How Do You Estimate a Fire Damage Loss?

10/14/2022 (Permalink)

Severe fire damage in a commercial business

How Do You Calculate Fire Damage Loss?

Fire damage cleanup is a process that takes time, skill, and patience. The first step to estimating the fire damage restoration costs is assessing the extent of the fire damage. This means assessing how much smoke and soot was produced by the fire, as well as how much heat was generated during its course of action. We can then further assess any structural damages caused by thermal exposure; this includes charring or warping of wood, steel beams being exposed to high temperatures and other such issues that may arise due to exposure to these conditions.

The extent of the fire damage

The first thing you should do is contact a professional fire damage restoration company in your Holmen, WI area. The sooner they can get to work on fire damage, the better chance they have of minimizing its effects. Professional help is also necessary because it’s best suited for restoring your home back to its original condition after a fire has been put out and all smoke has cleared.

This type of service requires an initial inspection by professionals who know what they are looking at in terms of potential hazards and risks in your home. They will then begin removing damaged areas as well as any debris (including water) that may be present due to efforts used during putting out the flames or things such as sprinklers going off during evacuation procedures. This process can take anywhere between two days up until several months depending upon severity levels experienced inside your home during those initial moments when everything happened so quickly with little time afforded anyone involved before leaving without warning!

Water damage post-fire

Once the fire has been put out, out is very common to see excessive moisture present. The water used to extinguish the fire and clean up after it will also influence how much damage you can expect a fire to cause. The moisture of the buildings materials and contents is another factor that needs to be considered while estimating the mitigation and restoration costs. 

If the fire caused significant damage to your property, it is likely that you have water damage present on your property as well. It is important to call a company, such as SERVPRO of La Crosse County, that can handle both the water mitigation and fire, soot, and smoke damage cleanup! 

Estimating the time frame

In general, we can estimate how long it will take to complete the fire damage restoration process by taking into consideration several factors. These include:

1. The severity of the fire damage (e.g., whether there was smoke or water damage)
2. Your location and proximity to a restoration facility
3. The amount of work that needs to be done (e.g., cleaning up soot from walls, cleaning carpeting)

The length of time depends on these factors, but typically ranges from 3-21 days. However, this is just an estimate; every job is different and may take longer or shorter than expected based on its specific circumstances.

The fire damage restoration process can be very long and complicated. That’s why it’s important to have a professional contractor assess your property and give you an estimate for the damages. SERVPRO of La Crosse County is the leading expert in fire and water damage cleanup and restoration in the La Crosse, WI, area. If you are ever in need of disaster restoration services, our team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

3 Important Components of Your Fire Safety Plan

8/16/2022 (Permalink)

Three Important Components of A Fire Safety Plan

A business fire occurs in more than 30,000 businesses every year. Fire prevention is important for reducing your chances of a fire occurring. However, it is also important to have a fire safety plan in place so that you are prepared if a fire does happen. 

1. Fire Safety Equipment

Installing and maintaining fire safety equipment is a critical fire preparation step. Sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers can be used to douse small fires before they can spread to the rest of your building. Have your extinguishers and sprinkler system inspected regularly to ensure proper function. Train all employees on the proper use of fire extinguishers, including when it is best to evacuate, rather than attempt to put out a fire.

2. Evacuation Plan

Your priority in any business fire should be to ensure the safety of all employees, customers, and other people occupying your property when a fire occurs. Install and test fire alarms, so that people have enough warning to evacuate your building before the fire spreads. Drill your employees on evacuation procedures and make sure they know how to assist customers and guests who also need to evacuate safely. Keep your fire exits clearly marked and free of clutter. Establish a meeting point where you can ensure all employees are accounted for.

3. Fire Safety Procedures

All employees should receive written instruction on safety protocols, such as not storing combustible materials near open flames. Make sure you are enforcing your protocols and periodically updating them and providing ongoing training. Give your employees contact information for fire restoration and other services in Holmen, WI, that they may need if fire damage occurs.
Both fire prevention and fire safety are important aspects of avoiding and mitigating the damage from a business fire. Make sure you always have a fire safety and prevention plan in place.

What Should You Do If Water Damages Your Wooden Floor?

