Recent Posts
Mastering Post-Storm Roof Inspection: Protecting Your Home from Hidden Damage
6/5/2024 (Permalink)
It’s that time of year!
After a storm passes, clear skies bring a sense of relief. However, the aftermath often leaves a trail of damage, with roofs typically bearing the brunt. Neglecting post-storm roof damage, even the most minor kind, can cause issues to grow, like leaks, mold, and structural damage. Therefore, it’s crucial for homeowners and business owners to diligently inspect their roofs after storms to reduce the chance of potential problems.
Checking your roofing system thoroughly is essential to keep your home safe, and here are some of the main steps you can take to do this:
1. Exterior Inspection
Check for Missing, Cracked, or Broken Shingles: Begin by inspecting the roof’s surface for any signs of damage to the shingles. Missing, cracked, or broken shingles can compromise the roof’s ability to shield your home from the elements. Pay close attention to vulnerable areas such as valleys and ridges. Assess Gutters and Downspouts: Next, evaluate the condition of your gutters and downspouts. Remove any debris accumulated during the storm, as clogged gutters can impede proper drainage. Also, ensure that gutters are still securely attached to the fascia board and free of damage that could inhibit water flow. Look for Any Indication of Water Pooling: Scan the roof's surface for signs of pooling or standing water. This can indicate inadequate drainage or structural damage. Address any areas where water has collected, as prolonged pooling can accelerate deterioration and compromise the roof’s structural integrity.
2. Interior Inspection
Beyond an external evaluation, looking inside is just as crucial for finding possible leaks and water damage. Here is a thorough breakdown: Ceilings and Walls Visual Examination: Inspect ceilings and walls for water stains, discoloration, or any signs of moisture. These indications often signal the presence of roof leaks requiring immediate attention. Water Stains: Identify any visible water stains that may have penetrated through the roof due to storm damage. Addressing water stains promptly is essential to prevent further structural issues. Signs of Leaks: Carefully examine for any active leaks or dampness, as these can cause structural damage if left unattended. Attic Inspection: Conduct a detailed attic assessment for signs of water intrusion, including damp insulation, water spots, or visible leaks.
Remember, storms pass, but damage doesn’t always. Storms can bring with them water damage and potential mold issues. If you find any storm damage affecting your house or business and need help with water or mold remediation, call us at SERVPRO of Greater Boulder, Broomfield, Arvada at (303) 494-2000. We are here for you 24/7, 365 days a year.
Grill Season Safety: Essential Tips for Accident-Free Outdoor Cooking"
6/5/2024 (Permalink)
It's officially grill season! As you fire up your grill for outdoor cooking adventures, safety should be your top priority. Preventing accidents and fires is crucial for enjoying a hazard-free grilling experience. Whether you prefer a gas grill or charcoal grill, following these essential safety tips will ensure your outdoor cooking remains enjoyable and incident-free:
Gas Grill Safety:
Check for Leaks: Before lighting a propane grill, inspect the gas tank for leaks. Apply a soapy water solution to the connections and look for bubbles forming. If you detect a leak, address it before proceeding.
Keep the Lid Open: Always ensure the gas grill lid is open before igniting it. This prevents gas buildup and potential flare-ups.
Location Matters: Place the grill a safe distance away from your home, deck railings, and overhanging branches. Avoid enclosed spaces to minimize fire hazards.
Children and Pets: Maintain a safe distance of at least three feet between the grilling area and children or pets to prevent burns and accidents.
Charcoal Grill Safety:
Use Charcoal Starter Fluid Safely: Stick to charcoal starter fluid only. Never add additional fluid or other flammable liquids to the fire once it's lit.
Avoid Moving the Grill: After lighting the charcoal grill, refrain from moving it to prevent accidents and spills.
Fire Extinguisher: Keep a fire extinguisher nearby and know how to use it in case of unexpected flare-ups.
General Grilling Safety Tips:
Clean Your Grill: Remove grease or fat buildup from grates and trays after each use to prevent fire hazards.
Cooling Coals: Allow charcoal coals to cool completely before disposing of them in a metal container to prevent fires.
Never Leave Unattended: Whether gas or charcoal, never leave the grill unattended while in use. Stay vigilant and monitor the cooking process.
