Convenience during Fire Damage Restoration in Los Angeles Properties

2/25/2024 (Permalink)

If a fire occurs in your home, contact SERVPRO immediately. Our technicians are available 24/7 for remediation and mitigation services.

SERVPRO® Uses Proactive Fire Restoration Approaches

Los Angeles is known for its unlimited attractions and fun activities for residents and visitors. You can explore space and science exhibits at the Griffith Observatory or explore world-renowned museums such as the Getty Center, which features stunning architecture and beautiful gardens. Since Los Angeles is synonymous with the film industry, a walk through the Hollywood Walk of Fame is great if you would like to explore stars honoring different celebrities. Annual events like The LA County Fair, LA Film Festival, and Rose Parade provide a unique chance to interact. 

There is nothing convenient about property fires. However, with proper planning, fire damage restoration at your Los Angeles property can run conveniently. SERVPRO helps plan and execute fire restoration exercises conveniently by deploying a range of advanced resources to execute different tasks.

Proactive restoration involves

• Proper residue control
• Safeguarding structural areas
• Sustained moisture control

Residues are plentiful in a fire-damaged property because of the soot and ash produced by materials as heat breaks them down. Residues soil structural areas and contents, so removing them is essential. However, if the removal efforts spread the residues from the original areas, you may end up worsening the soiling or interfering with electronics and utilities in the house. SERVPRO takes steps like vacuuming surfaces to remove fine residues, setting up air-tight containment, and establishing negative air pressure.

Fire compromises structures in different ways like creating openings by shattering windows and triggering roof cave-ins. Flames may compromise frames and studs through deep charring. Safeguards such as board-ups and roof tarps help protect the structure from further deterioration. Roof tarps ensure there is no water damage in case it rains after the fire incident, while boarding up secures the interior from a wide array of risks, including vandals.

Most times, fire incidents also involve water damage since firefighting mostly requires dousing flames with water. Such damage may also occur during cleanup. Therefore, sustained moisture control helps improve outcomes. Our SERVPRO teams have different dehumidifier types, including LGR and desiccants for humidity control.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park tackles all the challenges you would normally encounter during fire damage restoration, delivering exemplary results. Call (213) 522-7448.

How Can Silver Lake Homeowners Remove Heavy Fire and Smoke Damage?

4/3/2023 (Permalink)

After fire damage at your Silver Lake property, you will need a team of experts by your side for the restoration. Call SERVPRO for assistance.

Fire Restoration Techs from SERVPRO in Silver Lake Revitalize Damaged Fixtures and Structures

Each year, homeowners in locales like Silver Lake run the risk of encountering fire damage from electrical components, appliances, or kitchen mishaps. Even small-scale disasters can quickly turn into potentially costly renovation projects without fast-acting service from knowledgeable professionals.

SERVPRO technicians provide fire and smoke damage cleanup for Silver Lake homeowners needing emergency-response restoration services. This crew performs cleanup, fire odor removal, and rebuilding tasks that return affected structures to pre-disaster states per Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standards.

The Benefits of Abrasion Blasting for Fire Damage

Soot removal can prove challenging with conventional cleanup methods. Many tough-to-remove stains and residues require more rigorous cleanup to restore the surface. Even fire and smoke damage cleanup proves successful, removing odors remains challenging. Abrasion cleaning can effectively address stains and residues while implementing fire odor removal.

Blast media used during heavy-duty abrasion cleaning includes:

• Dry ice, which is among the most potent cleanup options available for fire damage cleanup and odor control
• Corn cobs, which are gentle, effective, and biodegradable
• Soda ash, which offers additional odor control benefits during abrasion cleaning

Abrasion cleaning is not necessary for every endeavor, however. Other options, such as alkaline solutions and dry cleaning sponges, are typically sufficient for cleaning fire-damaged structures and contents. Abrasion cleaning is ideal in preserving charred wall framing and cabinetry.

SERVPRO Can Implement Heavy-Duty Fire and Smoke Damage Cleanup with Dry Ice Blasting

Dry ice, which consists of carbon dioxide pellets, is among the most effective abrasion media available for heavy fire damage residues and odors. This material provides a range of benefits for Silver Lake SERVPRO technicians.

• Dry ice's non-toxic, environmentally friendly nature makes it safe for use on a wide array of surfaces affected by fire damage. Its use is approved by the FDA, USDA, and EPA.
• The lack of moisture present guarantees potential secondary damages from water damage or mold growth.
• Because dry ice blasting only uses recaptured CO2, no additional solvents or chemicals are present that require cleanup or preparation after use.
• Dry ice blasting equipment requires minimal preparation before and after use compared to many other fire damage cleanup tasks, and its use can expedite restoration.
• These carbon dioxide pellets do more than mask fire damage odors. This type of cleanup mitigates fire-related smells by rendering the environment inhospitable for malodor-causing bacteria and residues.

Dry ice is gentle enough to restore masonry without scratching it. It is also a powerful solution for potential microbial growth in a Silver Lake home, which may be present from water exposure after fire suppression. SERVPRO can implement these solutions anytime, including weekends, late nights, or holidays.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park provides comprehensive services from trained technicians that leave homes looking and feeling "Like it never even happened." Homeowners can call (213) 628-2000 to begin the cleanup process.

Pressure Washing is Key to Successful Fire Damage Restoration in Los Angeles

2/20/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO can pressure spray smoke and soot damaged properties in Los Angeles as part of a fire damage restoration service.

SERVPRO Professionally Cleans Fire-Damaged Properties in Los Angeles

Cleaning surfaces is crucial during fire damage restoration since it helps prevent additional damage, removes toxic substances, and helps return your property to its preloss condition. Smoke deposits typically settle on ceilings, walls, pavements, and other surfaces. It is recommended to work with professional restoration experts to ensure the restoration process is a success,

For a successful fire damage cleanup process in Los Angeles, our SERVPRO technicians use several methods. Since we have been in the industry for a long time, we understand the cleaning complications that arise from such incidents, and as a result, we know the right equipment and procedures to do the job right. The goal is to let the property owner understand that the property is being restored efficiently and safely.

Sometimes our team may use pressure washing to remove heavy smoke and soot particles from concrete and brick surfaces. In the processes, we use water under high pressure and appropriate cleaning solutions to remove the contaminants. We follow the following steps for a successful cleaning process:

• · Our SERVPRO experts cover surrounding surfaces to protect them from possible water damage
• · We then prepare the surface through the removal of loose residues
• · We ensure the pressure is set to a level appropriate to our cleaning surface.
• · We start cleaning the surface from the highest point downwards in a back-and-forth motion.
• · We repeat the procedure severally until the surface is free of smoke particles.
• · We then rinse the area to remove any remaining residues.

After successful cleaning, we use dehumidifiers, fans, and other equipment to dry the fire-damaged areas. We also perform smoke odor removal procedures to neutralize unpleasant smells. We may repaint or do the necessary refinishing work when discoloration happens after exposure to the soot and smoke particles.

Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park today at (213) 628-2000 when you experience any fire, mold, or water damage crisis. Our technicians follow our tagline--We're Faster to Any Size Disaster and will offer you the professional help you need to restore your property.

Los Angeles Homeowners Trust SERVPRO with Fire Damage Restoration

8/28/2022 (Permalink)

Cleaning up fire damage in your home is a daunting task. Contact SERVPRO for certified professionals who are ready to help you 24/7.

Does fire damage restoration in Los Angeles by SERVPRO include deodorization?

Controlling the odors after fire damage to your Los Angeles property can be challenging. SERVPRO techs employ a systematic approach toward odor elimination that starts with identifying the source. 

Rather than relying on a single method of odor elimination, SERVPRO techs usually employ multiple procedures after fire damage to your Los Angeles home. While some ways, such as wet fogging and thermal fogging, are great if the damage is heavy, they are not ideal for tackling localized odor issues confined to relatively smaller areas. 

How do SERVPRO techs manage localized odor problems during fire restoration in Los Angeles?

SERVPRO IICRC-certified techs use the following two methods to control localized and minor odor issues during the house fire cleanup of your Los Angeles home. 

• Injection Devices: Techs use a syringe and a needle to inject a relatively small amount of deodorant into confined spots on carpets and upholstery. The method is effective if the techs cannot lift the carpet to get to the padding or backing material and if the affected area is small.  
• Vaportek Units: It is a deodorizing system that contains a compound of natural oils sealed into a membrane. SERVPRO techs use these systems to distribute the deodorizing volatile oils to neutralize the odor molecules. 

Why do techs sometimes use sealers during house fire cleanup? 

If the odors remain even after all other deodorization methods have been performed, techs sometimes use sealants to seal the odor molecules. Most sealants are alcohol-based shellac or acrylic polymers that lock in the odor-causing molecules in the pores and crevices of the surface. Applying a sealant is usually considered after every other method has been tried.

Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 to discuss your restoration needs after fire damage.

Where Can I Find Los Angeles Area House Fire Clean Up?

7/31/2022 (Permalink)

Facing fire damage? Team SERVPRO has the expertise to remediate and also deal with the residues and odors. Call right away for best results.

SERVPRO Provides Los Angeles Properties with Excellent Fire Damage Restoration.

As most Angelenos know, our area is especially prone to wildfires and their damaging effects. Therefore, local homeowners should always remain mindful of this potential threat and know whom to call when disaster strikes.

