Fire Restoration Can Save the Hardwood Floors in Wilmington Homes

8/31/2023 (Permalink)

We can clean the charring from your Wilmington home's hardwood floor boards, "Like it never even happened."

Our Fire Restoration Team Revitalizes Your Floors

All kinds of flooring can become harshly impacted by a house fire. Many homeowners in Wilmington have invested quite heavily in specific flooring materials. Wooden flooring is costly but also well worth the price. Our fire restoration experts
can help save your flooring investment and make everything beautiful again.

Concentrating on your floors can proceed as we work on the rest of your Wilmington home's fire restoration. As we complete the restoration tasks
involving the rest of your residence, we take measures to avoid causing any further
damage to your hardwoods.

We begin the restoration work on your wooden flooring and complete the process by doing the following:

• Cleaning and wiping
• Removing imperfections mechanically
• Refinishing

Cleaning up hardwood floors post-fire includes removing anything that melted onto
them. Removing larger debris makes it possible to sweep with a broom to remove
ash and use a stiffer brush to get anything embedded within the spaces between
boards.

Our SERVPRO® team might find a puddle of melted plastic or splattered drips that sprayed across the floor as something fell from a shelf. We use the least destructive methods to clean
up such messes. Other aspects of this stage involve cleaning with solvents to dilute
the ash and pollutants that came with the smoke. Area rugs made of synthetic fibers
can also melt and cause discolorations. Some staining often exists, but ending this
stage, once dry, with some sanding can often eliminate any outstanding discoloration.

Finishing your floor involves a discussion with you regarding stain colors and depth,
as well as the level of gloss. Lower-gloss flooring is a safer option while needing less
maintenance. We save finishing the floor for last, as we want reduced traffic to
prevent any problems with the process. Once completed, your home should be
ready for your family to enjoy your home once again to the fullest.

Call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 for restoration
services your family will love. We know how to make everything "Like it never even
happened."

Lessen Fire Damage and Cost for Your Wilmington Property

3/22/2023 (Permalink)

Bark away your fire damage worries with our team in Wilmington at SERVPRO.

SERVPRO Has Skilled Fire Damage Technicians in Wilmington Available 24/7

Once fire strikes at your home or business, you start to think about the best way to clean up all damage. Not only can you have charred debris and unsalvageable contents or materials, but you may also have water damage from putting out the flames. There are many aspects to consider, with safety being paramount. Hiring fire damage restoration by a team of skilled professionals is the best way to ensure everything gets underway safely and effectively. SERVPRO is available 24/7 for an emergency response so you can get your business or house fire cleanup underway. We're Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Fire damage in Wilmington can be life-changing, and rebuilding is stressful and daunting for many property owners. Fires are known for causing billions in fire damage each year, so you need a team that can get results while also lessening the cost and overall loss. SERVPRO does this with our' repair versus replace' methodology and our entire crew of IICRC-certified fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT).

Selecting Your Restoration Team is an Important Decision

Even the most minor fire can bring on some damage that is not evident to the untrained eye. There are several reasons why any property owner should enlist the help of a trusted and trained restoration company rather than attempting a DIY, including:

• 24/7 Availability – Here at SERVPRO, you can reach out to our customer care team 24 hours a day and any day of the week. We will have a crew mobilized and our Green Fleet at your door within four hours of initial contact. 
• Certified and Insured – Anyone working in and around your home should be appropriately trained and insured should anything happen on your property. IICRC-certifications also offer further assurance that our technicians have the knowledge and abilities to handle your fire restoration and cleanup.
• Investigation and Assessment – Safety is critical with any restoration project. This is especially true when fire and water may have damaged your structural elements. Our trained crew chief thoroughly inspects your property and assesses the damage. This allows us to address possible hazards and select the best equipment, tools, and methods to help us achieve our goals.

What About Smoke Damage to Contents and Surfaces?

SERVPRO uses specialized cleaning methods to handle smoke remediation so that no lingering odors get left behind. This may include dry wiping with cloths or brushes or wet wiping with cleaning solutions. We inspect all surfaces to determine the types of soot soiling present and perform spot testing to ensure no further damage occurs. 

For handling odors, both from smoke residue and water/moisture, our team includes trained Odor Control Technicians (OCT). We have the training to identify all offensive odors and eliminate them rather than masking them. Our professional odor removal techniques pinpoint the cause and get results, so you never have lingering reminders of the fire event. We use tools in our arsenal such as:

• Odor Counteracting Beads – Treated porous beads that release volatile odor counteractants, working by time release to freshen and fragrance the area being treated.
• Deodorant Pellets or Granules – Made with an active mineral, these products help to pull in and hold odorous molecules.
• Water-Based Products – We have wet mist deodorizers and odor counteractants our team will use to neutralize malodors in various situations.
• Air Scrubbers – These filtration devices have onboard HEPA filters to pull and capture particles in the air. 

Any fire damage cleanup and restoration project gets structured to make your property "Like it never even happened." Get the results you deserve by contacting SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington when you require assistance. Request help online or call us 24/7 at (302) 762-8080.

Wilmington Homeowners Trust SERVPRO with Fire Restoration

1/17/2023 (Permalink)

Don’t let fire damage overwhelm you, call the professionals at SERVPRO.

SERVPRO Offers Quick and Efficient Fire Restoration Services in Wilmington 

Cleaning the soot-covered surfaces is one of the most important aspects of the fire restoration of your Wilmington home. SERVPRO techs use appropriate cleaning methods to remove residue from various surfaces, ensuring they don't damage the surface. 

The goal of SERVPRO's restorative cleaning during the fire restoration of your Wilmington home is to remove the smoke and soot particles as quickly and efficiently as possible. The chlorides and sulfides present in the smoke and soot particles can combine with the moisture in the air to form acids. If SERVPRO techs don't clean these acids promptly, they can cause extensive and often irreparable damage. 

Cleaning Fire and Smoke Damage

SERVPRO techs use various cleaning agents to dislodge the soot residues from the surfaces and suspend them in a solution. Some of the professional cleaning agents we use during house fire cleanup include:

• General surface cleaners are detergents with a slightly alkaline pH, ideal for cleaning glossy surfaces, painted walls and ceilings, hard surface furniture, wallpaper, and paneling. 
• Heavy-duty cleaners are excellent at removing greasy and sticky soils in fire-damaged homes. These cleaners have higher alkalinity and can remove acidic soot particles easily.   
• Liquid crème cleaners can clean hard surfaces and polish, brighten and deodorize them. As these contain abrasive agents, SERVPRO techs use them on surfaces not harmed by mild abrasives like metal, ceramics, Formica, and fiberglass.
• Strong acid cleaners are excellent at removing soot and smoke damage from stone and brick. Some of these agents contain Phosphoric acid that can clean ceramic tiles and aluminum window frames.

SERVPRO techs use science and the latest IICRC guidelines to select a cleaning agent that is effective, safe, and efficient to restore your home to its preloss condition. 

Call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

How SERVPRO Restored a Wilmington Home After Grease Fire Damage

8/18/2022 (Permalink)

Grease fire damage is very hard to clean.This photo shows where SERVPRO technicians have cleaned and what remains to be cleaned.

Recovering from a Grease Fire Damage in Wilmington

Kitchen fires are most commonly experienced in Wilmington, producing greasy protein-based soot that sticks tightly to walls and ceilings. No surface or fixture is immune to the residues. Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) trained Fire and Smoke Remediation Technicians (FSRT) are ready to use their skills and specially formulated cleaning products to remove the soot. 

After experiencing fire damage, a Wilmington family sought our help. A dinnertime mishap resulted in an intense but short-term blaze in their kitchen. The fire was hot enough to distort a sheet metal panel above the stove. An oily coating of soot is deposited throughout the room and elsewhere in the home. 

Using dry sponges as a first step, SERVPRO technicians work up the wall, carefully removing the residues completely but without smearing. Examine our progress mid-project in the photo. The apparent line of soot-free space on the affected surface illustrates the difference our skilled crew members make. We avoid the long-term disruption and excessive expense of demolition and rebuilding with our cleaning success. The rest of the wall and the light fixture similarly responded when we continued the cleaning process, making the formerly blackened surfaces and fixtures “Like it never even happened.” 

