Water soaked wooden floor in house florida

Water damage? 7 questions to ask yourself

Posted by Kiran on

Have you identified the source?

If the water damage seems out of control you need a water removal specialist to bring the situation under control. However, it is smart if you can identify the source of the water leak and try to address it.

Such an act will help you to save money, time and priceless possession within your residential or commercial property. Some common causes of water damage within the both residential and commercial property are:

• Leaky/broken faucet
• Leaky refrigerator
• Flooded toilet

Look into these aspects and ensure that you move the belongings under concern to safe areas within your property.

Is the situation an emergency?

A concern like a leaky faucet in the kitchen might not be an emergency when comparing it with a situation like an overflowing bathtub which was left unattended for a night or a day. A situation like forgetting to attend to an active running bathtub overnight is definitely an emergency. This can happen to both you and your neighbor.

Under such circumstances, make it a point to contact the water restoration specialist as soon as possible.

What are the immediate steps to consider?

There are some quick steps to consider to prevent or contain further adverse effects from water damage.

• Disconnect all the electrical appliances and power supplies
• Turn of the main water supply to the property
• Document the initial scenario: take pictures and videos of the damage
• Move all the movable items to safe areas
• Expel the excess water using pumps or other household cleaning items

Try to contain the leak source: a hand towel or a water leak sealing agent in a hardware store can turn out to be a godsend.

Is this covered under my insurance?

Most of the basic homeowner’s policies cover only sudden or accidental water damage situations. Burst pipes or faulty appliance leaks are covered under such policies. Usually, these policies do not cover flood damage.

If you reside in an area vulnerable to floods, you need to do in-depth research on flood insurance policies.

Is the water damage company certified?

When contacting a water restoration company, ensure that you are dealing with certified technicians. Look for certifications like IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification).

Is there any stagnant water?

Always be on the lookout for stagnant or standing water after water damage. Stagnant water is undisturbed water which can stay unnoticed. A puddle of water in the lawn or crawlspaces within your house or commercial property can turn out to be a big headache.

Stagnant water can cause serious health concerns like dengue fever and malaria.

Is there a possibility of mold growth?

Water damage usually creates ideal situations for mold growth. Look for signs of mold growth, communicate this with your water removal specialist and ensure that all the possibilities are covered and addressed.

Addressing water damage to your property might sound an easy task, however, there are several sub-tasks and things to consider when it comes to pulling this task off effectively. Make use of the above-listed checklist to ensure that you handle the situation in the most effective manner.

Water-damage-in-apartment-wall

Apartment water damage: Things to consider

Posted by Kiran on

Water damage can have a drastic and lasting impact on apartments. If the water damage is severe, it can even affect your neighbors. As a tenant, it is your duty to inform your landlord immediately and you should be aware of some rights when dealing with the water damage.

As a tenant or owner of the apartment, there are several factors to consider when there is a water damage situation in your apartment.

Prompt action

If you are the tenant, you need to contact your landlord or the maintenance team immediately. Delay in reporting the damage increases the likelihood of property damage and even eviction.

If you are the property owner, it is important to contact a water restoration specialist as soon as possible. It is ideal to consider a water restoration specialist that provides assistance with insurance documentation.

Identify the source

Even though the likelihood of you needing a water removal specialist to efficiently resolve the situation is more, it would be ideal to try and identify the source of water damage.

There are several possible sources of water damage within apartments, which are listed below:

• Leaky/broken faucet
• Leaky refrigerator
• Flooded toilet

Faulty appliances, broken faucets are the major causes of water damage in apartments. Overlooking the possibility of an overflowing bathtub or forgetting it completely can easily lead to a water damage situation. Bear in mind that this can happen to your neighbor as well.

Document the damage

Ensure that you take videos and photos of water damage as early as possible. This will come in handy when documenting files for renter’s insurance or even communicating with a water restoration specialist. It is ideal to keep these files for at least a year.

You can even consider documenting the procedures carried out by the restoration specialists. Keep notes of the process and other aspects like the call logs and what was initially agreed upon.

Contacting a water restoration company

If you are just the tenant of the apartment and would like some immediate response in cases where the landlord is taking his time, you can consider contacting the water damage specialists directly.

