Flood Damage Restoration in Downtown Chicago Happens Fast with SERVPRO

12/22/2024 (Permalink)

Flood damage can happen anytime to your home. Contact SERVPRO 24/7 for certified technicians and equipment.

Downtown Chicago Relies on SERVPRO® for Flood Damage Restoration After a Storm

Flooding after a storm can cause long-term damage to your property if you are not prompt in seeking help. Hiring a professional like SERVPRO to restore flood damage to your Downtown Chicago home can limit the extent of this damage. 

SERVPRO’s IICRC-certified technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and efficient techniques to ensure that the flood damage to your Downtown Chicago home is restored as quickly as possible. Our technicians inspect your property and create a detailed plan to restore your flooded property “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO’s Flood Restoration Process  

Floodwater is often contaminated and is considered as Category 3 water. It requires an immediate and thorough cleanup to prevent lasting damage. 

Here is a brief overview of how our technicians tackle water cleanup after a storm:

• Establish engineering controls: SERVPRO techs establish engineering controls like containment and negative pressure to ensure that contaminants don’t spread to the unaffected areas of your home.
• Extract water and remove bulk material: We use a truck-mounted extractor or a submersible electric pump to remove any standing water on your property. If debris, sand, or silt is present in the water, techs use self-priming trash pumps. 

• Provide humidity control: Once techs extract the water, they set up dehumidifiers to reduce the humidity in the affected area. If they find contamination during this step, techs might also use air filtration devices. 

• Clean and decontaminate salvageable materials: Techs use different cleaning techniques, such as wet and dry cleaning, pressure washing, and vacuuming, to clean salvageable materials. 

• Demo unsalvageable materials: The decision to restore or replace the damaged material depends on the porosity of the material and the nature of contamination. The techs carry out a controlled demolition if the material is deemed unsalvageable. 

Disposing Waste After Water Cleanup

SERVPRO techs dispose of the waste materials according to the local regulations. All contaminated porous material is carefully double-bagged in 6-mil polyethylene bags before disposal. 

Contact SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich today!

Restoring Furniture after Flood Damage in Buffalo Grove

3/12/2024 (Permalink)

Discovering flooding in your home can be scary! Call the experts at SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove. We'll make it “Like it never even happened.”

Approaches SERVPRO® Uses in Buffalo Grove Flood Restoration

Buffalo Grove, a thriving village in the northern suburbs of Chicago, exudes a unique blend of residential charm and commercial vitality. Reputable schools, including Buffalo Grove High School, Prairie Elementary School, Henry W. Longfellow Elementary School, Tripp Elementary School, and Ivy Hall Elementary School, serve this community in Cook and Lake Counties. The village hosts a variety of businesses, shopping centers, and restaurants, including Buffalo Grove Town Center and The Continental Restaurant & Banquets, contributing to a robust local economy.

Facing flood damage in Buffalo Grove is undoubtedly a challenging experience for homeowners. Beyond the visible damage to walls, floors, and personal items, there's the potential for mold growth, structural instability, and compromised electrical systems. Furniture, one of the most significant investments in a home, is particularly vulnerable. The different materials used in furniture making can all suffer irreversible damage if not promptly and adequately addressed. The restoration process can be effective and efficient with the help of skilled professionals like SERVPRO. From evaluating the scope of damage to restoring furniture to its pre-damaged state, we play a vital role in bringing homes and cherished belongings back to life after the devastating impact of a flood.

Materials commonly found in furniture

• Wood
• Upholstery
• Leather
• Metal

Ways SERVPRO Restores Furniture 

Wood readily absorbs water, leading to swelling and warping. This can distort the shape of wooden furniture, making doors, drawers, and surfaces uneven. Prolonged exposure to water can cause discoloration in wood. Water stains may appear, altering the original color of the furniture. Moist conditions provide an ideal environment for mold and mildew growth on wooden surfaces, damaging the appearance. SERVPRO crews understand the material-specific impacts and determine the appropriate water damage restoration methods.

Upholstered furniture, with its fabric and padding, readily absorbs water. Stains can set in, and the fabric may become discolored. Additionally, water-soaked padding can contribute to unpleasant odors. Prolonged contact with water may result in the depletion of the natural oils in leather, causing it to crack and fade. This dampness compromises the texture and durability of the material.

Treating water damage on wooden and upholstered furniture

• Wetting the entire piece of furniture helps prevent water lines
• Using Air movers and dehumidifiers lessens the drying time of upholstered furniture
• Using furniture refinisher to repair problems with wooden furniture frames

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich restores properties after flood damage "Like it never even happened." Call us at (847) 279-1940.

SERVPRO’s Water Removal Services Save Homes in Buffalo Grove

3/26/2023 (Permalink)

When flooding affects your home, many issues can result. Contact SERVPRO for both water removal and drying services immediately after.

Buffalo Grove Water Removal Kills Harmful Microbes

Flood-related microbes are a serious threat to your Buffalo Grove home if it is ever inundated by stormwater. Special procedures, chemicals, and equipment are necessary to effectively clean up these troublesome microorganisms. Fortunately, SERVPRO has the requisite experience and everything else necessary to successfully prevent these tiny pests from ruining your residence. 

SERVPRO is Buffalo Grove’s go-to water removal service. In addition to doing basic water removal work, we also offer complete flood restoration that includes biohazard remediation like sewage cleanup, basement flooding clearing, and extensive water damage repairs. Once at your home, our trained professionals work to eliminate harmful bacteria and other microscopic threats by:

• First, treating floodwater-impacted environments with a broad spectrum, EPA-registered biocide before work begins to make them safer to operate in
• Next, discarding any contaminated furnishings and materials to facilitate the remediation process and rapidly removing any standing water with powerful extractors
• Then, diligently working to reduce and keep interior relative humidity levels below sixty percent with state-of-the-art air movers, dehumidifiers, and Injectidry systems 
• Simultaneously, using air conditioning units to keep indoor temperatures below forty degrees Fahrenheit to inhibit bacterial growth and limit its effects
• Later, treating all impacted surfaces and materials a second time with cutting-edge disinfectants, ensuring that chemical agents are mixed correctly, applied appropriately to affected materials and surfaces, and allowed to remain on items for enough time
• Finally, fogging interior areas with antimicrobials and deodorants to neutralize any remaining harmful microorganisms in the air and eliminate unpleasant smells 

After these measures have been taken, your home has usually been protected from further issues related to the current flood event. Ultimately, SERVPRO’s efforts help residents and restore the livability of their residences.

With that said, whenever you need fast and effective water removal services, remember your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich. We are always ready for your call at (847) 279-1940.

What Hazards Should Buffalo Grove Property Owners Be Aware of After Flood Damage?

9/18/2022 (Permalink)

If flood damage occurs in your home, call SERVPRO immediately. Our professional technicians will make it “Like it never even happened.”

Buffalo Grove Homeowners Get Prompt Service and Safe Floodwater Remediation From SERVPRO

Contaminants of all types are a common part of floodwater entering a Buffalo Grove property. Some of the most frequently encountered are: 

• Pesticides
• Sewage
• Biohazards including bacteria and pathogenic elements

SERVPRO arrives quickly, usually within four hours, to remediate flood damage in Buffalo Grove properties; that is why the technicians are available 24/7.  The technicians' safety equipment onto the job site makes a difference in handling this type of water cleanup job safely. The setup includes aprons, gloves, respirators, and professional biocides, and antifungal cleaning agents.

There are multiple dangers within a structure with flood and storm damage. Damaged roofing can lead to leaks that cause sagging ceilings or hanging sheetrock from walls. Either of these scenarios has the potential to cause injury. SERVPRO technicians know how to remove and work around these situations through both their experience and training. If a damaged roof or window allows further water into the property, the techs will make temporary repairs to halt any other water damage. Less than an inch of floodwater within a structure has the potential to cause thousands of dollars in damages to a home as the water migrates under flooring, soaks into carpeting, and wicks into walls. In most cases, anything the floodwater saturates needs to be removed and disposed of as a biohazard.

Some contaminants can be suspended in airborne water vapor. To stop the potential for any spread, SERVPRO IICRC-certified technicians cover vents and can also set up a negative air machine to create negative air pressure inside the contained area. This application makes it difficult for contaminated air to escape except through the tubing porting air outside the structure. 

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940 stands ready to help Jacksonville homeowners with all sizes and types of flood damage to their homes.

Tree Damage to Roof Can Cause Flooding in Buffalo Grove Homes

9/11/2022 (Permalink)

Dealing with the aftermath of a storm can certainly make you feel on edge. Call SERVPRO to assess the situation and then remediate the damage.

Dealing with Flooding in Your Home After an Event can be Stressful

Surprisingly, there are many ways that trees can damage the roof of your Buffalo Grove home than many property owners realize. Flood damage can often result from structural breaches to this area of the house, making it even more critical to resolve these situations as soon as they occur. Understanding how trees can cause flooding in your home is the first step in providing the preventative maintenance or the fast response that the property needs in an emergency.

As aesthetically pleasing as trees can be, flood damage and roof repair to Buffalo Grove homes can both be costly and time-consuming scenarios when things go wrong. Understanding how these trees that have been staples of your yard for decades can damage your house can keep you paying attention to changing conditions and often staying ahead of costly restoration needs whenever possible.

Falling Trees

These situations are unpredictable and highly destructive. When limbs break off trees and fall onto the roof, or an entire tree uproots, it can collapse entire portions of your roof and attic area. Our in-house SERVPRO contractors can get to work on tree removal and tarping while flood mitigation work gets underway in the house. Once the property is dry, we can rebuild the damaged portions of your roof.

Clogged Gutters

Leaves and needles from trees can clog up downspouts on your gutter system, which can lead to water overflowing when rains hit and even ice damming during the winter months. Damming can dislodge shingles and allow water penetration through the roof.

When the water has penetrated the outer layers of roofing materials, you must address this moisture and flow into your property immediately. We have evaporative drying techniques like air movers and dehumidifiers to help address saturated materials, but also, our contractors can oversee controlled demolition and build back inside the house when necessary as well.

Trees can be a beautiful fixture to your yard, but with the high winds of the area and severe weather we can expect year-round, they can also damage the roof to allow flooding. No matter how we can help, give our SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich team a call today at (847) 279-1940.

What Few People Realize About Flooding That Can Start on Your Buffalo Grove Home's Roof

6/26/2022 (Permalink)

When your home is affected by flood damage, call SERVPRO. Team SERVPRO has certified technicians and professional equipment to get the job done right.

