Re-Occupying Montgomery Property After Fire Damage

7/8/2024 (Permalink)

Team SERVPRO has the certification, experience and the tools to tackle the fire damage situation in your home. Contact us day or night, 24/7.

Fire Restoration Actions Necessary for a Habitable Montgomery Home 

You can enjoy natural beauty, modern amenities and a lively community within Montgomery Village, considering it is one of the early planned communities designed in the 1960s. Lake Whetstone and Cabin Branch Creek are the perfect sites if you love water-based activities like fishing. For other outdoor activities, parks like Apple Ridge Recreation Area, McKendree Playground, and The Heights Tennis Court are worth checking out. Shopping facilities include Montgomery Village Center, Montgomery Village Farmers Market and Lidl. The Montgomery Village Fall Festival and Holiday Craft Bazaar are worth attending if you crave interactions with people. 

Fire readily chases you out of your property with noxious smoke fumes and heat. However, the fire damage your Montgomery Village property develops can keep you away over extended periods. SERVPRO® steps in after such incidents, helping you retake your property. We aim to save you time and ensure an adequate response that resolves your difficulties.

Problems from fires that can keep you out of your property

• Soiled surfaces
• Hazards from compromised materials
• Roof and wall openings

Smoke movements spread soot over different surfaces, including walls, ceilings, tables, seats and other valuables. Unless you clean these items, any contact leaves your hands or clothes soiled, thus making it impossible to perform regular activities within your house. Cleaning soot can be more challenging than dealing with regular soiling since some residues are deeply embedded on surfaces while others are sticky. SERVPRO technicians use various cleaning techniques, including vacuuming, spraying foam and ultrasonic cleaning to clear smoke residues. 

The heat produced during a fire is an enemy of many materials, including structural wood and the PVC insulating power cables within the house. Charring or melting can create severe hazards such as collapse and electrical shorts. The first solution to this problem is proper evaluation, which reveals all problem areas. Our crews use circuit analyzers and char gauges for assessment. We also perform a controlled demolition to resolve them.

Other essential steps

• Installing roof tarps
• Boarding up windows 
• Installing temporary fencing around the property

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown understands the challenge fire damage presents and thus helps you devise appropriate response plans. Call us at (301) 215-2112. 

The Focus of Fire and Smoke Mitigation in Gaithersburg Homes

9/11/2023 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg for fire and soot restoration. We are Faster to any size disaster™.

Effective Post-Fire Cleanup Services 

Gaithersburg is one of the larger communities within the Washington DC metropolitan area, which continues to grow. As one of Maryland's top ten largest cities, more than 70,000 live in this prominent Montgomery County community. As you might expect, with settlements throughout the state that have been around since before the American Revolution, the region has much in the way of historic properties. Though incorporated in 1878, you can see much of the area's role in significant eras at the Gaithersburg Community Museum.

Disasters like fires leave a pressing need for fire and smoke mitigation in Gaithersburg properties. Our experienced team is Large Loss certified and trained, allowing us to manage massive cleanup in condominium complexes like The Copley at Crown and Oak Wood. In addition, we have trailered equipment to help with commercial properties like the facilities for IBM, Sodexo, and Lockheed Martin, headquartered in Gaithersburg. Fast mitigation is vital with several wealtheir neighborhoods and historic properties throughout the Olde Town district.

Fire and Smoke Mitigation Solutions 

Fire and smoke damage can devastate your home. We must work fast to overcome the pressing issues that create a volatile environment for our restoration technicians or your family.

• Air Quality – We clean up the particles circulating in the environment with equipment like HEPA 500 air scrubbers. Filtration can trap microscopic debris.
• Surface Cleaning – Soot can land on building materials and destroy them if our technicians do not resolve the issue quickly. 
• Fire Damage Repairs – We assess structural damage and the need for controlled demolition. Our contractor license allows us to complete build-back services as well. 

While you let our experienced team get to work on mitigating fire and smoke loss effects, take advantage of the attractions and amenities of the city. Scratch your retail itch at Kentlands Market Square and Washingtonian Center, or have a bite at local eateries such as El Meson Restaurant. SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown (301) 246-8636.

Fast Fire Damage Restoration in Germantown Homes

5/22/2023 (Permalink)

Each fire is different. We have the ability to evaluate and clean all types of smoke and soot.

Smoke and Fire Damage Cleanup Services 

Being the third-largest municipality in Maryland, Germantown is home to more than 91,000. This number might still be higher when you factor in establishments like Montgomery College. However, this large population leaves a lot of opportunities for disasters, such as fire losses. Locations like the Canterbury Apartments and the Hamptons at Town Center represent a popular type of residence in the region and a challenge for fire recovery when multiple units get impacted simultaneously.

Similarly, businesses pose a threat to fire damage restoration in Germantown as well. With the growing community within the Greater Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, shopping and cultural education complexes are plentiful. Those visiting the area can find several shopping locations and retail stores at The Shops at Seneca Meadows, the Fox Chapel Shopping Center, and the Neelsville Village Center. Fire damage in these locations requires fast and deliberate mitigation strategies to keep multiple businesses from suffering smoke and soot damage.

Cleaning Up Soot and Smoke Damage 

When cleaning up soot and smoke damage to structures, we must evaluate the condition of the affected building. We are Large Loss specialists for post-fire cleanup in area businesses, including massive facilities like the Holy Cross Germantown Hospital and venues like the Germantown Community Center and the Mehfil Banquet and Conference Center. Our experience as leading FSRT-Certified technicians allows us to manage soiled materials and contents in a structure rapidly with:

• Surface cleaning
• Soft goods cleaning
• On-site content cleaning
• Soot removal 

While fires can be stressful, take a relaxing stroll around Gunners Lake or through Leaman Park and give our experienced SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team a chance to mitigate loss in your residence. The prompt arrival of our restoration team protects your property and ensures that the proper steps get taken immediately to overcome structural damage, soot, and smoke odors. Call today at (301) 963-8474.

Factors Making Gaithersburg Fire Damage a Restoration Challenge

4/13/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals in Gaithersburg are trained to handle every level of fire damage, including the odors that follow. Call us today!

SERVPRO Has Solutions for Fire Damage Effects

It is important to recognize how destructive fire events can be for homes and businesses. In many cases, there is no option other than pursuing professional restoration and cleaning, as the insurance company is involved and the thorough level of repair necessary is beyond the capacities of the average homeowner. In addition, there are specific factors that can make fire cleanup complicated, including:

• Safety Concerns
• Structural Damage
• Soot Damage
• Offensive Malodors

Gaithersburg fire damage events require experienced professionals like our SERVPRO team to address. We have experienced FSRT-certified technicians accredited through the IICRC to mitigate loss, clean up after fire damage effects, and restore the damage that smoke and fire effects can do to contents and the structure. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Fire Damage Mitigation

Mitigating damages is one of the priorities of our responding technicians, especially as soon as our team arrives. Emergency services allow us to regulate the spread and severity of loss effects without compromising the structure. It is necessary to overcome safety concerns through specific mitigating actions to make the cleaning and restoration faster and safer for our technicians and any remaining house occupants. Focuses of this effort include:

• Airborne Threats - Soot and smoke solids can become airborne. We utilize air scrubbers and filtration equipment to make the environment safer.
• Standing Water - The extinguishment process can leave standing water throughout the structure. We must remove this water damage threat to protect the property from secondary effects.
• Debris Removal - It is essential to remove burned materials, ash, debris, and other solids related to combustion. Heaps of charred remnants amplify soot and malodor threats.

