Recent Posts
Navigating Holiday Season Hazards for Commercial Property Owners
12/20/2023 (Permalink)
Contact SERVPRO for all your commercial property needs, and let us contribute to a successful and stress-free holiday season!
The holiday season brings joy and festivities, but for commercial property owners, it can also bring unique challenges and hazards. SERVPRO of Southwest Austin understands the importance of maintaining a safe and functional environment during this busy time. As a turn-key company, we specialize in assisting a variety of commercial properties, including multi-family residences, health facilities, government buildings, retail stores, and more. Whether it's preventive measures or emergency response, we are here to ensure your commercial property remains secure and operational throughout the holiday season.
Preventing Winter Weather Woes:
One of the primary concerns for commercial property owners during the holidays is the impact of winter weather. Cold temperatures, snow, and ice can lead to a range of issues, from frozen pipes to slippery walkways. SERVPRO recommends proactive measures, such as proper insulation, routine maintenance checks, and timely snow removal, to prevent potential hazards and ensure the safety of occupants.
Emergency Response for Unexpected Issues:
Despite the best preventive efforts, emergencies can still arise. Whether it's a burst pipe, fire, or other unexpected incidents, SERVPRO of Southwest Austin is equipped to provide swift and efficient emergency response services. Our team is available around the clock, ready to mitigate damage, restore affected areas, and get your commercial property back to its pre-damage condition.
Customized Solutions for Diverse Properties:
Commercial properties come in various forms, each with its unique set of challenges. SERVPRO takes pride in offering customized solutions tailored to the specific needs of multi-family residences, health facilities, government buildings, retail stores, and other commercial establishments. Our experienced professionals understand the intricacies of different property types, ensuring that our services are effective and efficient for each client.
Partnering for a Successful Holiday Season:
As commercial property owners navigate the holiday season, SERVPRO of Southwest Austin stands as a reliable partner in addressing potential hazards and emergencies. Our turn-key services, commitment to customized solutions, and 24/7 emergency response ensure that your property is in capable hands. With our help, you can focus on creating a safe and welcoming environment for tenants, employees, and customers during this festive time. Contact SERVPRO for all your commercial property needs, and let us contribute to a successful and stress-free holiday season.
Water extraction in Austin. What you need to know.
2/24/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin
When your home has suffered from water damage, it can be a stressful and tense experience. If the damage is severe, you will need to hire professionals to repair and restore your home or business.
That’s where we come in, SERVPRO of Southwest Austin with years of experience to help support you. Understanding what to expect from a water damage restoration company can help make the process less overwhelming.
There is no such thing as a small disaster, especially with intrusion of water you can’t see. It can contain bacteria, mold, rot, mold growing, or other unseen damage.
Every water damage restoration project is different. The building (or structure) provides variables that may change with every project, such as the electrical system, type of building materials, or hazardous materials in the building.
The water loss itself provides variables, such as the sanitation of the water, hazardous substances in the water, length of time the water has been in the structure, presence of mold contamination, and mold growth. Take time to identify and resolve safety hazards before proceeding with the project.
Water damage can also affect the value of your property. Before you get out the mop bucket and clean the affected areas yourself, consider how the damage can potentially affect the long-term structure of your home or business.
Our team knows how disruptive water damage can be for your business and are trained to manage the drying process from start to finish at a pre loss condition.
With rapid response time and a full line of water cleanup and restoration services, we can help you regain control quickly, by helping to ensure your facility and its contents are properly dried, deodorized and protected.
When we respond to a call for water damage repair, we have one primary goal: To dry wet building materials and contents items. As restoration professionals, we remove water and moisture from a wet building and return the building to what it was before the loss—before the water intrusion occurred.
Goals of Restorative Drying:
- Return excessively wet materials to their normal (equilibrium) moisture levels.
- Reduce the time that materials are excessively wet.
- Determine the most cost-efficient procedures for drying.
To accomplish these goals, our team controls the airflow, humidity, and temperature to promote drying.
Moisture moves by four mechanical processes.
Liquid flow, air movement, capillary suction, and vapor diffusion.
- Liquid flow. We most often observe moisture movement as water flows in liquid form. Liquid flow occurs as rainwater leaks through a roof, ground water soaks through a foundation, or water pours from a broken water pipe.
- Air movement. Moisture in the air is carried by moving air. Air moves from high air pressure areas to low air pressure areas and brings moisture with it.
Moisture moves by airflow through cracks and small openings in a building’s envelope or as air pressure moves moist air through a chimney. Moisture and air moving from outside a building to the inside is called infiltration; moisture and air moving from inside to the outside is called exfiltration.
