Do you know what to do when disaster strikes your property? Flood and fire damage are common threats to properties of all types, including businesses, warehouses, and more. If something like this happens to your place of business, you may find yourself wondering whether or not you have the skills and abilities to handle the cleanup process. Check out this quick quiz to help you get a better idea of just what the professionals do when they visit a disaster cleanup location.
- What kinds of safety gear do professionals use?Although the gear a professional chooses will vary depending on the type of damage he or she is working with, there are several items that any service provider will have on hand before going into a damaged property. A professional will always wear safety goggles for eye protection. He or she will likely wear a pair of steel-toed shoes that are water resistant and bring along durable work gloves as well as masks with respirators. This last item is very crucial, since the crew may be dealing with smoke fumes after a fire or airborne bacteria.
Safety gear is important to any team that will be entering a damaged property. For example, if you own a warehouse as part of your business and that warehouse is damaged, it could be filled with hazards that the team may not be aware of before entering.
- What will a professional do to clean up sewage?When sewage or contaminated water is an issue, a professional restoration team will assess the extent of the damage and make a plan to help clean it up as quickly as possible. Sewage can be very dangerous, as it contains bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other contaminants. For this reason, the professionals will dress in full gear before entering an area that is potentially contaminated, and will work through several cleanup stages in order to make sure it’s safe and disinfected before you return.
This may be an issue you have to face if you are a property manager. When you manage several properties, whether they are apartments, individual homes, or condos, chances are good that there is going to be a sewage leak or backup issue in at least one of them sometime. When this happens, you’ll need to respond quickly, as this is considered an emergency due to the potential illnesses that can come from being exposed to human waste.
- What will a restoration service team do to start drying out your property after water damage?No matter the size of your property, big or small, a team of restoration professionals will begin drying it out as quickly as possible after water damage has occurred. Before drying can begin, the water will be removed along with any materials and items that have been saturated beyond repair. Then the structure will be dried inside and out following a process that may include the use of dehumidification and large fans. This team of professionals will also work to restore furniture that has been damaged and repair any salvageable items and surfaces in the property.
It’s also important to note that a restoration team will take the issue of mold very seriously when your property suffers water damage. They will begin cleaning molded surfaces and internal structures right away and will perform a thorough check to ensure that they treat the entire molded area—not just the visible parts.
- Which items are safe to keep and which ones will you have to get rid of?It’s hard to tell which items you can keep and which ones need to be thrown out, especially when they don’t always have visible signs of damage. However, many items and surfaces may develop mold or have irreparable smoke and soot damage. When you’re dealing with fire restoration and cleanup, keep in mind that smoke damage may be responsible for the destruction of many items in your place of business. Unfortunately, this may mean a loss of goods, especially if the fire has occurred in a warehouse or storage facility.
A team of professional restoration service providers will work to restore as many items as possible and will give you a complete list of those that cannot be repaired.
- When is it safe to go back in your place of business after a disaster?It may be tempting to get back into your property right away—or to let your tenants back in quickly, if you are a property manager—but it’s important to wait until the hazards have been cleared before reentering. Only when the property has been thoroughly cleared of mold, sewage, smoke damage, and water damage can it be used once again. This may take some time, so it’s important to be patient while the property is being restored.
Did those questions seem a little on the tough side? It’s okay if you didn’t know the answers to all of them—not everyone does. However, if you found yourself stumped by these, that’s a good indicator that you should have a professional team available to contact when you’re in need of restoration services. Professionals will be able to handle the entire cleanup process from start to finish and will know when to let you back in the building safely, too. They can even help repair and restore damaged items and surfaces within your property. As an added bonus, they can help you deal with your insurance company and handle the ins and outs of commercial property insurance as well. Keep this in mind when trying to determine whether or not you’re cut out for disaster cleanup of your commercial property.
When you need professional disaster cleanup assistance in the Aurora, Illinois and surrounding areas, call Restoration Techs. You can reach us for emergency services and estimates 24/7, so you never have to be alone dealing with disaster cleanup. Reach out to us today at 1-800-600-3594 or locally at 630-761-4900, or fill out the form below.