More Than a Restoration Team: A Story

1/23/2020 (Permalink)

Firemen can put out flames, but so can your local hero. Our team at SERVPRO of Lakewood and Ken-Caryl has our own set of heroes.

More Than Just Restoration: A Story

            Dark gray clouds roll over the mountains and the wind begins to whip.  All of the animals have sensed the oncoming storm and have taken to hiding.  The land is empty beyond its rustling trees and long grasses.  Finally, the rain begins to spit down and lightening streaks the sky.  It’s an ordinary day in Golden, Colorado, and it’s not a particularly bad storm.  Residents and passerby wouldn’t think much of the event.  In fact, everyone was going cheerfully on with their day knowing the storm would soon pass quickly, as they all do in the Front Range.  However, the one thing no one expected was to have that bright lightening find its way to the ground and strike a lonely tree off of Rooney Road.  But, that is precisely what happened. 

            Now, on this ordinary day, the SERVPRO Team of Lakewood/Ken-Caryl was out on a job.  They were headed to a fire loss in Golden when they stumbled upon a burning tree. The two SERVPRO employees didn’t hesitate a beat when they saw this.  They quickly pulled over to the side of the quiet road and sprang into action. They ran to the back of the bright green truck, extracted two shovels, and ran straight towards the flaming pine.  The two young men had no fear of the situation at hand.  Their instinct was save the tree and save the land.  They began digging into the hard earth to pull up as much dirt as they could muster and throw it onto the flames.  They worked vigorously and fast! And in no time, the flames were diminished.  All that was left was the hot smoke billowing into the darkened sky.  The SERVPRO employees put out the fire before the fire department or the Jeffco Sheriff could make it to the scene.  The fire was not able to spread beyond those piney branches and the young men drove away as hero’s.  Now, that is a whole new type of fire specialization! 

            What happened that day taught all of us here at SERVPRO of Lakewood/Ken-Caryl a lesson on integrity.  How you do anything is how you do everything.  The boys could have passed the tree and simply called the fire department to take care of it. They wouldn’t have spent any of their time on the situation and could get their required job done and out of the way faster.  That would have been the easy way out.  But, they didn’t do that.  They did everything they possibly could, put out the fire, waited for the professionals to show up, and then went on their way to work. It was impressive and inspiring.

            After that day, we all started to look for things we could improve beyond the typical work routine.  If the snack section started to get messy, someone would clean it up. Customer service went through the roof, and all of the small things made for an improved work environment. Everyone felt good about doing their best and helping others.  SERVPRO was no longer just a restoration team.  We are so much more than that.  We are heroes!

            We take scary situations and turn them into a positive experience for people.  Having your Lakewood or Ken-Caryl home catch fire or flood is a horrifying event.  A lot is lost in destructive flames or damaging waters.  SERVPRO comes in to save as much as we can.  We have done it so many times we are comfortable in our expertise, and customers find a solace in our help.  It has become our civic duty to help when disaster strikes!

            In the remainder of the blog, we would like to highlight some of our restoration processes, whether it be mold mitigation, fire restoration, or flood restoration, we have your back!

Fire

            Damage Restoration

• Structural Cleaning
  • The first step in the remediation of a fire is structural cleaning.After fire and smoke has made its mark on your home, ceilings, walls, flooring, and woodwork will need a thorough cleaning.  After the pretest, our SERVPRO team of Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl will use the appropriate cleaning chemicals for the type of smoke and specific surface it is on.  Often times, our specifically designed chemicals can completely remove the damaging smoke from the structure so that repainting or refinishing is not necessary, saving you money.  If we cannot clean the surface completely, we will restore it to a “prepare for paint” condition.  This process deodorizes and ensures that the new coat of paint will adhere properly.

• Content Cleaning
  • Area rugs, furniture, draperies, upholstery, and all restorable personal items in the affected areas will be professionally cleaned and deodorized. Some items can be cleaned onsite, but many are packed up and cleaned in-house. The type of cleaning will be determined upon a pretest and an inventory list of all items will be made so our franchise and the home owner can keep track of them. 

• Deodorizing
  • After the structures and contents of the home have been cleaned, the home itself will also be deodorized.We do not merely mask the smells, we seek the source and eliminate it.  SERVPRO teaches IICRC technical classes in the proper removal of odors, and our specialized equipment cannot be beat.

