The Art of Water Restoration for Queens Floor Assemblies

3/26/2024 (Permalink)

When your Queens home has water damage, you need the help of SERVPRO. We have the manpower and equipment for every size disaster.

SERVPRO® Helps Identify Water Damage in Queens Homes

Queens, NY, has various landmarks that honor its deep-rooted history and cultural legacy. The renowned Queens Museum in the historic New York City Building displays diverse artwork and artifacts that commemorate the borough's dynamic cultural diversity. Additionally, landmarks such as the Louis Armstrong House Museum, dedicated to preserving the jazz legend's heritage, and the tranquil Queens Botanical Garden offer a peaceful retreat amidst the bustling urban environment. Queens is a melting pot of entrepreneurial spirit. Its diverse neighborhoods are dotted with businesses, including Queens Place Mall, Queens Convenience and Gift Shop, and Jamaica Colosseum Mall.

Comprehending floor assemblies is essential in water restoration for Queens Homes as it enables restoration experts to pinpoint the materials and structures impacted by water infiltration and formulate suitable restoration plans. SERVPRO crews take immediate steps to mitigate further water damage, such as extracting standing water, drying the area, and removing damaged materials. Restoration efforts may vary depending on the extent of the damage, with potential tasks including repairing or replacing affected flooring materials.

A floor assembly encompasses elements like

• Subflooring
• Padding
• Floor finishes like carpet or hardwood and engineered flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring resembles solid hardwood in appearance but is crafted from several layers of thin wood bonded together. Its surface features a thin veneer that is prefinished at the factory, including staining and sealing by the manufacturer. SERVPRO crews inspect for slight swelling of the edges of the boards, which is irreversible. SERVPRO crew performs drying when only a tiny section within an extensive, open area experiences water damage.

Subfloor Water Damage Restoration

The subflooring is the foundational support beneath the surface flooring material, such as hardwood, tile, or carpet. It comes in various materials like plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), particleboard, MDF, or concrete. Damage from water can undermine the subfloor's structural stability, resulting in problems like warping, expansion, or decay. Engineered wood subflooring materials, including plywood and oriented strand board (OSB), offer excellent durability. We use a penetrating moisture meter to determine if moisture has permeated the materials. We can gauge the moisture levels at different depths within the materials with a hammer-probe attachment. To dry, we typically employ air movers and dehumidifiers.

Prompt drying prevents many problems;

• Delamination
• Disintegration
• Swelling, warping, and buckling

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood ensures effective water restoration. Call us at (718) 381-3702. Faster to any size disaster™.

Experts for Water Restoration in Queens Residences

4/25/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood immediately to respond to your emergency! Our crew is standing by 24/7.

Psychrometry to Improve Water Restoration Speed

Drying up a home or apartment in the city takes more than having the equipment to meet the demand. Therefore, we educate our SERVPRO field team in psychrometry or the behavior of water in disaster situations. An understanding of this topic is critical for effective and efficient restoration practices. 

Understanding the Behavior of Water 

Water restoration for Queens homes hinges significantly on understanding how water behaves in specific situations. Environmental factors, impacted materials, and the volume of water can all play an essential part in how we prepare to overcome the impact of water moving and migrating through a residence. The principles of psychrometry include the following: 

• Wet Goes to Dry - One of the clearest examples of psychrometry is water migration to the dry materials around it. Pooling water continually spreads as long as possible, making containment vital in managing drying zones. 
• Hot Goes to Cold - Temperature plays an essential factor in the drying process, so when the heat of an area is moving to find cooler spaces, the drying process slows. Regulating temperature is vital to dry wet rooms effectively. 
• High Pressure Seeks Low Pressure - Wet materials have a higher pressure than the dry air around these impacted elements. Evaporation pushes high pressure to these low-pressure regions, raising the humidity.  

Using Psychrometry to Speed Up Drying

We can better establish an effective and efficient recovery solution by understanding what to expect from water and how the structure responds to the drying processes. For example, knowing how humidity and trapped moisture migrate in the household, we can manipulate conditions to promote continual and steady evaporative drying. 

Our educated and experienced SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team can help with end-to-end water damage cleanup and drying. Call us at (718) 381-3702.

Water Damage to Any Queens Property Calls for Skilled Restoration

3/30/2023 (Permalink)

Water can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Contact SERVPRO for water damage mitigation in your Queens home.

SERVPRO Helps Queens Home and Business Owners with Water Damage

Hiring a water restoration professional generates the best result when you experience damage brought on by flash flooding or burst pipes from an upstairs bathroom. A significant amount of damage can come from water infiltration, especially if it seeps into your building materials, behind walls, and saturates your belongings. SERVPRO features franchises nationwide, including Disaster Ready crews available for dispatch as needed during emergencies. You can always look to us to help at your commercial and residential property for all your water restoration needs!

It would help if you took action promptly to reduce water damage in Queens. While some people wish to try the do-it-yourself way by cleaning up water with a mop and bucket or shop vac, skilled technicians know how to limit the loss, locate hidden moisture, and perform specialized cleaning to get the results you deserve.

SERVPRO Wants Area Customers to Know the Benefits of Hiring Our Skilled Team

Advanced Equipment

Our Green Fleet arrives filled with the best tools and equipment that allow our technicians to handle water removal services and water damage repair with ease. Some of the pieces we have readily available include:

• Wet/dry vacuums
• Submersible pumps
• Truck-mounted extractors
• Moisture detection tools; sensors, meters, and thermal imaging
• Air scrubbers with HEPA filters
• Injecti-dry system
• Centrifugal air movers
• Desiccant dehumidifiers

Highly-Trained Staff

We take pride in keeping our team staffed by trained and IICRC-certified technicians ready to handle the whole gamut of restorations – water, fire, mold, and biohazard cleanup. Our team takes the necessary time to ensure everything gets done correctly, informing you through each step. We also work as a liaison with your insurance provider to assist with your water damage claim. 

Save Time and Money

You might be surprised to know how long DIY efforts can take to adequately address water damage, whether commercial or residential, regardless of the size and scope of the project. Opting to hire skilled technicians with proven processes in place allows for:

• Rapidly remove the water before it has the chance to migrate and cause secondary damage
• Ensure drying gets done in tandem with water removal services to help us achieve our overall goals
• Restore versus replace – meaning we do whatever we can to salvage contents and building materials to save money on your project

Mold Mitigation and Cleaning

Where there is any water-related incident within your property, there stands a chance that moisture creates the perfect environment for mold to thrive. Depending on how long water was left standing in your Queens property, our team may have to begin mold remediation to ensure safety with proper cleaning. We have EPA-registered cleaning solutions and antimicrobials that help us clean, disinfect, and sanitize all surfaces.