6/6/2022 (Permalink)

What Should You Do If Your Wooden Floor Is Damaged by Water?

You may think that a bit of water on your property’s wood floor is no big deal. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Because wood is so porous, it absorbs water quickly. Even a small spill can therefore cause stains to develop. Larger flooding to your commercial building could also lead to floor buckling.

While waxing and sealing your floors can help block moisture, this does not completely prevent the absorption of water. If your property suffers a pipe burst that wets your hardwood floors, you should thus clean those floors as quickly as possible to prevent further damage. Here are some other steps to take when you discover water on a wooden floor.

1. Remove Objects From the Wet Floor
Any wet furniture or rugs should be removed from the hardwood floors for drying. If not properly dried, those items could encourage the growth of mold or mildew. The moisture from the furnishings could also drop onto the wood if they are left on the floor.

2. Soak up the Water
You can try to use mops or towels to soak up the excess liquid. However, if there are large puddles from a pipe burst, you may need a wet vacuum to remove the water. Cleanup and restoration professionals should have this tool available. You should thus hire them for any major water damage remediation projects.

3. Clean the Wood
The job is not done once the water is gone. The water may have still left behind dirt in the pores of the wood. Be sure the restoration experts you hire scrub away this debris.

4. Dry the Wood
Drying the wood should be the final step. The cleanup experts should use fans and dehumidifiers to expedite this process.

If a pipe burst or flood causes a buildup of water on your wooden floors, you need to remove the liquid as soon as possible. Remediation experts in La Crosse, WI, can ensure that the floor is completely dry.

3 Steps To Take Immediately After a Business Fire

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

If you experience a Fire Emergency, call SERVPRO, our team is trained on how to restore fire damage like smoke and soot damaged contents.

3 Things To Do Right Away After A Business Fire

After a fire damages your Holmen, WI, business, the aftermath can feel overwhelming. Not only will you need fire restoration services but your employees will want to know how long it might take before you can reopen. Knowing which steps to take immediately after a business fire can help you feel less anxious about the cleanup process, especially with fire damage you cannot clean up on your own.

1. Contact Your Fire Insurance Company

Once firefighters douse the blaze and you can enter your property safety, contact your insurance agent right away to let him or her know what happened and the size of the fire. Send photos and video so your agent can file a claim right away and provide you with the means to pay for a fire restoration and cleanup service as soon as possible. Keep copies of any media you send.

2. Turn Off Water and Power Sources

Your building's electricity and plumbing may be damaged by the heat, smoke and soot fires cause. If it is safe to do so, turn off the power sources and water to the building or, if you lease, ask the building's owner to do so, as this can prevent secondary damage, such as electrical shorts and flooding from burst water lines, which can make fire restoration more difficult.

3. Document Your Needs

Once you can inspect your building, make a list of all the damage you find. You may require a variety of different services, from drywall replacement to smoke cleaning, especially if the fire damaged any of your inventory. Set aside damaged electronics, as your fire cleanup and mitigation service may be able to help you restore them.

A fire at your Holmen, WI, business can make you feel anxious and unsure of where to turn. While these feelings are natural, you do not have to face the future and fire restoration alone when you understand which steps to take once is the fire is out and who is standing by to assist you.

3 Steps To Take After a Commercial Fire

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

When fire damage occurs, it's important to call a professional as soon as possible so that we can get started right away!

3 Things To Do After A Commercial Fire

A fire can cause a tremendous amount of destruction to your business, even if you have a fire mitigation plan in place. After the blaze is out, you may be unsure of how to handle the fire damage. Here are three steps you should take following a commercial fire.

1. Call Your Insurance Adjuster

The first thing you should do is call your insurance company. The claims process often can take months, so you want to get it started as fast as possible and be ready to provide the necessary documentation to avoid delays. After you start your claim, your adjuster can refer you to a fire restoration company in Onalaska, WI, to begin the cleanup process.

2. Secure Your Business

The fire damage likely broke windows and burned holes through your property's ceiling and walls. If you leave those issues unaddressed, you could be opening your business to more harm from vandals and the weather.

To secure your property, seal off windows and holes in the walls by covering them with thick plywood. Place a tarp securely on the roof to prevent animals and rain from getting in.