- Capillary suction. Liquid moisture can move through a narrow pathway due to contact between the moisture and the surface of the path. Capillary suction allows liquid moisture to move through the pores of porous materials.
- Vapor diffusion. Water vapor moves as a gas through materials. Water vapor moves from areas of high vapor pressure to areas of low vapor pressure.
Whether moisture moves through a material by vapor diffusion depends on whether differences in vapor pressure exist across the material. How fast moisture moves by vapor diffusion depends on how permeable the material is.
Before you risk any further damage and potentially the long term value of your property, call us as your local water damage, flood damage, fire damage, smoke damage, and cleaning services professional at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin.
How to Prepare Your Team and Commercial Structure to Withstand Unforeseen Emergencies
2/24/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin
Most commercial buildings are required to provide an emergency exit strategy for their people incase an unfortunate accident were to occur. Some buildings are also required to have a contingency plan to protect the building itself, but not all properties will have this in place.
Our team here at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin will provide this service to business owners in need of a water and fire preparedness plan.
As restoration professionals, we have the experience and trained crew members required to show you necessary steps to limit potential damage that can occur from a water, fire, or storm like scenario.
Being a step ahead and knowing how to shut off a utility, fix a sprinkler issue, or set containment, can make the difference between shutting your doors and being able to open your business again. Every moment counts as disasters rarely happen during business hours.
During this process, a team member will document all necessary details as we walk your building with you. Important items to address will be the preferred initial point of contact, pinpointing your main utility shutoffs, locating any and all hazardous materials, documenting preferred parking and access for our team once we arrive, and priority or essential equipment that needs to be protected.
Our goal here is to provide you with a simple and easy to access plan for your team so they can react appropriately in these situations with little effort and a nominal amount of time. Knowing what to do and who to call can save you a considerable amount of money, prevent secondary damage and limit the amount of business time lost due to repairing and replacing damaged items within your facility.
Whether you have a team in place, or we are the ones to arrive onsite first, our technicians will be fully aware of the shut-off locations and can address this ourselves. Preparing this plan ahead of time will always provide quicker and more efficient results.
Feel free to reach out to our office for further information, do not feel this is something you need to explore on your own, our team is always here to help.
What Is the Job of a Fire Damage Restoration Company?
2/24/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin is here to help when your home or business has been damaged by fire, excessive water damage, or other major catastrophes. Their ultimate job is to clean up, remove damage, preserve, and protect the home, to ensure further damage does not occur.
Our main focus is to bring your home back to its original condition. When hiring a water damage restoration company, you'll want to ensure you have a clear understanding and what they will and will not do at your property.
Some Things to Look Out for When Choosing a Restoration Company
Reputable restoration companies will be IICRC certified. IICRC stands for the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification. It's a non-profit organization that offers certification programs and standards for the restoration industry.
In order to be IICRC certified, the restoration company must have proof of insurance, maintain a written customer complaint policy with follow-up on complaints, and provide the technicians with education and training to become certified.
Companies may also be members of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). The RIA is a trade association for cleaning and restoration professionals. In addition to education and training, the trade association offers technical support and several certifications for technicians.
Your Insurance & the Restoration Company
After your property has suffered a major event and subsequent damage, you'll want to contact your insurance agent. Be sure to review your responsibilities and what is required by your insurance policy for cleaning up the home to prevent any additional damage. You'll want to discuss any questions you may have with your insurance agent. Your agent may offer referrals within the area. You can also contact a restoration company on your own.
When choosing a restoration company, be sure they have all the proper certifications, are fully licensed and have years of experience in the water damage restoration industry. Make sure you're working with a company you can trust; your property is in their hands. One of the benefits of working with SERVPRO is the national reputation our company has and continues to uphold. SERVPRO franchises and employees are all upheld to strict training guidelines.
The Process Once the Fire Damage Restoration Company Arrives
Our team will walk your property with you, point out areas that need to be discussed and all areas that need to be cleaned. We may be able to identify issues you're not aware of, so it will be important to thoroughly examine all areas.
We will be evaluating what’s needed in terms of time, work and equipment as we clean and restore your home. You should expect an estimate for those services from our team. You'll want to check in with your insurance company to understand what will and will not be covered.
Once the work has been completed, be sure to keep a close eye on the areas where the restoration work was done. You'll want to make sure no moisture or dampness from the water damage remain in your home.
Feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns. We’re always here to help at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin.
Why call SERVPRO of Southwest Austin as your water mitigation company?