How Is the Structure? 

Evaluating the structure's condition is a focal point of the job scoping process. Fires are destructive and overwhelming for many building materials used in residential construction, causing complete or partial combustion of these elements in many house areas. Our professionals must evaluate where controlled demolition is necessary and if any building materials impacted can still be preserved and restored to their original appearance.

Can Soot Damage Be Removed?

Soot is one of the most formidable obstacles to remove after fire damage. We must carefully determine the type of smoke damage, the hosting material, and test various cleaning methods to ensure that the selected methods are the kindest to underlying substrates. Typical cleaning solutions include:

• Surface Cleaning
• Abrasive Action
• Controlled Demolition

Managing Odors After Fire Damage 

Malodors are a common byproduct of the combustion process. Not only must our responding OCT-Certified technicians address these smells throughout the structure, but we must also pay careful attention to when porous materials have absorbed smoke molecules and can continue to influence damaged rooms with offensive odors. We have several deodorization practices and products to help.

Restoration vs. Replacement

Careful considerations must be made to determine the best actions when SERVPRO can restore materials at a higher cost. Unique building materials and exotic items can be beneficial to restore over replacing. However, highly available and accessible materials like drywall and particle board cabinetry are often easier to replace than to fix at great length and cost.

Gaithersburg fire damage loss events are destructive and compromising to households and businesses. Because of the urgency of these situations and the requirements of insurance companies to use professional restoration services, we are a preferred vendor to complete the recovery of your home. Give our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team a call today at (301) 963-8474.

Fire Damage Repair in Gaithersburg Needs Experts Like SERVPRO

2/8/2023 (Permalink)

We aim to restore your property as quickly as possible, “Like It Never Even Happened.”

SERVPRO Can Save Your Gaithersburg Home from Lasting Effects of Fire Damage

The lingering smoke and soot residue left after fire damage to your Gaithersburg home can continue to cause structural and aesthetic harm. If the residue is not promptly removed using the right techniques, the damage can become irreparable and even compromise the structural integrity of the building materials.    

SERVPRO technicians understand the importance of time in restoring the fire damage to your Gaithersburg home. We use industry-leading technology to ensure that the soot and smoke damage is removed as quickly as possible without harming the surfaces. We use different cleaning agents and methods depending on the nature of the smoke particles and the surfaces involved. 

Using Chemistry to Remove Smoke Damage 

Smoke is a complex mixture of several chemical compounds that affect different surfaces differently. SERVPRO techs understand the chemistry of the smoke particles. We formulate custom cleaning strategies that break bonds between the particles and the surfaces on which they get deposited.   

SERVPRO techs use cleaning strategies based on the following:

• Altering the pH: We use either acidic or basic cleaning agents depending on the nature of the soot particles. For example, plastic residues are often acidic and need an alkaline cleaning agent. 
• Oxidizing or reducing: Cleaning agents containing bleach and stripping agents oxidize or reduce the soot particles, respectively, and change their chemical nature.
• Enzymatic reaction: Techs use enzymes that degrade certain proteinaceous soils by breaking bonds with the surfaces and removing them easily. Enzymes are most efficient during the restoration of kitchen fires. 

SERVPRO techs ensure that our cleaning agents are safe and won’t damage the surfaces being cleaned. We only use chemical cleaning agents approved by the EPA and OSHA. 

Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474 for a fast and effective service you can trust.

Dealing with Fire Damage Restoration in Gaithersburg

8/10/2022 (Permalink)

Plugging appliances into extension cords can cause fires. Be sure and practice fire safety!

SERVPRO Assists with Fire Remediation in Gaithersburg

Currently, a heat wave has struck the country sending temperatures into the 90s and 100s in some places. People use home appliances like fans and portable air conditioning units when it gets hot. However, one thing many people don’t realize is that many household appliances are not supposed to be connected to power strips or extension cords. Plugging them into extension cords can cause shorts to occur, which might ignite a fire.

When our SERVPRO technicians work on fire damage restoration in Gaithersburg, one of the first things we do is find the source. If the origin was an extension cord shorting out, we could start our inspection process at the location of the short. We can inspect from there to see which of your contents and building materials got torched and ruined. We can also perform wipe tests from the source to other sections of your home to determine where soot residue is present. The wipe tests can also help us determine the type of soot and what methods will work best to clean them.

Once we finish our inspection phase, we can formulate a plan of attack to return your house to its preloss state, “Like it never even happened.” We will first determine which building materials and contents need to be removed and replaced. Then, we can devise a plan for cleaning your possessions and structural components.

Services we can offer after a fire ignites inside your house:

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

If you ever notice that an extension cord in your home has melted and caused a fire, call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474.

SERVPRO Provides Gaithersburg Homeowners a Full-Service Fire Damage Cleanup, Restoration, and Rebuild

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

For Gaithersburg House Fire Cleanups and Reconstruction SERVPRO has No Match!

Cleanup and Rebuilding Your Gaithersburg Home After a Fire

Cleaning technicians of our team are vital components to making every disaster and emergency that affects Gaithersburg homes “Like it never even happened.” Many homeowners want to take the necessary steps to help their house back to its original condition after a traumatic ordeal with cleaning and recovery, but this is not always an option. Unfortunately, with situations like a fire, damaging effects can spread far beyond the ignition point and prove impossible to overcome without the experience and advanced equipment available to professional restoration teams like ours.

Cleaning up after fire damage in your Gaithersburg home can require multiple approaches with several pieces of equipment and high-strength cleansing agents and products. With many hurdles to overcome, it is wise to rely on the experience and continued education of our SERVPRO IICRC-Certified Fire & Smoke Restoration and Odor Control Technicians. We have ready trailers at our facility stocked with effective mitigation equipment and many of these industrial-grade cleansers and cleaning agents to help your home get back to looking its best after a disaster.

Our team works to get mitigation started from the moment that we arrive at your damaged address, but much of the cleaning that your home requires must wait for debris removal and other immediate effects to get addressed to make the property safe for your family and our SERVPRO team working to restore it. Cleaning occurs in many different phases, including soot and smoke residue removal, deodorization, and even wiping down surfaces and removing dust and debris during the demolition of non-salvageable components of your house.

As we care about your family and home, we only choose the best approaches to recover your damaged property after a fire. While ozone machines, for example, can be highly effective for the purification of indoor air quality concerns, they are not safe to use around humans, pets, and plants. We approach every situation with full working knowledge of the effects to overcome and what our customer needs. Hydroxyl generators are a viable alternative to improve indoor air quality during the cleanup.

Cleaning is vital to restoring fire loss effects, and there are many phases to this facet of the restoration industry. For significant fire-damaged homes, we offer a reconstruction program, work with you and your insurance adjuster, and make a seamless transition from cleanup to renovation.

When you want to get your home looking its best after a fire, you can trust the experienced technicians of our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team. You can reach us 24/7 at (301) 963-8474.

Trust SERVPRO with Fire Damage in Your Gaithersburg Home

5/11/2022 (Permalink)

For fast and efficient service call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474.

Fire Damage Cleanup in Gaithersburg Homes

Fire damage to your Gaithersburg home can be an overwhelming burden. Even after a fire has been extinguished, structural and content deterioration can persist for some time. The smoke and soot that linger in the property accelerate the corrosion of some materials in the property. 

This can significantly damage the visual appeal of metal or stone materials. Thus, a speedy response differentiates between salvaging contents and disposing of extremely damaged ones.