SERVPRO, a company specializing in water & fire damage restorations in Los Angeles, is a good service to call when your home is impacted by a fire. We are skilled at all aspects of fire restoration, including smoke damage remediation and house fire cleanup. Some of the innovative methods our trained experts employ are:

• Neutralizing smelly smoke particles with ozone machines and air scrubbers
• Eliminating odors and sanitizing ductwork with HVAC cleaning systems
• Wiping heavy soiling from fragile surfaces with the peroxide active cleaning technique
• Removing hard residues from surfaces via abrasive methods
• Cleaning up non-greasy residues with dry cleaning sponges
• Using wet cleaning methods to remove oily residues from metal, wood, and paint

So, remember, if you ever need fire damage restoration, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake/Echo Park at (213) 628-2000.

All You Need to Know about Deodorization during Fire Damage in Echo Park

7/3/2022 (Permalink)

Remediating fire damage means also dealing with the smoke that is left behind. Contact SERVPRO for certified technicians and equipment for the job.

SERVPRO Provides Echo Park Residences with Realistic Solutions to Odor Control after House Fires

When fire damage incidents occur, there are chances of unpleasant odors developing in the structure. The odors might be coming from the soot particles or the smoke that penetrates into cracks and other hard to access areas. Deodorization is necessary to control such issues. This article looks at the two primary forms of large scale-deodorization - ozone and thermal fogging - that we do when performing restoration work in Echo Park. 

Our SERVPRO technicians undergo training to carry out thermal fogging as a way of neutralizing the unpleasant smells after fire damage incidents in Echo Park. During this process, a fogging device dispenses solvent-based deodorants which are then broken down by heat to form small particles. Some of the deodorants are flammable, and we take precautions when working with them. We extinguish pilot lights from fireplaces, water heaters, furnaces, gas logs and wood stoves. Also, not all structural areas are candidates since the products can degrade certain plastics and rubberized materials.

After performing thermal fogging, there is a specific time limit that people should observe before reentering the treated building. We put in place warning signs indicating that deodorization is underway since there are chances of people thinking that the fog is smoke from a fire, and raising a false alarm. Some of the deodorants can irritate, so we remove all pets and people from the site. Our SERVPRO technicians wear respirators fitted with vapor cartridges, chemical resistant gloves, and goggles.

In most cases, the fog can make the floor slippery. We avoid such hazards by progressing out of the structure as we are treating the area. It is also the work of our SERVPRO technicians to ventilate the area before people can reoccupy. We can do that by setting up high-velocity air movers and exhaust fans. When we are using ozone, we follow the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations since it is a toxic gas. The O3 interacts with odors and effectively neutralizes them. Another topic can cover the use of hydroxyl generators that are also commonly used for odor removal. 

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park has a proven record in fire, storm, mold, and water damage restoration. To work with a dedicated and trusted leader in the industry, call (213) 628-2000 at any time of the day and learn more about the available options.

Los Angeles Property Owners Ask SERVPRO to Help with Woolsey Wildfire Recovery and Clean Up

3/22/2022 (Permalink)

Our area is prone to wildfires. SERVPRO is always on call!

Cleanup and Restoration for Wildfire Damage in Los Angeles Homes

The greater Los Angeles area has gotten ravaged by the destructive Woolsey Wildfire, and this destructive force continues to threaten homes and businesses throughout our service area. This wildfire destroyed hundreds of property structures have gotten destroyed, and this assessment is limited to only 15% of reports. Even with some homes experiencing destruction, other properties only contend with some of the wildfire effects. 

Recovering from a disaster like this is what many Los Angeles homeowners currently face or expect to face in the immediate future. Our SERVPRO rapid response team can help with the crisis by offering rapid assessments of the damage to your property. You can then provide the appropriate information that your insurance company requires to file a claim for restoration work to begin. 

From the moment that our professionals arrive at your home, we can begin work on our effective mitigation strategies to preserve structural elements and the contents of your house. Many homes that are not directly in the line of damage from this wildfire can still expect to experience smoke and soot effects throughout their property. Our SERVPRO professionals have the industry-leading equipment to make short work of these effects within your home, including deodorization tools like thermal foggers and environment cleaning machines like our air scrubbers. 

For those homes with some degree of structural damage, our franchise can offer you controlled demolition solutions to prepare your home for the reconstruction or rebuilding required to return to normal. This approach can make the transition between our mitigation practice and the licensed contractor seamless to reduce the length of time you get kept out of your house. 

While you cannot anticipate the effect of the wildfire on your property, and with more properties getting affected every day, having the right restoration team to help you recover is critical. You can always depend on the fast response, expertise, and industry-leading equipment of our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park fire restoration technicians. Let us help you through this disaster by calling (323) 255-1000.

Facing Fire Damage in Lincoln Heights

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

Call SERVPRO for fire damage restoration in your Lincoln Park condo

Historic Neighborhoods Need Certified Professionals to Deal with Fire Damage

Suppose you are confronted with fire damage affecting your home in the Los Angeles area's vibrant and historic neighborhood. In that case, you need the expertise of SERVPRO's highly trained technicians, ready to pitch in and restore your dwelling and your and your family's peace of mind. Experiencing a fire in your own house is a terrifying event, and as you try to react, the work ahead of you may seem overwhelming. Our mission is to restore your premises quickly and with as little disruption to your happy family life as possible. We can offer assistance both with the actual fire damage suffered to your structure as well as the collateral water and chemical issues you may be dealing with after the firefighters have left.

Because your home has personal meaning to you and is part of an exciting and unique neighborhood with a history that stretches back to the 1830s, fire damage in Lincoln Heights poses unique challenges to fire restoration specialists. Surviving a fire is always traumatic but when the structure involved is more than 100 years old, an emphasis on restoration rather than tearing down and rebuilding is key. Our staff is trained in effective restoration techniques for building structures, structural components, and fixtures. We realize just how precious these historic buildings are to you and the community and are committed to working toward leaving your fire damaged home in this famous district just "Like it never even happened."

Know that at SERVPRO, we leave nothing to chance and can restore fire, smoke, and soot damage in your historic home from the hardwood flooring to the antique crystal chandelier. Before you attempt any cleaning on your own, please consult with our technicians as your well-meaning efforts may actually make things worse. We can provide you with a list of things you can do to protect your possession yet not interfere with the methods we need to use to bring your home back to its former glory. Our staff will also consult with you as we move through the house and through our tasks so that you and your family are safe, even if we have to use chemicals to deal with odors or to contain soot and smoke staining on walls or in the ductwork.

Trust in the trained staff at SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park to restore your fire damaged historic home back to preloss condition. Call us at (323) 255-1000 as soon as possible after the fire is under control so we can get to the work of bringing your home back to you and your family.

How Do I Clean My Walls After Fire Damage?

11/5/2021 (Permalink)

Our certified technicians are available 24/7 to help you get your property back in order after fire damage.

SERVPRO Uses Various Techniques and Products to Clean Your Los Angeles Home

After a fire in your Los Angeles house, the two most significant issues you face are cleaning and deodorization. Cleaning each item and surface within your home presents a unique challenge depending on its composition and the type of fire, and the kind of residue coating each surface. Most homes have different surfaces as wall coverings, such as wallpaper and tile in the bathroom and kitchen. Our trained restoration specialists assess the damage to your walls and design a plan to clean your walls properly. 

Can I Save My Wallpaper?

SERVPRO Uses Dry Cleaning Methods to Clean Wallpaper

It may be possible to clean fire-damaged walls depending on the type of fire, residue, and kind of wallpaper. If your Los Angeles fire damage produced dry residue instead of greasy, our trained professionals could use a dry-cleaning sponge to remove residue from your wallpaper. Paper wallpaper tends to absorb cleaning agents due to its porous nature. Vinyl wallpaper has a protective layer, allowing technicians to use water mixed with our Wall and Surface Cleaner and rinse with our specially formulated Wall Rinse. 

How Do Technicians Clean Tiles?

• They take into consideration the type of tile, ceramic, plastic, or painted.

• Ceramic tiles tend to be easier to clean since they are less porous.
• Plastic tiles often attract and absorb excessive residue.
• Technicians carefully scrub painted tiles so they do not ruin their texture.

• They inspect to see if cracks or porous grout absorbed additional residues.
• Technicians use a strong acidic cleaner such as a Tile and Grout Cleaner or bleach to attack grout stains.

For assistance cleaning your home after a fire, contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000. We make it "Like it never even happened."

Repairing and Restoring Los Angeles Homes After a Wildfire

10/1/2021 (Permalink)

Wildfires are common in California. SERVPRO can make your home "Like it never even happened."

There are Many Steps to Making a Fire-Damaged Los Angeles House Feel Like Home Again

Over the years, Los Angeles County homes have experienced many disasters from mud damages, flooding, and wildfires. Having qualified professionals available 24/7 to help when disasters strike can be critical to getting mitigation started as soon as we first arrive.

Assessment When It Is Safe to Inspect

It is not often immediately safe to begin fire restoration in Los Angeles homes after wildfire damage. Once the environment is deemed safe enough to form a damage assessment, this vital effort can catalog damages and impacted contents/exterior building materials. This inspection finds:

• Exterior damage
• Soot soiling
• Air quality threats
• Structural weaknesses

Surface Cleaning and Soot Removal

After wildfire damage, we clean the structure with wet and dry cleaning approaches to remove soot and smoke soils from building materials. Where these solids might have infiltrated a residence through openings or outside intakes for the HVAC system, cleaning is necessary for the house's interior and exterior.

Reconstruction and Building Envelope Repairs 

Rebuilding after wildfires often means addressing the concerns on the house's exterior, such as damaged siding, roofs, or other pieces of a structure's envelope. With a general contractor license and years of experience working in one of the largest counties in the country, this build-back can occur seamlessly after restoration and cleanup.

