If you live in an area that is prone to wildfires, such as certain areas of California, you should do what you can to protect your home from them. While it may seem pretty hopeless once a wildfire is on a path that will go straight through your home, there are some things that you can do to try and minimize the damage.
The first thing that you can do if you own your home is to outfit it with fire resistant materials. The roof is perhaps the most important surface that you should take care of, since it is the largest surface of the home that is exposed to sparks of fire that have become airborne. If there is a wildfire near your house, you should take your water hose and keep the roof wet as much as possible to stop this threat. Fire-resistant roofing materials are large in number and include tile, metal, and fiberglass. Any oil-based roofing material should be replaced and wooden shingles are a disaster waiting to happen.
Fire-resistant materials should also be used to build the walls and windows of the house, since this can impede the spreading of the fire to the interior. Stone, metal, and brick offer a decent amount of protection, but vinyl siding and wood provide extremely little. The windows are important because heat will radiate inside the house and possibly set drapes on fire, so having smaller windows in homes that are at risk is a good idea.
Another thing that you can do to your lawn if a wildfire is nearby is wetting it with the water hose. This can also slow the fire’s spread to your house some. Do not allow dead leaves and other debris to build up in the yard during wildfire season and try to get rid of any tree branches that are hanging over your house. You can even go as far as to have these trees that are close to your home removed, but that is a personal preference. It will help, but some people may not want to sacrifice them.
If you have to evacuate, realize that you cannot take everything with you. Take only the most important valuables and get out as soon as you can. If you have time and are leaving voluntarily, take the opportunity to wet your yard, roof, and the exterior of your house again. This is pretty much all you can do at this point and the rest is in the hands of nature.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Maine Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Texas Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors companies across the united states.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Standing Water, Water Damage, and Mold
Standing water inside of a home anywhere is a nuisance and most homeowners do not appreciate the liquid’s intrusion. It can happen almost anywhere, but most of the time the leaking of water into your house is completely preventable and the ability to repair it is always there.
Standing water not only causes water damage to the floor and walls, but it can also become a healthy breeding ground for mold. Stachybotrys atra is known for having a love of standing water and this is one of the last molds that you want growing in your house. While this mold is not as common as other genii of mold such as Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, it is not a rare one. It generally appears on items that have a high amount of cellulose content, such as dust, wood, paper on drywall, and etcetera. It requires almost constant moisture for days or weeks in order to start growing.
The health problems caused by Stachybotrys atra can be anything from coughing, runny noses, wheezing, and etcetera all the way to serious respiratory infections, rashes, and other serious health conditions.
Removing standing water from your home should be done as quickly as possible in order to prevent this mold growth and to prevent water damage. There are a few different causes of standing water.
If there is standing water in the basement after a heavy rain, then the cause could be that water is leaking into the basement through the foundation near the surface. This generally happens when water settles in around the base of the home in pockets because the soil is not piled high enough around the house. Water should not be allowed to settle around the house in this manner, so pile soil up around the foundation so that water runs down and away from it. Another good thing to do to keep this from happening is keeping your rain gutters cleared out as often as is necessary to keep them unclogged. Installing downspout extensions can also help run the water away from the home.
A cause of chronic standing water in the basement could be an underground spring leaking through the wall. There may not be much that you can do about this other than to have a drainage system installed. Do not assume that one type of drainage system fits all types of home constructions, because it does not. Talk to a contractor and find out what they recommend.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Michigan Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Florida water damage restoration companies
Standing water not only causes water damage to the floor and walls, but it can also become a healthy breeding ground for mold. Stachybotrys atra is known for having a love of standing water and this is one of the last molds that you want growing in your house. While this mold is not as common as other genii of mold such as Cladosporium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium, it is not a rare one. It generally appears on items that have a high amount of cellulose content, such as dust, wood, paper on drywall, and etcetera. It requires almost constant moisture for days or weeks in order to start growing.
