“The First Thing I Did When Water Damage Strikes - Agence de presse D.I.A.” plus 2 more

“The First Thing I Did When Water Damage Strikes - Agence de presse D.I.A.” plus 2 more


The First Thing I Did When Water Damage Strikes - Agence de presse D.I.A.

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 12:53 AM PDT

Dealing with water damage in your home or business can be extremely stressful and overwhelming. Whether you discovered hidden water damage from a slow leak or you're dealing with sudden flooding from a burst pipe or a storm, we know it can be hard to know where to turn. Water is one of the most destructive elements on earth, and when you discover water damage, immediate action is crucial. Standing water can spread surprisingly quickly throughout a building, and the likelihood of permanent damage increases the longer water sits. If water damage happen in you house you might call an expert flood restoration Australia to fix it. Whether it's from storm floods, flooded basements, broken pipes, sewage backups, malfunctioning appliances, or an overflowing toilet, we will get your life back to normal fast.

The First Thing I Did When Water Damage Strikes

What do you need do for a water restoration?  The first step is to resolve the cause of the water. Whether it's a leaky dishwasher, broken supply line, or sewage backup, the restoration process begins with fixing the problem. Without identifying and resolving the cause of the water damage, you will only have more problems in the future.

Once the cause of the water is fixed, you can remove the standing water and sewage from the affected areas. For larger floods or sewage backups, you might need to pump out the affected area. For smaller jobs, you may use vacuums to suck up the water. Depending on the specific damage, water extraction may take place after removal and disposal.

Furthermore, it is important to inspect the damage and remove materials that cannot be restored. This may include materials like plaster, drywall, ceilings, carpeting, and carpet padding as well as personal items affected by the damage. Unfortunately, furniture, paper-products like books, magazines, and newspapers, and other porous items may need to be discarded. After disposing of materials that cannot be restored, you may need to use the service of professional grade air and water movers and dehumidifiers to dry out areas and materials that can be salvaged. They closely monitor our equipment to ensure the fastest drying time possible and prevent further damage. Dry out may take several days depending on the extent of the damage.

Once the area is dry, it is essential to thoroughly sanitize and deodorize the area to prevent mold and smells from developing over time. In addition to structural materials like flooring, walls, and ceiling, it is also possible to sanitize and deodorize the affected furniture, fabric, and other materials that were salvageable.

The final step to achieve the best result from a water damage restoration is rebuilding and restoring the area to the original condition. This may include hanging the new drywall, laying new carpeting, installing new cabinets, and refinishing hardwood floors. It may be necessary to replace damaged appliances or fix structural issues with your property as well.

Often, water damage starts with a slow leak that builds into a huge problem. You might not notice any signs of water  damage for a long time, which gives mold and mildew a chance to grow and spread throughout your home.Therefore, if you suspect that you may have water damage in your home or business, we highly recommend you to call a flood restoration service for help. An expert in water damage can come in and immediately discover any areas with unseen water retention. As a result, you will be able to sleep easier given the fact that your home is finally free from the water damage and the dangerous mold it can cause.

Restoration Builders Expands into the Midwest Market with Acquisition of Mid America Exteriors - Yahoo Finance

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 08:11 AM PDT

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Sept. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Restoration Builders, Inc. ("Restoration Builders" or "The Company") announced today that it has officially acquired the assets of Mid America Exteriors, Inc. and Mid America Adjusters, Inc. ("Mid America").

Restoration Builders Inc. was founded in 2017 in an effort to meet the explosive demand of the $210B+ insurance restoration industry. They have identified a unique consolidation opportunity of existing restoration and repair contractors, dispersed strategically across the United States. To date, The Company has signed asset purchase agreements with 15 privately held businesses and has scheduled the integration of each business over the next several weeks.

The Company anticipates the combined entity will produce over $100 Million in revenue during 2019.

Mid America was founded by 11-year industry veteran Michael Armalis. Upon noticing a neighbor's difficulty having his roof repaired, Mike immediately knew he wanted to help. He took a position assisting customers with getting estimates for repair services and began learning the business from the ground up. In 2011, he started Mid America, with the goal of streamlining the restoration process for customers. Mid America services the greater Chicago area, along with counties within Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The company reported $11.8 Million in revenue for 2018.

"I am very pleased to welcome Mid America to our team," stated John Lorenz, Chairman and CEO of Restoration Builders, Inc. "This group is known for its high-quality work, exceptional customer service and a full-service program which includes dedicated project managers as well as assistance with insurance paperwork. I truly believe that Mid America shares the same values as Restoration Builders and will make a tremendous addition to our growing network."

Roofing repair is a high-growth sector of the $58 Billion roofing contractor's industry. An estimated five million roofs are replaced each year. The field is considered fragmented and largely comprised of local, privately held companies. The vast majority of customers are insurance policy holders filing a replacement or repair insurance claim.

