4 Important Elements of Content Cleaning After a Fire

7/26/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage in Cedar City, UT.

When a commercial fire strikes, your company in Cedar City, UT, will have a lot of steps to take before the recovery is complete. Not only will you need to deal with the insurance company and the restoration and cleaning of your facility, but you will also need to make sure all of the damaged contents in your building are looked at. This process involves several important elements such as deciding on replace versus restore and whether dry-cleaning will work on smoke-damaged fabrics.

4 Crucial Steps for Content Cleaning After a Business Fire

1. Restore or Replace

After a fire, it is important to make cleaning decisions based on knowledge and evidence. Not all contents can be cleaned, but some can, so how do you tell the difference? An experienced fire remediation franchise will pretest items and see if they are good candidates for cleaning. Whenever possible, restoring clothes and upholstery is more economical and it can also preserve special items that are irreplaceable. Technicians won't assume that an item can't be restored and will use rigorous testing methods to determine the viability of cleaning.

2. Content Cleaning Methods

A fire impacts all types of materials, from the glass of windows to the ceramics of bathroom tiles to the fabrics of clothes and upholstery. An experienced remediation team will match the material to the optimal cleaning method. They will use dry-cleaning for clothes and furniture, and ultrasonic options for certain nonporous items. Other effective options for cleaning damaged contents include the following methods:

• Wet cleaning
  
• Spray and wipe
  
• Foam cleaning
  
• Abrasive cleaning
  
• Immersion cleaning
  

3. Pack Outs and Moving

In some cases, it makes more sense to remove items from the fire-damaged area. This has dual benefits, such as making the area of cleanup less cluttered and protecting fragile items. It can also make the entire process more efficient. Content storage is a technique that is used in the aftermath of a fire, especially when you have insurance coverage for this process.
When the rest of your building is cleaned and restored, the items can then be moved back into your building. This is done on a schedule that meets the needs of your company.

4. Electrical Cleaning

Many specific requirements exist for cleaning and protecting electrical components after a fire. The fine film from soot and smoke can make computers, printers, television sets and other devices susceptible to additional damage if not treated properly. Items should not be turned on until cleaned and prompt action should be taken to stop corrosion and further damage.
In most cases, only a qualified electronics person can inspect and clean sensitive equipment. Often, due to fire fighting efforts, the devices also have water damage, further complicating the cleanup. While many devices can be restored after a fire, there are times when the damage is too extensive and items will need to be replaced.

With a variety of cleaning options available to them, technicians can restore many contents to good condition. Dry-cleaning and other methods can help restore many of the items damaged in a business fire.

4 Immediate Steps To Take for Your Flooded Company

7/26/2022 (Permalink)

Flooding in a commercial building.

Water damage is one of the most common and most expensive causes of concern for your business in Cedar City, UT. Unfortunately, your flooded company will experience much more damage if you hesitate to have the situation corrected right away.

Address Content Cleaning in Your Flooded Company Immediately

Mold growth, mildew, unpleasant odors, and stains are some of the biggest concerns regarding your property and your belongings. In as little as 24 hours, mold spores could begin their work of breaking down the organic materials in your building and furnishings. Secondary damage, such as shorts caused by rust on electronics and wiring, continues as long as moisture is present.

1. Establish a Safe Environment

Depending on the cause of water damage, you may need to evacuate your building and make sure that employees and customers are safely away from all potential sources of risk. You also need to shut off the source of water and turn off all electricity coming into your building. Don’t wait until an emergency strikes to become familiar with the shutoff valves and switches on your property. You must be familiar with these fixtures, maintain access to them and practice using them.
There are risks to approaching cleanup in your flooded company. These include contamination from black water, exposure to structural weakness and injuries or additional damage because of hidden dangers.

2. Contact Insurance and Cleanup Providers

It takes time for your insurance company to respond to your claim. Several professionals are involved, including an adjuster and the water damage cleanup and repair technicians. The sooner you get your case moving forward, the sooner you’ll get your property back in business. Your insurance company may recommend a cleanup agency that should arrive right away to tarp and board up any damaged doors, windows and building structures.

3. Begin the Drying Process

When it is safe for you to return to your property, work with professionals to remove water and reduce humidity throughout the building. This generally involves the installation of commercial-grade fans, increasing ventilation and removing soggy contents from the building. As you carry out equipment and furniture, be aware of the potential for damaging your belongings and for physical injuries. Make sure that you have a place to store your belongings where they can continue to dry without becoming vulnerable to more damage.

