Water damaged wall in a house florida

How to tell water damage is old?

Posted by Kiran on

Water damage is a nightmare for any property owner. Property related water damage concerns should be addressed at the earliest.

 

A water damage spot can be caused by prolonged condensation or leaks. You often see water spots on the ceiling, if the scenario is left unchecked, it can easily deteriorate the ceiling, which can lead to sags and collapses. This makes it important to foresee and take precautionary steps to repair water damage early.

 

The ability to tell the age of water damage can play a crucial role on many occasions, especially when you are planning to purchase a house. This blog features some tips and tricks that will help you to identify the age of water damage.

 

Touch and tell

You can usually touch and tell the age of the water spot. If the spot seems to be wet, you can assume that the water damage or leak is fairly new or at least a week old.

 

On the flip side, if spot feels mushy to touch, it indicates that the spot or the leak has been around for months. This usually happens when the ceiling or the drywall encounter a leak and is saturated with water over time.

 

Color

Color can be another major giveaway of the age of water damage. If the water damage spot is characterized by a single dark spot with a colorless perimeter, you can presume that the area has been going through a cycle of leaks and dryness.

 

The number of rings on this occasion can be a good indicator of the age, more the number of rings, more would be age.

 

Spot size

Look for the size of the spot while taking into consideration the affected material in question. While considering the material in question, you cannot assume that larger size or more the number of rings, the older will be the damage. This is because the how each material displays water damage signs vary with respect to the density or other physical aspects o the material. 

 

For instance, a material like a tile does not let water pass through easily, therefore even a small spot on the tile might indicate a longstanding buildup of water.

 

Signs of mold

Mold can be the next best indicator for calculating the age of water damage. Look for signs of mold growth. Moisture creates a favorable atmosphere for mold growth. Materials like drywall and carpeting are vulnerable to mold growth.

 

If you observe mold growth, you can assume that the water spot is at least two to three days old. Also, consider the climatic condition while using this sign to calculate the age of water damage. For instance, mold growth can be slow in cold and freezing conditions as opposed to hot and humid areas.

 

Decay

Any decay to the structure is another indicator of repeated water damage or exposure to flooding. Here as well, you need to consider the temperature and humidity of the location while calculating the age of the water damage.

 

Perform an inspection while keeping these factors in mind to identify the age of water damage in your house or property under consideration.

Mold infested roof in house florida

5 common types of molds found in homes

Posted by Kiran on

Mold infested property, systems or structures can trigger subject deterioration in addition to harming your health. Most people believe that only older homes are vulnerable to mold infestation and this is a misconception.

Identifying whether your house is infested with mold is ideal, but the knowledge of different types of house molds can help you to take the next action, which can be crucial.

This will help you to save valuable time and effort as you can take precautionary steps to contain or prevent further mold growth prior to reviewing the situation and deciding on whether to hire a mold removal specialist.

This post features five mold types that are commonly observed within households along with the consequences of exposure and some steps to prevent any related hazards.

Alternaria

With a high growth rate in temperatures between 20-25 degree Celsius, Alternaria is a rapid growth mold which matures in just five days. The ability of this mold type to thrive in windy and dry conditions gives way to airborne spread.

The mold growth that you see in your sink or shower can be alternaria. They can grow both indoors and outdoors, usually in damp areas. This mold type can cause asthma and allergic reactions.

Aspergillus fumigates

Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common and dangerous mold type belonging to the Aspergillus mold family. They appear with cotton texture and can be in a combination of blue-green or grey color.

Aspergillus fumigatusis an indoor mold type that usually does not trigger any potential health hazards to humans. However, prolonged exposure can trigger health concerns like respiratory infections and lung inflammation.

Aureobasidium

This mold type commonly affects wooden furniture, walls, and surfaces. This mold variant is identified as pink and black spots that you may observe around windows or painted walls. As they are commonly observed in households, people usually develop allergies, which if left untreated are escalated to other severe reactions.