Because wildfires can be a significant issue for area homes and businesses, our local restoration team must prepare for these possibilities with fast mitigation solutions. Our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park professionals provides water cleanup, surface cleaning, repairs, and odor removal to make it "Like it never even happened." Give us a call today at (213) 628-2000.

Will SERVPRO Help When It Comes To Dealing With Odors After Fire Damage In My Los Angeles Home?

9/8/2021 (Permalink)

Fire damage restoration services by SERVPRO are second to none. Call now for fast and immediate services.

The Tools For Odor Removal After Los Angeles House Fires

Finding the right professionals to help overcome fire effects in your Los Angeles home after a disaster can feel like an overwhelming task. While there might be many options that you can choose from, you want to make sure to focus your efforts on the team that can arrive quickly and who has the right tools and expertise to make a difference for your property. Our professionals have a 24 hour response time every day of the year and come equipped with industry-leading equipment designed to make restoration as efficient and effective as possible.

While fire damage in your Los Angeles residence can appear in many ways, often one of the most challenging aspects to returning to normal life is a lingering and persistent harsh odor. With the widespread nature of this effect, traditional fragrance sprays and cleansers cannot remove the odor, but will only mask it for a short time. Our SERVPRO technicians are IICRC-certified in fire restoration and recovery and arrive with equipment and tools that can quickly neutralize foul scents from your property.

Our hydroxyl generators are among the most commonly used machines in our arsenal to overcome harsh odors throughout your home. During mitigation work, these units get set up to begin filtering out dust, debris, smoke particulates, soot, and ash from the environment while debris removal and pack-outs are underway. The onboard HEPA filter can also help noticeably reduce smoke odor throughout the affected areas.

Ozone generators and chambers are two pieces of the same technology. The generators are mobile, meaning that we can bring them into your home, while the chambers are an area of our facility designed to deodorize contents, furniture, and other affected items. These machines cannot get used around humans and pets, which can limit their use in specific scenarios.

While there are many tools and machines instrumental in restoring your home after fire odors, a couple get used often to do this task efficiently. 

How We Help Homeowners by Giving Initial Estimates of Fire Damage in Los Angeles

After experiencing a fire in your home, the chaos seems to become overwhelming. SERVPRO professionals understand that this period in your life can become stressful even on good days, and we are here to help make sense of things. Our estimator begins by explaining how to work with your insurance company to help smooth the rest of the obstacles you are most likely to encounter.

Once a home in Los Angeles sustains fire damage, the homeowner needs to send the insurance adjuster lists of damaged items claimed as destroyed beyond repair for compensation. The SERVPRO estimator explains before you compile these lists how to do so quickly while still retaining the accuracy your adjuster requires. Our Contents Claim Inventory Service helps you easily accomplish this goal.

While we always try to clean items on-site instead of moving them out, sometimes we need the extra space. However, items that you need to claim on your insurance forms do not get moved to our facility. Your adjuster might want to inspect the items to satisfy the agency's documentation requirements. In situations where we have enough space to work inside your residence without performing a move-out, we separate damaged items from others that we need to clean and restore.

Your insurance pays for many services in addition to replacing belongings and restoring your home to preloss condition. Many of your home's furnishings also require cleaning and minor repairs to restore them. Moving them to our facility or storage while we work incurs fees, as does moving these items back to your home. Your insurance adjuster takes all of these costs into consideration. We help you by giving them estimates of these costs, keeping the amounts as accurate as possible.

Working with you and your insurance company's adjuster can help make everything go as smoothly as possible, easing you and your family through this hectic and stressful time. We want to help our customers as much as possible and in a variety of ways. Our expertise in these situations helps make sense of tragedy when it affects your family.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park helps residents in Lincoln Heights and Chinatown maneuver the complexities brought on by fire damage. Call us at (213) 628-2000 to start the process of restoring your home and your life, so everything can once again be "Like it never even happened."

Can Fire Damage Impact a HVAC System?

7/30/2021 (Permalink)

Making sure that your HVAC is inspected after a fire is critical when dealing with fire damage. Contact Team SERVPRO and we can help you.

Fire Damage Inspections and Evaluations Determine the Extent of the Damage to Los Angeles Properties

Fire damage might be an unexpected and high-tension event, but our SERVPRO professionals can help. We can clean up debris and sooty surfaces, as well as clear buildup and debris caught in the HVAC system.

Inspecting the HVAC System After a Fire

Because fire damage restoration for Los Angeles homes can impact many rooms of the house and contents, it is logical to assume that a running HVAC unit has been compromised to some extent as well. This evaluation of duct and equipment conditions can showcase where glaring issues in the residence exist after a fire. Some of the focal points of this inspection include:

• Structural weaknesses
• Fire debris
• Strong odors
• Soot and soil deposits

Air Duct Cleaning and Air Quality Improvement

Once tools like the borescope get used to inspect the ductwork, we can begin the necessary steps to clear debris and deposits in this network. We position our leading equipment like our Dri-Eaz HEPA 500 unit where circulation occurs most to trap particles and spores before greater harm results.

Fire damage can be a violent and dangerous situation for homeowners and families. Getting the building cleaned and cleared falls to the capable hands of our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team. We can help with everything from mitigation to air duct cleaning when you call (213) 628-2000.

Need Fire Damage Restoration of Your Los Angeles Home? Call SERVPRO

5/7/2021 (Permalink)

After a fire in your property, you will need a team of experts by your side for the build back. Call SERVPRO for assistance.

How SERVPRO Eliminates Odors After Fire and Smoke Damage?

Fire damage restoration of your Los Angeles property is a complex task. The removal of lingering odors from fire-damaged homes can be especially challenging. SERVPRO technicians undergo extensive training to understand how odor molecules permeate various structures and utilize multiple methods to eliminate them. 

Odors in a fire-damaged Los Angeles home can be one of the following two types:

• Real Odors: Caused by smoke and soot residue that interacts with olfactory sensors of the nose
• Imaginary/Psychological odors: Circumstances, such as smoke damage, dictate the sensation of these odors though non-existent. Phantosmia is the clinical term.

SERVPRO technicians of Los Angeles address both these odors for an efficient restoration during a house fire cleanup. The first with our advanced equipment and protocols, the second with a simple explanation that there are no odors. (We may still do a light spray or set up another unit for a short time.)

What Types of Deodorants do SERVPRO Techs use During House Fire Cleanup in Los Angeles?

Different types of odors due to smoke damage require a different kind of deodorizing action. SERVPRO restorers in Los Angeles use some of the following deodorants to combat odors after a fire and smoke damage:

• Masking Agents: Used to combat odors in fire-damaged homes, especially during the project of cleanup and odor removal
• Pairing Agents: Combine with odor particles, physically or chemically, and render them odorless. They work either by changing chemical property or precipitating the odor particles 
• Enzyme Digesters: Used to combat odors arising from organic or protein material. The enzymes break down the molecules into odorless fragments.

For 24/7 assistance with fire and smoke damage restoration, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000. 

Flags and Magic in Los Angeles Is on Fire

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

If a fire-damaging event lights up your Los Angeles home call SERVPRO. Enjoy the Six Flags/Magic Mountain Light Show!

Come See the Biggest Neighborhood Light Show in Los Angeles

Six Flags / Magic Mountain has taken the idea of a drive-thru business to the next level. On January 11th, and thru-out December and January, the theme park has converted its entire operation into what may be the biggest commercial light show in Los Angeles.

Music, Ornaments, Santa, and Muscle Cars – Only in Los Angeles

Included in this holiday experience are dancing lights timed to the music participants hear over the park’s sound system. Rides and support structures are now 30-foot-tall ornaments, and everything that doesn’t move has a layer of fake snow covering it, making Magic Mountain look more like the Sierras. Children can wave to Santa and Mrs. Claus, while Moms and Dads get to enjoy the classic cars on display thanks to West Coast Customs.

Tickets run from $20 to $25 per person, and every car entering must have at least two people. Arrive early for the show and avoid the rush!

If your Los Angeles home needs fire damage repair, contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake /Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 today. Especially in today’s environment, we are here for you.

Boyle Heights Can Kick Off the Holiday with Miracle on Ocean Ave

12/2/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is here to make sure that the only soot that you see during the holidays is on Santa's Suit!

Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel Invites Boyle Heights Residents to Join in the Fun 

Just because it is a bit warmer in California and beaches abound does not mean Santa isn’t on his way. The Loews Beach Hotel is excited to bring back the Miracle on Ocean Ave event. The fun is not just for hotel visitors. It is for the public as well and is brimming with holiday delights.  

Whimsical Wonderland Escape 

When you make your way into the hotel, you are entering a seasonal wonderland that includes: 

• An upside-down forest
• Santa letter writing station
• A private igloo for dining in the restaurant
• Dog friendly “yappy hours” Dec 4 & Dec 18
• Holiday cocktails 
• Themed activations 

The event goes through January 3rd with lots of special weekend activities. 

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park provides professional fire smoke removal in Boyle Heights and surrounding areas. Let us put your house back to normal after a fire. You can contact us at (213) 628-2000 for more information. We’re Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Los Angeles Homes Hit by Fire Can Depend on SERVPRO to Help

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

Los Angeles has lots to offer, including Exposition Park.