Flood Damage Can Start On The Roof Of Your Buffalo Grove Home

Fall leaves are beautiful, but also can be hazardous when they clog the gutters and downspouts attached to the roof of your Buffalo Grove home. When a roof and its drainage system fails to do its job correctly, autumn rains threaten to fill the basement of your home rather than drain down and away from your foundation. If seasonal rains create flooding damage contact us for help.

Gutters and downspouts can be out of reach and off your radar until flood damage affects your Buffalo Grove dwelling. A properly functioning gutter and drain system catches and carefully directs the moisture shed from your roof to protect your siding and foundation. When gutters fill with leaves, dirt, granulation from the roof, twigs, and other debris, rainwater does not flow as intended. It instead pours in waterfall-like torrents from the blocked gutters to the ground. As it saturates the area immediately next to the foundation, it seeps inside, flooding your basement.

SERVPRO water removal experts are knowledgeable about this type of flooding scenario and have strategies to remediate the damage. Our familiar green trucks come equipped with powerful submersible pumps and heavy-duty water extractors. The pumps remove water deeper than 2 inches, while the extractors have the flexibility to pull water out of tight spaces. Hidden water pockets often are accessible when we use extenders on the extractors’ wands.

We use moisture meters and infrared scanners to locate all the flood waters. If water remains trapped in the cells of cinder block construction commonly used in basement walls, we might drill holes in mortar joints or at the base of a wall to release it. SERVPRO technicians take great care to make sure as much water as possible is pumped or extracted by other means before beginning structural drying. Drying is an essential final step. Successful structural drying required trained technicians who monitor and adjust the drying process, including moderating the temperature of both the flooded materials and the air, controlling humidity levels, and positioning equipment for the most advantageous air flow.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich has the personnel and the equipment to remediate any residential flooding scenarios. One call to  (847) 279-1940 gets the process moving after sub-par gutter systems contribute to foundation flooding. We also recommend an inspection and repair and maintenance of the drains and gutters on your home by a competent contractor to avoid this problem in the future.

Reasons to Opt for Expert Flood Damage Repair in Buffalo Grove

5/14/2022 (Permalink)

Flooded basements and first floor water damage cleanup is a cornerstone of SERVPRO services. We mitigate storm damage.

Hire SERVPRO for Flood Damage Repair in Buffalo Grove

One of the things that can be crippling to you as a homeowner is the risk of a flood during a storm. It can ruin your property. If the floodwater stands in your Buffalo Grove house for more than 24 hours, the damage can intensify, so quick action is necessary.

SERVPRO has the expertise required to perform storm flood damage repair in your Buffalo Grove house. We have cutting-edge equipment to restore your residence cost-effectively. Our process is as follows:

• Emergency repairs
• Floodwater extraction
• Removal and disposal
• Drying
• Disinfection and deodorization
• Reconstruction

Emergency repairs

When we get to your house, our technicians can inspect it to determine the entry points of the floodwater to carry out emergency repairs to prevent further entry. We can then assess the level of the damage. We can look out for hazardous situations like falling ceilings, electrical hazards, and deteriorated subfloors.

Floodwater extraction

Our SERVPRO team can use electric submersible pumps to extract any standing water over 2 inches deep. These pumps eliminate suction lift limitations to remove the floodwater continuously, quietly, and as quickly as possible.

Removal and disposal

We then sort through all the affected items and remove and dispose of those damaged beyond repair. They may include personal items, furniture, carpeting, and drywall.

Drying

Our SERVPRO technicians can use structural cavity drying equipment to direct air into wall cavities, beneath cabinets, and other structural cavities. The equipment substitutes moist, cool air with dry, warmer air. This increases the temperature of the surfaces and reduces the vapor pressure, increasing the evaporation rate for faster drying.

Disinfection and deodorization

To prevent microbial growth, our SERVPRO crew can disinfect your house. We can then apply deodorizers to remove bad smells.

Reconstruction

We can get your house to its preloss condition by the necessary steps, ranging from repainting, hardwood floor repair, drywall replacement, and complete rebuilding of the affected parts.

If not well handled, flooding can cause massive damage to your home. Contact SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940 for effective flood damage repair services. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Flood Damage Cleanup and Repair Buffalo Grove Residents Need

4/18/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is there to help with all your flood and storm damage restoration needs.

After Storms in Buffalo Grove, Call SERVPRO for Rapid Flood Damage Help!

While homes get built to withstand extreme weather situations, emergencies can lead to storm flooding in the Buffalo Grove area. When the worst storms bring damage and interior flooding, SERVPRO is there to help with flood and storm damage restorations for area customers. We understand how much devastation heavy rain and storm damage can bring. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster and readily available 24/7 for a rapid response!

SERVPRO features IICRC-certified technicians with the ability to handle all kinds of storm flood damage in Buffalo Grove, including property damage, debris cleanup, water removal services, and reconstruction.

Proven methods and prompt action matter with restorations

• Flooding -When you discover a leak on your property or the sump pump fails, you could be in for stormwater flooding. Our restoration technicians get in fast to extract the water while paying attention to any possible hazards and structural damage. 
• Debris –With some storms, branches from trees and other debris may slam into your home. If you have a leaking roof from storms or broken windows, SERVPRO’s technicians will perform board-up and tarping services to protect your interior from the elements while restoration takes place.
• Mold and Odors –Storms are known for bringing moisture that could lead to mildew and black mold development. Our skilled team knows how to address excessive moisture with dehumidification to bring relative humidity (RH) back to normal levels. We also go above and beyond to ensure no lingering odors get left behind after your flood damage project is complete. 

Flood damage after a storm does not have to leave you home in a state of devastation. Call us at SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940, and we can dispatch a crew to your door as soon as possible to get started.

How Do Dehumidifiers Help with Flood Damage in Buffalo Grove?

2/18/2022 (Permalink)

Regardless the magnitude of water damage, our technicians provide complete water removal services, including extraction, cleaning, drying, & repair.

SERVPRO Use Dehumidifiers to Mitigate Losses Following Property Flooding

Large bodies of water can increase the humidity of enclosed spaces. Above normal humidity in your home can cause vapor damage or mold growth, so calculating specific humidity is essential in water intrusion scenarios. There are special types of equipment that water restoration technicians (WRT) use when entering a wet property to help inform them of any potential risks or areas with the potential to cause harm. SERVPRO technicians are effective communicators that can tell you about each job and how it can help to mitigate long-term losses to your home and contents. Consider using professional restoration services to help with:

• Water intrusion
• Water mitigation
• Water exposure

Residents that rely on flood damage restoration professionals in Buffalo Grove give their personal property the highest chance of making a full recovery. Mitigation often involves attempting to control or adjust the humidity in your home to prevent vapor or mold-related damages. We can calculate specific humidity by first finding the relative humidity and the temperature. To measure relative humidity, our technicians use thermal hygrometers to measure temperature. With accurate measurements for relative humidity and temperature, we can determine the exact grains of moisture per pound of air (GPP) in any enclosed environment. Keeping track of humidity can help to prevent electronics from suffering permanent condensation damage, sensitive fabrics from permanent harm, and control microbial growth.

• We can draw moisture out of waterlogged hard materials like lumber or floorboards by lowering the specific humidity to below 40 GPP with a desiccant dehumidifier.
• Using portable furnaces to maintain the temperature of electronics above the dew point can prevent permanent damage while awaiting a qualified electronics repair person.
• Ensuring that humidity levels are below 60 GPP can deter mold growth during restoration by preventing spores from passing through the stages of development. 

We can protect your home from losses associated with water intrusion. Contact SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich for Flood Damage Recovery at (847) 279-1940.

How Can My Lake Zurich Home Get Damaged by a Flash Flood?

11/26/2021 (Permalink)

When your Lake Zurick basement suffers flash flooding damage like this Photo, call SERVPRO--We're Faster To Any Size Disaster

Flash flooding happens with little warning and can catch many properties off-guard with substantial damages.

Often, flash flooding results from torrential rainfall over a prolonged period or multiple storms moving through the Lake Zurich area quickly. With the immense power of these natural disasters, homes within this moving water pathway can become severely damaged by its force. Understanding how your home could become affected by this natural disaster is essential to protecting your residence and occupants.

Flood damage for Lake Zurich from these disasters can take a toll on several areas of the house almost immediately. Houses with basements are often the hardest hit by flash flooding because these lower levels can welcome these powerful rushes of water. Homes with window wells leading to this lower level provide a direct path for both flooding and debris to reach the basement.

Homes without a basement are often constructed with crawl spaces, and these areas can also become damaged by standing water. Our SERVPRO team has multiple solutions for drying and cleaning out these areas of your home to minimize the need to remove and repair supports for the house in this crawlspace. Long-term solutions like encapsulation protect from future flooding by redirecting water elsewhere and preventing moisture damage to supports, joists, subflooring, and other materials with poly sheeting coverings.

How Does Standing Water Get Removed from the Basement?

Basements can quickly collect water when flash flooding occurs, as the force of these disasters can bypass the weakest defenses of your property. Standing water is a threat to structural elements, but also can allow for the spread of bacterial or viral pathogens collected through the path of the moving water. With solids and debris present in this basement water, extraction tools must be able to pass solids. Several of these options include:

• Wet Vacuums
• Trash Pumps
• Truck-Mount Pumps

Our SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich team is standing by to help with efficient extraction and cleaning solutions at (847) 279-1940.

Need Flood Damage Cleanup in Lake Zurich – Call SERVPRO

10/25/2021 (Permalink)

Storm damage will come right into your Lake Zurich property, and it will not stop. Call SERVPRO today.

SERVPRO Provides Flood Damage Restoration and Reconstruction in Lake Zurich

Whether your Lake Zurich home is inundated by floodwaters from overflowing streams, backed-up storm sewers, or water leaking through damaged exterior walls or your roof, taking quick action to limit the damage and remove the water can mitigate the total damage to your home. Flooded basements may be contaminated with chemicals, biological material, bacteria, and viruses absorbed by the floodwaters. Broken windows and holes in roofs let in hundreds of gallons of water, often finding their way to the lowest point in your home – the basement.

SERVPRO responds to flood damage calls from residents of Lake Zurich within four hours of your call. We can deploy truck-mounted pumps to remove standing water from basements, board up broken windows and install tarps on your roof to prevent further moisture from entering your home. Our emergency flood damage services do not stop there.

Cleaning, disinfection, sanitization, and drying follow to begin the process of restoring your home. We clean and sanitize everything possible; however, some items may be damaged beyond repair and must be removed. Structural items such as drywall and particle board used in flooring and cupboards may need to be demolished. These materials absorb water, swell, and cannot be recovered.