The most pervasive effect of the fire cannot be pictured. Grease fires are notorious for creating noxious odors, the stench moving throughout the house on air currents, and possibly via HVAC ductwork. SERVPRO Odor Control Technicians (OCT) employ strategies to trap or neutralize odor-bearing airborne residues. Valuable techniques to eliminate odors include running a negative pressure air scrubber during the soot removal phase. The scrubber captures airborne particles carrying the smell and improves the general air quality for safety. 

We pursue odors that linger even after clean-up is complete. The approaches we follow include judicious use of SERVPRO proprietary deodorizing products applied in locations where the odors continue to be troublesome. Innovative technologies that neutralize odors at a molecular level are also available and applied or operated by our certified technicians, including: 

• Ozone machines
• Hydroxyl generators
• Thermal foggers 

Have confidence in the highly-qualified fire damage recovery team at SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington. Call us at (302) 762-8080 and see the difference in our training and carefully curated products and equipment delivery. 

What Should You Consider When Hiring Fire Damage Restoration Professionals in Wilmington?

8/18/2022 (Permalink)

Make sure you hire restoration professionals who stand on their work.

What to Look for When Hiring the Pros for Fire Damage Restoration in Wilmington 

No matter the fire damage level, quick action is pertinent to stop the soot, residue, and odors from permeating your home. Whenever moisture is left behind, the issue becomes even direr, calling for professional extraction and drying methods. Waiting too long can end up weakening building materials, and your property turns into a breeding ground for dangerous mold and mildew. 

When you suffer from fire damage in Wilmington, the best way to get results is by hiring professionals. There are just a few of the things that you should think about when finding the best restoration team for the job: 

What Items Need to be Tossing? 

Our technicians at SERVPRO catalog every item we handle to report on the condition, making sure to note what needs discarding and why. We establish a detailed chain of custody and take pictures of all items throughout the restoration process to make for an easy insurance claim expedition. 

Will You Work with My Insurance Company? 

At SERVPRO, we work with the homeowner and insurance adjustor to make sure everyone is in the loop during your fire damage cleanup, which includes all phases of your home restoration process through to the final details. 

How Can I Get Rid of Smoke Odors? 

Some homeowners think that DIY methods are good enough for smoke odor removal. However, the best way to ensure you remove all residual smoke odors is by hiring trained professionals. SERVPRO experts come to your home with specialized equipment and cleaning techniques to ensure the removal of odors at a molecular level. Once the drying process is complete, we go through thoroughly clean surfaces with disinfectants for both odor removal and to hinder mold growth. 

Do You Address Cross-Contamination? 

When you suffer fire loss, heavy foot traffic spreads soot and odors throughout your home. SERVPRO contains the work area with plastic sheeting, or we employ negative air chambers to help eliminate cross-contamination throughout your property. 

When it comes to quality fire damage restoration, you can always count on our team of trained professionals at SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington. If you have questions on the processor you need to schedule services, please give us a call at (302) 762-8080, and we can send out a team as soon as possible. 

Our Experts Discuss The Steps Toward Fire Damage Recovery In Your Wilmington Home

6/22/2022 (Permalink)

Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080.

Steps Toward Fire Damage Recovery For Wilmington Residents

Waking up to the sound of your fire alarm, then having to quickly evacuate the property while calling the fire department is every homeowner's worst nightmare. After the fire has been contained, anxieties over your possessions, valuable documents, and financial costs arise. There are measures you can take to make the process of getting your home back to its pre-damaged condition runs smoothly after the initial shock.

The first thing is to contact a restoration service to carry out repairs on the fire damage in your Wilmington home. SERVPRO operates an emergency line day and night for homeowners needing assistance and reassurance. You might want to contact your insurance company to get a better picture of the task at hand, as well as any utilities or lending companies. Fire situations are recognized as debilitating situations, and many companies can put in place holds on bills or payments in exceptional circumstances while you prioritize the restoration of your home.

A fire marshall can inspect the property after the fire and clear you for entry. Now's a good time to gather any necessary documents:

• Passport
• Driver's License
• Certificates
• Social Security
• Financial Documents
• Tax Records
• School Records
• Vehicle Registration

Some or all of these documents may show signs of damage from soots or smokes as well as water damage from the firefighting procedure. Do not discard documents. SERVPRO operates specialized document recovery that can mitigate losses through a vacuum or freeze-drying procedure for waterlogged documents. Although we cannot reverse existing damages, there is a strong chance we can restore documents to a usable condition using these special procedures.

While you wait for a SERVPRO fire and smoke damage restoration technician (FRST), you can begin mitigating losses by covering floors and furnishings with sheets or tarpaulin, which can prevent falling soots from causing further harm. Open the windows to allow air circulation throughout the property, which aids drying and replaces polluted air with cleaner outdoor air. For now, it is essential to leave walls, ceilings, appliances, and electrics until a qualified technician arrives.

SERVPRO trains technicians to the highest standards. On arrival, they can direct the restoration effort, as well as to conduct crucial tests on materials, soot deposits, and smoke residues. These tests keep procedures efficient and ensure soots are not spread around, causing further issues to unaffected areas. Where necessary, our team can bring in odor control technicians to restore your indoor air quality.

We have extensive experience in handling fire restorations from start to finish. Using a combination of testing, cleaning, deodorizing, and drying, we can help you get your property back to its pre-damaged condition. Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080.

Chemicals Used During Fire Damage Restoration in Claymont

3/15/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 for fast and efficient service.

SERVPRO Can Provide Fire Damage Restoration Services to Claymont Residents

Anyone who has ever suffered from a fire on their property knows that it can be devastating and create quite a mess. The flames, of course, can torch anything it comes into contact with, and the smoke released can also cause problems. Smoke can travel to areas in your home far away from the fire's source and leave behind soot residues.

Our SERVPRO technicians often spend a good portion of their time cleaning soot residues from your contents and building materials during fire damage restoration in Claymont. Since the various types of smoke can cause different issues, we have an array of chemicals and cleaning methods we use during the remediation process. 

We Can Offer Several Services to Return Your Home to its Pre-damaged State

• Content Cleaning
• Smoke Remediation
• Fire Damage Debris Removal
• Fire Cleanup
• Fire & Water Damage Restorations
• Structural Deodorization

When cleaning soot residues from your contents and building materials, some of the cleaning procedures work by chemically altering the soot residues. When our SERVPRO technicians use strong acids, bleaching, enzyme digestion, or oxidizing, chemical changes occur that help us remove the soils. Enzymes are living organisms that digest soots made from protein like burnt food. The enzymes turn the soot particles into soluble molecules that can be cleaned using detergents, water, or ammonia solutions.

When cleaning soot residues from the surfaces of items in your house, we can use two types of bleaching agents. Oxidizing bleaches add oxygen to a soil that changes its chemical structure and breaks it down. Reducing bleaches (or strippers) work the opposite and can neutralize the effects of an oxidizing agent.

If you ever notice soot residues on your walls or furniture after a fire, call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080. 

Returning Pre-Loss Condition After Wilmington House Fires

1/17/2022 (Permalink)

Let the experts at SERVPRO help restore the fire damage in your home.

Following Fire Damage in Wilmington, SERVPRO Works to Restore Pre-loss Conditions.

Among the first steps that our professionals undertake after a fire is mitigating loss and protecting the property as much as possible. Emergency services like these include: 

• Fire debris removal
• Air filtration
• Content relocation
• Water removal services

Consulting With The Customer

No one knows a property like its owner, so when fire damage restoration for Wilmington gets underway, it is the customer who can be of the most significant help in labeling preloss conditions. One of the advantages of consulting with a customer after extinguishment is learning pre-existing damage or factors that could lessen the length or intricacies of the restoration process. 

Establishing The Restoration Baseline

Between the conversation with the customer and the thorough examination of the property, we can establish a credible restoration point that becomes the objective of mitigation and recovery actions. Much of these paths deal with the property's aesthetics and pre-fire appearances. Still, it can also mean proposed moisture levels, air quality, and other factors contributing to a safe and stable post-fire cleanup. 

Restoring The Damages 

Once the appropriate baseline for restoration and recovery has been determined, our SERVPRO team can get to work on cleaning and protecting the house. Removing soot and smoke residues is one of the largest obstacles in the path to returning to a pre-damaged condition, so we work on eliminating loose debris with pressurized air or vacuuming and entirely removing it with dry solvents or detergents. 

Pre-loss condition is always the objective of our SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington fire restoration team. With multiple methods of collecting information and determining the property's original state, we can achieve this objective to make the fire loss incidents "Like it never even happened." Give our experienced FSRT-Certified technicians a call now at (302) 762-8080.

