."
 
Even if you do not choose our SERVPRO team for construction and repairs, we want to help you reduce the likelihood of water damage. DIY enthusiasts should approach these projects with confidence and patience, as plumbing repairs and replacements do not always go as seamlessly and smooth as they should.
 
While there are many ways that water loss incidents can occur in your home, our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team can help you to reduce these risks with preventative care for your plumbing system. If you want to improve the aesthetic appeal of specific fixtures or feel like individual installed components are past their prime, you can reach our skilled contractors 24/7 by calling (201) 244-0100.

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Trouble with Flooding in Closter? Don't Fret! Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Restoration Services

12/23/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's Advanced Pumps and Equipment Mitigate Flood Damage to Closter Properties

Skill and Experience Help Expedite Flood Removal from Affected Closter Homes

Removal of floodwater may seem like straightforward physical work, but in practice, it takes skills and even experience to run the process smoothly, especially if you want fast results. Apart from water extraction in Closter, other steps like moisture management and decontamination are crucial in the restoration of the home to its preloss state, thus the need for a skilled team.

Choosing the Right Pump

The immediate goal in flood removal from affected Closter homes is the extraction of all standing water. The process requires a pump with sufficient strength, usually measured in lift and volume capacity. Floodwaters are also likely to be contaminated with solid materials reducing the efficiency of ordinary pumps. From the experiences our SERVPRO teams have had restoring flooded properties, we have different types of equipment, including self-priming trash pumps to remove water filled with solids where the suction lift is less than 25' and the discharge head is less than 100'. We also have submersible ones for efficient removal of standing water deeper than 2 inches.

Safe Demolition of the Structure

The structure can inhibit flood removal in different ways, especially if the water reaches concealed areas. The skillful teardown of the damaged areas helps ease the removal process without creating unnecessary expenses. Our SERVPRO technicians can safely remove materials such as carpet and pad, laminate, vinyl, and tiles from the floor to ease the removal process. We also open up assemblies such as stairs, walls, voids, and built-ins to expedite water removal, decontamination, and drying.

Effective Decontamination

Flooding leaves properties contaminated with biohazards and chemicals collected by the groundwater as it flows. Decontamination of the property is therefore essential for preloss restoration, and it involves different segments, including removing porous materials and using chemical agents to disinfect the soiled areas. The process can be tricky, especially when using chemical agents to remove contaminants because some require optimum conditions to work. For example, the use of Phenolics to clean the loss site can only be feasible if the pH levels are maintained at around 6 to 7, and the cleaning agent is not mixed with nonionic or cationic detergents. Experience, therefore, helps in choosing the right agents.

Flood removal is straightforward when handled by experienced professionals. Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to help.  You can reach us at  (201) 244-0100. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Closter Office Suite Drenched from Fire Suppressant System? No Worries-Call SERVPRO for Rapid Restoration

12/22/2019 (Permalink)

No Need to Close the Office in Closter after a Water Loss--Just Call SERVPRO

Sprinkler System Causes Commercial Water Damage in Closter

The fire suppressant sprinkler system gives business owners in Closter peace of mind about their property when they are not on site. This system causing commercial water damage is probably not the outcome they were expecting.

That is what happened to cause commercial water damage in a Closter office. A malfunction triggered the sprinkler system to activate overnight and water pooled on the glued-down industrial carpeting. Fortunately, there was no subfloor, as the foundation was a concrete slab.

Fast Water Extraction
This type of floor covering delaminates rapidly upon exposure to water, and SERVPRO technicians have the equipment to remove moisture quickly and avoid that outcome. As a proactive measure, they removed the vinyl floor trim to drain and dry any water that wicked into the sheetrock with the idea of preventing ongoing water damage.

Setting and Attaining Drying Goals
The techs measured the air quality and set drying goals in line with relative humidity levels for the interior environment that are typical for the workplace. They then set up air movers and dehumidification equipment to expedite drying the water loss area.

Drying in Place
SERVPRO attempts to disrupt commercial workspace as little as possible during water cleanup and restoration. We can dry office furnishing in place by raising them up on blocks of wood or high-density foam. If the carpet was glued directly to the concrete pad, and the adhesion has remained intact, we can dry it with weighted wands or Rovers.

Deodorization
No one wants to come to work in an office that smells musty. The technicians use a combination of hand cleaning with deodorizing cleaning agents and odor control equipment as needed to ensure there are no lingering reminders of the water loss.

Repairs as Needed
With our general contractor license #13VH001305854800, SERVPRO can offer property owners the seamless service of repairs and rebuilding as needed to restore the loss area entirely. In cases like this one, where only minor damages resulted from the water loss, very little was required to restore the office after the completion of the restoration services. Our goal was minimal disruption to the work routine during the business day.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 has fast assistance for local properties with commercial water damage. The technicians arrive quickly and make the loss to the property, "Like it never even happened."

Our Professionals Discuss The Stages Of Drying Saturated Hardwood Flooring In Closter

12/21/2019 (Permalink)

Give our technicians a call whenever you need us at (201) 244-0100.

Stages of Drying Saturated Hardwood Flooring in Closter Homes

Water damages and flooding are both equally destructive to sensitive materials like wood flooring and framing in Closter homes. While hardwood has a lower porosity than other flooring materials, direct exposure to standing water can alter its appearance and strength. Addressing flooding is vital, and extraction and drying are elements of the earliest stages of mitigation for our SERVPRO team.

Using the most sophisticated tools and machines for both extraction and effective drying of the property, the flood damage in Closter homes does not have to be as destructive of a force. When hardwood flooring becomes damaged by direct exposure of water, it can happen in three stages. In the first two, we have techniques and machines that can reach the moisture before irreparable damage occurs. The third phase of flood damage to wood flooring is not restorable, and our in-house team of licensed (#13VH001305854800) general contractors can begin tasks like a controlled demolition.

Phase 1 – Surface Water
As you might expect, the first place that water and flood damages can affect the flooring is on the exposed surface level. There is an amount of time where surface water alone can get addressed before the situation can escalate into the other two phases. With hardwood flooring and standing water on its surface, one of the practical tools that our SERVPRO team can use is a squeegee wand attached to a wet vacuum.

Phase 2 – Free Water
The term free water refers to moisture that has not chemically / molecularly bonded with the flooring in any way. At this point, this water is occupying available space in the material but has not begun to alter the wood. In this phase, specialized drying equipment like drying mats can provide a draw of moisture from these exposed planks before the situation can get worse.

Phase 3 – Bound Water
Once water molecules from the flooding inside your home have bonded with the compounds that create the wood plank, warping, and distortion follow. Bound water can get removed in the same manner that free moisture can, but its presence causes irreparable damage to the flooring. Once this phase gets reached, the only suitable solution becomes a controlled or total demolition of flooring in the room.

Our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team is standing by 24/7 to help address flood loss situations as they happen. Give our technicians a call whenever you need us at (201) 244-0100.

For more about Closter click here.

Closter Home Flooded? SERVPRO Has the Restoration You Need--And Fast!

12/16/2019 (Permalink)

The Silt and Mud Are Gone After SERVPRO Cleans and Restores a Finished Closter Basement

Why Highly Trained Teams from SERVPRO Manage Flood Damage in Closter Better

Proper coordination is necessary to restore a home to its preloss state after a flooding incident. Some of the processes involved in such situations include cleaning up the mess left by the flood, decontamination, controlled demolition, and rebuilding. Missing the mark in any one of these tasks can ruin the outcome. We offer flood damage mitigation services in Closter. Our team includes highly trained and IICRC certified WRT, Water Restoration Technicians, and AMRT, Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians.

 Controlled demolition of parts of the structure might be necessary after flood damage in Closter to manage moisture problems or remove contaminated materials. Such demolition requires care to avoid doing unnecessary damage while still accomplishing the intended goal.  Our SERVPRO technicians are well versed in the removal of carpets and pad without damaging other installations such as door frames or trim. We also make flood cuts for easier removal of affected materials such as insulation in wall cavities while also decreasing the drying time.

Flooding incidents can soil vast areas in the affected property. There might be silt or mud and other debris, depending on the location of the house. Debris accumulation is common in homes that sit at the base of very hilly areas where water from rainstorms easily channels into lower floors and basements. Cleaning the affected areas to a sanitary level requires a combination of different professional cleaning agents, including EPA-registered disinfectants. Our SERVPRO technicians also use pressure washers and other equipment to clean the affected sections.

Drying excess moisture left by the flooding and cleaning efforts is essential to combat smells, deterioration of construction materials, and prevent microbial growth. Drying requires balancing of different factors, including air movement, temperature, and humidity--known as HAT. Our SERVPRO technicians rely on their advanced training to determine the right configuration of different drying equipment like air movers and dehumidifiers for optimum results. Sometimes we also use portable heaters to increase temperature or plastics sheets to create smaller drying areas known as drying chambers.

To restore your flood-damaged home to its preloss state, call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to assist. You can reach us at  (201) 244-0100. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

How SERVPRO Removes Fire Odors From Closter Homes

12/11/2019 (Permalink)

Yikes!. Soot, smoke and fire odors traveled throughout this home. SERVPRO has the equipment for effective odor removal.

Closter Fire and Odor Removal Through Recreation of Fire Conditions 

After a household fire in Closter, a substantial agenda of recovery phases, tasks, and steps develop as our experienced project managers assess the situation. We work through the list, checking box after box, and your home returns to preloss condition as we clear away debris and residues. Throughout the project, our technicians are open to your questions and concerns. One worry we want to put to rest is a lingering odor. No matter how diligent we are while cleaning, disinfecting, and rebuilding fire-damaged structures if the odor remains, our work is incomplete.  

Reality and Perception 

In your Closter home, fire and odor link themselves together. When you or members of your family notice a smoky smell, the memory of the chaos and fear felt during the fire comes rushing back. Your experience of fire odor might be primarily an individual perception. Still, we tackle the task of neutralizing and eliminating all traces of fire damage malodors with perseverance, working with you until you are satisfied.  

The Four Basics Underlying Deodorization 

SERVPRO technicians understand that if we are meticulous about the following, nearly all odor complaints resolve.  

• Remove the odor source
• Deep clean surfaces that were in contact with the odor-causing substances
• Recreate circumstances that permitted odor penetration
• Seal surfaces that persist in emitting odors 

Why Deep Cleaning Alone Is Frequently Inadequate 

The odor-bearing particles that float and settle after combustion are tiny, invisible to the naked eye. They persist in a professionally-cleaned environment because: 

• They absorb into a porous material
• They often form in large quantities
• They are present for extended periods
• They penetrate materials more easily under super-heated conditions
• They vaporize readily when humidity levels rise

How Recreating Odor Penetrating Conditions Helps 

SERVPRO uses thermal fogging as an option when odors linger with excellent results. Deodorant compounds are combusted in a heated chamber, minimizing the size of the deodorants to the equivalent of the persistent odor-bearing particles. These minute particles seek out the odors, pairing with the residues to neutralize the smell. Because they act similarly to the odor-bearing particles, they can cause the change even deep within porous materials. 

Count on SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to help with fire odors that you fear would remain troublesome forever. We have many options we can explore when you call us at (201) 244-0100. 

More about Closter.

Preventing Staining and Residues After Harrington Park Water Damage

11/30/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO will help you through your Harrington Park water damage.

Let SERVPRO help reduce your Harrington Park water damage.

Cleaning up surfaces and flooring damaged by migrating water loss is essential in Harrington Park homes to prevent water staining and other marring. There are many ways that our technicians can work to clean up after a loss, much of which starts with our mitigation practices to address overwhelming moisture and saturation in construction materials and contents in the property.