After a fire damage incident in Gaithersburg homes, the first 48 hours are crucial for recovering as many valuables as possible. When evaluating a home after fire damage, SERVPRO considers certain things that ease decision-making on how to repair.

Considerations While Evaluating a Property

• The effects of heat and smoke
• The sentimental value of items
• Restoration vs. replacement costs

When to Clean HVAC After a Fire

Smoke and soot leave odors absorbed into the carpets, walls, curtains, and clothing. The longer residues stay on, the harsher the smells. Also, there is a danger of hidden soot and odors in a system like the HVAC ducts, so it is sensible to work with SERVPRO. Our technicians respond with high-tech equipment for proper soot cleanup and restoration.

Cleaning the HVAC system is not mandatory after every fire damage incident. Therefore SERVPRO technicians inspect the system to test for smoke residues. The ductwork can spread smoke particles back to the house after restoration has been completed. Cleaning is usually necessary in case of moderate or heavy smoke deposits. Additionally, we can apply duct sealing when cleaning is not possible in some parts of the duct system.

Factors that Determine the Feasibility of HVAC Cleaning

• The severity of the fire
• Location of fire
• How long the fire was in progress

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown follows industry-standard guidelines after fire damage to help return your home and contents "Like it never even happened." Call us at (301) 963-8474.

Our Crew Is Here To Help After A Fire In Your Gaithersburg Home

3/9/2022 (Permalink)

Give our professionals a call anytime that disaster strikes at (301) 963-8474 and we can help you however you need.

Improving Content Management For Fire-Damaged Gaithersburg Homes

We know that to truly protect a Gaithersburg home after a fire loss incident, we need the help of the residents before we arrive as much as they need the efficient recovery practices we provide. Preemptive actions taken by the homeowners can work to protect the contents of your home from damaging effects like soot residue. This spreading effect can leave a layer of thick carcinogens on the surface of your belongings and furniture that can be challenging for even our experienced team to clean.

With the vast array of effects that follow fire damage in Gaithersburg homes, it is no surprise that our recovery team is one of the most experienced and well-trained on our SERVPRO team. Our technicians not only pursue the accreditation from the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in Fire & Smoke Restoration, but many of our team pursue secondary endorsements, including structural drying, odor removal, carpet cleaning, and content management.

The sciences behind restoring your belongings after a fire loss incident are continually evolving and expanding, weaving in new practices, equipment, and products. Even with our efficient approach to loss incidents, we encourage homeowners to move at-risk contents and furniture in their houses to unaffected areas. Not only can this prevent unnecessary damage to these items, but it can also provide a better space for our mitigation processes to begin.

While we strive to provide on-site recovery for specific belongings when possible, it is unlikely that our content department does not need to move some of your possessions to our nearby facility for focused restoration. When your items reach our SERVPRO facility, we can focus on elements like soot removal, deodorization, drying, and safe storage of your belongings until they are to get returned to a restored property.

As damaging as fire losses can be for your home, our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team can help to reduce the cost of this recovery with our content pack-out process. We can get lightly damaged items to our facility nearby for cleaning, restoration, and storage. Give our professionals a call anytime that disaster strikes at (301) 963-8474, and we can help you however you need.

Immense Fire Damage? Call Pros for Skilled Restoration in Gaithersburg!

2/20/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with the aftermath of a fire can cause stress. Contact SERVPRO to help you through this time. We are standing by 24/7 - 365 days a year.

SERVPRO’s Fire Damage Restoration Team is Here 24/7 for Gaithersburg Residents

After a fire inside your Gaithersburg property, the fallout you face can feel overwhelming. Even if you only had a small fire in the kitchen or electrical system, you could get left with tough smoke odors and intensive cleanup. A fire is reported as often as every 24 seconds in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). If you find you end up in a situation where you need help, SERVPRO is there to help area residents. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, getting your property back to normal quickly with proven methods!

Fire damage restoration in Gaithersburg means handling every aspect of the situation. Not only will there be charred debris to dispose of, but you also have to worry about hidden moisture from water used to put out the fire. On top of all of that, you have stubborn smoke odors leaving a reminder of the fire that happened. SERVPRO is the trained team you need on your side for many reasons, including:

• We leave no area unaddressed when assessing and inspecting your property. This means addressing potential hazards, looking for hidden moisture, and carefully working to separate salvageable contents that we can clean and bring back to life.
• Information is crucial in these situations, so you can always look to our crew chief and team members for explanations of all work performed. We also act as a liaison with your insurance company to help your fire damage claim move along without a hitch.
• Nobody wants lingering reminders of a fire, so our odor control technicians (OCT) get to work ensuring that the air that you must breathe is free of foul-smelling particles. The goal is to leave everything cleaned and deodorized so that you get your house back to pre-fire condition.

Do you have questions about fire damage restoration and what we can do to help? Get in touch with us at SERVPRO of Gaithersburg/Germantown by calling (301) 963-8474 to speak with a member of our team!

What Homeowners Can Expect from Fire Restoration in Germantown

11/19/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage can seem quite overwhelming. Team SERVPRO can help with the entire process. We are standing by 24/7 for your emergency call.

A Company Like SERVPRO Provides Effective Fire Restoration Services in Germantown

After an emergency fire, it can seem hopeless to look at the destruction. As a homeowner, you might wonder where to start. SERVPRO specializes in remediating and restoring the structures and contents that a disaster such as a fire has caused. We are committed to each step of the restoration process to see that your residence is as good as it was before the fire. Our restorers meet the high standards of the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Although a disaster can be crippling, the fire restoration process in your Germantown residence does not have to be. We can work with your insurance company and provide a rapid and accurate assessment of the destruction for repair. Our SERVPRO technicians can assess which items can be salvaged and which ones require replacement. After the inspection, we can also determine what equipment, technology, and products to use during the restoration process. The fire restoration process differs based on the severity of the damage, the type of property, and the amount of time that has elapsed since the fire. We can take the following steps to assess and repair your property.

• Debris removal
• Soot, smoke, and dust cleanup
• Move out services
• Deodorization

The soot and smoke damage that fires often produce speed up the corrosion and deterioration of the structures and contents of a building. The water or dry chemicals that firefighters use to extinguish fires can compound the problem. Furthermore, fires leave behind a toxic smoke odor that needs to be neutralized and deodorized. SERVPRO’s effective response can stabilize your property quickly to ensure the recovery of as many contents as possible.

If there is water damage, our SERVPRO team can remediate it using water extraction, air moving, and dehumidification equipment. If there is difficult soil or heavy grease on certain areas, we can use heavy-duty cleaners to remove them. Typically, they are highly alkaline solutions containing ammonia. We mix them with warm water for general purpose cleaning.

After a fire damage incident, fire restoration can bring your property to its normal state. SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown can help you minimize loss and the inconvenience that fire damage causes. Call us any time at (301) 963-8474.

SERVPRO Offers Premier Fire Restoration Service to Gaithersburg Homes

10/12/2021 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating, and the smoke and soot often need professional remediation.

SERVPRO can Save Gaithersburg Property Owners Time and Money on Fire Restoration

Seeing your beloved home charred beyond recognition after a fire incident can be heart-breaking for any homeowner. Hiring professionals like SERVPRO for the fire restoration of your Gaithersburg home can help you put this traumatic incident behind you. Our IICRC certified technicians work tirelessly to restore your home to normal as quickly as possible.  

SERVPRO techs use several techniques, products, and pieces of equipment to clean the soot and smoke damage during fire restoration of your Gaithersburg home. The approach used depends on the extent of the damage, the type of smoke residue, and the surface involved. We use a combination of temperature, agitation, and chemical action to clean various surfaces.  

