Rain May Lead to Mold Growth

8/18/2023 (Permalink)

Mold growth found after a storm in Layton, UT.

Black mold can show up in your Layton, Utah, house seemingly overnight. Have you noticed a connection between rainy days and mold growth? There are a few instances when rain can lead to mold popping up in your home.

5 Reasons Rain May Lead to Mold Growth

1. Faulty Roof: If your roof is missing shingles, it may not be able to keep water out of your home like it should. This can lead to water buildup in your attic or drips down your walls, which invites mold spores to make a home.
2. Bad Foundation: Cracks in your foundation could be another way excess moisture makes it into your home. During the rain, the falling water goes into the ground and starts to travel. If your foundation isn't properly sealed, the water can find its way into your home.
3. Poor Attic Ventilation: When the attic does not have proper ventilation, condensation can start to build up in the space. Even condensation is enough of a moisture problem to allow black mold to make a home.
4. Worn-Out Weather Strips: Weather stripping around windows and doors can become cracked and faded over time. When it rains, the water may seep its way into these crevices. Mold may start to build up around your windows and doors because of the trapped moisture.
5. Too Much Water: Heavy rains can lead to too much water for an environment. When this happens, floods can fill your basement or garage. Flooding is a common cause of mold growth.

No matter what issue has caused your moisture problem, you need to get to the heart of the issue. Wiping away the surface mold won't help you rid your home of the fungus. Instead, you need to call in a professional mold cleanup crew.

Rain sometimes exacerbates issues with your home. If you notice black mold pop up after every downpour, it could be tied to a bigger issue with your house.

5 Steps for Flood Cleanup

8/4/2023 (Permalink)

Thurnderstorm in Layton, UT.

Floods come in all shapes and sizes, from minor plumbing leaks to major storm surges. It is often difficult to see a level of your home underwater, and it can leave you wondering about specific cleaning requirements. Most water damage specialists in Layton, UT, suggest a five-step process for flood recovery.

5 Step Process for Flood Cleanup

1. Remove Water From Interior

The primary objective after a storm surge is to remove the water, not to perform flood clean up. Most professionals will use a combination of shop vacs, portable pumps, and pumping trucks, depending on the depth of the flood.

2. Dry the Interior

Thoroughly drying the space is among the most important cleaning requirements. Mold can begin growing within 24 to 48 hours after water damage. The quicker you can dry the space, the less chance for other problems to arise. Restoration companies often use air movers, dehumidifiers, and fans to help move the drying process along.

3. Mitigate Further Loss

A significant concern for many homeowners is mitigating further loss. Most insurers require homeowners to protect the property from greater harm or risk their claim. Disaster response teams might suggest using plywood to cover vertical damage, like broken windows, and tarps for horizontal damage, like wind-torn roofs.

4. Clean and Disinfect

Before you know it, the disaster response crew will explain how to flood disinfectant and clean your space. The team you hire will remove all debris, and use commercial products to eliminate any harmful bacteria.

5. Restore the Space

With the space clean and dry, the team can begin focusing on any structural repairs. The restoration phase is about removing any sign of storm damage and making your house look like never even happened.

The cleaning requirements after a flood or storm surge are simple: remove water, dry the space, protect, clean, and repair. However, depending on the damage, a homeowner might want to consider calling a professional for help.

What You Need To Know About Flooding, Flood Insurance, and FEMA

7/19/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding can cause severe damage.

Floods are some of the most common types of natural disasters throughout the United States, and there are several sources of natural flooding:

• Prolonged rainfall
  
• Heavy snowmelt
  
• Powerful storms
  
• Broken dams
  
• Lack of drainage
  

Unfortunately, even homes that aren’t situated on a flood plane can be vulnerable to these disasters.

What Is the Importance of Flood Insurance?

Whether the risk to your home in Layton, UT, is obvious or not, it’s important to add flood insurance to your policy. This additional coverage is the best way to protect your home and family from significant loss.

What You Need To Know About Urban Flooding

Urban flooding happens when a community’s infrastructure isn’t prepared to handle heavy rainfall. In this case, water flows from roads, sidewalks, parking lots, and other surfaces into storm drains, ultimately overflowing into yards or up through residential sewer systems. Communities that aren’t located in flood zones are experiencing more risk of street flooding, overwhelmed sewer systems, and flooded neighborhoods because of heavy or prolonged rainstorms. This means that even if you haven’t had a problem with rainfall flooding in the past, you could be caught in a disaster situation in the future.

What To Do if You Don’t Have the Right Insurance

What if you don’t have coverage for flooding? You may still have some recourse through the federal government. The Small Business Administration offers loans, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offers grants to cover some related expenses.
Loans for home repairs through the SBA are classified as disaster loans. You will have to pay back the money you receive, but you can count on low-interest rates with extended repayment periods, often up to 30 years. The specific repayment terms for your loan are determined by your specific circumstances. An SBA disaster loan can be used to repair and replace your home and your personal property, including cars. You won’t be allowed to use the funds for additions or upgrades to your home, but they may cover any work done by water damage cleanup and repair professionals. Even if you don’t think you’ll use the loan, it’s a good idea to apply because this could also help you qualify for other funds.
FEMA provides grants for families located in federally recognized disaster areas. These grants are available through the Individuals and Households Program and are generally meant to cover expenses that aren’t covered by your existing insurance policy. Unlike the broad coverage allowed by the SBA loan, the funds you receive through this grant are strictly controlled. For example, you can only use these funds to return your home to a habitable state, not to return it to its original condition.

What You Can Do Now

If you live in a flood zone, you should immediately contact your insurance provider and add flood insurance to your existing coverage. If you don’t live in a flood zone, it’s still worth discussing the risk with your insurance provider. Insurance companies are often an excellent resource for ideas about floodproofing your home and landscape. The steps you take now are much easier than the work required to recover from flooding.

Hail Damage

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

Hail can leave a lot of damage that we need to look for to avoid further loss in the future.