When is Controlled Demolition Necessary?

Controlled demolition gets performed by trusted area contractors so that we can ensure your property gets left “Like it never even happened.” If you have saturated drywall that is swelling, warped, or crumbling, we will need to remove it to replace it with all-new drywall. When floodwater only impacts some drywall, we may perform flood cuts a few inches above the saturated and unsalvageable portion. New drywall gets installed and finished with paint or wallpaper for a seamless look. 

We also consider any saturated carpeting, tile, hardwood, and subfloor that may call for replacement or repair. It all boils down to water damage being no match for a trained team of restoration technicians, which you will find when you put SERVPRO in your corner. 

Do you have water damage that requires attention? Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood at (718) 381- 3702. We can have a team there within hours to begin the inspection, water removal, and drying!

Things to Focus On During Water Damage Repair in Queens

11/22/2022 (Permalink)

For fast and efficient service call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood.

SERVPRO Simplifies Water Restoration in Queens Properties

It is common knowledge that water intrusion is destructive to property. However, the specific issues to expect and the necessary water damage repair processes may need to be clarified. 

Involving a professional like SERVPRO simplifies the prospects of water damage repair in Queens. We can readily identify the most vulnerable items and devise appropriate mitigation approaches. 

Things Typically Affected by Moisture:

• Carpets
• Thermal insulation
• Electronic appliances 

The effects of water exposure can be temporary or permanent. The main determinants of such outcomes are the amount of water involved and the kind of action you take. For example, water readily soaks into carpets, but when well-dried, there is no long-term effect. 

Long-Term Effects from Moisture Exposure

Other materials may not recover so well once exposed to water. Structural insulation is one such material because of its natural properties. Thermal performance in insulation materials occurs because of tiny air pockets within its structure, which have limited conductivity. When moisture replaces the pockets of air, conductivity increases, diminishing its R-value.

Other Effects of Moisture on Insulation:

• Matting
• Rusting 
• Mold growth

Water intrusion can ruin electronic appliances and entertainment systems in a property irreparably. Even waterproof or resistant items may be vulnerable because the IP ratings may be specific for a certain exposure duration or depth. Even when not directly exposed, electronics are still vulnerable because of the high humidity levels in a property after a leak. When temperatures drop, the humid air inside the items condenses, causing internal components to rust. 

Our SERVPRO crews take different steps to repair the issues caused by the intruding water. For porous materials such as carpets and wall panels, timely extraction and drying are sufficient interventions. For insulation, the action depends on the variety you have in your property - we can save fiberglass through drying but for other options such as Rockwool, removing the wet insulation is the best solution. 

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood responds to any situation involving water damage repair. You can reach us at (718) 381-3702. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

What to do with Water Damage in Your Forest Hills Walls

7/27/2022 (Permalink)

Looking for a restoration company? Look no further, SERVPRO is just a call away at (718) 381-3702.

The First Step To Any Water Damage Incident Is To Call SERVPRO

Moving furniture and noticing that your paint is warped due to a slow leak behind your bedroom wall can be a cause for concern. You may not know how long it has been there and if the moisture resulted in dangerous mold growth.

Dealing with water damage in your Forest Hills home can be dealt with quickly and effectively, using the correct measures to take care of the leak and the damage. After you stop the source of the leak, you can go about the business of removing moisture and restoring the area. After the water is gone and the area dried to pre-damaged moisture levels, you may choose to paint the area or even the entire room to create a more substantial vapor barrier should something similar happen again. 

When dealing with a slow leak, as previously mentioned, it is crucial to obtain a complete picture of how much moisture is present. SERVPRO technicians have tools to both detect moisture and determine the moisture levels within a surface. Infrared cameras can measure temperature within the drywall, finding temperature discrepancies within the material to indicate the presence of water. Technicians also use moisture sensors to detect water with and without probes, depending on the surface. Moisture sensors show how far water migrates through a character, allowing technicians to have a clear picture of restoration needs.

Moisture meters pick up the amount of moisture within a surface. Technicians use them to test the walls containing moisture and unaffected walls to determine the typical moisture content levels since materials typically contain small amounts of moisture. Over-drying, an area can lead to more problems such as warped walls. When using a moisture meter, SERVPRO restoration technicians choose the correct setting since wood and non-wood surfaces such as drywall have different readings.

After identifying the impacted area and measuring the moisture content, SERVPRO technicians move on to drying the area using air movers and dehumidifiers before making the finishing touches, such as painting the walls.

For 24/7 assistance, contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

We Are The Right Choice For Your Water Removal Services In Rego Park

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

The team responded quickly to begin assessing and cleaning up of this house after the drywall in the kitchen suffered water damage.

Unexpected Water Removal Emergency in Rego Park

Life in a highrise in Rego Park, on occasion, means your neighbor’s troubles become your own. Shared walls and your ceiling underlying another’s floor can mean a water loss suffered by one of the other owners or tenants becomes an emergency for you as well. Sorting the matter out happens eventually, but at the time water showers from a ceiling or seeps in through the baseboard, you must take action fast.

Water removal in your Rego Park residence proceeds much more smoothly when you partner with our professional water disaster recovery team. Getting the water out of a multi-unit residential building is tricky and particularly frustrating when the leak or overflow that caused the problem is ultimately out of your control. We can help extract the water from your living area quickly and use water and moisture detecting devices to make sure no further influx is probable from this event.

Water measuring two inches deep or more is a candidate for pumping. Immersible pumps, powered by gas motors, remove the water rapidly even if the electricity in the space is temporarily out of order. Our truck-mounted water extractors can also operate using power generated on board our service vehicles. SERVPRO records data concerning moisture levels in the structural components in your residence so we can move towards drying out your home after the bulk of the water exits.

It is critical to reduce moisture levels in the walls, floors, ceilings, and other building materials and fixtures. SERVPRO technicians know that if excessive moisture remains soaked into these materials, progressive deterioration leads to weakening, crumbling, and collapse. Mold growth is also a risk if moisture levels remain elevated for more than 24 to 48 hours.