A thorough examination of the house can help to determine the best approaches for drying and water cleanup in Harrington Park residences. Because every loss scenario is different, determining the migration of water and how concentrated this damage has become in different areas of the property is vital to producing the best restoration plan. From options like controlled demolition to media blasting and agitated cleaning practices, we can work to overcome any lingering obstacles once the drying phase has completed.

Drying your home after a water loss incident involves the use of several pieces of equipment, namely the abundance of air movers and dehumidifiers. Positioning them in a high volume at the origin point and lightening their frequency in rooms further away can ensure an even and consistent drying process. We determine the necessary balance between forced air machines and moisture collection tools to make sure that over-drying does not occur.

Cleaning up surfaces after drying involves the use of our disinfectants and antibacterial cleaning agents. These products can help to reduce the development of microbial threats while clearing off residues that can ultimately set in and stain susceptible surfaces like drywall. For more extreme situations, our licensed (#13VH001305854800) general contractors can remove portions of damaged materials. This step might occur if our SERVPRO team has not gotten informed about a water loss recovery until after irreparable damages have already occurred.

Knowing how to contend with the effects that migrating water can leave behind can be the key to cost-effective and efficient restoration in your home. Our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team can help you with cleaning, drying, and even controlled demolition if your home needs it. Give us a call anytime at (201) 244-0100.

To learn more about Harrington Park, click here.

Our Professionals Are Ready To Remove Your Cresskill Home Flood Damage

11/22/2019 (Permalink)

We used several air movers as well as several dehumidifiers after a flood in this home. We have the latest technology and equipment ready 24/7.

Why SERVPRO Makes the Difference After Flood Damage in Cresskill

Tenakill Brook can overflow its banks or persistent, and torrential rains can saturate the ground surrounding your Cresskill home. Storm water flows into streets because of overtaxed sewage systems and poorly maintained gutter and downspouts configurations dump water near your foundation. Flooding is a problem because of these and other causes, and your need for immediate relief is why SERVPRO has crews available 24/7.

Category 3 Water Needs Specialized Handling

Although rainwater starts as clean, Category 1 water, overland flood damage in Cresskill transforms it to Category 3. It is impossible to tell what contaminants the fluids pick up as they move across the ground and combined with other sources, eventually seep into your house. Keeping your family safe from pathogens and building materials free from corrosive chemicals is why our team contains and disposes of floodwaters as hazardous waste. Homeowners cannot keep current with local regulations, but we make it our business to do so.

What Happened to Categorization by Color?

Sometimes customers ask why SERVPRO does not consistently use the traditional three-color categorization after a water loss. Clean, Gray, and Black waters are the equivalents to Categories 1, 2, and 3. The number system emphasizes the type of contaminants rather than the look of the water. Dangerously contaminated water does not always look black. We strive for accuracy when assessing water contamination for your family’s health and safety.

Personal Protective Equipment and Contamination Training Required

If you are used to managing household emergencies on your own, involving our professional crews might seem like an overreaction. Quite to the contrary, failing to appreciate the hazards of human and animal waste, chemicals, and fungi or other pathogens can put you in harm's way. Viruses and bacteria can make people sick. Chemicals can create an indoor environment that can cause irritation and allergic reactions in people and pets. The reactions chemicals can have with building materials can weaken and destabilize your structure, why SERVPRO expertise is needed after flood damage strikes.

One look at your family’s worried faces provides support for why SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County should lead your post-flood damage. Engage our professional services, assured we arrive within hours by calling (201) 244-0100.

See more about Cresskill.

Is Flood Damage Causing Your Closter Factories to be Idled?

11/11/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can handle your commercial flood damage, no matter the size of the loss. Call us today!

Our Extraction Equipment Speeds Up Commercial Flood Damage Mitigation in Closter's Factories 

The constant evaporation and re-condensation that occurs in a still-damp building after flooding in Closter show the continuous circulation of moisture. Even after our pump trucks extract a significant portion of the invasive water, a large amount remains on the floors and lower parts of the walls. At SERVPRO, we want to extract as much of this as we can.

When we further reduce the amount of liquid water inside a factory in Closter, mitigation of commercial flood damage can happen much more swiftly. This method also significantly reduces the damages involved, and also the overall recovery costs. Mitigating this way does not add to the time involved because it makes the following steps involving evaporation and removal of water vapor much more efficient.

Our other extraction machinery includes different pieces. While some of these can remove water from tight spots, like under stationary equipment on your factory floor, others use the weight of the person operating the equipment to help push the water out of carpeting or off other flooring types. Depending on the machine we use, we can pull an additional 10 to 60 gallons per minute out of your facility.

Removing carpet is a cumbersome task, but removing the water beforehand reduces the time involved later. The absence of dirty water in such carpeting makes handling and disposing of it much more sanitary, as well. This same concept applies to other building materials and contents. Removing as much as possible before starting to extract water vapor and dry the structure reduces the time involved. It also reduces the number of materials available to microbes, therefore making it less likely that an infestation might occur.

With less water to evaporate and then remove from your building, the final drying stages happen very quickly. Although flooded buildings receive an initial spray-down with a disinfectant when we first start our work, another application protects your workers from anything that might still have pathogens on the surface. Our Dri-Eas dehumidifiers give us a reading on the machine's panel, so we know the moisture content of the air passing through it. When buildings contain denser materials like concrete blocks, we use one of the DriTec models, instead. Both give us the needed controls over how fast your structure dries out, preventing over-drying.

Over-drying a structure can cause cracks and other problems. We use industry-standard guidelines to prevent this from affecting your factory. When called for, our building services team, General Contractor License # 13VH001305854800, assists with the construction of drying chambers. We use when different materials require higher or lower moisture contents than the surrounding area or its contents.

Businesses in the manufacturing industry within and near Cresskill, Harrington Park, and Dumont can rely on the expertise and specialized skills of SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County's mitigation team. Flood damage does not need to force your factory closed. We can help restore everything “Like it never even happened.” Call us at (201) 244-0100 to get things started.

More about Closter.

We Can Handle Your Closter Basement Flood Damage Cleanup

10/30/2019 (Permalink)

Call us today at (201) 244-0100, and we can send a team out as soon as possible.

Call SERVPRO for Basement Flood Damage Cleanup in Closter

Basements are susceptible to flooding at any time, especially when there has been heavy rainfall. SERVPRO specializes in basement flooding cleaning, and we are available to assist with your restoration needs.

Your basement may be prone to flooding due to it being the lowest level of the home, with most being below the ground level. When it comes to basement flood damage in Closter, several reasons could be the cause, including:

    •    A break in your water supply line
    •    Failure of your hot water tank
    •    Storm sewer backup
    •    Sewer lateral pipe blockage or failure
    •    Surface water pooling around your home due to heavy rains
    •    Drainage issues with your foundation, and more

When there is basement flooding, restoration needs to happen promptly. Without prompt water removal and drying procedures, severe damage can impact the structure of your home. The longer you wait, the more the problem grows.

Flooding in the basement jeopardizes not only the integrity of your home, but it also impacts the health and the safety of your family and pets. When you contact our team of expert technicians at SERVPRO, we can come out to assess the problem. Water is known for following the path of least resistance. Moisture can get into holes and cracks of your basement walls, all places where your sump pump or wet vac is unable to reach. We are highly trained for water removal and restoration, including pack up, drying, and disinfecting of various belongings located in your flooded basement.

We are available for water extraction services, followed by drying techniques with the help of air movers, dehumidifiers, and heaters. Our team uses the latest technology and work fast to help lessen the loss and get you back to life as usual in your home.

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is here to help whenever you are faced with an emergency flood in your basement. Call us today at (201) 244-0100, and we can send a team out as soon as possible.

For more about Closter click here.

The Ultimate Guide to Water Removal In Closter

10/13/2019 (Permalink)

Act quickly should your toilet overflow. Calling in the professionals is always your best bet. Contact SERVPRO.

Top Floor Toilet Mishaps Call for Professional Water Removal in Closter

When a toilet overflows in your home, it turns into a tricky situation. However, a toilet on a second or third floor presents a whole new set of challenges that are better addressed by the professionals. 

If you have a bathroom located higher levels in a multi-floor building, sewer damage can trickle down through the lower floors. You need fast and efficient water removal in Closter to contain the problem so that cleanup can commence. Even if you inspect the damage on your own, hidden areas with moisture can lead to more significant problems requiring special techniques to remedy.

Get Started by Calling for Help

It can be tough to determine the severity of the issue without having the right equipment and experience. Toilet overflow is when professional water cleanup technicians should be called to assess the damage and implement the best course of action. If there is any toilet water or raw sewage, that is overflowing onto your floors and throughout the walls on other floors, leave the area and give us a call at SERVPRO.

Water Damage Cleanup

Flooded toilets located on a higher level in a building can create different types of sewer damage, such as:

•     Soaked sub-flooring or insulation
•     Damage to the flooring and drywall
•     Dangers from electrical wiring exposure
•     Damage to bathroom cabinetry
•     Leaking, cracking, or staining of the ceiling beneath the bathroom
•    The potential for harmful mold growth

When no sewage is present, the source of the overflow should be stopped immediately by shutting off the water valve and then soaking up as much water possible with a mop and bucket. Once your water restoration team arrives on the scene to assess the damage, water pumps, vacuums, and air movers help to remove moisture from the flooring, walls, and the ceiling below. After the removal of all damp materials and your space is dried, sanitization commences.

Don’t let sewer damage lead to health hazards. Call our team at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to tackle your water removal needs. You can reach us by calling (201) 244-0100 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Click here to learn more about Closter.

A Flood in Closter Can Affect Your Diner

9/23/2019 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

Commercial Flood Damage in Closter Affects Family Diner

Groundwater entering a property is never a positive thing, and there are so many ways it can happen. Hurricanes that make it far up the East Coast, flash flooding from intense storms any time of year and then there is infiltration into the building through seepage.

Upon arrival, SERVPRO technicians scoped the property for the cause of commercial flood damage in Closter. They were not finding the usual culprits responsible for water loss such as clogged gutters or storm damage. They did discover the reason quickly: hydrostatic pressure flooding in the basement.

What Causes Hydrostatic Pressure Damage?
When the soil surrounding a property receives saturation levels of rain, the ground relieves the immense pressure by seeping into the lower levels of homes and commercial properties. The end result is an average of one to two inches of water enter the premises.

Cleanup and Clean Out of the Water-Damaged Area
The basement where the water loss occurred was the main storage area for the diner's supplies. Technicians discovered strong, musty odors and found evidence of mold colony growth from previous hydrostatic events and prepared to remediate them during the water cleanup by inspecting and packing out undamaged boxes and items in the storage area.

Fast Water Extraction and Drying
The technicians used a combination of squeegees and pumps to remove the water quickly and begin the drying phase. Careful containment keeps cross-contamination from occurring during mold remediation, and the abatement of dried colonies halts the issue. The application of an antimicrobial sealer to the area ensures no return of the mold to that spot.

Solutions for Hydrostatic Water Seepage
Once cleaned and dried, the water odor in the diner basement was no longer detectable. As the technicians have a general contractor license, after mitigation of the flood damage ended, the property owner received a list of necessary repairs required to restore the property to its pre-flood condition and reduce the probability of further hydrostatic events in the storage area.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 is ready to remove and repair any type of commercial flood damage. Our certified, trained technicians work quickly and have the tools and experience to get your business reopened and make the water loss “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Closter click here.

Basements, Water Extraction in Cresskill, and SERVPRO Doing It Right!

9/20/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO protects foundations during water extraction from Cresskill basements.