Fire Restoration is Our Specialty – Let Us Help You Get Your Home Back to Normal 

Los Angeles is an ultra-modern city that is packed with history. From Spain and Mexico claiming it and onwards to it becoming one of the United States, it has had a colorful past. Over the years, landmarks have developed that are worth the trip. Thousands of visitors each year visit these attractions – some are historical, some are modern, but they all represent some aspect of Los Angeles. 

An Iconic Sign Everyone Recognizes 

Towering above Los Angeles is the Hollywood Sign with lettering that is 45 feet tall and 350 long. It began life as a Hollywoodland and was an advertisement for a new housing development. Over time it would be repaired and shortened to the current sign. Although it no longer serves its first purpose, a local real estate advertisement, the area of Santa Monica Hills wouldn't be the same without it. Visitors from around the world hike to see this sign each year. 

Venice Canal Historic District 

This residential suburb of Venice is home to this historic district. It was created to have the appearance and ambiance of Venice, Italy. Abbot Kinney began these man-made wetlands canal in 1905. It was complete with arched bridges and gondoliers and trips through the lit canal. It was designed to draw buyers for residential lots. Interesting facts about the Venice Canal District include: 

• It was 3 to 4 times bigger than today before 1929
• The canals were reduced down to 6 from the original 13
• The seven canals that were destroyed became roads
• Many attempts were made to restore and repair the canals over the years
• Changes were made for improvement in the 1980s 

Walt Disney Concert Hall 

The Walt Disney Concert Hall doors opened on October 24, 2003. It is the home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and can seat over 2,000 people. The Los Angeles Master Chorale is also based out of the concert hall. The venue was a gift to Los Angeles by Lillian Disney as a tribute to Walt Disney. It is a impressive work of architecture and has a concert organ that is second to none. 

USS Iowa Battleship 

A retired battleship, the Iowa is the last lead ship of battleships of any kind. In her vessel class, she was the only one who saw duty in the Atlantic Ocean during World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt traveled on her when he crossed the Atlantic headed toward Algeria. The president was meeting with Churchill and Stalin to discuss important issues of the day.  

In 1944 the Iowa was moved to the Pacific Fleet, where she was active in the war measures. She was flying Admiral William F. Halsey's flag as the Third Fleet flagship during the Japanese surrender in Tokyo bay. She took part in the Korean War and was later decommissioned to the Navy reserve fleets. In 1982 she was reactivated only to be permanently decommissioned in 1990. Today visitors can tour the battleship for a glimpse back into time. 

Grauman's Chinese Theatre 

In 1922 Grauman's Egyptian Theatre was opened and successful enough to open the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Its branded title is TCL Chinese Theatre, and it is located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It is a movie palace that opened on May 18, 1927, where the King of King's of Cecil B. DeMille fame debuted. Since then, it has seen many premiers of blockbuster movies, including Star Wars. Another main attraction is the handprints, footprints, and signatures in the concrete blocks in the forecourt. Today it is also an IMAX theater. 

Olvera Street in Downtown Los Angeles 

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Monument includes Olvera Street. It has been the main square of LA since the 1820s when the city still belonged to Mexico. The street has had several names over time and became Olvera Street in 1877. One of the Plaza Districts' historic buildings, the Avila Adobe, is on the street. It dates back to 1818, along with Pelanconi Street established in 1857 and Sepulveda House in 1887. Today restaurants, craft stores, and troubadours line the street. It was designated as a "Top Five" street by the "Great Streets of America." 

Sightseers Dream Spot 

There is so much to experience in the City of Angels. The above does not begin to put a dent in the landmarks in LA. Some other well-known ones include: 

• Capital Records Building
• Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
• Angel Flight
• Dolby Theatre
• Griffith Observatory
• Getty Center
• Getty Villa
• Stahl House
• Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
• LA Live
• Los Angeles County Museum of Art
• Bradbury Building
• S. Bank Tower
• Hollywood Boulevard
• Watts Towers
• Dodger Stadium 

SERVPRO Restores Homes with Fire Damage 

Homes and businesses alike in Los Angeles can be subject to fires at any time. When disaster strikes, SERVPRO is there to provide emergency mitigation. Even small fires can do extensive damage as smoke residue and soot move throughout the home. Our technicians know how to intercede and deliver fire restoration in Los Angeles.  

Professional Technicians Get the Job Done 

When your home experiences a fire, the extent of the fire determines the steps that are taken. There are specific actions that are basic to even small fires. These can include: 

• Doing a scope of the area
• Removing charred remains if needed
• Determining the type of soot present
• Using the appropriate cleaning methods
• Water extraction if required
• Deodorization
• Restoration of home and content 

When we leave your home, SERVPRO wants you to feel, "Like it never even happened." We encourage homeowners to let our professionals handle the job as attempting to clean on your own can worsen the situation.  

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park prides itself on providing quality fire restoration services to LA. You can contact us at (213) 628-2000 and talk to our friendly staff. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

How Do Wildfires Damage Nearby Homes?

10/5/2020 (Permalink)

Los Angeles Homeowners are concerned about wildfires close to Los Angeles. SERVPRO Offers fire damage cleanup and restoration.

Los Angeles and California contends with wildfires that can stretch for miles and impact thousands of homes in varying ways.

As devastating as wildfires can be to Los Angeles area homes in the path of this moving natural disaster, households in the vicinity can also be impacted in other ways. Odors, soot, and embers can all have overwhelming effects on your property's look and function. Contending with these conditions often requires professional restoration technicians like our SERVPRO team. We have experience in fire recovery, as well as potent cleaning products and efficient tools to get your property back to preloss condition.

What Are the Most Common Threats to a House During a Wildfire?

Wildfires feed most on structures and forestry, making fire restoration for Los Angeles homes impacted a challenge. Soot is one of the most substantial obstacles, and it is generated by the incomplete combustion of fuels like wood. Creosote concerns can also be a concern from this burned material, much like the hazards from allowing this substance to build up in chimney flues. While your home might not always be in the direct line of a spreading wildfire approaching the city, there are several ways it could require professional cleaning and recovery, such as:

• HVAC Damage – The intake of your air conditioning that often runs most days throughout the year can quickly pull in contaminated air from the outside and potentially spread soot particles, ash, and smoke throughout the house. 
• Exterior Soot Damage – Siding and brickwork on the outside of your home has a textured surface, allowing soot particles to collect quickly. The thicker these coatings, the more challenging they can be to remove before staining and marring occur.
• Structural Compromise – While ash and soot particles can travel for miles on the air surrounding a wildfire, direct structural damage in the moving fire's path must also get addressed. We have contractors to help in these situations where demolition and reconstruction are necessary.

As unfortunate as wildfires can be for thousands affected, our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team can help you manage the emergency with a fast, knowledgeable response. Give us a call at (213) 628-2000.

Is My Fire Los Angeles Damage Considered Major or Minor?

6/21/2020 (Permalink)

Fire damage can seem quite overwhelming. Contact our SERVPRO team for effective fire damage remediation services.

SERVPRO Understands Your Los Angeles Home is Important and Handles All Types of Damage by Fire

Any fire is devastating to the family involved, but some determinations classify the damage done to the structure. Different methods for cleaning and restoration depend upon how extensive the fire was in Los Angeles.

What are the three levels of fire damage?

If you need fire damage restoration in Los Angeles, SERVPRO's fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) provide emergency mitigation fast. The level of damage done dictates the type of cleaning and restoration that will be utilized in your home to leave it "Like it never even happened."

• Minor Fire Damage – Smoke residue is contained in smaller areas and leaves a light to a moderate residue. Walls and ceilings need repainting, but only minor items need replacing.
• Medium Fire Damage – More extensive smoke damage through the house. The residue is worse. Items like furniture may need replacing. Wood surfaces require refinishing. Odors linger and are more potent.
• Major Fire Damage- Damage is extensive, and interior walls, support beams, and ceilings need replacing. Smoke residue is widespread, and odors are overwhelming. The home is boarded up, and contents removed to our cleaning facilities. 

Giving You Back Your Home

With our extensive fire damage restoration methods, we return your home to you. FSRT teams apply the cleaning methods that will work best for your level of loss.

• Wet & Dry Cleaning – all levels of fire damage and includes cleaning personal belongings, furniture, and structure. Dry cleaning gets used for porous, non-washable surfaces. It's the primary method for minor damage.
• Airborne Scrubbers– used to remove air particulates.
• Immersion Cleaning – cleans smoked damaged non-porous items 
• Thermal Foggers – neutralizes odors and works on porous items
• Specialty Restoration – includes documentation restoration, electronic repair, and other types of unique situations.
• Water Extraction – water damage is a problem when there is a fire, so steps to remove are implemented.

Contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 for fire and smoke restoration. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

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What Are A Few Shortcuts to Fire Damage Remediation That SERVPRO Uses For Success in Los Angeles?

4/16/2020 (Permalink)

Regardless of the extent of the fire damage in your home, contact SERVPRO right away for effective remediation efforts.

Fast Claims Approval for Fire Damage in Your Los Angeles House

Of all the potential headaches that can come from a disaster impacting your Los Angeles residence, most homeowners might agree that meeting the demands of their insurance provider to file a claim is among the top items on the list. Insurance coverage can often take care of much of the expense regarding fires occurring in your house, but these providers require documentation, proof, and legitimate damage estimations before approving a claim.

While you might look at the fire damages to your Los Angeles home and understand that it is more than an average homeowner could repair or clean on their own, filing a claim might not always be in your best interest. By calling our SERVPRO team first, we can dispatch the necessary personnel to help assess the full scope of the damage and begin compiling the necessary information and documentation that your insurance company requires to approve a filed claim.