Who Should a Claymont Homeowner Call for Fire Damage Restoration Services?

11/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. We are here to help 24/7 365 days a year.

Our Professional Fire Restoration Team Supports the Claymont Community After a Residential Fire

Homeowners in Claymont visiting their home after a fire may feel despair as they look at the state of their home. Assessing the impact of the fire damage and determining how to clean up soot and ashes left behind is not simple. Protecting unaffected areas of the house is also difficult, and all restoration activities require the help of a professional team with certified training and experience.

In Claymont, fire damage restoration expertise lives within our SERVPRO team. Removal of soot, debris, and smoke residue falls within our typical service scope and is at the core of the restoration plan we tailor to your needs. Upon arrival, our team evaluates each affected area and establishes a course of action based on the type of surface and the corresponding EPA-recommended cleaning solutions. Typically, soot will fall into one of the three following categories:

• Protein-based soot- commonly caused by grease in kitchen fires, it tends to be airborne and sticks to surfaces while leaving a foul smell behind. Sometimes it is invisible but can be felt to the touch.
• Dry soot- wood, paper, and other organic materials leave this kind of residue behind, which is light and generally easy to remove with the correct cleaning solution.
• Wet soot- when polymers such as plastic containers burn, wet soot sticks to each surface. This remnant is sticky and thick and cumbersome to remove.

As a homeowner, you only need to place a call to SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 and let us take care of the rest. Our expert team brings fire and smoke damage restoration services to your doorstep and leaves your home “Like it never even happened.”

Where Can Homeowners Get Fire Damage Restoration Services in Claymont?

9/29/2021 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Green Fleet Arrives as the Red Fire Trucks leave a fire damaged Claymont home or business

SERVPRO is Proficient in Performing Fire Damage Restoration in Claymont

Fire is a damaging element, and if you do not perform repairs quickly, more destruction can occur. SERVPRO has experienced restorers and high-quality equipment to bring your home back to its original state. Our priority during the restoration process is preventing more destruction from taking place. This involves plugging up any weakened structures or holes. We also inspect the floors, walls, and roof to determine if they need repairs or replacement.

The process of performing fire damage restoration in your Claymont home can be challenging, but our technicians know what to do. We know that different types of fires require different methods of repair. SERVPRO uses the right techniques to remove soot, restore wooden structures and upholstery. Based on the extent of the destruction, our customized restoration plan usually includes:

• Eliminating charred contents that could seal in smoke like burned wood and insulation
• Cleaning and restoring affected surfaces.
• Deodorizing the home.

Smoke can leave corrosive by-products behind, which can cause irreversible destruction within a short period. Our SERVPRO team can remove the smoke residues and treat the surfaces at risk using a corrosion inhibitor. Some surfaces that smoke can damage include grout, stone, marble, fixtures, and glass.

To remove bad odors from the property, we can open windows and doors to ventilate it. Our team can also use air filtration units and deodorizers to eliminate the odors. We choose the most suitable deodorizing products based on the odor source. At times, our SERVPRO technicians use many procedures using different professional equipment and products to produce results. For instance, we can use deodorizing pellets or granules to absorb the odors. Their main ingredient is a mineral known as fuller’s earth, and it functions as a sponge to absorb and hold smells. Instant odor counteracting pellets are formulated to offer continuous control of lingering smells. We can apply them to a specific area or the whole home.

If you need fire damage restoration services, call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080. We can make the fire damage seem, “Like it never even happened.”

Can Claymont Fire Damage Restoration Remove Soot From an Area Rug?

9/3/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration by SERVPRO is top-notch. Call now for the help you need.

SERVPRO Has the Professional Equipment to Handle All Types of Fire Cleanup in Clayton Properties

When a Claymont property undergoes professional house fire cleanup, many homeowners assume anything with a coating of soot is an automatic disposal. That is not necessarily the case. 

SERVPRO techs have ongoing, comprehensive training for handling fire damage restoration in Clayton properties. This education entails more than learning how to deal with structural issues. The technicians establish cleaning stations outside the worksite manned by other techs ready to perform different cleaning applications to restore contents from the house. Examples include:

• Washable items for the Esporta Washing System
• Immersion cleaning for non-porous items
• Abrasive cleaning for stuck-on residues on non-porous articles

Carpet and area rugs without signs of heat damage get handled in similar ways. SERVPRO technicians have steam cleaning equipment that can refresh and restore rugs and carpets. The process usually starts with a tech vacuuming the area to be cleaned to remove any loose soot or debris. Then a steam cleaner is used to remove any embedded soot and debris. This process can also remove water stains that happened during the first responders fighting the house fire. When it is not feasible to clean the carpets or rugs on-site, SERVPRO can bring them into their warehouse for manual cleaning. 

SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 brings professionalism, experience, and compassion to every Claymont fire damage restoration service. The certified technicians are available 24/7 for any size house fire cleanup needs. 

What Types of Smoke Damage Threaten Wilmington Homes After a Fire?

7/20/2021 (Permalink)

When a fire strikes home and leaves a mess, SERVPRO is there with the help you need for any size fire restoration job.

Knowing the Obstacles of Restoration, SERVPRO Professionals Can Recover Wilmington Properties More Efficiently. 

Property inspections help our team to see where immediate action is necessary. Identifying the type of smoke and soil damage in this inspection can ensure the right tools are available for mitigation and cleanup.

What Types of Smoke Damage Exist After Combustion? 

The materials burned before fire restoration in Wilmington begins can directly impact the residues involved and the composition of soils that threaten the household. Some include:

• Wet Smoke – Wet smoke damage is often among the most challenging, as it is thick and cannot be cleaned with chem sponges or traditional cleaning measures.
• Dry Smoke – High heat fires that do not leave many partially combusted materials can create dry smoke damage. This looks like a chalky film on surfaces that can often be wiped clean.
• Oil/Puffback Damage – With many area residences running furnaces that use oil as fuel, puff back damage is not uncommon. These micro explosions in your duct network can leave surfaces coated in stringy soot.
• Protein Residues – These are common to see after kitchen/grease fires. Protein residues can be thick and challenging to remove and carry a powerful odor with them that spreads. 

Understanding the type of fire and smoke damage in your home after a disaster can be critical in identifying the best cleaning and restoration approach. SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington team can help with efficient cleaning solutions based on the composition of soils. Give us a call today at (302) 762-8080.

Wilmington Homes Need Professional Fire Restoration After a Fire Incidence

5/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fast and reliable fire restoration services by SERVPRO are top-notch. Call 24/7 365 days a year.

SERVPRO Provides Fast and Reliable Fire Restoration Services to Wilmington Property Owners

You can save both time and money during the fire restoration of your Wilmington home by hiring professional restorers of SERVPRO. Our restorers are fast to respond and have the necessary skills, equipment, and expertise to restore your home to a preloss condition as fast as possible. 

Cleaning smoke and soot residue from walls and ceilings during fire restoration of your Wilmington home is a multi-step process. SERVPRO techs need to employ different strategies to tackle the residue depending on the texture and type of surfaces on walls and ceilings. Technicians identify the type of surface and pretest for cleanability. The factors that determine the best cleaning method from a fire-damaged home include the following-

• Type of the residue- dry or wet
• Type of surface- painted, finished, wood paneling, or acoustic tile

Cleaning Methods Employed by SERVPRO for Walls and Ceilings During a House Fire Cleanup in Wilmington

SERVPRO IICRC certified technicians use the following three methods to clean walls and ceilings of your fire-damaged home in Wilmington- 

• Dry cleaning- Used if the smoke damage residue is non-greasy and light to medium. Dry cleaning is usually done with the help of a dry-cleaning sponge and requires less time to complete
• Wet cleaning- Used in painted, metal, or wood ceilings or walls with heavy dry soot or light to the heavy grease-based residue. It might take a longer time to mitigate this type of damage. 
• Peroxide active cleaning- Used mainly for porous ceilings and surfaces such as acoustic ceilings. The method is suitable for textured surfaces that might not be suitable for wet cleaning. The peroxide reacts with the residue and can loosen the bonds between surfaces, making it easier to remove. 

Call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080; we are available 24/7 to assist you.

What Services Restore Property after Fire?