About Restoration Builders, Inc.
Restoration Builders is a residential and commercial contractor operating within the United States. Our mission is to protect, restore and build properties, strengthen families and support community. We are committed locally and ready to serve wide scale for disaster response. To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.restorbuilders.com.

About Mid America
Mid America Exteriors has over 20 years of experience in the exterior general contracting space. From roofing to siding and all kinds of restoration work, they are dedicated to helping their customers no matter how big or small their needs. While mainly focused on roofing, siding, gutters and windows, they also provide expert water and fire damage restoration and mold removal. For more information, please visit www.gomidamerica.com.

For Further information please contact:

Janet Carnell Lorenz
223851@email4pr.com 
(425) 999-6508

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/restoration-builders-expands-into-the-midwest-market-with-acquisition-of-mid-america-exteriors-300927779.html

How small businesses can keep employees safe during hurricanes - Insurance Business

Posted: 30 Sep 2019 08:16 AM PDT

How small businesses can keep employees safe during hurricanes

Small businesses face many challenges when a hurricane is on the horizon that can put a strain on their operations as well as expose their employees to risks.

"Post-storm, there's a whole slew of industries that get overwhelmed, like roofers, tree companies, hotels, grocery stores, and gas stations," said Brad Wilkins, senior loss control specialist at AmTrust North America, adding that the crush of business activity puts stress on every part of a business's operation, from the back room to the front office.

"We know from experience that when employees start rushing, shortcuts get taken and they're setting themselves up for injuries," explained Wilkins, pointing to other companies, such as trash haulers and water damage restoration firms, who get a ton of requests for a long time after the storm passes through. "It's not just for a matter of days or weeks – this changes their whole business cycle."

Environmental issues can also put employees working in areas impacted by hurricanes at risk. These exposures come primarily from polluted water that can contaminate the air and lead to mold. Having a plan in place to go into areas that have been compromised environmentally is key, but even for those workers not exposed to environmental risks, being proactive before a hurricane strikes is the best way to mitigate injuries as well as keep a business on track and prevent staff from becoming overwhelmed.

Read more: Post-Dorian insureds can't be lulled into risk mitigation complacency

"When a large storm comes through, it affects and shuts down entire communities, and one in four businesses that has to close for at least 24 hours [because of] a disaster never reopens," said Wilkins. "That's really a staggering statistic, especially when we consider that hurricanes and other large weather events cause huge power outages that can shut businesses down for many days or even many weeks."

Business continuity plans put steps in place so that a small business can resume operations in another location or by telecommuting, in turn maintaining customer relationships. A plan like this also keeps the most important part of a business – its people – out of harm's way.

"Say a storm is approaching – it's super important for employers to encourage their own workers to have their own emergency plans in place at home to protect their families and their own property. Not only is it the right thing to do, but business owners are going to do well to understand that employees are going to consider their families a first priority in a time of disaster, and that employees are going to be unlikely to report to work if they feel their families or their homes are being threatened," said Wilkins.

Communication should likewise be at the top of the list for a business. They should know to set up clear, visible communication channels, such as dedicated phone lines with up-to-date recorded messages, according to the AmTrust expert.

"Those lines should also point to a way that employees can provide their own statuses if they're OK or if they're able to travel," he said. "And [in terms of] best practices, it's always good to have these communication channels redundant so that there's not just one. You can have a phone, you can have social media, you can have a company intranet, and these can all be used to let employees know when they should report to work, who to contact if they can, or who to ask questions to."

Emergency plans don't just account for the physical. Decision-makers within a business need to be identified, so they can do things like back-up data offsite and set up cloud systems, all of which need to be planned in advance of a weather event.

"The thing with disasters is that employers need to put their resources in place well before a storm, so that the process is well thought-out and safety is built in. Reacting when an event is on the horizon is almost always not a good idea. Being ready and knowing where you're going to have to move equipment and inventory records, and handle your people to keep them away from wind and water and out of harm's way is the way to do that," explained Wilkins. He highlighted resources from FEMA, such as table-top exercises that take employers through storm scenarios, as a great way to identify the strengths and weaknesses in businesses' emergency plans.

AmTrust also offers risk mitigation resources for businesses in the path of natural catastrophes.

"AmTrust has a full-fledged section on weather preparedness, and it covers all types of weather across the country. It's a good place to go to find manuals that have checklists, sample procedures, and practice scenarios because it's all about being proactive," said Wilkins, mentioning a cautionary tale about why emergency planning is so vital.

"I was personally involved [in an accident] when I was on the claims side. We had a healthcare facility that was a large non-profit which cared for the developmentally disabled, and they didn't evacuate. The employees were looking out of an unprotected window watching the storm advance, and a blown object shattered this very large glass window and injured multiple people, and one of them very seriously, who had to have multiple eye surgeries. These are the kinds of things that can be prevented by having plans in place ahead of time."

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