Since you have a deductible to cover out of your pocket for most home insurance policies, smaller incidents are not always advisable to file a claim. Every paid service that your insurance company covers, the rates for your insurance rise as well. Understanding the estimated cost of the work to be done can help you to determine whether the filing is worth it or not.

Our SERVPRO estimator on site can begin compiling photographic evidence and a catalog of the damaged materials and contents. Along with the estimated cost of repair and a timeline for completing the work, these assessment reports are a requirement to approve a claim to cover the bulk of restoration costs.

While you might not be ready for fire damages to affect your home, you should know what steps to take whenever it does. By calling our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team first, you can have all of the necessary details to make an informed decision about whether to file a claim and also have the appropriate documentation prepared in advance to expedite this process. Give our emergency response team a call anytime disaster strikes at (213) 628-2000.

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We Put The Flames Of Worry Out In Los Angeles After A Fire

4/16/2020 (Permalink)

The fire damage in this home created these spider web like residues. If you encounter this type of fire damage, call our professionals right away.

How Can I Repair Fire Damage Caused By Smoke In My Home?

SERVPRO Can Help You Remove Soot Residues And Foul Odors Caused By Smoke In Your Los Angeles Home

After a fire gets extinguished, some of the issues created like burnt or heavily charred contents will be easily noticeable. However, smoke consists of small partially combusted particles, and they can produce less obvious problems far away from the source of the blaze.

How Do You Find Where The Smoke Travelled?

As soon as we arrive at your fire damage incident in Los Angeles, our SERVPRO technicians start by inspecting your entire structure. To find out all of the places the smoke went, we start at the source and then follow any signs of soot residues outward to other sections of your building.

Do I Have To Discard Everything In My House That Got Covered In Soot Residues?

Demolition and fire damage removal: If the soot adheres well, it might be necessary to remove and replace some affected items.
Refinishing/resurfacing: In some cases, your contents and building materials can get sanded down and refinished if the soot will not come off with cleaning methods.
Cleaning soot residues: We can often save some of your affected items by using specialized chemicals and techniques to clean and remove the soot from affected surfaces in your home.

What Can I Do If There Are Still Burnt Smells After All Soot Has Been Cleaned And Removed?

Sprayable deodorants: Some chemicals can be mixed with water and sprayed onto affected items with a pump sprayer.
ULV/thermal fogger: These foggers break down deodorant chemicals into tiny particles so that they can penetrate items the same way the smoke did.
Ozone generator: These machines generate ozone (O3) which is an unstable molecule that oxides and neutralize malodor particles.

After a fire, you may notice that smoke found its way to every room inside your house. When this occurs to your home in Chinatown or Elysian Park, it is wise to call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (518) 885-2620 24 hours a day.

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How SERVPRO Cleans Fire Damaged Personal Belongings in Los Angeles

3/23/2020 (Permalink)

Many times, not everything is a loss after a fire. Call SERVPRO for fast and effective fire damage support.

When Can Fire Damaged Surfaces Get Cleaned in Los Angeles Homes? 

Much like water losses that can also be a standard callout for our SERVPRO professionals to Los Angeles homes, fire disasters involve careful considerations and decision making to determine the most cost-effective path to restore the property. The choice between cleaning and tear-out and reconstruction is not always as straightforward and direct as many property owners might believe. Choosing wrong in this stage could lead to longer restoration times and added costs, so the job scoping phase is critical for our crew chief and project manager. 

Determining the salvageability of surfaces and contents after fire damage in Los Angeles homes involves several inspection points. While our professionals can remove harsh odors from fabric, we cannot repair singeing that might occur along seams when drapes were too close to the fire, for example. Each item must get inspected and categorized into three main sections: 

• Unsalvageable (Controlled demolition, discarding)
• Salvageable On-Site (Able to get cleaned/restored in the house)
• Salvageable Off-Site (Must get restored, deodorized, and cleaned in our nearby facility) 

Unsalvageable  

Some many surfaces and contents cannot get restored or repaired after a fire, and these become part of the total loss catalog that our project manager creates during the thorough inspection and scoping of the property. These items and materials get discarded and later replaced by our SERVPRO in-house contractors. 

Salvageable  

Outer-lying areas beyond the concentration of the fire loss are where many of the salvageable and cleanable items get found. We have strategies for cleaning many of these materials and items on-site, but when this is not possible, we can use pack-out processes to transport contents to our warehouse. There, these items can get soot cleaning with immersion tanks, abrasive cleaning of residues, deodorization with ozone chambers, and other intricate restoration actions. 

Fires can be an overwhelming experience, especially when you do not know what in your home can get restored and what must get replaced. Our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team can help you through this phase and the restoration to come by calling (213) 628-2000. 

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Top Tips for Dealing With Los Angeles Fire Damage 

12/29/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage in your home can happen without warning. Be vigilant and call SERVPRO should your home be affected.

Recovering from Fire Damage in Los Angeles

Fire damage can have a significant impact on your home, no matter the size and location of the fire. Smoke residue and odor can permeate throughout the home in places you may not consider. It can be challenging to find the source of the offensive odors if you are not sure where to look. One small oversight while cleaning up damage could have detrimental effects on your house.

If you have fire damage in your Los Angeles home, the SERVPRO fire restoration team can assist you in inspecting every area of your home and creating a cleaning and restoration plan. We understand the importance of dealing with fire damage right away to ensure less long-term damage. Our IICRC-Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification-crew take pride in offering top-notch service. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster. 

SERVPRO technicians grapple with lingering smoke odors by attacking through thermal fogging using chemical deodorizers. The fog replicates smoke and can permeate into those same small spaces. Fogging requires safety precautions such as wearing protective gear and having residents and pets leave their home. Ventilation after fogging is crucial to ensure breathable, clean-smelling air. 

Moderate to substantial smoke damages may even include smoke making its way into the ductwork in the HVAC system (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning.) Even if the HVAC system was off at the time of the fire, SERVPRO technicians inspect it carefully. If left contaminated, when the homeowner operates the HVAC system again, the ducts can redistribute smoke particles back into a restored structure requiring further restoration. 

HVAC systems require special care and consideration which may include duct sealing and the use of a ULV fogger to deodorize the ducting. Air filters throughout the home must also be replaced to ensure safe air quality.

Our goal as general contractors (License #999460) is to restore as much of your home as possible through specialized cleaning techniques and creating an individualized plan for your structure, including everything from your HVAC system to your air filters. We make it, "Like it never even happened." 

Contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 for assistance anytime, every day of the year, 24/7.

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Why Professional Fire Damage Remediation is Necessary in Los Angeles

11/11/2019 (Permalink)

Fires are devastating for everyone involved. Let SERVPRO’S professionally trained team restore your home.

Remove Fire Damage In Your Los Angeles Home Using A Full-Service Cleaning Solution 

There are two reasons why restoration experts in Los Angeles separate structure from contents after a fire. First, your insurance policy typically distinguishes between the two, asking for detailed information about services rendered on a per-item basis. Second, it helps us provide better results, on both your structure and any contents, when we can move contents to a clean, controlled area. 

A fire damage restorer, working in your Los Angeles area home, is much like a carpet cleaner, janitor, cleaner, handy-man, laborer, and often, contractor. As you can see, a restorer’s task is slightly more involved than any of these individual trades. We face unique situations, using various methods to return your home to the way it was before, “Like it never even happened.” 

At SERVPRO, cleaning to a preloss condition means removing any fire damage left behind by a fire. Our technicians can remove smoke residues from any interior and exterior surfaces of your building. These residues give off smoke odors, as the restorer, it is our job to address these malodors. 

The fire also likely damaged other parts of your structure, leaving them beyond restoration. We remove and dispose of these blistered, charred, structural materials according to local, state, and federal guidelines, as provided by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

SERVPRO Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) use a unique form of cleaning, intending to return items to a quality preloss condition. We estimate the odds of restoring items that may have questionable results and identify those that may have had damage before the fire occurred. Your restoration technicians cannot repair pre-existing damage or conditions. 

Before cleaning the structure of your home, SERVPRO technicians determine the appropriate cleaning method for each surface. Here, appropriate means, using a method that effectively removes residues from the surface or material, without damaging the surface or material. Technicians often categorize materials as either washable or non-washable, as a starting point. 

• Washable – These materials are those that can be wet-cleaned using a water-based cleaning product without taking damage.
• Non-washable – These materials are those that require the use of a dry-cleaning method to help protect the surface from further damage. 

Those of us at SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park stand ready to assist the moment we receive your call. Get 24/7 emergency services for all of your cleanup and restoration needs. (213) 628-2000 

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A Simple Spark Can Lead to Significant Fire Damage in Your Los Angeles Home

9/24/2019 (Permalink)

Don’t let your fire damage in Los Angeles take over your home life, let us help.

SERVPRO will be there every step of the way for your fire damage in Los Angeles.

The risk of fire damage in a home is always high, considering the spark that ignites the blaze can originate almost anywhere. A trashcan is one common source of fires because people throw in all sorts of spent items including lit matches or even burning incense without thinking about what might happen next.

How a Small Spark Builds a Big Fire

Apart from carelessness, other factors play a role in accelerating fire damage in affected Los Angeles homes. For trash can fires, the proximity to walls, whether interior or exterior is what amplifies the initial mistake of throwing a burning item into the can. As the other waste materials catch fire, the flames leap into the air and ignite wall materials then spread to the rest of the structure. The materials in walls and ceiling panels quickly spread fire, so despite the original spark being minor, the resulting fire can be severe. Only quick action from the emergency crews can help save your property.