How do SERVPRO Techs Eliminate Tough Smoke and Soot Residue During House Fire Cleanup at Gaithersburg? 

Eliminating tough and oily residue after fire damage to your Gaithersburg can be a difficult task. SERVPRO techs rely on their knowledge of chemistry to deal with such difficult residues. In most cases, agents that can cause chemical alteration of the debris are used while cleaning harsh residues. 

Enzymes are often used to eliminate protein residues that are difficult to remove using traditional cleaning agents. Enzymes are biomolecules that break down the soils into simple water-soluble substances that are removable with detergents. As enzymes are effective over a narrow pH range, the SERVPRO techs maintain a neutral pH during their use. 

Bleaching agents also work by changing the chemical nature of the soils by either oxidizing them (oxidizing bleaches) or reducing them (reducing bleaches). The goal is to convert a water-insoluble residue to a water-soluble one so that it can easily wash away. 

 Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474; our fire restoration experts are available round-the-clock to answer your calls. 

What Can I Do About the Smell of Fire Damage in My Gaithersburg Home? 

8/29/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration can take a toll on a family. Let SERVPRO handle all the fire damage remediation services needed for your home.

SERVPRO Can Offer Your Home Fire and Smoke Damage Restoration Services! 

Many people do not realize that a home fire is far more than soot, ash, and charred bits of your belongings. Depending on the severity of the fire inside, the damage changes, therefore the remediation plan changes. However, no matter the size of ablaze, it has a way of leaving malodors behind, even when the other aspects of the fire have been covered. 

Picture needing a second look at previous Gaithersburg fire damage restoration that occurred on your property. Physical signs of the fire damage are gone, but you can still get whiffs of the putrid odor when you're in your kitchen, where the accident occurred. Here at SERVPRO, we understand that fire damage can have more than just a visual effect, SERVPRO is here to help you with that. 

Our SERVPRO technicians, local fire and smoke damage restoration experts can help you remediate all aspects of the fire that happened on your property. We use advanced technology to restore your property, and we have some devices designed for smoke-odors in particular. Some of these units and techniques include: 

• Priming paints, designed to lock odors in 
• Thermal foggers, which neutralize the particles causing malodors
• Ozone machines, for severe damage cases 

Remember, here at SERVPRO. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

If you need fire and smoke remediation solutions, call today! Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474. We're ready to help you!

What Makes SERVPRO One of the Best Fire Damage Restoration Service in Gaithersburg?

7/13/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown is standing by to assist you after your fire damage.

SERVPRO Offers Fast, Reliable, and Efficient Fire Damage Restoration to Gaithersburg Homes

Cleaning the fire and the smoke residue is one of the primary challenges facing SERVPRO restorers during fire damage restoration of your Gaithersburg home. An understanding of the behavior of fire and smoke helps SERVPRO restorers to overcome this challenge.  

SERVPRO technicians use several methods backed by scientific evidence to clean residue during fire damage restoration of your Gaithersburg home. Not all fires are one in the same, and neither is the residue that is left behind. Successful smoke remediation is contingent on experts using the right cleaning strategy based on residue and the surface affected. SERVPRO experts use various cleaning agents to remove the smoke damage by enzymatically breaking down or oxidizing the residue. However, removing the water stains and the rust that can develop due to over-wetting material poses a unique challenge during fire-fighting efforts.

Cleaning Methods SERVPRO Uses During House Fire Cleanup in Gaithersburg 

Apart from the residue due to smoke and soot, a fire-damaged home might also have water damage from the water used by the fire-fighters. SERVPRO experts use the following strategy in Gaithersburg homes to clean it-

• Water Stains- Seen on fabrics as ‘brown spots’ caused by over-wetting or slow water evaporation. To remove them, SERVPRO uses peroxide water stain remover. It chemically interacts with detergent to slowly liberate hydrogen peroxide, which oxidizes the stain and removes it. 
• Rust Stains- We use a solution of oxalic-phosphorus acid solution to remove rust. It has a pH of 2 and dissolves rust stains on cotton, linen, silk, wool, synthetic fibers, and carpeting.  

Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474 for round-the-clock professional disaster management service. 

Fire Damage Restoration By SERVPRO in Your Gaithersburg Home.

5/13/2021 (Permalink)

Residues and smoke damage from a fire in your home is no DIY project. Let SERVPRO technicians handle all the dirty work for you.

Gaithersburg Residents Should Work With SERVPRO When Deodorizing Their Fire-Damaged Property

Odor removal is one of the key tasks that our SERVPRO technicians focus on during fire damage restoration in Gaithersburg. The tricky thing about eliminating the odors is that not all come from a single source, which means we cannot rely on a single procedure to do the job. Every fire incident presents us with unique odor problems, but we never panic since we have developed effective deodorizing methods over time.

Which Deodorization Techniques Do SERVPRO Technicians use in your Fire-Damaged Gaithersburg Home? 

Our SERVPRO technicians start by inspecting your fire-damaged Gaithersburg property for odor-causing agents. It cannot make sense if we attempt to deodorize the smell and leave the debris or source in place. After removing the charred structural particles, we then clean the surfaces where the odor-causing particles were resting. We understand that odor particles are so small, and their penetration levels depend on the following factors:

• Heat: Increased heat causes surface expansion, which creates conditions for deeper odor penetration
• Surface porosity: Highly porous surfaces absorb odors
• Residue concentration: Heavily concentrated residues cause much impact on surfaces
• Exposure time: Prolonged exposure to the odor particles leads to greater penetration

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown is Faster to Any Size Disaster. We are always ready to help with fire and smoke clean-up after the unfortunate incident. Call (301) 963-8474 and have when you face any restoration or cleaning emergencies.

Are there Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup Services in Gaithersburg?

4/15/2021 (Permalink)

Count on SERVPRO to get your home to pre loss condition after fire damage.

SERVPRO is a Licensed Restoration Service in Gaithersburg that can Help with Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup

Gaithersburg is one of the top tourist destinations in Montgomery County and possibly the broader state of Maryland. The one hundred and fifty-year-old city has spent much of its life as a farming and agriculture center. Since the turn of the twenty-first century, it has grown into an exciting tech and infrastructure hub. Despite urban planning and modernization, Gaithersburg and its close neighbor, Germantown, retain an old-fashioned feel with numerous farming markets, walks, wineries, and independent family-run businesses. During the summer months, a trip to Gaithersburg can be the perfect getaway with its orchards and the Great Seneca Trail, which runs along the Seneca River banks. Part of urban redevelopment plans has unlocked Gaithersburg's cultural potential with contemporary art galleries, museums, and a bubbling downtown.

In the summer months, the leading attraction of Gaithersburg is its stunning state park. The Seneca River, which runs through Gaithersburg, was once central to its formation, with access to trade routes across the country for its homegrown agricultural products. Today, you can experience the trails yourself while enjoying excellent facilities that include camping grounds, picnic tables, Kayak rentals, horseback riding, and nature tours. Stop by some of the local markets, which run on most weekends, to pick up fresh local produce and snacks before heading into the city's intriguing art and history museums. Butler's Orchard highlights "pick-your-own" days during the season and an excellent dining room serving cider and traditional foods. 

