SERVPRO of Grand Traverse is here and ready to help!

9/25/2024 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the resources and training to help with water and fire damage.

The first 24 hours following a water loss are the most important in preventing secondary or permanent damage.  Within four hours after receiving a loss notification, SERVPRO will arrive on site to ensure water damage is handled by completing the following steps.

Inspection: SERVPRO will inspect the affected areas to determine the extent of the damage and we will review the inspection with you and answer any questions.

Emergency Services: SERVPRO will take steps to help protect your home or business, as well as personal property and other contents, by extracting the excess water and preparing the area for drying. We will explain the needed emergency services step by step.

Monitoring: To help ensure the drying process of your home or business and belongings are dried to the appropriate industry standards, SERVPRO will monitor the drying process. We will consistently communicate the updates with you.

Restoration Services: SERVPRO will repair structural materials, reinstall carpets, and clean affected areas of your contents and property. A final walk-through of the jobsite will be conducted with you to help to ensure your property was returned to its preloss conditions.

We have the training and the resources to help you with your water or fire damage!

Fire damage in your home

9/17/2024 (Permalink)

Cleaning soot from the ceiling that has fire damage

The first 48 hours after a fire damage can make the difference between restoring versus replacing your property and personal belongings.  After fire damage, property owners experience the fear, uncertainty, stress and doubt about the future of the property which can be overwhelming.  SERVPRO provides timely response with mitigation service ranging from fire, smoke and soot removal to contents claims inventory and document restoration.

Here are some tips you can do to prevent further damage to your property:

• Limit movement in the house to prevent soot particles from spreading and additional damage from occurring.
• Please clean towels or old linens on rugs and high traffic areas and upholstery.
• Coat chrome faucets, trim and appliances with petroleum jelly or oil.
• Please aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet carpet.
• Do not wash any walls or painter surfaces.
• Do not shampoo carpet or upholstery.
• Do not clean any electrical equipment.
• Do not send clothes to a dry cleaner since improper cleaning may set smoke odor.

If you experience fire damage, call SERVPRO to help with cleanup.  We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to help.

Wood floors in water damages

9/12/2024 (Permalink)

Wood floor drying system

There is never a good time for water damage in your home or business.  But it's important that water damage is handled immediately to prevent further damage.  

SERVPRO has specialized equipment to help dry your home.  One piece of equipment we use is a wood floor drying system that helps save wood floors from having to be replaced.  By utilizing this equipment we are able to extract the water from the wood floor and dry the floor without having to remove any of the floor.  This helps our customers get back to normal without having the hassle of having cabinets and flooring removed.

If you experience water damage in your home and business, give us a call and we'll respond with the best equipment to get you back to normal.

SERVPRO Storm Response

8/18/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO has the resources available to help in a storm situation.

SERVPRO specializes in fire and water cleanup and restoration in both residential and commercial properties.

In the event of a fire or water damage resulting in the need for restoration or mitigation services at your business or residence, it's reassuring to know that there are local franchises available to respond quickly across the United States and Canada.

When storm events occur, SERVPRO can mobilize franchises in your community and from across the country to join in large-scale disaster recovery efforts. By combining our expertise, equipment, and employees, we are able to assist in large-scale cleanup. There is no job too big or too small for SERVPRO to handle. Our teams utilize their extensive training and experience to assess your situation, determine how to best mitigate the problems, and help get your home or office back to "Like it never even happened.

Science of Drying

8/18/2023 (Permalink)

Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? Having the knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water-damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO is trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages. If your home or business suffers a water damage, your local SERVPRO team will:

• Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet to help prevent secondary damage from happening.

• Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly.

• Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment. What exactly does it mean to help "speed up Mother Nature?"

A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material? but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, nature often takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is in the process of drying out. SERVPRO has the tools and equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough to reach spaces inside walls, and much more.

SERVPRO also uses state-oft he-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed up the drying of your home or business. 

SERVPRO Named One of the Best of the Best Franchises

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO was recognized as one of the Best of the Best Franchises in 2023 by Entrepreneur. The ranking, which is featured in the July/ August issue of Entrepreneur magazine, highlights the brands from Entrepreneur’s 2023 Franchise 500 ranking that ranked at the top of their industry categories. SERVPRO was ranked No. 1 in the fire, water, cleanup, and restoration category for the 20th time.