On most of such occasions, the company will refuse to carry out the restoration process unless they get approval from the landlord. Under such circumstances, be prepared to require the company to contact the landlord directly.

Who pays for the water damage?

As just a tenant, your landlord is responsible for water damage repair costs to the apartment. However, bear in mind that any damage to your personal belongings is your own responsibility. Foresee this and make sure that you prioritize the task of moving your belongings to a safe area during water damage or instances like flooding.
However, if the damage to your possessions seems to be due to the negligence of the landlord and if you can prove it, you can get some compensation.

It is critical to act quickly and smart in case of water damage irrespective of whether it’s contacting a restoration company, informing your landlord or moving your belongings to a safe area. Foresee these caveats to ensure that you make the right decisions without any delay.

Brown and Beige Wooden Barn Surrounded With Brown Grasses Under Thunderclouds

5 reasons why you should hire a water removal specialist to handle flood damage

Posted by Kiran on

Water damage can be mild or disastrous. As a property owner, it is your duty to foresee different aspects within your house and the environment which can lead to water damage or flooding.

Being a common cause for property damage, water damage is something that most property owners lament on.
You can easily find several DIY tips to alleviate the concern of flood or water damage within your household or commercial property. However, there are several factors that seconds hiring a water removal specialist for handling flood damage.

Leak source and hidden water damage

On occasions finding the source of water damage can be tricky. People overlook the possibility of multiple water leak sources and end up fixing the most evident source. Hidden mild leak sources can turn out to be disastrous with time. Mild water leaks sweeping through walls, ceilings or even a crack in the foundation can endanger the structure of the property.

Professional water removal specialist have industry-grade tools to detect water damages that can go undetected until its too late. Their experience can play a crucial role in identifying water leak sources quickly.

Water extraction

With respect to the severity of water damage or the amount of water involved, you might need water extraction or pumping. This is where water removal specialists with professional water extraction tools can be handy.

These tools can perform the much-needed work of pumping out large quantities of water in a short period. This can be crucial when it comes to saving time, money and other priceless possessions.

Mold

Once your house or commercial property is affected by water damage, it is vulnerable to mold growth. Mold makes life within the affected property a nightmare. Mold can start thriving in 48 to 72 hours post-water damage. This is why a quick response water specialist can turn out to be crucial when it comes to addressing any additional threats.

Water removal specialists can use advanced drying techniques and dehumidifiers to maintain air quality to hinder any possibilities of mold growth.

Insurance assistance

Professional water Restoration Company can provide assistance with insurance claims. These people are mostly experienced in handling the respective documentation and have come across multiple cases with different scenarios.

This contributes to successful documentation and application with a high percentage possibility of success rate.

Additional care

Water damage specialists can always look for additional risks and vulnerabilities based on the water damage type. For instance, flood water can be grossly unsanitary and requires special/professional cleanup with additional chemical or cleanup procedures.

A professional water damage restoration company can assess the situation at all stages and act accordingly for the much-needed results.

When the water damage at your property seems to be the next level, it is recommended to contact a water damage specialist. Never overlook the possibility of mold growth and act quickly to get the concern under control.

Garbage on still water body

Health risks associated with stagnant water

Posted by Kiran on

Stagnant water is standing water that is trapped or sits undisturbed for hours/days. Standing or stagnant water is usually a result of flood and water leaks. Basements, crawl spaces, and bathrooms are common areas where you can find standing water.

Plumbing leaks within the house or rainwater leaking through roof or windows can also be some of the main cause of stagnant water. While these can be clean sources of standing water, sources like flooding and sewage backups can be the contaminated source of standing water.

As a property owner, it is your duty to check for standing water within your property or compound, especially after events like floods or storms. There are several health risks associated with standing water, the dangers of which can grow worse over time.

Mold

Standing water saturates the floors and walls, this, in turn, can create support mold growth. Involvement of sewage or other contaminants in stagnant water catalyzes the possibility of mold growth. For instance, under favorable conditions and with clean water, mold requires a maximum of 72 hours to thrive. However, if contaminants are involved, it can thrive in 24 hours.

