Recent Commercial Posts

SERVPRO Takes Care of Commercial Water Damage in Queens

11/24/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO truck in front of water suction tools with cation: "WE'RE FASTER TO ANY SIZE DISASTER" If your business has water damage in Queens, call SERVPRO. We're Here to Help® 24/7.

Need Commercial Water Damage Cleanup in Queens – Call SERVPRO®

One of the most important decisions you can make when facing water leaks at your commercial property in Queens is to call for help with cleanup  immediately. While many commercial owners and their employees will get to work mopping up water, they need the appropriate tools to thoroughly remove all water and moisture. Remaining water and moisture can cause even more water damage, leading to secondary problems with mold and structural degradation.

SERVPRO provides water damage cleanup and repair services in Queens. Our services are available 24/7, and we can be on-site in less than four hours to help remove water moisture and protect the contents and structure of your commercial property. 

Property owners and managers of commercial buildings should immediately endeavor to shut off the water supply to control the water inflow. Simultaneously, have someone call SERVPRO to arrange for our team to mobilize. Assess the damage to contents, rooms, and structure where possible. 

Let SERVPRO know what type of emergency there is and any details about the building, amount of water, affected areas, and any information that will help us prepare. This information aids in deploying the right equipment to arrive at your commercial building. Our team will assess the situation and get to work!

Additional tips for owners and employees to consider include:

  • Beware of live electrical devices and associated wiring to avoid electrical shock
  • Avoid using any electrical equipment in the affected area
  • Turn off electrical circuits to the affected area when possible
  • Stay out of rooms if the ceiling is wet or sagging

SERVPRO will remove excess water and moisture and dry all contents and structures to avoid subsequent water damage from mold and absorption by porous materials

Call the commercial water damage cleanup and repair specialists at SERVPRO of Forest Hills, Ridgewood, and nearby areas for assistance. SERVPRO is Faster to any size disaster™ 24/7. Call (718) 381-3702.

Damaged or Faulty Pipework Necessitate Queens Water Restoration

5/24/2023 (Permalink)

An Old Pipe SERVPRO understands how important your business is. Let us help you out.

We Expertly Handle Queens’ Water Restoration Needs 

As one of America’s first heavily settled areas, Queens hosts some of the oldest buildings in the nation. An astounding number of these date back to the mid-to-late 1800s, but some were constructed well over three hundred years ago. Local business owners should consider this when leasing or buying commercial facilities and prepare for potential issues related to old, degraded piping.

SERVPRO is exceedingly experienced in performing water restoration work on Queens’ historic buildings. Our emergency water damage services teams have routinely located and repaired ceiling leaks and burst pipes. Moreover, they have also completed any water damage repairs necessary to return businesses to their normal operations. It is important to remember that pipe-related problems can arise from a number of ordinary, everyday situations. Some of these particular circumstances include:

  • Defective piping that has bad, leaky connections because it was constructed with cheap materials or was done by low-skilled workers
  • Metal and plastic pipe failures resulting from age-related corrosion or brittleness
  • Ruptured pipework is caused by freezing and thawing cycles that either cause pipes to burst immediately or weaken them over time until they eventually fail
  • Pressure-producing clogs and blockages arising from accumulations of mineral deposits, grease, and remnants of everyday wastes
  • Excessive water pressure that exceeds a pipe network’s design limits and causes parts of it to leak or burst
  • Construction or renovation mishaps that accidentally damage pipes in structural elements like ceilings, walls, and flooring

Armed with knowledge, it becomes much easier to know where to anticipate possible plumbing issues in your commercial establishment.

With that said, if your shop, store, restaurant, or hotel ever suffers a water event, remember that your friends at SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood can help. Contact us anytime for all of your water restoration needs. We are ready for your call at (718) 381-3702.

Water Restoration Experts Help Keep Businesses Open in Queens

12/27/2022 (Permalink)

Water On Concrete Floor “We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.”

Water Restoration - Clean, Dry, Open for Business

Different businesses in Queens make our area vibrant and economically healthy. SERVPRO understands that your ability to stay profitable depends on your business's open doors. When water causes damage, our water restoration experts can help you continue "Like it never even happened." 

We use industrial-grade machinery to restore your business after a water main break, flooding, or clogged sink. If your diner or boutique is wet, water restoration in Queens is the answer. We can undo the situation step-by-step and help you stay open for business, ensuring your customers remain engaged with your products and services.

When we first arrive at a business, we quickly assess the situation. We want our customers to know that SERVPRO always scales its services to handle the project. Our goals are to:

  • Ensure clean conditions are present,
  • Drying occurs at an industry-standard pace, and
  • Prevent similar situations in the future.

With flooding or other dirty, contaminated water, we rinse and clean the affected surfaces. To further accomplish this, we use disinfectant sprays. Other times, clean water comes into contact with substances that cause it to become dirty. Standing water, if enough time passes, can become dirty by itself.

We pump out standing water, if any, and downsize to smaller handheld units to extract water from around corners and inside enclosed spaces. Using air movers, portable heating units, and desiccant machines, we dry the interior of your business. These machines use air currents to keep porous materials from absorbing any of the evaporated water. 

Depending on how the situation developed that created the need for water restoration services in the first place, we can take steps to prevent the event from recurring. If plumbing had been the culprit, we can repair it and check to ensure there are no loose fittings. If the rain had entered through loose shingles or siding, we can make repairs, keeping future precipitation where it belongs – outside.

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for advanced technology and professional service when you need water restoration.

Emergency Services Before Fire Restoration in Queens Shops

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

fire smoke detector When fire happens in your shop, you need to call the technicians at SERVPRO.

Fire Restoration Begins with Mitigative Steps

Emergency services are critical in protecting your business from greater restoration expenses and structural damage. The fast movement of our SERVPRO team is meant to:

  • Prevent fire and smoke damage from impacting more of the property
  • Make the work site safer for responding professionals or traffic
  • Set the stage for mitigation and restoration work to get started

Evaluating Structural Damage

The first and most important emergency service for fire restoration in Queens shops and stores is determining the safety of those exposed. Structure fires weaken building materials and create volatile conditions, so we must conduct any demolition or repairs to protect those in the building or our incoming restorers.

Establishing Temporary Power

Commercial restoration requires a good amount of electricity, especially with the most powerful tools requiring a stable power source. We can provide temporary power for Large Loss recovery like our trailered generators. 

Initial Cleaning of the Structure

Sometimes early cleaning efforts can be of benefit to the property. Wares being cleaned right away can help reduce the investment loss the business owner might experience, for example. Acidic residues can also get removed to prevent corrosion of underlying host elements.

Water Removal Services

Another emergency service that SERVPRO must implement is removing water to extinguish the fire. Whether that was the sprinkler system in the store or additional water introduced by first responders to overcome the blaze quickly, any extra moisture and standing water amplified the difficulty of cleaning soot and smoke damage effects in the structure.

Emergency services are one of the many elements to successful fire restoration for your store. Our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team can help businesses ahead of disasters by establishing a free tool called the Emergency Ready Profile that designates our talented team as your restoration choice. Give us a call today at (718) 381-3702.

Commercial Water Damage In Your Forest Hills Property

5/23/2022 (Permalink)

Water Damaged Floor & Wall With advanced equipment, SERVPRO restores property to pre-damaged conditions, "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Water Damage in Forest Hills Includes Sewage

When commercial water damage happens in a business, it is vital to restore the property to a sanitary level for both employees and the public. If the water includes sewage, it gets rated as a biohazard-level cleaning event due to the probability of contaminants and possible pathogens.

In short, DIY cleaning of commercial water damage in Forest Hills properties should never happen when the possibility of sewage is a factor. Consumer-grade cleaners and even the equipment and cleaning products of the regular janitorial crew cannot match the power of the equipment and professional-grade solutions SERVPRO brings to the site.