The dreaded sound of ice pellets hitting your office window tells you that the storm has become more than just wind and water. When you experience a hailstorm in Kaysville, Utah, it can cause extensive storm damage to your commercial property. You can hire professionals to take care of roof damage so that you avoid bigger problems in the future. Here are some other problems to check for after hail.

2 Problems to Check for After Hail

1. Cracked or Missing Shingles. Hail damage to the roof can break your shingles.

Some shingles may even come loose or detach completely. A roofing company is generally required to fix the roof, but luckily most building insurance packages have provisions to cover at least part of the cost.

1. Leaks. Roof damage can lead to leaks, which in turn can lead to a whole slew of other problems.

A wet attic that goes unnoticed can foster mold growth, turning a water problem into a mold remediation problem. It can also cause insulation to get wet, which renders it ineffective. If that happens, it needs to be replaced. Flood mitigation specialists can test areas with water damage to make sure they are remediated properly.

3 Tips for Protecting Your Business from Storm Winds

6/7/2022 (Permalink)

Create an emergency preparedness checklist for your Business.

For a business in Layton, UT, being prepared for hurricane damage can help save you valuable time and money. In many cases storm damage can obstruct the normal business flow, meaning that the better prepared you are beforehand, the quicker you can get back up and running. Here's some tips many storm damage restoration professionals recommend for protecting your company.

Common Damage Caused by Winter Storms

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Be ready for Winter Storms by Following These Tips.

For homeowners in Kaysville, UT, a severe winter storm is to be expected. What homeowners may not expect is extensive damage from the storm that requires a storm and water damage restoration company to repair.

The Effects of a Blizzard

When dealing with ice, snow and sleet, your home may not be ready to handle what they may bring. Instead of hoping for the best, homeowners should have a good understanding of the common causes of water and roof damage during cold weather. These include:

Wet Snow:

Extra-heavy, moisture-filled snow early in the winter easily accumulates. As it does so, this extra weight puts stress on power lines, roofs, trees and other structures. Over time, only a few feet of snow may be enough to cause damage.

Ice:

Similar to wet snow, the weight of ice is too much for some structures. As the rain turns to ice, it can create layers of ice that can be detrimental to your home and the power grid. If ice dams form on the roof, it means that moisture is being pushed under the protective roof layers and may lead to extensive damage.

High Winds:

No matter the season, strong winds often accompany moisture. That often leads to missing shingles, falling branches and siding going missing. Combined with frigid temperatures, it may leave your roof and structural components of the home exposed to moisture.

Flooding:

Along with potential flooding after the snow melts, freezing temperatures during a winter storm also lead to frozen pipes. If ice has built up, it may be blocking the melting snow from properly draining. If that happens, you may easily find unwanted water in your home.

Prevention Tips

While you may not be able to prevent the storm from brewing, there are ways to minimize its impact on your home. A key to ensuring your home is ready for any storm is staying on top of maintenance throughout the year. Key ways to minimize the effects of ice and snow include:

• Get the roof inspected annually to ensure it is in good shape and up to code.
• Regularly check the foundation for any cracks, leaks or missing seals prior to the storm.
• Prior to winter setting in, disconnect any outdoor hoses and insulate faucets.
• Check doors and windows for any gaps and install weather stripping to help keep the cold out.
• Clean the gutters to reduce the chances of ice dams forming.
• Keep tree branches trimmed and away from the home. ‍

Along with trying to prevent damage to your home, winter weather also requires thinking about safety. Before the cold season starts, it’s a good idea to have your heating system checked to ensure it is running properly. That is also a good time to stock up on salt to keep driveways and walkways less slippery.

Any winter storm has the potential to wreak havoc. While the winter wonderland may look pretty, ice and snow can cause different types of damage to the home. Staying on top of maintenance and being prepared are key ways to minimize the damage.

Mold Concerns After a Residential Flood

2/22/2022 (Permalink)

Bear in mind these Important Tips if you experience Mold Growth after a Residential Flood in your Kaysville, UT property.

On the weather radar, when you see heavy rains approaching Kaysville, UT, you know your home could be susceptible to flooding. Several variables can cause home water intrusions, such as inadequate landscaping, a leaky roof, faulty plumbing, or foundation cracks. Water left to sit stagnant in your home can soon lead to more than simply loss from the water itself.

Secondary damage, such as mold growth, is also a significant concern. Fortunately, if you take care of the moisture problem quickly enough, you can usually avoid a mold problem.

You Can Prevent Mold Growth After a Water Intrusion

Mold can begin growing 24 to 48 hours after the spores contact moisture. Therefore, you must clean the affected area as soon as possible. Here are several steps to ensuring your house is safe from this tiny invader following a flooded floor.

1. Extract the Standing Water From the Floor

First, removing the standing water is critical to preventing mold. Typically, the simplest and quickest way of doing this is using a wet/dry vacuum. They can be rented from hardware and home improvement stores, but keeping one on hand at your home can be a great help.

2. Determine Which Contents Are Salvageable

Mold is a tiny but hardy little lifeform; it can grow on virtually any surface. Therefore, you should remove as many water-soaked materials as possible from the area. This can include flooring, drywall and wood and upholstered furniture. Many of these items will not be salvageable and should be thrown away. Whatever you are keeping must be thoroughly dried before returning to the area. If the humidity of the outdoors is lower than that of the affected area, you can allow the contents to dry in the fresh air.

3. Clean the Affected Area and Salvageable Contents

You must clean everything that comes into contact with the water thoroughly. A flood can bring in debris, bacteria and hazardous chemicals. This will also remove most of the mold spores that are there. Ideally, you can hire water damage restoration experts to bring their expertise and industrial equipment.

4. Sanitize the Affected Area and Salvageable Contents

Next, you must sanitize everything to kill the remaining harmful germs and mold spores. Sanitizing will go one step further in ensuring you avoid mold development.