SERVPRO also provides reconstruction services to assist with returning your home or business to its original condition, “Like it never even happened.” We also work closely with adjusters from your insurance company and coordinate insurance claims with them.

Our services in Lake Zurich and surrounding areas include:

• Floodwater damage restoration and reconstruction
• Basement flooding cleanup
• Ceiling repairs from water damage
• Building reconstruction and repairs

Call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich for flood damage restoration in Lake Zurich and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (847) 279-1940.

Is Flood Damage in Buffalo Grove Repairable?

8/16/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO provides cutting-edge mobile furnaces to help dry out flooded homes in Buffalo Grove. Much more advanced than this one!

SERVPRO Emergency Flood Damage Restoration Technicians in Buffalo Grove Strive to Return Your Home to a Pre-loss Condition

Floods can be one of the most devastating natural disasters to affect your property. The root causes of flooding are myriad, with some floods occurring due to abnormally high levels of rainfall or tide levels. For other residents, floods can be a part of the annual cycle, with property damages arising when known flood plains expand and spill over into residential communities. The nearby Des Plaines River can be a source of flooding.The speed and damage caused by these natural disasters can have severe consequences for your personal property. SERVPRO can help you with:

• Basement flooding
• Flood restoration
• Water removal services

Maintaining the ambient temperature in flood damage restoration for your Buffalo Grove home is essential. While most dehumidifiers can operate in a wide range of conditions, they usually run in a defrosting mode when temperatures are below 60 degrees. To maximize the efficiency of this vital drying equipment in environments where power outages are common, such as flooded properties, we can deploy mobile furnaces to maintain the ideal temperatures for drying.

• Mobile furnaces can raise the ambient temperature of a large indoor space to above 60 degrees Fahrenheit, creating ideal drying conditions.
• Mobile furnaces can often be run through a truck-mount system or fuel to allow operation within properties without power.
• Standard furnaces can emit 120,000 BTUs and operate effectively for up to thirty-six hours, speeding up property drying significantly.

To return your home to its preloss condition following a flood emergency, contact SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich for flood damage at (847) 279-1940.

Why Buffalo Grove Flood Damage Needs Immediate Action

7/8/2021 (Permalink)

If the Chicago River overflows its banks and floods your home in Buffalo Grove--Rely on SERVPRO to mitigate the storm damage

SERVPRO Offers Quick Action After Flood Damage

Torrential rains and the runoff from surrounding areas place some areas of Buffalo Grove squarely in the path of flood damage. Dealing with several inches of floodwater in a basement or walk-out lower level is overwhelming, and added pressure comes from the commonly repeated warning that homeowners must seek help right away. We help explain the need for speed and offer a rapid and professional response.

Cleaning Up after a Sewer Backup

Struggling to manage flood damage in Buffalo Grove is impossible without proper equipment, including industrial strength submersible pumps and high-efficiency water extractors. The challenge is exacerbated with potential sewer backups into homes and seepage from the saturated ground surrounding residences. We offer highly qualified technicians and powerful equipment to safely remove floodwaters from any source and follow local codes for proper disposal.

Even though you may want to consider your options for a day or two when this much water invades your home, every moment you wait risks ever-escalating danger to the integrity of the foundation and other building materials of your house. The mixture of rain, sewage, and other substances threatens both the structure of your dwelling and the health of your family. Floodwaters range from gray to black, the most polluted because of the potential for human, animal, and chemical waste. SERVPRO has years of experience evacuating flood water and remediating the damage it does to a residence.

Flood Water Removal Services

Our crews spring into action after our seasoned project managers review your particular situation and formulate a plan. Truck-mounted pumps and extractors remove the water fast, and technicians then measure and monitor the moisture in walls, floors, and the air, determining drying goals achieved using air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers. We locate any additional water found trapped in cinder block foundations or behind walls or paneling using scanning devices. That residual moisture is suctioned out or drained using strategically placed openings in walls or holes drilled in mortar joints.

Mold Inspections, Remediations, and Removal

Mold growth starts within 24 to 48 hours of flooding, another reason immediate action is necessary. Removing water and drying out structures significantly reduces the risk of mold proliferation, and SERVPRO crews also apply professional-grade antimicrobials to surfaces to inhibit infestation. Basements often contain stored items, and we pack these out to a dry area on your property or off-site for a thorough review. We have innovative drying technologies available to save items you may fear lost, including freeze-drying for pictures, books, and documents. Best results occur when soaked articles receive treatment as soon as possible.

We know the pressure of dealing with flood damage feels immense, but the management and service crews of SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich want to support you and explain the process thoroughly. Call (847) 279-1940 to schedule an inspection and consultation.

Torrential Storms Increase the Risk of Flood Damage in the Downtown Chicago Area

6/1/2021 (Permalink)

Did a recent storm affect your area? Flooding can quickly damage contents and structure. Call SERVPRO today for water removal.

Flooding can Happen Very Quickly as a Result of Changing Weather Patterns

Storms forming around the Downtown Chicago area can produce several inches of water in a brief time. While this may not result in a flooded home when the water travels and congregates elsewhere, this can become very troublesome for homeowners.

When drenched by a storm, homes can have flood damage in Downtown Chicago. It can occur both rapidly and unexpectedly. When flooding is known about and expected, removing anything of value to higher levels in your home can prevent many expensive losses. However, sudden floods can surprise residents, and only a few inches of floodwater entering a home can result in thousands of dollars in damaged furnishings and interior structures.

SERVPRO's technicians are always ready to assist with restoring a home. We have earned IICRC certificates in Water Damage Restoration (WRT) and related fields and know your home is central to your family's sense of normalcy. Working as quickly as possible without making mistakes ensures the completion of your family home's restoration as soon as possible.

Complete drying out of furniture, carpets, and affected personal belongings must happen soon after the water is pumped out. Dampness permits mold and mildew to flourish in as little as 48 hours. Other problems such as weakened support within a home can become apparent later by sagging floors and cracking walls and ceiling joints. Before applying microbial inhibitors and other cleaning agents that help restore your furnishings, it is important to verify that no abnormal moisture levels may exist.

We can pack up and clean all of the affected belongings at our facility or in the home in an unaffected area, depending on the specific situation and homeowners' preferences. When completed and the home's flooded area shows no signs of damage, returning these items to their original locations happens as quickly as possible.

Understanding your needs during trying situations brought on by Mother Nature, SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich, has caring professionals who are only a phone call away. Regardless of the time of day or night, reaching us is as easy as calling (847) 279-1940. Restoring your home flood damage begins with one phone call. 

Flood Damage Can Damage Homes in Buffalo Grove

4/28/2021 (Permalink)

Flood damage restoration by SERVPRO is second to none. Call now for the professional help and experience of our technicians.

Buffalo Grove Depends on SERVPRO to Provide Flood Damage Services. 

Buffalo Grove is a suburb of Chicago. It is a lovely village with a historical section, beautiful parks, and lots of things to do and enjoy. St. Mary's Church is the oldest building in the town, completed in 1800. The second oldest building now houses the Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. The village is rich in history but full of modern-day adventures.

Summer Fun & Festivities

Two exciting festivals take place in Buffalo Grove during the summer months. In mid-July, the Buffalo Grove Invitational Fine Arts Festival is held, and over 30,000 visitors flock to the event. Fall brings the Buffalo Grove Days festival and features all the festivities of a carnival with crafts, live music, and food vendors. It kicks off with a parade and ends with fireworks. 

Famous Buffalo Grove Residents

Over the years, the village has been home to many notable people, in different fields, from sports to musicians. They include:

• Raymond Benson – James Bond novel author

• Sidney Mathias – state representative

• Bradie Tennell – Olympic figure skater

• Tim Kinsella – musician

• Andy Wozniewski – hockey player

• Aaron Himelstein – actor

• Megan Bozek – ice hockey player

Buffalo Grove Park District

There are a lot of wonderful activities waiting, including the Willow Stream Pool. The pool has a wading area for the little ones and twilight rates on Friday. Other facilities in the district include:

• Community Arts Center

• Disc Golf Courses

• Fitness Center

• Happy Tails Dog Park

• Skate Park

• Spray 'N Play

• Golf Dome

• Alcott Center

Raupp Museum

There are several exhibit galleries in the museum. The main gallery begins with Potawatomi's life. It takes visitors from the 1830s to modern times. Explore life in the 1900s in the Crossroads Gallery. Educational programs teach about Native American culture, WWII, and more. Hands-on history brings the past to life for students and visitors. The gardens are quite lovely.

Places to Eat in Buffalo Grove

When you are out enjoying all the many fun activities, you will need to take time to eat. There are many excellent eateries to choose from in the village. One of the favorites in the area is Lou Malnati's Pizzeria. Housed in the second oldest building in town, it makes a delicious pizza. Here are some other great choices:

• Original Bagel & Bialy

• Wildfire

• Pita Pita Mediterranean Grill

• Rise N Dine Pancake Café

• Weiner Take All

• Grande Jake's

Family Fun at Bowlero

Loads of bowling fun awaits with 32 bowling lanes at your disposal. There is an arcade, laser tag, billiards, lounge area, and outdoor seating. You can book everything from a kid's birthday party to a corporate party. It is a fantastic way to spend the afternoon. 

SERVPRO Provides Floor Damage Restoration to Buffalo Grove Restaurants

Spring rains can bring flash floods raging through homes in the area. They can take down power lines and trees, damage vehicles, and destroy homes. The black water that enters buildings is highly contaminated. Homeowners should never try to clean up this water. It is a biohazard and needs to be dealt with by professionals. At SERVPRO, we provide:

• Professional technicians with the proper PPE

• Emergency services water damage restoration

• Flood restoration

• Basement flooding cleanup

• Biohazard remediation

We properly dispose of contaminated content. Trash pumps allow us to remove water with debris in it. Once the water gets extracted, we dry the premises. Sanitization takes place, and then the water damage restoration begins. For flood damage services, contact SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940.

When Flooding Strikes in Buffalo Grove

1/25/2021 (Permalink)

Storm damage is no DIY project. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for the water mitigation services needed.

For prompt flood damage restoration, call SERVPRO to your Buffalo Grove home.

Located in the state of Illinois, Buffalo Grove is a village nestled within the suburbs to the north of Chicago. When the 2010 United States Census got taken, this village had a population of about 41,496 people. In 2009, it was also listed as one of the “best places to live” by Money magazine. This village is home to several festivals and beautiful events that bring the local community together throughout the year. 