Safety During Extraction

When dealing with this type of water event, the techs wear personal protective gear, including respirators, as breathing airborne water molecules can result in illness. As techs scope the bathroom area to determine the scale of the loss, other techs use trash pumps to extract the water and solid waste rapidly. Before extraction, it is not unusual for technicians to treat the water with antimicrobial solutions to lessen the potential for hazards in any standing water. Containment over the doorways and vents assists with keeping cross-contamination with other areas of the business space to a minimum.

Removal of Contaminated Materials

No seepage under the tile floor meant the floor did not require removal for drying. The water wicked into the sheetrock, and SERVPRO techs cut it away several inches above the waterline. This action also opened up the wall for drying.

Rapid Drying

Because the water extraction phase is so thorough, the use of multiple air movers and dehumidification equipment makes the drying phase of the mitigation process go even faster. Air scrubbers commonly run during cleanup to capture airborne particulate and improve air quality.

Sanitizing and Prepping for Repairs

Anytime sewage is involved in a water loss situation, the use of antibacterial and antimicrobial cleaning agents is crucial to ensure that the bathroom and anywhere affected by the sewage-contaminated water get thoroughly disinfected.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 makes it a priority to clean and restore local properties with commercial water damage “Like it never even happened.”

We Get You Back To Business In Rego Park

4/25/2022 (Permalink)

Floor Damage Our state-of-the-art equipment and advanced cleaning techniques will restore your building after you have a water damage disaster.

Our Commercial Water Removal Services Right Everything after Accidents in Rego Park Retail Shops

Minor plumbing mishaps and terrible weather events can create emergencies within your shop in Rego Park that affects your business. People coming to your store do not expect conditions that compromise their safety, and government regulations require employers continuously maintain safe environments. The liability that results from unsafe situations requires your immediate concern and attention.

When retail shops in Rego Park need commercial water removal services that restore dry, safe conditions, we know that we must act quickly from the initial call. We want our customers to know, We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster and understand your concerns regarding interruptions, expenses, and possible changes to your shop’s interior.

Our specialists and technicians receive certificates from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), ensuring their ability to professionally mitigate and restore your retail setting back to how you remember. Working with our building services staff, we remove damaged materials and building components, repair places where minor damage may worsen, clean areas at risk of sustaining damage and dry the entire setting. We can handle severe disasters, including fallen trees that tore through your roof, also.

Your store’s merchandise, the units used for displaying these items to your shoppers, and any other furnishings also require the attention of SERVPRO’s IICRC-certified Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT). The glass, metal, and wood of these structures require the elimination of dampness to protect from loss caused by rust, grime, and other problems that can visit your business. We extract moisture from these after we gather them together and place them inside a drying chamber. 

We help retail businesses recover inventory and reduce loss by helping gather undamaged items and setting those needing replacements. We can list these for you on inventory sheets that help you with the task of replenishing your stock. Many stores include damaged items in particular areas marked appropriately to help customers obtain a bargain while decreasing their losses related to inventory. We can help you eliminate 

Carpets and rugs need protective measures against moisture trapped in their fibers, and thorough cleaning can provide precisely what these floor coverings need. Many times, we also find shops with tile and other types of flooring. We can dry all of these and prevent any warping, bubbling, or other signs of a past water-related emergency. Although many smaller-sized shops can mop up or use a wet-dry vac to remove small spills, relying on our building services team to repair plumbing and other leaks, including those coming from the roof or appliances, can free up additional resources that you need.  

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood takes pride in helping businesses with water removal and extraction services in Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, and Rego Park. We also provide mitigation and other services to those areas, as well as to the Ridgewood area. Contact our 24-hour emergency services team by calling (718) 381-3702 any day. We can help you by making everything “Like it never even happened.”

What Does Fire and Smoke Restoration of Queens Properties Involve?

3/7/2022 (Permalink)

smoke and soot damage on wall Smoke and soot can touch every surface. SERVPRO has the cleaners and techniques to handle your fire damage restoration needs.

SERVPRO Provides the Best Solutions for Fire and Smoke Restoration at Queens Premises

Any fire and smoke damage to your Queens commercial premise can be disheartening. You can see the effects of smoke damage on ceilings, floors, and walls through the carbon particles and residual chemicals deposited on those surfaces. But what you may not see are traces of these residues that infiltrate porous structural materials. To protect your premises and possessions, you need to clean up as quickly as possible.  

The advantage of involving professionals in fire and smoke restoration at a Queen's premises is their understanding of the characteristics of smoke, the different types of soot residues, and how it affects other surfaces and materials. We can effectively clean soot from your premise because we have a deeper understanding of how fire burns on different materials and the kind of soot emitted. Determining the type of soot enables us to use the proper techniques and products to clean up the area.

Factors That can Determine the Appropriate Cleaning Method

  • The type of surface
  • The type of soils
  • Whether a surface requires wet or dry cleaning

We may start by cleaning all the visible parts like the walls and floors during restoration because smoke residues in such places are usually dry and carry few aerosols depositing small and dry particles on surfaces. Such dry particles are loosely attached and require minimal agitation; hence can be removed by vacuuming or using sponges. After that, we can deal with soot in hard-to-reach areas like crevices. We also use chemical agents to clean wet smoke residues that can deeply stain surfaces and be more challenging to clean.

Some Cleaning Products Which We use in Smoke Cleaning

  • Dry cleaning solvents
  • Volatile dry solvents
  • Furniture polishes

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood provides immediate soot and smoke damage cleanup to your property. Call us at (718) 381-3702. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Content Inventory and Fire Cleaning of Queens Warehouse

1/30/2022 (Permalink)

a building on fire with smoke billowing from it Warehouse fires can damage the building plus large amounts of goods that they hold. Call SERVPRO right away for fire restoration services.

Post-fire cleanup involves direct actions taken to protect the contents of Queens warehouses.

Before much of the cleaning and restoration can begin for your business, a full-scale evaluation and damage assessment must be conducted for the building. Fire effects often spread far beyond the initial ignition point, so our experienced FSRT-Certified team stays prepared to help with large loss threats like:

  • Smoke damage
  • Odors
  • Fire loss effects
  • Water damage

Content Cleaning and Relocation 

Fire restoration for Queens warehouses and production facilities showcases the immediate need for content management. As one of the initial emergency services, it is vital to learn what items require relocation and where on-site cleaning is possible. It is always more desirable to keep contents in the building rather than at a SERVPRO facility.

Inventory and Damage Cataloging

During the initial evaluation of the grounds, our professionals can determine the extent of damage to individual items within the warehouse. Competent technicians provide a case-by-case analysis of what wares require relocation and which need more intricate cleaning. Batches of items are categorized with numbers, allowing our team to know where inventory is at any point of the restoration process.

Pack-Out and Off-Site Recovery 

Warehouses do not always have the available area for relocating damaged belongings, so the solution is packing up these contents and moving them to our nearby SERVPRO facility. Advanced cleaning options range from ultrasonic submersion tank cleaning and large batch ozone chamber deodorization to aid multiple items simultaneously with threatening malodors.

Protecting the contents of homes and businesses after fire damages is a priority of our responding SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood technicians. Warehouses storing countless items and a massive inventory can lose money by not implementing relocation and restoration strategies as soon as possible. Give us a call today at (718) 381-3702.

Forest Hills Building and Facilities Water Damage Cleanup When You Need It

1/8/2022 (Permalink)

Clothing store with water damage, SERVPRO tech looking around When your commercial building has water damage, you need the help of SERVPRO. We have the manpower and equipment for every size disaster.

Commercial Property Owners in Forest Hills Can Trust SERVPRO to Handle Their Water Damage Cleanup Needs

Any industrial water-related emergency calls for precision and experience to handle cleanup and restoration. Facilities managers know that calling in a team like SERVPRO brings the latest equipment and proven processes to offer water removal services and ensure the business has little or no downtime. Whether you had a pipe burst during an overnight shift at your production facility or you are experiencing ceiling leaks at your motel, we are on the scene within hours to get to work. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!

It used to be that water damage cleanup in Forest Hills may have closed your commercial property down for a week or longer. Today, the available technology and equipment help speed up the process. Waiting to address standing water or hidden moisture in your building could result in a loss of business, unsalvageable inventory, and potential health effects from black mold development.