The health problems caused by Stachybotrys atra can be anything from coughing, runny noses, wheezing, and etcetera all the way to serious respiratory infections, rashes, and other serious health conditions.
Removing standing water from your home should be done as quickly as possible in order to prevent this mold growth and to prevent water damage. There are a few different causes of standing water.
If there is standing water in the basement after a heavy rain, then the cause could be that water is leaking into the basement through the foundation near the surface. This generally happens when water settles in around the base of the home in pockets because the soil is not piled high enough around the house. Water should not be allowed to settle around the house in this manner, so pile soil up around the foundation so that water runs down and away from it. Another good thing to do to keep this from happening is keeping your rain gutters cleared out as often as is necessary to keep them unclogged. Installing downspout extensions can also help run the water away from the home.
A cause of chronic standing water in the basement could be an underground spring leaking through the wall. There may not be much that you can do about this other than to have a drainage system installed. Do not assume that one type of drainage system fits all types of home constructions, because it does not. Talk to a contractor and find out what they recommend.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Michigan Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Florida water damage restoration companies
Fire Damage Cleanup Instructions
Dealing with the damage after a fire is something that no one who owns a home wants to have to deal with, not only since the home has been damaged, but also because the belongings inside it have been damaged, as well. Repairing the damage can be done either by a professional or by you, depending on the funds that you have to devote to the project, although you can probably do a lot of the cleanup and repair on your own.
The very first thing that you need to do before you re-enter your home after a fire is to make sure that your local fire marshal says that it is safe to. Once it is safe, turning off the electricity to your home is the next thing to do, since odds are good that the fire truck that responded to your call for help likely sprayed many, many gallons of water into your home. This can cause an electrocution risk of you step into electrified standing water. Remove this water after the electricity has been turned off as soon as possible.
Pets should be taken to a clean environment until the cleanup of the home is completed. This is especially true for birds, since they are much more sensitive to environmental changes than other animals.
Plants need to be washed on both sides of their leaves to remove soot, since this soot can likely kill them.
Any food that has been opened should be thrown away, especially if it was anywhere near the fire.
The windows and doors of the home should be opened to allow ventilation. This should help to remove the smell of smoke from the rest of the home.
Anything that needs to be vacuumed should be vacuumed carefully and without an upright vacuum that has brushes underneath it. Brushes will only rub the soot further into the carpet and all you want to do is lift it gently off the surface. After the soot is cleaned off the carpet and other upholstered items, put down plastic over them so you do not track soot in from other areas of the house.
Avoid sitting on upholstered furniture if you can help it.
Electronic appliances need to be cleaned and checked thoroughly.
Clean chrome, stainless steel, marble, and other materials in your home as soon as possible, since soot and ash can etch these items irreparably.
The clothing in your home should not be sent to a normal dry cleaner. Cleaning these items improperly may set the odor and smoke further into the fabric.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Hampshire Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Texas Residential Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
The very first thing that you need to do before you re-enter your home after a fire is to make sure that your local fire marshal says that it is safe to. Once it is safe, turning off the electricity to your home is the next thing to do, since odds are good that the fire truck that responded to your call for help likely sprayed many, many gallons of water into your home. This can cause an electrocution risk of you step into electrified standing water. Remove this water after the electricity has been turned off as soon as possible.
Pets should be taken to a clean environment until the cleanup of the home is completed. This is especially true for birds, since they are much more sensitive to environmental changes than other animals.
Plants need to be washed on both sides of their leaves to remove soot, since this soot can likely kill them.
Any food that has been opened should be thrown away, especially if it was anywhere near the fire.
The windows and doors of the home should be opened to allow ventilation. This should help to remove the smell of smoke from the rest of the home.
Anything that needs to be vacuumed should be vacuumed carefully and without an upright vacuum that has brushes underneath it. Brushes will only rub the soot further into the carpet and all you want to do is lift it gently off the surface. After the soot is cleaned off the carpet and other upholstered items, put down plastic over them so you do not track soot in from other areas of the house.