Heavy Restoration Work

The problems rarely end with the extinguishing of flames because that only signifies the start of cleaning, teardown, refinishing and other steps necessary to restore the home to its preloss state. Various systems within the house may require a rebuild depending on the areas the fire affects most. For example, a fire affecting the roof system consumes ductwork, electrical systems, and plumbing. Our SERVPRO technicians tear down any remaining materials to assess the full damage extent before deciding the response.

Saving Structural Elements

Structural elements such as trusses and frames might only have slight charring, so replacement is not necessary. Cleaning is, however, necessary to get rid of the charred layers. Our SERVPRO technicians use different approaches, including mechanical abrasion or specialized techniques such as soda blasting to clean the charred areas. Soda blasting plays an additional role in deodorizing the affected material. We can also apply a sealing agent to manage odor.

Whether the fire source is major or not, the restoration process involved can be tedious. Call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (213) 628-2000 to assist. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

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Stop Stressing About Fire Damage Remediation in Los Angeles

7/31/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage can happen quickly but cause a large mess. Call the professionals at SERVPRO for remediation assistance.

Removing Smoke Odors from Soft Materials in Los Angeles Homes

Odor control is a problematic situation for Los Angeles homes after fire loss incidents occur. While many of the fire damages can compound and become substantial issues more suited to the talents, equipment, and training of professional restoration professionals, there are ways that you can help your home to overcome specific symptoms to keep the situations from getting completely out of control. Soft materials in your residence are the most susceptible for absorbing harsh smoke odors, and protecting the contents of your home is not as insurmountable as it might seem. 

Fighting fire damage in Los Angeles homes is often a situation best handled by experienced and well-trained restoration professionals like our SERVPRO team. We a have a deep inventory of recovery tools and mitigation equipment that can help to overcome widespread damages like odors, soot, and smoke shortly after we first arrive at the property. Considering that you can buy more limited versions of the equipment our professionals use to overcome smoke odors, or rent them from nearby home improvement locations, here are some of the options that can help you to address embedded odors in your property and its contents: 

• UV Fogger 
• Thermal Fogger 
• Hydroxyl Generator
• Ozone Machine (Not safe for use around humans and pets) 

Each of these options, along with an array of high-grade cleaning agents approved by OSHA and SERVPRO, are what our technicians would deploy on job sites to overcome lingering odors. Soft materials can absorb these scents and require specialized equipment from the list above to overcome – but portable options like our thermal and UV foggers are often the ideal choice for these situations. For widespread issues damaging multiple items, units designed to impact a larger area, like the hydroxyl and ozone machines are better choices. 

Clearing out odors after fire loss incidents can be a steep challenge for even the experienced DIY enthusiast. If the situation gets to be too much for you, or you do not know where to begin in restoring your home after an emergency, give our SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park team a call at (213) 628-2000.

Click here to see more about Los Angeles. 

We Respond Fast to Fire Damage Restoration In Los Angeles

6/11/2019 (Permalink)

We have the equipment, training, and experience to restore your home to pre-damage condition quickly and efficiently.

SERVPRO - Eliminating Fire Damage Residues In Los Angeles

Despite the better weather this year, many Los Angeles residents remember last year’s fires across several square miles when anyone even says house fire. That season was unusual for the entire county, let alone the city.

Regardless of the size, though, remediating fire damage to Los Angeles homes depends on certain factors. To determine the best cleaning methods, SERVPRO restoration specialists analyze how fast the fire burned and items consumed. Fast-burning fires are oxygen-rich and usually produce a dry smoke while slow-burning, or smoldering, fires are oxygen-poor and produce smoke with more moisture trapped in it.

If the majority of the materials burned were natural, the residue is normally dry and powdery. Natural materials include cork, cotton, paper, wool, and dry wood. If the materials were synthetic, such as foam rubber, plastics, and other polymers, the residue is considered wet, meaning it contains a much higher amount of moisture.

With less moisture and fewer aerosols, Dry Smoke residues leave small, dry particles and require less aggressive methods of cleaning like wiping down surfaces with a dry sponge. For thicker layers, SERVPRO specialists can also use a spray bottle with water or a mild cleaner to break them up. Team specialists also have the option to use a vacuum if needed.

Wet Smoke residues contain more aerosols, often from furniture varnishes, kitchen or garage solvents, and other liquids. In a slow-burning fire, these residues do not travel as far, so the residues are thicker over a smaller area. Cleaning them from tables, countertops, and other surfaces often require a very strong cleaning agent and a scrub brush or other agitation device to penetrate and break them up for easier removal. Odors from wet residues are usually stronger than odors from dry residues.

If the fire started in the kitchen, there are also Protein residues from burning meat, fish, and poultry. While they are visually unimpressive, these are greasy, exceptionally pungent, and difficult to remove without a powerful cleaning agent and at least a scrub brush.

If you have had fire damage in your kitchen or anywhere else, contact SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park today at (213) 628-2000. We are here to help you return your home to a clean, odor-free condition as quickly as possible.

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Our Quick Response Will Save Your Fire Damaged Home In Boyle Heights

5/21/2019 (Permalink)

You can call our team of professionals at (213) 628-2000 for prompt cleanup, repairs, and restoration.

Why You Need Fast Fire Damage Restoration For Your Boyle Heights Home

Fire is an awful ordeal for any homeowner, yet it can occur because of simple and avoidable reasons. A fire can start due to leaving the kitchen unattended, splattering oil, and placing combustible items close to heat sources. In just a few minutes, fire can burn through walls in hidden areas.

Fire can compromise the structural integrity of your home and leave residues like debris, smoke, and soot. When there is fire damage in your Boyle Heights home, seeking restoration services promptly is critical. You can enlist the services of a fire and smoke damage technician (FST) from SERVPRO to avoid missing any areas or having a mishap when trying to perform the cleanup.

Our restoration experts can arrive at your home within an hour of receiving your call, assess the damage, and start the cleanup and repairs. We try to save as many items as possible. Our technicians can salvage items damaged by soot and smoke using special cleaning methods and products. We choose the appropriate cleaning product based on the action desired like emulsifying, dissolving, bleaching, digesting, changing PH, or oxidizing.

Our restorers respond to the various challenges created when smoke odors and residues affect different materials and structures. We adapt basic concepts of cleaning to every situation. We can use multiple products to produce chemical reactions, agitate surfaces in different ways and use multiple cleaning procedures to remove residues. We use multiple restoration procedures before declaring the items a fire has ruined as unrestorable.

We can also remove contents like fabrics from a home and take them to a nearby restoration facility for a thorough inspection, cleaning, and restoration. We bring back the items after completing this process. Our SERVPRO technicians can also assist you in filing your insurance claims. To file a legitimate fire damage claim, you have to follow several critical steps. Our restoration specialists know what needs to be done when filing insurance claims, including providing the adjuster with proper documentation of the damage with photos, videos, and lists.

When dealing with fire damage, SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park can help you to restore your home to its original condition. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster. You can call our team of professionals at (213) 628-2000 for prompt cleanup, repairs, and restoration.

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Los Angeles Fire Damage, the Nuances of Smoke, and SERVPRO Cleanup

1/8/2019 (Permalink)

When the Red Fire Trucks Leave, the SERVPRO Green Fleet Arrives--Ready for Fire Loss Cleanup in Los Angeles

Some Fire Damage is Caused by Firefighters when Saving a Home in Los Angeles

When a fire happens in Los Angeles, temperatures soar inside a home's enclosed space. Smoke grows thick and prevents firefighters from seeing any more than a foot or two directly in front of them. Even during the day, this can make things nearly pitch black.
 
When firefighters respond to a call in Los Angeles, they often make ventilation holes in the exterior to help control the amount of fire damage to interior structures. These holes in the roof and exterior walls help reduce the temperature inside the home. Quite often, firefighters decide to break windows instead of making holes in the structure, as this can happen faster and with less permanent damage to the home.
 
Ventilation holes also allow smoke to exit the home so firefighters can see more easily to contain the flames and rescue anyone trapped inside. During a fire, it is very common for residents who know their home well to become disoriented and confused about the layout of the house. Firefighters do not have prior knowledge of the home and clearing smoke from the house helps them do their work in less hazardous conditions.
 
After the firefighters leave, these holes in your home remain. SERVPRO can get these covered with heavy-duty tarps or plywood boards protecting the interior of your home from invasive pests and rain. The glass from broken windows also remains. We get these hazards cleaned up, as well as the debris that making the holes created. Broken glass and splintered wood pieces can cover your belongings, as well, so we mark these items accordingly. This information helps protect the next SERVPRO technician who handles or cleans any of the affected items.
 
Just as firefighters follow a set of protocols that help all of them know what others are doing and how their actions affect the home, SERVPRO technicians receive training that allows them to work effectively and efficiently as team members. Teamwork significantly reduces the amount of time involved in mitigating fire damage caused by both the firefighters and the fire itself, and gets your family back home, “Like it never even happened.”
 
SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park knows emergencies happen at all hours of the day and night, so we offer those in and around Lincoln Heights and Elysian Park emergency mitigation services for fire damage and other disasters. Call us at (323) 255-1000, 365 days a year, whenever you need help making your home safe again.

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Fire Damage Experts In Echo Park Explain The Cleaning And Deodorization Of Contents

6/22/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park can restore your contents from soot and smoke damage.