SERVPRO works with your insurance company during the water removal project, keeping you informed and helping with documentation. Assistance with the claims process is crucial when your damage is secondary to a water loss in a neighbor’s residence in a multi-unit building.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood has the experience, equipment, and training to manage water removal from any residence. Call us at (718) 381-3702 when water intrudes from adjacent apartments or condominium units.

The Water Restoration Process for Carpets in Queens Homes

3/23/2022 (Permalink)

Call the professionals at SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood (718) 381-3702 to help with water restoration to your property.

Special Tools Are Needed for Water Removal and Cleanup for Carpets in Queens Residences

There are multiple pieces of equipment in our inventory specifically designed for removing standing water and trapped moisture from flooring materials. Carpets can require some of these designed tools. 

Eliminating Surface Pooling

First, when addressing water restoration in Queen's residences is eliminating surface water with extractors. There are several types for this like: 

• Vacuums
• Pumps
• Drying Tools

We must also pull moisture from the carpet and pad with special carpet wands. These high-strength extensions extract the majority of trapped water. 

Weighted Extractors

We have many effective tools to overcome standing water and trapped moisture within the carpet materials. Weighted extractors use the physical weight of the restorer to push plates against the surface layer and padding. The process will squeeze water out as it presses firmly into the solid subflooring to an onboard vacuum. 

Floating the Carpet

Another effective solution for drying and restoring carpet and floors in the home is to place low-profile centrifugal air movers between the carpet and padding layers. The objective of this process is to dry both of these materials simultaneously. When effective, floating the carpet can make the difference in preventing the tear out and replacement of these flooring elements.

Is the Subflooring Damaged?

A question that must be asked when we get water restoration underway for homes and apartments in the city is whether the subflooring has become damaged or not. Many multi-story structures feature concrete subflooring, making the restoration process less complicated by removing standing water and preventing moisture migration to other areas. When an OSB board or plywood is the subflooring, these are more susceptible to absorption and saturation. These considerations must be made when drying the structure to prevent damp pockets from going unnoticed.

Carpets are a standard installation for homes and apartments, so it is a material that can become damaged when pipes leak or appliances malfunction. Give our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood roster a call to help you mitigate loss and dry up the damage at (718) 381-3702.

When Water Damage Issues Appear In Your Kew Gardens Home Our Experts Can Help

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

For professional water cleanup services, contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702.

Professional Water Cleanup For Kew Gardens Residents

Discovering large quantities of water in your residence is the last thing a homeowner wants. By using a professional service, you can get your home back to its pre-damage condition. We have an outstanding reputation in the restoration industry and specialize in repairing water-related issues. Using a combination of know-how and industry-leading training and equipment, we can make the damage "Like it never even happened."

One of the core services we provide is water cleanup in Kew Gardens and the surrounding area. These services incorporate cleaning, drying, and deodorizing a property after excess water has entered the home. By acting quickly, we can reduce the damage caused by a water spill. Our local technicians can arrive on-site in as little as four hours from loss notification.

The most reliable of dealing with a water issue is by establishing a closed system. Closed systems involve quarantining an affected area through physical barriers. The benefit of utilizing a closed system is that we do not risk humid air traveling throughout the house. The closed system enables us to focus on a smaller surface area, resulting in faster drying times. SERVPRO also gauges water migration using thermal imaging cameras to determine the drying zone's size.

One of the rules in water cleanup is to remove stained furniture while the item is wet. SERVPRO has various chemical agents to assist our techs during the cleaning process. These agents range from potent disinfectants to light sanitizers. Depending on the sensitivity of the materials we are cleaning, we can opt for non-harmful or corrosive cleaners to help remove stainings or reduce potential damages.

Once a property is thoroughly dried, most of the odor dissipates naturally. Sometimes water may disturb pre-existing issues. In this case, SERVPRO may need to place pellets or even look at fumigating the affected zone using thermal fogging equipment. However, in most cases, finishing surfaces with a light, non-toxic air freshener can mask an odor until it dissipates naturally.

Contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood for professional water cleanup services at (718) 381-3702.

What in Forest Hills Homes Needs Repairs After Burst Pipes?

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

When pipes burst, a large amount of water can quickly enter your home. Call our certified SERVPRO team for water damage repair services.

Several areas become directly impacted by severe water damage in Forest Hills houses.

There are many causes of plumbing damage and burst pipes, from frozen pipes to air hammers after pressure fluctuations. When homes contend with these emergencies, it is important to trust our SERVPRO team's fast response to help. 

Prolonged Moisture and Dampness Threats

Water damage repair in Forest Hills often focuses on water's effect on materials like drywall and wood trim. Because the water can overwhelm all related materials so quickly, elements like drywall become oversaturated and require removal. Controlled demolition helps to prevent:

• Mold
• Mildew
• Structural deterioration
• Collapse

Saturated Insulation 

Insulation exists within the wall assemblies and systems, especially those wall cavities between the living area and the outside. Burst pipes within these assemblies can spread fast to threaten materials like insulation. In most cases, drying is not worth the time. We have a special insulation vacuum to remove the material and ultimately replace it.

Broken Plumbing

Another needed repair that our SERVPRO team must address after burst pipes is fixing the damaged lines themselves. Broken pipes must be resolved right away because the service to the house cannot be recharged and re-pressurized until the line can withstand more than 20 psi, and in most residences, even more than this minimum.

Wet Carpeting

Carpeting can quickly absorb water and become oversaturated. It is not difficult for carpeted floors to be heavily damaged quickly when saturation moves beyond the upper layer of material and extends to the padding and subflooring underneath. Burst pipes introduce hundreds or even thousands of gallons of water that can rapidly migrate to challenging positions.

Burst pipes can be especially hard on a house. With a general contractor license and experience in repairs and build-back, there are many ways that our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team can help after substantial water damage. Give our professionals a call today at (718) 381-3702.

Using Humidity Data to Make Drying Efficient in Forest Hills Homes

11/4/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO techs maneuver air moving equipment to facilitate the drying process in Forest Hills area homes. Monitoring humidity plays a key role.

Using several tools and practices, we can make drying and cleanup efficient in Forest Hills properties.

Multiple measurements and calculations go into thoroughly drying and restoring a home after water damage. Removing trapped moisture and water from building materials and the environment involves direct management of humidity. Drying principles, when manipulated appropriately, can make for highly efficient and thorough evaporation practices.