3/15/2021 (Permalink)

Our fire damage experts can have your home back to its original state, “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Operates in Claymont and Can Provide Expert Fire Restoration Technicians

Claymont is a residential community that lies along Naamans Creek banks, a waterway feeding directly into the Delaware River. The area is of enormous archaeological significance, with evidence of people settling in the area dating back to 1200 AD. Naaman Creek is named after the Chief of the Lenape Indians, whom Dutch colonists met in the seventeenth century. Over 600 acres of the land was purchased in 1681 by John Grubb, who took advantage of the creek's geographical location as a passover between Washington and Philadelphia's growing settlements. 

Proximity to the Delaware river allowed early colonists to export goods into larger cities. Gristmills, agriculture, and later factories all cropped up in Claymont from the eighteenth century onward. By the nineteenth century, the inclusion of Claymont as a station on the Philadelphia railroad saw the region transform from a primarily agricultural community into a wealthy suburb. Over the past thirty years, a concentrated effort on urban renewal has taken place in Claymont with the construction of a new regional transportation center to replace the train station, at an estimated cost of $71 million. Renewal projects have also sought to revitalize Claymont's historic architecture with the Claymont Stone School, Robinson House, and Darley House renovations.

• Nemours Estate is an enormous estate built in the French Neo-classic style. The 300-acre gardens surround a French Chateau of around 47,000 square feet and 105 rooms. The mansion was formerly owned by the du Pont family and still contains rare eighteenth-century masterpieces, antiques, and tapestries. Tours are available to the public through the open season.
• A short drive downriver from Claymont is the Bellvue State Park, formerly of the wealthy du Pont family. The state park covers 328 maintained acres and was owned by William du Pont junior. Historic sites on the Bellevue State Park include the Mount Pleasant Episcopal Church, which features in the National Register of Historic Places.
• The Darley Food and Wine Festival usually takes place every October near the Historic Darley House's grounds at Philadelphia Pike & Manor Avenue's corner. Guests can enjoy a curated selection of wines and beers from the local community as well as live performances and entertainment.

SERVPRO Can Return your Property to its Pre-loss Condition after a Fire

Porous surfaces in the home can often be most adversely affected by smoke and present a challenge to restoration technicians. Porous surfaces absorb fluids by nature. This absorption can be problematic as it limits the tools or cleaning agents available for removing smoke. As a rule of thumb, unfinished or porous surfaces should be dry cleaned to avoid the absorption issue. 

• Unsealed wood should be cleaned using dry sponges or, for heavier soiling, denatured alcohol. 
• Alkaline cleaning agents are effective when clearing residues from masonry, while abrasion blasting can be practical for thicker residues.
• Plaster can break apart easily and is often impossible to clean when heavy soil has set. Technicians can replace plaster with little expense material like sheetrock.

Use professional services to minimize losses after a fire. Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington for fire restoration at (302) 762-8080.

Bring in the New Year with a Tour of Wilmington's Unique Breweries

1/5/2021 (Permalink)

We look forward to seeing you at the Liquid Alchemy tour.

Liquid Alchemy Tours Provide Wilmington Residents with a Chance to Learn the Processes of Making Honey Wine and Mead 

Liquid Alchemy is a tour and tasting event that is much fun for adults looking to understand honey wine and mead production processes—visitors tour Delaware's only meadery, where wines are produced from honey rather than grapes. The tasting tour shows you the entire journey from honey to glass and includes a complimentary meal. Many of the ingredients that go into produce Wilmington meads are sourced from the local area, while the tours are well-suited to family trips and tourists. There are nine drinks to choose from that span over ciders, wines, meads, and gluten-free beverages. Tours run from 28 Brookside Drive at Liquid Alchemy Beverages every weekend from January 1st. 

• Tour and tasting sessions start at midday each day and close at 9 pm.
• The Liquid Alchemy Brewing Company was formed in 2012 and has been a stalwart of the Wilmington community.
• The minimum age requirement for those taking tours and tasting is 21. 

Repairing a home after a recent fire can be complicated. Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 for expert assistance.

Get Professional and Effective Fire Damage Restoration Services in Wilmington

11/22/2020 (Permalink)

Facing fire damage alone can be quite overwhelming. Contact our certified SERVPRO team for remediation services.

SERVPRO Restorers are available 24 Hours a Day to Offer Fire Damage Restoration to Wilmington Property Owners

Wilmington, DE, is among the most populated cities in the United States. It hosts a population of 70,166 as of the 2019 U.S Census. Thomas Penn named the city after Spencer Compton, Earl of Wilmington, the prime minister who served during George II of Britain. It is among the great cities of the Delaware Valley Metropolitan area.

The Brandywine Valley and Wilmington are like a romantic, riveting tale of two centuries, two cultures, or even two worlds. This is a destination that has sharp contrasts. Gardens and Town. Culture and Commerce. Hip and Historic. Gritty and Gorgeous. These contrasts make each sight more beautiful and authentic, and each moment more distinct.

Built on the site of Fort Christina, which was North America's first Swedish settlement, Wilmington city is also home to other several Swedish settlements, including:

• Oversidolandet near Ashley Heights and Woodcrest
• Strandviken near Simonds Garden
• Sidoland in South Wellington
• Timmeron, also known as Timber Island along Brandywine Creek

In 1609, before Henry Hudson sailed up the Delaware River, the Lenape or Delaware Indians settled in the area led by chief Sachem Mattahorn. Back then, the residents called the area Bear Place or Maax-waas Unk. They named the area after the river flowed by the Maax-waas Hanna, now known as the Christian River. 

In March 1638, the Swedish South Company led by Pete Minuit arrived on Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip. The company bought Maax-waas Unk and built Fort Christina. It served as the base of the New Sweden colony that consisted of the lower Delaware River, presently known as Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Industrialization and growth of Wilmington city

The First and Second World Wars stimulated vital industries to produce products needed in the war effort. These industries included machinery, shipyards, chemical producers, and steel foundries, which operated 24 hours 7 days a week. Other industries produced products like clothing, automobiles, and leather products. Due to the scarcity of labor, minorities moved north and settled in Wilmington. That caused tensions, which resulted in the 1919 race riot in Wilmington, Delaware.

The prosperity of the post-war period led to residential development on the outskirts of the city. This attracted more people to live in the suburbs of North Wilmington. Roads and highway upgrades and the construction of Interstate 95 construction that passed through several neighborhoods caused the city center’s population to reduce. Between the 1950s and 1960s, urban renewal projects cleared housing blocks in the East Side and city centers.

The city’s economy

The economy of the readily accessible city in Delaware is based on its high population. The city has many financial institutions with favorable policies and a well-established judicial system.

In 1981, Governor Pierre S. du Pont enacted regulations that turned the city into a national financial center. He targeted the credit card industry. The 1981 Financial Center Development Act did away with usury laws that eliminated the cap on interest rates that financial institutions might legally charge clients.

The chartered corporations of Delaware depend on the Court of Chancery for all legal issues. The court does not have a jury but a Judge who places legal decisions. It is a popular court both countrywide because of its competence, well-informed judiciary, and speed. When stakeholders seek to enjoin or block corporate activities, the court comes in handy since it can grant relief in the form of injunctions or restraining orders.

Arts and Culture of Wilmington

The city is home to several museums, galleries, and gardens for residents and tourists to enjoy. The most popular museum in the city is the Delaware Art Museum, which has a wide range of collections that focus on the mid-19th century English Pre-Raphaelite movement and the 12th to the 19th-century illustration of American art.

Wilmington city also hosts several traditional festivals and other events every year. The most popular one is the Italian Festival held in the second week of June. A Catholic Church, St. Anthony of Padua, organizes the festival, and it features Italian traditional food, music, and activities such as the carnival ride.

The Greek Festival is another event that brings large crowds together. The festival features traditional Greek music, food, crafts, and drinks. Other festivals include:

• The Polish Festival features lots of entertainment, carnival rides, Polish cuisines, and lots of music.
• The IndiaFest is an event organized by the Indo American Association of Delaware.
•  The annual Big August Quarterly, which is a celebration of African American culture and history.
• The Haneef's African Festival commemorates African American legacy.

The city’s fire department maintains a marine fire fighting force, a rescue squad company, two ladder companies, and five engine companies. Since 2002, all the city's firefighters are trained to the EMT-B level.

Emergency medical services throughout the city are provided through a contract with St. Francis Hospital. The hospital‘s EMS department operates with a minimum of five BLS transport units. 

How do SERVPRO technicians help Wilmington property owners with fire damage restoration?

Dealing with a fire's aftermath can be overwhelming, especially if the restoration process does not begin right away. Smoke and soot can cause significant damage to your valuable items and surfaces, leading to costly repairs. Involving a reputable restoration company like SERVPRO within 24 hours after the unfortunate happens can help minimize damage and get your house back to normal right away.