Chaetomium

Is your house suffering from water damage? If yes, you might come across Chaetomium. Keep an eye out for grayish-green colored mold formation on any substance that contains cellulose. This mold type feeds freely and quickly on materials containing cellulose such as paper, drywall, and fabrics.

This mold type is the common trigger for the musty and old odor within your house.

Cladosporium

Cladosporium is commonly found in carpets and wooden floorboards. The fact that this mold type can thrive in both cool and warm conditions make it more dangerous.

This mold type develops as colonies that trigger airborne spores contributing to its wide and quick spread. Allergies and asthma are the main health concerns that Cladosporium can trigger.

There are more than 1000 different types of molds out there. For an individual without much experience about mold and the related hazards, it is impossible to identify each mold type. If left unchecked, mold can easily become a major hazard within your house. Foresee all these factors and consider performing early water damage and mold checkups for your property at least once a year.

water flowing from pipe to sink

Tips to recover from a pipe burst

Posted by Kiran on

Burst pipes are one of the worst nightmares of a homeowner. A burst pipe might not flood or damage a whole area within your household. However, if left unsupervised, it can cause lead to structural issues in addition to health concerns for the residents.

On the flip side, a serious pipe burst can spill gallons of water to flood your house endangering your valuable belongings or properties. We always recommend homeowners to think ahead when it comes to residential water system maintenance or checkups.

Unlike a mold growth scenario, the pipe burst can turn out to be an emergency situation in no time. Recovery from a pipe burst depends on how smart and efficiently you plan the whole process.

Safety first

The chaos of a pipe burst can compel you to take immediate actions to save your valuable possessions within your house. Restrain yourself from caving into all these impulse thoughts and think safety first.

A water leak near an electrical appliance or an outlet can second electrical conduction. Even the floor mat and walls can turn out to be an electrical conductor.

Ensure that you turn off the main water supply first and then the electricity to your house prior to rushing in to inspect or rescue.

Move your furniture

Bulky or upholstered furniture, especially couches can absorb water and remain waterlogged for longer durations. While carpets can be easily dried out, this furniture can continue causing issues.

Move all your upholstered furniture out prior to drying your carpets or flooring. If the weather is favorable, you can leave them outdoors to air dry.

Standing water check

Pipe burst often leads to standing water puddles. Attend to the situation quickly and get rid of water collected using a bucket and dry towel.

If the puddle forms over carpet insulated flooring, it is ideal not to try and lift the carpet as it can cause permanent damage.

Dehumidify

The next step is to dehumidify and ventilate the indoor area. If the weather permits, open windows and doors to let in the fresh air.

Using a dehumidifier is always recommended over using a household heater and a heater or dryer as a combination of moisture and warm conditions can trigger mold growth.

Seek professional help

On some occasions, you might not be able to contain a pipe burst completely. This is where you have to resort to the idea of calling a plumber.

Once the leak has been contained, you might need to seek the help of a certified water damage restoration service. This step is highly recommended if the whole situation leaves you with soggy carpets, drywall, and insulation.

When seeking professional assistance, it is ideal to choose a company that offers the following additional services:

• Drying, dehumidification & water extraction
• Mold remediation
• Carpet, rug & upholstery cleaning

Recovering from a pipe burst can be slow and painful. We recommend you to consider these tips to act smart and quick. Invest some time and effort to residential water damage prevention tips to reduce the risk of encountering pipe burst related emergency situations.

Pair of Red Fire Extinguisher Tanks in Front of Black Wall

5 tips to practicing fire safety in a commercial property

Posted by Kiran on

Protecting property and tenants from a fire breakout should be the number one priority of any commercial property owner.

Ensuring property fire safety compliance can be an overwhelming task. Foreseeing fire safety concerns and being proactive can help you avoid major losses and costly repairs.

Here are the five tips to consider when it comes to ensuring fire safety for your commercial property.

Fire safety measures

All the commercial properties, to abide by the local building codes, are required to install smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.