The Role of Humidity

Humidity is the measure of moisture in the environment and can indicate the damage requiring water removal in Forest Hills homes. Calculating and tracking the presence and level of humidity in the atmosphere can determine the type of drying and water removal tactics necessary to restore the house. Each of the primary drying principles must be in balance for the most efficient solutions, so humidity must be measured against:

• Airflow
• Temperature
• Affected Materials in Workspace

The Humidity Capacity

The capacity of moisture in the environment is a necessary piece of knowledge to regulate how much work must be done to return a building to favorable conditions. Temperature greatly dictates the humidity ratio, or the capacity for air to hold moisture. As the temperature increases, the capacity for water in the environment increases as well.

Measuring Relative Humidity and Seeking Balance

Just because a specific environment can hold a certain amount of moisture does not indicate that the workspace is fully saturated. As drying and dehumidification begin, this relative humidity RH will start to lower. The relative humidity is a percentage of actual moisture in each environment against the capacity for moisture determined by the humidity ratio. This knowledge helps to track the progress of drying as we continue to restore your property.

With experienced restoration professionals ready 24/7, trust our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team to efficiently mitigate loss and restore your home to preloss condition after water damages. Call us today at (718) 381-3702.

Burst Pipes in Forest Hills Means Calling Trained Technicians for Water Cleanup

9/16/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the experienced technicians with the equipment and expertise your home needs after a water catastrophe. Give us a call right away.

SERVPRO Offers 24/7 Water Cleanup to Ensure Your Forest Hills Property Gets the Attention it Needs!

Plumbing accidents like burst pipes can leave behind a terrible mess. Not only will there be standing water that fills your basement, bathroom, or any other location it took place, but you also need to act fast to prevent secondary damage and black mold growth. Many Forest Hills homeowners may not realize that tremendous damage can occur within 48 hours of the initial water incident. To get the results you need and deal with the flooding fast, you need SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”

At SERVPRO, our skilled technicians work using advanced equipment to help mitigate water issues so that your interior is like-new once again. After you have a significant water issue on your hands, we can arrive within hours of your call to begin the water cleanup project in Forest Hills. Until we get to your home, the best steps to take include:

• Turn off the water using the supply valve or main water shut off.
• Go to a nearby faucet and turn it on to open it up, even if just a slow trickle that releases pipe pressure.
• Call in our expert team at SERVPRO so that we can get our Green Fleet ready to head to your property.
• In some cases, you can work to pull up water with old towels or a mop and bucket until our team arrives. However, if the water includes contaminants, it is best to leave it alone until we arrive.
• If possible, turn on ceiling fans or open up a window to facilitate better airflow and wait for our arrival.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood offers prompt water cleanup and proven methods for drying that far exceed anything that DIY efforts could achieve. Contact us 24/7 by calling (718) 381-3702.

What Can SERVPRO Do to Remediate My Water Damage in Forest Hills?

7/27/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO uses EPA-approved chemical agents for the water damage restoration process. Call now for the help you need.

Our Experts Can Resolve Your Water Damage Issues with Cutting Edge Techniques. 

When you experience a water-related event at your Forest Hills residence, you must resolve the resulting issues as soon as possible. This is when the right equipment and techniques come into play. Fortunately, SERVPRO has the requisite resources to quickly address the situation and limit water damage.

SERVPRO regularly handles water damage in Forest Hills. We provide impacted residents with emergency water damage services to successfully remediate, among other things, burst pipes, ceiling leaks, and basement flooding. When doing so, our highly experienced technicians employ all the latest cutting-edge equipment and methods to get the job done right and in less time than other water damage remediation services. 

Some of the advanced techniques we use to resolve your water damage are:

• Arriving on-site within four hours to rapidly remove any standing water with powerful wet vacs and extractors
• Strategically setting up a network of state-of-the-art air movers, dehumidifiers, and Injectidry systems to swiftly dry out your home’s interiors
• Employing advanced foggers and injection devices to treat impacted areas and household contents
• Disinfecting and deodorizing water-damaged structural elements and contents with EPA-approved chemical agents

With all that said, if you ever need help overcoming the effects of water damage, rest assured that there is a service that can assist you. Contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 whenever you need us.

Get Professional Water Cleanup Services in Queens from SERVPRO

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

Water damage restoration is a specialty of SERVPRO. We have the equipment and manpower for any size disaster.

Queens Residents look to SERVPRO for Water Damage Restoration of their homes 

The aftermath of water damage can leave any Queens homeowner in a state of despair and confusion. Seeking the help of professional restorers is the best thing you can do in such a situation. A team of SERVPRO restoration experts can begin the restoration process as soon as we hear from you. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

Drying is a major step during the water damage remediation process at your Queens home. As a surface dries, moisture evaporates, and the surface cools down, causing the rate of evaporation to fall over time. SERVPRO technicians use heated air to increase the humidity ratio of the air, thereby speeding up the drying process. 

What Heating Equipment do SERVPRO Techs Use During Water Damage Repair of Your Queens Home? 

SERVPRO restorers use heat and air exchange drying systems to reduce the drying time during the water damage remediation process. Some of the equipment we use to achieve this include:

• Portable electric heaters: Used to direct heated air toward a particular area. Most of these units use heat exchangers to transfer heat from electrically heated coils to air streams produced by air moving equipment
• Indirect fired furnaces: Takes dry outside air, heats it, and introduces it into the drying zone. These systems can heat the entire structure and speed up the drying process. Such systems are usually set up outside your Queens home.

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for fast and efficient service. 

Should Queens’s Homeowners Do Their Own Water Damage Cleanup?

4/12/2021 (Permalink)

A water intrusion is no easy clean-up. SERVPRO has the means and equipment for any size water restoration service needed.

Letting SERVPRO provide water damage restoration is a better option.

Homeowners often think cleaning up a simple water intrusion from something like burst pipes is the best option. That is not always the case. There are excellent reasons for hiring a professional water removal service company like SERVPRO.

Benefits of Professional Water Damage Remediation

When your ceiling leaks or your basement floods and you need water cleanup in your Queen’s home, using a qualified water restoration company is wise. The benefits of employing SERVPRO include:

•    Insurance Company – Your insurance company may cover the cost of things like basement flooding clean-up if you use a professional company.