Entrepreneur’s Best of the Best Franchises ranking is based on information submitted for its annual Franchise 500 and is part of the brand’s continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the  ever-changing franchise marketplace. The franchises selected as 2023’s Best of the Best are ranked not only in the increasingly competitive Franchise 500 list this year but also at the top of their respective industry categories, based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. There are 152 categories represented this year, a testament to the ever-growing diversity of industries represented in the franchise world.

"Everyone wants to join a winning team, and that's why we love making this annual Best of the Best Franchises list," says Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine. "The companies on this list exemplify what it takes to thrive in franchising: They are innovative and nimble, but also stable and growing. They are truly the best of the best."

Cooking Fires

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

Smoke and soot can be toxic, creating a hazardous situation for your property. Even if a fire is contained in one area, smoke and soot can travel throughout a structure. Our professionals are highly-trained, with the experience, tools, and knowledge to clean up fire damage and remove the smell of smoke. In keeping with our goal to restore your home and cherished possessions to their pre-fire condition, we use appropriate personal protective measures to safely clean, deodorize and restore your property.

Restoring your home or business after fire damage is our main goal. As a leading fire damage restoration company, we specialize in removing the water after firefighting efforts. Our trained team will assess the damage caused by the fire, and handle the fire cleanup and fire damage restoration. Our professionals will also deep-clean your property including soot removal from walls, carpets, and upholstery. They will also perform the smoke damage cleanup and the removal of the smoke odors.

Tips for caring for documents until restoration begins

8/1/2023 (Permalink)

It's important to get damaged documents frozen as soon as possible to help prevent mold and/or further deterioration from occurring. Documents can be frozen at a local cold storage facility or in a home freezer or refrigerator. SERVPRO can send a refrigerated truck to store the documents to help stabilize them on-site until they're ready to ship to our facility.

If possible, gather and take note of all documents that need restoration. This will allow for a smooth pack-out once SERVPRO arrives to assist. Swift action is imperative for document losses. The sooner they are addressed, the higher probability of better quality results.

Understand that some damage is permanent, such as ink runs and ink or mold stains. This type of damage is already deeply embedded into the papers' fibers at the time of loss. Our services do not undo or reverse this type of damage. Once documents have been damaged, they will likely not look brand new again. 

SERVPRO First Responder Bowl

12/21/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is set to host the fourth annual SERVPRO First Responder Bowl, a great college football game honoring the everyday frontline heroes in towns and cities across the nation.  This year's game will be played Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at SMU's Gerald J. Ford Stadium, located on the campus of Sothern Methodist University (SMU) in University Park, Texas.  Kickoff for the game is set for 2:15pm (CT) on ESPN.

Each year, SERVPRO asks their franchises nationwide to submit the name of a first responder in the local community to be considered for special recognition at the game.  SERVPRO selects one first responder from this group of nominees to be honored with an award.

In previous years, through the generosity of corporate partners, the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl has been able to provide thousands of free tickets for first responders to attend the bowl game with their families.

Rick Isaacson, CEO of SERVPRO Industries, LLC says it best, "SERVPRO deals with the aftermath of the unexpected every day, but first responders deal with the unexpected when it's happening.  They are the first on the scene, putting themselves in harm's way to protect people and property.  The SERVPRO First Responder Bowl is our opportunity each year to say 'thank you' on a national stage to these brave men and women - and their families - who set an example of courage and sacrifice for all of us."

So please join us on December 28, 2021 to honor first responders everywhere!

The Science of Drying

12/14/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying?  Having the knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water-damaged structue to its preloss condition.

While your inital reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO of Grand Traverse Area is trained in the science of drying and follows strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chances of any secondary damages.  If your home or business suffers a water damage, we will inspect the building to detect every component that is wet to help prevent secondary damage from happening; measure how much mositure is in wet materials and monitor whether the materials are drying properly; and speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.

What exactly does it mean to help "speed up Mother Nature?"  A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium.  When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material-but only if the air is, indeed, drier.  The only problem is nature often takes too long and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out.

SERVPRO of Grand Traverse Area has the tools to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more.  We use state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help accelerate the drying of your home or business.

The bottom line?  We have the training and equipment to help make water damage "Like it never even happened."