5. Dry Everything Completely

Finally, the most crucial step is to ensure you dry the area thoroughly as quickly as possible. There are several approaches you can take to dry a room. You can open windows and doors to let the fresh air in. You can also run fans, heaters and dehumidifiers. If you use a dehumidifier, it's critical to remember to empty the water receptacle before it gets full, so it can continue trapping the excess moisture from the air.

Mold growth can be one of the most extreme secondary hazards that a home flood commonly produce. It can develop quickly and spread furiously throughout unaffected areas of a structure. If you discover standing water in your residence, following these five steps can help ensure that you will mitigate the loss. These steps will allow you to confidently restore your home to its pre-flood condition.

How Can I Stay Safe in Floodwaters as a First Responder?

1/24/2022 (Permalink)

Consider this Important information if you are a First Responder in Layton, UT. If any doubt arises, please contact us.

As a first responder in Layton, UT, you are responsible for going into situations that most people try to avoid or escape. You are even saving lives at times. You may be more concerned about rendering help to the victims than considering your own safety. However, it's vital to know all of the daily risks of your job. You must understand all of the hazards each disaster situation can present and always be aware of the necessary precautions. Working in the emergency services field can be extremely rewarding. Keep in mind, though, that if you aren't healthy, you can't be at your best while trying to help others. Working a flood response can be one of the most precarious conditions in which to work.

Important information to consider if you are a First Responder

The Dangers of Floodwaters

Navigating deep waters after a major storm often presents multiple risks. There are three classes of water; each type poses progressively increased contamination levels. Black water is the most dangerous, as it is full of pollutants. The water alone sometimes isn't even the most significant threat. Always be aware of the following hazards:

1. The Various Contaminants in the Water

A flood from heavy rains can contain various types of bacteria, potentially harmful chemicals, and other contaminants that can make you sick if you contact them without the proper protection. Even if the water looks relatively clean, it can be incredibly hazardous. Therefore, it's vital to protect yourself by wearing personal protective equipment, such as that worn by storm damage restoration professionals, the entire time you're in contact with the water or anything that has touched the water. This PPE will typically include safety glasses and a respirator, along with waterproof gloves, coveralls and rubber boots. Avoid touching your face until you sanitize your hands. Also, avoid allowing open wounds to come into contact with the water.

2. The Risk of Contracting Diseases

Even if your job as a first responder doesn't require you to have certain immunizations, it's essential to keep up with vaccines. Hepatitis B and tetanus are real threats for anyone making contact with contaminated water. Ensuring that you're fully vaccinated can give you peace of mind knowing you have an added layer of protection in a hazardous environment.

3. The Strength of Floodwaters

Many people don't realize the strength of floodwaters until it's too late to avoid them. Even mere inches of water can carry away a car, so it doesn't take much to knock you off your feet. Even waters that appear to be still can have an undertow that can sweep you away. Always be extremely cautious before you approach standing water, whether on foot or in a vehicle.

You have an incredible amount of responsibility and stress when working as a first responder. It's easy to get caught up with helping victims during emergencies such as floods. People depend on you at their most vulnerable times. Nevertheless, you must always be cautious concerning your own safety so you can continue to perform at your best. Continually stay mindful of ways to keep yourself as safe as possible while you're on the job.

Content Cleaning After Flooding: What You Need To Know

10/18/2021 (Permalink)

Clean up properly after a storm and flood to avoid severe damage in your Layton, UT, home.

When your Layton, UT, home has been devastated by flooding, one of the most pressing issues you'll face is how to handle content cleaning. In those first few moments, your attention may naturally be drawn to structural damage, such as weakened flooring and soggy drywall. You may also consider the risk associated with secondary damages:

• Mold growth
• Frayed and exposed wiring
• Lingering odors
  

However, the longer it takes for you to think about waterlogged sofas and moist linens, the easier it will be for damage to set in and the more expensive it will be to replace those items.

Content Cleaning Steps You Should Take

One of the first things you need to do is understand the categories of contaminated water. Professional water damage cleanup technicians will assess the damage in your home and alert you to the scope of water contamination:

Category 1: Clean water comes directly from the faucet or a clean water supply line. Once water leaves the faucet or broken pipe, it is exposed to contaminants and degrade to category 2 or 3.

Category 2: Gray water carries some contamination, such as urine or detergents. When this water damage isn't addressed, the situation could deteriorate to category 3.

Category 3: Black water is contaminated with harsh chemicals, feces, heavy metals, and other pollutants. You should not come into contact with black water or any belongings exposed to it.

Unfortunately, if your flood originated from a heavy storm, overflowing river, or backed-up sewer, you're probably dealing with a category 3 situation.

Sort Belongings for Keeping, Cleaning, and Discarding

The next step is organizing the contents of your home into items that don't require cleaning, those that can be cleaned and repaired, and those that should be thrown away. Work closely with water damage cleanup and restoration professionals to understand the differences in these categories. For example, if clothing and window treatments remained dry in an unaffected part of the home, they probably don't require cleaning, disinfection, and deodorization. If those same belongings were in the same area as the flooding, they may have absorbed some of the moisture and contaminants. A good rule of thumb is that porous materials should be discarded, and non-porous items can be cleaned and saved.

Do-It-Yourself or Hire a Professional

In the aftermath of a flood, you are justifiably concerned about keeping your costs down, so when it comes to content cleaning, you may be tempted to handle a lot of it yourself. Some of the cleaning you can do, such as running uncontaminated linens through the washing machine. However, expensive window treatments, rugs, and contaminated textiles should be handled by professionals. There are several other belongings that should be treated by experts:

• Water-damaged computers, electronics, and appliances
• Important books, pictures, and paperwork
• Dry-clean only goods
• Family heirlooms and valuable belongings
  

Unfortunately, the DIY approach often leads to further damage and more expensive repairs. Don't put your belongings at further risk in an already stressful situation.

Water contamination is a serious risk after a home flood. Your home and family will be better off when you know how to safely handle content cleaning. Reach out to professionals when you have questions and concerns.

