Month: June 2018

Help Reduce the Need for Wind Restoration

Bad weather breeds storms, and from those storms, come damaging winds. These sudden bursts of wind that batter your home or business can lead to significant damage.  Although you can’t prevent the wind from blowing, there are a number of things you can do to protect your house or business and minimize the need for wind damage restoration. Hail, wind, lightning, tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes and even the weight of snow cause damage to roofs and building envelopes. The first priority is to prevent further damage. We offer solutions for both repair and replacement while adhering to industry and manufacturers guidelines.

Damaging winds are often called “straight-line” winds to differentiate the damage they cause from tornado damage. Strong thunderstorm winds can come from a number of different processes. Most thunderstorm winds that cause damage on the ground are a result of outflow generated by a thunderstorm downdraft. Damaging winds are classified as those exceeding 50-60 mph. Wind speeds can reach up to 100 mph and can produce a damage path extending for hundreds of miles.

The first thing to do is to keep your property in good condition from the start. A roof that’s in good condition keeping water from getting inside your house, stopping leaks and preventing structural damage. Windows that meet local code requirements can withstand windborne debris. You might also consider storm shutters for extra protection. Doors to the house and garage should be strong, sturdy and fit tightly.

Second, make sure your yard is neat and tidy. Make a habit of storing items in the garage or shed, rather than leaving them out in the yard. Trim your trees on a regular basis and have damaged or broken limbs removed ASAP.

Also, listen to weather reports on a daily basis and get regular alerts when you hear the stormy weather is on the way.

After you’ve done all you can, if damage still occurs, look to a well-established restoration company with a reputation for excellence and service to help repair the damage nature has wrought. Blue River Restoration is that well-established company you can count on and not worry about getting the job done correctly.

Looking to Work on a Fixer-Upper? Here are 5 Tips to Prevent Chaos.

A fixer-upper can be a great way to make money on the side,  have a hobby to escape your everyday life or turn a house into the home of your dreams with your own hands. Just like your home or a business, a disaster can be devastating for a project like this. Good communication with your tenants and routine property checks is always a good idea, but here are 5 tips for a fixer upper or rental property owners to keep in mind to prevent chaos.

1) Whether during a tenants stay or between/before tenants, a deep clean is always a good idea. Whether because of pets, odors, or any type of smell, a deep clean can be so beneficial just being in the house to be able to inspect it can help prevent future damage. Also inspecting after a big storm or natural disaster. Depending on which part of the country the house is, depends on which natural disaster is more relevant. Routine checks and knowing the condition of the property will be a benefit in the end.

2) In the beginning part of working on a fixer-upper, inspecting for past water or mold damage will prevent future damages. It is understood that knowing all that could be wrong with the house is not possible, but inspecting the structure of the house and stripping it down before starting the rebuilding process is a great idea. This will help with huge future unexpected disaster because it was taken care of at the beginning.

3) Inspecting the roof and making sure it is in tack and good condition before purchase is easily the best way to avoid chaos with a fixer-upper. Repairs in a roof or a brand new roof can be anywhere from $10,000-$40,000+. Not to mention what other aspects of the house can be damaged because of a roof leak. Inspecting after rain is a good way to see the condition of the roof.

4) Replacing old or worn electrical and plumbing parts is another huge aspect of making sure a fixer-upper is done correctly. The presence of these elderly building materials is a sign of trouble in either galvanized steel pipes such as sediment can build up in the pipes, and they may leak and corrode or aluminum wiring with being a potential fire hazard. Replacing a home’s plumbing and wiring are budget-killers involving thousands — if not tens of thousands of dollars.

5) Limit the red light factors when buying the house such as drywall problems, rotten foundation or structural problems, bat locations or anything that can add up quick with a total repair along the same lines as roof damage (explained in tip #3). Redoing bathrooms or kitchens is one thing in the world of working with fixer-uppers but to have problems with mission-critical issues that could lead to spending portions of the original budget towards unexpected repairs is what potential can be avoided with rebuying inspections. Understood that there is almost always expenses that come without warning but being able to see as much and be as prepared as possible will go a long way with planning and budgeting towards to the end goal of preventing chaos.

Tips to Clean Your Dryer Vents

Dryer lint is often an “out-of-sight” item and that has a tendency to be overlooked but is a simple task that can potentially be a dangerous situation to your property. The primary issue is fire safety when it comes to dryer vent maintenance and cleaning. Both residential and commercial dryers need to be routinely supported depending on how much usage each dryer gets. When a dryer vent is clogged, airflow is reduced and dryers are forced to work harder. This means the air traveling through the ductwork and vents gets hotter and does not dry properly.  Dryer vent fires cause a substantial number of damages, injuries, and deaths annually directly as a result of failure to clean the dryer vent.

Other then an electrical issue in the dryer, these dryer fires are caused by highly flammable lint that gets caught up in the dryer duct which becomes heated to the point where it ignites. Dryers normally come with lint traps or filters but even though they are designed to capture 100% they in reality only collect around 70%.

According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), there are approximately 15,000 structure fires, hundreds of injuries, and more than a dozen deaths reported each year due to dryer vent fires.  Amazingly, half of all commercial dryer vent fires start from within the lint trap.  The NFPA states there is an average of 3,700 structure fires at hotel or motel properties annually, causing $127 million in damage. Of those fires, 10% are clothes dryer related. In industrial and manufacturing properties, as well as other commercial environments, the statistical percentages grow even higher. The United States Fire Administration says that every year clothes dryer fires account for over $100 million in losses, and dryer fires involving commercial dryer vents have a 78% higher injury rate than residential dryer fires.

Cleaning your dryer vents and ducts can not only prevent fires but also limit mold, mildew and other bacteria in the dryer vent ductwork, allows for better efficiency with laundered items dry more quickly and evenly and enables the dryer to perform properly.

 

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