Learn About SERVPRO's Cleaning And Deodorization Of Contents Process

If a fire ever starts on your property in Echo Park, various types of problems are likely to occur. The heat coming from the flames can burn building materials to the point where reconstruction is necessary. Smoke coming from a blaze can also spread through your house and cause damage.

Partially combusted particles in the form of smoke can travel throughout the building leaving behind foul odors and soot residue. When mitigating fire damage in Echo Park, dealing with contents is essential to get rid of unpleasant aromas. Malodor particles can penetrate deep into porous materials and be difficult to remove.

In many cases, our SERVPRO technicians move out damaged contents so that they can get treated for smoke damage in a clean and disinfected environment. Before anything gets moved out of your home, we make an inventory list of all of your possessions we displace. The list specifies what was moved out of the house, which location it went to and how severe the item is damaged. After creating the list and sorting the items they all get gently packed into labeled boxes for relocation.

Contents that are made from porous materials such as fabric, can be cleaned in a washing machine using specialized detergents. When handling non-porous items, our SERVPRO technicians remove soot one item at a time. After each of your possessions is individually cleaned with specialized chemicals designed for smoke removal, they are marked as clean on the inventory list and stored in a storage location that has been previously cleaned and disinfected.

In some cases, pungent fragrances still exist after all soot is removed from the contents. When odors remain after the cleaning process, further deodorization steps can be taken. The best way to eliminate malodorous particles is to use chemicals and procedures to neutralize the smell.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

Ultra low volume foggers can be implemented to recreate how smoke traveled through the building and into your possessions. Ozone generators can also be used to cause a chemical reaction with the odor-causing substances and neutralize them. If you ever need help with possessions that got affected by soot residues, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000 any day of the week.

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The Measures To Fully Restore Your Silver Lake Home After Fire Damages

4/13/2018 (Permalink)

House Fires from a Spark Can Damage Your Home in Silver Lake

SERVPRO Tip--Be Diligent in Preventing House Fires

Those who own homes in Silver Lake are often acutely aware of the dry heat that can be attributed to areas all throughout the state. However, what you do not often think of, is the toll that this dry heat can take on the materials of your home. When the slightest of unfortunate events occur which could ignite a spark, these overly dry materials and the environment where they are found work together to amplify the speed and destructive power of the fire.

While there might not be any way that you can completely safeguard your Silver Lake home from fire damages, there are preventative measures that you can take to prevent the fire from ever starting. Many structure fires result from negligence and forgetfulness, so being more aware of things happening in your house can help you to stop a fire before it ever actually starts.
 
Unfortunately, this revelation is often an afterthought once a disaster has already struck your home. SERVPRO professionals get uniquely trained to handle both the restoration of your house following a fire of any magnitude, but also the subtle aspects of working with your insurance company to get your claim through and the work started as quickly as possible.
 
This process begins with our SERVPRO technicians going through your home and getting a full scope of the damage that it has sustained throughout the fire before it could get extinguished. Once our professionals have an idea of all of the damages that they face from a restoration standpoint, this information can be passed along to the assessor for the insurance company to help expedite the process of filing the claim to bring your home back to preloss conditions.
 
No instance of a fire in your home is easy to deal with or manage. You often get left with an overwhelming set of effects and symptoms and no real method of cleaning up the mess on your own. Fortunately, you can trust SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park to help you through every step of this process to bring your home back to the way it used to be. Give us a call anytime you need us at (323) 255-1000.

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Cleaning and Removing Fire Damage in Los Angeles Homes

3/8/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO technicians are able to identify the different types of residue smoke leaves behind and clean your items properly.

SERVPRO Technicians are Trained and Experienced in Fire Damage Restoration

Most Los Angeles house fires do not cause major damage in terms of burned or scorched material. The bulk of the restoration work and cost comes from the smoke and soot residues generated by the heat and burned property.

Restoring the effects of fire damage in Los Angeles homes demands a company that understands the basic principles of cleaning to return a home to its original condition. SERVPRO trains its restoration teams to ensure the best possible outcome when applying them to each home.

Our principles center around location, identification, capture, and disposal. We begin an exhaustive inspection to determine both the original location or source of the fire and how far the smoke and soot residues have expanded into the home.

Once we do that, our task is to identify the types of residues and the surfaces on which they settled. Doing this helps us select the best cleaning method to use that does not harm the property item, be it a wall, piece of furniture, or even clothing.

As an example, a metal, kitchen countertop is a non-porous surface on which our teams can use every cleaning agent in our inventory. A living room sofa is very porous, however, and at risk for secondary damage to the leather or upholstery if we use too strong cleaners.

Now, we capture and remove the residues. Speed is important since smoke residues bond quickly with many surfaces, so if simply wiping down the surfaces fails to clean them, we use a cleaner to loosen the residues. Next, we use commercial vacuums to remove the residues if wiping down the surface still does not completely clean the surface.

Finally, we dispose of them. SERVPRO specialists carefully bag captured smoke and soot residues and get rid of them according to EPA and state regulations.

Understanding each of these principles allows SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park to quickly determine what we need to restore your home to its pre-fire state. If your home has suffered from any type of fire damage, call our offices today at (323) 255-1000 for more information or to schedule a visit.

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Choosing The Right Restoration Company For Fire Damage In Los Angeles

1/16/2018 (Permalink)

Our experienced SERVPRO restoration specialists have the tools and the expertise to successfully assess all damage to the entire property.

Choosing The Right Restoration Company

One of the most troubling things about a fire in your Los Angeles home is assessing the damage for yourself once it has gotten successfully extinguished. You look through the affected areas of your home and see the destruction, but might not understand how to begin with putting the pieces back together. Choosing restoration services to come and assist you in the cleanup efforts and restoring your home to preloss condition should be a consideration that you make, and there are several reasons for this.

Following fire damage to your Los Angeles home, you start to notice compromised areas that you just do not know how to overcome or repair on your own. Our experienced SERVPRO restoration specialists have the tools and the expertise to successfully assess all damage to the entire property and work out a plan to restore it entirely. This process is one that might take some time but gets primarily created based on your priorities for what must get repaired right away for you to live in your home comfortably.

Our SERVPRO team works closely with your insurance claim specialists to keep you from incurring out of pocket expenses while your home gets restored. This direct communication helps you to worry less about the work that is getting done to your home and what it might cost you, and more about handling the stresses and trauma associated with a significant fire in your home and the toll it has taken on your family.

To successfully restore your home to preloss conditions our experienced SERVPRO staff utilize some state of the art tools and equipment. Dry and wet scrubbing equipment removes smoke and soot damage while simultaneously preventing this debris from circulating in the air with the use of attached HEPA filters. Ozone machines and foggers can eliminate the noxious odor that smoke damage leaves behind in the affected areas. Handheld steam cleaning tools can restore damaged furniture, drapes, and upholstery.

Our objective as your restoration company is offering you peace of mind in a trying time. Our experienced staff at SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park are available whenever the need arises at (323) 255-1000.

Visit https://www.lacity.org/ for more about the city of Los Angeles.

What Can Hurt Me in a Fire Damaged Home in Los Angeles?

11/1/2017 (Permalink)

The structural walls and framing of your home could be weakened by a house fire.

The Dangers of Fire Damage in Your Home

The inside of a burned building can be a very dangerous place after medium to large fires have swept through the area. Failing structures, exposed hazards, and dangerous substances are all common sights in recently fire damaged Los Angeles homes. Exercise extreme caution around a burned home site, and if emergency responders or SERVPRO technicians do not advise you to go in, try to avoid entering at all costs. Otherwise, these hazards could cause health effects.

Structural Collapse

One of the most disastrous effects of fire damage in Los Angeles homes is structural weakening and collapse. Fires can torch walls, floors, supports, and virtually anything else in an average American home, and more substantial fires may engulf the entire building in flames at once. Once the flames have died down, a considerable risk factor likely remains in the form of weakened structural components. Some key indicators such as bowed door frames or open holes may signal at weak points in the structure, but others may be completely invisible. Avoid entering heavily-burned areas without heavy precautionary measures.

Exposed Hazards

Fires may sometimes strip away materials covering up hazards around the home. Some examples of this effect include rubber melting off of electrical wires, wood panels burning away to expose sharp objects behind them, and metal warping into sharp and troublesome shapes.

Harmful Substances

Burn sites commonly carry multiple dangerous and harmful substances, ranging from simple air quality reducers such as dust and light smoke to carcinogenic compounds and chemicals. You should never be near the site of a fire without a protective filter or mask on. Also, you may also want to consider safety options such as safety goggles, gloves, long sleeves, hoods, and readily-available disinfectant to ensure that no harm befalls you in your home.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is a local damage mitigation and restoration company that brings high-quality solutions to homeowners in need. Call us 24/7 at (323) 255-1000.  

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How Well Seasoned Wood Prevents Fire Damage In Los Angeles Wood Burning Stoves

9/27/2017 (Permalink)

Wood burning stoves can add a warm look and a great amount of heat to your home. But there are some cautions with them as well.

Preparation and Prevention can Help Avert Fire Damage in Your Home

Wood burning stoves are popular with many Los Angeles homeowners. A traditional stove looks beautiful and provides a lovely, cozy ambiance in your home. However, because flames are burning in the appliance, there is always a risk of fire damage. SERVPRO recommends all homeowners who have a wood stove be aware of the risks of a blaze and take steps to prevent an incident.
 
One way homeowners can prevent fire damage in Los Angeles is by always choosing well-seasoned wood for their fireplace or stove. Also, the choice of timber is also important. For example, red oak, apple, beech, hickory, ash, and ironwood are all hard enough to burn well. It is important to choose hardwoods because softwoods do not burn as well.
 