Tips for Protecting Your Home From Floodwater

8/18/2021 (Permalink)

Flooded homes in Kaysville, UT, are common but exist several ways to protect your house from water damage.

Flooding is a common result of extreme weather and causes some of the most common property damage reported to insurance companies. If your Kaysville, UT, home has been exposed to flooding in the past or if you're concerned about the potential for future water damage, it's important to consider flood safety and any steps you can take to keep your home and family above water.

Focus on Staying Above the Water Level

The best way to protect against water damage is to keep your home and belongings higher than the water. Although this isn't always possible, you can learn where the flood level is for your home. With this information, you can focus on the part of your home that is most likely to be damaged. This information may be available through your home insurance provider or the local building department. There are a few steps you can consider at this point:

• Install raised structures, such as concrete blocks, for air conditioning units and other outdoor equipment. Make sure these structures are anchored securely, so floodwater doesn't carry them away.
• Floodproof your home by applying protective sealants and coatings to the walls that will prevent water from seeking into the foundation.
• Add foundation vents to your home to direct water through a path that you determine. This keeps water away from the rest of your house and limits the amount of damage.
• Hire professionals to lift your home on columns or piers, so the lowest level of your home is higher than the flood level.

Direct Water Away From Your Home

Naturally, you'll want to be sure that the grade of the land slopes away from your home. The next time it rains, watch where water pools and flows and then make necessary adjustments. There are several changes you can make to your landscape to floodproof your home and property:

• Install gutters around the roof of your home and keep them clear.
• Create a splash block or drainage area under the downspout to direct water away from the foundation.
• Choose native plants that support the soil in Kaysville, UT.
• Add a drainage system, such as a rain garden, swale, rain barrels, sump pump, or French drain.

If you see a lot of standing water in the street after a rainstorm, contact your county planning department for further suggestions to increase flood safety around your home.

Install Backflow Valves

Flooded sewer systems are an unpleasant result of natural flooding. You can prevent sewage from backing up into your home by installing backflow valves on all pipes that enter your home. Make sure that these are operational with regular inspections.

Keep Yourself and Your Family Safe

When flooding does occur, your top priority should be your well-being and that of your loved ones. This means following flood safety tips, such as not driving into pools of water, staying out of floodwater, turning off the electricity to your home, and contacting water damage cleanup and repair professionals.

The best time to tackle flood safety is before the clouds come out. Review these tips and reach out to your insurance provider or local environmental professionals for more advice.

Commercial Floods: When Can Employees Go Back to Work?

7/29/2021 (Permalink)

Ceiling damage after a storm in a Layton, UT home

If you have sustained black water damage at your Layton, UT, business after a flood, you may be wondering when your employees can return to work. You will likely need to do a couple of things to return the workplace to its pre-flood condition, and the two main steps involved are demolition and disinfection, both of which can be enhanced by the use of air filtration devices.

Familiarize yourself with these different phases of restoration to understand what you need to do to restore your property. Once complete, your employees should be able to go back to work in a timely manner.

1. Demolition

Demolition involves removing water and items that have been affected by black water. It also includes disposing of property that has sustained water damage. This is an extremely important first step when trying to restore your commercial building to a state that allows your employees to enter it. An air filtration device can help speed things up by causing enhanced drying of wet areas of the structure. This is typically a good time to bring in a commercial storm damage company to help you make sure that everything is cleaned up as thoroughly as possible.

2. Disinfection

The next step in the flood cleanup process is disinfection, which helps eradicate any existing infected areas and prevents others from being contaminated in the future. Best practices include cleaning all damaged or wet areas with products approved by the EPA. An air filtration device can help during this stage by purifying the air and reducing the risk of impure particles sticking around your property.

The best defense against black water is to be prepared in advance so that you know what you can do to reduce the risk of water damage and how you can prepare the premises so your workforce can get back to being productive. In cases where you are unfortunately already facing flooding issues, the action plan above will typically be your best bet in returning your company to its normal state in the least amount of time.

Protecting the Interior of Your Home From External Flooding

7/14/2021 (Permalink)

Storm damage must be repaired by a professional and certified team.

A rainstorm can lead to significant flooding around your property, especially if it is a sudden downpour. While much of the damage might occur around the home's exterior because of outside flooding, it is not uncommon for the water to find its way inside, primarily if your landscaping is not properly sloped or the foundation is not correctly or adequately sealed. If the interior of your home floods, you might need to contact a water removal service in Layton, Utah. These services specialize in several areas:

• Mitigation
• Remediation
• Restoration

However, you could avoid the expense of hiring such a service if you plan ahead. By designing your landscaping to steer water away from your foundation, you can avoid most storm-related floods.

Upgrade and Maintain Your Gutters and Downspouts

Gutters and downspouts are a primary cause of outside flooding becoming inside flooding. When gutters are clogged or downspouts inadequate, the water tends to overflow from the gutter system, draining down the side of your home. The water then collects near your foundation.
To avoid such damage, you can upgrade your gutter system, especially if it is inadequate for your property. On top of that, maintain the gutters. Clean them and the downspouts often to ensure water can flow freely.

Use Mulch in Garden Beds and Around Bushes, Shrubs, and Trees

You want to design your landscaping so that the soil and beds slope away from the foundation, allowing rain drainage to flow towards sewers or streets. Installing sloped beds will not be effective if the rain can soak into the soil too quickly. Laying mulch around plants and through garden beds can help to slow soil absorption, allowing the rainwater to drain away from the house and take its time doing so.

Avoiding outside flooding is not always possible, but using landscaping to guide water away from your home’s foundation is. Focus on installing an adequate gutter system and sloping garden beds to protect your home.

Dos and Don'ts During a Flood

5/28/2021 (Permalink)

Flooding can be dangerous.

Even seemingly shallow flood water poses many hidden dangers. The more you know about those dangers before you experience a flooded home, the better you can avoid those dangers and resulting water damage.