SERVPRO Can Help!

No matter if you had a sewage backup, storm flooding, or a pipe leak, SERVPRO has IICRC-certified water restoration technicians (WRT) to help bring your business back to tip-top shape as soon as possible. Depending on the severity of water intrusion, you may need controlled demolition to get everything back to normal.

  • Controlled demolition involves the removal of all saturated or contaminated building materials deemed unsalvageable. We take care of the removal, disposal, and reconstruction with new materials to make it “Like it never even happened.”
  • It may be likely that your business will take on some structural damage. Failing to address this problem promptly means that it could intensify. This translates into irreparable secondary damage that takes more time and money to get fixed.

Commercial water damage cleanup with SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood ensures your business never misses a beat. Regardless of the scope of the project, our Green Fleet is there to get the job done. Call us at (718) 381-3702 or request help online.

Clearing Runoff Floodwater in Queens Basement Businesses

11/10/2021 (Permalink)

electric water pump, hose SERVPRO has advanced equipment like sump pumps, trash pumps, truck-mounted pumps to extract floodwaters from Queens area retail basement shops

Effective extraction measures and cleaning can be vital after flooding in Queens

It can be tempting to try and save everything you possibly can when flooding occurs in your lower-level business, but this is neither safe nor feasible. Most things can be replaced. When torrential rains or situations like the remnants of a powerful hurricane system impact New York City, culverts and drainage systems might not be able to keep up. Designed spaces below the street level can be victims of rapidly developing flood scenarios. In these situations, here is what you need to do:

Water Removal with Pumps and Vacuums

Storm damage in Queens businesses on this lower level, often below sidewalk height, can involve several feet of standing water. Using a range of pumps and vacuums, our professionals can begin to discharge the pooling to assess the extent of tear-out and reconstruction that will ultimately be necessary to make these threats “Like it never even happened.”

Muck-Out Cleaning and Content Recovery

Once our truck-mount extractors and trash pumps have managed the water and some of the debris/solids present, muck-out cleaning and post-flood cleanup are next. Being runoff from the street, many residues can coat wall and content surfaces, including oil, grease, cinders, and more. Additionally, this is the time to inventory and evaluate any contents for what is unsalvageable and what might still be saved.

Flood Restoration After the Disaster

Even if you do not contact our professionals immediately, we are here to help with whatever phase of flood recovery and restoration you might be in. At times of crisis, many property owners are preyed on by unprofessional cleaners and con artists who do not do the work promised to get your business up and running again. We can help however you need.

Flooding does not have to be the end for your business. Give our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team a call to help at (718) 381-3702.

How Can Delaying Mold Remediation Impact My Queens Business?

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

black mold in bathroom Business and mold do not share a common interest. Call SERVPRO for fast and immediate mold remediation service for your property.

Avoiding Mold Remediation Can Harm Your Business in Numerous Ways. 

Mold is a rather insidious microorganism that often seems rather benign when first encountered in your Queens business. It produces seemingly innocuous growths that discolor impacted materials and emit musty odors. However, as time progresses, these growths could potentially threaten your business’ survival.

Queens mold remediation experts at SERVPRO know the hazards of not routinely having mold inspection conducted on your business and failing to have mold removal, basement mold remediation, and black mold damage repairs performed promptly. These simple oversights could harm your business in the following ways:

  • The aesthetics of structural elements could be permanently altered.
  • Foul mold-related odors could get progressively worse, driving off customers and creating an unpleasant work environment for employees.
  • The structural integrity of floors, walls, and ceilings might become compromised as mold eats through building materials.
  • Portions of your business structure could collapse, potentially causing injuries and requiring expensive, time-consuming reconstructions.
  • Mold-filled air could potentially cause health effects in all those who enter your business. 
  • Structural and other mold-related effects could force your commercial site to close for extended periods of time, costing you precious revenue.

With this in mind, remember that your neighbors at SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood are always here and ready to help you with all your mold remediation needs. Call us whenever you need us at (718) 381-3702.

Can Professional Queens Water Mitigation Minimize Office Downtime?

7/12/2021 (Permalink)

a flooded office with a lifebuoy floating Water damage at your business location can certainly stop any productivity. Contact Team SERVPRO immediately after any event for remediation services.

SERVPRO Techs Remove Queens Office Carpet Damage with Water Mitigation Tools

After flood claims, water damage is the most common insurance claim filing in the United States. While, in many cases, water damage can be prevented, disasters can still occur at any time of the day or night that impact Queens facilities.

SERVPRO responds quickly to commercial water mitigation calls for Queens businesses with various sophisticated tools and tried-and-true methods for cleanup. The firm’s constant availability keeps business downtime–and the impact of water damage–to a minimum.

Water Extraction Processes for Carpeting

Carpeting requires specialized care from certified technicians to remove moisture and minimize the need for replacement.

  • Thorough moisture extraction with tools like carpet wands and rovers are essential to preparing carpet for drying with air movers and dehumidifiers. SERVPRO techs ensure that this process is performed without risking delamination of the pad from the carpeting
  • Carpet with significant moisture saturation can be pulled up and tented for drying both above and below the surface. Technicians can also examine the subfloor for potential cleanup and drying needs
  • Drying chambers made with polyethylene sheets can make the drying process more efficient through containment
  • Inspection is performed multiple times throughout the extraction process to ensure that drying goals remain consistent with the normal moisture levels of structural materials in a given Queens business

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood is a phone call away from performing commercial mitigation services at (718) 381-3702.

Get Rid of Water Damage in Queens For Good With SERVPRO

6/10/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Equipment and technician SERVPRO teams have the tools and experience you need to handle water damages on your property.

Water Clean Up in Your Queens Apartments

With any disaster that could affect a Queen's apartment complex, cleaning from our IICRC-Certified technicians is vital to restoration and recovery. With water damage situations, effects can spread quickly from the source throughout the apartment to become a costly and challenging situation to overcome. With cleaning being a general heading for much of the restoration work that we perform to return a property to preloss condition, these professionals are among the most skilled, trained, and experienced members of our team.

There are many phases to water cleanup in your Queens apartments. The tenants directly affected by this disaster look to you to respond quickly to the situation and get experienced restoration technicians en route to help. Our SERVPRO professionals have years of experience in the restoration industry. Our growing inventory of advanced recovery equipment makes us a wise choice to handle even spreading water damage affecting multiple units of your apartment complex.

With multiple units connected through shared flooring or walls, networks of plumbing within these cavities can almost always affect more than one apartment when leaks and breaks occur. The mitigation of water damage can begin immediately when our SERVPRO team arrives at your building. Our cleaning team has many steps to recover the affected areas of the properties to prevent secondary effects and get the tenants back into their units quickly following the efficient drying of the damages.

One of the biggest challenges for our cleaning team when responding to widespread water effects is preventing secondary concerns like mold and microbial growth. We have advanced products that are OSHA-approved and better for the environment than others. These antimicrobial solutions can penetrate surfaces, contents, and structural elements to make these materials uninhabitable to potential mold colonies or remove the earliest colonization stages preemptively.

Owning multiple apartments can leave you with a critical timetable when disasters like water damages strike. To protect your investment and keep from displacing your tenants, you can count on the fast and experienced response of our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team. We can get reached 24/7 by calling (718) 381-3702.

Queens Business Owners Trust SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration

5/3/2021 (Permalink)

commercial building with fire damage. Commercial building damaged by fire is no lost cause. Call the pros at SERVPRO for the fire remediation service needed.

24/7 Unparalleled Response Anywhere in Queens

Fire damage to your Queens commercial property can be a distressing experience. Taking prompt control of the situation and calling in the experts is the quickest way to get your business up and running. SERVPRO restoration experts are available 24/7 to assist you in your hour of need. Our technicians have years of experience and expertise to handle any size fire damage disaster in Queens. 

Deodorizing unpleasant odors is a significant challenge in a Queens fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup of commercial space. SERVPRO technicians use a systematic approach to tackle these odors and restore your businesses "Like it never even happened." 