• The Blackrock Center for the Arts is a premiere center for performing and visual arts. The space features seasonal exhibitions, a fantastic permanent collection, and its auditorium for performances. The eclectic program offers jazz, blues, country, and world music.
• Exploring the great outdoors is a central theme of Gaithersburg and Maryland state. Hunt View Riding Academy is a certified training school that offers hacks and tours to the local community. Classes are designed for all skill levels using a tiered system. 
• Lancaster County Dutch Market is a celebration of Gaithersburg's cultural heritage. Dutch explorers first colonized the city, and this market, which has been in operation for over twenty years, offers unique cheeses, baked goods, and Amish produce.

You Can Rely on SERVPRO to Return your Gaithersburg Home to its Pre-loss Condition after Fire Damage

A house fire can often be successfully contained and cause significant staining to your home. Smoke deposits can be challenging to remove, which is why SERVPRO offers:

• House fire cleanup
• Smoke remediation
• Fire damage restoration 

Picking apart a home after a fire can be a stressful and emotional event. Our technicians work with compassion and understanding. Speak to the crew chief about sentimental or high-value items in the home. Our specialist cleaning services can frequently restore things to their pre-fire condition using state-of-the-art restoration technology. 

• Using soda or sandblasting equipment, we can remove charring from wooden frames and furniture.
• Our attention to detail is second to none, and we have experience replacing damaged cabinets or cupboards.
• Using oil-based solvents, we can successfully remove greasy deposits that commonly result from kitchen fires.

Mitigating losses in your home can save thousands in restoration costs. Contact SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown for fire damage restoration at (301) 963-8474.

Germantown Residents can Create Entries for the First Annual Snowpeople Pageant

1/20/2021 (Permalink)

No matter the weather, SERVPRO is on call to restore your fire damage.

Earn the People’s Choice Award and Make Germantown Proud!

Between 9 AM and 5 PM, everyone is invited to come to the Meadowside Nature Center (a short drive from Germantown) on Monday, January 25, 2021, and make their best snow creation. Bring snacks, extra gloves or mittens, a box of facial tissues, and your imagination (plus your camera!) Staff from the Nature Center are ready to post photos of the Pageant entrants on their Facebook page so your friends and neighbors can view them and vote for their favorites. The three with the most votes receive an award.

Here are a few more facts about this (hopefully) snowy day:

• Only all-natural materials are allowed (some materials provided at the Center’s doorway),
• Participation is free,
• Registration is optional, and
• You can call (301) 258-4030 for more information about this activity in Rockville.

Fire Damage Restoration and Cleanup Eliminates Dangers in Germantown Residences

As white as snow is, a fire can leave your Germantown home’s interior coated in black soot. Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474 for fire damage cleanup services.

Professional Fire Restoration Companies Like SERVPRO Proudly Serve Gaithersburg

12/10/2020 (Permalink)

Leave your fire damage to the experts. SERVPRO will leave your home looking "Like it never even happened."

If You Experience a Fire in Your Gaithersburg House, SERVPRO Can Help

Gaithersburg, Maryland is located northwest of Washington, D.C, and many consider it a suburb of the capital city. The city itself has a population of about 60,000 people, and it is split in half by Interstate 270, which is the route from Washington.

The first people that began to settle in the region came to the area as early as 1765. This first agricultural community called their settlement Log Town. A little bit later, in the early 1780s, a man named Henry Brookes bought a large portion of land in the area from a land grant and built a cabin and a brick house on the property.

The town remained to be called Log Town or Forest Oak as the region’s post office was named after a large oak tree in the city until the railroad came through the community. By that time, everyone had started calling it Gaithersburg, named after Benjamin Gaither, who married Brookes’ daughter and ended up inheriting his land.

On the east side of the city sits the older part of town before it grew to the size it is now in recent years. The city’s older half is home to the following:

City Hall: The town was established in 1878, and it became a city in 1968 before the town grew onto the west side of the interstate.

Lakeforest Mall: This famous mall is on the east side of Gaithersburg, and it is a two-door indoor shopping area that is home to over 120 stores and a food court.

Bohrer Park: This city park is a popular recreation hang-out spot with an outdoor pool and water park for families.

Montgomery County Fairgrounds: The home of the annual county fair and a venue for other events during the year.

Olde Towne: When visiting this section of the city’s eastside, visitors can see buildings and landmarks of the region’s past.

The west side of the city is where all of the newest regional growth has occurred. Most of the city’s west side developments were designed using an idea called New Urbanism that keeps smart growth design in mind when developing. The newer, wealtheir half of the city is home to the following developments:

Kentlands Community: This award-winning community was made using New Urbanism principles.

The Washingtonian Center: This region is also known as “Rio,” and it is a famous shopping district. The neighborhood is the home to several big-box retail stores, including Dick’s Sporting Goods and Target.

Lakelands Community: This is another newer subdivision that was built with keeping smart growth design principles in its architecture.

Watkins Mill Town Center: This neighborhood is still in the works, and it is slated to be a community oriented around public transportation systems.

“Science City”: This giant development is still under construction, but it is supposed to be one of the most significant new developments in the city.

The City’s Economy is the Home to Several Big Employers

The city is home to several industries, and it is considered one of the most ethnically and economically diverse cities in the country. When matched up against the largest 300 cities in the U.S., Gaithersburg has rated first in ethnic diversity and the top five of the most social class diverse cities. Some of the top employers in the area include:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Headquarters

IBM

Lockheed Martin Information Systems and Global Services Area Headquarters

AstraZeneca

Sodexo

United States Army Reserve Legal Command

Don’t Forget to Visit the Kentlands Mansion

Officially labeled as the Tschiffely-Kent Property, the mansion has long been a famous landmark to admire while traveling down Darnestown Road. The mansion was originally built in the early 1900s by Frederick Tschiffely, and then he sold it to Otis Beall Kent in 1942. The property is now owned and kept up by the city of Gaithersburg as a historic structure.

This glorious building is now rented out by the city as an event and wedding venue. The Victorian Style structure can offer dream weddings with its fabulous lawns and beautiful balconies that overlook the exquisite grounds. Right now, the building can only be viewed on an appointment-only basis, but it is still available to rent for private events.

SERVPRO Is Available 24/7 For Anyone Who Suffers from a Fire on Their Property

Fires big and small can happen when the homeowner least expects it. Many structural blazes ignite during cooking mishaps. It is rather easy for someone to get distracted and leave whatever they are cooking unattended. It doesn’t take long for foods to burn or the grease it is being cooked in to get too hot and ignite.

Sometimes, the biggest problem with fires, even if they are small, is the smoke expelled during the blaze. Smoke coming from the flames can travel through rooms of a house that were previously unaffected. Once these partially combusted particles touch cooler surfaces, they can turn into soot residues that can affect several surfaces throughout a home.

Despite the problems associated with soot residues, smoke can also deeply penetrate porous items and become a source of the unpleasant aroma. Luckily, SERVPRO knows how to remove burnt-like odors from structures. The first step is to clean and remove all burnt debris and soot residues, but it is possible that foul odors can still exist. All SERVPRO technicians are certified by the International Institute for Cleaning and Restoration Certification or IICRC program and have access to the following deodorization tools.

ULV Foggers: These foggers can dispense deodorants into a mist, breaking them down into small particles.

Thermal Foggers: These machines add heat to oil-based deodorants and break them down to even smaller particles to mimic the way smoke behaves and penetrate porous items in the same fashion.

Ozone Generators: Ozone units generate unstable O3 molecules into the atmosphere. The ozone molecules give off an oxygen molecule to oxidize and neutralize malodor particles.

SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week to help with fire damage repair needs. Call (301) 963-8474, because We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

Why Does My House Still Smell of Fire After Cleaning Soots and Smokes?