By following these guidelines, you'll enjoy your outdoor meals without unnecessary risks. However, accidents can happen. In case of grilling mishaps like fires or smoke damage, don't hesitate to call SERVPRO of Greater Boulder for help:
24-Hour Help Line: 303-494-2000
Stay safe and enjoy your grilling adventures!
Flooding Strikes Greater Boulder, CO
8/30/2023 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is always here to help. Call our office 24/7 at 303-494-2000
Floods, a relentless force of nature, stand as one of the most prevalent and far-reaching natural disasters in the United States. These events spare no location, affecting communities near coastlines, urban areas, mountains, rivers, and even deserts. The potential for flood damage is a constant concern, and its impact is felt across a diverse range of landscapes. Delving into the statistics and realities, we uncover the profound significance of flood-related challenges and the imperative need for preparedness and response.
The Unpredictable Reach of Flood Damage
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) has revealed that flood-related claims are not confined to high-risk areas alone. Surprisingly, nearly a quarter of last year's claims were from communities categorized as moderate to low-risk in terms of flood vulnerability. This underscores the unpredictable nature of floods and their potential to disrupt lives and properties, even in areas not traditionally associated with high flood risk.
SERVPRO's Expertise in Flood Restoration
With over decades of experience, SERVPRO of Greater Boulder has emerged as a leading force in flood restoration. Our extensive history spans coast to coast, offering restoration services for flood-damaged homes and businesses. The hallmark of our response lies in our Global Disaster Recovery Team, a specialized unit equipped to tackle the most formidable storms and highest floodwaters. This unique expertise enables us to provide effective restoration and recovery solutions even in the face of the most challenging flood-related scenarios.
Our SERVPRO-certified technicians stand as a beacon of hope, ready to assist and restore, ensuring that communities have the resources and support they need to navigate the tumultuous waters of flood-related challenges. Reach out to SERVPRO of Greater Boulder at 303-494-2000. We're here to support you!
SERVPRO of Greater Boulder’s Post Construction Cleaning
8/30/2023 (Permalink)
At SERVPRO of Greater Boulder, we recognize the importance of ensuring your completed projects shine at their best. Our dedicated team is here to offer comprehensive post construction cleaning services, ensuring that your residential or commercial spaces are not only structurally sound but also aesthetically impeccable.
Understanding the Essence of Post Construction Cleaning
When the final nails are driven in, and the finishing touches are added, a crucial step follows - post construction cleaning. This pivotal phase involves the meticulous removal of debris and dirt, setting the stage for the final elements of interior design, including carpeting, painting, and decoration. SERVPRO-certified professionals specialize in the essential task of debris removal, which lays the foundation for a visually stunning and functional space.
Unveiling the Power of Final Cleaning Services
Final cleaning services are when you want the facility to look its best when the doors open. Your local SERVPRO-certified professionals provide cleaning services to give the building that extra shine. These services include showcase carpet cleaning; hard floor cleaning; ceiling walls and fixture cleaning; deodorization; air duct cleaning; debris removal; window cleaning.
Construction projects can sometimes lead to excessive moisture accumulation within the building, potentially leading to mold growth. Recognizing this challenge, SERVPRO of Greater Boulder extends its support with specialized Dehumidification and Drying services. Our experts work diligently to eliminate moisture, mitigating the risk of mold growth and preserving the integrity of your completed project.
Your Trusted Partner in Post Construction Excellence
Armed with comprehensive training and cutting-edge tools, SERVPRO of Greater Boulder professionals are poised to support your project through its final phases. Whether it's debris removal, comprehensive cleaning, or moisture control, our team is primed to ensure that your vision becomes a reality. Reach out to us today at 303-494-2000, and let's discuss how we can elevate your finished projects to unprecedented levels of excellence.
The Most Common Incidents That Spark House Fires | SERVPRO® of Greater Boulder
5/19/2023 (Permalink)
When fire disaster strikes, call SERVPRO of Greater Boulder to help get your home or business back in action.
No one wants to think about experiencing a house fire. They can be minor inconveniences or can be widespread enough to cause life-altering damage. In fact, more than 350,000 homes suffer damages due to house fires every year in the United States.
In order to keep your family safe and property intact, it is important to understand the most common locations and situations that spark house fires. Once you are armed with this knowledge, you can make simple changes around your home to reduce your house fire risk.