Flood

            When your Lakewood home has water damage from flooding or leaks, you need the company that can respond immediately and has the expertise and equipment to properly restore your property. SERVPRO of Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl uses advanced water damage inspection and extraction equipment to help them find the moisture and to remove it as quickly as possible. Our highly trained technicians will monitor and document the drying process so that you know your property is back to normal.While every water damage situation is unique, the general process stays the same.  SERVPRO follows 6 basic steps when handling your water damage.  Below are the 6 steps taken from call to complete restoration.

Step 1 - Emergency Contact

The restoration process begins when you call us. Our representative will guide you through the crisis and may ask several questions to help us better understand the equipment and resources.

Step 2 - Inspection and Water Damage Assessment

We determine the scope of your water damage at this stage. We inspect and test to determine the extent of damage and how far the moisture has traveled to ensure proper and complete restoration.

Step 3 - Water Removal / Water Extraction

The water removal process begins almost immediately and removes the majority of the water. We use powerful pumps and vacuum units to quickly remove hundreds or thousands of gallons from your property, which helps prevent secondary water damage and mold growth.

Step 4 - Drying and Dehumidification

We use specialized equipment to remove the remaining water that is harder to access. Our Professionals will use room measurements, temperature, and relative humidity to determine the optimal number of air movers and dehumidifiers needed to dry your home or business.

Step 5 - Cleaning and Sanitizing

We clean all of the restorable items and structures damaged by the water. We are adept at cleaning contents using a number of techniques. Our professionals are trained to provide sanitizing treatments and to remove odors and deodorize your property.

Step 6 - Restoration

Restoration is the process of restoring your home or business to its pre-water damage condition. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall and installing new carpet, or may entail major repairs, such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

            In the event of a basement flood, it is essential that you call professional help as quickly as possible.  SERVPRO of Golden/ Wheat Ridge/ Evergreen is available 24/7 365 days a year.  After the initial call, we are required to arrive at your residence within 4 hours by franchise standards.  However, our team averages less than an hour for arrival time.  Our response time reduces damage, limits further damage, reduces cost, and eases headache and responsibility from the homeowner.  

Mold

            Our team at SERVPRO of Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl has the skills, training, experience, and specialized equipment needed for mold mitigation and remediation. Our techniques are approved by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification).        

                        Direct Spraying:

                                    We use hand pumps or power sprayers to apply specialized chemicals and disinfectants to the affected areas in your Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl, or surrounding homes. This method will wet the area, so we are sure to only use this method on surfaces that cannot be discolored.

                        Wet Fogging:

                                    ULV (ultra low volume) foggers are used to disperse disinfectants and deodorizers to the area.  These foggers create tiny particles that can penetrate into just about anything.  However, this creates additional moisture, so the technicians at your home, office, or she-shed, will remove all furniture and other items that could be damaged by this method. If there are some items that cannot be removed, drapes will be placed over them for protection.

                        Dry Fogging:

                                    This technique, also called thermal fogging, is used when there is mold, but little to no water damage.  This uses solvent based cleaners and deodorants that are heated and pushed through a vaporizer. This process changes the particles into so they are small enough to penetrate almost any surface.  Since there is no moisture added, this is the preferred method we use whenever it is possible. 

                        Ventilation and Air Scrubbing:

                                    As the different methods of cleaning are underway, the rooms and other affected areas must be ventilated.  Our team has high velocity exhaust fans, called box fans, that blow out mold particles.  This is done so that the mold particles that release in the cleaning process are captured and removed. This reduces the amount of time the area needs to be vacant and allows occupants into their homes quicker.

Why Choose SERVPRO of Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl

            SERVPRO of Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl is a locally owned business. We serve Genesee, Lakeside, Applewood, Lakewood, Conifer, Bailey and Kittredge as well as Evergreen, Wheat Ridge and Golden. We have traveled to Winter Park, Breckenridge, Jefferson and the greater Denver/Boulder metro area. We live where we serve.  Heck! We might even be your neighbor.  That is why we take personal pride in offering you professional, quality, reliable and trustworthy service when it comes to water, mold or fire damage to your home or commercial space. We are local and dedicated to being faster to any size disaster. Our phones are personally answered 24/7 and our technicians are on call 24 hours a day. when disaster strikes there is no need to wait till morning for help to arrive. Whether you are experiencing a flood due to a burst pipe, a kitchen fire, have found mold or need emergency services in the metro or mountain areas, don’t wait! Call SERVPRO of Lakewood/ Ken-Caryl today. And remember, we are so much more than just a restoration team!

            Please give us a call for any of your home restoration needs! (303) 973-4664

Or visit our website at:  https://www.SERVPROlakewoodkencaryl.com