Be mindful that a fire can weaken the structural integrity of your building, so never enter the premises without approval from the fire department.

3. Remove Your Belongings

Even if furniture, electronics and inventory don't have fire damage, they could still be destroyed when left to sit in a room filled with corrosive smoke and soot. To help protect what you can and mitigate your losses, remove your undamaged belongings as soon as possible. After you place your items in a storage facility or an off-site warehouse, have them professionally cleaned and restored.

While the fire restoration process might feel overwhelming, you don't have to handle it alone. Relying on the pros will have you back in business in no time.

Opportunities To Protect Your Business From a Fire Disaster

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

A fire is a traumatic event regardless of the size. Our SERVPRO of La Crosse County team is the best in the business, call us!

Opportunities To Prevent A Fire Disaster In Your Business

The National Fire Protection Association consistently shows that about 500,000 fires occur annually in the U.S. that require a fire department response. While about 75% of these fires are residential, that leaves well over 100,000 significant business fires a year. This makes solid fire preparation a priority for just about any business. Fortunately, there are important steps your company in Rockland, WI, can take at different stages to reduce or stop the damage from a fire.

Disaster Preparation Before a Fire

This time frame is crucial to enhance fire preparedness. A long list of precautions can put your company in a strong position to limit the impact of fire:

• Install smoke alarms
  
• Install sprinkler systems
  
• Purchase the appropriate fire extinguishers
  
• Educate employees on fire response
  
• Write up a fire management plan
  
• Store critical data in a safe place

Smart actions at this stage can have enormous benefits. Some steps such as identifying potential hazards could even prevent a fire entirely.

Fire Preparation During a Fire

Planning can also payoff even as a fire is underway. Making sure all employees know to call the local fire department as soon as possible is critical to a timely response. The ability to move employees and customers to a place of safety often depends on a detailed and clear evacuation plan. This should be posted in accessible spots throughout your facility. The goal at this time is to save lives, prevent injuries and reduce fire damage to property.

Professional Cleanup After a Fire

A lot of fire mitigation work goes on after a fire has been put out. A local fire restoration team in Rockland, WI, can arrive quickly and hit the ground running with certified workers and specialized equipment. Experienced technicians will handle soot and smoke damage and quickly restore your facility to its pre-fire condition.

In today's world, smart fire preparation is a necessity. It protects your company's interests at all times.

The Best Large Loss Restoration Company Qualities

3/14/2022 (Permalink)

Our team at SERVPRO of La Crosse was called to this Ashley Homestore after finding water damage in the building. Call us when you need it.

Characteristics Of The Most Effective Large-Loss Restoration Firm

Disasters happen. When they do, they can ruin everything in your business in Midway, WI. They can also force you to shut down until repairs are finished. The result is a serious interruption that you want to be remedied as soon as possible. That's why you need to know what qualities to look for in a large loss restoration company. Knowing what to look for can help you choose the best company. That will help you recover from any disaster, whether you face flooding or blizzards. This can get your company back to normal quickly.

Experience With Numerous Loss Sources

You want to look for a company that has experience with several types of loss sources. For instance, you should look for a company that has dealt with hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires, and broken sprinkler systems.

Offer Comprehensive Services

When recovering from a catastrophic loss, you need a disaster restoration company that handles it all. Find one that offers a comprehensive list of services, including:

• Damage assessment
• Structural drying
• Anti-microbial treatments
• Sewage remediation
• Demolition
• Power setup
• Picture documentation
• Daily updates

Cares About Your Business

You want a company that is going to be reliable. You also want them to do great work. Plus, you want them to communicate well. You may even be looking for someone who cares enough to focus on getting your business back open. That is the ideal catastrophic loss company. They should care about your business enough to get the job done right and work with you.

Place Value First

Obviously, you want the job done quickly. However, you also want your catastrophic loss team to prioritize value over speed. Therefore, you should look for a company that is responsive, caring, dependable, top-quality, good communicators, experts, and trustworthy.

Storm damage and other disasters can happen to any business. If you want to find restoration professionals that can help you get your company back open as quickly as possible, you need to know what qualities to look for.