Why SERVPRO Stops the Pumps when Performing Water Removal Work in Cresskill

The processes involved in restoring a Cresskill home after a disaster occurs can require the use of all types of equipment. From small brushes to our large pump truck, we use many different tools and machines to mitigate damage and remediate a customer's property. Extensive training teaches our employees how to use each item properly, which maintains high efficiency and significantly decreases the occurrence of accidents.

Minimizing preventable destruction from affecting a home in Cresskill while performing water removal activities also takes patience. For example, possible cracking of the foundation walls is why SERVPRO regularly stops the pump while extracting water from a basement. If the pressure from saturated soil outside the house pushes inward on the basement walls and the level of the water inside no longer has an equal amount of force pushing outward, cracks can form. Changes in the wall's stability must take place gradually. We work to balance the hydrostatic interior and exterior water pressure slowly.

While we know the customer wants water removed from their property as rapidly as we can get it done, we understand that periodic checks where we look for the smallest fractures can save our customers thousands of dollars later in both waterproofing or structural repair costs. We can, if necessary, use cement patching to close fissures.

Checking for cracks does not take a long time, but it is crucial to protecting our customer's property. Cracked basement walls can lead to different problems later, long after we have finished the initial water removal job and packed up our gear. While to some, it might seem like we are 'playing around' with the pump truck's controls, this activity helps us prevent severe damage from developing inside your home.

Cracks rarely stay the same size and condition, gradually worsening in both depth and length. The weakening of the foundation can cause shifting of the house's frame above ground. In turn, this shifting can show up as uneven floors, moldings that continually pop off, cracks in drywall seams and plaster walls and ceilings, and problems with windows and doors.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County relies on teamwork to prevent damaging cracks in basement walls, as well as many other kinds of harm from happening to your property. Water removal tasks require we work together and with you, the customer, to dry out your home and make things “Like it never even happened” again. We provide these and many other restoration services to residents in Closter and Dumont, as well as those around Harrington Park. Call us at (201) 244-0100 for round-the-clock, year-round services.

Closter Homeowners Count on SERVPRO for Water Removal and Restoration

9/18/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Restores Moisture Levels and Comfortable RH levels when extracting water from Closter Properties

Vital Aspects of Successful Water Removal in Affected Closter Properties

Water loss can originate from any point in your house. A leaking or burst water pipe in a concealed location such as wall cavity can go unnoticed for some time causing widespread water damage in your Closter home. Taking appropriate steps to remove the water and repair any areas ruined by the spill should help restore your home to its preloss state.

Establishing Loss Extent
The process of water removal from affected Closter homes largely depends on the spread patters throughout the home. The types of materials in different rooms might also influence the steps taken. In case many of the affected rooms have carpeted floors, there is a need to remove the pad, which in most cases is destroyed by the water. Removing the carpet is, therefore, part of the water removal process. For tiled rooms, there is no need to disturb the floor materials. Our SERVPRO technicians use portable or truck-mounted extractors to lift standing water from such hard surfaces.

Reaching All Wet Materials
As the water spreads, it easily permeates different materials and contents. Removing such water requires a skillful approach. For example, insulation on the outer walls is likely to absorb and hold on to significant amounts of water, which can cause a wide range of issues, including affecting energy efficiency. Our SERVPRO technicians make flood cuts a few inches above the waterline, allowing direct access to the wet materials on the outer wall. Opening up the walls also allows natural air circulation in the wall cavity for faster drying.

Drying Materials
Removing moisture from wet materials within the house requires deliberate drying efforts. Drying happens through evaporation, whereby wet materials release moisture into the air. The process is, therefore, only efficient if the relative humidity in the air surrounding the items is low. A state called EMC, Equilibrium Moisture Content, can be attained when the moisture level in a material is stable when compared to the humidity of the surrounding air. Evaporation is no longer possible at such state thus hampering drying. Our SERVPRO technicians avoid this by increasing air movements using air movers and regulating temperature through heaters.

Proper water removal can help reduce damage in your Cresskill, Harrington Park, or Dumont property. Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Our Experts Will Restore Your Flood Damaged Closter Grocery

8/26/2019 (Permalink)

Rely on SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to respond to your business flooding emergency quickly and professionally.

Fast And Efficient Restoration Of Flood Damaged Closter Grocery Benefits The Community

When we prioritize recovery of your Closter grocery store from flooding, we are protecting both your profitability and the employees and customers who count on your business. Severe seasonal storms are a reality in our area of the country. We gear up ahead of the heavy weather to be able to respond quickly and effectively when high winds and torrential rains increase the chance of substantial harm to the companies in our region.

Natural Disasters Are Unexpected Yet Recovery Is Predictable
We are never sure when the next significant storm might cause flood damage in Closter. However, our managers and technicians are confident we can respond with restoration services after even substantial storm and flooding devastation. When we work with a business, we try to develop a restoration plan that respects your need to be available to customers and the public, even in the chaos of a natural disaster.

Secure the Premises and Craft a Restoration Plan
When high winds and toppling trees crushed a section of your food store’s roof, heavy rains pour inside. The SERVPRO crew acts fast to board and tarp up the exterior, trying to minimize the damage inside. We set up floor level barriers to mitigate the flow of floodwater from the incursion site as the comprehensive restoration plan develops. Our service vehicles carry pumps and extractors powerful enough to clear large spaces inside the grocery store of water. When the project manager shares the plan with crew members, they immediately begin water removal.

Contain the Work Area
If the majority of the store survived the storm intact, we make every effort to contain the damage, so the rest of the departments can remain open. Plastic barriers and negative pressure air scrubbers create a sealed work area. We evacuate the water, containing for disposal according to local health regulations. EPA-registered cleaners and disinfectants clear away soiling and sanitize the area. Structural drying is more efficient in the contained area as we vent the humid air through HEPA filters and outside while air movers and dehumidifiers accelerate the process.

Prepare the Space for Rebuilding
Once the floodwater evacuates, and the area is clean and dry, SERVPRO readies the space for any exterior or interior rebuilding. We coordinate with other contractors and your insurance company to make sure the result is, “Like it never even happened.”

Rely on SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to respond to your business flooding emergency quickly and professionally. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, so call us with confidence at (201) 244-0100.

For more about Closter click here.

Closter Property Owners Team Up with SERVPRO for Professional House Damage Restoration Services

7/14/2019 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO Give You a Hand to Protect and Restore Your Home in Closter

Intelligence, Training, and Experience Are Why SERVPRO Delivers Closter Residents High-Quality Results Fast

Investment in a dedicated team of smart, hard-working managers and technicians pays off for Closter homeowners coping with the effects of water, fire, mold, and storm disasters. Decades of combined experience in the mitigation, remediation, and restoration business combined with an inventory of state-of-the-art, commercial-grade equipment equals top-notch solutions to even large and complicated residential damage scenarios. Our services are available 24/7, year-round because real life emergencies respect neither your agenda nor timeline.

Water Damage
Living in an area of the country that enjoys the change of the seasons has an impact on our experience with different types of water damage. Closter homes can suffer from the effects of ice dams, water damage common in upper levels of homes with infrequently maintained or damaged gutters and downspouts and inadequate insulation. When temperatures fall below freezing any water in a clogged gutter expands as it turns to ice. This “ice dam” can lift shingles and flashings, allowing water to invade during melting cycles, including when warm interior air exits near the ice.

If you notice a musty smell or staining when you climb to the attic to store seasonal items do not ignore the signs. Managing the problem is easier when it is still minor. Left to its own devices, the water damage can invade living spaces eventually. We have strategies and the equipment to remove any liquid water and dry out building materials that absorbed the moisture over the long winter.

Preventing future water damage requires steps to be taken in the summer and fall to limit the creation of ice dams in the next winter. Cleaning and repairing or replacing gutters avoid the pooling of water, and installation of additional insulation helps. Fixing damaged roofing components is essential, as is sealing joints where warm air flow increases the possibility of activating a freezing and melting cycle. Our full menu of restoration and rebuilding services is why SERVPRO is the company to solve this otherwise recurring problem.

Fire Damage
If a summer holiday barbeque goes wrong in Closter, fire damage can spread from the outdoor grilling area to the inside. Severe harm to the interior of your home occurs in the blink of an eye if a doorway admits the fire and a chimney-effect pulls the blaze into upper levels. Even if your quick thinking avoids such an intense reaction, a patio fire can send smoke and soot into your house, requiring professional mitigation and remediation.

When we arrive, an assessment helps us plan our interventions. Our service vehicles carry a broad inventory of equipment, products, and other supplies, so we are ready to put any plan into motion. The managers and members of our crews are Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification IICRC)-trained, and we use that knowledge base together with our experience to perform all tasks to meet or exceed the restoration industry’s best practices. Our proficiency in all areas is why SERVPRO can show a successful outcome under all circumstances.
 
Water and soot removal proceed quickly, both substances incredibly corrosive, exposing your home to the risk of progressive deterioration if not eliminated. If smoke invaded, we might employ air scrubbing equipment to improve air quality and help with odor management. We have a wide range of odor elimination strategies available, and we find the ones that work because lingering smells are unacceptable. If your dwelling needs rebuilding inside or out, we have the appropriate licenses to complete those tasks, limiting the contractors you must line up to take care of the problems.

Mold Remediation
Homeowners in Closter struggle with mold damage most frequently when water damage is incompletely abated, or high humidity levels persist indoors. Other causes of mold growth activity include lack or non-use of exhaust fans or venting in steamy settings like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. Wet laundry piles, plumbing leaks, and even AC units with clogged drains that drip can provide the moisture needed for mold growth.

Mold damage can be challenging to get under control using ordinary cleaning methods, which is why SERVPRO uses the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocols for mold remediation. Soap and water provide two of things mold needs to thrive -- moisture and an organic food source. Best practices contain the moldy space with physical barriers and air scrubbing equipment. Then the mold growth is mechanically removed with brushes, scrapers, or abrasives like soda blasting. We vacuum up debris and bag the moldy material for appropriate disposal under local regulations.  

EPA-registered antimicrobials treat affected surfaces to inhibit regrowth, and disinfectant enhanced coating seals areas for final refinishing. Mold remediation is not complete until we develop a plan with you that pinpoints and eliminates sources of excess moisture. Vigilance in cleaning up water and maintaining humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent greatly minimize the potential for mold damage.  

Storm Damage
Residents of Closter are no strangers to intense storm activity, with the memory of Superstorm Sandy in 2012 still fresh every summer and fall. Thunderstorms need not rise to the level of a named system to cause considerable harm to your home and its contents. Lightning strikes can expose your house to the risk of fire, and heavy rain and winds invite vast quantities of potentially contaminated flood waters into the lower levels through holes ripped open by flying debris and seepage when the ground becomes saturated.

The skills and equipment we bring during the aftermath of summer storm damage in Cloister are why SERVPRO is the restoration company you rely on and recommend. Our IICRC-trained crews quickly take charge, securing your property with tarps and boards during the mitigation and remediation phases. We assess the interior for damage, packing-out the contents using our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) to clear space and allow evaluation and remediation of your furnishings, household goods, and personal possessions at our production facility.
 
We accomplish flood water removal of more than two inches with submersible pumps, switching to wanded extractors as the level lowers. If your electricity is out the evacuation of the flooding proceeds as our pumps are gas powered and extractors use truck mounts and generators. Flood water generally needs containment and disposal as hazardous waste. Our team is familiar with local rules. Cleaning and disinfection with EPA-registered products precede the final structural drying, and then we move on to any repair and rebuilding needed.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County offers mitigation, remediation, and restoration services for water, fire, mold, and storm damage. Our phone at (201) 244-0100 connects you with our talented team 24/7. 

http://www.city-data.com/city/Closter-New-Jersey.html

Our Flood Damage Experts Can Save Vital Documents In Your Cresskill Clinic

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

We utilize sophisticated freeze-drying techniques to overcome the flood damage to your Cresskill clinic and its documents.