Buffalo Grove, IL, Historical Tidbits

There is a lot to know and love about this region, but here are some of the more popular historical facts about Buffalo Grove:

• In 1833, Buffalo Grove was opened to settlement once the Treaty of Chicago took place
• Throughout the 1830s, the first settlers began to arrive, made up mostly of land speculators
• The first church, St. Mary’s, was built in 1852
• In 1930, Dundee Road was the first concrete road to be constructed in Buffalo Grove
• During the 1980s and 1990s, Buffalo Grove saw vast increases in population

Enjoying Local Buffalo Grove Attractions

In and around Buffalo Grove, there is no shortage of things to see and do. Along with wonderful parks and natural attractions, residents and locals alike have attractions available such as:

• Rockin’ Jump Buffalo Grove
• K1 Speed Buffalo Grove
• Bowlero

Flooding Events Throughout the Years in Buffalo Grove

Storms come and go, but the regions of Buffalo Grove and Palatine within the state of Illinois have encountered significant flooding events over the last decade. In 2013, a local triathlon event had to get canceled, and several residents had to get rescued via boat after being trapped amidst high floodwater at a local condo complex. The storm also left the local park underwater for quite some time. Many homeowners and property managers were left to deal with significant water damage and the need for rapid extraction. 

In 2017, another storm front rolled through, leaving many residents with flooding woes near newer developments in Riverwoods and Buffalo Grove. Because several inches of rain accumulated within a short timeframe overnight, it prompted Buffalo Grove to launch their emergency operations early in the morning. The flooding got so intense in some areas that people awoke to find their vehicles in parking lots submerged in water to their windows.

When You Need Flood Damage Assistance, SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich Can Help!

Flooding within your Buffalo Grove home brings worry that you cannot salvage your belongings. When you enlist the help of skilled restoration technicians, you have the advantage of experience and the latest technology on your side. SERVPRO is Faster to Any Size Disaster, and you can count on us for:

• Prompt water extraction to remove standing floodwater loaded with contaminants
• Treatment of all surfaces to limit the spread of harmful microbes
• Removal and disposal of all damaged and unsalvageable materials
• Detailed structural drying using high-powered air movers and dehumidifiers
• Mold prevention with the help of careful cleaning and the application of EPA-registered antimicrobials
• Rebuilding and restoration as needed with the help of controlled demolition measures

Whether you have some flooding in your basement or the first level of your home needs swift attention, our IICRC-certified crew at SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich is available to help. Reach us 24/7 by calling (847) 279-1940, and we will make it “Like it never even happened.”

The Great Give Back in Lake Zurich, IL

12/21/2020 (Permalink)

Storm damage flood removal is no easy task. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for the service needed for the job.

Time for Collecting Items for Local Lake Zurich Shelters This Season

Any time is a beautiful time to give back to the local community and those that need it most. However, the holiday season is an excellent time for taking care of others. The Great Give Back is happening on Monday, December 21, and this is the time to collect food for local pantries and gloves and hats for local shelters. If you are interested in helping any neighbors in need, you can bring in unexpired, shelf-stable foods or clothing items in good condition to the ELA Area Public Library. There will be collection bins conveniently located outside of the entrance for easy, safe, socially-distanced drop-off. 

• Date: Monday, December 21, 2020
• Time: Operating Hours – 9 am to 9 pm
• Place: ELA Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich, IL

Giving back to the local community is extremely important to our entire staff at SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich. We are also here whenever you have a storm come through that brings the need for flood removal. With our powerful extraction tools and proven methods, we get the job done fast so that you can get back to your routine. Call us at (847) 279-1940, and we will dispatch a crew as soon as possible to begin working.

What Kind of Damage Can Flooding Do to a House and What Can Be Done About It?

10/24/2020 (Permalink)

Flooding in your home can be frustrating and scary, let SERVPRO help assist you with your Buffalo Grove home.

Flooding Can Wreak Utter Havoc on Your Buffalo Grove Home and the Best Thing You Can Do About It is Call a Good Flood Damage Remediator.

Buffalo Grove, like many other northwestern Chicagoland communities, often seems like the setting of a John Hughes film.  Its idyllic suburban atmosphere, with its tranquil ordered greenery, can trick local homeowners into thinking disasters could never happen in their fine neighborhood.  Unfortunately, this is not the case and springtime flooding is a fairly common occurrence here.

What Usually Causes Flooding in Our Town?

Flood damage in Buffalo Grove generally results from the effects of heavy spring rains that annually impact the Midwest region.  These swell the nearby Des Plaines River and overflow local ponds and creeks.  Since our area is mostly flat, this excess water quickly rises to levels that affect local homes and businesses.  Gutters and town drainage networks clogged by everyday debris and yard waste can further exacerbate the situation.  Also, matters are not helped by the fact that many homes surround lakes that can rapidly spill out onto nearby lands and inundate these residences.  Whenever this happens, it is necessary to call an experienced flood damage cleanup and restoration service like SERVPRO.

How Do the Standing Waters of a Flood Affect Your Home?     

SERVPRO professionals have seen all the various effects of standing floodwaters on houses and their contents.  Some of these develop almost immediately after flooding occurs, while others take time to present themselves.  A few common issues resulting from standing floodwaters are:

• Buckled or collapsed floors
• Warped walls
• Disintegrating drywall and plaster
• Discoloration or corrosion of surfaces
• Dirty water that is trapped behind walls and in other difficult-to-access areas
• Backed up sewage systems

All of these severe problems require the assistance of trained professionals that know what they are doing.  Otherwise, major mistakes could be made that would likely waste both your time and money.

Is It Possible to Save Household Contents Impacted by Floodwaters?

Most times, contents coming into contact with floodwaters are not salvageable.  This is because floodwaters are considered to be the most contaminated type of water.  As such, they are usually filled with the most hazardous pollutants like dead bodies and animal carcasses, human and animal wastes, toxic chemicals, trash of every kind, and dangerous microbes.  With that said, however, SERVPRO is sometimes able to save expensive Persian rugs and other irreplaceable valuables damaged by floodwaters.  We do this by employing innovative methods, industrial-grade washing and drying equipment, and enzyme and chemical-free soaps.

What Effect Do Flood-Borne Microbes Have on Your Home?

As previously noted, floods bring with them harmful microbes.  These microorganisms, as you can imagine, could affect your property in many negative ways.  The effects vary in severity and can impact everything from the superficial aesthetics to the structural integrity of your house.  Some of the most notable of these effects are:

• Mold/mildew stains and other discolorations on floors, baseboards, walls, and ceilings
• Strong musty or otherwise foul odors that are difficult to neutralize
• Dry rot that develops over time and undermines the structural integrity of your residence
• Harmful bacterial growths that could cause health effects

It is important to realize that each of these potential issues becomes much more likely the longer you wait to have your home remediated.  Moreover, if these effects already do exist, they usually only get worse over time if not properly addressed.

How Does SERVPRO Resolve the Various Effects of Flooding?

Your neighborhood SERVPRO has the necessary expertise and all the latest state-of-the-art tools to successfully resolve your flood-related issues.  For years, we have tackled numerous problems associated with standing floodwaters and the dangerous microbes they generally carry.  Our technicians have done this with:

• Powerful extractors and pumps that rapidly remove gallons of standing water from structures
• Professional hazardous waste disposal methods that are safe for residents and the environment
• Advanced high-velocity fans, air movers, and dehumidifiers that quickly reduce interior humidity to normal levels
• Cutting edge Injectidry systems and floor pads that can remove water from difficult-to-access areas behind ceilings and walls, as well as under floorings
• Sanders and specialized methods for handling floor warping and buckling
• Expertise in and specialized equipment for full reconstructions of destroyed structural elements
• High-tech foggers that can fill impacted air and materials with EPA-approved antimicrobials and deodorants

Using all of these impressive resources, SERVPRO experts are usually able to return your home to its pre-flood condition in record time.    

If and when flooding damages your residence, remember that all is not lost.  There is high-quality help available nearby.  Call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940 whenever you need our assistance in overcoming flood damage.

How Does SERVPRO Clean Textiles After Flood Damage In Buffalo Grove?

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

For help with flood damage, give SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich a call at (847) 279-1940.

Buffalo Grove Residents Want To Know Their Textiles Are Safe After Flood Damage

Sometimes a storm is mostly harmless, but other times a storm can cause water to enter Buffalo Grove homes and wreak havoc.

Flood damage in Buffalo Grove is no laughing matter. If water enters your home, you are likely to be concerned about saving the water-damaged items. Many people are particularly worried about their textiles, such as upholstery and throw pillows. Thankfully SERVPRO is on hand to clean textiles.

How does SERVPRO define clean?

Clean can be quite hard to define. That is why our teams work to strict guidelines to ensure textiles meet the necessary definition of clean.

We categorize clean into six outcomes:
    •    Looks clean – fibers are as soft and plush as they were before the incident
    •    Smells clean – there are no unpleasant odors present, and we have eradicated damp smells
    •    Feels clean – fibers feel pleasant to the touch with no matting
    •    Stays clean – we remove fiber residues to help the item stay fresh for longer
    •    Dries fast – we can dry the article quickly to prevent further problems
    •    Is sanitized – the textiles not only look clean but are sanitary and healthier

Our technicians discuss cleaning plans and methods with you to help you understand what outcomes to expect and ensure you are happy with our work.

What cleaning methods do we use?

We use several cleaning methods to restore your textiles after flood damage. Some of the choices are:

    •    Dry cleaning
    •    Wet hand cleaning
    •    Wet machine cleaning
    •    Water extraction
    •    Deluxe precondition and rinse

Our choice of cleaning method depends on the type of material, the extent of the flood damage, and the material's pre-existing condition.

For example, if a fabric is sensitive to water-soluble cleaning products, we use a dry cleaning method to fix it. Dry cleaning methods include hand dry, machine dry, and dry-wet-dry.

Wet cleaning methods such as bonnet cleaning or Haitian shampoo are useful for more heavily soiled textiles. However, they are only suited to fabrics where there is no danger of the color bleeding out.

No matter which cleaning method we use, you can rest assured we will not stop until your home is “Like it never even happened.”

For help with flood damage, give SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich a call at (847) 279-1940.

Is There Any Hope of Restoring My Furnishings, Household Goods, and Personal Possessions After Torrential Rains and Flooding in Buffalo Grove?

6/17/2020 (Permalink)

Don't be the person floating on by all your personal belongings in your Buffalo Grove home. Call SERVPRO to mitigate your problem.