Equipment SERVPRO uses to Deodorize your Queens commercial property During Fire and Smoke Remediation.

SERVPRO technicians in Queens use a variety of equipment in the deodorization process after smoke damage. Some of these include:

  • Air Scrubbers- Contain charcoal filters that capture odor-causing particles and recirculate the air back into the indoor environment.
  • Ventilation fans- Exchange indoor and outdoor air. The indoor air is exhausted out, and fresh air is drawn indoors from outside.
  • Ozone generators- Produce ozone (O3) which is an unstable molecule. When ozone combines with odor-causing particles, it permanently destroys them by oxidation, causing an effective deodorization.

Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for 24/7 fire damage restoration service. 

Does Your Queens Business Need Water Cleanup?

3/1/2021 (Permalink)

water damaged office Water damage buildings can be a hassle. Let SERVPRO techs handle the dirty work for you. Water restoration is one of our specialities.

SERVPRO Restores Water-Damaged Queens Establishments

Commercial entities require a consistently high standard of care to keep their employees and customers alike safe. Water damage affects the integrity of structural materials, damages assets, and facilitates mold growth.

SERVPRO renders rapid-response water cleanup for Queen's facilities regardless of when it occurs. This 24/7 availability ensures that businesses can reopen more quickly and safely.

Drying Wet Ceiling Cavities

When technicians arrive on your commercial property and find water stains and odors on ceiling tiles or drywall, they can remove irreparable materials with the assent of property owners and insurance adjusters. They can then focus on moisture extraction with portable extractors and drying with air movers and dehumidifiers.

Other tasks crucial to drying ceiling cavities include:

  • Inspecting ceiling joists for microbial contamination for subsequent cleaning with OSHA-approved antimicrobials
  • Measuring dryness of materials with moisture sensors, meters, and thermal imaging cameras
  • Controlling odors with scented granules and ultra-low volume fogging depending on the extent and duration of the water damage

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood provides water cleanup for commercial property owners who call (718) 381-3702.

Can Plumbing Emergencies Force Business Closure?

2/9/2021 (Permalink)

two male employees in a garage trying on face shield equipment Don't let water damage close your business down. Call SERVPRO, they will work around your hours to get you back up and running in no time.

SERVPRO Commercial Water Cleanup Teams in Queens Can Minimize the Impact of Plumbing Malfunctions at your Business

Plumbing systems at business premises are generally under more consistent usage than those found in residential properties. High levels of use can pressure the plumbing system, resulting in a leak, backup, or pipe burst. In some situations, these malfunctions can impact a business by forcing temporary closure and lost revenue.

Contacting a commercial water cleanup service in Queens can reduce the business costs of a plumbing malfunction by reducing closure times. SERVPRO uses local, qualified technicians that can reach your business within four hours of notification of loss. Using advanced equipment, we can shut off the source of damage, extract water, and return the premises to a sanitary state. 

  • Using portable and truck-mounted water extractors, our team can remove large volumes of water, up to 100 gallons, quickly from the premises.
  • Advanced dehumidification equipment can control microbial growth and prevent potential vapor damage.
  • We can disinfect and decontaminate the area of damage using a full range of industrial cleaning products. 

Professional restoration services can reduce the impact of business interruption. Call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood for expert water cleanup at (718) 571-8072

Local Service Helps with Water Cleanup in Queens Properties

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technician in full PPE suit After a water leak, don't make it a DIY project. Call the professionals of SERVPRO to save you time and money plus receive knowledgeable experience.

SERVPRO Uses Various Approaches to Resolve Water Spills Affecting Properties in Queens

Queens is famous as the home of the New York Mets, but there are several other interesting aspects of this borough, which has the second-largest population density among the five New York City boroughs. It was instituted in the late 17th century as one of 12 counties in the province of New York. The name Queens was chosen in honor of English Queen Catherine Braganza. At the time, the neighboring county of Nassau was part of Queens County. 1898 marked the consolidation of New York City, and Queens became one of its boroughs. Politicians from the local, city, and state spheres of influence spearheaded the consolidation after it had failed when proposed as a government vote. If the consolidation had not sailed through, Queens would currently be the fourth most populous city in the United States with its 2.23 million people.

The borough itself has polyglot origins since it was a collection of villages and small towns initially, including Maspeth, Vlissingen, Newtown, and Jamaica. Even today, Queens stands out since the Endangered Language Alliance estimates over 800 languages are spoken by residents, making it the top multilingual location in the world. It is no surprise since 47% of the population is foreign-born.

Unique Structures and Landmarks that Define the Borough 

The skyscraper is a ubiquitous structure in New York. In Queens alone, at least 37 buildings are taller than 300 feet. However, other unique structures stand out for various reasons, including historical significance and architectural beauty. 

  • The Unisphere is a stainless steel structure set up in Flushing Meadows – Corona Park, created as a celebration of the beginning of the space age. It was also the theme symbol of the New York World fair held in 1964. It is made of a spherical steel skeleton with over 500 chunks of metal formed to represent the continents. Three rings surround the sphere representing the satellites in orbit at the time. It is set atop a 20-foot base with a reflecting pool at the foot of the structure. Completing the unique look are 48 fountain heads that shoot water at the sphere make it appear to be floating.
  • The Church of the Transfiguration, constructed in 1962, is a unique A-frame structure that incorporates aspects of traditional Lithuanian symbols in a modern structure. The front façade is a wall of colored glass, while white bricks surround the doors.
  • Fort Totten officers club, or "the castle," as it is commonly known, was designed by the military engineer Robert E Lee before the civil war and then constructed in 1870. It features the neo-Gothic style, which was popular during the era and was approved as a generic style for military installations. The Castle is part of the fort built in 1857 to keep the New York waters safe. 

Museums and Historical Institutions

For an area as culturally diverse as Queens, it is possible to lose track of the changes happening over time. Luckily the borough has dozens of museums and galleries that have helped preserve the history over the years. 

  • The Queens Museum, or the Queens Museum of Arts, as it was formerly known, was set up in 1972. It has over 10,000 artifacts on display. Of these, 60% relate to the two world fairs held in 1939 and 1964 in the city. The most notable exhibit at the museum is the Panorama of the City of New York, which allows people to explore the miniature version of the city. It features all the buildings in the five boroughs constructed before 1992. The work of art has been featured in movies such as New Year's Eve and a book titled Wonderstruck. 
  • Louis Armstrong's house keeps the memory of one of the most talented jazz musicians alive. In 1943 Louis Armstrong chose the modest address on 107th street to spend the rest of his life with Lucile. After he died in 1971, his wife decided to hand over the house to the city to set up a museum focusing on her husband's legacy. Currently, it features souvenirs and paintings given to Armstrong from different places, including Asia and Africa.
  • Museum of the Moving Image or "Momi" is located in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens. It documents the history, art, technique, and technologies in film, digital media, and television. Visitors who patronize the facility can follow the various stages the industry has gone through as it evolves over the years. 
  • The Queens County Farm Museum is a forty-seven-acre piece of undisturbed farmland, which gives people a rare insight into how the area was before it was all built up. It is still a functional farm and has several restored farmhouses, greenhouses, and various vintage farm equipment. 

How Does SERVPRO handle Water Cleanup in Queens Properties?

Water leaks or other forms of water intrusion cause significant damage to properties because of the excess moisture they introduce or promoting microbial growth. The Leaks affecting Queens' properties may develop mostly because of old infrastructures such as pipes and accessories or accidental discharge. Whatever the cause, having a plan on what to do to restore the property to its preloss state is essential. SERVPRO helps homeowners or property managers perform thorough water cleanup in affected properties.

Water cleanup may involve several processes, including removal of any stagnant water in the property and cleaning of any soiling, staining, or other issues. The challenge in completing these tasks varies on a case-by-case basis, primarily if the leak originates from a hidden section such as a wall cavity or if moisture migration spreads the loss to hidden areas. SERVPRO technicians rely on various resources to address the challenges.