Structural damage

A crack in the foundation can turn out to be deadly with a condition like standing water. Water can easily sweep in and the damage can go unnoticed until its too late. This is something that can seriously affect the structure of your property.

Stagnant water can slowly but definitely dissolve and deteriorate drywall, flooring, carpeting and cabinets.

Insects and rodents

Standing water can be a good breeding source for insects like mosquitoes. This gives way to problems like malaria and dengue. Zika virus and West Nile Virus can be bigger or serious concerns that can even lead to fatality.

Similarly, mice, rats and possums can always be on the lookout for watering holes. They can spread diseases and consider your house as the perfect place to thrive.

Some of the health risks associated with standing water are:

• Malaria
• Rotavirus
• Fungus
• Dengue Fever
• Entamoeba
• Zika fever

Stagnant water is often hard to detect and goes unnoticed especially in areas like crawlspaces and lawns. Preventing standing water is the key to alleviating related health hazards. Once you find stagnant water within your property, it is ideal to get it inspected by professional water removal specialists, especially if the source seems old and involves sewage.

One way of telling whether the standing water is old is by the smell of it. Standing water involving sewage can start smelling with time and look for the smell of rotten egg. Ensure that your lawn has proper drainage and get your water and plumbing systems in your house checked at least once a year.

water damaged floor in a house in delray beach

3 Things You Need to Know About Water Damage

Posted by Kiran on

Homeowners, especially living in the coastal areas vulnerable to hurricanes know the havoc water damage can inflict. It is needless to say that it is easier to prevent water damage than performing a water damage cleanup.

Unlike fire damage, water damage can be difficult to diagnose and they can continue sweeping through the walls, basements causing slow but potential damage. This makes identifying and attending to water damage at the earliest critical. The point also stresses on the importance of maintaining your house and performing a periodic inspection to figure out any pertinent abnormalities.

Containing water damage to the core can be a challenging task and resorting to a water damage specialist can be an ideal solution. This post features some important things that you should know as a homeowner regarding water damage.

Understand the water type

It is always ideal to know what you are dealing with. Your house can be invaded by these water types:

• Rainwater
• Freshwater and
• Sewage water

What most homeowners do not know is the fact that the water damage cleanup process should be tailored based on the water type in question. Among these water types, the rainwater can be the easiest one to handle. However, fresh and sewage water can pose several health risks as they are bound to be contaminated.

When dealing with contaminated water, it is imperative to have the necessary tools and skills to alleviate any associated concerns. This is where professional assistance can make a world of difference.

The unseen risks

DIY water damage cleanup might look effective from the outset. However, most homeowners are unaware of the danger that can be lurking in the shadows, i.e. moisture.

Abnormal moisture levels can be a major headache as it can trigger both health concerns and property damage. The mold and mildew can start forming in crawlspaces, attics or beside floorboards. This might take some time and effort to identify. This is why it is recommended to always keep an eye out for the signs of mold growth, especially after a water damage cleanup.

Cleaning up mold also requires professional supervision as the process varies with the type of mold you are dealing with. A professional can perform an inspection to ensure that no dangerous mold type of pertinent substance is invading your house.

Basement

Basement or attics are some of the most vulnerable places for water damage. As these are the rarely visited areas within your house, any minor water leaks can go unnoticed. Additionally, any roof leaks or malfunctioning gutters can eventually channel water through to the basement.

If not inspected regularly in case of water leaks, the condition can even affect the foundation of your house apart from giving way to mold growth.

Water damage restoration might sound like an easy task, however, the closer you get the deeper the whole process and scope becomes. Foresee these factors to ensure that you have taken all the necessary measures to prevent or contain water damage to your house. Be extra vigilant if you live in areas vulnerable to hurricane or flood.

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.

Storm damage in west coast of florida

Titan Restoration Construction Helps the West Coast of Florida Recover

Posted by Travis Bumgarner on

The Florida west coast suffered through one of its worst years ever when it came to storm damage. Recovery has not been easy for many home and business owners. Titan Restoration Construction is proud to have helped hundreds of our neighbors and fellow owners rebuild their homes and shops in Bokeelia, Cape Coral, North Fort Myers, and other towns in Lee County.