4. Clean, Repair, Restore and Replace

While technicians focus on high-priority tasks inside, you can begin sorting through your belongings. Electronics, books, sensitive paperwork, computers and similar items should be sorted according to the attention they need. Some may require a simple cleaning while others will be thrown out and replaced. Cleanup pros may provide specialized cleaning, including dry cleaning and disinfection, for some of your furnishings. Some possessions may have more value than others, and these should be cared for right away. For example, valuable artwork or hardwood furniture needs to be treated by professionals and not allowed to sit.

Whether you are responding to a broken pipe or water stains after a heavy downpour, the actions you take right after a water disaster will affect the long-term outcome on your property. Keep your flooded company safe by acting immediately.

Emergency Ready Plan

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

The cover of the emergency ready plan.

SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore offers several services for commercial buildings. One such service is the SERVPRO Emergency Ready Program (ERP). This is a free program that is offered to Help businesses to be prepared for a disaster.

Floods or fires can cause major problems for businesses. Some of these problems cause businesses to have to close, then they also have to close for a time while repairs are being attended to, having to restock the inventory, and the amount of time that it takes to get back to the operating condition can very much hurt a business for being shut down for a lengthy period of time.

Having an ERP done for your commercial building helps gather information such as the location of gas, electrical, and water shut-offs along with information about the size of your building and possible hazardous materials that are stored in your building to be ready to jump into action when a disaster is about to strike.

Knowing these things helps us be able to respond more quickly and it can be helpful to people who work at the building as well for not being out of a job for a while.

Facts About Commercial Generator

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

The warehouse flooded and suffered water damage.

1. There Are Two Main Fuel Types for Generators

If you’re looking at commercial generators for your business, you will need to choose between diesel and gas fuel types. Diesel models are often more expensive and noisy. However, they require less maintenance and emit less carbon dioxide. Gas generators have a shorter lifespan and are a potential fire hazard, but they are connected to a gas line which means they have a consistent fuel source.

2. The Running Time Will Depend on Your Generator’s Type

When choosing generators, you can go with a portable or permanent model. While portable models will work for many small businesses, their run time is typically only a few hours. Permanent generators can run for very long periods of time, so if outages are common in your area you’ll want to go with a permanent model.

3. Maintenance is Key

To prevent needing to call a restoration company due to damages caused by your generator, it is important that you look for common generator problems like battery failure and leaks before a power outage occurs.

4. Carbon Dioxide Is a Risk

Always keep your generator a safe distance away from the building and allow for plenty of ventilation in order to avoid carbon dioxide poisoning.

A commercial generator is essential for providing power to your building in the case of an outage or blackout. Keep these four facts in mind so you can choose the right model for your needs and keep it running in good repair!

Floor to Ceiling Water Mitigation

6/10/2022 (Permalink)

This wall suffered water damage due to a broken pipe in Cedar City, UT.

Business owners or site managers in Cedar City, UT, who are unfortunate enough to experience a water damage event usually want to get the problem dealt with as quickly and quietly as possible. However, it makes much more sense to do a thorough and methodical cleanup and restore the affected elements of your building. Secondary issues, such as black mold and pest problems, might arise from even clean water sources. Pipe burst cleanup is important, so check your building from top to bottom, especially if you have:

• Water pipes
• Damaged water supply lines
• Unexplained clean water flooding

Commercial Flood Concerns

When a supply line or pipe breaks, it's important to start thinking from the ground up. The first task after stopping the water source is, of course, to remove any standing water. After that, proper removal, cleanup, and drying procedures can start.

In the Walls

One of the reasons you should take special care with burst pipes is their location. Many pipes are near to or embedded in walls. It's important to go through a rigorous damage mitigation procedure if one of these breaks, especially if it's in an awkward position. Walls might need to be removed, or sections might need to be replaced. If pipe burst cleanup is done correctly, you might feel like your whole building is being ripped apart. However, you should be able to enjoy normal operations again as soon as everything is dried and refurbished.

Up in the Air

A supply line leaking might cause problems in multi-floor buildings that appear to be coming from the next floor up. In fact, the issue might be between the floors. Water cleanup procedures are relatively similar in these cases, but they take place on the ceiling.

Nobody in Cedar City, UT, wants to see their building ripped up, but these pipe burst cleanup steps are often necessary to save you and your stakeholders from further complications down the road. Even if it seems hectic right after the flood event, everything should be back to new relatively quickly with the right cleanup crew.