•    Safety – Safety should always be a top consideration. Certified specialists know what safety concerns to look for when dealing with water.

•    Efficiency – Fast mitigation is vital to prevent secondary damage. We do a scope on arrival and then hit the ground running.

•    Commercial-Equipment – Most homeowners do not have the industrial-strength equipment needed for water damage remediation

Do-it-yourself water cleanup takes time. Time that allows the water to begin to do more damage and cause problems like mold. Contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for expert water removal services. 

Faulty Appliances Can Lead to Water Damage Repair in Forest Hills

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

Kitchen appliances tend to spring a leak. Call SERVPRO for the water remediation service no matter the size.

SERVPRO provides water clean up when appliances cause in-home flooding

HVAC systems, water heaters, and overflowing bathtubs all some of the common causes of household flooding. Appliances can also be a major cause of water intrusions. 

Professional Water Removal Services

The three appliances that cause the most water damage problems to Forest Hills homes, and call for water damage repair services, are:

• Dishwashers
• Refrigerators with ice makers
• Washing machines

When these appliances are faulty, thousands of gallons of water can pour into your home rapidly. When this happens, you need water damage remediation fast! Here are some tips to prevent flooding from happening:

• Refrigerators with Ice Makers – The copper water line that supplies water to the ice maker can become unattached or develop leaks. Check it occasionally to ensure there are no problems.
• Washing Machines – Burst supply lines are typically the problem here. Check them often for pinholes, wetness, or cracks.
• Dishwashers – Supply lines can leak, causing moisture intrusion. Dishwashers can back up, which can lead to requiring water cleanup.

If you need water removal services after a faulty appliance sends water all over the place, contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702. We can assist with all types of water restoration needs, including basement flooding cleanup.

Bachata Beginner for Queens Couples

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

Water damage is no laughing matter. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for the water mitigation services needed for your property.

Learn Everything about Salsa from a Passionate Queens Dancer, Choreographer, and Performer

Dancing is an exciting and fulfilling experience, but when you do not know the moves, it can be awkward. Instead of disappointing people or feeling embarrassed that you cannot dance, you can take action to learn a few styles. For instance, the bachata beginner class scheduled every Tuesday at 4700 Northern Boulevard, Queens, can teach you all you need to know about salsa. The event is organized for couples. 

When planning to attend, you should note that:

• Each participant is charged $20. However, there are special packages that can save you some money. Call the organizer to get full details.
• You need to bring a partner.
• The organizers comply fully with health safety procedures imposed because of COVID-19, including temperature checks and the use of masks. However, participants must sign liability waivers to participate.

You can participate in the class on January 26th, 2021, or any other time you find convenient since the event is organized every Tuesday.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood helps organize a proper cleanup of properties after water intrusion incidents in Queens. Call us at (718) 381-3702 if your property is affected.

Join The Great American Smoke Out from Your Kew Gardens Living Room

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

Take some time for self care while SERVPRO cares for your homes water damage.

Becoming a Non-Smoker in Kew Gardens

The Great American Smoke Out is held on the third Thursday of November. This year, Kew Gardens residents can participate on November 19th. Although there are no Fun Runs or other big events, people can still join local and national communities for support. 

Where to Find Assistance:

Exercise classes are still available through many area hospitals and community centers. The difference this year is that you will need to access them through Zoom or another online source through your phone or home computer. For those of you willing to mask up and maintain social distance, you can always watch online and still enjoy getting outdoors. 

If exercise isn’t an issue, there are still online support groups. There are thousands of people here and across the nation trying to make positive changes in these circumstances. Join them.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood is thrilled to be part of this and other online events serving our community. If you need assistance with water mitigation in your Kew Gardens residence, call us today at (718) 381-3702. 

How Does SERVPRO Remove Hazardous Conditions?

10/9/2020 (Permalink)

Kew Gardens let SERVPRO assist you through your water damage.

A Professional Team of SERVPRO Technicians Can Assess and Mitigate the Damage at Your Kew Gardens Property

When our team first arrives at your Kew Gardens home, they make sure that there is no immediate danger. Safety is the top priority during home restoration. Non-contaminated water by itself does not necessarily cause danger but left unattended can cause multiple safety issues ranging from severe structural damage to increased slip and fall risk. Before SERVPRO workers begin the cleanup and restoration process, they must identify hazards. Residents and workers alike should always strive for safe working conditions.

What Could Happen if Hazards Remain?

SERVPRO Technicians Address Safety Hazards

While undergoing water mitigation in Kew Gardens, various safety concerns can arise. Sitting water can cause structural damage, leading to severe dangers such as ceilings and walls caving in. Sitting water can also lead to mold growth that can cause health effects. It is critical to take action quickly when water damage occurs in your home.

What Do Technicians Look for When They Perform the Safety Check?

• Sagging Ceilings: This indicates the possibility of the ceiling caving in. Technicians may choose to punch weep holes to let out some of the standing water.
• Electrical Hazards: Water in light sockets or near outlets can pose a serious risk.
• Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards: Technicians make sure floors do not pose any slip or trip hazards. Extracting excess moisture and removing cords from the ground can help ensure there are no accidents.
• Mold Growth: Identifying mold growth allows technicians to spray the appropriate antimicrobial, they are limiting further growth.

Once immediate hazards are identified and addressed, technicians can go about the task of removing excess water and restoring your home to preloss condition.  For 24/7 assistance, contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

What Are Some Water Restoration Companies Near Me in Forest Hills?

7/12/2020 (Permalink)

Water can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time. Contact SERVPRO for water damage mitigation in your home.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills Can Provide You with Water Damage Restoration Services!

You may find yourself wondering what local Forest Hills water damage restoration companies are near you once an accident occurs. Statistically, many homes find themselves facing water damage at some point. It could be something as small as a leaking dishwasher, or as grand as a broken pipe. However, no matter how the water damage comes to your home, it is essential to get help quickly.

Calling for a professional Forest Hills water damage restoration company as fast as possible can make a significant difference in the remediation process. For example, the longer water damage sits, the more potential it has to cause further damage to your home.

What Are Some Examples of the Damage That Can Happen? 

As standing water or excess moisture lingers, it can cause many problems throughout your home. For example:

• In a bathroom, tile could split and crack due to swelling baseboards
• In a kitchen, cabinetry could swell as it absorbs excess moisture and become misshapen 
• In a bedroom, a leaking pipe could lead to mold damage growing behind your walls 

Water damage has the power to cause many issues throughout your home. For this reason, getting help fast could save your home many expenses.