Avoid sitting on upholstered furniture if you can help it.
Electronic appliances need to be cleaned and checked thoroughly.
Clean chrome, stainless steel, marble, and other materials in your home as soon as possible, since soot and ash can etch these items irreparably.
The clothing in your home should not be sent to a normal dry cleaner. Cleaning these items improperly may set the odor and smoke further into the fabric.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
New Hampshire Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Texas Residential Water Damage Restoration companies across the united states.
Information on Sump Pumps
Whether it is due to a hurricane or a flood, water flooding your basement can be a nightmare for a homeowner, especially if they have anything of great value down there. Some people use these areas for extra bedrooms or entertainment areas, so the potential value of the items in the basement can be quite great.
Having a correctly functioning sump pump in your basement will help to keep it from flooding during times of heavy rain or hurricanes, since drying out a wet basement can take a very long time after such an event. If you want to help defend your basement against flooding and other forms of standing water, the most beneficial thing that you can do is to install a new sump pump.
A sump pump removes standing water from the basement by pumping it out of the lowest part of the basement before it reaches the floor level of the rest of it. When the water level rises up, the excess is pumped into a sump pump hole. After this water reaches a critical level, the pump will begin to direct this water out of the home and away from it to a drain outside.
You should keep a check on your sump pump regularly to make sure that it is functioning properly. You can do this by taking off the cover and pouring water slowly into the tank. The float that is in the tank should rise with the water and cause the pump to start up. When it turns on, the water level will quickly recede and as the float goes back down to the bottom, the pump will turn back off.
The majority of problems with a sump pump’s operation come from the float not working as it should. If it gets stuck on something inside the tank, it will not turn on and off as it should. Sometimes the float will need to be replaced in order to fix this problem. Pour water inside the tank and if the float does not trigger the pump turning on, the float is the problem. Also watch for it to trigger the pump to turn off. If it fails to do this, you may need a new float.
Some homeowners even choose to have a backup sump pump and a good idea for this is to have a back up pump that operates on the water pressure in your home’s water system instead of on electricity, so if the power goes out during a flood or hurricane, the water will still be pumped out of the basement.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Minnesota Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Florida water damage restoration companies
Having a correctly functioning sump pump in your basement will help to keep it from flooding during times of heavy rain or hurricanes, since drying out a wet basement can take a very long time after such an event. If you want to help defend your basement against flooding and other forms of standing water, the most beneficial thing that you can do is to install a new sump pump.
A sump pump removes standing water from the basement by pumping it out of the lowest part of the basement before it reaches the floor level of the rest of it. When the water level rises up, the excess is pumped into a sump pump hole. After this water reaches a critical level, the pump will begin to direct this water out of the home and away from it to a drain outside.
You should keep a check on your sump pump regularly to make sure that it is functioning properly. You can do this by taking off the cover and pouring water slowly into the tank. The float that is in the tank should rise with the water and cause the pump to start up. When it turns on, the water level will quickly recede and as the float goes back down to the bottom, the pump will turn back off.
The majority of problems with a sump pump’s operation come from the float not working as it should. If it gets stuck on something inside the tank, it will not turn on and off as it should. Sometimes the float will need to be replaced in order to fix this problem. Pour water inside the tank and if the float does not trigger the pump turning on, the float is the problem. Also watch for it to trigger the pump to turn off. If it fails to do this, you may need a new float.
Some homeowners even choose to have a backup sump pump and a good idea for this is to have a back up pump that operates on the water pressure in your home’s water system instead of on electricity, so if the power goes out during a flood or hurricane, the water will still be pumped out of the basement.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Minnesota Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Florida water damage restoration companies
Preventing Water Damage By Replacing Tile
When your bathroom tile has become so cracked and the grout so loose and missing that water starts to seep underneath to the floorboards, then you have a problem. The water damage occurring to the floor underneath the tile is a potentially expensive and time consuming problem to take care of, so going ahead and replacing the damaged tile is a good idea.