Avoid the Dangers of a DIY Approach to Smoke Damage

5/30/2022 (Permalink)

Trust the Professionals and avoid Smoke Damage in your Property.

When fire affects your commercial property in Cedar City, UT, your business may come to a screeching halt. In addition to the costs associated with cleaning up and recovering from fire and smoke damage, you'll suffer financial loss because you can't continue to work as normal.

Appliances, belongings, and inventory may be lost, and you'll have to arrange for repairs to your electrical and water systems. You may also need to address damage to your landscape.

Even if your property wasn't immediately affected by fire, damage caused by smoke from a neighboring business can cause you a lot of trouble.

How You Should Respond to Smoke Damage

After the initial cleanup of your property, you may find that smoke damage has caused more trouble than the flames or the firefighters' hoses. Smoke carries toxins and acidic compounds throughout the area immediately affected by the fire and into parts of the building that the flames didn't reach. There are visible signs that you have trouble from smoke:

• Sticky black and brown soot deposits
• A strong distinct odor that clings stubbornly to walls, furnishings, and carpets
• Dark stains and yellowing paint on surfaces

Smoke also gets into air pockets in areas that are out of sight. Ignoring smoke damage can lead to contaminated property, stains, and lingering odors. Even if the flames didn't touch your building, smoke and soot damage may be a problem, so act quickly.

Avoid the Do-It-Yourself Approach

You need professionals to respond to smoke and soot damage. A DIY approach can easily lead to further property damage. This may happen because the structure of the building has been weakened and those new areas of vulnerability aren't always obvious. It also happens because many non-professionals don't have the training or the appropriate equipment to remove soot and prevent stains.

DIY recovery attempts often miss damage to the building that can't be seen. For example, as smoke moves through electrical outlets, heating and cooling vents, and tiny openings, it can damage wiring or lead to mold growth.

Schedule a Professional Inspection

As soon as possible, arrange for fire damage and smoke cleaning professionals to inspect your property. These technicians will assess the scope of the damage from the exterior roofing and siding through the framing and plumbing to the interior of the building.

They will look for immediate needs, such as boarding up holes in the building, and will also make a plan for cleaning and rebuilding until your building is once again ready for use.

Contact Your Insurance Company

In addition to contacting property damage professionals, reach out to your insurance company. Damage from smoke is usually a covered loss even if the damage was due to a fire on your neighbor's property. It's important to speak with an insurance representative right away to ensure a quick response from an adjuster.

Many insurance companies prefer that you work with a professional cleanup and recovery team because professional reconstruction is often less expensive than the costs of new damage caused by DIY attempts.

Smoke damage can be as problematic as fire and water damage. You need to act quickly to identify the scope of trouble and involve professionals in your cleanup and restoration efforts. Don't risk unseen or further damage by trying to handle the problem yourself.

Why Quick Response Matters in Mitigation

5/30/2022 (Permalink)

Quick Response is the Best Option. Trust the Professionals and avoid Further Damage.

Choosing a service provider to recommend to insurance clients is an important decision. When there is a water loss or another type of damage in a covered building in Cedar City, UT, your clients can't afford to delay the resolution. They need a mitigation team with a 24-hour call center and a fast local response time. Those are just a couple of the reasons many insurance providers list SERVPRO as a preferred vendor.

Why Quick Response Matters?

Call Center Is Always Open

Commercial properties are particularly vulnerable to delays because they are not necessarily occupied all the time. Therefore, it is especially important for business owners to be able to report problems whenever they discover them, no matter what time of the day or night it is. The SERVPRO call center is open around the clock and can have a local team contact your client within an hour of the call.

The property owner should be prepared to answer a few key questions when contacted by the local certified mitigation experts:

• Where is the damage located?
• What is the source of the problem?
• How much damage does there seem to be?
• Who will meet the team at the building?

On-Site Assessment

Once the lead contractor has assembled a team to respond to your client's needs, the technicians show up to complete the on-site assessment. Within four hours of the initial call to the 24-hour response center, the team arrives to complete pretesting and inspection of the building. The technicians determine the contamination level of the water and look for structural damage and ruined materials.

If standing water was reported during the initial consultation, the team bring pumps to remove it so that it cannot cause any further damage to the building. This fast response also helps the lead technician see the problem more clearly. The assessment is concluded when the team has a good idea of all the steps that will be involved in restoring the building to its former state.