Protecting Vital Documents From A Flooding Cresskill Clinic

While your Cresskill clinic has likely moved into the age of digital record keeping backed up to a server offsite from your facility, there are still hard copies of information that exchange hands in your building. Much like other records, these are often stored in-house and can become at risk should disasters like flooding occur. Even with a prompt response to remove these items from danger, excessive moisture can even begin to compromise their composition. Even many professional restoration teams do not have the equipment or expertise to handle this damage, but our technicians do.

We utilize sophisticated freeze-drying techniques to overcome the flood damage to your Cresskill clinic and its documents. The best way that our SERVPRO team can protect your paperwork and records from water damage is to work to get them all out of the area as quickly as possible. We have a highly trained contents department that can work amid the effects of a disaster to remove at-risk items to prevent further degradation and decomposition.

With carefully positioned air movers and other drying units, our SERVPRO team can work to reduce the presence of moisture throughout the damaged areas of your property. We know that even more than the documentation that needs our sophisticated drying techniques, you also have costly equipment that can be problematic to replace. From x-ray machines to instruments vital to check-ups, flooding can affect much more than the structural integrity of your building.

Many residents rely on your clinic for their well-being, so prolonged periods of recovery and restoration can become very damaging to your reputation and standing in the area. We can often work to contain damages to allow your clinic to continue operating at a reduced status to allow both the restoration work to continue and you to take care of the customers that depend on you.

No matter when disaster strikes, we have the sophisticated equipment and approaches like freeze drying to overcome it. Give our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County team a call anytime at (201) 244-0100.

For more about Cresskill click here.

How SERVPRO Avoids Water Odors from Flood Damage in Closter Properties

7/1/2019 (Permalink)

Trust us… mold has a bad odor. Call SERVPRO today.

Let us make sure you won't have odor damage.

This area of New Jersey is no stranger to flood damage from sources such as heavy rainstorms, hurricanes, and tropical storms. Water carries its own unique, musty odor and must be thoroughly cleaned up to avoid residual odors after the restoration and repair from the water damage.

When SERVPRO handles flood damage in Closter homes, the approach of our technicians is always to restore rather than replace both structure and possessions. In cases where flood water affects only a portion of the home, we move items to dry areas for cleaning and restoration efforts. In cases where water damage compromises an entire house, we perform pack outs on any items with restoration potential. We work quickly to lessen the chances of secondary issues such as foul odors or mold.

After extraction and drying of the water-affected areas of the home, there may be odors left behind by contaminants in the water or the water itself and in some cases where longer than 48 hours have passed between the flooding and cleanup: mold. SERVPRO team members are trained and certified as Odor Control Technicians and have numerous types of applications dependent on the scale of the scent left in the home.  

We have several methods we commonly use, such as:

• For mild odors, we often use time-release gel capsules. 
• More robust scents require the use of equipment such as hydroxyl generators which use UV rays to neutralize airborne odor-causing molecules. 
• Fogging is another method our technicians utilize in the form of thermal based or ultra-low-volume (ULV) to penetrate porous objects and eradicate embedded odors. 
• Because of the complexity of odor removal, it is not uncommon for our technicians to use a combination of techniques.

Call SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County at (201) 244-0100 when you need help getting rid of flood damage and foul water odors in your home. Our certified technicians work with both homeowners and adjusters to ensure your property is returned to its preloss condition "Like it never even happened."

If you would like to know more about Closter,  click here.

Furnace Puffbacks Can Be Cause Significant Damage To Your Cresskill Home

6/19/2019 (Permalink)

Give us a call anytime at (201) 244-0100.

Cleaning Furnace Puffback Symptoms Throughout Cresskill Homes

When oil gets left in an ignition chamber of a furnace but does not get burned, puffbacks can occur that spread their effects quickly through your Cresskill property. You can often find soot damage to indicate a persistent problem with the furnace system by checking in the room where you keep the furnace for black stains on the walls and ceilings. If you do not frequent this area, you can also find what looks like black sooty spiderwebs in cooler corners of closets and your living areas.

Soot can be challenging for fire damage professionals to overcome in Cresskill residences. Many owners mistakenly think that they can handle this condition on their own, but in many situations, can smear the soot and cause staining. Once a material, surface, or item becomes stained, it can be nearly impossible to restore. Our SERVPRO professionals know what cleaning agents, tools, and approaches are best for each type of affected material.

When our team first arrives at your fire-damaged home, we assess how widespread the puffback damage is throughout the property. This inspection often involves a thorough look at the entire ductile network and furnace unit, which our professionals have the advanced equipment to clean. The SERVPRO cleaning technicians have a borescope camera to put eyes on the full heating system that could all have variances of soot damage after ongoing furnace concerns.

We have high powered HEPA vacuums that can remove the largest portion of soot sediment and buildup. We can also utilize chemical sponges that can be beneficial in removing nearly fifty square feet of damaged wall space with a single pad. We also have industrial-grade, OSHA-approved cleaners that can remove lingering particulates attached to surfaces and contents.

Furnace puffbacks can be a dangerous situation that homeowners should address as quickly as possible by servicing their heating unit. While we cannot repair this compromised appliance, our SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County professionals can help to make the soot damage throughout the property “Like it never even happened.”  Give us a call anytime at (201) 244-0100.

For more about Cresskill click here.

Call the Professionals to Handle Water Damage Remediation in Your Closter Residence

6/8/2019 (Permalink)

Water damage can accumulate fast and create a lot of damage. Contact SERVPRO today for all types of remediation assistance.

Fire Fighting Can Cause Water Damage Inside of Your Closter Home 

Having a fire on your property is never a good thing, but it is especially misfortunate when putting out the flames causes water damage to your property. Many people do not realize that firefighters sometimes use thousands of gallons of water to put out a fire and that water can linger in your house afterward. Not only is your home suffering the effects of fire damage after a blaze, but often water damage as well.

To have the best success remediating the water damage in your Closter home, it is vital you reach out for a cleanup and restoration company immediately. The sooner that technicians are able to get into your house and can begin to pull the water from the structure, the better it is for the longevity of your home. It is advisable to call for professional remediation help while the firefighters are doing their job, so a remediation crew can arrive shortly after, or even when the firefighters are still on the scene.

SERVPRO understands how time-sensitive home damages are. We can rush to your aid as soon as we get your initial phone call. Once there, we can immediately begin an investigation and can devise a strategy of remediation.

SERVPRO can focus on drawing the water out of your home by setting up devices designed to remove excess water and moisture as swiftly as possible. Should the water have damaged any materials untouched by the fire, SERVPRO can make flood cuts on walls or remove any damaged flooring.

From there, our technicians can begin to set up dehumidifiers, axial fans, heaters, air blasting tubes, and drying mats. SERVPRO can even use thermal imaging technology to look for any hidden pockets of water that may be between walls, or under floors, and then remove them with wet/dry vacuums. Once we're finished cleaning up the water damage in your home, SERVPRO can move onto focusing on the fire damage.

Never wait when sudden damage has struck your home. Speak with SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County by dialing (201) 244-0100. Our technicians are always ready to come and help.

Click here for more information about the city of Closter.

We Are The Crew To Call When A Flood Causes Damage To Your Shopping Center In Closter

5/28/2019 (Permalink)

Call us at (201) 244-0100 to consult about disaster management strategies today.

Closter Shopping Center Flood Damage Requires A Professional Partnership With Our Reliable Restoration Team

Closter businesses owners always have the memory of monster storm Sandy in the back of their minds when nasty weather is a-brewing. Torrential rains and fierce winds are sure to return, resulting in flooding impacting commercial buildings in Bergen County. A brush with this kind of disaster is likely enough that you are wise to seek and select a flood remediation company in advance.

If your retail space in a local shopping mall in Closter faces flood damage due to record-breaking rain totals, ordinary cleanup strategies are inadequate. Commercial cleaning contractors or your center’s in-house cleaning crews do not have the training or the equipment to rapidly remove thousands of gallons of water from your store and the common areas of the center. You need our highly-qualified water removal and structural drying technicians and our state-of-the-art commercial quality equipment to move the flood waters out fast and then clean, disinfect, and dry out the building using restoration industry best practices.

SERVPRO invests in comprehensive training for our technicians long before your call for help. Our crew members earn multiple certifications from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). The IICRC is an international standards development organization, leading the way for our dedicated restoration technicians. We also invest in water removal and structural drying equipment efficient and durable enough to handle even the significant losses seen when multi-tenant business centers take on floodwaters.

We urge you to consult with us ahead of any flooding disaster, designing with our management team an Emergency Ready Plan and Profile (ERP). An experienced project manager assesses all aspects of your location and asks you to add details that help us respond most efficiently if flooding occurs. With this concise, digital plan in hand SERVPRO can begin remediation work immediately after you call to report the waters are rising.

Our IICRC-trained crews use pumps and extractors to make short work of even feet of contaminated floodwaters. SERVPRO contains and disposes of the dirty water as required by local regulation. Thorough cleaning and disinfection with EPA-registered products follow before an intensive drying effort with air-movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers.

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County commits to delivering the fastest and highest-quality commercial flood damage remediation service to local businesses. Call us at (201) 244-0100 to consult about disaster management strategies today.

Click here for more about Closter.

We’re The Experts To Turn To If Your Closter Home Experiences A Water Damage Issue

5/16/2019 (Permalink)

Contact us at (201) 244-0100 for an evaluation.

Why SERVPRO Is An Industry Leader In Closter Water Damage Recovery

It’s often the minute things that lead to the most significant water loss challenges in Closter. Life gets busy, making it hard to notice leaks or cracks in plumbing when hundreds of feet of it run behind walls and under floors. The housing stock in our town varies from brand new to historic, with roots before the Revolutionary War. Aging plumbing can be a headache, which is why we offer 24/7 water disaster services.

If your home in Closter shows signs of water damage depend on our fast response and well-equipped work crews who deliver result meeting or exceeding the restoration industry’s best practices. Our technicians hold multiple certifications in water damage and structural drying from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). We come to your home prepared in every way to give you superior water loss recovery results, proving why we should be on your speed dial.

We approach every project with a restoration frame of mind. Especially if your home holds memories and contains treasures, we pledge to handle your water damage challenges quickly and discreetly. We arrive with an experienced project manager, ready to assess the scenario and plot out a plan. Our vehicles are stocked with water removal and drying equipment, why SERVPRO is Faster to Any Size Disaster.

The water source is shut off, and the crew gets to work, removing the water. We use advanced technology to scan for hidden water and measure the moisture content in nearby structural components. Our team possesses strategies to release the water trapped behind walls and under floors, why SERVPRO can stress remediation instead of large scale demolition and repair. Negative air pressure machines sealed on walls or topping floors suction water from several layers to prevent distortion of wood and disintegration of drywall or lath and plaster.

Once the standing water is gone, the team transitions to structural drying. Using IICRC recommended methods, our crew positions air movers and heaters to force water out of building materials and into the air as a vapor to be captured by our dehumidifiers. The need to achieve a proper balance of air movement, temperature, and humidity is why SERVPRO stresses mastery of Applied Structural Drying (ASD) principles.

Training and commitment to best practices are why SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is the only call you need to make when water damage your home. Contact us at (201) 244-0100 for an evaluation.

Click here for more about Closter.

Why Home Maintenance Is Important

3/11/2019 (Permalink)

Your home is likely the most expensive thing you own in your lifetime. That is why it is so important to take the time to protect it. There are things in your home that need some care to ensure they last otherwise when they fail you can watch your insurance skyrocket.