What Can SERVPRO Do to Remediate Water Damage in My Bathroom? 

Imagine a leaking toilet tank caused water damage to the wall behind it. Our SERVPRO technicians could do the following during the remediation process: 

• Remove the toilet from the wall, so we have access to the damage
• Make cuts to remove the damaged drywall and minimize chances of microbial growth
• Use drying equipment, such as dehumidifiers and heaters, to reduce excess moisture

Our technicians use advanced equipment to get the job done. Additionally, our SERVPRO techs can also use axial fans and air movers to ensure the damage has constant access to dry airflow.

If your home requires the help of a water damage restoration company, don't hesitate. Contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood by dialing (718) 381-3702. We're open 24/7.

Click here for more information about Forest Hills.

How Can I Tell If Items in My House Got Wet After a Water Leak?

6/9/2020 (Permalink)

Our experienced teams at SERVPRO can help you figure out the level of water damage in your home. Give us a call today.

For Water Removal in Forest Hills Call SERVPRO

Even a small crack developing in one of your pipes in your Forest Hills home can cause hundreds of gallons of water to spill into your structure. Moisture first follows gravity, and then it can spread to different stories or follow the floor and go to other sections of your building.

How can you find all of the moisture present in my house?

When performing water removal in your Forest Hills home, our SERVPRO technicians can utilize a variety of specialized sensors and meters. Based on our knowledge of how moisture works and moves through your structure, we have a good idea of where to check. The type of instrument we use to detect the presence of moisture varies depending upon the types of materials being tested.

How do you determine which sections of my carpets got wet?

We can use a moisture sensor that consists of metal probes on the bottom and a handle on top. If the device senses moisture when the probes get stuck into your carpets, then it will make a noise, and a light will turn on.

How can you tell if my drywall got wet?

Penetrating Moisture Meter: When using a penetrating meter to test for moisture in your drywall, our technicians hammer the instrument's metal probes into your wall. The device then gives a moisture content number in a percentage. To figure out how wet an item got, we can test the walls in the affected area and test the walls in an area that we know did not get affected. We then use the unaffected moisture content numbers as our drying goal.

Non-Penetrating Meters: Non-penetrating meters use electrical signals to tell if an item is wet or not. Non-penetrating meters can be useful when detecting moisture in your wooden studs and wall cavities. We can also take a reading with the non-penetrating meter in unaffected areas to calculate the difference and obtain a drying goal.

After you suffer from a water leak in your house in Fresh Pond or Kew Gardens, call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702.

Find out more Forest Hills

Can I Have Water Damage and Not Know It?

6/3/2020 (Permalink)

Do You Think You Have Hidden Water Damage? Don't hesitate. Call SERVPRO today!

SERVPRO technicians have the Advanced Equipment and Training to Restore your Richmond Hill Home  

There are small signs your home may be trying to alert you to a slow leak either from a plumbing issue or a structural issue that needs attention. Ignoring the subtle clues can result in greater losses and additional problems such as structural deterioration and mold infestations. The most frequently seen signs include:

• Musty odors in a room that never fully go away
• Water spots on walls or ceilings
• Puddles of water that appear on the floor 
• Paint "bubbles" on walls 

What Should I Do First When I Find Water Damage in My Home?

When you notice any of the signs of water damage in your Richmond Hills home, one of the first actions you should take is to bring in a professional restoration services company. SERVPRO techs arrive quickly and determine both the cause of the water loss and form an individualized plan to clean up and restore the property and affected contents. 

The techs use their advanced detection equipment to map out the scale of the water loss within the home. Fortunately, through the use of various types of detection equipment, they can "see" behind walls, under the floors, and determine if how much of an area has water loss without the need to check under flooring or remove sheetrock manually.  

Once the scale of the water loss gets ascertained, the techs perform any controlled demolition such as removal of flooring to dry a subfloor or the cutting away of deteriorating sheetrock to halt any further wicking of moisture. These actions perform the dual purpose of both stopping additional problems from developing and also opening up the wet area for drying. 

Extraction Techniques That Work Against Water Loss

Self-cleanup of water in a home can be a huge error for a homeowner to make. Commonly-used consumer-grade equipment such as wet/dry vacuums does not have the pulling power to match the intense pull of the portable pumps utilized by the SERVPRO techs. When water gets left behind in carpet padding or under tile, for example, delamination and other issues such as mold can occur. The techs use their moisture removal equipment and perform "dry" passes to extract the maximum amount of moisture from a surface. This part of the restoration service helps lessen the time needed to dry. 

How Does Professional Drying Equipment Compare to DIY Methods?

Using household fans to dry a water loss area can take days or sometimes weeks to show a result, and in that time, further deterioration of the building materials can occur. In particular, a wet carpet and pad that had restoration potential can get ruined and require placement if the extraction and drying process wait too long.  

The drying equipment brought on-site by SERVPRO techs has a design basis in the science of psychrometry. The air movers blast warm, dry air at such high velocity that it causes a reaction to force embedded moisture to rise. The techs set up dehumidification equipment to capture the water vapor as it rises and ports it offsite. Specialized equipment also helps, such as: 

• Injecti-Dry systems to push air into small spaces 
• Drying mats for hardwood flooring
• Floating or tenting to dry carpet and padding in place

Odor Control Methods After a Water Loss

While extraction and drying go a long way towards the reduction of the musty odor that water loss can leave behind, sometimes there is a need for stronger applications. The techs have numerous choices, such as hydroxyl generators, thermal fogging, or time-release gel pellets. 

What Does the Scope of Coverage Have to Do With Restoration Services?

SERVPRO technicians are meticulous to only dispose of ruined items with the approval of the adjuster or property owner, and they are also very cautious to only perform actions during the restoration services that are within the scope of the insurance coverage on the property. This assists in helping homeowners never to experience surprise fees that are outside the coverage on their property. 

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood brings the advanced equipment, knowledge, and professionalism to every water damage restoration project. Call, 24/7 to address any size water loss in your property at (347) 379-1720.

Learn more about Richmond Hills.

Our Water Damage Specialists Can Save Your Forest Hills Property

1/26/2020 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

How do I Know How Much Water Damage Has Spread In Your Forest Hills Home?