Overview of Process

SERVPRO commits to a verbal briefing of the assessment with the property owner within eight hours of the initial contact. This conversation is the last step that happens before the mitigation work begins. It is also a chance for your client to ask questions and voice concerns. Since SERVPRO is always open, your client can count on this level of open communication until cleanup is complete.

During this briefing, the team leader outlines the overall mitigation and restoration process. This includes an itemized list of the tasks involved and an estimate for the cost. Both you and the client can access this information online at any time. Any changes that have to be made as the cleanup process progresses are reported in a timely manner so that the overview remains accurate.

SERVPRO prides itself on its 24-hour availability to its clients. The local team is notified quickly so that it can assess the problem and start work in a timely manner. With such an excellent track record in quick response times, it's no wonder that SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for many providers.

10 Ways to Protect Your Property This Halloween | Safety and Security

10/26/2021 (Permalink)

10 Ways to Protect Your Property This Halloween

With Halloween around the corner, many families are preparing to celebrate the holiday by putting up decorations, buying costumes for their children, and more. While Halloween is a fun and festive holiday, not everyone who is strolling the streets has good intentions. Some people hide behind costumes to commit crimes, including property damage. Vandals and burglars aren’t the only worry either. With Halloween comes many risks for homeowners, so be sure to be prepared for the holiday this year.

1. Stay Vigilant Against Crime

While you may be seeing many little monsters this Halloween, including vampires, goblins, and ghouls, there may also be some people up to no good. During Halloween, everyone is distracted with trick-or-treating, which makes it easier for wallets, purses, and valuables to be stolen. Stay vigilant this year by keeping an eye on your property and belongings as you hand out candy.

2. Blow Out Candles to Prevent Fires

After a long night of trick-or-treating, you may forget to blow out any candles you placed inside jack-o-lanterns. While using real candles in a carved pumpkin is a great tradition, it can lead to devastating fires. If you do plan to light a pumpkin, make sure to blow the candle out or opt for battery-operated candles instead.

3. Take Advantage of Your Peephole

Most people are expecting excited children dressed in costumes to knock on their door for candy, but sometimes criminals take advantage of this to invade your home. If you have a peephole or window on your door, use it before opening your door to ensure it’s eager children looking for candy.

4. Park Your Car in the Garage

Keep any cars, vehicles, bikes, outdoor supplies, and outside toys in your closed garage for the night. This will help protect your belongings from being stolen or vandalized, and it will put your mind at ease while you hand out candy or take your kids trick-or-treating.

5. Be Careful Where and How You Set up Decorations

If you plan to put up decorations, be mindful and cautious where and how you set them up. Keep an extension and power cords out of the footpath to prevent any trick-or-treaters from tripping and getting injured. If you have any hanging decorations, make sure they are secure so that they do not fall and hit someone. If someone were to get injured on your property, you would be held responsible.

6. Use Motion-Detecting Lights for Security

Use motion-detecting lights to add a little extra security to your yard. Whether you are out with your kids or asleep, installing motion-sensor lights will scare away anyone looking to do no good on your property since it would bring attention to them.

7. Always Lock Your Doors

Whether you’re staying home to hand out candy, going to a party, or trick-or-treating, make sure you keep all your doors and windows locked at all times. While it may seem inconvenient to lock your front door after every trick-or-treater, it’s a better alternative than a burglar or vandal gaining access to your home.

8. Consider Using Security Cameras

Security cameras can give your property added security and video footage to hand to the police should anything happen on your property. You can install these cameras throughout your yard and check your cameras from the comfort of your couch. If you see suspicious activity, it can give you more time to get to safety and call for help than if you didn’t have cameras installed.

9. Be Watchful for Pedestrians If You’ll Be Driving

During Halloween, children will likely be running to and from houses without looking both ways before crossing the street. With the thought of candy on their mind, many may not be thinking about safety, which leaves it up to you to be watchful when you’re driving through residential areas.

10. If You’ll Be Out, Keep Your Home Lights on a Timer

No matter what you plan to do on Halloween, if you won’t be home, consider putting your home’s lights on a timer, alternating which room’s lights are on. Even if you won’t be home, this will help keep the impression that someone is home, warding away anyone that may be looking to break into homes.

While criminal activities are increased on Halloween, this doesn’t necessarily mean something will happen to you or your property. But it’s always better to be safe than sorry. If something does happen to your property, such as fire damage, trust SERVPRO of Cedar City/Fillmore to clean up your property for you!