Our team of experienced restorers can assess the extent of the destruction, provide you with a detailed estimate, and start the process of reversing the effects of fire damage. Our restorers can also provide you with an overview of salvageable contents and those that need replacement. We also work with our customer’s insurance company.

Some of the common steps we take to secure a fire damaged property include:

• Thorough property inspection to determine the severity of the damage and document our findings through videos or photos.
• Prevent further damage by removing valuable items in the affected areas and securing the property by tarping the roof or boarding up openings.
• Clean-up using advanced cleaning agents and innovative equipment to salvage various items and surfaces.
• Deodorization using cutting edge techniques and products.

We can work quickly and carefully to get your property to its preloss state within the shortest time possible.   

A fire can cause devastating damage to your valuable items and structure. Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 to get your home to its preloss state. "Like it never even happened."

Can Smoke Residues Affect Indoor Air Quality?

10/30/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage and soot clean up and restoration needed? Stop, think, and then call SERVPRO to restore your Claymont home, "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Fire Damage Professionals Can Restore the Air-Quality of your Claymont Home After a Fire.

How do fires affect indoor air quality?

A property fire can influence the interior of your Claymont home in numerous ways. Combusting materials release hundreds of chemicals and volatile particles. These can often linger after a fire causing unpleasant odors or affecting indoor air quality. When entering a property with visible signs of smoke or soot soiling, it is vital to wear a respirator to avoid inhaling microscopic dust or soot particles. SERVPRO recommends using an N95 or equivalent respirator when inside the property to filter out potentially harmful micro-soots. Our team can scope your property for potential instances of soot or smoke, which could be airborne and damaging your indoor air quality.

What is the best method for restoring air-quality?

When carrying out fire damage restoration in your Claymont home, it is vital to remember that the most straightforward solutions are often the most effective. Airborne soot and ashes come from smoke residues or soiling that may reside on surfaces. By enacting a cleaning strategy to disconnect these soots from surfaces and then remove them, we can start returning indoor air to a normal condition. Not all soot is the same, which means our crew chiefs conduct a thorough inspection of your home to identify the different types of damage as well as the correct method of eliminating them. Sometimes, we may apply small cleaning solutions or solvents to understand how likely items are to clean without causing excessive harm. A thorough inspection allows us to divide our workload, focusing on salvageable materials and therefore increasing efficiency.

What do production technicians do in a fire-damaged environment?

• Find and identify the types of residue and the surfaces that are affected. Both of these factors can influence the cleaning strategy.
• Technicians seek to capture these residues in a dry particulate form or suspended in a solution.
• Rinse and remove residues and then dispose of them correctly under federal and state laws or regulations.

How do restoration services find and identify residues?

In most situations where some or all of a property requires restoration, SERVPRO sends a project manager and a crew chief. Your insurance adjuster may sometimes accompany these members of staff. Crew chiefs find residues using their extensive training to locate hidden spots, causing odor or stuffy conditions in the property. A production technician usually tests these areas of soiling to assess the cleanability. All of this information relays to you and your insurance adjuster. We can then set to work, separating non-salvageable materials and concentrating on restoring the salvageable materials. Working methodically can help us assign specific tasks and provide an accurate time frame for your restoration procedure.

How are soot and smoke residues removed from surfaces?

• To remove a residue effectively, they first have to be captured, which can refer to suspending or disconnecting the soots from the surfaces they adhere to.
• Professional technicians use air or fluids to dislodge or release soot and smoke particles before carrying them away for disposal.
• Two methods of dealing with bonded soot could be through vacuuming and dissolving the soot soils.

Is vacuuming appropriate for cleaning soots?

It is prevalent for homeowners to seek to aid the restoration. These home disasters can be both inconvenient and traumatic, so it is only natural that a homeowner wishes to help. Vacuuming can be a useful method of collecting carbon residues which may have spread across the home. Carbon particles typically do not bond with surfaces on a chemical level, which means they can often be dislodged or eliminated by agitating the affected surfaces or applying negative air pressure and vacuuming. While these soots may appear relatively benign, they can absorb into surfaces in moisture, making them more challenging to clean. SERVPRO recommends avoiding introducing water to any areas of smoke or soot soiling without first consulting a professional. Sometimes adding a water-based cleaning product like detergent can exacerbate losses.

How are fire soils dissolved?

• Soot that bond to surfaces on the chemical level must be dissolved or suspended in a solvent before they become removable.
• Using a cleaning product can help loosen soots from surfaces, allowing us to flush them away using a cleaning agent.
• Hot water extraction equipment can help remove soots from textiles and other soft furnishings in the home after the application of dry solvents.

Can soot residues be thrown in the trash?

Several rules and regulations are surrounding the disposal of fire soiling and the chemical solvents used to dissolve them. Different states have different rules and laws that we must adhere to and prevent environmental damage. General rules of thumb are to avoid disposing of solvents in septic systems or open-sewer points. Dry cleaning solvents, in particular, must be bagged up in sealed packaging and taken to an industrial waste facility for disposal. Equally, disposing of cleaning fluids in a storm drain is prohibited. SERVPRO can collect debris and waste to take away from your property after restoration is done and leave your home in a clean, preloss condition.

The correct elimination and disposal of soot, ashes, and residues in general from a fire-damaged property are essential to controlling indoor air quality, odor, and loss mitigation. Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080.

Faulty Wiring Caused Fire in My Home Leaving Me With Severe Fire Damage. Whom Should I Call?

9/1/2020 (Permalink)

Our professionals have state of the art equipment to clean up and restore your home so you can return safely after faulty wiring causes a fire.

Hire SERVPRO Technicians in Wilmington to Help You Handle the Fire Damage in Your Property.

The aftermath of a fire can cause more severe damage than the flames caused. Immediately the firefighters leave your residence, contact a reliable restorer in Wilmington like SERVPRO to minimize losses and get your property to its pre-fire condition. Our technicians have the skills and experience in handling fire damage of any magnitude.

Why SERVPRO professionals?

At SERVPRO, we have well-trained, certified, and highly skilled technicians who can handle the fire damage in your Wilmington property. Our professionals can professionally handle the cleaning and restoration of your property after the unfortunate incident. We take all sorts of safety precautions, and we can mitigate the fire damage quickly. We can perform a thorough inspection of your home and determine the services you need to get your home to its pre-fire damage state. We offer services such as:

Pack-out services

Water damage restoration

Soot and smoke damage cleanup

Deodorization

Our restoration process is simple, fast, and efficient. Our team is certified and strives to provide our customers with a stress-free restoration experience.  Our general contractor's license number is 1992104829.

Can technicians clean my stained kitchen appliance? 

Our technicians use approved and unique products that can clean soot and smoke residues on various surfaces. Manufacturers use materials that cannot withstand aggressive agitation to make kitchen appliances. We can first clean the soils with a cleaning agent before we apply absorbent powders. We can use stain absorb powder mixed with a solvent spotter to clean the surfaces effectively and safely.

How do restorers handle mold?

During water damage restoration, our technicians can conduct mold removal. Mold infestation can ruin your home and cause serious health issues if not dealt with promptly. We use approved techniques and advanced products when dealing with mold growth to minimize its spread. We can use concrobium, an antimicrobial that destroys 99 percent of organisms it contacts on the affected area. We can also remove the moldy materials and dispose of them.

We also dry the affected area thoroughly. We can use a ventilation box fan to increase airflow in the property and remove any odors. The equipment also eliminates the charcoal-like smell in the property.

Do not let fire damage stress you out. Contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080 for effective restoration. "Like it never even happened."        

Want to learn more about Wilmington.

What Does Fire Damage Restoration Entail?

8/26/2020 (Permalink)

Call our experts after you experience a fire disaster, we have training in fire & smoke restoration, odor control, upholstery & fabric cleaning.

Our SERVPRO Technicians Cover Every Corner When Dealing With Fire Damage In Your Home.

Fire Damage Remediation Services in Wilmington, Like SERVPRO, Remove Harmful Soot Residues from Various Surfaces, Neutralize Unpleasant Odors, and Reconstruct Fire-Damaged Structural Elements and Objects.

When fire impacts your Wilmington area home, it damages it in specific, predictable ways. In general, depending on the kinds of materials burned, how oxygenated the fire is, and how long it lasts, fire harms your residence in the following four primary ways:

It consumes certain materials, leaving behind soot residues.