Many times, we see home damages that occur by sources that could have been easily prevented.

Just to mention a few:

• Not cleaning out your gutters can cause water to back up under your roof shingles.
• Not cleaning your chimney can cause creosote buildup that creates a fire.
• Not cutting down that dead tree can cause it to fall onto your house.

So here are some items you should be inspecting and how often you should be doing so.

Every Year:

Hot water heater-drain water to remove sediment & refill.

HVAC/Furnace system

Inspect garage door-be sure auto-reverse is functioning

Vacuum refrigerator coils: These build up dirt and grime which overtime effects the efficiency of the fridge.

Check water softener, add salt if needed.

Check grout and caulking- re-apply if needed. 

Inspect sump pump is running properly

Inspect basement & foundation for any cracks or leaks. 

Every Month:

Test Smoke & Carbon Monoxide detector

Look for leaks around toilets/sinks

Check HVAC filters for replacement

Check Kitchen Vent Hood Filter

Inspect fire extinguisher

Every Season:

Before the cold months inspect your pipes. If certain areas of your home do not receive adequate heat then considering wrapping your pipes to prevent a frozen pipe from bursting.

Check the drainage system outside your home to ensure water is flowing out and away from your home/foundation.

Clean out gutters.

Inspect roofing for any damage or leaks.

In the winter regularly inspect for any ice dams or icicles as these can cause damage to your roof and gutters.

What Type of Fireplace is Best?

1/7/2019 (Permalink)

Did you know that 1 in every 3 homeowner uses a fireplace to provide heat in their home? It is also one of the top 10 sources of a fire in a home. There are several different types of fireplaces out there to use, some safer than others. This blog will help you distinguish which one may be best for you.

Some key factors to think of when choosing the right fireplace for you are the following:

• Efficiency
• Cost
• Maintenance
• Safety

1. Traditional fireplaces -wood-burning

A traditional fireplace is nostalgic for many people and can often been seen by some as the one and only fireplace out there.

It involves an open combustion system which can produce some heat but the heat generated actually just gets sucked back up the chimney like a vacuum. Older fireplaces are around 10-15% efficient in producing heat into a home. 

It requires a chimney which in itself has its own maintenance needed. If they aren’t inspected and cleaned regularly, they can create a build-up of soot and other substances that can be flammable. 

It also requires more effort to burn the logs correctly as well as the post fire clean up. However, many will say it is worth it because of the authenticity of having a real fire shooting sparks and crackling as it burns. It is easy on the eyes, creating a warm comfort feeling. 

2. Gas

This method is most popular for a number of reasons. It takes minimal installation effort and can be installed almost anywhere since venting gets set up through a PVC pipe in the wall instead of a chimney. Everything is enclosed behind a piece of glass so it very safe to use with little to no monitoring. It can easily be turned on with a switch and heats up a home very well. 

It also comes in a vent-less option however these emit the exhaust they produce into your home.

They produce an actual flame that is visible without the need of wood or pellets. It is very efficient in producing heat into a home.

3. Electric

This is probably the most mobile type of fireplace as it can be moved from room to room wherever it can reach an outlet. Downside is because there are no live burning flames it doesn’t produce much heat.

It does prove to be ideal for commercial settings like hotels because of the beautiful appearance of a fireplace without the liability of burning someone who tries to touch it. Cost to buy one is more affordable but in the long-term electric bills will spike.

4. Bio-ethanol

This is the most expensive and referred to as the high-end option. They don’t run on gas, wood or electric but bio-ethanol which is a burning fuel made from an alcohol produced by the fermentation of carbohydrates. They have no cleaning required and are very good looking on the eyes. Downfall is they do not provide as much heat as gas fireplaces and minimal protection from heat.

When deciding on which option is best for you we hope this helped point you in the right direction. 

Snowbird Living

11/19/2018 (Permalink)

Living in New Jersey, I know everyone must know at least one person living the snowbird lifestyle. (Unfortunately that is not me.) I'm referring to those that are originally New Jersey residents who escape all of the winter blues and head to Florida for a few months out of the year. 

If you yourself fall into this category then here are a few tips to help you keep your New Jersey home safe and sound while you are enjoying the sun. 

1. Winterize Plumbing:

 This involves turning off the water supply and draining the pipes from the faucets leaving them bone dry.  If unfamiliar with the process contact a plumber, they can also blow compressed air. Almost 1 in every 4 homeowners insurance claim is related to water usually as a result of low temperatures causing freezing pipes. 

2. Roof:

Have roof inspected for any wearing or damage. Typically roofs are only designed to last for 20 years. 

3. Temperature:

Have fuel tanks filled. Keep interior temperature around 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Gas:

Turn off gas line to reduce risk of fire. 

5. Exterior:

Make sure all landscaping is tailored to reduce the risk of coming in contact with your home and creating damage. Clean gutters to prevent buildup and flow occlusions during snowfall. 

6. Phone a Friend:

Have a friend come by to check that everything is okay at your home. You can also have them pick up the mail for you to reduce the chance of a break-in. 

7. Insurance:

Review homeowners insurance policy to make sure no updates or extra coverage is needed. 

8. Snow Removal:

Arrange for someone to come after snowfall to keep walkways free of snow and ice.

9. Safety:

Consider installing motion sensor exterior lights and timed interior lights to make your home appear occupied and unattractive to prowlers.

10. Electricity:

Unplug all unnecessary appliances and electronics. 

How to Install a New Hot Water Heater

10/22/2018 (Permalink)

You have likely already read our blog on how to remove a hot water heater so now we will discuss how to install your new hot water heater. When purchasing a new tank be sure to use something similar to the pre-existing tank as far as being an electric or gas tank.

1. Start by positioning the new tank in the area where it will rest. Maneuver the tank to an orientation where all the wiring and pipes can easily be attached. Also keep in mind that the tank has cover plates that need to be accessible during any future maintenance so keep these visible.
2. Wrap any threaded pipe fittings with two or three layers of teflon plumbers’ tape then re-install the water pipes. When applying the tape, start at about 1" from the end of the fitting and wrap the tape in a clockwise manner around the pipe, overlapping at least 1/2 with each rotation. The entire threaded area of the pipe should be covered with two layers of tape.
3. Connect and tighten all pipes with a wrench. (DO not over tighten).
4. Turn on the water and check for any leaks. Wipe all joints dry and check again after several minutes for any leaks. To eliminate air in the tank and plumbing allow the hot water tap to run until it stops sputtering.
5. When the tank is filled turn on the power (if electric) or connect the gas supply line (if gas). Test the gas line for leaks. Recommended temperature is 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This will take several hours to reach.

Hot to Remove a Hot Water Heater

10/9/2018 (Permalink)

Hot water heater leaks are a fairly common cause of water damages that we deal with. Some homeowners use a plumber to handle the removal and replacement of their hot water heater but if you are the DIY type it is simple enough for one to do it on their own. Some tips you should know before starting is that you may need a hand when removing the heat due to its size. Even after it is drained it is still not light and very bulky. You should also keep in mind that you will not have water available for use for a couple hours during this process. 

1. Turn all water/energy sources off!

Start by turning off the water supply to the hot water heater whether that is the main valve to the house or a shut off valve directly to the heater. Turn off the power to the heater at the panel board as well as the gas supply. 

2. Remove any insulation around the tank and save to reuse if still in good condition.

3. Drain the tank. At the bottom of the tank there should be a valve that will allow you to attach a garden hose. Once attached have the other end outside to allow water to be drained. 

4. Open both hot and cold water valves somewhere in the house.

5. Time to disconnect the tank.

If you have an electric HWH- there top should have a small steel plate where the wires enter the tank. Remove the plate and gently pull the wires out. For a gas HWH- remove all connections to gas piping. 

6. Take a wrench and disconnect the water pipe. You may have to carefully bend this flexible pipe out of the way to remove the tank. It is normal for some extra water to leak at this point. However if it is more than a cup worth the water has not been shut off. 

7. Remove the tank and set aside for discard. 

Be on the lookout for our next blog on how to install a new hot water heater!

How to Properly Purchase Contents Insurance

9/14/2018 (Permalink)

Have you ever asked yourself, "how much coverage do I really need on my belongings?" There is no way to just guess and hope you have enough without keeping an inventory of what you have. Not only for the purpose of determining how much coverage you will need but also in the event of a loss where those items become damaged and that policy comes into effect.

When setting up your home or business insurance policy it is important to keep an inventory of your personal belongings or products/merchandise. Whether you are dealing with personal or business items the same guidelines follow. Keeping a list of items along with the value of them will help keep you prepared when a disaster strikes. It is also important to keep this list current with any new purchases that may increase the value of your property. Trust me, it will be less of a hassle than having to figure out what items you own when they are possibly damaged by a disaster such as a fire. With all the stress and amount of effort one deals with after property damage, one less thing to worry about will help the restoration process resolve much quicker and easier for the owner.  

Also, aside from the usual items like furniture and jewelry; it is important to keep copies of any important documents. Things like birth certificates, property deeds and business contracts should be kept safe with duplicates available along with electronic copies. 

Once you have an idea of everything you own and its value this will allow you to confirm you are receiving enough coverage for those items in your insurance policy. Every insurance policy has a limit for reimbursement so knowing how your policy matches up will keep any surprises down the road from surfacing. 

Can Living With Mold Affect Your Health

6/14/2018 (Permalink)

The topic on health hazards from mold exposure is a gray area. It is believed that living with high levels of mold can cause some minor and/or serious health affects. However, there is very little evidence to confirm all instances at this time. 

What most can agree on is living with mold should not be ignored. Not only due to the beliefs of the health risks accompanied but the affects it may cause to the value of your home. Any new buyer or renter will not want to walk into another person's mold issue. 

Mold comes in thousands of different strains but only a few of those produce toxins. The most well known being stachybotrys chartarum also known as "black mold". Did you know the term we hear often as "toxic black mold" is not actually a scientific term. It was created by news reporters that carried the term around to create the myth that "toxic black mold" is deadly which in reality that has not been proven. 

Now lets discuss what types of symptoms are reported due to mold exposure. People who spend time in these environments report respiratory issues such as shortness of breath, development of asthma, coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, nasal congestion and throat irritation. It is believed that those with weakened immune systems or a history of allergies or asthma are more prone to adverse reactions from mold. There are also some people that are more sensitive to particular strains of mold that can vary from person to person.  

The CDC suggested a link between mold and a medical condition called acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage (AIPH) or pulmonary hemosiderosis. Others state that mold causes more serious conditions as well like lung disease, upper respiratory infections or even cancer. These claims have yet to be proven with any substantial evidence. 

Although the research is limited on proving many of these claims it should still not keep someone from treating and removing any mold growth in their home. Hopefully future research can provide more insight so that federal laws can help regulate mold in homes. 

What is Not Covered?

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

Here are a few key areas that are typically not covered by your standard insurance policy. Also keep in mind of a deductible that may need to be met or coverage limits. 

1. Damages resulting from unresolved maintenance issues or neglecting to repair source. For instance, you have a leak coming from your toilet supply line that you have just been ignoring for almost a year. It caused some water damage to the ceiling below which typically would be covered by your policy initially but waiting too long to fix the problem will likely cause your insurance to reject coverage. 

2. Flood. Any source of water that enters your home from a flood regardless of the cause is not covered under a standard insurance policy. Yet you may purchase flood insurance which would be recommended for those living in a flood prone area. 

3. Law or Ordinance Upgrades. This type of scenario can come into play for something like a fire that causes the electrical wiring in your home to need to be removed and replaced. Yet, your town has new building codes that require a more expensive upgrade to new wiring being installed. In this case your insurance will only cover the costs of the original old wiring and the difference in charges for the new upgrade will be your responsibility. 