How to Prevent Commercial Water Disasters

3/12/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial

Water damage in commercial buildings is no light matter. It can disrupt business, pause work, and even close the commercial building for disaster cleanup and restoration. If you find that your commercial building has water damage, it’s important to identify the source as soon as possible and fix the damage.

Why Do Commercial Properties Suffer from Water Damage?

While some water damage may not be avoidable, you may be able to prevent some of it. It’s important to know where water leaks come from, what causes them, and how they can be prevented in commercial buildings.

Much like any building, commercial properties can suffer from water damage for a variety of reasons. Here are some common causes of water damage.

Damaged Windows

If your commercial building has damaged windows, water can easily get into the building. Even if windows aren’t damaged or broken, if they aren’t sealed properly, it can cause commercial water damage.

Damaged or Broken Pipes

If the commercial building’s water supply lines are broken or damaged, it can result in a water disaster. While you may not be able to see damaged pipes, you can look for signs, such as water stains on the floor, walls, or ceiling, bulging walls, and loose tiles.

Leaky Roofs or Sprinkler Systems

Leaky roofs and sprinkler systems can cause significant water damage. If you notice water stains on your commercial building’s ceiling or if the building has been having issues with mold, there’s likely a leak in the property’s roof.

Sewer Clogs

Another common cause for commercial water damage is clogged sewers. Signs that your toilets are backed up include gurgling noises or water backing up when a toilet is flushed.

How Can You Prevent Commercial Water Damage?

Since water damage can come from several different causes, you will need to take proper preventative measures to make sure your building doesn’t have any leaks or plumbing issues. Follow these three steps to help you prevent water damage to your commercial property.

Conduct Commercial Property Water Damage Inspections

One of the best ways to prevent water damage to your property is by having regular inspections. Hire a professional to inspect your building for any water damage at least once a year. While you may not want to spend the money on inspections, they are a lot cheaper than having to restore damages.

Invest in Property Maintenance

Maintaining your building can prevent water damage from taking place. You should regularly care for and clean the plumbing. You should also have yearly door and window inspections, in addition to inspecting and coating your roof at least every five years to prevent leaks.

Have Property Insurance that Covers Water Damage

Having the right amount of property insurance can also help if your commercial building does suffer any water damage. If your property insurance doesn’t cover flooding or water damage, it might be worth looking into water damage insurance.

SERVPRO’s Commercial Property Disaster Cleanup and Restoration

At SERVPRO, we can clean up after any water disaster, such as flooding, at your commercial property. We also clean up water damage caused by plumbing, leaks, damaged pipes, and more. If your commercial building is located in the Cedar City or Fillmore areas, we’re more than happy to offer our services to you!

We can help you with any water damage that your commercial property might be experiencing. Our team is eager to assist you. Contact us to discuss your options for water disaster cleanup and restoration.

What to Do If You Think Your Commercial Property Has Mold

3/12/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial

Mold can be a terrifying thing for property owners to experience. It can weaken walls, floors, and ceilings, in addition to potentially causing health effects to you and your employees.

If you think your commercial property has mold, it’s important to know how bad the damage is and whether you will need professional commercial mold remediation. Here are some tips for how to find out if you have mold and what to do if you do.

Inspect for Mold

If you cannot visibly see the mold, your first step should be to test for mold throughout your commercial building.

While mold testing can be expensive, it’s safer to be positive that your building has mold than to go off an assumption. On average, testing can cost around $800. This often only includes a mold inspection and not removal.

Hiring a mold inspection company is the most reliable form of testing and should be considered. But if the prices prove to be too high, mold testing home kits do exist and cost a fraction of the price.

Home kits can cost anywhere from $10 to $50, making them budget-friendly, but they are known to be much less reliable than a mold inspection by a professional company. If you cannot visibly see the mold in your commercial building, the best course of action would be to hire a mold inspection company for the most accurate and reliable results.

Hire a Commercial Mold Remediation Service

The best route to take if you do have mold is to hire a professional commercial mold remediation company, especially if the mold has gotten out of hand. Professional services can be used for mold infestations large and small.

At SERVPRO, our mold remediation services can take care of all your commercial property mold. We’re experienced with mold remediation for commercial buildings, making us an excellent choice to clean your property. With the proper techniques, cleaning supplies, and equipment, we’re able to reduce the risk of cross-contamination while rendering your commercial building mold-free.