It produces airborne particles that later settle throughout your residence.

It forms acidic waste products that discolor, causes corrosion, or otherwise damage surfaces they form or settle on.

It generates persistent unpleasant odors that negatively affect the overall air quality in your home.

After suffering fire damage, you need to contact a reliable remediation service. These experienced professionals can effectively remove odorous soot residues from around your home, helping to both prevent additional fire-related damage and neutralize annoying odors. Afterward, they can also help you reconstruct structural elements and materials harmed or destroyed in the blaze.    

How Do Soot Residues Affect Surfaces?

SERVPRO, a Wilmington fire damage restoration company, understands how soot residues affect surfaces around your home. This knowledge enables our technicians to more easily locate and effectively eliminate or treat these odor-producing fire wastes. Some ways fire residues reach, and bond to surfaces around your home are:   

Fires burn many synthetic substances, leaving hard-to-clean greasy residues where they occur.

Inefficient combustion of materials produces particle-carrying smoke that travels throughout your home, depositing odorous particles wherever it goes.

Porous surfaces and objects most readily absorb settling smell-causing smoke particles.

Fire-related heat enables odorous particles to more thoroughly bond with household items and structural elements.

As smoke rises, it covers the interior surfaces of your HVAC system with smelly particles that can later blow into other parts of your residence.

SERVPRO uses different cleaning methods to remove odorous particles and soot residues, depending on how these substances are initially bonded to particular surfaces. Sometimes our technicians have to use a combination of methods to successfully remediate affected materials.

What Does SERVPRO Do to Neutralize Odors in Your Fire-Damaged Home?      

Often, the most daunting task involved in fire damage restoration is odor neutralization. These unpleasant, challenging to remediate fire-related smells are a product of both airborne particles and surface-coating residues. Our experts, therefore, employ methods that address both sources of these persistent reminders of a fire. In doing this, they:

Use air movers and high-velocity box fans to replace particle-rich air with cleaner outdoor air.

Filter your home’s air with state-of-the-art scrubbers that eliminate odorous particles and noxious gases.

Counteract smoke particles with ozone gas machines.

Neutralize smells with natural oil-aerosolizing Vaportek devices.

Use thermal foggers to deodorize even the most difficult-to-access areas.

Clean your HVAC system with specialized cleaning systems.

Remove non-grease residues with dry sponges.

Clean up greasy fire-related deposits with cleaning solutions made of vinegar or tri-sodium phosphate (TSP).

Employ abrasive blasting, wire brushing, or scraping techniques to removing charring and tough-to-clean smoke residues.

Pressure wash non-grease deposits off of impacted structural elements.

These various measures often successfully remedy the annoying odors related to fire damage. After they have been employed, impacted homes often make a fire event smell "Like it never even happened."  

Is SERVPRO Capable of Fully Restoring My Fire-Damaged Possessions and Furnishings?

As a firm certified by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC), SERVPRO professionals are specially trained in the restoration of numerous things. They can restore harmed objects and reconstruct those that have been destroyed. Some of the various things our workers are experts in restoring are hard surfaces, carpets, rugs, upholstery, leather-covered furnishings, and items made of various fabrics. Also, as members of the Association of Builders and Contractors, we are skilled at reconstructing destroyed structural elements and certain household contents.

With all that said, house fires are relatively common occurrences that often take homeowners by surprise. They can arise from any of a number of causes. Many of these blazes result from such mundane things as cooking mishaps or careless accidents around the house. Grease fires that quickly get out of control and family members falling asleep on the couch with a lit cigarette in hand are both oft-seen, unfortunate scenarios. Other times, more unusual circumstances, such as rogue lightning strikes or gas leaks, could start a house fire. Regardless of the cause, though, you certainly need trained fire damage restoration professionals after the fire has been extinguished. Quality services like SERVPRO have the right expertise and equipment to return your residence to its pre-fire condition quickly and cost-effectively.        

If you ever need help neutralizing unpleasant fire damage odors and restoring your home to its original condition, call SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington at (302) 762-8080. 

Why is Professional Fire Restoration in Wilmington Better than Regular Cleaning Methods?

5/11/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot travel throughout your home and are difficult to clean. Call SERVPRO for fast, effective remediation.

SERVPRO Technicians Handle the Fire Damage in Your Wilmington Home with Expert Precision 

Fire ripping through your home leaves a substantial amount of devastation in its wake. Even your best efforts only go so far using over the counter cleaning products and home cleaning tools. The professionals come to each fire restoration job with industrial strength equipment and insider knowledge and techniques to get the work done more efficiently. 

How Does SERVPRO Handle the Cleanup After a Fire? 

Facing the fire damage throughout your Wilmington home can feel overwhelming. However, our skilled technicians arrive quickly and begin an assessment immediately to take the burden off of your shoulders. Our goal is to implement a plan to facilitate restoration in the most effective manner possible so that your interior is back to preloss condition sooner. Areas we address during cleanup include: 

• Ashes that settle throughout the home from burned items.
• If the fire is in your kitchen, we handle strong odors from burned food items.
• Stubborn, thick smoke residue that collected on your personal belongings and the walls throughout your home.
• Damage to your electronics and cables.
• Pungent, noxious smells that linger due to burnt synthetic items. 

Should unpleasant odors fill the air in your home after cleanup is complete, we have several deodorization methods we use to get rid of them. Depending on the type of odor, we may use fogging or direct spraying to address it. Our trucks come fully equipped with everything we need to eliminate odorous particles and clean the air, including: 

• Thermal Foggers
• Ultra-Low Volume (ULV) Misters
• Hydroxyl Generators 

We Are Faster to Any Size Disaster at SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington. Give us a call at (302) 762-8080, and we can send a crew out in as little as four hours to assess your fire damage needs. 

More about Wilmington.

Principles of Effective Cleaning for Fire Damage in Your Wilmington Home

3/2/2020 (Permalink)

Homeowners have to deal with many things which may include fire damage. Contact SERVPRO right away.

SERVPRO’s Guide to Fire Damage Restoration in Wilmington Homes

The biggest issue following a fire is not charred items around your home, but the lingering and difficult-to-remove offensive smoke odor. Even the smallest of kitchen fires can produce smoke that penetrates the smallest cavities throughout your home.

Fire damage in your Wilmington home most certainly means smoke damage to accompany it. Cleaning and restoring items within your home are far less costly than replacing or resurfacing, making it the most practical approach in most cases. There are principles for effective cleaning that SERVPRO restoration specialists use in instances of fire and smoke damage.

Locate and Identify Smoke Residues

The projector manager or lead technician inspects your home to locate the smoke residues. They begin near the source of the fire and figure out the route and distance the smoke took throughout the structure. From there, the restorer identifies the different types of smoke residues so they can choose the most appropriate cleaning method to remove every kind of residue.

Capture and Remove Smoke Residues

Restorers use air and cleaning fluids to release the smoke residues and then carry them away. Vacuuming works for dry particles loosely attached to surfaces. If dry, it is crucial to vacuum rather than use wet cleaners since fluid can smear the dry particles into the surface, making them much harder to remove. Dissolving works for residues not loosely attached by loosening the bond with the surface so that the soils suspend in the cleaning solution enabling it to flush away when rinsed. Dissolving includes; washing with a cleaning agent to agitate and penetrate, rinsing to remove suspended soils, and drying through the use of air movers and ventilation. 

Dispose of Smoke Residues

Only dispose of cleaning solvents and wastes into state and locally approved disposal sites. This means not to dispose of them in sewers, storm drains, or septic systems. Wastewater without cleaning solvents, depending on your locality, may be disposed of in treated sewer lines. Your SERVPRO restoration specialists know the regulations pertaining to your residential zone to avoid health risks and hefty fines for improper disposal. 

For 27/7 assistance with fire, flood, or water damage in your home, contact SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington (General Contractor #1992104829) at (302) 762-8080.

See more about Wilmington.

We Point Out Some Useful Deodorizing Products For Your Wilmington

10/24/2019 (Permalink)

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Wilmington's Fire Damage Professionals Point Out Some Useful Deodorizing Products

It is a rare occurrence, but fires tend to happen more than you think, and one day, your house in Wilmington could suffer from an unexpected inferno. According to nationwide statistics, fire damage is the third most common type of property claim sitting under water-related issues and theft. Any time even a small burn occurs on your property, it is wise to call in a professional restoration company such as SERVPRO.