Water damage in Florida includes dealing with contaminants. Water that blows into Charlotte County homes off the Atlantic contains not only dirt and debris generated by the storm but a high salt content as well. After restoration and clean-up services remove debris and wash down everything possible in El Jobean, Punta Gorda, and Rotonda, Titan inspectors examine property for corrosion, rust, and other water damage like splitting or swelling wood.

Once we have the extent of the damage, our teams get to work. If the water remained for too long after the storm, the wall framing itself becomes compromised. Our licensed carpenters replace any damaged wood with new framing, and then our construction crews quickly hang new drywall panels.

Breaker box inspection in west coast floridaBefore the panels go up, our electricians examine any outlets and wiring that may have been under water and shorted out or damaged otherwise by the storm. If needed, we replace compromised wiring going all the way back to the breaker box. Stringing new wire also involves drilling holes through the new wall frames and installing conduit to protect our work.

In many cases, we have to begin underneath our feet. Storm water that stands for several days in Chokoloskee, Goodland, Naples, and other towns in Collier County can destroy carpet, linoleum, and even crack the surface of the concrete below it. Our trained crews can quickly resurface any foundation or pad and then replace the carpet or another flooring on top of it.

Our team has repaired and restored homes and business structures on Florida’s West Coast for more than 10 years. If you are suffering from the effects of stormwater or other damage, call Titan Restoration Construction today at 561-345-3751 or on the west coast of Florida at 239-963-7574. We are here for you, and our communities.

Click here for more information about Florida.

Hurricane warning symbol

Hurricanes Causing Damage? Then It’s Time to Fight Back with Titan Rebuild

Posted by Travis Bumgarner on

Hurricane season brings a heavy toll when it comes to damage to homes and businesses if one should strike. Rebuilding is a part of recovering from the trauma of any catastrophe that inclement weather brings, and Titan Restoration Construction is here for you when you need us. You do not have to worry about unskilled workers creating additional risks for those in your home, or neighborhood when you work with us.

However severe the West Palm Beach hurricane damage is that you are facing, Titan Rebuild can help you by undoing that damage. Hurricane damage is hard to face. This damage can have many adverse effects on your property, the structure, the infrastructure, and the landscaping. Where your beautiful home used to stand, there may be nothing at all, just rubble. Fortunately, this is the extremest of hurricane damage results. We understand that this is not just a house to you, but the place where you call home, a place that means security and safety. We want to rebuild that as we rebuild the physical structures. We have the capacity, equipment, and skills to reconstruct all post-hurricane water and wind damage.

Knowing and understanding not only local building codes but also federal guidelines and recommendations regarding post-hurricane clean-up and restoration, we will work with you to make the damage a thing of the past. We will ensure that your home comes back to life. We can work together to plan out an even better-remodeled home for you.

Mold growth on wallWhen there are still viable aspects of your home or business, we understand that those need to be treated to prevent future problems with mold, and will do so. Water damage does not usually come from events as large as hurricanes and may seem like a small concern compared to what you have already witnessed, but we aim to do the entire job correctly, from start to finish, and with the long-term future in mind. We work closely with highly professional water removal companies to dry out the property. We want to make sure that everything is done well, both as we do our final walk-through with you, and ten years from now.

Hurricanes are horrible events, and the damage they cause requires an equally strong force to undo their damage, and at a quality level that you and your family, and your home, deserve. Contact us at (561) 345-3751 to learn more about what services we at Titan Rebuild offer in the rebuilding of homes and businesses, and how we can reduce your stress and instill confidence in the remodel of your home.