Prevent Mold from Returning to Your Commercial Building

After getting rid of any mold in your commercial property, it’s best to take the proper steps to prevent any mold buildup in the future. Here are three tips to keeping your building mold-free.

Conduct a Visual Inspection

Visual inspections are a great way to prevent mold. While you won’t necessarily be looking for mold, you should be checking all the building’s plumbing to ensure it is in working order. Check for leaky drains or other water leaks. These should be treated immediately to help prevent mold from growing in the building.

Prevent Moisture Buildup

While conducting visual inspections, check for moisture buildups. These are a common source for mold to grow and should be eliminated. If you find wet or damp spots, be sure to clean and dry them.

Vent Moisture-Generating Appliances and Areas

Moisture buildup can also be prevented by proper ventilation. Areas with condensation, like bathrooms, should have increased air circulation. Additionally, moisture-generating appliances, such as dryers and cooking areas, should also be given the same ventilation.

Contact SERVPRO for Mold Remediation

If you’re looking for local and affordable mold remediation services in Cedar City and Filmore, we’re ready to assist you! We clean any amount of mold to bring your building back to healthy standards. Reach out to us today to learn more about our mold remediation and commercial restoration services.

Commercial Property Losses don’t have to be a headache.

2/9/2021 (Permalink)

Cedar City, Commercial Buildings

Commercial Flooding and water damage can be more complex than a typical residential event.  The numerous issues that require a knowledgeable and flexible response.  With over 13 years’ experience dealing with all manner of loss from relatively small water cleanup scenario or large scale events, we will work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. Our sole purpose is to restore you to full operation.

Our technicians are trained in all areas to ensure that any legal or environmental concerns are addressed up front. We understand that every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when an emergency situation arises in your business, give us a call and we’ll be there fast with the help you need.  Because we are a locally owned and operated business, we have the ability to get to you quickly.  We strive to be the best in our community at both service and communication. 

About SERVPRO of Cedar City

Our staff is highly trained in property damage restoration. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification.  We know how to properly restore your business or other commercial property to better than new condition.

4 Storm Preparation Tips That Will Help Your Business Survive a Storm

12/27/2019 (Permalink)

Storms can cause flood damage in your commercial building in Cedar City, UT.

Storm preparation is vital for any company. A flooded building can disrupt business and stop an inflow of income. Along with that, flood water can cause a lot of damage and may require restoration services. Here are a few ways you can prepare your building to reduce risks of flooding and save money.

4 Ways to Prepare Your Building For Storm Damage

1. Back Up All Critical Information

If important documents or technology get ruined in a storm, this information may be gone forever. Back up anything important on hard drives and have copies of documents in a secure location. That way, once the aftermath has cleared, your company can continue to run smoothly.

2. Consider Flood Insurance

Whether you are in a mapped flood zone or not, it’s a good idea to have flood insurance. Flood water in the building can completely disrupt business if one affects your building. This can help you cover restoration expenses as well as business and employee costs.

3. Have Emergency Kits Ready

The most important part of your business is your employees. Have emergency kits ready for any disaster. A few important emergency kit supplies include the following:

• Enough water to last 24 hours
• Flashlights
• First-Aid kits
• Batteries
• Non-perishable food

If a disaster does occur, you can be confident that your employees will be taken care of.

4. Waterproof Your Building

If your business in Cedar City, UT, is based in an old or leaky building, consider doing any repairs that might stop water from entering the building. Caulk any cracks, install a drainage system, and add waterproof sealant to anything that might result in a leak.

Although you may never deal with flood water in your commercial building, it doesn’t hurt to take precautions to reduce the water damage if a flood were to occur. If a severe storm does affect your business, take care of your employees and call in restoration services quickly. Once everything is repaired and secured, your business can start up again.

The Cost of a Business Interruption Is Covered by Insurance

12/27/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage in a business can be devastating.

Disaster has struck. It’s a dark day in Kanab, Utah. Your business has completely shut down. Was it fire or storm damage? It doesn’t matter. There is much to be done between now and the day you can reopen. Unfortunately, there was a lot of damage and reopening is a long way off. While you are assessing the situation, your insurance agent reminds you about the interruption insurance portion of your policy and describes some of the costs that it can cover.

Costs Covered by Insurance

1. Costs Associated With Moving to a Temporary Location

If your business can operate from anywhere and your policy covers it, you can restart your business at a temporary location. This can shorten the business interruption dramatically. It will allow you to continue your operation, keep your customers satisfied and make your employees happy that they still have jobs.