2/24/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin
Our staff is highly trained as a fire damage restoration service and water remediation company for property damage restoration.
Through responsive, reliable, and courteous professional care we:
- Provide clients with the unique opportunity to save costs through restoration versus replacement while providing a turnkey solution.
- Give homeowners the chance to save precious memories and ensure commercial clients ability to minimize revenue business interruptions
- Enable clients to enjoy living in a clean and healthy environment, whether in the workspace or in the comfort of their own home.
Whether it is a fire, water, or other event, it’s unlikely that you can wait for regular business hours. SERVPRO of Southwest Austin provides emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all holidays.
Water damage can be very invasive. It can spread quickly throughout your entire home absorbing into all your building materials, such as drywall and wood baseboards.
Our team will arrive promptly and start extracting the water. Then we will begin the process of deciding what materials will need to be removed and replaced within the location. This can include replacing water damaged floors, removing the drywall, or having to replace hardwood floors.
Our immediate response helps to minimize damage that can potentially occur and limit the chances of secondary damage onsite.
You may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable at this time. Let us be your expert and guide you through this crisis. Our team has the training and experience to help you through this tough time. We’re always here to help at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin.
How to prepare for a storm or flood type event close to your home.
2/24/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin
- Prepare a few emergency kits
- Prepare a household flood plan
- Keep a list of emergency telephone numbers
- Check your insurance policy to see if you are covered for flood damage
If flooding is predicted, make your safety a priority and if you have time try to prepare your property:
- Secure hazardous items
- Roll up rugs, move furniture, electrical items and valuables to a higher level
- Place important personal documents, valuables and vital medical supplies into a waterproof case in an accessible location
- If you are relocating, take your pets with you if it is safe to do so. If not provide adequate food and water and move them to a safer place
If rising waters threaten your home and you decide to move to a safer location, tell the police, your nearest State Emergency Service (SES) unit or your neighbors of your plans to move.
Relocating to safer ground:
- Monitor your local radio for warnings and advice
- Pack warm clothing, essential medication, valuables and personal papers in waterproof bags along with your emergency kits.
- Raise furniture, clothing and valuables onto beds, tables and into roof space place
- Empty freezers and refrigerators, leaving doors open to avoid damage or loss if they float.
- Turn off power, water and gas and take your mobile phone
- Whether you leave or stay, put sandbags in the toilet bowl and over all laundry/bathroom drain holes to prevent sewage backflow
- Lock your home and take recommended relocation routes for your area
- Do not drive into water of unknown depth and current
Too late to leave?
- Monitor your local radio for warnings
- Get to higher ground
- Switch off electricity and gas supplies to your home
- Prepare to move vehicles, outdoor equipment, garbage, chemical and poisons to higher locations
- Prepare for the wellbeing of pets
- Raise furniture above likely flood levels
- Check your emergency kits
- Do not allow children to play in or near floodwaters
- Avoid entering floodwaters,. if you must do so, wear solid shoes and check depth and current with a stick
- Stay away from drains, culverts and water over knee deep.
- Do not use gas or electrical appliances that have been in floodwater until checked for safety
- Do not eat food that has been in floodwaters
If you need help putting any of this together or still have questions about how to prepare for a storm or flood, call us at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin for additional help.
How to Prepare for Winter Storms & Frozen Pipes
2/4/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin
The winter season is here and snow and ice can create major issues for you and your home. As we prepare to support you, it’s best for every business and homeowner to review potentially problematic issues.
Whether it’s snow, ice, heating, thawing frozen pipes or unforeseen accidents, the combination of certain elements can destroy your property. Most people will know to be aware of frozen pipes in the house, but other issues may arise. Ice on your roof can prevent proper drainage, if heat isn’t evenly distributed, some areas may freeze, and water in frozen pipes will freeze causing secondary damage to other appliances or household systems.
Here are three preemptive ways to check in on your property.
- Insulate Your Roof
The best ice dam prevention solution is to properly insulate your roof. Heat escapes through ceilings and rises to the roof where it warms the wood and shingles above. To prevent this, check the depth of your insulation.
Anything less than 8 inches is usually not enough to prevent heat from escaping, and it's important to use foam or caulk to stop air leaks. This will not only stop roof issues, but it will also save you money on your energy bill.
- Remove the Buildup
If you notice a large amount of snow gathering on your roof, you might want to consider eliminating it. Houses that have poor ventilation can also have poor distribution of heat. By removing the snow with a push broom or shovel, you can clear any potential problem areas.