Contact your local fire marshal to learn more about any specific criteria your building needs to meet in terms of locality or any other aspects in regards to fire safety.

Installing automatic sprinklers is a smart means to ensure that any fire-related issue is attended at the very instant it arises. Investing in advanced fire safety technologies like water mist systems and wireless detectors can help you efficiently and effectively manage fire-related concerns.

No smoking policy

Enforcing a strict no smoking policy within your commercial property is inevitable for fire safety. Irrespective of what the property is used for, it is an absolute necessity to prevent smoking within the areas of the building.

Use no smoking signs on all areas of the buildings including the emergency/fire stairs and car parking. Ensure that all the new tenants and employees are made aware of the strict no-smoking policies within the premises.

It is not a bad idea to have smoking zones away from the building. Remember to tag these areas with fireproof waste containers.

Educate employees

Irrespective of the size of the building or the businesses that operate within the property, it is important to assign someone to be the fire safety operator.

The fire safety operator or warden, with proper guidance, can easily educate employees regarding the emergency procedures and escape routes and meeting places.

Additionally, it is important to ensure that the emergency evacuation building plans and diagrams are properly displayed on all levels in the building. Consider these aspects to planning a fire safety evacuation.

• Plan an evacuation procedure for employees that needs special care
• Choose a meeting point and inform the employees
• Ensure fire escape stairs are well lighted and not used as a storage

Keep an eye on storage

Storing unnecessary combustible materials can turn out to be deadly when it comes to fire safety. Keep the flammables away from your building. It is not ideal to store all the paper and cloth waste within the building, scheduling a weekly cleanup for these items is ideal.

Regular maintenance

Regular maintenance and frequent fire safety equipment tests/checks are mandatory. When doing the fire safety equipment inspection, it is ideal to follow these strategies:

• Replace any items that are warm or hot to touch
• Replace worn or old power cords and consider using cord protectors for these
• Ensure that the fire doors are operational and not blocked with furniture or boxes
• Ensure that chemical and equipment storage rooms are properly ventilated
• Test all the smoke detectors to ensure that they are operational

Fire safety compliance is critical for any commercial property. Even with all the safety measures in place, a fire breakout can still occur. This is where you need to look into a faster and efficient means to rebuild and restore. Contacting a certified fire restoration company should be your priority to achieve this without throwing your money down the drain.

Professional, Timely New Construction For Palm Beach Gardens Homes

Posted by Travis Bumgarner on

After a few years or even decades under the Florida sun, many residents in Palm Beach Gardens are ready to change their homes. It can be a major addition to the home like another bedroom or installing a second floor for a growing family, or separate living quarters for an older parent who can no longer live alone, but is far from ready for a retirement home.

Residents often put off a new project, not necessarily because of the cost, but due to the disruption that it brings to the family home, sometimes for months. At Titan Restoration Construction, we can keep your new construction project in Palm Beach Gardens on schedule.

As a licensed contractor (CGC# 1522221), we can control the project from beginning to end. That allows us to avoid the need for sub-contractors, keeping our personnel on task, no matter if the situation requires a new foundation, replacing or laying in new plumbing, or running new power lines and upgrading the electrical control board for your home. We also work directly with local utilities and other city services to make sure there is no delay due to the need for inspections and building permits.

Equipment is not a cause for delay for Titan Restoration Construction either. We keep an extensive inventory of everything needed for demolition and construction. That means we have the right sized backhoe and other machines needed to tear down a wall to add a room, break ground in the tightest locations, pour concrete, and set the supports for a new roof. With over ten years supporting homeowners in the local area, if there is an item required we do not have on-hand, we can quickly source it and get it on-site in just a day or two.

The same applies to the materials we use. Our office has extensive contacts throughout the state, so if there is a special type of flooring, countertop, light fixture, or roofing, we can get it for you faster, and probably cheaper, than many other contractors.

At Titan Restoration Construction, we understand the need for projects to finish on-time. We treat each of our customers as a neighbor because that’s the reality for us. If you need to ‘grow’ your home to match your changing family, contact us today at 561-345-3751.