SERVPRO’s Team of Flood Damage Mitigation and Remediation Professionals Have a Broad Range of Solutions for Both Your Buffalo Grove Home’s Structure and Its Contents

The amount of water that can pour into your Buffalo Grove home during and after summer thunder showers, wind storms, or tornadoes can be substantial. Water can intrude through holes created as shingles and roof decking tear off, or trees, branches, or other debris break windows or punch through siding. Furniture, clothing, documents, books, pictures, and a host of other personal property risk ruin if rapid assessment and appropriate interventions do not occur.

How Will My Belongings Fare During Flood Damage Recovery?

After the storm blows over, your home’s structure might feel like the least of your concerns. Drywall and roofs protect you but can be switched out with few regrets. The flood damage to your Buffalo Grove house’s contents, on the other hand, is heartbreaking. After significant overland flooding through the foundation meets the waterfall cascading down walls and stairs from roof, window, and siding leaks, nearly everything inside your home is wet. Do not panic. There is a solution.

Should I Agree to a Pack-Out of Furnishings, Household Goods, and Personal Possessions?

SERVPRO understands it is very hard in the midst of such chaos to hand the bulk of your belongings to any restoration contractor. The feeling of loss of control is inevitable. Still, we have a tightly-structured protocol that not only safely removes your possessions and tracks them during our stewardship, but also permits talented and highly-trained technicians to return many items damaged back to previous function and appearance. Insurance contracts reference repair and restoration of the contents of your home in most instances, rarely willing to cover an entirely new set of furniture, clothing, floor and wall coverings, sports equipment, cooking and eating utensils, and on and on. For optimum recovery and excellent results, moving damaged items to our climate-controlled and specialist-staffed production facility can be your best option.

How Can I Trust that My Possessions Are Safe and Secure When They Are Out of My Sight?

We take the responsibility of managing your personal property seriously, using our Contents Claim Inventory Service (CCIS) throughout the process.  Once at our facility, or in a dry space on your property, we evaluate the condition of the items, planning for cleaning, disinfecting, drying, and deodorizing. We review the condition of the articles and report honestly on the results of restorative interventions as we work through each box or individual item. This detailed timeline allows you to make informed decisions on select items and provide data to your insurer to support claim or restoration coverage. Our trained technicians document the things we pack and follow each item through its restoration arc by employing:

• Check off and written lists
• Digital photography
• Barcoding technology

Can I Handle Some of the Work Myself?

We are always willing to partner with our customers on cleaning and restoration. It makes some sense for you to retain clothing and accessories needed for the short term for your family, as an example. You can wash and dry items at home if that equipment is safe to use or at a laundromat or dry cleaners. Trying to achieve optimum results when burdened with four seasons worth of clothing, towels and linens, outerwear and specialized outfits, is another matter. Some items are nearly impossible to clean and dry appropriately because of the need for specialized equipment or a short timeframe. These contents may be a better fit for the professionals at our production facility:

• Upholstered, padded furniture

We use portable moisture extractors and contained, small drying chambers to clean and remove all moisture before wood and textiles warp, delaminate, or fray, or mold growth takes hold.

• Documents, papers, books, and photos

These fragile items are challenging to save, but we have freeze-drying resources available that can deliver excellent results. Freeze-drying works through the process of sublimation, where frozen water transforms into a vapor without the intervening and damaging liquid state.

• Electronics

We need to handle electronics very carefully, drying them in a contained, controlled atmosphere, and availing the help of experts in this field before determining they are safe to operate. Our crew is cautious to moderate temperature so that the dried electronics are never subject to conditions that cause condensation on connection points by falling below the ambient dew point.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich has the experience, resources, and training to sort out the chaos inside your home after storm-related flood damage. Contact us at (847) 279-1940 as soon as practical after the storm passes to get your property back on track.

How Long Do I Have Before Flooding Ruins My Buffalo Grove Home?

4/3/2020 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO Works Fast to Save Your Home in Buffalo Grove from Extensive Flood Damage

Any level of water infiltration in your home poses a threat to your belongings as well as structural materials. The faster that you have a team onsite to address flood water removal, the fast you can get your home back to normal. Our team at SERVPRO is always Faster to Any Size Disaster!

What Do Flood Restoration Technicians Do to Help?
When a massive rainstorm or local flooding leaves your home with flood damage in Buffalo Grove, skilled technicians arrive on the scene with all of the techniques and equipment to get it cleared up quickly. Water left to fester for too long becomes harmful to the structural integrity of your home while posing a threat from dangerous mold and mildew growth. SERVPRO features water removal technicians (WRT) with specialized technology to remove large amounts of standing water to bring your home back to like-new condition, including:

    •    Truck-mounted pumps and vacuums that allow for the quick removal of hundreds or thousands of gallons of water.
    •    Gas-powered and submersible pumps for effective, continuous pumping of high-level water.
    •    Hygrometers and moisture detection tools that help to measure the amount of moisture saturation throughout the home.
    •    Infrared camera technology allows our technicians to located any hidden pockets of moisture that lurk in ceilings and behind walls.

Why Are Flood Cuts Necessary?
A flood cut is when technicians remove sheetrock about a foot above the water level to safely remove any black water, also known as Category 3 water, that has seeped up throughout the materials. Impacted drywall is cut, then bagged up and carefully disposed of while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for safe-handling purposes.

Call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich today at (847) 279-1940, and we can send out a team as soon as possible to help with flood damage restoration.

For more about Buffalo Grove click here.

Water Extraction By SERVPRO Is the Answer for Buffalo Grove Flooded Basements

3/11/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Removes the Fish along with the Water from Your Flooded Buffalo Grove Basement

Flood Damage in Buffalo Grove Basement Gets Fast Help

Waterproofing a basement in Buffalo Grove does not make it completely unable to have water damage. A finished basement is a smart addition to a home. It is a way to create a game room, home theater, additional bedroom, or much-needed storage. But statistics show 98% of basements have a water loss event during their service life.

Cleaning up flood damage in a Buffalo Grove basement comes with several challenges for SERVPRO techs. First and foremost is the extraction of the water and removing items from the floor space.

Methods of Extraction
There are a few main pieces of equipment the techs rely on for fast extraction, particularly in basements. The portable pumps allow the techs to move quickly and can deploy in numbers, so each section of the loss area gets rapidly addressed. When the water is more than two inches deep, the techs rely on submersible pumps or truck-mounted units to pull the water out fast. In cases of finished basements with glue-down tile or carpet, it is typical for this type of floorcovering to delaminate and require disposal as a loss.

Removal and Move Out of Contents
Homeowners that store items in plastic containers with lids are already ahead when it comes to storage. These types of containers fare the best in almost any kind of water loss situation because they lock out moisture intrusion from any direction. Cardboard boxes wick the moisture and begin to soften and fall apart quickly, allowing whatever is inside also to become wet. SERVPRO techs remove items to a dry area of the home or their facility for secure storage, dependent on the preferences of the homeowner.

Drying in Place Whenever Possible
When a furnishing such as a dining table or pool table, SERVPRO techs can place the item up on blocks during the drying phase. We have a supply of wood and high-density foam blocks to elevate the legs above the wet or damp floor. This limits the disruption to the home during cleanup and restoration services.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940 to get fast action against the flood damage in your home. The certified techs arrive on-site quickly and make the water loss to your home, "Like it never even happened."

We Follow Proper Steps In Buffalo Grove After A Flood

12/26/2019 (Permalink)

Our technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and scientific drying techniques during the restoration process after a flood.

Flooding from Above and Trapped Ceiling Water in Buffalo Grove

Storm damages can lead to substantial structural breaches in Buffalo Grove, including direct flooding from runoff or wind-driven rain through missing or collapsed portions of the roof. When flooding penetrates the house from above the primary living spaces, the likelihood of excess water becoming trapped in the ceiling cavity is high. Our SERVPRO team works to alleviate this threat and reduce the present structural risks that accompany this type of flooding.

Flood damage to Buffalo Grove homes can affect the property from different angles and penetration points, but migration between flooring can lead to substantial structural concerns. While our professionals must first perform emergency repairs to the property to prevent further flood damage or penetration, this is the preliminary step before beginning extraction and drying efforts. Because many attic spaces are unfinished, penetration into this area can directly affect the living space in your home beneath the ceiling drywall.

Drywall can withstand an onslaught of pressing water damages when the flood migration leaves ceiling cavities saturated. Once this water can begin to absorb into the drywall, the composition changes, and the material gets heavier. With excessive saturation, drywall can become too heavy to remain installed and collapse under its growing weight. This situation can pose a threat to our customers and our SERVPRO team, so we must reduce the trapped water as efficiently as possible.

In many cases, our licensed contractors must utilize controlled demolition techniques to remove any section of drywall too severely damaged to restore. In many ways, this can eliminate the pressing threat of collapse, but areas that might get subjected to trapped water but restorable can benefit from drilled holes that can allow water to drain out of the cavity and also serve as available points for the hoses of our positive pressure machines to work on drying out the cavity.

There are many steps involved in keeping our customers and technicians safe from the hazards present after flood damage. From complete build back and reconstruction to efficient extraction and drying, our SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich team can help. Give us a call today at (847) 279-1940.

See more about Buffalo Grove.

Why Flood Damage in Wheeling Necessitates Professional Restoration

11/12/2019 (Permalink)

Take a peek inside our warehouse. This is just some of the equipment at our disposal to restore your home.

Seeking the Right Help Ensures Wheeling Residents Resolve Flood Damage Incidents Faster

You might be wondering what's next after your house floods. In most cases, you need help from other people to deal with the broad range of issues that develop after flood damage incidents. Common issues that you must address include:

• Checking and Fixing Electrical Hazards
• Water Removal
• Thorough Cleanup
• Rebuilding Damaged Areas

Different sets of skills might be necessary to fix the variety of problems that develop after flood damage in your Wheeling home. You might even need to involve several professionals for your home, regains its preloss condition. It is possible to avoid such inconvenience by hiring a specialized flood damage restorer like SERVPRO. Our crews include technicians with different sets of skills such as Applied Structural Drying specialists, Water Restoration Technicians, Applied Microbial Remediation Technicians, and Carpet Cleaning Specialists, among others. With such abundant skills, one team can handle most of the restoration work involved.

Financial loss is the standard outcome after a flooding incident. However, ignoring safety issues during the restoration process can also cause grievous bodily harm. Various hazards develop when a property is flooded, with the most common ones being the risk of electrocution and injuries if parts of the structure collapse. Our SERVPRO technicians scope the affected building before starting the restoration process. We confirm that power is off, and then use Electrical Circuit Testers to check areas where we suspect a risk of electrocution. We also confirm that the building is structurally sound before embarking on the restoration process.