What To Do And Not Do During a Flood

What You Should Do After a Flood

As flood water begins to recede, you may feel anxious to begin your cleaning and repair efforts. Before you wade into the murky water, however, focus on some safety steps:

• Tune a battery-powered radio to a Layton, UT, news channel for updates from utility companies and other local officials.
  Turn off electricity, water, and gas throughout your home. This is especially important if you plan to evacuate.
  
• Open the doors and windows to allow ventilation.
  
• If it is safe to be in your home, move electronics, belongings, and valuables from wet areas of the home and into dry rooms.
  
• Take pictures of the damage for your insurance company.
  
• Contact water damage cleanup and restoration professionals to assess the property damage and provide an estimate for their work.
  

What You Should Not Do After a Flood

In addition to the steps you should take, there are several things you should not do. Avoiding flood-related dangers can keep your family safer and could prevent further damage:

• Stay out of the water. This includes on the roads and sidewalks around your home. It also means staying out of water inside your home. The water may contain harmful chemicals and biohazards. It is also difficult to tell how strong the current is, even in shallow water.
  
• Don't touch the water in your home. In addition to carrying contaminants, the water in your home could also be carrying an electrical charge.
  
• Don't ignore the warnings and directions provided by emergency responders. When you disobey those professionals, you put your own safety and the safety of others at risk. You also make the jobs of firefighters, police officers, first responders, and other officials much harder.
  

Stay Calm and Informed

Flood water can cause a lot of damage, but your calm, informed response can help you avoid extra problems. Your knowledge of what to do and not to do may keep you, your family, and your home safe.

3 Ways To Use Your Landscaping To Protect Your Home From Storm Damage

1/26/2021 (Permalink)

Use your landscaping to protect your home from storm damage.

It isn't possible to completely protect your home from outside flooding and other storm damage. However, there are steps you can take to reduce the chance of your home suffering severe damage. These are three ways you can use your landscaping to protect your home from storm damage.

3 Ways to Protect Your Home Using Landscaping

1. Plant Trees With Deep Roots

Trees that are shallowly rooted in ground that has become saturated during a rain storm may fall over in high winds. To avoid this issue, choose trees that have deep root systems and plant them in soil that drains well. Consider the mature height of the tree and avoid planting it where it could fall on your house or power lines.

2. Install a French Drain System

One of the best ways to prevent damage from outside flooding is to divert water away from your home's foundation. Begin your French drain installation by digging a trench and lining it with landscape fabric. Add some gravel and perforated piping. The holes in the piping should face down to redirect water away from your home. Wrap the fabric and gravel around the piping and fill it with gravel, decorative rock or sod. Your trench needs to be on a slope of at least one percent for the rain drainage to be effective.

3. Create a Dry Streambed

Another way to redirect water away from your house is to create a dry streambed. When it rains, the bed provides a natural path for water to follow. The dry streambed will need to be placed on ground that slopes away from your home. If flooding does occur in your home, contact a water remediation company in Layton, UT, to dry out your property.

Outside flooding can cause severe damage to your home. One of the best ways to avoid or reduce this damage is to find ways to use your landscaping to protect your home from storm damage.

Cleaning Up After a Flood

10/28/2020 (Permalink)

Storm damage is common during the fall season.

The fall brings about vicious weather patterns. Hurricanes, tornadoes, and torrential downpours can lead to tremendous natural flooding, which for many homeowners can cause significant troubles, not only from cleaning requirements but property loss.
If you live in a flood zone, it is likely wise to have a storm restoration service in Layton, UT, on-call in case of flooding. The faster a company responds, the less likely significant property loss. The companies perform a version of the following four-step process.

4 Steps to Cleaning Up After a Flood

1. Water and Moisture Removal
2. Debris Cleanout
3. Structural Repairs
4. Restoration

Water and Moisture Removal

Before a flood clean up can begin, a crew must remove the excess water from the property. Unfortunately, water removal cannot start until the exterior water levels recede.
Once receded, the restoration service you hire can use pumps and shop vacs to remove any standing water. Depending on the depth of the interior flood, the company may use a pump truck.
With the water removed, the restoration service will need to eliminate any excess moisture. If the service does not address the moisture levels, then mold can develop. Dehumidifiers and air movers are useful tools for drying out the area.

Debris Cleanout

With the water and moisture levels corrected, the restoration service can get to work removing any debris or damaged materials. Every state likely has cleaning requirements for dealing with contaminated materials, and the service you hire will understand.

Structural Repairs and Restoration

Once the company clears the area and cleans it with a flood disinfectant, the crew can repair the property. They will first focus on the structural components and then move on to the cosmetic appearance. When finished, your home should look as it did pre-disaster.

Every state may have cleaning requirements for flooding, but you do not need to know these as a homeowner. Instead, trust a restoration service that is licensed and certified in your state.

The 2 Most Common Types of Winter Storm Damage

9/16/2020 (Permalink)

Blizzards can be dangerous

No climate is safe from winter storm damage. Whether the change of season guarantees several feet of snow or simply high winds, there are a variety of ways that winter weather can wreak havoc on your home. Most of them involve your roof, windows and doors.

2 Types of Winter Storm Damage.

1. Roof Damage and Leaks

The roof of your home is a blizzard’s favorite target. Driving snow and hail can crack shingles and, in some cases, rip then off your roof completely. Lose enough and you may need your entire roof replaced. Hail can also dent your roof, including vents, spouts and flashing.
Roofs are also subject to ice dams after a winter storm. An ice dam occurs with water freezes at your roof’s edge, forming a barrier that stops precipitation from running off your rooftop as intended.
Even high winds can be disastrous for your roof. In addition to lifting shingles clean off, winds can damage or remove the fascia that secures your gutters and the soffit that protects the underside of your home’s roof.
These various forms of roof damage can also cause leaks and other hard-to-spot damage that can impact your home’s interior, including its insulation. As such, it’s important to have a local storm damage restoration company assess your home after a major storm.