10/22/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals are trained to handle every level of fire damage, including the odors that follow. Call us today, we are always available.

Getting Rid of Soots and Smokes May Require Professional Fire Damage Restoration Services. SERVPRO is Based in Gaithersburg with Expertly Trained Fire Technicians. 

What causes the blackening of walls during a fire?

A house fire in your Gaithersburg residence could lead to soot and smoke residues sticking on walls and ceilings. The chemicals that combusting materials produce can adhere to surfaces and bond with them on a molecular level. These residues appear as thick black soiling on covers, which can be incredibly tough to remove. Sometimes, smoke residues can travel far beyond the initial fire location, leading to light or moderate odor-causing residues that are virtually invisible to the naked eye. SERVPRO technicians undergo extensive training to trace smoke throughout a property and ensure that soilings are cleaned appropriately. 

What influences smoke deposits in a burnt property?

• The temperature of the ashes or soots is produced by combusting materials and traveling in smoke.
• The relative temperature of the surfaces that hot smokes contact with cold surfaces typically attracting hot smokes
• The amount of pressure created by the changes in temperature which can drive soots into surfaces.

How does convection affect fire damages?

A key component of fire damage restoration for Gaithersburg residents is convection. Convection refers to the transference of air- with hot air rising and cold air pushing downwards. These convection currents can lead to continuing damage after a fire is extinguished. It is vital to open windows or use vent boxing fans to establish substantial property ventilation and mitigate against losses. A property with poor ventilation can often have fire odors throughout the house even after a low-level kitchen fire. 

What are the different types of smoke?

• Driven smoke may refer to smoke damages that occur from a high-pressure fire quite literally driving smoke into wall or ceiling surfaces
• Free-floating smoke is gases from smoke that lose their temperature and float through a building until gravity pulls them down onto surfaces.
• Temperature differentials between smokes and surfaces can result in more massive smoke deposits on colder surfaces like windows or draperies' backing. 

Understanding how smoke moves through a building can help to ensure an active restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474.

How Challenging is Odor Removal After a Gaithersburg Structure Fire?

9/9/2020 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot damage linger long after extinguishing the fire.

While There are Many Steps to Fire Restoration and Recovery, Lingering Noxious Odors can Hinder Comfortable Living in a House After a Disaster 

Fires can present multiple layers of hazardous and damaging effects for Gaithersburg properties, many of which require the experience of professional fire restoration teams like SERVPRO to resolve. As widespread and threatening as these situations are, focused efforts like containment and cleaning can prevent these circumstances from overwhelming the house and its occupants. Odors are frequently one of the most challenging obstacles in this regard, as these conditions can spread far beyond the initially damaged ignition point. 

Of all the fire damage in Gaithersburg homes after a disaster, our initial focus is rarely deodorization. In truth, these efforts most often happen at the end of the restoration process, where the final touches get made to the property before returning it to the homeowner. Despite the lack of urgency with removing odors, unlike other restoration practice is necessary after a fire, there are several steps that we can take throughout the recovery of your home to minimize the severity of odor damage and migrating smoke effects. 

What Practices Can Reduce Odors?  

We can understand the importance of making living conditions more comfortable for occupants when relocation is not required after a fire loss incident. As challenging and unlikely as this might initially seem to homeowners, we have effective containment practices that can reduce the spread and severity of odors, soot, and other hazards present in the house after the disaster. Understanding how each of these initial steps can impact the overall presence of noxious odors in the house is essential to ensure that these stages occur at the appropriate times. Some of the scent reducing practices we set in motion during fire restoration include: 

• Debris Removal – Ash and partially combusted debris make up a considerable volume of the cleanup required immediately following extinguishment. In the ignition areas, these structural remnants are often wet, odorous, and responsible for circulating soot and smoke particles. Shoveling out this debris and cleaning up the spaces with wet vacuums can noticeably reduce odor concentrations.

• Surface Cleaning – Smoke residues can come to rest on services and contents, which can also be responsible for more severe odors in these specific areas. Through practices like wet cleanings, such as dissolving and emulsifying, we can trap and remove soils.

• Controlled Demolition – Demolition is always one of the last considered options for reducing the severity of odors and other circulating threats. By removing damaged portions of wall systems, flooring, and ceiling materials, we can better prepare the area for the reconstruction required and reduce odors at the same time.  

What Deodorizing Products Help Absorb Foul Odors?  

Apart from specific tasks that our SERVPRO team can perform to reduce odors present in the house after a fire in Gaithersburg, potent products can also help in this regard. Even before official deodorization begins, many products and counteractants can remove severe odors from the environment. These granules or solutions often get applied to areas with the most airflow to keep the spread of these fire damage smells to a minimum. Some of these products include: 

• Counteracting Beads
• Deodorant Granules
• Water-Based Odor Counteractants 

Are Special Tools Used in Odor Removal?  

Deodorization is a necessary process that often falls at the end of the restoration phases for fire damaged homes and businesses in our region. There are multiple tools and technologies used in this endeavor, tailored specifically to the individual loss incident and these properties' needs. As in all aspects of restoration, our professionals find the most efficient path to make these fire losses "Like it never even happened." Some of the equipment used in this approach include: 

• Thermal Foggers – Fogging is one of the most efficient methods for removing and neutralizing present odors in the house after a fire. Its gaseous state ensures that we can affect the overall environment where fire losses occurred and any porous materials surrounding this damaged point that might have absorbed smoke and its odors.

• Hydroxyl Machines – Hydroxyl machines are another popular choice for deodorization and environmental cleaning. These machines work in numerous ways to improve conditions within the house after a disaster. Onboard HEPA filtration removes harmful particulates from the air while UV cleaning approaches eliminate harsh odor molecules.

• Ozone Generators – The generation of ozone through these machines creates an unbalanced compound the bonds with odor molecules to neutralize them. As useful as these approaches can be, it is unsafe for living creatures to be around the same environment where ozone is present, slowing other restoration aspects when ozone is required. 

Fire losses often leave harsh odors behind, but our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team can help. Contact us today at (301) 963-8474.

What Must Happen Immediately to Protect My Fire Damaged Gaithersburg Home?

7/7/2020 (Permalink)

We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster!

Fire Damage In Gaithersburg

Emergency services are a critical element of the fire response our technicians provide, and this could detail many specific actions.

Fire damages can be devastating to your Gaithersburg home, especially when it happens without you being around. Returning to the result of a damaging fire can be overwhelming and stressful. That is why our SERVPRO team takes such careful consideration with the job scoping after this disaster. By communicating with you, we can determine pre-existing conditions and work to streamline the restoration of your home as much as possible.

While there are several tasks involved in restoring fire damage in Gaithersburg homes, it is critical to have emergency services start as soon as possible. In many situations, these tasks precede even the job scoping phase. This time and effort provided by both our in-house contractors and restoration professionals work to make even the mitigation portion of restoration shorter and less expensive. The initial tasks completed focus most on structural breaches and conditions that amplify loss effects in the house. Some of the emergency services that our SERVPRO contractors and restorers provide include:

    •    Roof tarping
    •    Controlled demolition
    •    Fire debris removal
    •    Board up services
    •    Content management

When Can Mitigation Begin for the Property?

Because emergency services precede the job scoping, these efforts can make later phases like mitigation more efficient. Once the inspection of the property has completed, our team has a better understanding of what corrective actions are still required and what personnel and equipment are necessary to reach these goals. Mitigation is a vital stage of the complete recovery of a fire damaged property, so it happens as soon as possible once the damage assessment is done.