- Create Channels in the Ice
Ice dams can force water into your home through the attic. You can stop this by creating channels in the ice and draining the water into the gutters. Use a hose with warm water and melt the lower edge of the ridge. This solution is a temporary fix but could prevent a large amount of winter storm damage.
Winter storms will always be unpredictable and damaging in one way or another. Our only working defense is to focus on potentially preventable tactics.
You do not need to figure out how to prevent pipes from freezing or fix frozen pipes on your own. Feel free to reach out to us at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin for additional information on how to protect your home, we're always here to help!
Flooding and Safety Tips
4/29/2021 (Permalink)
SERVPRO of Southwest Austin is here for your water restoration needs.
Flooding and water emergencies will not wait for regular business hours and neither do we. Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin, we provide emergency cleaning and restoration services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week—including all holidays.
Faster To Any Size Disaster
Flooding and water damage is very invasive. Water quickly spreads throughout your home and gets absorbed into floors, walls, furniture, and more. We arrive quickly and start the water extraction process almost immediately. This immediate response helps to minimize the damage, as well as the cleaning and restoration costs.
Water Damage Timeline
Within Minutes:
Water will move quickly, spreading throughout your property, saturating everything in its path.
Water is absorbed into walls, floors, upholstery, and belongings.
Furniture finishes may bleed, causing permanent staining on carpets.
Photographs, books, and other paper goods start to swell and warp.
Hours 1 - 24:
Drywall begins to swell and break down.
Metal surfaces begin to tarnish.
Furniture begins to swell and crack.
Dyes and inks from cloth and paper goods spread and stain.
A musty odor appears.
48 Hours to 1 Week:
Mold and mildew may grow and spread.
Doors, windows, and studs swell and warp.
Metal begins to rust and corrode.
Furniture warps and shows signs of mold.
Paint begins to blister.
Wood flooring swells and warps.
Serious biohazard contamination is possible.
More Than 1 Week:
Restoration time and cost increase dramatically; replacing contaminated materials and structural rebuilding may be extensive.
Structural safety, mold growth, and biohazard contaminants pose serious risks to occupants.
We specialize in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
Call us today at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin for more information.
We're Ready to Help.
4/29/2021 (Permalink)
Here to Help.
Here at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin, we are available 24 hours a day for water emergencies, large or small. When you are dealing with water damage, immediate action is crucial. A delay of just a few hours can greatly increase the severity of the water damage.
We Answer the Phone, Ready to Help
We understand when you are ready to call, you may be feeling confused, stressed, and vulnerable. You need an expert to guide you through. SERVPRO of Southwest Austin has the specific water damage training and experience to help you through this tough time. We specialize in water damage restoration as the cornerstone of our business.
What to Expect
When you call, we will ask several questions regarding your water damage emergency. These questions will help us determine what equipment and resources to bring, including how many trained SERVPRO of Southwest Austin professionals may be needed.
Here are some of the questions you may be asked:
Your name and contact information
Your insurance information (if applicable)
The street address of the water-damaged home or business
When did the flooding or water damage occur?
What caused the water damage (if known)?
Is there electricity available (on-site)?
We specialize in the cleanup and restoration of residential and commercial property after a fire, smoke or water damage event. Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
Call us today at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin for more information.
Water Intrusion, Move Quickly!
3/29/2021 (Permalink)
Call us at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin for additional information 512-796-9077
As a leader in the cleaning and restoration industry, we strive to meet or exceed the expectations of every customer, client, and business that is involved with water damaged property. Every property, every project, every customer deserves excellence.
Water intrusion in a home or business is always a traumatic event. Effectively restoring a water-damaged property is such a valuable service to any homeowner or business owner. This type of disruption creates stress and uncertainty for many individuals and can be very costly.
This is when you call us at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin to provide guidance and assistance to ensure the best decisions are made through these difficult times.
Excessive water and moisture in any indoor environment can pose health risks for occupants and if it is not resolved properly. Water intrusion can cause severe damages to both your structure and contents.
Properly mitigating, drying, and restoring a water-damaged structure requires training, expertise, and specialized equipment. With hands-on experience and coaching in the field, we are the best in the industry.
The goal of emergency actions is to protect your structure and contents from further damage, establish a safe environment, extract water, demo unrestorable materials, and create the conditions for drying the structure and contents effectively. This typically involves calculating and positioning air movers and dehumidifiers within the affected area.
Once the equipment is placed, we monitor the drying process and make sure it is working properly. Monitoring services continue until the structure and contents are dry as we evaluate, update monitoring logs, and make adjustments as needed.
Call us at SERVPRO of Southwest Austin, “Like it never even happened.”
24/7 Emergency Service