Wind Damage

Posted by Travis Bumgarner on

High winds are known to cause damage, depending upon their strength. Infrequent wind gusts can cause poorly designed suspension bridges to sway. When wind gusts are at a similar frequency to the swaying of the bridge, the bridge can be destroyed more easily, such as what occurred with the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in 1940.[132] Wind speeds as low as 23 knots (43 km/h) can lead to power outages due to tree branches disrupting the flow of energy through power lines.[133] While no species of tree is guaranteed to stand up to hurricane-force winds, those with shallow roots are more prone to uproot, and brittle trees such as eucalyptus, sea hibiscus, and avocado are more prone to damage.[134] Hurricane-force winds cause substantial damage to mobile homes, and begin to structurally damage homes with foundations. Winds of this strength due to downsloped winds off terrain have been known to shatter windows and sandblast paint from cars.[53] Once winds exceed 135 knots (250 km/h), homes completely collapse, and significant damage is done to larger buildings. Total destruction to man-made structures occurs when winds reach 175 knots (324 km/h). The Saffir-Simpson scale and Enhanced Fujita scale were designed to help estimate wind speed from the damage caused by high winds related to tropical cyclones and tornadoes, and vice versa.

Tornadoes

A dangerous rotating column of air in contact with both the surface of the earth and the base of a cumulonimbus cloud (thundercloud) or a cumulus cloud, in rare cases. Tornadoes come in many sizes but typically form a visible condensation funnel whose narrowest end reaches the earth and surrounded by a cloud of debris and dust.[17]

Tornadoes wind speeds generally average between 40 miles per hour (64 km/h) and 110 miles per hour (180 km/h). They are approximately 250 feet (76 m) across and travel a few miles (kilometers) before dissipating. Some attain wind speeds in excess of 300 miles per hour (480 km/h), may stretch more than a mile (1.6 km) across, and maintain contact with the ground for dozens of miles (more than 100 km).[18][19][20]

Tornadoes, despite being one of the most destructive weather phenomena are generally short lived. A long-lived tornado generally lasts no more than an hour, but some have been known to last for 2 hours or longer (for example, the Tri-State Tornado). Due to their relatively short duration, less information is known about the development and formation of tornadoes.[21]

Downburst

Downbursts are created within thunderstorms by significantly rain-cooled air, which, upon reaching ground level, spreads out in all directions and produce strong winds. Unlike winds in a tornado, winds in a downburst are not rotational but are directed outwards from the point where they strike land or water. “Dry downbursts” are associated with thunderstorms with very little precipitation,[22] while wet downbursts are generated by thunderstorms with large amounts. Microbursts are very small and macrobursts are large-scale downbursts.[23] The heat burst is created by vertical currents on the backside of old outflow boundaries and squall lines where rainfall is lacking. Heat bursts generate significantly higher temperatures due to the lack of rain-cooled air in their formation.[24] Derechos are longer, usually stronger, forms of downburst winds characterized by straight-lined windstorms.[25][26]

Downbursts create vertical wind shear or microbursts, which are dangerous to aviation.[27] They can also cause tornado-like damage on the ground and, depending on the size of the downburst, can generate winds at speeds of up to 168 miles per hour (270 km/h). Downbursts also occur much more frequently than tornadoes, with ten downburst damage reports for every one tornado.[28]

Squall line

A squall line is an elongated line of severe thunderstorms that can form along or ahead of a cold front.[29][30] The squall line typically contains heavy precipitation, hail, frequent lightning, strong straight line winds, and possibly tornadoes or waterspouts.[31] Severe weather in the form of strong straight-line winds can be expected in areas where the squall line forms a bow echo, in the farthest portion of the bow.[32] Tornadoes can be found along waves within a line echo wave pattern (LEWP) where mesoscale low pressure areas are present.[33] Some[which?] summer bow echoes are called derechos, and move quickly over large territories.[25] A wake low or a mesoscale low pressure area forms behind the rain shield (a high pressure system under the rain canopy) of a mature squall line and is sometimes associated with a heat burst.[34]

Squall lines often cause severe straight-line wind damage, and most non-tornadic wind damage is caused from squall lines.[35] Although the primary danger from squall lines is straight-line winds, some squall lines also contain weak tornadoes.[35]

Tropical cyclone

Very high winds can be caused by mature tropical cyclones (called hurricanes in the United States and Canada and typhoons in eastern Asia). A tropical cyclone’s heavy surf created by such winds may cause harm to marine life either close to or upon the surface of the water, such as coral reefs.[36] Coastal regions may receive significant damage from a tropical cyclone while inland regions are relatively safe from the strong winds, due to their rapid dissipation over land. However, severe flooding can occur even far inland because of high amounts of rain from tropical cyclones and their remnants.