4. Sewer or drain back up from OUTSIDE. You will typically not be coverage for water that backs up into your home from an outside source. There are endorsements that can be added on to your policy to cover backs up occurring within your property line. If the source is coming outside of your property line your city may be responsible. 

5. Costs to repair and/or replace source. Most insurance companies will cover the damages associated however the costs to repair the cause falls under the homeowner. For example a pipe bursts in your home causing damages to your hardwood floors. Your insurance company will take care of fixing the floors yet the plumber you hired to replace the pipe will come out of your pocket. 

Emergency Ready Profile

6/8/2018 (Permalink)

The Best Way to Reduce Business Interruption Following a Disaster is to Plan For it NOW.

As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. 

SERVPRO of Paramus offers a FREE assessment of your property and develops a plan in the event of a disaster. 

Why the SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile?

Here are just a few reasons why your business will benefit from having an emergency ready profile in place. 

• A no cost assessment of your facility. – This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost. 
• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. – It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. But it will save a lot of time if ever needed. 
• A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. – This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action.
• Establishes your local SERVPRO® Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. – You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and close by.
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. – This saves time so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. – Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in a disaster.
• A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.

Developing your Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from your current projects.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) could be a valuable tool to help restore your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

To set up this free service, call Tony D'Arco @ SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen. 

Top Sources of Mold

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

We will be discussing the primary sources of mold that are commonly found in homes. As we all know mold needs moisture and food (porous materials) to grow. Mold also likes dark humid environments. Some key causes to look out for mold are:

1. Leaky Appliances

Daily wear and tear to your appliances can cause leaks or splits that can allow moisture to escape. Unfortunately most appliances have the pipes and hoses hidden out of sight running inside walls or cabinets. So it may take some digging around to find any leaks. We recommend checking regularly for loose washers or leaky hoses. 

2. Air Conditioning Units

The condensation from an air conditioning unit creates moisture for mold. On top of that it also sucks in air from the outside that contains dirt and pollen which are attractive materials for mold. You can help minimize mold growth by running it everyday for at least 10 minutes. When it sits for long periods of time it is more likely to grow mold. When not in use like during winter season you should remove it and store in a dry place. 

3. Water Intrusion

It is beneficial to check your ceilings and cracks of your windows for any water getting in. This can be a sign of poor building construction so you may need a professional to diagnose and treat the issue. 

4. Window Sills

This area is subject to higher levels of moisture and humidity along with dirt that is a valuable source for mold. 

Next, we will discuss some locations in your home that have a higher chance for mold to grow.

1. Basement

Being that most basements are located on a sub-level, moisture is constantly part of its environment. The humidity level is much higher and typically not well ventilated leaving humidity to linger longer. Any cracks in foundation can also add to the issue. 

2. Wallpaper

If wallpaper is peeling it is likely that it has mold growing behind it. 

3. Attic

The attic of a home is home to many air flow sources like dryer vents, plumbing vents, and kitchen/bathroom. All of these constantly pump moist air into the attic accompanied with all the inevitable dust found there makes a perfect environment for mold. 

4. Crawlspace

Like a basement the crawlspace also has a higher relative humidity. The soil in the crawlspace will absorb and lock in moisture and when it dries it will evaporate adding moisture to the air. 

What To Do Until SERVPRO Arrives

5/30/2018 (Permalink)

When you experience a water damage the quicker you tackle it the better the outcome. First and foremost, finding out the source and stopping it should be your main priority.

If there are no safety hazards begin by shutting off the water source at the shut off valve. If applicable contact a plumber to fix the source to keep further damage from re-occurring. 

If the water did not come from a clean source and likely contaminated avoid all wet areas. 

DO

- Contact your homeowners insurance company

- Contact a professional restoration company (SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County @ 201-445-5588)

- If safe, turn off electricity to affected areas at circuit breaker

- Try to mop or blot up water with towels

- Place furniture legs on foil on wooden blocks

- Use safety pins or clothespins to keep furniture skirts and drapery off wet floors

- Remove oriental rugs and place in a dry area

- Remove all moisture sensitive items to a dry place

- Prop up any wet upholstery cushions to dry

- Remove books, magazines, paper to a dry place where they will not transfer and stain

- Wipe excess moisture from furniture

DO NOT

- Use a household vacuum to remove water

- Use any electronics in a room with wet flooring

- Use ceiling fans where a wet ceiling is present

- Open windows in temperatures higher than 70 degrees. AC may be used if water is not contaminated.  

How to Prepare For and Prevent a Fire.

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that the actual heat from a fire is more dangerous than the flames?

Room temperature during a fire can reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level.

You can scorch your lungs just trying to take a breath. The high temperature will even melt your clothes onto your skin.

PREVENTION

• Install the right number of smoke alarms for your home and test them at least once a month. Batteries should be changed once a year.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended
• Turn off portable heater when unattended.
• Never smoke in bed, when drowsy, or medicated. Douse cigarette buds in water before disposal.
• Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used. Oxygen can be explosive and will make a fire burn hotter and faster.
• Never use a portable generator indoors. It should also only be refueled outdoors or in well ventilated areas.
• Keep items 3 feet in distance from any fire source.

PREPARE

• Teach children what to do when they hear the sound of the smoke alarm.
• In the dark close your eyes and practice feeling your way out of your house.
• Establish two ways to exit each room.
• Create a meeting point for all the members in your family outside of your home.
• Make sure everyone knows how to call 911.
• Make sure windows are easily accessible and screens can be removed quickly.
• Make digital copies of all important documents and records such as a birth certificate.

In the event of a fire; before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If it is hot and/or has smoke coming out of the cracks do not open it. Use your second mode of escape from that room. If clothes catch fire teach everyone to stop, drop and roll. If someone cant drop down you can also take a blanket to smother the flames.

Why Bleach is Not Recommended for Mold

5/29/2018 (Permalink)

Mold Growth on Sheetrock

Did you know that bleach does not actually get rid of your mold problem?  The old school thought of spraying bleach whenever you see mold is nothing but a myth. The reason people believe this works is because to the naked eye the visible mold is gone, yes, but that is because the bleach has removed the color of mold not its roots.  

The OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) stopped recommending the use of bleach for dealing with mold problems. The ESA (Environmental Site Assessment) also updated their guide similarly as well. 

The problem with bleach is that it is has too many variables that affect how it can treat mold. Bleach only works on killing mold on non-porous materials. If you read our previous blog on how mold growth occurs you will know that mold typically grows on porous materials like drywall and wood. So the chances your mold growth will be on a hard surface is unlikely anyways. 

Using bleach to clean areas like wood can actually promote mold growth and can leave you with a bigger problem than when you originally started. This is because mold spreads its roots deep into porous surfaces. When you use bleach it creates excessive moisture which then creates a better environment for the mold to return and thrive. Bleach will also negatively affect materials like wood by breaking down its fibers. It can also cause corrosion to metals. 

Bleach contains an ingredient called Sodium Hypochlorite which in high concentrations can be registered as an antimicrobial pesticide that will kill mold under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act. However Sodium Hypochlorite can also be sold as a household cleaner without being registered as a pesticide due to this type of item only containing small amounts of Sodium Hypochlorite. This means it is not guaranteed to kill mold nor is it sold for that purpose. 

We want to steer you away from thinking bleach is the best route to dealing with your mold. Not only is it not effective but the dangerous fumes are toxic to your health. Plus, there are many  anti-microbial alternatives readily available that will get the job done and are safer to use. 

If you are dealing with mold in your home it is recommended to contact a professional. We are available to answer your mold questions. Contact us today @ 201-445-5588.

Minimize Business Interruption

5/25/2018 (Permalink)

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency 40% of businesses that experience a disaster never re-open. In order to protect your business from any type of interruption, it is adamant that you have a plan in place. 

Every business owner should be familiar with the location they are in and what types of natural disasters the location is historically known for. Knowing what type of natural disaster is common in your area will help you develop an accurate emergency preparedness plan. Some examples of natural disasters can be flooding, hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, etc.

Once you have figured out what may be inevitable in your area you should then understand your insurance coverage. Business property insurance pays to repair or replace property damage but does not protect against consequential damage like the downtime of a business while repairs are going on. This type of damage would be picked up by a business interruption coverage. It is important to also understand this type of coverage as it can differ significantly with possible exclusions, coverage limits and waiting periods. 

When preventing hazards from arising you should ask yourself if these areas are up to standard/code:

1. HVAC system

2. Electrical system

3. Telecommunications system 

4. Fire protection systems 

5. Sprinkler system

These areas should be regularly inspected and maintained for proper functioning. 

Other potential risks may be occurring from indirect sources such as other occupants if in a multi-occupancy building. It is beneficial to know what hazards might be going on nearby. For instance, if the neighboring occupant to your property is a business that manufactures acetone products, which is extremely flammable, you would want to take note of this and customize your plan accordingly.   

To prevent inventory damages, store contents based on level of sensitivity. Any water sensitive products should be removed from flood prone areas and placed above 100 year flood level. Vital records that are necessary for the survival of the business should be given maximum protection from any disaster. If possible establish electronic back up copies.

To expedite repairs in the event of an emergency, companies should develop contacts with contractors in the area. By establishing prior contacts in advance will help to initiate return to operation quickly and efficiently. This will also prevent any time wasted by auditioning different contractors to pick the best one. 

We, at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, offer an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) for businesses who would like to develop not just a plan but a relationship they can trust to help them be prepared for any size disaster. Contact us today to learn more!

Natural Disasters- Prepare Your Home

5/24/2018 (Permalink)

You are home watching the local news when the reporter says the next big hurricane is coming through your area within the next couple of days. You may think running out to fill up your gas tank and grabbing the last carton of milk and loaf of bread at the store means you are prepared. However, what about your home? Is it protected and prepared for the storm?

Here are some last minute tips on what you can do to get your home ready in the event of a natural disaster:

• Close all windows, doors, and shutters
• Bring in anything outdoors that can be picked up by wind. 
• Keep trees trimmed, remove any compromised limbs
• Turn your fridge and freezer on to the coldest setting & keep it closed as much as possible so food will last longer in case of a power outage 
• Turn off propane tank
• Unplug any small appliances
• Make sure your sump pump is working

To keep your home prepared all year round you must first identify any vulnerable areas in your home. 

• Check for cracks or small holes in the foundation where water can seep in. 
• Check for any loose or missing shingles on your roof. Secure soffits that may weaken over time. You can reinforce them by adding stainless steel screws. 
• Touch up areas with caulking that have worn away like windowsills and door jambs. You can easily fix these cracked areas on your own by simply getting a caulking gun and a waterproof sealant 
• Keep gutters free of debris and make sure water flows several feet away from your home
• Make sure the septic tank and sewer are inspected and cleaned before the start of every season 

If your home is affected by a major storm or disaster, an emergency restoration company can help you with cleanup. You should also contact your insurance company to report the damage and file a claim. Our team at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can handle any size disaster you may face. Call us for more info. 201-445-5588

What Is Asbestos?

5/17/2018 (Permalink)

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral in the ground typically found in North America. It was frequently used in the past as a flame-resistant insulation. It is a durable material made of layers of fibers that together virtually create an indestructible material. It was widely used up until the 70's when it was discovered to be a carcinogen. 

Asbestos is found to be the sole cause of a deadly and rare form of cancer known as mesothelioma. After being exposed to asbestos mesothelioma can take 20-50 years before symptoms can appear. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, heart and abdomen. Despite asbestos being known as a carcinogen it is still not banned. However, most manufactures have phased out the use of the material to switch to safer alternatives. 