Kitchen Accidents
Half of all house fires start in the kitchen. That shouldn’t be too surprising since we all use heat and flame to cook our food almost every day.
When heat, flammable material or grease come together, a dangerous fire situation can occur without much forewarning.
When you are making your family a meal, do not leave the kitchen. Even if you only want to step away for a minute, that’s all it takes for a wandering spark to catch a towel on fire or for a grease fire to erupt. While you are in the kitchen, try to keep anything flammable far away from the flames or heat, and keep a lid nearby that you can quickly throw over a fire to snuff it out.
Electrical Malfunctions
Electrical fires often happen with no advanced notice. If you have faulty appliances or worn-out electrical wiring, you might not know until the flames are spreading throughout your room. Older homes are usually more vulnerable to electrical fires due to the age of the wiring behind the walls, but any home’s electrical box can become overwhelmed or malfunction.
In addition, lightning strikes can also impact your home. If a lightning bolt hits your house and travels down through your electrical current to reach the ground, the heat it produces can start an electrical fire that can quickly make its way through your house.
Heat- and Smoke-Related Incidents
Thankfully, we are on the upswing in terms of warmer weather right now, but space heaters and portable heaters also hold a significant fire risk. You should never leave them plugged in overnight or in a room that you are not in. A child or pet can easily overturn one and start a fire immediately.
Fires caused by cigarettes are often fatal and can cause disastrous effects for the whole family. Try not to smoke in your house, and certainly do not smoke in bed or when you are tired. Falling asleep while a cigarette is lit can be dangerous for your entire sleeping family.
No matter how your house fire starts, SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is here to help. We will quickly assess the damage and work hard to return your home to its preloss condition with ease and efficiency.
We can help you recover from a house fire. Contact us at SERVPRO of Greater Boulder.
Avoid Water Damage When the Snow Melts
3/6/2023 (Permalink)
If you experience water damage as a result of frozen pipes, SERVPRO® of Greater Boulder is Here to Help make the damage "Like it never even happened."
We are so grateful to see spring on the horizon! As Coloradans, we appreciate the winter season, but it is nice to see the seasons change and the warmer weather return. With that, it is important to do all you can to avoid water damage during the spring thaw.
When the snow starts to melt and the ice begins to thaw, it is crucial that you are ready to handle the excess water to keep your home and property dry.
Keep the Water Moving
The best way to keep water out of your home and away from your basement is to encourage it to flow down and away from your property. Make sure your gutters are clear and free of debris, ice chunks or snowpack. This may be hard to do if your gutters are frozen solid right now, but once it starts to break up, get up on a ladder and clear it all away!
Heavy snow accumulations and ice dams can also be detrimental to your roof. Try to keep snow off of your roof by removing it after each storm, and do a full investigation of your roof and shingles as soon as you are able. This allows you to catch any damage quickly so you can address the situation right away.
Be Prepared
As the snow begins to melt away, we are at risk of all different kinds of scenarios! Since we are in the foothills of the mountains, runoff can quickly become a problem and flash flooding is possible at any time.
Make sure the storm drains near your property are clear of blockages and get anything up off of the ground that you don’t want to get wet. Even just an inch of water where it shouldn’t be can cause devastating effects.
Anything that is not waterproof or tied down should be placed up high in your garage or moved inside your home, and certainly do not leave any personal keepsakes or possessions in a position to be ruined.
Preventing Further Damage
If you do end up walking down into your basement and discovering standing water, don’t panic! While the situation may seem overwhelming right now, your SERVPRO of Greater Boulder team can handle the cleanup. Give us a call right away, and we will work hard to ensure your home is returned to its pre-damaged state.
The faster you call us, the better chance you have of avoiding long-term or structural damage to your home. Over time, lingering water or moisture can lead to mold growth, degradation of your beams or walls and even destroyed concrete over time. We are ready to handle your water disaster any day of the week!
Did the melting snow make its way into your home? We are here to help.
Late Summer Fire Safety in Boulder County, CO
8/31/2022 (Permalink)
Leaves, pine needles, and other debris puts your home in danger of being affected by a fire.
It is summertime in Colorado! While we all love the fun activities that come with this time of year, it is important to remember that fire danger is also a lot higher. Feel safe leaving home to go paddleboard at Gand Lake for the day by prepping your house or business to be able to withstand a fire, should it come your way!