  • Use of sophisticated water extraction equipment with sufficient lift capacity to cut down the time take to remove standing water. Cutting down the time materials remain exposed to moisture minimizes deterioration from microbial growth or staining, thus easing cleanup.
  • Cleaning affected areas using potent cleaning products to deal with soiling
  • Drying the property thoroughly to remove all traces of moisture

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood helps with water cleanup after leaks in Queens properties. Call us at (718) 381-3702 for immediate assistance.

Are There Any Good Commercial Water Damage Restoration Services in Forest Hills?

9/27/2020 (Permalink)

flood in building coming through under door When dealing with water damage, immediate action needs to be taken. Contact our SERVPRO technicians for fast service.

Yes, One Local Service In Forest Hills, SERVPRO, Has Helped Numerous Area Businesses Successfully Remediate Their Water Damage.

Although it is mostly a residential community, Forest Hills does have a wide variety of restaurants, markets, and retail shops.  These seemingly insignificant commercial establishments mostly service area residents and are actually an important part of the local economy.  So, when one or more are impacted by a water issue, it can be a real inconvenience for both the owners and neighborhood residents.  Every day an establishment is shuttered, is a day it is losing precious income and moving closer to insolvency.  This is an especially important consideration in our area because commercial rents and taxes are exceedingly high and they can quickly bury a closed business in debt.  At the same time, locals could lose access to jobs and their favorite nearby eatery, market, or store.

Do Water Damage Cleanup and Repair Services Like SERVPRO Understand the Unique Concerns of Businesses?

As fellow business operators in this area, your neighborhood SERVPRO truly understands the concerns of firm owners who need water damage restoration in Forest Hills.  This means that, unlike other water damage remediators, we are much more likely to deliver the service they need, in the manner that they need it.  So, as our technicians work to restore your water-damaged commercial site, they are always:

  • Trying to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to minimize your enterprise’s downtime and return it to operational condition as soon as they can   
  • Concerned about preserving and restoring your invaluable and, often, irreplaceable business records
  • Focused on restoring, rather than merely replacing, your expensive equipment and furnishings
  • Mindful of and dedicated to eliminating potential customer and employee safety issues
  • Aware of local building ordinances and codes so that your restored business complies with them
  • Dedicated to keeping you informed of job progress and only completing work authorized by you

In all of these various ways, our trained professionals attempt to minimize your overall losses and swiftly return you to profitability.

What Specific Services Does SERVPRO Offer Local Business Owners Impacted by a Water Issue?

We offer area restaurateurs and shop owners in Forest Hills suffering water issues numerous beneficial remediation services.  These involve everything from basic water removals to complex reconstructive efforts and include:

  • Water extractions of various magnitudes to limit potential damage and facilitate restoration efforts
  • Site security services like tarping openings, boarding up windows and doors, and fencing in the perimeter of your commercial site to prevent trespassing and looting
  • Repairing compromised roofing and impaired drainage systems to eliminate leaks
  • Fixing or replacing defective or deteriorated piping to combat water issues
  • Repairing leaking appliances that could cause further damage
  • Skilled drying of business documents, furnishings, other important contents, and the overall interiors of your commercial structure
  • Expert reconstructions of destroyed portions of your building by trained contractors 

As you can see, whatever level of water damage you have experienced, we likely offer a service that can effectively resolve your particular issues.  Moreover, we are often able to handle these problems more swiftly than other cleaning and restoration companies.

What Remediation Training and Credentials Do SERVPRO Professionals Have?

SERVPRO technicians receive extensive in-house training and take certification courses from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).  Some of the industry-related certifications they hold are in:

  • Water damage restoration
  • Applied microbial remediation
  • Applied structural drying
  • Health and safety
  • Lead-based paint activities and renovation
  • Construction safety

Rest assured that, armed with all of this restoration knowledge, our skilled experts are more than capable of successfully resolving whatever water-related problem you may have.  Using their specialized equipment, they can perform all the necessary steps to quickly and efficiently return your business to its preloss condition.  

Operating a business in the quaint town of Forest Hills is usually a wonderful experience. Although it is less than ten miles from Manhattan, it often feels like you are far from the hustle and bustle of the big city when you are in this peaceful community.  The town’s tree-lined streets and architectural styles mimicking old English and Dutch construction only add to its suburban charm.  With all that said, ruptured water pipes, a severe roof leak, malfunctioning appliances, or leaking water storage containers could quickly turn your idyllic small-town commercial experience into a money-sucking nightmare.  However, remember that if any of these problems ever affect you, there is help available nearby.     

Whenever you need your commercial property inspected for water damage or are dealing with the troublesome aftereffects of a water event, call your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of Forest Hills/Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for assistance.

Is Mold Affecting the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) System in your Business?

9/4/2020 (Permalink)

commercial metal ductwork for HVAC Forest Hill Commercial Buildings Rely on SERVPRO for Cleaning HVAC Ductwork to Remediate Mold Damage

SERVPRO Provides Commercial Mold Remediation in the  Forest Hills Area

Why are commercial HVAC systems at risk of mold infestation?

Businesses in the Forest Hills area rely on the HVAC system to provide staff and customers' ideal conditions throughout the year. Unlike residential systems, a commercial HVAC can be in use all year round. Higher usage dramatically increases the likelihood of malfunction. By failing to replace filters regularly or perform maintenance on a high usage system, you increase the chances of a mold infestation. Since HVAC systems transport recycled air through business premises, an outbreak can spread rapidly, affecting acoustical ceiling tiles, carpets as well as the inner ducts of the system itself. SERVPRO has experience working with commercial properties to overcome potential mold growth issues.

How are HVAC systems inspected for mold damage?

When an HVAC requires mold remediation in your Forest Hills business, it may extend beyond the regular access and maintenance points. To access ducting, we may need to employ circular drilling equipment to open the ducts and inspect the interior walls. These temporary access points can often be resealed using thin metal panels attached to the cavity to return the HVAC to a working condition. If there is a significant amount of mold within ducts, SERVPRO technicians can use ultra-low volume (ULV) fogging equipment to disperse anti-microbial chemicals in the conduits. These chemicals break down microbes and help prevent new colonies from building up through the stages of growth.

What is the benefit of having a clean HVAC system?

  • Removal of potential mold colonies from inside ducts
  • Cost-efficient remediation of the inner HVAC system
  • Inspection and point of contact should a third-party repair be required for the restoration of a faulty appliance
  • Improved IAQ Indoor Air Quality

Dealing with microbial growth promptly can save time and expense in the long run. Contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 306-6536.

What is the Difference Between DIY Damage Cleanup and Using a Professional Service in Queens?

6/30/2020 (Permalink)

overflowing toilet in a public bathroom Regardless of the inconvenient situation at hand, team SERVPRO is ready to help. Contact our certified technicians right away.

SERVPRO technicians are ready to come to your Queens property and perform any needed actions to approach  preloss condition

There are many ways that loss can hit a commercial property in Queens such as fire, water, mold, or biohazard situations; however, the one thing all these scenarios have in common is the quicker the cleanup starts has the potential to lessen the loss experienced by the property owner. When a property disaster happens, it is vital to bring in a professional mitigation company to oversee the cleanup and restoration of the property for the best outcome. DIY efforts can lead to: 

  • Accidentally spreading mold spores or soot in the case of fire loss
  • Ruining items that had restoration potential through improper cleaning methods
  • Water extraction or drying takes too long and cause deterioration of building materials or mold

What Can Commercial Restoration Companies Do for a Business That Needs Cleanup? 

It is hard to close your Queens business when you need help from commercial restoration companies to get the loss turned around. SERVPRO techs do a lot more than show up with wet/dry vacs and fans. The techs have access to a diverse array of both extraction and drying equipment. The goal is to save as much as possible from needing replacement in terms of both structure and contents and get the property reopened quickly. Disasters can hit properties in a lot of different ways.

Water Damage 

Whether it happened due to a pipe leak or toilet overflow, SERVPRO techs have the expertise to remove the water and dry the property. When the water loss contains sewage or other contaminants, it is vital to not come in contact with the water unless wearing protective clothing. The techs practice safety for all during mitigation and work to lessen the loss by moving out items off-site for storage or cleaning as needed to save the property or shop owner the cost of replacement.