The EPA classifies six different materials as asbestos. All six being human carcinogens.

1.  Amosite

2. Crocidoltite

3. Tremolite

4. Anthophyllite

5. Actinolite 

6. Chysolite

Only amosite which is the brown colored asbestos and crocidolite (blue) are mainly used. 

Now that we know what asbestos is and the negative side effects lets talk about what to do when you come across asbestos. When finding asbestos in your home or building you don't necessarily need to go remove it immediately. It is actually best to leave it untouched if it is intact. Generally asbestos containing material that is in good condition and not disturbed will not release asbestos fibers. In the case the material is not in good condition or is in the vicinity of a renovation it should only be removed by a trained professional. 

If you suspect the material contains asbestos but are not completely sure you can have testing done to confirm. Air testing can also be performed to confirm the air quality is safe after removal.

The most common scenario we come across is asbestos containing tile found hidden under layers of flooring. In the event our technicians suspect asbestos we will have testing performed to verify and then plan on the best route of execution. 

Preventing an Ice Dam

5/16/2018 (Permalink)

What is an ice dam and how will it affect my home?

Have you ever noticed those pretty icicles hanging off the edge of your roof after a big snowstorm? Although they are beautiful to look at (I guess that's why they mimicked them with Christmas decorative lighting) those icicles can cause some serious water damage to your home. 

An ice dam forms when snow melts from the upper portion of your roof causing water to run down your roof and then refreezes when it reaches the edge causing an ice dam to form over your gutter backing up water from properly draining. This pool of water that gets trapped backs up under the roof shingles soaking the roof sheathing and eventually finds cracks in the roof where it leaks into the attic of your home. 

Typically this is usually caused by poor roof ventilation, and a warm attic space. A clogged gutter system can also intensify the extent of the situation. 

Some steps that can be taken to prevent this from occurring are:

1. Check attic to make sure it is in good condition. You can do this buy searching your attic for daylight through any cracks. 

2. Keep gutters clear of debris. Make sure your gutter is draining properly. Remove any tree limbs that can come in contact with your home. 

3. Keep interior roof structure the same temperature as exterior. This can be done by providing ventilation for continuous airflow under the roof deck. As far as the interior temperature start by removing any heat sources like un-insulated lighting or un-insulated duct work. Opt for sealed can light instead of recessed lighting. Also increase attic floor insulation to keep living area heating from rise to the attic. 

4. Use a roof rake to remove snow (6 inches or higher) from the edge of your roof. 

If you find yourself with water leaking into your home call us at SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County to handle your ice dam problems. 201-445-5588

Do You Live In a Flood Zone?

5/15/2018 (Permalink)

Unfortunately, there are some homes that are just more prone to floods that it is almost inevitable. Of course, the first option to fix the problem is to just pick your house up and move (literally), but not everyone has the ability to do so.

Here are some tips to help you prevent the damages resulting from a flood to your home.

1. Consider replacing building materials with water-resistant materials such as:

• Galvanized nails - will not rust in a flood
• Indoor/Outdoor carpet w/ synthetic pad
• Synthetic baseboards instead of wood
• Marine plywood-most water-resistant plywood
• Metal doors & frames- will not warp, only rust which can be later sanded & painted

2. Have your washer/dryer in the basement? You may want to relocate them to the 1st floor or even just elevate them from the floor. (12" above 100-year flood level recommended). This can also be done with your hot water heater.

3. Raise all sockets, circuits breakers, switches and wiring to at least a foot above your expected flood level. 

4. Install a sump pump. Sump pumps are the first line of defense in preventing water from seeping into basements. Also recommended to install a battery powered backup in case of a power outage.

5. Although expensive, raising your home with piers or columns so that the lowest level sits above flood level may be the drastic option needed if you live in a high risk flood zone. 

6. Review your homeowners insurance policy. Did you know that most homeowner’s insurance policies do not cover flood damage? Flood insurance is a supplemental policy you can purchase through an insurance agent or company.

7. Lastly, be prepared with a company you can trust like SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County that can help a devastating disaster like a flood become "Like it never even happened."

Better Act Quick!

5/15/2018 (Permalink)

Soot cob webs found in the kitchen of this home.

A fire is a devastating thing to have happen to anyone. No homeowner wants to experience a fire and its damages left behind.

Why is it important to start clean up and restoration after a fire?

Health Risks

First and foremost, left over smoke & soot particles is a bio-hazard. Smoke inhalation can cause respiratory problems or worsen conditions like asthma and heart disease. If possible always try to limit exposure by staying with a relative or in a hotel during restoration. Many times when filing a claim your insurance company may offer you a stay in a hotel until it is no longer a hazard. 

Was Water Used?

There may be occurrences where water was used to cease the fire. If that is the case you may be experiencing not only fire and smoke damage to your home but also water damage. It is imperative to start proper drying of water in your home to prevent mold growth from occurring. 

Permanent Damage

Acidic soot can cause damage to porous materials leading to permanent discoloration that even a professional at that point wouldn't be able to remove.  However, if action is taken quickly permanent damage can be prevented.

It is expected that wherever the fire occurred there can also be electrical damage to outlets, wires, appliances. Make sure these are deemed safe before return to use. 

Soot can also cause damage to finishes on appliances or kitchen surfaces. These can become discolored turning a yellow hue. Over time smoke and soot can cause etching to glass and tarnishing of metal. 

Hopefully this situation will not occur in your home but if you find yourself needing to act quickly contact SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County.

Generator Safety

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

A SERVPRO generator being used outside a home in Rutherford, NJ

When a storm hits and your home loses power many people turn to a portable generator. Although generators may seem simple enough to use many people do not know the risks of operating one. 

Using a generator indoors can kill you in minutes. The primary hazard is the likelihood of carbon monoxide poisoning from the toxic engine exhaust. Carbon monoxide does not produce an odor and is invisible to the eye. That is why it is important to practice safe handling. 

1. NEVER use a generator indoors including a garage (even with an open door). The best and only place you should place an operating generator is outdoors. Allow 5 feet of clearance around the generator. Be sure the generator exhaust fumes are away from all windows and doors to prevent travel indoors. 

2. Install carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Follow the manufacturers guidelines for correct placement and mounting height.

3. Avoid electric shock or electrocution by keeping the generator dry. Do not use in rain or wet conditions. 

4. When refueling be sure to turn off the generator and allow to cool. Spilled gasoline on the hot engine parts can ignite causing an explosion. Do not overfill tank! Leave room of fuel expansion. 

5. Never smoke near a generator. 

6. Know the output rating of your generator. To prevent overloading select the right sized generator to handle the power requirements of your appliances you wish to use. Overloading can destroy not only the generator but also your electronics and/or appliances. 

7. Never plug directly to your homes wiring or household outlets. Plug appliances directly into the generator or use a heavy duty outdoor extension cord with the correct outage to handle your appliances. Never use a cord with exposed wiring. 

STORAGE

Storage of fuel safely is just as important as operation of the generator. Store fuel outside living areas, such as a locked shed, in a properly labeled approved safety can. Use the fuel recommended in instructions for your generator. Some areas restrict the amount of fuel you may store so be sure to verify with your local fire dept. Do not store fuel near a fuel burning appliance like a natural gas water heater. 

Practice proper generator handling to keep your home & family safe!

Dealing With Hoarding

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

Homeowner with hoarding disorder affecting mitigation of water damage and mold growth.

What is hoarding?

By definition hoarding is collecting or keeping large amounts of various items in a home due to strong urges to save them or distress experienced when discarding them. It is classified as a mental disorder that usually is the result of a traumatic event or a symptom of another disorder such as depression, dementia or obsessive compulsive disorder. It is most commonly found in older adults.

Many rooms in a hoarders house are so packed with items that the room cannot be used for its intended use. This makes normal everyday living compromised. 

Hoarding can really be an issue in terms of safety and health. For one it can be a major fire hazard. In the event of a fire many occupants die due to the inability to escape the home because of blocked exits or even injuring themselves by tripping over items. Firefighters responding to a fire that is home to a a hoarder can be put at risk as well due to these obstructed exits and falling objects. It makes the search for occupants much harder and very risky. The weight of large amounts of piled up personal belongings along with the use of water to put out a fire can lead to a homes collapse. 

Along with fire safety hazards hoarding can also be detrimental to health in the event of ignored or even unnoticed water leaks that can lead to mold growth. Many times a pile of various items can hide any issues that may be going on in the home since they are blocked out of sight. It can also attract pests and rodents that can gnaw away at materials like wiring causing further safety risks. 

To prevent and respond to hoarding behavior be sure to be respectful when communicating with the individual. Instead of acknowledging the clutter focus on expressing safety concerns for not just themselves but for those around such as neighbors, family members, responders etc. The use of outside outlets to help with intervention can be beneficial and necessary.  

What Is Soot?

5/1/2018 (Permalink)

Soot found on chemical sponge.

Did you know that the highest cause of house fires is from cooking? Usually when a homeowner leaves a pot or pan unattended and then only remembers it when smoke invades their home. It may not develop into fire damage to your property but rather smoke and soot damage that usually is worse than you would think. Although your kitchen cabinetry isn’t on fire and ruined there is still some specialized clean-up needing to be done from the smoke & soot. 

Soot is a powdery, flaky substance composed of mostly carbon that is a result of incomplete combustion of materials like coal, oil and wood. Not only is it harmful but it can also be a pain to remove due to its stickiness which can cause staining if not treated properly. 

A chemical sponge is used to clean soot from walls. Commonly a chemical sponge may also reveal soot you did not notice was there. 

When treating textiles, a heavy duty vacuum must be used  before trying to clean them. Do not try to wash these in regular dry-cleaning or wash. Professional cleaners will need to use counteractants to break up smoke molecules and eliminate odors. 

It is highly recommended to hire a professional to properly handle clean-up and restoration to eliminate chances of staining and odor. 

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (201) 445-5588

How to Prevent Mold Growth After a Water Damage

4/25/2018 (Permalink)

Mold behind wainscoting.

Mold spores are everywhere! It only wrecks havoc on our life when it starts to grow in our home.  

Mold requires a few circumstances in order to grow. 

1. Warmth:

Ideal temperature is 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above. Mold does not flourish in cold temperatures. 

2. Food:

Organic matter found in sporous materials like carpet, carpet pad, drywall, wallpaper, wood materials, paper products and ceiling tiles.

3. Moisture:

Humid environments with poor circulation.

How to prevent it.

Typically when mold has these conditions present it can begin to grow within 24-48 hours. 

To prevent mold from reaching these conditions we must:

First, eliminate water ASAP.

Second, remove any saturated porous materials like carpet padding, insulation and ceiling tiles. Upholstered furniture should be removed as well since it can be a nesting ground for mold and difficult to clean. Lift carpeting to allow flooring underneath to dry out. 

Third, dry out any wet materials with fans. Keep area ventilated by opening windows and doors. 

Fourth, dry out the moisture in the air with a dehumidifier.

Fifth, sanitize walls, flooring and baseboards. Any baseboards not made of true wood should be discarded. If so made of wood detach from wall to allow drying to occur behind. 

In most cases a professional like SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is recommended to perform proper water mitigation and drying. In the event mold does grow on these materials mold remediation will need to be done safely and effectively to ensure no health risks are present. 

Most Common Types of Homeowners Claims

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

Did you know that in 2016 losses due to natural disasters in the U.S. totaled $23.8 Billion in costs. Severe thunderstorms accounted for 60% of the losses at $14 Billion.

The most common types of homeowners insurance claims policy holders will file are:

1. Theft- Unlike most of the other types of losses this one can be prevented with security measures like an alarm system, safe box or my personal favorite a dog! 