FEMA has some great recommendations on how to protect your property:
Roof
Roofs are the most at risk part of your property! Shingles and other roofing materials should use Class A non combustible materials. Eaves should have short overhangs and flat edging. Embers can catch on lifted edges or eaves, starting a fire.
Vents
Install metal wire mesh to catch embers and keep them from blowing into your vents. Place fire blocks into the foundation and vents to starve any fire of oxygen and prevent fire from spreading.
Debris
Create defensible space around your home or business to reduce risk of a fire reaching your property. 30 feet surrounding your home should be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible materials. Regularly clear out debris from gutters and rooftops.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-11/fema_protect-your-property_wildfire.pdf
Should you be in need of assistance following a fire at your property, SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is here for you! Call SERVPRO for help with fire damage at (303)494-2000 day or night 365 days a year.
Tips to Stay Safe in Case of a Residential Flood in Boulder County
8/31/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO can help with flooded floors and basements in Boulder and Superior CO.
Damage inside of a house is always frustrating but one of the most stressful situations a homeowner can deal with is a residential flood. In the middle of a disaster like a flooded home, it can be hard to figure out where to start when it comes to cleaning up and restoring the damaged area. That is where SERVPRO of Greater Boulder comes in. We are ready to help when called and highly trained in property damage restoration and water damage specifically.
Here are some steps that can be taken in the event of a flooded home/room to keep you and your loved ones safe:
- Make sure the floor is secure before you start walking through the water or wet areas
- If there is an exposed plug underneath the water, do not walk in that area because electricity can travel through water
- Call SERVPRO of Greater Boulder to help clean up the flooded area
- Wet floors might be slick so walk slowly to avoid falling and sustaining injuries
https://www.ready.gov/floods
We want to make tough situations as easy as possible for the homeowner and reduce the amount of stress they may be feeling. Call SERVPRO of Greater Boulder for help with water damage at (303)494-2000.
Why You Should Call SERVPRO of Greater Boulder for Your Restoration Needs
8/31/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is the caring team you need to make your home or business "Like it never even happened."
Unfortunately, life sometimes throws us a curveball. Whether it’s mold in your basement, a leaky toilet in the bathroom, a fire in the kitchen, or a storm that blows the roof off of your home. Every one of us may find ourselves in emergency situations that call for quick reactions. If any of these things happen to you, we want you to be prepared and know how to contact the best in the business.
In cases where a home or business structure in Boulder is being compromised by unhealthy and/or unsafe conditions, SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is the-fast-response you need to get relief.
Chaotic situations should be handled by professionals with the right tools to do the job efficiently. When you are choosing your clean-up and restoration specialist, you may be considering a few important things such as:
- Convenient location
- 24/7 availability
- Professionalism
- Efficiency
- Honesty
- Experience
- Latest equipment
SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is the answer! In the midst of chaos, remember, we’re here to help. We want to make the clean-up process as easy as possible for you. SERVPRO of Greater Boulder has trained professionals who are quick to respond and apply the latest equipment and techniques to make your disaster in Boulder look “Like it never even happened.” Call SERVPRO of Greater Boulder at (303)494-2000 for help today.
Who Are You Going To Call?
8/31/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO can help you restore your commercial or residential property after a storm.
Winter is coming. But it’s not here yet! Make sure you’re prepared before you’re in a crisis due to a winter storm. SERVPRO of Greater Boulder is the restoration company you want on your side when you’re in need.
Winter storms are a common occurrence in Boulder and can happen with little or no advanced warning. Snow and ice buildup on the roof or other building structure can cause water intrusion damage to your home or commercial property. SERVPRO of Greater Boulder wants residents at or near the University of Colorado to know that we are ready to respond to your storm damage call and will begin the cleanup and restoration process immediately. We have the specialized training and state-of-the-art equipment needed to restore your business or home back to pre-storm condition. Here are some of the storm and related services we offer:
We hope you never experience winter storm damage, but if you do, we want to help. We know that every minute counts when it comes to preventing storm damage repairs from becoming costly. Our team of highly trained professionals is on call 24 hours a day every day. Call us today at 303-494-2000. We’ll take care of your commercial damage or residential damage in University of Colorado “Like it never even happened.”
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