Flooding leaves unsanitary conditions in affected properties through soiling and contamination. Various cleaning approaches have to be carried out at the loss site to restore the preloss conditions. Our SERVPRO crews have access to different cleaning equipment that helps deliver exceptional results. We use pressure washers, which spray water at up to 3000psi, readily stripping away stubborn soils from surfaces, especially when we clean the outdoor parts of your structure. We also clean through hot water extraction using the regular extraction equipment we bring to the loss site.

With the right help, fixing flood damage should not be a big deal. Call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940 to help provide the tools and skills to resolve the problem, "Like it never even happened."

More about Wheeling.

Here Is What You Should Do For Your Flood Damage Situation in Buffalo Grove

10/13/2019 (Permalink)

Whether flooding is from a river, a storm or internal pipe break, team SERVPRO has you covered. Contact us right away.

Buffalo Grove Flood Damage Resolves Successfully with Professional Response

Our community was under a tornado warning recently, with Buffalo Grove residents readying for the personal harm and property devastation that can follow such storms. High winds and pounding precipitation is something our region increasingly copes with regardless of the date on the calendar. As flooding and exterior damage from year-round storm activity becomes commonplace, it is more important than ever to line up an experienced and professional response. Our team prepares for crises like this.

Do-It-Yourself Equipment Is Not up to the Task

Significant flood damage develops inside Buffalo Grove homes during storm activity. If roofs and siding are compromised, water can flood in from top to bottom, saturating every level of your house before collecting in your basement. Overland flash flooding or seepage from the saturated ground surrounding your home tends to enter lower levels, rising by inches or feet. Consumer water removal equipment such as wet-dry vacuums cannot handle the quantity of floodwater adequately.

A Team Approach

Even our heavy-duty commercial equipment is only half of the equation. When SERVPRO arrives to assess your flooding scenario, we assign trained and experienced team members to the tasks indicated, scaling our response to the intensity of the damage. Our service vehicles stock multiple pumps, extractors, and drying equipment, permitting us to double or triple down on the job if your flooding is substantial. Water removal completes much faster with adequate equipment and sufficient numbers of trained operators. This approach increases the odds that most building materials can be restored, avoiding tear out and replacement.

Safe Contaminated Water Assessment and Management

The SERVPRO team confidently categorizes the water flooding your home, creating a safe and legal plan to contain and dispose of significantly contaminated fluids. Our crew wears personal protective equipment (PPE) and takes appropriate precautions to shield the rest of your home from the affected areas. Floodwaters are typically considered Category 3, containing human and animal waste, including blood and fecal-borne pathogens. We contain the fluids and dispose of them according to local regulations. Negative pressure air scrubbers help us seal off the contaminated spaces and filter any airborne viruses, bacteria, or other hazards in our workspaces. EPA-registered antimicrobials and cleaners applied to the soiled surfaces inhibit the spread of pathogens, readying the space for applied structural drying.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich is poised to help our community’s residents recover from storm and flood damage. Call us at (847) 279-1940 to arrange for an assessment and recovery plan and its implementation.

Click here for more information about the city of Buffalo Grove.

Lake Zurich Pop-Up Storm-Related Flood Damage

8/15/2019 (Permalink)

Let SERVPRO help with those Pop-up rain storms that damage Lake Zurich.

We know how serious flood damage in Lake Zurich is.

“Micro-burst” showers catch residents of Lake Zurich unprepared. Hot, steamy late summer days can generate highly-localized torrential rainstorms that deposit a significant amount of water in a short period. If a downspout comes loose or a basement window is left open, the wet areas in your lower levels can go from a minor inconvenience to a crisis. We count flood recovery as one of our core services. We would be honored to help.

Supersaturated Ground Equals Basement Floods

Sometimes the Lake Zurich area suffers flood damage when “trains” of rainstorms following one after another. Any one storm is unremarkable, but the cumulative effect of several in quick succession can saturate the ground so thoroughly that the water has nowhere to drain except into your home. Cracks in the foundation can make it more susceptible as can a failure to grade the ground around the perimeter of your home away from the foundation.

Submersible Pumps and Extractors Step Up First

Every SERVPRO service vehicle carries pumps for removing water more than two inches deep and truck-mounted extractors for the remaining standing water. Once the crew lead assesses the damage and designs a plan our Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)-trained technicians roll out the equipment. The more liquid water we remove that more efficient our drying configurations can be. If your electricity is out, no worries. Our trucks carry onboard power generators.

Research-Based Drying Configurations

When SERVPRO determines drying goals, we use moisture data collected by probes and sensors. Our technicians take courses intended to make this data collection standardized and easy to insert into a more comprehensive drying plan. As we add air movers and heaters to the flooded area, we aim to create a balance that moves water out of structural components and into the air as vapor. The vapor condenses or absorbs into a fluid depending on the humidifiers positioned in the flooded space. Liquid water collected is discarded outside the home.

EPA-Registered Cleaners and Disinfectants

The flooded surfaces are cleaned and treated with appropriate products. SERVPRO aims to inhibit the growth of molds or pathogens. We can also seal spaces with products intended to act as antimicrobial base coats for further restoration efforts.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich prepares for the rainy times each summer, ready to help if your home floods. Call us at (847) 279-1940 any day or time to set up a professional assessment.

To learn more about Lake Zurich, click here.

Will Summer Storms Bring Flood Damage to Your Wheeling Home?

5/31/2019 (Permalink)

No matter the size of the storm, SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich is equipped and ready to go.

Wheeling Area Weather Extremes Expose Homes the Risks of Flood Damage

When spring and summer storms move across the flat expanses west of Wheeling, high winds and torrential rain can batter your home. Damage to roof, windows, and siding can allow large quantities of water to enter your living and storage spaces, harming both structural components and contents. Recovering from such an event is not something readily accomplished without support. Our team of highly-qualified flooding remediation experts can help.

A significant challenge you and your family face when confronted with flood damage to your Wheeling home is the risk of exposure to hazardous substances. Flood waters are by definition contaminated, heavy rain mixed with road and landscaping chemicals as it flows overland, sewer backups as drainage systems are overwhelmed, decaying organic materials from roofs and gutters, and stored household items like paints, cleaners, and other potentially toxic formulations.

Managing the flooding requires containment of the Category 2 and 3 water, disposing of it according to local regulation. Our SERVPRO team trains for proper protocols during the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), gaining familiarity with the safety requirements in the communities northwest of Chicago. Our experienced project managers assess your flooding scenario, devising a step by step plan that rids your property of the flood waters. Next, we remove the soiling from contaminants, sanitize the surfaces, and dry the building materials.

SERVPRO service vehicles stock pumps and water extractors and EPA-registered products for thorough cleaning and disinfection. The equipment is operable even if electricity service is temporarily disconnected because of the storm. Gas and generator-powered water evacuation proceeds immediately; delays would be problematic and fortunately, are unnecessary.

As the flood waters recede, we use thermal scanning and moisture meters to find any migration of the moisture into building cavities. SERVPRO crews sometimes perform limited demolition like flood cuts or hole drilling to release water and permit optimal air flow to wet areas when we begin drying procedures. Crew members clean soiled surfaces and apply appropriate antimicrobials in anticipation of the balance of air movement, heat, and dehumidification needed to bring structural materials back to standard moisture levels.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich delivers successful flood damage remediation, relying on IICRC-trained technicians and commercial quality water removal and drying equipment. Call (847) 279-1940 for a rapid response when storm waters flood inside your home.

Read more about Wheeling here.

You Can Count On Our Crew To Restore Your Flood Damaged Home In Buffalo Grove

4/9/2019 (Permalink)

Call us at (847) 279-1940 for fast, professional assistance.

Be Prepared For Another Round Of Flood Damage In Buffalo Grove

Weather in recent years has pressed areas of Buffalo Grove nearly to the breaking point when it comes to flooding. Last May was the wettest during modern recordkeeping. The damage done to the greater Chicago area was considerable, and our neighborhoods were no exception. Taking steps to minimize damage to your home if waters rise is a great idea. Having our number on speed dial is another.

In addition to more extremes in rainfall totals, development in Buffalo Grove might also have an impact on flood damage. When more land is paved because of commercial and residential development, there are those who believe a connection exists between new housing, retail spaces, and parking lots and increased flooding risks. Regardless of the cause behind any flood waters finding their way into your home, some practical tips can help avoid severe damage to contents and structures.

Review your storage decisions, considering moving items stored in the basement or lower levels of your home to higher ground. Although SERVPRO has trained production technicians, who can clean and dry items like documents, pictures, and electronics you might fear flood waters would ruin, deciding to move them out of harm's way saves time, expense, and worry. Check out appliances and mechanical systems in your basement and investigate whether they can be raised on supports to deflect water damage.

An option many homeowners follow is the installation of a sump pump system in spaces where heavy rains, seepage, or overland flooding could be a problem. This can reduce the amount of flood damage, but SERVPRO is available if the quantity of water that invades your home overwhelms the system.

If despite your best-laid plans flood damage becomes an issue in your residence, the crews from SERVPRO are ready around the clock to assist. We have the highly-qualified employees and the up to date equipment to manage flooding issues fast and efficiently. Pack-outs of your at-risk possessions is a secure choice when using our Contents Claim Inventory System (CCIS), allowing us to remove the water, dry the area, and then clean and disinfect the affected surfaces.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich has available a broad range of strategies, and always employs industry best practices when responding to residential flood damage. Call us at (847) 279-1940 for fast, professional assistance.

Click here for more about Buffalo Grove.

Flood Damage Remediation in Your Buffalo Grove Home Can be Overwhelming

3/10/2019 (Permalink)

Seasonal flooding can cause serious damage. Don't let it get that far, call SERVPRO and take action against floods.

Managing Flood Damage as Winter Welcomes Spring in Buffalo Grove

Extremes of weather seem common everywhere these days, and the Buffalo Grove area is no exception. Heavy snows followed by mixed precipitation of sleet, ice, and rain can expose foundations to seepage. Flash flooding can get out of hand when the ground cannot absorb more moisture because of freezing temperatures or sanitary sewers have more runoff than they can handle. When water enters the lower levels of your home in significant amounts you need help from our professional team.

The need for speedy removal of water makes flood damage in Buffalo Grove an overwhelming issue for most homeowners. High-efficiency equipment and trained technicians make all the difference when inches to feet of water invade. Flooding remediation is always a challenge, but variable temperatures and remnants of snowpack and ice surrounding your home increase the difficulty as winter trends toward spring.