Storm and Flood Damage

When flood damage ruins your Queens commercial property, the techs are ready to clean up the water and dry the structure. Controlled demolition is a normal part of mitigation, mainly when dealing with flood water within a structure.

Fire Damage  

It is vital to test the smoke residues to ensure the proper cleaning methods get used for the best outcome. With their specialized cleaning agents and manual cleaning tools, the techs can clean up any size fire damage within a structure. Soot within the ductwork can also be a problem, and the techs have the equipment to perform any needed deep cleaning, including ductwork.

Mold Damage 

Once mold takes residence within your commercial property, it will not want to leave. The techs have extensive training in the remediation of mold. They can carefully perform abatement to remove the dry colony matter and also address the reasons for the favorable conditions for sustaining the infestation.

Certified SERVPRO Cleaned

As COVID-19 has become a concern for many commercial properties, assuring your employees and clients that your property has high sanitary standards can help build trust that your company puts a priority on safety. SERVPRO has antibacterial cleaning agents, and after cleaning, they test surfaces to ensure there are no bacteria or pathogens present.

Professional Equipment and Solutions are Crucial

When SERVPRO arrives on-site to assist local businesses with the cleanup, the techs bring everything they need to complete the job in their green service vans. Typically it includes:

  • Extraction and drying equipment
  • Plastic for containment
  • Professional-grade cleaning agents
  • Generators when the power is out

Odor Control is Another Reason to Choose a Professional Restoration Service  

Water can leave behind unpleasant musty odors, and fire damage has a distinctive smell that must be eradicated before any repairs or rebuilding can occur. Foul scents such as these need elimination rather than covering up with sprays or stand-alone air fresheners. The technicians have access to a large number of devices that work to neutralize both airborne and embedded odors within a structure.

With their collective decades of experience, the techs have the knowledge and expertise to handle a small clogged restroom sink overflow or a massive scale fire that gutted a property. They approach each job site with both professionalism and compassion to make one of the most stressful situations a property investor can face a little easier to deal with.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 when you need the help of a commercial restoration services company. The technicians have the skills and equipment to turn around any amount of loss to your property and bring it to its former condition.

What Should I Do About Flooding in My Forest Hills Retail Store?

5/11/2020 (Permalink)

Close-up Photo Of Flooded Floor From Water Leak SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood is here to put your mind at ease when you have commercial flood damage to handle.

SERVPRO is Available to Address Commercial Flood Damage So Your Forest Hills Business Gets Back Up and Running

Even when you have as little as an inch of flooding in your store, it can leave behind significant destruction. The longer that it sits, the more secondary damage develops, and there is the potential for mold and mildew infestation. Calling trained technicians to your business ensures you get up and running faster without the worry that you left moisture behind with DIY efforts.

What Does Professional Restoration Do?
Commercial flood damage in Forest Hills is something that we excel in at SERVPRO. We arrive on the scene, and our skilled team springs into action to deploy a plan for restoration. With a combination of intensive training and the best equipment in the business, we can make your retail sore “Like it never even happened,” after the flood loss. We do this using a variety of tools, including:

    •    Positive and negative pressure systems
    •    Axial and centrifugal air movers
    •    Drying mats
    •    Dehumidifiers
    •    EPA-approved disinfectants and cleaning agents

What if Water Got Behind the Walls?
We use moisture detection sensors and tools that allow us to find the path of water migration. Should there be water found within the wall cavities, we ventilate them by drilling holes under the baseboard. We then air hoses or our Injectidry system to ramp up the drying process. If the amount of water saturation is too high, we may have to make flood cuts to remove the unsalvageable drywall so that it can get replaced and repainted, restoring it to pre-flood loss condition.

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood is here to put your mind at ease when you have commercial flood damage to handle. Call us at (718) 381-3702 to have a restoration crew deployed to your place of business.

For more about Forest Hills click here.

Should I let my staff Handle Water Removal at my Forest Hills Office?

4/29/2020 (Permalink)

Flooded office Each vehicle in our Green Fleet is stocked with equipment to dry your office quickly. Call us today!

It Might Take More Steps than Mopping Standing Water So You Should Call SERVPRO

In the case of a water spill at your Forest Hills office, you may consider handling it in-house with the help of janitorial staff, especially after managing to stop the source. For minor leaks, this may be a viable solution, but not when a significant amount of water is released or when the water spreads to concealed areas, you need assistance from a professional water removal team. Some issues can crop up during the restoration processes that prove too difficult for your staff to handle. Although you can still call professionals at the latter stages, you might end up with unnecessary secondary damage.

Why would water removal be tricky for janitors?

Several factors can complicate commercial water removal from your Forest Hills office, preventing the janitorial staff from handling it effectively. Although each incident is unique, the common factors that complicate removal include:

  • Content manipulation
  • Removal and reinstallation of some fixtures
  • Advanced moisture management

How does SERVPRO manage to handle content better?

Depending on the operations your office handles, you are likely to have different types of contents, which are vulnerable to water exposure or stand in the way when performing some restoration processes. Moving such contents out of the way is one simple way to deal with the challenges they pose. However, performing the actual move can be difficult, especially for bulky or heavy items. For example, moving a multi-drawer file cabinet full of documents to create room for wet vacuuming can be daunting to your staff. Our crews have various specialized equipment to handle such tasks conveniently, including:

  • Air sleds
  • Heavy lifting straps
  • Handcarts 

What fixtures need removal after water spills? 

The circumstances in each water loss incident are unique, and so the outcomes differ. However, each property is likely to have a couple of materials that are highly vulnerable to water exposure, thus necessitating removal. Common materials likely to pose challenges to your staff once exposed to water include:

  • Carpets
  • Insulation
  • Drywall
  • Wallpaper           

Carpets absorb significant amounts of water, necessitating extensive drying efforts if dried in-place. Removal is the other alternative, which simplifies drying, although there is a risk of damaging the carpet when removing or reinstalling it. Our SERVPRO technicians can handle both options conveniently. If we decide to dry the carpet in place, we use weighted extraction tools, which utilize weight to squeeze water from the carpet fibers before using suction power to extract it. The availability of such specialized equipment helps our crews overcome challenges that your staff might face. Carpets are also prone to other problems such as stretching and staining, so the expertise our crews have is crucial for safe removal and reinstallation of the carpet once dry.   

Removal of other materials such as drywall and insulation is necessary after significant exposure to water since they lose some of their physical properties, thus reducing their usefulness. Drywall may crumble while insulation loses R-value. Removal of such materials is usually necessary when water flows through the wall, ceiling, floor assembly, or when water remains standing in a room over extended periods. It is rare for a water spill to affect entire walls, so indiscriminate removal of materials from an affected area is wasteful. Our SERVPRO technicians use moisture sensors to trace the edge of the moisture migration determining which materials to remove. Thermal cameras can also help investigate moisture migration in hidden areas.

Is it possible to expedite moisture removal?

Unlike liquid water, which is readily visible and directed by gravitation forces towards the lower edges of your property, moisture behaves differently. Porous materials can concentrate moisture in any section of the office. Significant amounts of moisture also remain in the air. Moisture removal is likely to take the longest chunk of time in the restoration of your office after a water spill. However, it is possible to cut down the time by using state of the art drying equipment and unique drying techniques. 

Our SERVPRO technicians pair up air movers and dehumidifiers to quicken the drying process. We make calculations to determine the units needed depending on the size of your office. We balance the ratio of dehumidifiers to air movers for balanced drying. In addition to relying on the efficiency of the equipment, we also apply several tactics to quicken the process. The common ones include:

  • Taking specific humidity measurements instead of relative humidity
  • Increasing temperature in the building to boost evaporation
  • The unique placement of air movers  
  • Using drying chambers to isolate wet areas

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood can help minimize the inconveniences water spills present. Call us at (718) 381-3702 to help. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

We Get You Back To Business In Kew Gardens

12/2/2019 (Permalink)

A large amount of mold on a building wall Using our advanced equipment, our team will restore your commercial property to pre-damage condition. Call us right away we respond 24/7.