Click here for more information about Palm Beach Gardens.

House in storm

Cleaning After Hurricane: FAQs

Posted by Kiran on

Cleanup after a hurricane can be a painfully slow process. If you have been smart enough to foresee and apply these hurricane precautionary measures, you would have already saved money, health and time.

People can easily overlook the process of post-hurricane cleanup. There are several precautionary measures that you need to consider to protect yourself and your loved ones when it comes to cleaning after a flood or hurricane.

As an individual with fairly less experience in hurricane or flood cleanup, you might have different questions regarding the overall process. This post features some of the frequently asked questions related to cleaning after a hurricane.

What do to after a hurricane is over?

The smartest and the most recommended thing to consider during a hurricane is to take shelter. An ideal place would be a room within your house with no or limited windows.

Hurricane can force people to stay indoors for days, this can build up the anxiety and compel you to wander around or try and move to a different place as soon as the storm seems to be subsiding or is over.

Therefore, it is smart not to attempt anything creative or daring soon after a hurricane. Remain indoors until you receive an official “all clear” message.

• Do not try to drive or walk around to survey the damage.

• Do not touch any low hanging wires or trees that are in contact with power lines

• Keep an eye out for anything in the surrounding or your building structures like porches that could collapse

How do you clean your house after a hurricane?

Hurricane flood can be devastating. If the mess seems to be too much to handle, it is ideal to consult a professional water/flood damage restoration company.

These are some tips that you can consider to cleanup hurricane flood.

• Wear proper safety equipment prior to going out or surveying the damaged areas within your house

• Water and humidity can be the main trigger for mold growth and structural damage to your house. Consider removing them first

• Toss of any furniture or electronics that seem to be beyond repair

How long does it take to cleanup after a hurricane?

If the house has suffered any structural damage, cleaning it up can take some time and it is better to get this done via professionals.

A normal hurricane cleanup can last between 24 to 48 hours.

What do you wear to hurricane cleanup?

It is recommended to have these for a cleanup session:

• Rubber gloves

• Face masks

• Goggles

• Boots

How do you cleanup mold from a hurricane?

Any surface within your house that has come in contact with water and humidity can turn out to be a favorable place for mold growth.

• Ensure that you scrub and sanitize these areas with recommended solutions thoroughly to kill any chances for mold growth

• Dry out the interiors by keeping the windows and doors open and using a hardware fan

• Get rid of any insulation or carpets that seem to be beyond repair

• Dry out the basements thoroughly and check for any leaks on the plumbing systems or the roof

How long should I run a dehumidifier after a flood?

It depends on the extent of the damage and the amount of porous and insulation materials used indoors. More the number of pertinent materials, the longer you should use the dehumidifier. You might have to use a dehumidifier from two days to a week.

Ensure that all the porous materials are dried out completely and replace the ones that seem to be damaged beyond repair.

Cleanup after a hurricane can be a hectic and time-consuming task. Consider these tips and work with patience and assistance whenever you can to get the task done effectively.

Hurricane Disaster: 16 precautionary steps you should take today

Posted by Kiran on

Big hurricane under a cludy sky

How do you protect yourself from a hurricane? A question that can haunt anyone living in a hurricane-prone area.

Even when there has been significant progress in the forecasting methods, it is mandatory for people living in a hurricane-prone area to have a basic understanding of storms and respective conditions.

What is a Hurricane?

Hurricane is a tropical cyclone variant that usually forms over tropical or subtropical waters. During a hurricane, massive storms form over Warm Ocean and moves towards the land.

Hurricane can:

• Cause havoc around 100 miles on land
• Be more dangerous than a tornado
• Be more active in September
• Happen along the US coast, especially any Atlantic or Pacific Ocean territories

The following is a list of precautionary steps that you can adopt when it comes to protecting yourself from a hurricane.