We are unfazed by the constraints imposed during cold weather flooding. SERVPRO technicians are highly qualified, trained in industry best practices through IICRC coursework. Our team arrives in well-stocked vehicles, ready to begin flood water removal as soon as our assessment informs a work plan. Submersible pumps and truck-mounted extractors make short work of standing water. Our technicians measure moisture levels and scan with thermal imaging devices to locate hidden caches of water to ensure the removal of the majority of water before we commence structural drying.

The SERVPRO team assesses for water contamination levels, containing and properly disposing of Category 2 and 3 (Gray or Black) water according to local regulations. Once we succeed in clearing the majority of visible flooding our team determines drying goals based on our baseline moisture measurements and normal moisture levels for the structural components involved. We set up a drying configuration of air movers and heaters to move moisture from wet building materials to the drier air as vapor.

Dehumidifiers either condense (evaporative) or absorb (desiccant) the water vapor for removal. We use cleaners and EPA-registered disinfectants to clear the affected area of soiling and inhibit mold and other pathogen growth. SERVPRO is proud to return your home to you “Like it never even happened.”

Contact the team at SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich when seasonal flooding put your home at risk of permanent damage. One call to (847) 279-1940 schedules an assessment and ensures needed action that halts the harm and starts the recovery.

Click here for more about Buffalo Grove.

Don't Fall Victim To Scammers After A Flood Emergency In Your Buffalo Grove Home, Call The Professionals At SERVPRO!

2/6/2019 (Permalink)

Unfortunately, many of these “great deals” are scams designed to prey on those already contending with an overwhelming situation.

Avoiding Scams After Extensive Flooding In The Buffalo Grove Area

When widespread disasters affect the Buffalo Grove area, you might see a lot of contractors and startups that you have never heard of before. It is becoming a common practice for unskilled and unlicensed individuals to seek out victims of disasters like flooding, offering them an incredible price to help clean up and restore the property. Unfortunately, many of these “great deals” are scams designed to prey on those already contending with an overwhelming situation.

Restoration work is a near certainty for homeowners affected by flood damage in Buffalo Grove, but getting the right experts to do this work is vital to ensure it gets done correctly and thoroughly. While there might be several people capable of extracting water from a property, ensuring that the area gets dried completely is essential to prevent secondary effects from starting like mold growth. Without the right tools and expertise, you may end up paying for restoration to occur twice.

Our SERVPRO professionals work efficiently in situations like widespread flooding throughout the area to offer the full measure of our resources to the entire community. We have extensive training in disaster relief and flood restoration practices, beginning with effective mitigation that helps to protect the belongings and items within your home that matter the most to you and remain at risk for further damages.

You should be mindful of restorers that might offer their services at extremely low prices comparatively. Another red flag that you can encounter is when restoring companies during a traumatic time offer their services to you by you paying half or more of the restoration cost up front to “secure their services.”

During even widespread disaster, our experienced professionals work to provide the same level of care and consideration to every property we work to restore. Give our SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich rapid response team a call whenever disaster strikes for real and honest restoration and recovery. You can reach our crew 24/7 by calling (847) 279-1940.

Click here for more about Buffalo Grove.

Lake Zurich Properties Are Flood Loss Prone--Ask SERVPRO for Cleanup and Mitigation

12/4/2018 (Permalink)

Seasonal Cold Causes Flooding in Lake Zurich Homes--Call SERVPRO for Cleanup and Mitigation

Crazy Weather Patterns Cause Late Fall Flood Damage In Lake Zurich

As the seasons change in Lake Zurich, the weather you might expect can vary from your memory. Post-Thanksgiving storms in the greater Chicago area included a wintery mix, a rainy drizzle changing over to wet, heavy snow. A home that sustains roof or siding damage from the storm can experience flooding in its lower levels. No matter how the floodwaters arrived, we can help.

If your Lake Zurich property struggles with unexpected flood damage, contacting a reputable remediation company is a must. The colder temperatures make an already troubling situation even more difficult. When the integrity of your home is breached you need help fast, and finding a company that can handle all aspects of flood mitigation is vital.

Our SERVPRO crews begin your project by ensuring a company can tarp and board up any holes or windows in your structure. Meanwhile, an experienced crew chief evaluates the flood damage on every level. Melting snow and ice that entered your home through the roof or siding can affect many areas of your structure as it makes its way down to your lowest levels. Ice dams can force future frozen water thaws to exacerbate the already damaged structure.

Any standing water 2 inches or deeper SERVPRO crews extract with pumps. Our service vehicles are mounted with water extractors that can use generators on the truck for power if the storm has cut off electricity. The extractors are useful on stairs, floors, and carpeting on all affected levels. As the water moved in it might have collected in cavities and recesses. We use sophisticated moisture detectors and scanning devices to find hidden moisture.

After water removal, SERVPRO technicians use the moisture readings to determine drying goals. We set up air movers, heaters, and dehumidifiers to dry out the spaces damaged by the rain and snow melt. Continuous monitoring of the wetness of various structural components and fixtures guides the drying process. During this portion of the project, we treat areas damaged by flood waters with EPA registered antimicrobials. Vigilance is needed even during cold weather to watch out for mold growth in damp areas. Flood waters often carry pathogen-carrying debris from roofs and the ground, increasing the need for sanitization.

SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich works 365 days a year to assist members of our community with disasters, including flood damage. Call us at (847) 279-1940 24 hours a day to respond to your flooding emergency. 

Here is the Village of Lake Zurich home page.

SERVPRO Is Ready 24/7 When Flooding Damages Homes In Wheeling

7/12/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding needs a swift, competent resolution or a residence can suffer severe and permanent damage.

SERVPRO Is Ready 24/7

Extreme weather patterns in the Wheeling area this summer resulted in overland flooding and a rise in the Des Plaines River. Homes exposed to this excess can struggle with standing water in lower levels and basements. Flooding needs a swift, competent resolution or a residence can suffer severe and permanent damage. Water removal and mitigation are some of our primary services, and we are eager to help.

When flood damage occurs to your Wheeling home, you need a disaster recovery firm that dispatches work crews fast, and 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Water is an incredibly destructive force, and the harm it causes starts immediately and worsens with time. Several inches or more than a foot of flood water in a basement is possible after heavy rainfall, especially if ground saturation has built up over several hours or even days. Waiting for the flooding to dissipate is not an option, and household equipment like shop vacs and sump pumps can be overwhelmed.

SERVPRO outfits each of our service vehicles with a full complement of commercial-grade pumps and heavy-duty water extractors. Often flood conditions are exacerbated by power outages when high winds accompany the rains. It also can be dangerous to work in flooded areas when power is engaged because of the risk of electric shock. Our truck mounted equipment operates with generators located in-vehicle, permitting us to get right to work.

When more than two inches of water intrude, submersible pumps are the workhorses that evacuate large amounts of flooding. Fast action permits flood waters to be drained into the sewer system as the contamination issues are less severe. If too much time passes, the trapped water can deteriorate in condition and require containment and disposal as hazardous waste. Once the majority of the water pumps out of the dwelling, SERVPRO crews use extractors to draw moisture out of carpets and cavities and recesses too confined for pumping.

The flooded areas then need drying, and again the SERVPRO green trucks supply the necessary equipment. Applied structural drying techniques taught through IICRC classes stress the need to balance temperature, air movement, and dehumidification for the best outcome. Our crew members use moisture meters to establish drying goals, and we monitor the moisture levels throughout the flood damage abatement to keep the task on track. We also use EPA-registered disinfectants to treat the flooded structural components to inhibit microbial growth and damage and to ensure the deactivation of any pathogens in the flood waters.

Speed and skill set SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich apart when extraordinary rainfalls place our community’s housing stock at risk of flooding. Call our emergency response teams at (847) 279-1940 for round the clock support.

Click here for more about Wheeling.

Removing Flood Damage In Lake Zurich

6/4/2018 (Permalink)

Lake Zurich Properties Mitigation from Flooding with SERVPRO's Robust and Rapid Responses

SERVPRO Utilizes Many Methods and Pieces of Equipment to Mitigate Storm Damage

Spring and Summer storms are in full swing in our area. Lake Zurich homeowners and residents can suffer a range of effects from a little water blowing under the doors to ankle and knee-deep water in their basement.
 
To clean and remediate the effects of flood damage to Lake Zurich homes, SERVPRO knows that arriving quickly with the right equipment is extremely important. Our offices maintain a 24-hour message service and an on-call response team to begin work on removing standing water, drawing water out of the property, and lowering the inside humidity to a reasonable level.
 
With enough information from the customer, our response team can bring the right equipment for the job, and begin removal in less than an hour after arrival. Depending on the floor area of the home and what time our team arrives, they can pump out any standing water in a day, typically.
 
Quick removal means our IICRC certified technicians can start drying out the home and property immediately. They concentrate their initial efforts on drawing water out of carpets and floors, removing moisture from walls, and lifting property off carpets and floors to prevent warping and leeching color off fabrics onto carpets and wood floors. If the assessment indicates heavily contaminated groundwater, then the pad and carpet must be discarded.
 
Our team uses extraction wands to draw out water. These devices are similar to vacuums, but their speed is more adjustable than a wet-vac. They also contain a heating element so technicians can begin drying the carpets and floors as they remove the water. Each SERVPRO team member is trained to dry the surfaces as quickly as possible without causing any secondary damage.
 
Removing water from walls and sometimes ceilings take longer, but it can save the homeowner hundreds of dollars in replacement costs. Our teams use air movers and fans to direct warm air over a surface to push moisture out and direct the damp air outside the home. Temperature control is important since over-drying can cause sheetrock and some ceiling tiles to crumble and crack. When demolition is needed, techs can do what is called a "flood cut," and remove drywall in straight horizontal lines to expose the wet wall cavities for drying.
 
To reduce the humidity level, technicians can install dehumidifiers to draw out moisture from the air. These machines can take over 20 gallons of water per day. They are also very useful to reduce the drying time for walls and carpets.
 
Together, these tools and techniques help SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich reduce and mitigate the effects of flooding from local storms. If you need us, call today at (847) 279-1940.

Information on this IL city by clicking here.

Flood Damage Drying Techniques in Buffalo Grove

4/15/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding or other damage after a storm can seem insurmountable. Contact SERVPRO for drying out and remediation efforts.

SERVPRO Technicians Follow a Proven Process to Dry Out Your Home After a Storm

The Spring season is the time of year that excessive rains pour onto Buffalo Grove. During a rainstorm flooding sometimes occurs along with high-speed winds. The combination of extreme winds and moisture creates scenarios that can cause damage to your home.
 