One major problem during even small cases of fire damage in Wilmington is the presence of burnt, unpleasant aromas. When working towards deodorizing a structure, our SERVPRO team can use a wide variety of techniques and products. The first step to removing malodor particles is to remove all burnt materials and soot residues from the affected structure. Once burnt and charred items get disposed of, and soils and soot residues get cleaned, it is still possible that foul odors can linger.

When malodor particles are still present after the cleaning and demolition phases, our SERVPRO team must take other deodorization steps to restore your home to its preloss state and make it seem “Like it never even happened.” When attempting to rid your home of all unpleasant aromas, we often use the six following products.

1. Odor Counteracting Beads

These beads are made of porous materials that get permeated by deodorant chemicals. Once the package gets opened, these chemicals fill the air and work to mask malodors.

2. Deodorant Granules or Pellets

These pellets or granules are designed to absorb malodor particles by acting as a sponge and holding foul odors.

3. Water-Based Odor Counteractants

These chemicals get mixed with water and react with malodor particles to help neutralize them.

4. Water-Based Wet Mist Deodorizers

These products are used in an ultra-low volume fogger and get broken down into a fine mist to help the chemicals penetrate porous materials deeply.

5. Solvent-Based Thermal Fog Deodorizers

These chemicals contain various fragrances and odor counteractants, and they get broken down to microscopic particles when used in a thermal fogger.

6. Water-Based Thermal Fog Deodorizers

Some deodorants used in the "smoke" created by a thermal fogger are water-based and contain counteractants specifically for odors related to smoke, tobacco, or pets.

When mitigating smoke-related odors, we can use a large variety of industrially approved products and methods. For professional assistance after a fire takes place, call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080. We are available 24/7. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Wilmington click here.

Our Professionals In Wilmington Discuss The Industry's Best Surface Cleaning Products

10/2/2019 (Permalink)

We're available seven days a week, and we like to say that We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

Fire Damage Experts In Wilmington Point Out The Industry's Best Surface Cleaning Products

After something burns inside your Wilmington home, the smoke coming from the blaze can cause soot residues to adhere to the surfaces of your contents and building materials. During most fire damage restoration projects, our SERVPRO technicians are tasked with cleaning surfaces inside your house. Soils and soot residues come in all forms, and some are harder to remove than others. Residues adhere differently to the various surfaces of your possessions and structural components.

During the cleaning phase of your fire damage project in Wilmington, our SERVPRO crew can figure out the best methods and chemicals to use to clean each type of soiled surface. As soon as we arrive at your residence, we inspect your building in and out to find all of the damage. As a part of this initial inspection, we test clean surfaces to see which products are most effective. We often use one or more of the following six surface cleaners when removing soot residues.

1. General Surface Cleaners
General surface cleaners are detergent cleaners for use on all painted and washable surfaces. Their alkalinity is low enough (pH of around 10) to protect semi-gloss interior paint.

2. Heavy Duty Cleaners
Heavy-duty cleaners are excellent at removing heavy grease and difficult soil. They are typically highly alkaline solutions and contain ammonia.

3. Liquid Creme Cleaners
Liquid crème cleaners are used for cleaning hard surfaces and will also brighten, polish, and deodorize. They contain mild abrasives that make them excellent at removing soap scum, stubborn spots, rust stains, black marks, and grease.

4. Strong Acid Cleaners
Strong acid cleaners are excellent for removing soot and smoke from stone and brick, as well as mildew, soap scum, and hard-water deposits.

5. Wood Creme Cleaners
Wood creme solutions are a more gentle approach, but they can still prove to be quite useful. The creme can remove stains and also aid in deodorization.

6. Oxidizing Cleaners
Oxygen-based products can remove stains created by an organic substance such as coffee, tea, food, and blood. These detergents also work well as a deodorizer by breaking down and eliminating odor-causing molecules.

If smoke ever enters your house in Edgemoor, Ardentown, Claymont, or Talleyville and you need help with cleaning soot residues left behind, call SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762-8080. We're available seven days a week, and we like to say that We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster.

For more about Wilmington click here.

Upholstered Furniture in Fires

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

During an Upholstery Cleaning

Often times when people sustain a fire or smoke damage to their home, they worry about their belongings. Furniture and upholstery often times are affected by this. SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington is able to successfully clean most items.  We clean furniture even when it is not soiled and dirty looking.  Germs, dust and mites often invade your furniture and you may be unaware.  We are able to professionally reduce these allergens and help extend the life of the furniture.  The smoke and soot from an event may add to the soiling of upholstered furniture.  In this picture you can see the amount of soiling left behind.  We were able to use our SERVPRO products and training to remove the soot.  The odor also was also eliminated with our cutting-edge technology. SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington is the fire damage cleanup and restoration professionals here to help.

Fire in Utility Room

4/25/2019 (Permalink)

Fire stricken room

There are often times we like to share insights our team has developed over the years to help one make a confident decision when choosing a clean-up company such as SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington. When it comes to fires that occur sometimes the damage can be devastating. In the photo attached, the home sustained a substantial loss. The cause of the fire was unknown at the time of this posting. You can see where the fireman banged holes to see if there was flame or burning inside the wall cavity. There was a lot of debris from the ruined contents throughout the area. SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington was able to retrieve and save some of the contents and clothing from the adjacent rooms. The items we brought back to our warehouse in order to clean and deodorize them while the home was being re-built. We were successful in getting out both the black soot and odors from what we salvaged.  

Practicing Safety With Space Heaters

1/11/2019 (Permalink)

Space Heater

As you probably know the winter season is upon us. There are ways we can batten down the hatches and try to stay safer and warmer. Fires are a major winter hazard. It is important to have a working smoke and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Make sure your portable space heater is up to date, well designed and placed properly. The newer space heaters turn off automatically when they reach a certain temperature and if they accidently get tipped over. Choosing a place to put the portable space heater is just as important. Make sure it is clear and free of another object and it is placed on a hard, even, nonflammable surface. Avoiding extension cords with space heaters are a good practice. We always unplug them here at the end of the day. Unfortunately, some people do not heed or pay careful attention to these warnings and may have a fire that could have been preventable. SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington cares about your safety.

Some Smoke Facts

12/27/2018 (Permalink)

Carbon Chains

Smoke and Soot Facts

Smoke and soot can be very invasive and infiltrate cavities within your home or business, causing odors and hidden damages. Did you know there are different types of smoke? There are two different types of smoke – wet and dry. Different types of soot residue are left behind as a result of the different smoke.

Dry Smoke – Paper and Wood. These types of fires are fast burning, at high temperatures causing some to rise because heat naturally rises.

Wet Smoke – Plastic and Rubber. These types of fires usually are slower burning, tend to smolder, pungent odors, sticky and smeary, carbon chains likely to form

Protein Fire Residue- Evaporation of a material. The smoke is practically invisible, varnishes and discolors paints, odors are pungent

SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington can decipher with our expertise to develop a comprehensive plan of action.

Porch Fire

12/6/2018 (Permalink)

Porch Fire

There are different types of smoke that will play a factor in determining which cleaning method is best to use. Wet Smoke, mostly from plastic and rubber will differ from Dry Smoke, mostly paper and wood and they both will differ from Protein Smoke. Soot is very invasive and can penetrate a lot of nooks and crannies of a home. When the smoke goes into all these cavities it causes odors. SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington specializes in accurately assessing the extent of damage and helps develop a comprehensive plan of action. Each smoke and soot damage situation are different therefore requiring different techniques. Since every situation is different calling upon a specialist and trained company such as SERVPRO of Brandywine / Wilmington at (302) 762 – 8080, can help restore your property properly.

Fire Statistics for the State of Delaware

11/6/2018 (Permalink)

Firefighter

Fire Prevention is essential in all homes. Did you know some home fires could have been prevented? Here are some facts and statistics for the State of Delaware, there have been eight home fire fatalities so far this year. (October 1, 2018) In the year 2017 there were 9 home fire fatalities in our home state. On-duty firefighter fatalities in 2018 are zero as of today. (October 1, 2018). Between 1990 and 2017 fourteen on-duty firefighter fatalities were reported the U.S. Fire Administration. https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/civilian-fatalities/incident/reportList/Delaware.   Fire departments within the State of Delaware are registered with the National Fire Department Registry by either Volunteer, Mostly Volunteer, Mostly Career or Career. In the year 2018, 44.8% were Volunteer, 53.5% were Mostly Volunteer, 0.0% Mostly Career and Career with 1.7%. These percentages pertain to the State of Delaware.