2. Wind Damage- Be sure to check trees and shrubs around your property to make sure they will not cause damage to your home. Also checking the shingles on your roof should be done yearly. 

3. Water Damage (non-weather related)- This list includes causes like a pipe burst, leaky appliance, sump pump failure or even a sewer back up. 

4. Water Damage (weather related)- This is most common in the Northeast where colder temperatures are common. Some measures can be taken to avoid instances like clearing out snow and ice to prevent buildup.

5. Hail Damage- This type is most common in the West and Midwest where golf ball sized hail can cause serious damage to property. 

Water Damage? Let's Talk Contents!

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

Move contents to a safe and dry place.

When dealing with property damage to your home one of the challenging tasks is trying to save all of your possessions.

It may be a disappointing and daunting task to itemize, photograph and list every single item for insurance reimbursement but SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County will be there to help give some guidance as well as lend a hand with the removal of any unsalvageable items. 

Here are some tips to help you figure out how to categorize your items.

Let's start with discussing what types of contents cannot be saved from water damage.

Items like food, cosmetics, medicines, medical supplies, carpet padding, stuffed animals and baby toys should never be tried to salvage. Mainly due to the risk of contamination and potential health hazards.

There are also some types of contents that can usually be saved but depending on the extent of the damage.

These are items like mattresses, pillows, large carpets, area rugs, upholstered couches & chairs, books, paper products, solid wood/metal/plastic furniture, metal utensils, pots and pans. 

Now that you have an idea of what types of items can be saved it is important that you move FAST! Make sure everything you want to save is moved to a safe dry place to prevent further damage. Time is of the essence to decrease the chances of further damage.

The things you don't want to save should be left outside to dry until your claims adjuster arrives. Sometimes your adjuster may not be able to get out for a couple of days. In the case that some of these items are things like food that will spoil or may attract rodents; make a separate pile to have discarded as soon as possible after contacting your adjuster. 

Be sure to have EVERYTHING documented as well as photographed for your adjuster to confirm all of your losses. 

We hope this provides you some help and insight when dealing with your personal items. 

We're Here To Help 24/7

3/16/2018 (Permalink)

Basement Flooded? Call Us Today- We're Ready

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.

We Answer the Phone Ready to Help
Call Today - (201) 244-0100

We understand that when you call us, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through this crisis. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration—in fact, it's the cornerstone of our business.

What to Expect

When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO Professionals may be needed.

Our SERVPRO Representative will ask several questions:

• Your name and contact information
• Your insurance information (if applicable)
• The street address of the water-damaged home or business
• When did the flooding or water damage occur?
• What caused the water damage (if known)?
• Is there electricity available (on-site)?

About SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County

SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Sometimes It Can Be Overwhelming

3/4/2018 (Permalink)

Don't try to tackle this on your own.

When That Sewer Back-up Is Too Much To Handle On Your Own.

At SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, sometimes sewer back-ups can be bad... very bad. Our IICRC certified technicians know the safest way to clean up the mess. Sewer back-ups can cause illness if not properly remediated. Let our trained technicians get the job done right for you and your family.

We'll work directly with you and in most cases, your insurance company to assure that your home is properly cleaned, deodorized and sanitized. We'll make it safe again for your family, we'll make it "Like it never even happened."

Call us, SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, your clean-up professionals.

We're here for you: 24/7 (201) 244-0100

Emergency Ready Profile

2/21/2018 (Permalink)

Our professionally trained crews are ALWAYS ready

The Best Way to Reduce Business Interruption Following a Disaster is to Plan For it NOW.

As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. Of the businesses that survive, the overwhelming majority of them had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind.

*** This a NO COST assessment of your facility ***

Important contact and phone numbers as well as insurance information, contractor, plumber, electrician and roofer info and more at your fingertips no matter where you are. If you are stuck at home and circumstances don't allow you to get to your business, you have everything you need right there with you. SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County can help you coordinate at a time when you need help the most.

A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency.

It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from your current projects.

The SERVPRO Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) could be a valuable tool to help restore your business in the shortest amount of time possible.

To set up this free service, call Tony D'Arco @ SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, CALL NOW or contact Tony via e-mail: TDarco@SERVPROparamus.com

Commercial Water Damage Events Present Unique Challenges

2/13/2018 (Permalink)

The amount of time your business remains closed is critical. At SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County, we'll work to get you open as fast as possible.

Flooding and water damage events at Bergen County commercial properties are often complex with numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response. Whether we’re dealing with a relatively small water cleanup scenario or a large scale event, we work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. In many instances, normal operations can continue in a temporary space while we restore your facility.

Restoring Commercial Properties Presents Unique Challenges

Our professionals are trained to be mindful of legal and environmental concerns and strive to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.

About SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County

SERVPRO of Paramus/Northeast Bergen County specializes in the cleanup and restoration of commercial and residential property after a water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.

Call us, 24/7 201-445-5588

Smoke and Soot Damage Can Cause Pervasive Odor in Your Home

2/13/2018 (Permalink)

Special Chem or Dry Sponges used to remove excessive soot and smoke from hard surfaces

Smoke and soot is very invasive and can penetrate various cavities within your home, causing hidden damage and odor. Our smoke damage expertise and experience allows us to inspect and accurately assess the extent of the damage to develop a comprehensive plan of action.  

Smoke and soot facts:

• Hot smoke migrates to cooler areas and upper levels of a structure.
• Smoke flows around plumbing systems, seeping through the holes used by pipes to go from floor to floor.
• The type of smoke may greatly affect the restoration process.

Different Types of Smoke

There are two different types of smoke–wet and dry. As a result, there are different types of soot residue after a fire. Before restoration begins, SERVPRO of Northeast Bergen County will test the soot to determine which type of smoke damage occurred. The cleaning procedures will then be based on the information identified during pretesting. Here is some additional information:

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber

• Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary. Smoke webs are more difficult to clean.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood

• Fast burning, high temperatures, heat rises therefore smoke rises.

Protein Fire Residue – Produced by evaporation of material rather than from a fire

• Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor. 

Our Fire Damage Restoration Services

Since each smoke and fire damage situation is a little different, each one requires a unique solution tailored for the specific conditions.  We have the equipment, expertise, and experience to restore your fire and smoke damage.  We will also treat your family with empathy and respect and your property with care.

Have Questions about Fire, Smoke, or Soot Damage?
Call Us Today – (201) 244-0100

What are The Common Causes Of an Ugly Ceiling Stain?

1/23/2018 (Permalink)

Residential Restoration Cleaning

Nothing can be more annoying than finding an ugly looking water stain on your ceiling every time you look up. If you are like most home owners, this ceiling stain will keep on bugging you until fixed. The first step in this direction should be to find the source. However, finding the real culprit can be difficult, inspecting the surrounding areas of the ceiling stain can be a good place to start with. Identifying the cause can also determine whether it can be solved with a DIY project or a residential restoration cleaning company would be required.

If you see that the damage has reached a larger area, don’t delay in calling a professional restoration company. Whether you need to call a local plumber or a roofing company, do so immediately.

What are the common causes of ceiling water damage?

Pipe leak - The most common reason for a water damage is a leaking pipe running under floors and behind walls. When you’re trying to identify what caused the ceiling stain, check the roof, the floor above and even the floorboards. If you hear the sound of running water, then you can guess that the reason is a leaking pipe. Keep in mind that a leaky pipe or fixture can leak onto a board at one spot and run along the board for a surprisingly long distance before the water drops onto the ceiling tiles below. The leak might not be directly above the spotting in the ceiling.

Roof problems – Missing shingles or loose parts in the roof can cause the water from rain or snowfall to enter into your house. Roof problems can also include cogged ice dams during winters. A long term fix for this is to upgrade the insulation in your attic.

Worn out pipes- The plumbing system in older homes may be outdated and develop leaks more easily than others. In other cases, pipes can also “sweat” water which means that older, worn out or improperly installed pipes are causing water to drip from the pipes.

Removing the ceiling water stain

While some stains can easily be removed with a stain-killing primer and a fresh paint, others will require the professional skills of a residential restoration cleaning company. It may also require replacing a large part of your ceiling. If not, the problem will keep occurring.

The ceiling stain will be completely removed only after the source has been eliminated, otherwise you’ll find yourself in the same situation. Once the source has been dealt with, the ceiling will require a structural repair. Whether you decide to call a professional house cleaning company or conduct a DIY project, ensure that the problem is fixed thoroughly.

Preventing future ceiling stains

Addressing ceiling stains is not a task you’ll  enjoy tremendously, but delaying it will only bring you bigger problems down the road. The longer the damage is left to sit on the ceiling, the damage will continue to grow and become a serious problem requiring major structural changes.

Once the stain has been repaired, you can prevent it from happening again by keeping the moisture levels low. This also prevents mould growth and bacterial infestations. Also have a professional roofing contractor perform an inspection to ensure that it’s in good condition and not at risk for any leaks.

Sewage cleanup – why you should depend on professionals to do it right

12/20/2017 (Permalink)

sewage removal services

Even a minor plumbing problem can cause serious menace around the house and force the homeowners to treat the problem themselves with a mop, bucket and perhaps some bleach. Such minor water cleanup problems can be solved without professional help, but when it comes to sewage backup, it cannot be solved with a simple DIY project.

Sewage water is toxic. Sewage backup contains harmful bacteria and other dangerous elements that pose serious health risks to anyone exposed to it. Many a times, homeowners believe that treating problems such as a pipe burst or standing waste water lies within their capabilities, the truth however, is that water cleanupshould be best left to professionals to ensure safety and best outcomes.

Read on to know more about this dangerous sewage backups and why you should let professionals take care of it.

Why Sewage backups are dangerous?

Most sewage backup occurs when the lateral line between your home and the main sewage line gets blocked. The most common reasons for this are old worn out pipes, tree roots, and rain water that causes soil to shifty and block the lateral line. When standing sewage gets accumulated, you are exposed to morbid viruses, bacteria, fungi and deadly parasites. There have been cases where people have been affected by diseases like Hepatitis A and Encephalitis due to exposure to toxic sewage backups.  Hence, it is important to address the problem as early as possible and call for professional sewage removal services.

Why should you let the professionals do it?

• Professionals follow a strict protocol

Proper sewage cleanup involves interrelated procedures which the professionals are trained to undertake. Raw sewage and the clogs which originate from deep within the plumbing can damage the structure of your house permanently. Unorganized and amateur attempts can magnify the problems. The professional companies providing specialized sewage removal services operate according to strict standards, minimizing further damages, and unclog pipes and prevent it from happening again.  

• Professionals use special equipment

Professionals make use of special equipment including commercial grade vacuums and pumps to safely remove contaminated water. These hi-tech machinery is available only with professional companies and require professional handling for which their technicians are trained.

• Professionals discard contaminated property

Items such a furniture or carpets, that may have come in contact with sewage water and pose health risks, should be identified and discarded. Your cleaning crew will have the expertise to identify the items which are salvageable and the ones which must be removed.

• Professionals will sanitize your house

The cleaning job should be followed by sanitizing the entire house to completely get rid of the lingering microbes. Sanitization is also important to prevent mold growth, which causes its own host of health problems. Also, there are several infected areas in the house which can only be accessed by experts. By using the right cleaning methods and agents, the professionals will clean the crevasses, ducts and other difficult-to-access-areas, leaving your house fully sanitized and safe to occupy.

What can you do until professionals arrive at your doorstep?

It is recommended that all the members stay away from the sewage accumulation. However, until help arrives, owners can take small steps to ensure safety. These can include – turning off the electricity, shutting down the water lines, and avoiding the use of AC’s or heaters to prevent the circulation of contaminated dust around the house.