During a storm, there are numerous ways that water finds its way into a building. SERVPRO's flood damage technicians in Buffalo Grove have experience with mitigating storm-related problems. The presence of water can ruin building materials and contents inside the house. If water stays indoors for too long, mold often develops.
 
The first step to restoring moisture-related damage is to repair the problem from its source. Our SERVPRO restoration crews first work to secure the area and figure out how water leaked into your structure. Once we know how the moisture entered the home, we repair the door seal or broken window so that water no longer enters the building.
 
Once water has stopped flowing into your house, we work on extracting any water that did enter during the storm. If there is an excessive amount of standing water, we use a sump pump to pull all of the water out of the home. In other situations, we use a heavy-duty extractor equipped with specialized extraction tools to vacuum water out of carpet and upholstery. When extracting moisture out of furniture, we use specialized lightweight wands that work without damaging the fabric. For carpet, we often use extractors that the operator stands on to compress the carpet and pull out more water.
 
After we vacuum up all of the water out of the building that we can, we begin the structural drying process. When drying out a structure, our goal is to speed up evaporation and reduce moisture levels to preloss conditions so that mold growth does not occur. We accomplish drying by setting up dehumidifiers and air movers inside the house. The air movers push air in a circular motion while the dehumidifiers pull moisture out of the air and exhaust warm, dry air.
 
In some cases, we use specialty drying equipment to reduce moisture levels within certain materials. Building materials such as hardwood floors require specialized equipment to dry out within a short time period. For help with water inside after a storm, call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich at (847) 279-1940 any time of the day.

Click here for more information regarding the city of Buffalo Grove.

How Do Professionals Deal with the Odor Problem After Flood Damage to Your Lake Zurich Home?

3/11/2018 (Permalink)

Flooding can be overwhelming and take a long time to remediate. Contact SERVPRO right away to start the process and get your home back.

Certified SERVPRO Technicians Remediate Many Issues that Accompany Flood Damage in Your Home

A flooded house after a storm, heavy rains or any other natural calamity can take months to restore. Not only does the water damage your home and its belongings, but the odor from the flood water can also linger on for a long time.

Thankfully, SERVPRO professionals can help restore your flood-damaged home in Lake Zurich with some of the best deodorizing equipment.

Deodorization after a flood deals with two types of ‘smells’- Real and Imaginary. A real odor arises from a molecule that reacts with your nose to send a signal to your brain. In other words, there is a physical reason for such odors. Imaginary odors, on the other hand, as the name suggests, are imaginary. They do not have a physical source, but they are triggered by the circumstances and strong impressions.

SERVPRO technicians can handle both real and imaginary odors. It can be quite challenging to combat all the different kinds of odors after a flood. As a result, the professionals can use multiple methods approach. Depending on the type of the odor that needs to be eliminated or masked, many deodorants are often used. Following are some of the most common deodorizing agents that are frequently used to combat smells after a flood.

Masking agents  
As their name suggests, they mask or cover up the bad smells with a pleasant smell. The masking agents are suitable for the real and imaginary odors as well. They are often used in the form of time-release beads that keep on giving off a pleasant aroma for long durations of time to mask the odors.

Pairing agents  
The pairing agents combine with the odor-causing molecules in the air. As the odor-causing particles paired with the deodorizing agent becomes heavy, it falls on the floor. Once the molecules fall, they can be cleaned off quite quickly.

Ozone generators
Ozone is the reactive form of oxygen and is often used to eliminate odors arising from flood damage. The ozone molecule reacts with the odor particles and neutralizes them.

Call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/ Lake Zurich today at (847) 279-1940 to know more and discuss your restoration needs.
 
Click here for more information on the city of Lake Zurich.

Remediating and Preventing Flood Damage in Lake Zurich

1/28/2018 (Permalink)

The drain pipe running down the side of your house needs to be attached to the house and free of debris. Contact SERVPRO if a storm damaged your home.

Repairing Damage After a Storm Can Often Prevent Future Water From Entering the Home

Storms and storm flooding near Lake Zurich have been much more commonplace this last year. The actual weather event ends fairly quickly, but there have been more of them, and that means more water left behind in homes all around our area.
 
Quickly restoring Lake Zurich flood damage is important because each storm works its way into the home a little farther than the last one. SERVPRO knows that if floodwater is allowed to collect where it should not, even the foundation can be at risk.
 
If the foundation integrity is suspect, our response team begins with an inspection of the home. We can check every wall for seeps and leaks, paying particular attention to where the walls meet the concrete floor. If we find any, technicians fill them with a hydraulic cement compound and cover each wall with masonry cement.
 
The next step is to seal the outside of the foundation walls. If the homeowner authorizes it, SERVPRO can dig out and expose the exterior walls down to the foundation pad. We clean the walls and then seal them. We can do this by covering each of them with a thick, liquid rubber.
 
Now that the home is secure, we look at what is possible to prevent this and other types of flood damage from happening again. Much of the damage in our area happens not when lakes or creeks crest, but instead when a particularly violent storm damages the rain gutters and drains. Once that happens, water travels down walls and under roofs.
 
To protect each home, we can reconnect gutter sections and drains that the storm separated. This task usually means replacing missing bolts and reattaching pieces that winds pulled away from the eaves of the home. Technicians can also reconnect and seal drain pipes. They can also examine to see if the drains are secured to the walls and tighten restraining straps to keep them in place.
 
Protecting your home from flooding requires a quick response to seal your home from damage and preventive maintenance to direct stormwater away from it. SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich has protected homes in our area for almost thirty years and can do the same for you. Call us today to set up a visit at (847) 279-1940.

Click here for more about the city of Lake Zurich.

Restoring Flood Damaged Hardwood Flooring to Your Buffalo Grove Home

12/4/2017 (Permalink)

Rely on SERVPRO to Restore Your Storm Damaged Flooring in Buffalo Grove

Trust SERVPRO a Leading Water Mitigation Company to Restore Your Property's Flooring

Dealing with flood damage to your Buffalo Grove property after a recent storm can be devastating for both you and your family. The stress and fatigue alone make the circumstances unbearable in large loss events. However, you may find it pleasing to know that there are highly-trained professionals available to help return every aspect of your home to a quality pre-damage condition after a flood.

Offering full-service flood damage solutions to homeowners throughout the Buffalo Grove area gives us a sense of pride and satisfaction. We can handle any size job, perform many different repairs, and provide you with quality solutions to get things back to normal, fast. Our IICRC certified technicians are available 24-hours a day, 7-days a week for your convenience and always respond to your call immediately.

At SERVPRO we handle floods that present a variety of specialty drying situations, many that require particular attention to prevent significant damage. Some of these instances involve dealing with multiple layers of sheetrock, which lengthen the drying time involved in your restoration. Others involve dealing with ceiling tiles that are likely less expensive to remove and replace than to remove, dry, and reinstall.  

However, one of the most common situations that our SERVPRO technicians run into is dealing with hardwood flooring. The majority of homeowners with wood floors in their home would like it to stay that way and place a high value on hardwood floor restoration after a flood. As a result, we have put several technicians through the proper training to address the situation correctly.

We understand how hardwoods have a natural ability to hold up better than softwood during high moisture conditions and that the nature of hardwood enhances its restorative ability after water damage occurs. SERVPRO technicians use advanced drying strategies for hardwood floors that focus on the prevention of buckling, cupping, or warping and make every effort to return your flooring to a quality pre-damage condition during your restoration process. We can utilize drying mats to even the hidden moisture from the tongue-and-groove joints of the planks.

Take the time to learn more about how we can save your hardwood flooring, today. Call SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove / Lake Zurich for access to expert technicians and advanced technology. (847) 279-1940

Learn more about the Village here.

Storm Preparation

11/22/2016 (Permalink)

Preparation Kit

There are a few items you are going to want to have in case of a snowstorm.  The governmental Ready Campaign’s Public Service Announcement lists the items recommended to add to your emergency kit.  The Public Service Announcement list contains rock salt, sand, snow shovels, heating fuel, and sufficient clothing.  It may not be a bad idea to keep these items in your vehicle if you drive.  The full list specifically regarding vehicles also includes a flashlight, windshield scraper, battery powered radio, batteries, water, snack food, matches, First aid kit, pocket knife, necessary medications, rope, booster cables, flares, and a fluorescent distress flag.  The distress flag may come at a shock, but if you are trapped with your vehicle as your only shelter it might come in handy.

Be Informed

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross have created phone applications that give alerts and warnings.  These applications also provide information on first aid and finding shelters.  There are also two terms you may want to familiarize yourself with regarding alerts.  They are “watch” and “warning.”  The difference is a winter storm watch means that the storm is possible in your area.  Watches are generally issues 12 to 36 hours in advance of the storm.  However, a winter storm warning means that there will be a storm in your area, or it is already present.

House Preparation

There are a several different steps you can take to prepare your home for a snowstorm.  Common knowledge suggests increasing insulation.  This includes walls, attics, windows, doors, and pipes.  Insulating the items suggested will help keep heat in the home throughout the winter season.  If you have a chimney it would be a good idea to have it cleaned and inspected annually.  Having a fire extinguisher available would not hurt either.  However, what I believe to be the most important part of house preparation is learning how to shut off each of your water valves.  This is in case a pipe bursts.  The faster you can turn off that valve related to the specific pipe burst, the less damage will be inflicted on the house.  If it takes you an additional five minutes to learn how to turn off that valve, that is five more additional minutes of water flooding from the broken pipe. 

Storms in Chicagoland

7/25/2016 (Permalink)

Staying prepared will help you keep your home or business calm and collected when natural disasters strike. Check out our tips for water damage so you are ready for the coming storm. Storm Flooding Restoration

When Storms or Floods hit Chicagoland, SERVPRO is ready!

7/13/2016 (Permalink)

SERVPRO ofBuffalo Grove/Lake Zurich specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition. 

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Chicagoland, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout the United States.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today (847) 279-1940

Tornado Damage Coal City, IL

7/28/2015 (Permalink)

Ferrari Dr. Coal City, IL

When an EF-3 Tornado hit the town of Coal City, IL our franchises was one of the first responders. We are very proud of the work we did in Coal City becuase it wasn't easy. The people were devastated and very on edge, but through patients as well as genuine care our staff was able to bring hope to the local people. Thank you to all the residents of Coal City who chose SERVPRO of Buffalo Grove/Lake Zurich to make this disaster look "Like it never even happened."