You may not notice damage in your home immediately.  Sometimes it happens in an area of your home you do not frequent, or even within wall cavities or under your floor.  As a homeowner, you should not let the presence of water derail your day.  Professional water restoration technicians exist to help you in these situations.  A reputable company can assess your home and determine the source and extent of the damage, giving you a clear picture of the necessary steps to achieve a full restoration.

When your home in Forest Hills is the one suffering from water damage, SERVPRO is the professional group you need to contact.  Our water restoration technicians hold certifications by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) as evidence of our know-how as it pertains to protecting your home after water has made its way through it.  All you need to do is contact our 24/7 hotline and allow us to take care of the rest.

If you did not detect the water leak as soon as it happened, or are unsure of just how long water has been seeping into the structure of your home, it is best to let our SERVPRO team take a look at the situation.  With the help of infrared technology and state-of-the-art equipment, we can monitor humidity levels and identify anomalies.  Subsequently, our crew can bring in water extraction equipment, ranging from small wands to truck-mounted pumps, to extract the water and normalize moisture readings throughout your home.  This process sounds simple, but restoring the natural balance of your home environment, including furniture and fixings, is a systematic process guided by our expertise and access to appropriate technology. Overly drying an area can cause problems in items like hardwood floors, and leaving behind water traces can later become a breeding ground for mold and bacteria.

At SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood, we are quick to disasters of all sizes. Calling our trusted crew at (718) 381-3702 is a decision in the right direction. Like you, we want to make your water damage a thing of the past.  Together, we can leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

For more about Forest Hills click here.

The Real Truth Behind Water Removal Issues in Queens

12/15/2019 (Permalink)

Flooding in any part of your home can quickly cause extensive problems. Contact SERVPRO for effective water removal services.

The Appropriate Disposal of Extracted Water in Queens Homes 

As essential as removing standing water from Queens homes might be after a water loss incident, knowing where this excess must go is essential as well. Improper drainage of standing water can sometimes create new problems for you or fail to solve the current damaging situation. Our SERVPRO team follows very explicit guidelines and regulations about the proper disposal of excess water from a house and can choose among these options based on the circumstances and the most efficient available solution. 

Part of the scoping of a loss incident that our project manager oversees determines not only the severity of the damage and need for water removal in Queens homes but also the appropriate draining method that our field technicians should employ. In some situations, extraction discharge can get moved directly into available drainage networks in your property, such as a bathtub or sink. There are situations where this might not always be possible or recommended, however. 

Potential Contaminations 

While most of the water loss incidents that homeowners experience are clean water threats, any potential contamination that could exist might encourage our SERVPRO technicians to choose to discharge into sewer cleanouts. This puts any potentially contaminated water into the sanitary sewer system for your municipality. 

Debris and Solids 

Even without a threat of contamination, many water loss situations have our SERVPRO team battling debris and solids from degrading materials, dirt, and other crumbling contents. While our trash pumps can handle this debris in the water, heavy saturation might require removal from the area with our extractor trucks. We can take these tanks to our warehouse for proper disposal, or in some situations, take them directly to a water treatment facility. 

With extraction being a vital element to managing loss scenarios in your home, drainage decisions must happen immediately. We can quickly identify what method is most efficient and cost-effective for our customers. No matter how our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team can help, give us a call anytime at (718) 381-3702. 

Click here for more information about Queens.

Our Professionals Can Save Your Home In Forest Hills After A Water Damage Incident

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Effective Water Removal in Affected Forest Hills Homes Takes More than Having Extraction Equipment

Water intrusion is a significant concern because it damages property, including the contents. Whether the origin of the water is internal, such as when a supply pipe bursts or from an external source, there is a need to take the right steps to remove the water immediately. Although using sophisticated extraction equipment helps ease water removal, sometimes it takes more to get the job done.

Reaching the Water that Finds Way into Cavities
When water spills, it finds a way into hidden areas within the property, and therefore the water removal exercise in Forest Hills must find a way to reach those areas. Merely having high-speed water extractors and pumps is not sufficient to deal with the hidden water. Our WRT, Water Restoration Technicians at SERVPRO, learn various techniques to reach all hidden cavities. We punch vent or weep holes to release the water trapped in wall cavities or ceilings. In major water spills, we make flood cuts to remove water and wet materials from wall cavities.

Removing Water from Materials
Once the water spills on surfaces, porous and semi-porous materials such as wood, carpets, and upholstery absorb a significant percentage of it. Equipment with sufficient lift capacity can help remove water from fabrics, but for semi-porous materials such as wood, elaborate procedures are necessary to ensure sufficient removal and to save the material from permanent destruction. Our SERVPRO technicians use different procedures to help with such removal. We can set up a drying chamber to help improve and control the rate of drying for wood. We can also heat the area to improve the evaporation rates.

Drying the Property
Even after a thorough extraction, some traces of moisture remain, requiring specific drying steps. Increasing airflow and extracting moisture from the air helps with removal. Our SERVPRO technicians use air movers to improve airflow and dehumidifiers to extract the moisture that evaporates into the air. Dehumidifiers also exhaust warm air back into the room, improving the drying process further.

Removal of water from wet properties requires a combination of resources. At SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood, we have a variety of equipment and sufficient skills to handle any issue. Call us at (718) 381-3702. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Forest Hills click here.

Quick Water Removal Prevents Secondary Damage in Ridgewood

8/28/2019 (Permalink)

We dried these hardwood floors by creating a barrier and directing air through that barrier.

How Professional Water Removal Services in Ridgewood Help Prevent Extensive Damage

Most homes in the Ridgewood area sustain water damage occasionally. After a water intrusion incident in your home, you need to take immediate action. Appliance leaks or burst pipes can cause primary water damage, and not taking care of the problem can cause secondary damage to your possessions and home. 

In the unfortunate event of water loss in your house, you need to hire professionals who offer water removal services in Ridgewood. A restoration company like SERVPRO comes in handy because we have the workforce, experience, and equipment to handle the incident. You can start removing the water as you wait for our technicians to arrive, but take the following precautions to stay safe:

• Avoid using your ordinary vacuum cleaner to remove the water because it may get damaged or expose you to the risk of electrocution. Use a wet/dry vacuum instead.
• Do not use electrical appliances that are on wet floors or wet carpets.
• Do not enter rooms with stagnant water if the electricity is on.
• Avoid lifting tacked down carpeting because improper lifting could promote shrinkage.

