At Paul Davis Restoration, we want to help you stay healthy and happy in your home, before or after a problem.
Please review our Frequently Asked Questions to find answers to questions regarding fire, water and mold damage. Don’t see your question here? Don’t worry—we’re just a phone call away: (877) 732-8471
WATER Damage:
What causes water damage?
Some reasons residential and commercial properties experience water damage include:
- Toilet overflows
- Water heater leaking or breaking
- Pipe bursts
- Floods, heavy rains and storm damage
- Sprinkler breaks
- Fire damage
What are some hidden signs of water damage?
Although walls and ceilings may look dry after water damage occurs, this is probably not the case. Water, in most cases, enters behind the walls. Using a moisture meter will determine if you have moisture behind the walls. If you do, it’s highly likely you’ll have mold in the future — often as soon as 36 to 72 hours. Wet insulation is also a great place for odors and mold growth.
Please remember that water damage is insidious. Office equipment, paper files, furniture, art work and musical instruments all might look dry on the outside, but might contain lurking moisture that will create permanent damage. Call us at (877) 732-8471 to assist you in restoring your water-damaged home to its previous glory.
Can water damage cause mold?
Water damage is the leading cause of mold growth. Mold, like other bacteria, animal or plant life, needs water to grow. Remove the moisture and water, and you’ve stopped the mold from growing.
There are three main ways mold can develop:
- Moisture
- A food source like drywall, carpet or organic dust
- Warm temperatures
Let Paul Davis Restoration help remove water damage and mold services. Please call us at (877) 732-8471 or click here to fill out our online form.
How can we safely inspect our house or business for water damage?
Hire a professional. Sadly, there’s no way to really know unless you have moisture meters and know where to look for hidden moisture.
How does the water removal process work?
First, we need to extract as much water as possible. Then we either remove all furniture or put it on blocks. Carpet needs to be taken up in the correct manner as to not rip or ruin seams. We then dispose of the wet padding before extracting as much water from the sub floor as possible. These steps may vary based on the severity of the water damage.
How can we help speed the repair of my home or business after a storm or flood?
Call a qualified water damage restoration specialist as soon as possible, because they’re often very busy after bad weather. If you own a business, call us at (877) 732-8471 to discuss our Emergency Services Program and how it can help you keep your operation going even after a disaster.
Meanwhile, here are some tips:
- Remove as much water as possible.
- Get all the items in the affected areas onto wood blocks, off the flooring.
- Carefully remove the baseboard from your home ( wall base for office ) and drill large quarter-size holes on the unpainted areas, allowing air movement to start drying the walls.
- Remove any sensitive moisture items (computers, very expensive furniture, artwork, etc.) to unaffected areas.
What is “air drying”?
It’s one of many tools available to professional water damage restoration companies. We use speed dryers and air movers to move moisture off water-damaged materials like carpets and furniture. A commercial dehumidifier then catches the air and removes it from the room.
Which insurance companies pay for your water damage extraction and drying services?
All insurance companies pay for our services. As a homeowner or business owner you have the right to use whoever you want to mitigate the water damage. Paul Davis Restoration works in tandem with your insurance company to prevent delays to your compensation.
How much do you charge for water damage restoration services?
There are too many issues involved in estimating water damage costs to say without more information. Please call us directly at (877) 732-8471 and any one of our friendly, expert staff members will assist you.
MOLD Damage:
What is mold remediation?
Mold remediation is the removal and/or clean up of mold from an indoor environment, such as a home or a business.
If a property has serious mold damage, it’s best to hire mold removal professionals as specialized equipment and methods may be required. Call us at (877) 732-8471 and we’ll happily answer all of your questions.
What makes mold grow?
Mold enters your home as tiny spores. The spores need moisture to grow. Molds can grow on almost any surface, including;
- Wood
- Ceiling tiles
- Wallpaper
- Paints
- Carpet
- Sheet rock
- Insulation
The mold grows best when there is a great deal of moisture, high humidity or after a flood. There is no way to get rid of all molds and mold spores from your home, but you can control mold growth by keeping your home dry.
How does mold grow?
Mold requires nutrients, water, oxygen and favorable temperatures to grow. Nutrients for mold are present in dead organic material such as wood, paper or fabrics; mold can also derive nutrients from some synthetic products such as paints and adhesives.
Many molds thrive at normal indoor temperatures; few, if any, can grow below 40°F or above 100°F. Outside this range molds may remain dormant or inactive; they may begin to grow again when the temperature is more favorable. Temperatures well above 100°F will kill mold and mold spores, but the exact temperature required to kill specific species is not known.
How long does the mold removal process take?
It depends on many factors such as how much mold is present, where the mold is growing (behind walls, etc.), and the materials it grows on. Most mold removal takes anywhere from one to five days.
Every situation is different, so please call us at (877) 732-8471 to discuss your specific problem.