2. Damaged Windows and Doors

In addition to roof injury, winter weather can also damage your windows and doors. Rain, sleet and snow pounding against your doors may lead to dents and compromised wood, for example. Predictably, glass doors are susceptible to breaking in their entirety, as are windows. If your Layton, UT, home doesn’t have storm-resistant windows and doors, making the switch can save you money — and headaches — in the future.
A winter storm has the power to turn your residence into a winter wonderland, but it can also be the catalyst for an avalanche of repairs.

The next time a blizzard, high winds or other extreme weather strikes, know what type of damage to look for so you can expedite the recovery process.

4 Popular Types of Storm Shutters

8/27/2020 (Permalink)

Storm Shutters protect your windows from high winds.

When high winds and other extreme weather hit Layton, UT, it’s important to be prepared. One part of being storm-ready is having the number of your local storm damage restoration company on hand, just in case you need it. Another part is preventing any damage in the first place by protecting your windows with storm coverings.

4 Types Of Storm Coverings To Protect Your Windows

1. Colonial Shutters

With a panel permanently fixed to either side of the window, these classic storm shutters are what most people picture when they think of window coverings. When a storm approaches, you simply fold them closed. When not in use, they add a level of charm to your home’s exterior.

2. Rollers

These window coverings do exactly what their name suggests: They roll up and down. They’re easy to unfurl when high winds are imminent. (Some models are even operated via remote control.) They’re equally easy to retract when no longer needed. Rollers have a low profile when not in use, making them an aesthetically pleasing option for many homeowners. They can also provide excellent insulation.

3. Fabric Panels

Heavy-duty fabric panels are also easy to install and store. Typically, users have to measure and cut their panels once to fit their windows, and that’s it. When not in use, the panels are easily rolled up and stored. Perhaps the best perk of panels is that they let light in. This may seem like a small difference, but when you’re forced to ride out severe weather for several hours, or even days, the smallest amount of outside light can be a mood booster.

4. Bermuda Shutters

Like their Colonial counterparts, these window covers present an attractive, permanent option for storm protection. Unlike Colonial models that open out and away from your window like a pair of double doors, Bermuda covers open straight up. When not in use, they can serve as window shades. Also known as Bahama shades, these durable but good-looking covers are extremely popular in the Caribbean and southern United States.

When high winds rattle your home, make sure your windows are protected. Choose the storm shutters that fit your family’s budget and your home’s curb appeal.

What’s the Difference Between Storm Damage and Flooding?

7/23/2020 (Permalink)

There are differences between a storm damage and flood damage.

When disaster strikes Layton, UT, all water damage isn’t created equal. Most notably, flood damage is a distinct water issue that requires its own restoration approach. As you survey a storm’s aftermath, there are three differences between storm damage and flooding that you should keep in mind.

3 Differences Between Storm Damage and Flooding

1. The Water's Source

From a leaky roof to a broken window, there are a variety of ways that water can enter your commercial property during a storm. There’s only one way that flood water can besiege your building, though, and that’s by rising up from the ground and entering your building from below. This is the main distinction between flood water and all other types of water your property may take on.
It doesn’t matter how much water there is, either. True flooding is defined by the route that the water takes into the structure, not by its quantity or the amount of flood damage incurred.

2. The Category of Water

Water is typically sorted into three categories. Rainwater, for example, is Category 1 water. It’s clean and unlikely to cause harm to anyone who comes in contact with it. Because it rises from the ground, where it has the chance to mix with a variety of materials, including sewage and other bacteria-bearing matter, flood water is often Category 3 water. This class of water holds the greatest chance of contamination, so water damage restoration professionals should handle the cleanup.

3. Your Insurance Coverage

Most commercial insurance coverage protects against water damage. Destruction from a flood, on the other hand, is often covered by a special policy. If floods are frequent in your corner of Layton, UT, it may be wise to purchase separate flood coverage.

When unwanted water hits your commercial property, the distinction between storm damage and flooding may not be at the top of your list of concerns. Knowing the difference between storm and flood damage, however, can expedite the cleanup process and minimize stress.

How To Prepare for Storm Season

5/29/2020 (Permalink)

Keeping the gutters clear from leaves and debris is important to avoid water damage during storm season.

As a homeowner, you know there are a lot of routine tasks to cross off your maintenance checklist. When storm season in Layton, UT, approaches, there are a few things you need to add to it. Damage from hail or flooding can be expensive to repair, so it's better to take precautions to prevent or minimize the damage to your home when the next storm hits.

3 Steps to Prepare for Storm Season

1. Protect Your Roof

Your roof keeps your home dry and helps with temperature regulation. If it has weak spots or is not properly maintained, however, it puts your home at risk for storm damage. There are several regular maintenance tasks that are particularly important during storm season:

• Clean gutters and downspouts
  
• Repair broken shingles
  
• Seal cracks
  
• Mitigate water damage
  

Frequent roof inspection and repair from certified water restoration experts helps your roof do its job better. Making sure that any precipitation has a clear path to flow off the roof helps to prevent leaks. Taking a little extra care of your roof during certain times of the year can protect your home better.

2. Gather Supplies

Another way to protect your home from flooding is by having supplies on hand to keep water at bay. Before storm season begins, make sure you have sandbags or other barriers to guard the vulnerable areas of your home from floods. Upgrade your window coverings to include storm shutters that can withstand high winds.

3. Guard Your Foundation

Even if you slow the rate at which water gets to your home, a heavy storm may still flood your area, especially if you live in a flood plain. To minimize flood damage when this happens, you need a strong foundation. Inspect your foundation for cracks and have necessary repairs done.

Protection from flooding during a storm involves a lot of preparation. Make sure you are doing everything you can to prepare your home for storm season.

3 Ways To Limit Damage From a Sewage Backup

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Category three black water.

Three Ways to Stop Flooding From Spreading

A sewer backup can contaminate building materials and contents with Category Three black water containing solid waste. It may be possible to reduce the extent of mitigation and restoration by taking measures to limit the spread of damage. Here are three ways to stop flooding from spreading from a bathtub backup, flooded toilet or main line backup that affects basement floor drains or a sewer trap.