As much as it might seem like your home has suffered a total loss after a structure fire, our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team can help to make it “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today at (301) 963-8474.

Can I Stay in a Burnt Property While Restoration Takes Place?

6/3/2020 (Permalink)

For your many questions regarding your homes Fire damage, Call us at SERVPRO. We are always available to help you.

SERVPRO Makes Every Effort to Work Around your Needs During Fire Restoration While Maintaining an Efficient Service

Can restorers work around my schedule?

Restoration is a time-sensitive task that could lead to permanent harm of possessions or structure if there are delays. But we understand how technicians, chemical agents, and equipment can be an inconvenience to the homeowner. When it is safe for occupants to stay in their homes after a fire, SERVPRO performs emergency cleaning to make it livable. This cleaning may include essential rooms like kitchens or bathrooms, as well as laundry and dry cleaning services. Frequently, we can seal off areas of the property where damage is most severe while leaving the main functional areas of your home free to use. 

What should I do first when cleaning fire damage?

The first twenty-four-hours of fire restoration in your Gaithersburg home is crucial to controlling the extent of harm. Water, which may have been used as part of a firefighting procedure, can begin to damage fabrics or textiles, bond with soots, or create a microbial growth issue. Equally, odor particles may still emanate from the worst affected areas and spread throughout the home. SERVPRO can perform the emergency drying of the property. We can also seal or remove fire debris to prevent them from causing further odor issues while cleaning takes place. 

How can I remove fire odors from the house?

- Locate and remove the source of the odor

- Clean surfaces thoroughly to clear away odor-causing residues

- Use deodorant solvents ideally with misting or fogging equipment at sites of odor

- Apply odor sealant primer to surfaces that continue to produce fire smells

Fire and odor issues can be a massive inconvenience to your everyday life. Our technicians can make your home livable while performing the efficient restoration. Contact SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474.

 Find out more about Gaithersburg

How Fire Damage-Related Odors Are Eliminated in Gaithersburg

4/2/2020 (Permalink)

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

SERVPRO Teams Work Swiftly to Remove Odors and Improve Air Quality in Gaithersburg

Odor-causing particles resulting from fire damage could further harm your home and possessions long after a fire.  They also may have adverse health effects. Fortunately, in Gaithersburg, there are ways to handle these harmful particles.  

House fires are relatively common occurrences.  When they happen, the first concern is to limit and repair obvious structural damage.  Of course, fire damage in Gaithersburg often involves much more than this.  There is usually substantial smoke damage and deposited acidic soot residues that could affect your home long-term.  Associated particles left around your home that produce unpleasant smells could later cause respiratory issues. Over time, these might also impact your interiors.  Acidic soot, if not properly removed from surfaces, could eventually lead to discoloration of materials and corrosion in metals.  

In Gaithersburg, there are several services like SERVPRO that are professionally trained and experienced in handling such fire-related concerns.  They can save you a lot of time and money in the long-run. SERVPRO, for example, has a wide variety of specialized equipment that can quickly eliminate unwanted smells and harmful residues.  Moreover, our technicians are knowledgeable about various cost-effective methods that can mitigate any particular fire damage situation. Within four hours of your call, our experts arrive on-site to fully inspect your home.  We then develop a plan of action specific to the nature of the surfaces and residues involved.

As part of the plan, SERVPRO first removes irreparable odor-causing items and debris.  Our Gaithersburg technicians employ wet or dry cleaning methods, depending on the nature of the surface or material, to remove troublesome smelly residues from structural elements and furnishings.  Next, they work to control odors from hard to remove elements. Generally, this involves either counteracting odors in these things or sealing the smells in. Workers often use foggers to neutralize unwanted smells in these hard to move home elements.  If this is not effective, our technicians usually control these odors by sealing them in with paint.  

The aftereffects of a fire can be troubling and lead to future damage.  While it is stressful to think about these problems, you are better off dealing with them as soon as you can.  If you need help with fire-related cleaning and restoration, call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474 for assistance.     

Find out more about Gaithersburg.

Restore Your Fire Damaged Gaithersburg Home

2/19/2020 (Permalink)

Once you have successfully extinguished a fire, do not let the aftermath distort your daily life.

Why Trust Experts to Restore Your Gaithersburg Residence After Fire Damage

Most fires happen unexpectedly, and they can ruin a property severely or cause other issues that negatively impact the property owner’s quality of life. Immediately the unfortunate incident is under control; you need to call a restoration firm like SERVPRO that can mitigate fire damage of any size or scope. We respond fast since we understand how devastating the situation can turn out for you.

We have licensed and certified technicians who can handle the fire damage in your Gaithersburg residence to make it “Like it never even happened.” We have decades of experience and training that helps us restore our customers’ properties effectively. Our team of technicians has access to state-of-the-art equipment that helps us handle the restoration process fast and comprehensively.

Once we get to your residence, our team can assess the fire damage. If the firefighters used water to extinguish the fire, our team can use a thermal imaging camera to see how water and moisture traveled. Water reacts fast with smoke and soot. We can use pumps, air movers, and dehumidifiers to remove the water and moisture to prevent secondary damage.

Soot removal is another vital step in fire damage restoration. Soot residue is often acidic, and it can destroy metallic items or items with exposed metal components in your property. It is easy to see soot on affected surfaces, but soot particles can get into your HVAC system. The acidic residue can corrode the metallic components inside, and this could cause your HVAC system to fail or become a fire risk. Our team can check your HVAC system and use appropriate cleaning procedures to eliminate soot.

We use unique techniques and products to clean affected surfaces effectively. If the soot ruined fabric surfaces and wool carpeting, our technicians can use a natural fabric brightener that removes oxidized stains produced after water and soot react. The product acts as a bleaching agent and clears the brown color.

Our SERVPRO team can also evaluate your possessions to determine which items are salvageable and which ones are not. We can dispose of the severely damaged items properly. We train our technicians to use various procedures to restore contents made of different materials. For instance, we can use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean delicate items. We place the contents in an ultrasonic tank containing water and the right cleaning solution.

High-frequency sound waves in the tank form millions of bubbles by expanding and compressing molecules of liquid in the tank. The bubbles burst inward or collapse and produce high temperatures and microscopic jet streams of fluid, which remove contaminants from the contents we are cleaning.

Once you have successfully extinguished a fire, do not let the aftermath distort your daily life. Call SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown at (301) 963-8474 for fast and effective fire damage restoration.

For more about Gaithersburg click here.

Fire Damage In Gaithersburg

1/12/2020 (Permalink)

Call (301) 963-8474 for a professional evaluation and implementation of industry best practices.

Health And Safety Considerations During The Fire Damage Restoration Process In Gaithersburg

When homeowners try to cope with the mess left after a fire, assessment of safety hazards presented might appear to hinder proceeding directly to cleanup. Our crews must take the time to evaluate and address health and safety concerns before starting emergency services and restoration work. Customers need to understand the purpose of moving this phase to the top of the agenda.

Common Hazards
The fire damage your Gaithersburg home suffered and efforts taken to knock down the fire can expose occupants and restoration technicians to a broad array of hazards. As we assess your home, we are always mindful that every fire damage project is unique. Electrical and other utility line configurations, types of building materials damaged, categories of water and chemicals used to fight the fire, and the discovery of hazardous substances previously present or created by heat and combustion vary from structure to structure. Safety risks we encounter include but are not limited to:
    •    Overhead and underfoot hazards -- partially burned ceilings and floors that threaten collapse
    •    Contaminated fire fighting water
    •    Slip, trip, and fall hazards -- wet floors and debris, some submerged
    •    Electrical shock hazards
    •    Poor lighting and unknown parameters of confined spaces
    •    Severe deterioration of air quality -- the release of airborne particulates known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) because of heat or combustion
    •    Occupant or bystander safety --  during work activities or any time if the structure remains unsecured

Safety Risk Controls
SERVPRO crews respond by the implementation of controls to prevent workers and inhabitants from suffering injury. Types of controls we put in place include:

Elimination/Substitution -- avoiding the hazard or using safer means.