You will need a tile cutter, chalk line, a grout float, tape measure, rubber mallet, notched trowel, level, and a pull saw.
To measure how much of a square tile you will need, you should draw the room’s layout on a piece of graph paper. Each square should represent a tile. The measurements should be checked more than once so you know just how much tile you need to order. After you figure that number, order at least 5 to 10 percent more tile so you will have a cushion in case you damage some of it.
Selecting the correct color grout is also a consideration. Dark grout can be used in high traffic areas to hide dirt.
Before laying the tile, you need a smooth, tough subfloor to put the tiles on. Ceramic tiles do not flex and an uneven surface can cause them to crack. The baseboards and the trim molding needs to be removed temporarily and the pull saw will be used to trim door casings and jambs so the tile’s thickness will be accepted.
All appliances must be removed from the floor, including toilets.
Start in the center of the room next to the main entrance and lay down a row of tiles without using any adhesive so you have a guide. Each tile should have an equal amount of space between them. The tiles should be perpendicular to the door.
The techniques used to actually install the tile vary depending on the kind of tile being put down and the size of it. Applying it to the tile instead of the floor is recommended for tiles larger than 8 by 8 inches. It should be skimmed with thinset mortar almost like peanut butter and this needs to be applied with the notched trowel; the trowel will help prevent weak spots in the installation. Use the tile cutter and nippers to cut the tile to fit certain areas of the room that will not accept a square tile.
After you are done laying the tile, the grout phase will come next. Apply it with your grout float and use a clean float to remove the excess. After about 15 minutes, wipe the rest of the excess away with a sponge and some water. Let it set for a day before walking on it.
Installing the tile correctly will waterproof your bathroom floor and prevent water damage from occurring to the wooden floor underneath and save you a large amount of money in the long run.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Mississippi Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Miami Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors
You will need a tile cutter, chalk line, a grout float, tape measure, rubber mallet, notched trowel, level, and a pull saw.
To measure how much of a square tile you will need, you should draw the room’s layout on a piece of graph paper. Each square should represent a tile. The measurements should be checked more than once so you know just how much tile you need to order. After you figure that number, order at least 5 to 10 percent more tile so you will have a cushion in case you damage some of it.
Selecting the correct color grout is also a consideration. Dark grout can be used in high traffic areas to hide dirt.
Before laying the tile, you need a smooth, tough subfloor to put the tiles on. Ceramic tiles do not flex and an uneven surface can cause them to crack. The baseboards and the trim molding needs to be removed temporarily and the pull saw will be used to trim door casings and jambs so the tile’s thickness will be accepted.
All appliances must be removed from the floor, including toilets.
Start in the center of the room next to the main entrance and lay down a row of tiles without using any adhesive so you have a guide. Each tile should have an equal amount of space between them. The tiles should be perpendicular to the door.
The techniques used to actually install the tile vary depending on the kind of tile being put down and the size of it. Applying it to the tile instead of the floor is recommended for tiles larger than 8 by 8 inches. It should be skimmed with thinset mortar almost like peanut butter and this needs to be applied with the notched trowel; the trowel will help prevent weak spots in the installation. Use the tile cutter and nippers to cut the tile to fit certain areas of the room that will not accept a square tile.
After you are done laying the tile, the grout phase will come next. Apply it with your grout float and use a clean float to remove the excess. After about 15 minutes, wipe the rest of the excess away with a sponge and some water. Let it set for a day before walking on it.
Installing the tile correctly will waterproof your bathroom floor and prevent water damage from occurring to the wooden floor underneath and save you a large amount of money in the long run.
Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality
Mississippi Flood Damage Cleanup and other states and cities such as
Miami Residential Water Damage Restoration Contractors
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