2. Lost Profits But Not Lost Revenue

If your business is profitable and you can document profitability, you will be reimbursed for profit lost. Some people mistakenly believe that interruption insurance covers the insured for lost revenue but that is not the case.

3. Fixed Costs

The government wants you to pay your property taxes. Your landlord expects you to pay the rent. Behind them, there are others standing in line to get paid. They don’t care that you are temporarily out of business.

4. Training Costs

Unless you set up your business to operate at a temporary location, it’s a good bet that you will permanently lose many of your employees. New employees will need to be trained to do the jobs, and training costs money.

5. Other Expenses

There will always be other expenses that don’t fit in the above categories. There could be loan payments, utilities, association dues and contractual obligations.

A Short Interruption Is Good for Everyone

Your insurer wants the interruption insurance payments to end. You want things back to normal. If your repairs include fire restoration, consider bringing in a team of restoration experts. You will be happy you did.

How Long Does a Commercial Generator Last?

11/28/2019 (Permalink)

Storm or flooding damage can prolong power outages.

A commercial generator can power a building in the event of power loss. Generators run for decades with regular standby operation, inspection, and maintenance to prevent generator problems.

Fuel Types and Longevity

Property owners should factor in the fuel type when deciding on a backup. The operational timeframe of generators depends on fuel availability and heat content in British Thermal Units. Four common fuel types include:

• Gasoline: Gas is easy to obtain under normal circumstances and portable in small containers. This highly volatile fuel has a short shelf life of about 12 months. Gas produces 114,000 BTUs per gallon.

• Diesel: Diesel is less flammable than gas and may be easier to obtain in the event of a prolonged outage. Delivery and tank refilling services are available, and this fuel has a longer 18- to 24-month shelf life. Diesel produces up to 129,500 BTUs per gallon.

• Natural Gas: A generator connected to natural gas can provide uninterrupted backup energy. Compressed natural gas primarily consists of methane and has a heat content of 20,268 BTU per pound.

• Liquid Propane: Propane can be delivered and stored in large tanks or refillable 5 to 10 gallon cylinders. This clean-burning fuel is as much as three times more expensive than diesel. Propane has a heat content of 92,000 BTUs per gallon.

Engine efficiency depends on revolutions per minute. Two common levels for commercial generators include 1,800 RPM and 3,000 RPM. 1,800 RPM models cost more because these units run longer and do not need to be turned off as often to cool down.

Choosing the Right Generator

Property owners comparing commercial generators should factor in the duration and amount of power they may need during prolonged power outages in Kanab, Utah. Standby use and maintenance can increase the operational life of these backups. Contact a commercial damage restoration company if your property sustains storm damage.

Tips to Securing Your Building After a Fire

11/28/2019 (Permalink)

Board up your business or home after suffering fire damage in Cedar City, UT.

The effects of a fire in your office building can be devastating. Even minor fire damage can become a burden on your business. In severe cases, you won’t be able to enter your building until cleanup and restoration crews make it safe to do so. In the meantime, it’s important to secure your facility to prevent mischief or thievery.

The Rationale for Board Up

You’re already facing turmoil and stress having to relocate your business and pick up the pieces after a terrible ordeal. You don’t want to have to add insult to injury by dealing with people breaking into your building. Looting is common in temporarily closed buildings.

• Your insurance company will probably require you to secure your facility.
• Emergency services personnel will direct you in how to best secure your building.
• Do not attempt to go inside your building without permission from emergency services.

Close all Entrances

During normal operating situations, you’ll lock your doors and may even have an alarm system deterring suspicious activity around your building. However, fire damage may make these protective measures obsolete, and looters may see a golden opportunity. Board up doors and windows, as many of these have likely been compromised due to the fire.

Board up Other Possible Entry Points

Looters won’t hesitate to find other ways to get inside your building. After the fire, there are likely gaps and holes in the structure where someone could access the facility. Look for any other spots you need to board up and make sure they are secure.

Consider Security

One of the best ways to keep people away from your Cedar City, Utah, building during the fire cleanup and restoration process is to place a security guard or two on site. This extra cost will be well worth your efforts.

Fire damage can be difficult enough to contend with; you don’t want people breaking in your building. Make sure you follow these guidelines to ensure items inside your office remain untouched.