Within minutes, water spreads quickly from room to room. The walls and furniture absorb the water and may become saturated. Within 24 hours, the drywall swells. Metal surfaces tarnish, and the paint on walls forms blisters. After 48 hours to one week, mold forms in a home and spreads. Metal can corrode and develop rust. Professional water removal helps prevent such issues.

Our Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRTs) have expertise in cleaning up a home and restoring water-damaged possessions. Our team carefully inspects all aspects of the ruined areas and starts mitigating the loss. We pump out standing water using the right extractors. We also check the walls and floors below the destroyed areas and crawl spaces for standing water and pump it out. Our SERVPRO crew also takes a detailed inventory of salvageable items. We take the things we can save to a safe area and restore them. We may also take some contents to our facilities for thorough cleaning and restoration.

We also ensure that no danger exists after a water loss incident. Water can soak through several layers of drywall or seep through crevices to cause a hidden mold infestation. Our WRTs use moisture meters to determine the extent of water penetration in floors, carpets, ceilings, and walls. If your carpet is damp, we can detach it and extract water from the floor and pad. We also perform proper drying and dehumidification that goes beyond the surface level. We use industrial-grade air movers and dehumidifiers to dry the affected structural elements and furnishings thoroughly to ensure that no troublesome mold outbreaks occur.

If you need immediate water removal services in Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, or Rego Park, SERVPRO of Forest Hills/ Ridgewood can help you.  Call us at (718)381-3702 for quick restoration. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

More about Ridgewood.

3 Tips for When You Need a Sewer Cleanup

3/25/2019 (Permalink)

If you have sewage backup call SERVPRO of Forrest Hill-Ridgewood.

Sewer Damage

In the event a sewer backup occurs in your Forest Hills, NY, home, you may be wondering what to do about the sewer damage that results. Here are three steps that could help with the cleanup and restoration process.

1. Contact a Professional

One of the first steps to dealing with sewage damage is to contact your local water damage restoration service. This team of professionals should have the tools necessary to find and solve the source of the problem, conduct any repairs necessary, and clean and sanitize the affected area.

2. Wear Proper Safety Gear

When dealing with sewer damage in your home, it's important to wear the proper safety gear. Many sewage company professionals wear coveralls as well as protective boots and gloves. Some may also choose to wear masks. Not only does this help prevent any sewage material from touching the skin, but it can also help to ensure that undesirable matter does not get tracked through the rest of the home. When performing a cleanup of this type, it's also important to properly wash after doing any work.

3. Sanitize Affected items

If you have sewer water in your home, whether from a backup situation or a flooded toilet, it's important to properly clean and sanitize any affected items. This could include bath mats and shower curtains, or even cabinetry and tile. Different types of items may require different cleaning procedures, so it's best to follow manufacturer instructions, and when in doubt talk to a professional.

When facing sewer damage in your Forest Hills, NY, home, it's important to remember to wear proper safety gear. You will also want to clean and sanitize any affected items. Calling a professional maybe the best route to go as they have the gear and knowledge necessary to get your home back in order. If you have any questions, your local professional may be able to help.

What To Do When Your Flooring has Water Damage

1/16/2019 (Permalink)

Damaged wooden floor in a Kew Gardens, NY residence

When dealing with a pipe break in Kew Gardens, NY, you may find that your carpet and other flooring retains water damage. When this happens it’s not uncommon to wonder if the material is salvageable. Here is some information you may want to know.

Know What Problems Water Damage Causes

Water damage can lead to a number of problems with flooring if not dealt with quickly. They include

• Swelling of wood in wooden floors or sub-floor leading to warping
  
• Carpeting can hold onto moisture long term which can damage to sub-floor
  
• Cracks in wood or tile if the water freezes
  
• Possible mold growth
  
• Porous flooring can soak in contaminants
  

Clean up Quickly

When dealing with a pipe break it’s important to clean up any remaining water as quickly as possible. Doing so can help you prevent further damage. It’s also a good idea to locate and remedy the source of the water damage. Doing so can help prevent future problems. Depending on the type of break, you may want to call in a plumbing professional or a water damage restoration service.

Call in a Professional

In many cases contacting a professional service may be your best bet for having your home restored quickly and preventing further problems. They can not only clean up the damage and make repairs, but many repair services can also check for mold and help restore any personal items that may have been damaged as well.

Salvaging your flooring after a pipe break is possible if the flooding occurred from a clean water source. If the water was tainted with sewage you will want to replace it. In both cases any flooding should be cleaned up as quickly as possible, and the source of the damage found and fixed. A local Kew Gardens, NY, restoration service may be able to help you get your home back in order.

Ice Dams Are Simple To Understand

12/17/2018 (Permalink)

You may not have a problem with ice dams in Forest Hills,NY but water damage happens in many ways

The key to comprehending the formation of an ice dam lies in basic roof construction. For this discussion, the roof consists of four layers.

1) Rafters support the roof.
2) The roof deck is nailed to the rafters.
3) The Underlayment covers the roof deck.
4) The shingles are nailed through the underlayment to the roof deck.

When snow covers the roof, problems may occur. If the roof deck is warmer than the outside air temperature, ice dams often form as described below.

1) The warmth from the roof deck causes the snow touching the roof to melt.
2) The water runs over the shingles, under the snow, and refreezes at the bottom of the roof.
3) This process continues, causing a large ice dam to build up.
4) The water behind the dam backs up under the shingles and causes a roof leak.

Ice Dams Are Preventable

In new construction, they should be virtually nonexistent. In existing homes, properly installed ridge and soffit vents should solve the problem. Roof rakes to remove snow and heating cables can also help eliminate them.

Ice Dams Can Cause Extensive Damage

You may not have a problem with ice dams in Forest Hills, NY, but water damage happens in many ways. Sometimes it happens quickly and is obvious. Other times it is slow and subtle. Ice dams usually form gradually. By the time you see a stained ceiling or crumbling plaster, the destruction may be significant. Affected areas may show up in many locations.

• Roof deck
• Rafters
  
• Insulation
  
• Ceilings
  
• Walls
  
• Lights and other fixtures
  

Ice Dams Are Manageable

Mitigating damage caused by them is usually not for the do-it-yourselfer. These problems need to be addressed quickly before mold establishes a foothold. The best solution is to bring in water damage repair specialists to do the job quickly and completely.