Steps to Commercial Mold Damage Remediation in Kew Gardens Properties

One fact about commercial mold damage is that it will continue to get worse. There are many "treatments" on the market, but generally, they remove visible signs of the mold only. 

When SERVPRO technicians handle commercial mold damage in Kew Gardens businesses, they know going in that mold is a symptom of another often more significant issue. 

Common Reasons Causing Mold Damage

It is a good idea to inspect commercial properties regularly for things that need repair or addressing to inhibit mold growth. Some frequently seen issues resulting in mold include:

  • Slow plumbing leaks within walls or ceilings 
  • Water damage from flash flooding improperly cleaned up
  • Poor ventilation in attic storage or above kitchen areas
  • Roof and gutter damage allowing water inside the building
  • Poor sealing around windows or doors allowing moisture to build-up

Drying and Remediation Actions

Property owners often remark they previously treated mold, but it came back. Actually, it never left. Treatments such as spraying visible colonies with bleach work to remove the evidence of mold on the surface; however, it does nothing to remove the issue from the property. SERVPRO technicians determine all areas of mold infestation, including underfloors and behind walls. 

They contain the area to stop any further spread of mold damage and dry the colonies. Once the humidity in the area is below 50%, the mold cannot exist. They remove the dried colonies using hand tools or in cases of large areas that require removal, soda blasting is a way to abate the infestation gently from surfaces.  Hand vacuums fitted with HEPA filtration to catch the minute particulate thoroughly pick up the dried matter. 

Post-Remediation Actions

SERVPRO technicians have extensive training in handling any size mold infestation. After remediation, they apply antimicrobial agents as well as sealants to inhibit the return of mold before necessary repairs happen to end the condition making the structure favorable for spore germination and colony growth.

Contact SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702 for assistance with commercial mold damage. Our emergency response team is local, and We're Faster to Any Size Disaster. 

See more about Kew Gardens.

Steady Appliance Leaks Can Cause Mold in Rego Park Laundromats

11/16/2019 (Permalink)

Washing machines and dryers stacked up in a room with a basket of  laundry and detergent on the floor. Mold won't stand a chance in your Rego Park Laundromat with SERVPRO on the job.

Has mold taken over your Rego Park laundromat ? SERVPRO will kick it right out the door.

Your Rego Park laundromat makes money when people can readily use the washing and drying machines as they need. With water-fed appliances like the line of washing machines you have positioned along one side of the building, a small leak can be hard to pinpoint exclusively, but can also lead to worsening conditions from the prolonged moisture like microbial threats. 

Because many of these situations are unique and can feature any of thousands of microorganisms, mold damage in a Rego Park laundromat is best left to professionals like our SERVPRO team. With exposed materials like linoleum flooring, baseboards, and drywall, any of these areas can host spreading colonies and allow the organism to spread beyond the initial water damage spot. 

Successful remediation begins with an assessment of the property to determine the scope of the damage. This inspection includes determining the migration of the active colonization, as well as the source of the water damage that fed the problem initially. With many machines positioned closely together, we might have to pull units away from the walls to identify which machine or hose connection has the leak which lead to mold growth. 

Addressing mold concerns starts with determining how severe colonization has become in affected surfaces. Baseboards are not complicated to replace, making it often more cost-effective to detach this trim rather than dry it out and use remediation tactics like soda blasting to remove the colonization. We have a team of certified and licensed general contractors that can oversee the controlled demolition of materials like the baseboards to allow access to the wallboard behind. 

Because units get moved around and pushed more often than they should, it can cause cracks and missing portions of your linoleum tile floor. Water penetration beneath these microbe-resistant tiles can not only spell trouble for the flooring itself but leave a door open for mold growth beneath them. The application of sporicides can kill growing colonies forming at these vulnerable positions while our SERVPRO team works to continue addressing active colonization in other areas. 

We understand how damaging the presence of mold can be for your customers and your business, so our SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood team aims to prove We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. We can help when you call (718) 381-3702. 

 To learn more about Rego Park, click here.

We Get You Back To Business In Rego Park

9/25/2019 (Permalink)

Water damaged floor in a building Our state-of-the-art equipment and advanced cleaning techniques will restore your building after you have a water damage disaster.

Our Commercial Water Removal Services Right Everything after Accidents in Rego Park Retail Shops

Minor plumbing mishaps and terrible weather events can create emergencies within your shop in Rego Park that affect your business. People coming to your store do not expect conditions that compromise their safety, and government regulations require employers continuously maintain safe environments. The liability that results from unsafe situations requires your immediate concern and attention.

When retail shops in Rego Park need commercial water removal services that restore dry, safe conditions, we know that we must act quickly from the initial call. We want our customers to know We're Faster To Any Size Disaster and understand your concerns regarding interruptions, expenses, and possible changes to your shop's interior.

Our specialists and technicians receive certificates from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), ensuring their ability to professionally mitigate and restore your retail setting back to how you remember. Working with our building services staff, we remove damaged materials and building components, repair places where minor damage may worsen, clean areas that are at risk of sustaining damage and dry the entire setting. We can handle severe disasters, including fallen trees that tore through your roof, also.

Your store's merchandise, the units used for displaying these items to your shoppers, and any other furnishings also require the attention SERVPRO's IICRC-certified Water Damage Restoration Technicians (WRT). The glass, metal, and wood of these structures require the elimination of dampness to protect from loss caused by rust, grime, and other problems that leaks can visit upon your business. We extract moisture from these after we gather them together and place inside a drying chamber. 

We help retail businesses recover inventory and reduce loss through helping gather undamaged items, and setting those needing replacements. We can list these for you on inventory sheets that help you with the task of replenishing your stock. Many stores include damaged items in particular areas marked appropriately to help customers obtain a bargain while decreasing their losses related to inventory. We can help you eliminate 

Carpets and rugs need protective measures against moisture that gets trapped in their fibers, and thorough cleaning can provide precisely what these floor coverings need. Many times, we also find shops with tile and other types of flooring. We can dry all of these and prevent any warping, bubbling, or other signs of the past water-related emergency. Although many smaller-sized shops can mop up or use a wet-dry vac to remove small spills, relying on our building services team to repair plumbing and other leaks, including those coming from the roof or appliances, can free up other resources that you need.  

SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood takes pride in helping businesses with water removal and extraction services in Forest Hills, Kew Gardens, and Rego Park. We also provide mitigation and other services to those areas, as well as to the Ridgewood area. Contact our 24-hour emergency services team by calling (718) 381-3702, any day of the year. We can help you by making everything “Like it never even happened.”

See more about Rego Park.

Warehouse Owners in Forest Hills with Commercial Fire Damage need one Company

8/7/2019 (Permalink)

fire damage through window We understand how serious a fire damage can be for our Forest Hills community.

Let SERVPRO blaze through your commercial fire damage in Forest Hills.

Exposed spaces with poor insulation are increasingly likely to sustain fire as loose, or aging wearing becomes exposed to temperature changes, condensation, and humidity. A warehouse manager needs to be aware of the potential for fire in their property by making regular maintenance assessments of their electrics and fusebox to keep the likelihood of an electrical fire to a minimum. 

Warehouses tend to be situated away from residential, or business centers, so the potential for moderate or major fire damage in your Forest Hills business is higher. Slow combustion materials, like synthetics, can result in thick, stubborn smoke residues that are not cleanable with regular, non-oil based cleaning agents. If an electric fire breaks out during working hours, you should never use water to control the blaze since it conducts electricity and could hurt you. You should keep a dry powder fire extinguisher on-site at all times. 

Once a blaze has been contained, your commercial property is likely to have a thick, unpleasant smoke odor, charred debris, and wide scale soiling. SERVPRO operates a large loss recovery team for commercial business owners that can arrive on-site quickly to carry out the tasks needed for restoration. We can remove, and dispose of charred items as well as remove structural components like damaged windows or doors. Any stock or materials in the affected area can be removed during the cleaning procedure to avoid further losses.