1. Stop the Spread of Contaminated Water

Homeowners may want to try to prevent contaminated water from making contact with carpet, drywall or other porous contents. Any materials that are exposed to this type of damage must be disinfected. As it is difficult to thoroughly clean porous materials, it may be necessary to tear out and replace these items to reduce the risk of bacteria or mold growth.

2. Block a Tub Drain

It may be possible to prevent a bathtub backup by blocking a tub drain. This measure may help to make cleanup less extensive. Be sure to plug drains before attempting to clear clogs with a plunger or auger.

3. Clear the Blockage As Soon As Possible

A homeowner should find a way to stop a sewer backup as soon as possible. If DIY efforts to snake a toilet, floor drain or drain cleanout are not successful, he or she should contact a plumber for blockages that seem to originate at a property. Get in touch with a sewage company for flooding that originates from a municipal main. The sooner the problem is solved, the lower the risk of further damage.

These measures may reduce the severity of residential sewer damage. Homeowners can attempt to clear secondary line blockages and clean up minor damage on their own. A main line sewer backup that results in major damage may require the expertise and equipment of a plumber or sewage company and restoration specialists in Kaysville, UT.

What To Expect From the Storm Damage Restoration Process

9/26/2019 (Permalink)

Flood cuts performed in a home in Layton, UT after suffering water damage.

If a storm damaged your home in Layton, UT, you might be worried about the storm restoration process. You may wonder how anyone can fix all that water damage or what happens if they must tear out a wall.

It’s understandable that you would worry about this. After all, restoration can seem daunting to the uninitiated. Luckily, understanding the steps can help calm your nerves. While all projects are unique, these are the basic steps to expect:

1. Initial damage control
2. Removal of damaged materials
3. A drying period
4. Rebuilding

Each of these steps should be done by experienced and trusted professionals.

Below is a closer look at each stage:

Initial Damage Control

Before your restoration crew can do anything else, they must extract the water from your home. This is the first step in stopping further water damage and keeping needed repairs to a minimum. It’s essential to call a storm restoration company as soon as possible after a flood to get this process going.

Removal of Damaged Materials

Once the water is out of the way, the contractors can survey the damage and decide what they need to tear out. They may decide to make a flood cut, which prevents mold by removing a section of wall above the flood line. The professionals will properly dispose of damaged materials to keep your home safe.

A Drying Period

The third step can be the most difficult for anxious homeowners. The affected area must be allowed to dry out, which can take some time. Be patient; you’re almost done.

Rebuilding

After the area is dry, the professionals can start rebuilding the damaged structures. Great companies can make sure it looks as good as or better than before.

If a flood damages your Layton, UT, home, call a trusted storm restoration company immediately. They can get rid of the water, tear out damaged walls, and make it look like water damage never happened.

Best Ways to Avoid Mold Growth After a Flood

8/7/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO performed flood cuts in this home to avoid further damage.

You work hard to provide a nice home and a safe, secure place for yourself and your loved ones. Floods are some of the biggest threats to your well-being. These emergency situations can damage or even destroy your property and possession, and they can even cause harm to everyone in your Layton, UT, home. Some of the things you’re most concerned about happen following the flood. These include mold growth, which can frustrate anyone. Luckily, there are some effective ways to put an end to this. 

4 Steps To Avoid Mold Growth After a Flood. 

Make an Assessment.

Once the flooding has come to an end, and it’s safe to be in your home, you need to take stock of the damage and the situation. There are few things you should do.

• Document the extent of the damage to floors, walls, furniture, appliances and personal belongings
• Contact a professional restoration company
• Contact your insurance company

Once you’ve evaluated the damage and spoken with people who can help, you can discuss the best ways to clean up.

Get Rid of Water.

Depending on the severity of the flood, you may have standing water in your basement or other parts of your home. You should immediately extract the water using a wet vacuum. You should also use a high-quality carpet and flooring cleaner to suck up additional water that may have soaked into carpet or furniture.

Tear it Out.

The best way to ward off mold growth is to never let it happen. Quickly get rid of any materials in your home that you can’t salvage. 

Clean and Sanitize.

Mold removal isn’t always easy, so if you can prevent it from occurring, you should be in good shape. As soon as you remove water and tear out ruined items, thoroughly clean and sanitize affected areas. 

Mold growth is a concern for any homeowner. However, if you follow these guidelines, you can prevent this unwanted guest from entering your home.

How FEMA Helps Storm Victims

7/8/2019 (Permalink)

FEMA provides financial aid that can be used to pay for a variety of storm-related services not covered by insurance

How FEMA Helps Storm Victims

There are many people who can help you after a residential storm, from friends and neighbors to water damage repair experts. If the President has declared your city a disaster area, you may also get assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. FEMA provides financial aid that can be used to pay for a variety of storm-related services not covered by insurance, including:

• Temporary housing
  
• Home replacement
  
• Medical and dental expenses
  
• Child care
  
• Funeral costs
  
• Transportation
  
• Storage and moving expenses
  
  

A Federal Emergency Management Agency inspector may also come to your Kaysville, UT, home to assess the flood damage. The inspector will typically make an appointment before he or she arrives.

What the Inspector Does

As the inspector drives up to the home, he or she will typically scan the entire neighborhood to see the full extent of the damage. The inspector then goes walks around the outside and the inside of the house with a camera and a pen. He or she will then take photos of the home and write down exactly what needs to be fixed. The FEMA inspector will even measure the exact size of broken windows and the precise square footage of each room. That information will be sent back to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The agency will then typically send an adjuster out to the home to determine the financial cost of the damage.

How To Prepare for the Inspector’s Visit

The main thing you need before the inspector arrives is to make sure you have a copy of your deed or other written documentation of home ownership. Unfortunately, if you do not have proof that the property is yours, there is not much that FEMA can do to help you.
It is easy to feel hopeless after flooding destroys your home. Yet with some help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and your local restoration company, you can get back on your feet quickly.