How do I know when professional mold removal is complete?
Third-party testing is usually the best way to test for complete mold removal verification. We always recommend pre- and post-testing to ensure accurate results.
Do I need to hire a mold remediation/removal expert to remove mold, or can I do it myself?
Good question. Actually, anyone can remove mold from a home or a business as long as they understand that when you disturb mold (clean it, cut it out, etc.), you will distribute the mold spores throughout the property, creating new mold issues.
The only way to correctly remove the mold is to build a containment using negative pressure and the correct personal protective equipment. You will also need to follow industry standards and hire an industrial hygienist to make sure the mold is removed. Or you could call Paul Davis Restoration, which is certified in mold removal by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification.
FIRE Damage:
Is all fire damage alike?
Absolutely not. Each home and business contain different materials that burn and create their own cleaning and restoration challenges. Here are the four main categories of fire damage and smoke damage cleaning sources.
- Natural substance smoke residue – Natural items that burn include paper, wood and items containing them. The color of these residues are usually black and gray. These smoke residues can be cleaned using a vacuum and dry sponge. Yet many smoke particles are small enough to go anywhere in the dwelling, and each particle causes a smoke odor. Not removing these particles can lead to lingering odors. Fire damage restoration professionals can use special solutions to remove smoke particle residue.
- Protein substance smoke residue – Chicken, beef and other proteins, when burned, make a very large, greasy mess. Cleaning these residues takes training and understanding of protein burn cleaning.
- Synthetic substance smoke residue – Any type of plastic or derivative of plastic becomes very slick to the touch when burned. Again, cleaning these types of fire damage residues is complicated and needs specialized training.
- Oil burner malfunction residue – Otherwise known as a “puff-back,” this is when an oil burner misfires and shoots burned-oil residue throughout the heating system and the property.
How can we safely inspect our house after fire damage?
Although you may have amazing amount of technical and practical experience, legally only a licensed inspector (structural engineer, industrial hygienist, etc.) can determine the safety of any dwelling.
We had severe fire damage in our home, and the fire department used a lot of water to put the fire out. What should we do now?
It’s always best to hire a professional restoration company certified with the IICRC who has at least five years of proven experience in the field.
But while you are waiting for help to arrive, here are some tips to get started:
- Remove as much smoke from the home as possible by using carpet or fire fans from your local supplier.
- Extract as much water as possible.
- Remove wet carpet over wooden floors to prevent wood floors from buckling.
- Apply Vaseline on all metal objects to prevent corrosion.
- Don’t start cleaning walls unless you have been given correct instructions. Doing it incorrectly will create more damage.
- Get scraps of hardwood and put them under all objects on the floor. This will help prevent some mold growth and permanent staining.
- Find commercial dehumidifiers and place at least one in every room in the house. This will help remove moisture from the home and prevent mold growth.
- Don’t throw anything away. The insurance company has experts that can evaluate extremely burnt items and pay you the value. Even things that look destroyed have some monetary value.
The Fire Department recommended that we board up our home/business. Is that something that you can do?
Yes. Paul Davis Restoration has a trained team that will make sure your home or business is secure. An eager handyman might insist they can do it, but a botched board-up can let intruders into your property. Besides the risk of theft, you are legally responsible for injuries that a thief may sustain in breaking and entering. The correct equipment should include a 3/8″ plywood with two-by-fours bolted over windows from inside the property. The front door, if needed, should have a secure lock with keys held by only you and your restoration contractor.
Call us at (877) 732-8471 to assist you in securing your property after a fire.
Do we have to throw out all of our food after a fire?
The fire’s heat will expand and contract your food cans, boxes and bags, letting in smoke that will make the food inedible. Remember, this smoke contains harmful carcinogens that will make you sick — or worse. Wait until your insurance adjuster reviews the products, and then throw them out.
If you can’t wait for your adjuster, make a video of the products before throwing them away.
We have fire coverage in our property and homeowner’s insurance. How does Paul Davis Restoration help with our insurance claim?
When you call us, we will inspect the damage at no charge, and give your insurance provider a true estimate on the cost of repairs. Plus, we will keep you in the loop throughout the process. If it’s under the deductible we can take care of the insured directly without filing a claim. If it is a probable claim that will exceed the deductible, we will get you involved and provide a detailed estimate of the loss.
If this makes sense to you, call us. We’re available 24 hours a day for any kind of loss, including fire, flood, smoke, vehicle impact, and vandalism. All you have to do is call us at (877) 732-8471.
How can we estimate the extent of the fire damage for insurance purposes?
If you are having the insurance company pay for your damages, you’ll need special software to create an estimate to their specifications. Many homeowners and building owners hire their favorite contractor or home improvement company and can often find themselves in a battle with their insurance adjuster or end up without adequate compensation for their repairs.