Example: Shut off the power until water removal and drying completes.

Engineering -- adapting the work environment to eliminate or reduce hazard exposure.

Example: temporary bracing of floors, walls, and ceilings or sealing off building materials that contain lead or asbestos during mitigation and remediation.

Administrative -- training technicians in safety strategies and  scheduling tasks so to limit exposure during task completion.

Example: partitioning and sealing off the affected space while using air scrubbing technology to limit the effects of off-gassing VOCs before SERVPRO crews enter.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Example: outfitting our technicians with barrier-type work clothing and respirators for working in spaces where airborne or contact hazards are present.

Trust that the time taken by SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown to assess and plan for fire damage restoration task hazards improves both the safety and outcome of your project. Call (301) 963-8474 for a professional evaluation and implementation of industry best practices.

For more about Gaithersburg click here.

SERVPRO's Advanced Equipment Provide Maximum Opportunity for Salvaging Soot and Smoke Damaged Belongings for Our Gaithersburg Customers

11/13/2019 (Permalink)

For Delicate or Sooty Fire Damaged Belongings from Your Gaithersburg Home, SERVPRO Provides Ultrasonic Cleaning Solutions

How Does Ultrasonic Cleaning Work for Gaithersburg Fire Damaged Contents?

With almost countless tools designed to address specific effects of fire loss incidents in Gaithersburg homes, professional restorers now have a more streamlined and cost-effective approach to get you back into your house quickly after an emergency. With content management being such a vital element of our fire recovery effort, our investments in top-tier restoration equipment for fire-damaged personal belongings that reach our SERVPRO facility help to improve our ability to make fire loss “Like it never even happened.”

Among the advanced tools that we now have in our warehouse for these restoration projects is our ultrasonic tank, which can help to address fire damage to Gaithersburg house contents directly. The submersion tank works to remove set-on soot, smoke, and odor residues from surfaces through the introduction of sound waves. Bubbles generated by these vibrations reach the surface of materials to get cleaned and implode, and the minute pressurized force generated can effectively remove residues. Hard materials like silverware, glass, porcelain, tile, and other like compositions are ideal for these tanks.
 
This immersion technique is the most effective way of applying adequate cleaning solution to damaged wares from your house, as these items become submerged in potent products designed exclusively to aid in clearing surfaces of soot and other residues. Once removed from the solution, the treated items get dried before being stored in the climate-controlled facility awaiting move-back.
 
While it is one of the most effective soot removal practices that our SERVPRO team can implement, it is not without its limitations. Only contents small enough to fit into one of the submersion tanks can benefit from this cleaning. Also, even though the soot might get removed, additional processes like odor removal in our ozone chamber might still be necessary before the item is entirely restored and ready to get returned to your restored house. Though seldom the case, this non-abrasive nor intrusive treatment is ideal for delicate and intricate items and collectibles.
 
There are many advanced tools and machines available to our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown team that can help to protect and recover fire-damaged personal belongings after a disaster. We are here to help. Give us a call anytime at (301) 963-8474.

How Our Technicians Will Save Your Gaithersburg Home After A Fire Incident 

8/5/2019 (Permalink)

After fire damage you need help getting your apartment back on track. Call the professionals at SERVPRO today for remediation assistance.

A Candle Left Alone in Your Gaithersburg Apartment Can Cause Fire Damage

Fire damage becomes more likely in a small living space, such as an apartment, than it does in a larger home. In your apartment, in particular, you used candles very often for aromatherapy, to erase the stress of a long day at work. Using candles isn't a problem, so long as you always keep fire safety in mind when it comes to your home. 

Unfortunately, in your case, the fire damage in your Gaithersburg apartment was caused by a lapse in fire safety. You placed a candle on the edge of your bookshelf and then laid down on the couch to read a book. While reading, you fell asleep and left the candle to its own devices. You woke up from your nap to the smell of smoke and saw that the candle had caused a fire to break out on the bookshelf. The fire ate through a row of books and was beginning to burn the bottom of the shelf above. Acting quickly, you used an extinguisher to put the fire out, but there was a noticeable odor left behind and scorch marks on the shelf. 

Even if the fire damage left behind was relatively small, that doesn't mean that you cannot reach out for professional help. Here at SERVPRO, We're Faster To Any Size Disaster, and we are happy to work with you during your time of need. Our fire damage restoration technicians (FDRT) are certified by the Institution of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC.) Going through the course, and all of the training scenarios associated with it, means that our technicians are ready for anything. 

When SERVPRO arrives at your apartment, we can start with a brief investigation. After factoring in all of the details, we can create a remediation plan. We can start with setting up an air scrubber outfitted with a carbon filter, to remove the odor left by the fire as we work. From there, SERVPRO can use a specially formulated lubricative cleaning solution, designed to gently lift soot and staining from the surface of your shelf. Once we finish, and return your living room to its preloss state, our technicians hope to leave you feeling, "Like it never even happened." 

If you need cleanup and remediation assistance, large or small, get help immediately. Reach out to SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown by phoning (301) 963-8474. Night or day, we keep the damage away.  

Click here to see more about Gaithersburg. 

After A Fire In Your Gaithersburg Home, You Need To Be Concerned About Indoor Air Quality!

6/13/2019 (Permalink)

Whenever disaster strikes, you can reach our qualified professionals 24/7 at (301) 963-8474.

Indoor Air Quality Concerns After Fires In Gaithersburg Homes

There are legitimate concerns for the safety and wellbeing of those living in your Gaithersburg home after a fire. Even apart from structural damage that could exist, some of the most detrimental effects for homeowners and their families is contaminants, debris, and other particulates in the air. Addressing these effects must happen quickly, and is often a part of the mitigation work that begins as soon as our professionals first arrive at your damaged address.

Fire damage in your Gaithersburg residence might exist in many forms after an incident, but our SERVPRO team of professionals must work to overcome the most hazardous of these conditions before anything else. While structural compromise can open the door to other damages and effects to damage your property, indoor air quality concerns can provide immediate health concerns for those exposed without the appropriate personal protective equipment.

We can set up machines to help with these damages as soon as our team first arrives at your home. While some of our professionals work towards moving fire debris and starting controlled demolition, others are working to both reduce the created dust and to eliminate particulates and contaminants that already existed in the environment after the fire loss incident. Some of the best machines for this task are the air scrubbers, hydroxyl generators, and ozone machines. All of these options have onboard HEPA filters to trap contaminants, debris, and other particulates as small as 0.3 microns.

Odors can also prove hazardous to those exposed, but more often, they threaten comfortable living when a family does not require relocation after a small fire. Many of these same machines our SERVPRO team uses to address air quality concerns can also help to reduce the strength and presence of harsh smoke odors after a fire as well.

Indoor air quality concerns can prove hazardous to the health of homeowners and their families without the appropriate preventative actions taken by our SERVPRO of Gaithersburg / Germantown professionals. Whenever disaster strikes, you can reach our qualified professionals 24/7 at (301) 963-8474.

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