Building Envelopes Eliminate Moisture Problems Due to Rain

2/11/2019 (Permalink)

You’ve Never Heard of a Building Envelope?

Imagine surrounding your entire business space with insulation and a vapor barrier. That’s an envelope. It has several characteristics:

• Insulation surrounds the space and keeps the temperature at the desired level
  
• A vapor barrier surrounds the space and keeps rainwater out
  
• Rain damage cannot occur inside the envelope
  
• Rain cannot cause black mold inside the envelope
  
• Any area of the structure outside the envelope is susceptible to water damage
  

Building Envelopes Are Most Effective in New Construction
The concept is most effective when the entire structure is inside the envelope. Retrofitting envelopes to existing structures is a challenge. It is difficult for them to achieve a comparable level of protection against rain. External portions of the retrofitted structure may still be susceptible to rain damage.

A Properly Implemented Envelope Keeps Moisture Levels Low During Storms
Control is important if the business processes demand low levels of humidity. It is also important when circumstances require more moderate levels of moisture. Set the humidity to any level and weather won't affect it.

Remember That Rain Is Not the Only Source of Moisture
Envelopes are an excellent way to limit inside moisture due to rain. However, remember that they will not solve all moisture problems. You have restrooms. You may have kitchen areas and laboratories. You have sprinklers as part of your fire suppression system. Any of these can make a rain-caused moisture problem look trivial. There are many good reasons for implementing building envelopes. Just don’t expect it to be a cure-all for moisture problems.

Your building envelope helped you avoid rain damage, but water never gives up. It always finds a way to cause trouble. When you end up with water damage, the best response is to deal with it immediately. Otherwise, you may encounter that black mold that you hoped to avoid. Skilled water remediation professionals are in the South Weber, UT, area. They are ready to handle your problem and are a phone call away.

Category 1 Water Can Become Category 2

6/10/2018 (Permalink)

In general, category 2 water, or ‘grey’ water, has enough biological or chemical contamination to make people sick if they ingest it. It comes from sources such as the following.

• Washing machines
• Dishwashers
• Sump pump failure
• Flooded toilets with urine

If category 1 water stands stagnant for more than 48 hours, it becomes category 2 water. This is because when clean water comes in contact with other materials, they may release chemicals or microorganisms into it and bacteria can flourish in standing water.

Category 2 Can Become Category 3

Category 3 water, or ‘black’ water, is the most dangerous. It contains chemicals or bacteria that will cause serious illness or death if ingested. Category 3 water comes from the following sources.

• Backed up sewers
• Flooded toilets with feces
• Flood water that has traveled over the ground

Category 1 water that flows over contaminated surfaces, stands stagnant for long periods or otherwise comes in contact with potentially toxic substances can eventually develop into category 3 water. That’s way even if you think you’re dealing with clean water, you should still contact a water mitigation expert in Layton, Utah, to determine necessary safety precautions.

Did the hail break your windows?

6/10/2018 (Permalink)

If the hail is particularly large, it may even break the windows of your building. If that happens, the first thing you need to do after the storm is find a way to board up the space so that as little additional damage as possible occurs.

You may not be able to save the windows, but you can help curtail some of the water damage underneath them.If your business in Layton, Utah, experiences a hailstorm, it is likely to sustain significant roof damage, leaks and window damage.

Keeping track of the damages and having professionals take a second look and clean up the damage can help you in the long run. Report damages accurately to your insurance company to increase your chances of a fair settlement.

SERVPRO of Layton Kaysville can mitigate the damage boarding and securing your place of business.

Storm Damage Signs

6/7/2018 (Permalink)

You've seen the signs - a soft spot in the wall here, a strange splotch of color there. Signs of storm damage can pop up at any time in your home after a rain storm. These signs are not something you want to ignore.

How do you keep your home from having more damage after a storm?

Water damage can lead to foundation damage and subsidence. Making sure the storm does not create more damage is your first priority. This type of damage can be serious business. With that in mind, calling SERVPRO of Layton / Kaysville at the first sign of storm damage will help keep your home from having more damage.

Our team of technicians will remove the damaged materials and help you determine how the water is getting in your home after heavy rains. Give us a call at (801) 336-4919.

The Importance of Cleaning Under Your Home After a Flood

4/4/2018 (Permalink)

After flood waters damage your Layton, UT, home, you will probably be dealing with cleanup efforts both inside and out. However, one area that you may forget is your home’s crawlspace. A home flood can affect this area more seriously than you might believe and lead to costly repair bills later, so it is wise to add it to your cleanup list for this and several other reasons.

Service Units May Be Affected

If your fuse panel, HVAC controls and other service units are located in your home’s crawl space, they may have taken storm damage that can affect how they function due to:

• Wet wires
• Bent fan blades
• Clogs from mud and other debris

Water damage can also cause systems to stop working or short out, creating a fire hazard. Having these units cleaned and inspected can prevent serious issues and ensure they operate properly.

Mold May Spread Undetected

Failing to clean underneath your home after a flood may cause the spread of mold that can be difficult to eradicate once it takes hold. Humidity and dark, moist spaces make an ideal home for fungi, and it may spread to other areas of your home or travel inside via your home’s HVAC system. Having a professional mold remediation and restoration company inspect and treat your crawlspace for mold after a home flood can keep this unwanted invader at bay.

Standing Water Can Breed Bacteria

Flooding can create standing water and pooling under your home that may not dry quickly due to a lack of sunlight. Stagnant water tends to breed bacteria, especially in the case of outdoor flooding when the water is contaminated with sewage and chemicals. Over time, bacteria may multiply and spread, creating a health hazard to your family. Having the area cleaned and disinfected can prevent this potentially serious issue.

Cleaning up after a home flood in Layton, UT, can be a physical and financial challenge. However, remembering to add your crawlspace to your list of areas to have cleaned and disinfected can prevent issues that may linger long after flood waters recede.

For more information, please visit us athttp://www.SERVPROlaytonkaysville.com.