SERVPRO warns customers against using green wood. Recently cut branches and trunks are “green,” that is to say they have not had sufficient time to dry out. Damp timber does not burn well, and even worse than that, it contributes far more to creosote build-up than properly dry wood.
 
Greenwood does not burn well because it is still damp. Incomplete combustion causes the formation of creosote, a sticky, oily substance that builds up inside the chimney and stove pipe, and can even drip down the outside of the burner. Creosote is highly flammable, and one spark can ignite a dangerous blaze that puts a home at risk.
 
Well-seasoned means that wood is properly dry. Choose timber that was cut and split (splitting helps it dry faster) at least a year ago. Proper storage is also important – a shed or even a tarp provide cover and help with the drying process. Properly seasoned wood has cracks at the end.
 
Choosing the right fuel for your fire keeps you safe, and also gives you a cleaner and more efficient burn.
 
If a fire gets out of control, SERVPRO is on hand to help with cleanup. We scrub and clean away soot and residue and take care of deodorization to leave your home feeling like your own again.
 
For help with fire cleanup in Los Angeles, Chinatown, Elysian Park and surrounding areas, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park at (323) 255-1000 today.

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Fire Damage in Your Echo Park Bathroom can be Eliminated Easily and Correctly

9/18/2017 (Permalink)

If your relaxing bath turns to disaster, call SERVPRO to remediate the damage.

The Importance of Restoration Services for Any Size Disaster

Taking time to pamper yourself after working on your latest project is one way to keep yourself well-cared for and healthy. Many decide a relaxing bath with a few spa treatments fit the bill perfectly and proceed to fill their Echo Park bathroom with candles, incense, and a bubble bath. Loose candle holders can let lighted candles slip out, which can quickly start a fire.

When your Echo Park apartment's bathroom suffers fire damage, the smaller size of the room can make the catastrophe seem extremely severe. A bathroom's enclosed area often holds many personal things as well as installed cabinetry. Even if these items never burn, the smoke damage can still ruin them. While you might be tempted to clean them yourself, doing so can spread the soot instead of removing it from wherever you try to clean. SERVPRO technicians can clean the soot away while other employees examine the fire damage.

Having earned certificates from the IICRC in Fire and Smoke Restoration (FSRT), our staff skillfully removes all of the damage, preventing it from progressing. Damaged areas can disintegrate and only become worse. It cannot resolve itself, and most fire damage situations, even ones that seem straightforward and uncomplicated, can hold hidden problems. Professional mitigation can make everything “Like it never even happened” quickly and keep it that way.

Any water you used to extinguish the fire can also cause damage, but we have training in this, as well. No job is ever too large for us, nor too small. Your home is important to you, and we treat it like we would treat our own. Attention to the details and thoroughness in completing each step remain aspects of our work in every job we perform.

When a small token of self-care turns out badly, call SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park, at (323) 255-1000. We can help make sure that your bathroom is once again a haven of peace and tranquility for you by erasing any degree of fire damage.

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SERVPRO - Los Angeles Fire Damage

7/23/2017 (Permalink)

Smoke odors are minor and fairly easily cleaned.

Call SERVPRO to Restore Your Home in Los Angeles 

Fire is the most frightening disaster that can happen to a home. Even when the structure is left standing, the blackened walls, soot covered property, and melted plastics leave many homeowners at a complete loss on what to do next. It is why a professional restoration company is needed.

Before we can begin to restore a home to its original condition, SERVPRO technicians must determine the level of the damage. Since fire does not burn evenly, each one generates smoke, heat, and flame which can leave a bedroom nearly untouched while consuming the bathroom next to it. To put Los Angeles homes back together from fire damage, we have established three categories to determine our response and efforts.

Minor Damage – This level includes smoke and soot residues. At this category, the damage is not structure-wide but limited to two or three rooms usually. The residues are light to moderate so that we can restrict our restoration efforts dry and wet cleaning (primarily by hand) of the affected property and structure (walls and ceilings). The need to repaint is limited, and only minor items such as books and small lamps may require replacement.

Smoke odors are minor and fairly easily cleaned.
Medium Damage – In this category, the residues affect more of the home, possibly the entire structure. The thickness is more pronounced which means that dry cleaning may no longer be an option. It is still possible to clean all or most of the affected property at home. The amount of assets which need replacing is higher and may now include large pieces like chairs and mattresses. Smoke odors are stronger and may require multiple methods of cleaning to remove them. This category is also where technicians find the first instances of heat damage. Wood floors and kitchen cabinets need refinishing as will other items.

Major Damage – This is the category of actual fire (flame) damage. At this level, structural supports must be replaced to prevent collapse and further damage. The entire structure must be cleaned and deodorized. The amount of property requiring replacement is much higher, and everything inside can be written off as a total loss by most insurance companies. Our SERVPRO efforts include our entire inventory of cleaning and deodorization products as well as every piece of construction equipment and skill we have. It may even be necessary to hire a general contractor to complete some repairs.

Locally Owned Company with National Resources

Restoring a home after even a minor fire takes time, patience and a professional service. SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park is here to assist you to put your house back in order. If you need our services and want to schedule an inspection, call us today at (323) 255-1000.

For more information regarding the city of Los Angeles, click here.

The Purpose of Primers and Sealers after Fire Damage in Silver Lake Homes

4/11/2017 (Permalink)

Every fire is different. So every fire damage restoration plan should be customized by the technicians to restore the damage that is left.

Fire Damage Restoration Needs to be Customized to the Kind of Damage in Your Home

In recent years, fire damage repair teams have started to use primers and sealers more frequently. They provide an effective form of ‘contamination isolation’ for stubborn stains and lingering odors. While they are not suitable for use in lieu of other, more powerful restoration techniques (like deodorization and surface cleaning), they can be very valuable when used in combination with a full repair program.

Primers and sealers repair fire damage in Silver Lake homes by trapping smoke residues and stains beneath an impervious coating. They are particularly useful for surfaces which are damaged far beyond routine cleaning. For instance, if left to burn long enough, house fires produce soot which blackens walls and ceilings. When these residues are too deeply embedded to remove with pressurized water, the only option is for SERVPRO is to seal them.

The Difference Between Primers and Sealers

While primers and sealers do a similar job, they are different. Paint primers are designed to stick to a substrate and provide a smooth surface for an overlying topcoat. Sealers, on the other hand, are used before the primer. In some cases, SERVPRO may apply them as a substitute for primers.

Sealers are an effective way to close off surface porosity and trap stains beneath an impenetrable finish so that they do not bleed through a new coating of paint. As soot has the potential to be a very oily, greasy substance, standard paint on its own is not sufficient.

These formulations are used increasingly for the purposes of odor control after a fire. Once applied to a damaged surface, they isolate, and bond settled combustion particles, stop smoky odors from emanating, and conceal discoloration. Sometimes, sealers contain a white pigment which helps to amplify its stain-concealing properties.

The Limitations of Primers and Sealers

SERVPRO often turns to primers and sealers in situations where full removal of the stains, odors, and residues is not possible. They do have limitations, however, so we try a range of restoration techniques before deciding to seal areas of fire damage. As the dimensional stability of materials like wood changes over time, reapplication may be necessary.

SERVPRO of Silver Lake/Echo Park is always ready to assist homeowners with professional, dependable fire damage repairs. We have the expertise you need to rid your property of stains, residues, odors, and damaged materials. Call us 24/7 at (323) 255-1000.

SERVPRO Fire Damage in Los Angeles

2/28/2017 (Permalink)

Don't let the odor after a fire linger in your home. Call SERVPRO today to come out and assess the damage.

The Three Phases of Odor Control After a Fire

The damaging effects of a fire can range from total structure loss to simple smoke and soot contamination. In fact, most of the destruction to home and property comes from the effects of smoke and soot; in particular, odors.

Fire damage, especially from odors, to a Los Angeles home, is not quickly restored. At SERVPRO, we understand that setting up a couple of fans and wiping down the walls is not going to cut it. Odors left from smoke damage require the right cleaners and equipment as well a professional knowledge of multiple techniques in deodorizing any house, condo, or apartment. We use these techniques in three phases.

Chemical Containment - The goal of this first phase is to stop odor molecules from evaporating into the air. Technicians accomplish this by spraying a chemical deodorizer directly on property and building materials using a pump-up sprayer. It forms a barrier which slows or stops evaporation.

Vapor Control - The goal of the second phase is to deodorize particles that escaped into the air before containment spraying began. Technicians release deodorant vapors into the air to counteract smoke odor particles. The granular pellets we use in this phase block most remaining odors before they can be detected by your nose.

Thermal Fogging - The goal in this final phase is to pursue odor particles into the smallest possible space they have gotten into and neutralize them. Technicians dispense solvent-based deodorant chemicals through a heating element and out into the air as a fog. This combustion process breaks down the chemicals into a size of about one-half of a micron. The deodorant is now the same size as an odor particle and as a fog, can go anywhere that an odor particle has settled, pair with it and neutralize it by changing its chemical composition.

Dry fogs penetrate quickly, deodorize rapidly, evaporate within a few hours, and the process does not leave moisture stains on surfaces unless it is used in a small, confined space.  Removing odors after a fire is a complicated, multi-phase process. Not every procedure may be required depending on the extent of the contamination, but SERVPRO of Silver Lake / Echo Park has the experience and trained personnel to ensure every phase needed is accomplished. Call us at (323) 255-1000 today for an inspection and to get started.