4 Storm Preparation Tips That Will Help Your Business Survive a Storm

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

Cedar City business suffers flooding due to heavy rains.

Storm preparation is vital for any company. A flooded building can disrupt business and stop an inflow of income. Along with that, flood water can cause a lot of damage and may require restoration services. Here are a few ways you can prepare your building to reduce risks of flooding and save money.

Steps to Reduce Flooding Risks

1. Back Up All Critical Information

If important documents or technology get ruined in a storm, this information may be gone forever. Back up anything important on hard drives and have copies of documents in a secure location. That way, once the aftermath has cleared, your company can continue to run smoothly.

2. Consider Flood Insurance

Whether you are in a mapped flood zone or not, it’s a good idea to have flood insurance. Flood water in the building can completely disrupt business if one affects your building. This can help you cover restoration expenses as well as business and employee costs.

3. Have Emergency Kits Ready

The most important part of your business is your employees. Have emergency kits ready for any disaster. A few important emergency kit supplies include the following:

• Enough water to last 24 hours
• Flashlights
• First-Aid kits
• Batteries
• Non-perishable food

If a disaster does occur, you can be confident that your employees will be taken care of.

4. Waterproof Your Building

If your business in Cedar City, UT, is based in an old or leaky building, consider doing any repairs that might stop water from entering the building. Caulk any cracks, install a drainage system, and add waterproof sealant to anything that might result in a leak.

Although you may never deal with flood water in your commercial building, it doesn’t hurt to take precautions to reduce the water damage if a flood were to occur. If a severe storm does affect your business, take care of your employees and call in restoration services quickly. Once everything is repaired and secured, your business can start up again.

The Cost of a Business Interruption Is Covered by Insurance

10/31/2019 (Permalink)

Fire cleanup was necessary for this ceiling in Cedar City.

Disaster has struck. It’s a dark day in Cedar City. Your business has completely shut down. Was it fire or storm damage? It doesn’t matter. There is much to be done between now and the day you can reopen. Unfortunately, there was a lot of damage and reopening is a long way off. While you are assessing the situation, your insurance agent reminds you about the interruption insurance portion of your policy and describes some of the costs that it can cover.

Expenses After a Disaster

1. Costs Associated With Moving to a Temporary Location

If your business can operate from anywhere and your policy covers it, you can restart your business at a temporary location. This can shorten the business interruption dramatically. It will allow you to continue your operation, keep your customers satisfied and make your employees happy that they still have jobs.

2. Lost Profits But Not Lost Revenue

If your business is profitable and you can document profitability, you will be reimbursed for profit lost. Some people mistakenly believe that interruption insurance covers the insured for lost revenue but that is not the case.

3. Fixed Costs

The government wants you to pay your property taxes. Your landlord expects you to pay the rent. Behind them, there are others standing in line to get paid. They don’t care that you are temporarily out of business.

4. Training Costs

Unless you set up your business to operate at a temporary location, it’s a good bet that you will permanently lose many of your employees. New employees will need to be trained to do the jobs, and training costs money.

5. Other Expenses

There will always be other expenses that don’t fit in the above categories. There could be loan payments, utilities, association dues and contractual obligations.

A Short Interruption Is Good for Everyone

Your insurer wants the interruption insurance payments to end. You want things back to normal. If your repairs include fire restoration, consider bringing in a team of restoration experts. You will be happy you did.

Vandalism-the Do and Don'ts of vandalism

6/21/2019 (Permalink)

Vandalism can be a serious problem for homeowners and businesses. Graffiti can deface and soil both structures and reputations of the structure, while property destruction can cause risk of bodily harm and security issues. Here are a few do's and don'ts in the event you or your business experiences vandalism.

DO:

• Hose or wash egg damage from building exterior as soon as possible.
• Vacuum glass particles from carpets and upholstery as soon as possible to prevent possible 
• Save containers which can say the ingredients of spilled inks, cosmetics and paints to help the figure the chemicals/tools needed to properly clean the damage at hand

DON'T:

• Attempt to remove ink, paint or cosmetic stains yourself.
• Operate damaged lamps, lights or other appliances.
• Discard furniture wood chips, broken pieces from porcelain,Glass, furniture or art objects to prevent injury form potentially happening.

Of course, in the case of a vandalism, the proper authorities should be contacted to investigate and try to prevent future vandalism from ever happening again.

However, when it comes to making it "Like it never even happened." think SERVPRO Cedar City/Fillmore for all your remediation needs. Yup, we do that too.