When a warning is issued

1. Plan an escape route

2. Leave the low lying areas

3. Secure any outdoor household objects

4. Use storm shutters for windows

5. Stock food and water supply for at least a week

6. Keep an eye out for any emergency evacuation or warning via radio and television

7. Do not overlook the possibility of a flash flood, especially when it rains heavily and continuously

8. Identify a windowless room within your house to stay safe and move all the essentials to that room

9. Create an evacuation plan with shelter locations and identify the escape routes. Familiarizing yourself with this route days before the hurricane is expected

10. Consider the special needs of each member in your family, including medications and stock them in abundance

11. Store away important documents in addition to converting them to digital copies

12. Bring any light and loose possessions within your backyard indoors to prevent them from being projectiles

13. Make sure that you charge your mobile phone and power banks

14. Keep an eye out for electrical appliances within your house and turn them off or on as per the expected requirement. For instance, you can try disconnecting the washing machine and grinder from the power supply. On the flip side, you might want to run your refrigerators in the coldest setting available so that even if there is a power failure the stocked food lasts longer

15. Decide on a communication plan in case of emergencies and communicate that with your family members and friends in advance. For instance, texting might be an ideal option in case of a power failure opposed to calling as the phone lines can be overloaded

16. Text run your vehicle and do run a hardware checkup in addition to filling the gas tank to the brim

During the storm

• Remain indoors and in the designated secure room

• Avoid using telephones and candles

• Keep monitoring any relevant news via radio or television

• If an evacuation is requested, do it at the earliest

• If trapped in flooding building, avoid trying to swim your way out. Instead, move to a higher level and wait for rescue to arrive

• Do not attempt to drive or walk when the flooding level is above knee

Hurricanes can be inevitable for people living in coastal areas. Foresee all the possibility and have a hurricane disaster plan tested and ready. Act smart and quick to ensure the safety of your family.

Fire Damage Repairs in West Palm Beach

Posted by Travis Bumgarner on

West Palm Beach is one of the most beautiful communities in a state already known for his incredible neighborhoods and amazing homes. That does not prevent fires and other disasters from happening and causing millions in property damage each year.

Fire damage repairs in West Palm Beach homes requires much more than covering everything with a new coat of paint or replacing scorched ceiling tiles and drywall panels. As a state-licensed general contractor (CGC# 1522221), with over a decade serving homeowners in our area, Titan Restoration can perform every task needed to return each residence to its pre-fire condition.

Our construction teams can rebuild everything from the ground up. Many residential fires start in the kitchen, so team specialists can expertly lay in new tile or linoleum to provide a beautiful look that sets off everything else.

Before that happens, however, our builders put everything else in place. They can replace cabinets and shelving so that everything looks as it did before, or, if the owner wants to upgrade, install the latest styles and hardware to match what the chief cook and bottle washer in the home may have been wanting for years.

Titan Restoration construction teams take care of everything over the kitchen as well. Our builders can replace the entire ceiling support here and throughout the rest of the home. They can also move interior, non-load bearing walls to expand the dining area if the homeowner wants to make further improvements.

Since every insurance agency has its requirements, our teams and office staff work extensively with every major provider in our state to help ensure the homeowner gets the full value from her policy. We understand that time is a cost factor when homeowners have to reside in hotels or motels and almost every meal means eating out.

At Titan Restoration, West Palm Beach is more than a customer base. It is the neighborhood where members of our staff work, play and raise their families. If you have suffered through a fire, and need the right team to help put it all back together, call us today at 561-345-3751 for a free estimate and to get the restoration process started now.

Click here for more information about the city of West Palm Beach.

5 signs of water damage in your house

Posted by Kiran on

water damaged ceiling in west palm beach

For a property owner, water damage to their residential property can be the biggest headache and the hardest thing to contain.

Not identifying the symptoms early and overlooking the obvious signs of water damage can cost you big bucks and effort in the long run.

One of the key factors to eradicating any potential cause for water damage or resolving the issue at the very beginning is to understand what to look for.

This post features a list of things that you should be keeping an eye out for to identify any potential signs of water damage to your house that can cause havoc in the future.