Commercial buildings tend to be much larger than residential projects, which is why SERVPRO makes sure we have the human resources and the equipment to handle larger job sites. A larger Jobsite requires more work. However, a vacated space has many advantages in restoration. Easier access to walls, ceilings, or floors as well as a more extensive array of equipment can be used in a vacated space. 

SERVPRO can deploy Ozone generators to alter the indoor atmosphere and eliminate odors and gases permanently. These machines can be lethal during use, which is why they can only be deployed in vacated spaces. However, they can be noticeably more efficient and provide better results than regular fogging equipment or Hydroxyl generators. Give your business the very best treatment after a disaster to ensure it gets back to its preloss condition.

Large projects require restoration services with resources. Contact the SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood commercial response unit at (718) 381-3702.

To learn more about Forest Hills, click here.

Warehouse Owners in Forest Hills with Commercial Fire Damage need one Company

8/7/2019 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO blaze through your commercial fire damage in Forest Hills.

Exposed spaces with poor insulation are increasingly likely to sustain fire as loose, or aging wearing becomes exposed to temperature changes, condensation, and humidity. A warehouse manager needs to be aware of the potential for fire in their property by making regular maintenance assessments of their electrics and fusebox to keep the likelihood of an electrical fire to a minimum. 

Warehouses tend to be situated away from residential, or business centers, so the potential for moderate or major fire damage in your Forest Hills business is higher. Slow combustion materials, like synthetics, can result in thick, stubborn smoke residues that are not cleanable with regular, non-oil based cleaning agents. If an electric fire breaks out during working hours, you should never use water to control the blaze since it conducts electricity and could hurt you. You should keep a dry powder fire extinguisher on-site at all times. 

Once a blaze has been contained, your commercial property is likely to have a thick, unpleasant smoke odor, charred debris, and wide scale soiling. SERVPRO operates a large loss recovery team for commercial business owners that can arrive on-site quickly to carry out the tasks needed for restoration. We can remove, and dispose of charred items as well as remove structural components like damaged windows or doors. Any stock or materials in the affected area can be removed during the cleaning procedure to avoid further losses.

Commercial buildings tend to be much larger than residential projects, which is why SERVPRO makes sure we have the human resources and the equipment to handle larger job sites. A larger Jobsite requires more work. However, a vacated space has many advantages in restoration. Easier access to walls, ceilings, or floors as well as a more extensive array of equipment can be used in a vacated space. 

SERVPRO can deploy Ozone generators to alter the indoor atmosphere and eliminate odors and gases permanently. These machines can be lethal during use, which is why they can only be deployed in vacated spaces. However, they can be noticeably more efficient and provide better results than regular fogging equipment or Hydroxyl generators. Give your business the very best treatment after a disaster to ensure it gets back to its preloss condition.

Large projects require restoration services with resources. Contact the SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood commercial response unit at (718) 381-3702.

To learn more about Forest Hills, click here.

Get Your SERVPRO ERP Now to Protect Your Forest Hills Business

6/21/2019 (Permalink)

Download your SERVPRO ERP today!

Preparing for Commercial Flood Damage in Forest Hills Helps Prevent Huge Losses in Retail Settings

For businesses in the Forest Hills area, a disaster can force them to close unexpectedly. Overall, companies that put together a recovery plan before a disaster happens succeed at much higher rates in reopening and resuming normal activities than businesses that did not take the opportunity to prepare for the worst.

SERVPRO offers a free plan, the Emergency READY Profile (ERP), that can make disasters like commercial flood damage less destructive in Forest Hills businesses. When the owner or manager of a retail business takes the time to complete an ERP, the benefits might not appear immediately, but the protection can prove invaluable when needing help the most.

We have found that an ERP helps local Forest Hills businesses recover after a commercial flood disaster more quickly, with less loss, and also with less expense. Recovering more quickly also puts less strain on agencies because employees can return to work sooner. There are vast economic differences between cities with healthy businesses and those that falter.

As soon as we receive a call from a business, we begin taking their information so we can arrive completely ready to start the mitigation process. When that company has a SERVPRO ERP, we already have the necessary information. Not needing to ask more than the most basic questions saves us considerable time.

Already Faster To Any Size Disaster because every minute that ticks by when a flood soaks your building, an ERP means we also have a layout of your building. Such layouts include utility shut off locations, entrances, staircases, and other structural components that can help us in mitigating the damage. Flooding affects your business differently than what fire or other problems do, and we want to provide you with the most effective services possible.

When your retail business sustains flood damage, call SERVPRO of Forest Hills / Ridgewood at (718) 381-3702. We can help you before such disasters happen with an ERP of your own. Serving nearby communities, including Maspeth, Glendale, and Middle Village, year-round, including holidays, weekends, and the middle of the night, we are ready when you need us.

See more about Forest Hills.

Fire Restoration: Understanding the Costs

1/9/2019 (Permalink)

Ozone generator is used to remove odor after a fire in Forest Hills, NY

Fire Restoration: Understanding the Costs

A commercial fire can leave a property owner confused and feeling desperate and afraid. Fear of losing their business due to a lengthy restoration can leave some wondering if it is worth it. Thankfully, insurers do offer some salvation, but understanding the costs of a renovation and how a company comes up with an estimate will help owners understand the full picture.

1. Security and Surveillance

Fire damage can leave your property vulnerable to all sorts of criminal activity, which is why security and surveillance are so vital to the rebuilding process. Any restoration company worth their salt will provide fencing and board-up services. Some companies will even offer 24-hour surveillance to ensure the safety of your property.

2. Debris Removal

An estimate will include a ballpark figure for the removal of all debris. This price is not set in stone because not all damage is immediately visible. Additionally, it is possible that while some items may look beyond repair, closer inspection reveals a different story altogether.

3. Odor Removal

Smoke and fire leave a distinct odor and residue that is not easily removed. You will likely need a company with specialized equipment and cleaning supplies to remove the odors completely, and it may take them several passes before the smell is completely gone.

4. Cleaning, Restoration and Reconstruction

A disaster restoration specialist in the Forest Hills, NY, area is likely equipped to handle any size cleanup and remediation. They will also act as an intermediary between you and other contractors as you move through the cleaning, restoration and reconstruction process, ensuring your interests are the priority.

A fire is frightening and disastrous, and for businesses, it can mean significant loss if not handled appropriately. Understanding the remediation process, along with the costs associated with the initial estimate, will provide you with a clearer picture of how your business is being rebuilt.

How Much Can a Leak Cost You?

12/31/2018 (Permalink)

A dripping faucet can be annoying, but even a steady drip isn’t going to make that much difference in your water bill. A water leak due to a damaged pipe, however, can send your monthly utility cost skyrocketing, especially if it goes undetected for a while. The spike in the water bill for your commercial property in Rego Park, NY, while potentially significant, may be the least of your financial worries, though.

1. Wasted Water

No business owner likes waste, particularly when it is expensive. Depending on how much water gushes out after a pipe break, you can spend $200 or more a day in added water costs. This relatively small amount adds up quickly the longer it takes you to find and repair the leak. Always be on the lookout for damage, such as ceiling tiles with water spots, particularly if they start dripping onto the floor below.

2. Structural Repairs

If a water leak intensifies or gets larger, your building is likely to sustain some water damage. This is where the problem starts getting more expensive. In addition to the extra utility costs, you may also have to cover repairs. Even if the water is clean, once the water saturates parts of the structure such as the drywall or floorboards, water restoration specialists will likely need to be called to tear out and replace the ruined materials.

3. Secondary Damage

When you have a leak, time is not on your side. You are on a race against the clock to turn off the source of the water, call the experts and get repairs underway before mold starts to grow. Fungus can infest the surfaces where it finds adequate food and water in as little as 24 hours. Because mold growth is preventable with quick action, your insurance company may not cover mold remediation under your standard property policy, which means you could have to pay for the cleanup yourself.

A water leak is not something you want to ignore. It can end up costing you thousands of dollars in utilities and repairs.