Fire Devastation Before the Holidays

6/13/2018 (Permalink)

Kitchen Destroyed by Fire

Fires can be life changing and life altering, especially during the busy holiday season. This home suffered a major fire that practically destroyed the entire house. We helped clean up what debris was left, moved any salvageable contents back to our warehouse for storage until the house is repaired. We were able to clean and restore many of the customers’ contents that she thought were never going to look the same. She was amazed with the work our entire staff put in. In this before picture you see the extreme devastation a fire can do. And after 2 weeks of demo and cleaning this is an after picture, what a difference. The job is far from over and the customer has a lot more work ahead but SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington was there and we tackled the job!

SERVPRO ERP App

4/25/2018 (Permalink)

Our Free SERVPRO ERP App/Service can help your company organize and better prepare your properties in a customized format. Businesses that use our ERP app gain preparedness and security in the case of an emergency. Here are some of the ways businesses benefit from our Emergency Ready Plan App.

Location Management: Businesses with multiple locations are able to manage all of their buildings' emergency needs from this app. Some of our clients use this ERP service for on building, while others use it to manage multiple locations.

Strengthens Protocol: In many cases, our businesses have to address an emergency while the authorized personnel is not on-site. Our ERP App breaks down important information for all employees including water lines, floor plans, and breaker locations.

Faster Response: The ERP app allows you to contact us directly through the app which can be a more direct way to contact us and provide all the information we need to get to the emergency.

Soot and Fire Extinguisher Damage

1/11/2018 (Permalink)

This photo shows the damage that not only a fire can do, but also the damage that a fire extinguisher can do. Even if someone used a fire extinguisher and contained or put out a fire, there can still be a strong odor and chemicals that need to be removed from the building/home.

The chemicals from a fire extinguisher can coat a room quickly and leave a thick dust behind. Normally this extinguisher dusting comes along with a coat of soot. Even if a fire has been small and quickly put out, the smell and chemicals left behind should be properly cleaned out of the space. You can see in the photo how apparent the soot and extinguisher's affects are. This is just one corner of the room, but this entire living room was impacted.

House Fire Before the Holidays

12/28/2017 (Permalink)

Recently our SERVPRO technicians were called out to a property after a large fire. Along with the home owners, our team surveyed the house and the damage to what was left. In this photo, our technicians stand inside the home with the front yard totally visible through the burnt walls. The home was considered a total loss and there was not much left within the property for our team to clean or assist with. As SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington, we did our best to lend a helping hand to the family in any way that we could especially since this trauma occurred right before the holidays. We assisted them in their move to a temporary living space and checked in with them often to make sure they were okay. 

House Fire- Before Board Up

12/7/2017 (Permalink)

Fire/Soot Damaged Room

This picture was taken right before our SERVPRO team cleaned out and boarded up this house. As you can see, there was a major house fire here that affected almost every single room with either fire or soot damage. The fire originated in the kitchen and spread into the dining room, living room, and then to the bedrooms. Luckily, even with the large size of the fire, the structure remained intact and our technicians were able to save and clean some of the contents. Once our team was sure the structure was secure, they started on the demo of the home, removing all soot and fire damaged sections. After the home was rebuilt and brought back to livable conditions, SERVPRO moved the family's cleaned contents back in for them. 

Fireplaces are In-Season

11/7/2017 (Permalink)

The colder months of the year are coming and for those who have a working fire place in their home, it's important to know the how to operate it safely. Before anything else, you should make sure that your fire extinguisher is accessible and that it works correctly. You should also check you smoke detector and your carbon monoxide detector. The fireplace should be clear of anything around it that could catch fire. You should give the fireplace a range of three feet around it with nothing flammable nearby. Cracks and pops that come from the fire should be sure to not land on anything. Before lighting the fire, check the chimney to make sure there are no blockages or animal nests that are lodged in the chimney. You should have you chimney swept every few years as well.

Once you have taken all of these precautionary steps, you should be ready to put your fire place to use!

Fire Damage Services

10/18/2017 (Permalink)

Large House Fire

After a fire, SERVPRO offers many services to restore your home/office/building back to its pre-fire damage state. We offer Structural Cleaning, which includes cleaning of the ceilings, walls, woodwork, carpeting, and floors as well as paint preparation cleaning. We also offer Contents Cleaning. Contents cleaning is the cleaning of the items that were affected by the fire, which includes electronics, wood furniture, artwork, kitchen items, bedding, clothing, and much more. After our main Structural Cleaning, SERVPRO offers Deodorization, which is conducted using our leading technology that attacks the source of smell rather than just covering it up. Beyond these services offered when our customers endure a fire, we also offer other related services. These services include Board-ups, Inventory, Move-Outs, Duct Work, and Metal Polishing.

Fire Extinguisher Tips

10/12/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Extinguisher

Whether working from home or in a large commercial office building, the knowledge of how to correctly and safely use a fire extinguisher and when to use it is something everyone should have. How to operate a fire extinguisher should be displayed somewhere in the office for all employees to see. Here are a list of tips and information on when it is time to use a fire extinguisher:

• The extinguisher should be clean and without any damage
• An escape plan has been established and the fire is not blocking the way out of the building
• All others in the building have been alerted
• The local fire department has been called
• Everyone is safe from the smoke and toxins the fire is creating
• The fire is contained to a single object

Thanks for Calling SERVPRO!

10/10/2017 (Permalink)

Volunteering to Give Back

Our local ASPCA endured a serious set back after a car accident that caused a large building fire throughout their facility. Luckily they called SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington and we came to restore their building back to perfect condition again. Once our work was done we wanted to help in any way we could in appreciation for calling SERVPRO. In order to say thank you for calling SERVPRO, we volunteered and made donations to the ASPCA by bathing the animals, helping with adoption photos, and donating plenty of blankets and sheets to the facility. Some of the animals we bathed were even recent rescues from Hurricane Harvey that were brought to Delaware. We were eager to give back to the ASPCA after their hard time and use of our services. 

Damage Before SERVPRO is There

9/18/2017 (Permalink)

Fire Damage

• Leave soot on surfaces until a SERVPRO of Newark professional arrives and can assess the Fire damage. Cleaning surfaces may further damage furniture and walls.
• Restrain from walking, cleaning, or sitting on damaged furniture, carpets, upholstery, and walls until a SERVPRO of Newark professional has arrived.
• Electrical appliances like televisions sets, radios, microwaves, etc. that may have come in contact with water, soot, or fire should be avoided. Touching or cleaning electrical appliances should be handled by a SERVPRO professional or after consulting with an authorized repair service.
• All food, drinks, and water that are close to a fire damage or a water damage may be contaminated. All consumable goods should not be eaten, they should be thrown out. 
• Leave all ceiling fixtures off. Moving air throughout the damaged rooms may cause more damage. Fire damage or water damage to the electrical wiring of ceiling fixtures are likely to heighten the risk of shock. 
• Do not send damaged clothing and textiles to the dry cleaner before consulting with your insurance agent and your SERVPRO of Newark professionals. Damaged clothing and textiles are likely to be mishandled at a dry cleaners rather than with the use of SERVPRO of Newark's Esporta services.

ASPCA Fire

9/11/2017 (Permalink)

A vicious fire broke out at the Brandywine Valley ASPCA after a car had crashed into the building and caught fire. This was a devastating fire that a not only a precious human life was lost but the lives of some animals as well. This ASPCA location is one of the largest in the Delaware area had been recently renovated. Many cats and dogs were relocated during the restoration and rebuilding of the facility. Luckily, SERVPRO of Brandywine/Wilmington was able to respond quickly and help bring the building back to life. We are proud to be a part of the Brandywine Valley ASPCA's rebuilding process and have made a point to get involved in their adoption events and make any donations we can. 

Roof Hole

4/25/2017 (Permalink)

Roof Tarp

Here is a team of SERVPRO men attending to a hole in the roof as well as the side wall.  In this picture you can see the men working to put down a tarp and securing it with furring strips. They also placed a board over the side window. After a mishap has taken place in a home or building sometimes the structure needs to be secured from additional outdoor elements. Additional elements may be something like additional rain and winds.  The furring strips are placed to help raise, level or help secure the tarp and/or wood. They are placed perpendicular to the joists and then they are nailed in place.  This is a temporary fix until the roof can be properly repaired by a roofer.