Musty odor

Feeling of elevated humidity or dampness within the interiors of your house is a strong sign of water damage. Both these signs are accompanied by a musty odor.

The dampness and humidity level second mold growth which in turn produces the musty odor. Consider this as an ideal sign of water damage in bathrooms. The smell can be strong around the areas where water damage exists.

The water damage related musty smell is similar to that of wet paper or cardboard boxes. Old houses might have such odors, especially in the attic or basement. However, keep an eye out for any sudden changes in the smell accompanied by seasonal changes.

Appearance of mold

Stain or mold dominated walls and ceilings are always a sign of water damage. The mold growth or stain has an epic center which signifies the origin of the water damage.

You can commonly observe this sign near laundry rooms, kitchen, and bathrooms that accounts for major water usage in the house.

The moist surface provides the perfect environment for mold growth, which in turn can affect your health in addition to causing structural damage to the house.

Appearance changes to ceiling, walls and flooring

When water damage is on the cards, you can observe dry walls or ceilings being flaky or bubbly. These conditions, if left unchecked, can become bloated or swollen and respond malleable to touch.

Wet flooring is another sign of water damage which is easily overlooked. The corners of rooms which are hardly used can house molds and even cause irreversible damage to the sub-flooring if left unattended for too long.

Outdated water supply system

The outdated water supply system is one of the major giveaways to residential water damage. While the pipes itself is reliable, the connections and faucets can be the major culprits.

This is why it is highly recommended to perform a water supply system inspection on a yearly basis. Consider cutting off the source of water supply when you are out of town for long periods. You might need regular maintenance and checkups for appliances like furnaces and air conditioning.

High utility bill

It is not always possible to identify water damage, especially with a big house with multiple attics. A sudden surge in utility bill is an ideal indicator of water damage on such occasions.

Ensure that you check the visible pipelines and faucets in the house for any leaks. If you fail to find any leaks in the visible areas, consider the possibility of water damage inside walls.

How to tell if water damage is new or old can be tricky. You might need extensive experience, professional tools and time to figure this out. This is where you can consider contacting a certified water damage restoration company.

Walk around your house with this checklist on a monthly basis to identify water damage at its earliest stage.

Commercial Restoration For Boca Raton Businesses

Posted by Travis Bumgarner on

Boca Raton is arguably one of the most popular places to live, and vacation for families new to the area or has been living here since the 1930s. Keeping local businesses open and up-to-date for residents and tourists is a task that Titan Restoration happily takes on and has done so for over a decade now.

While commercial restoration in Boca Raton often takes place after a disaster like a storm, that is not always the case. Exposure to our intense sun and even mild weather can wear down facades in just a few years. As a licensed contractor (CGC# 1522221), we do everything possible to make every operation look new and appealing. To use a roadside restaurant as an example, Titan Restoration teams can change everything from the roof to the siding.

Removing a storm-damaged roof or one with bleached tiles and replacing it with an eco-friendly, sun-resistant product is simple for us. We have licensed roofers who can examine the panels and supports underneath to determine the best option for each business. In this example, our demolition team carefully peels off the old roof and disposes of it in a dumpster that we remove and empty before it becomes an eyesore to customers.

Aluminum siding is an excellent material for many businesses, but its color can fade unevenly depending on exposure to the sun and elements. Our licensed builders and installers can replace it with new aluminum or help the owner upgrade to a better PVC or vinyl siding which resists the weather longer and does not fade from the sun. Titan Restoration masons and bricklayers can also put together a stone or brick front that has excellent curb appeal and lasts for many years.

With every action we take, the team leader has the business’ customers in mind. As long as it is safe for customers and employees, we keep the doors open so the owner can keep serving the community. There may be noise, but Titan Restoration is here to help you stay in business. If you suffered a recent disaster or time has worn down your facility, call us today at 561-345-3751 to schedule an inspection and get the restoration process started.

Click here for more information about the city of Boca Raton.