Restoring Fire Damage in Florida: Making It "Like It Never Even Happened" with SERVPRO

3/20/2024 (Permalink)

When fire strikes a home or business in Florida, the aftermath can be devastating. Not only does fire damage compromise the structural integrity of the property, but smoke and soot residues can also permeate surfaces, leaving behind lingering odors and discoloration. At SERVPRO, we understand the urgency and complexity of fire damage restoration, and we're here to help make it "Like it never even happened."

Our fire damage restoration process begins with a swift response to assess the extent of the damage and secure the property to prevent further harm. Our expert technicians utilize advanced equipment and techniques to remove debris, clean soot residues, and eliminate smoke odors from affected surfaces. We meticulously restore salvageable items and surfaces, striving to return the property to its pre-fire condition as efficiently as possible.

In addition to addressing visible damage, we also prioritize air quality and safety. Our comprehensive approach includes air purification and deodorization to ensure that the indoor environment is clean and healthy for occupants. We work closely with property owners and insurance companies throughout the restoration process to streamline communication and minimize disruptions.

At SERVPRO, we're dedicated to delivering exceptional results and restoring peace of mind to our customers. With our proven expertise and commitment to excellence, we make fire damage restoration in Florida "Like it never even happened." If your home or business has been affected by fire, don't hesitate to contact SERVPRO for prompt and professional restoration services.

Let us be your trusted partner in fire damage restoration, and together, we'll overcome the challenges and restore your property to its former glory. Contact SERVPRO today to learn more about our fire damage restoration services in Florida.

Merritt Island's Fire Damage Experts Describe Cleaning Appliances

3/20/2023 (Permalink)

If a fire burns at your Merritt Island residence, structural components and building materials can suffer extensive damage.

Fire Damage Experts Describe Cleaning Appliances

If a fire burns at your Merritt Island residence, structural components and building materials can suffer extensive damage. Depending on the size of the blaze, parts of the structure might have to be removed and rebuilt. Aside from the heat and flames engulfing and charring parts of the house, smoke created by partially combusted particles can cause problems in areas far from the source.

Smoke put out by burning materials travels all over your home creating pungent aromas and leaving behind soot residues. During some fire damage restorations in Merritt Island, soils coat several indoor surfaces including contents. To prevent damage to items and to aid in deodorization all soot residue gets removed from affected contents and materials.

Different things inside the house require various methods and chemicals to clean soot damage. How difficult soots come off surfaces changes based on what burned in the fire and the type of surfaces affected. Non-porous surfaces are typically the simplest to clean because wet chemicals can be used to wipe off the soot.

When smoke spreads throughout your house, appliances often get coated with soils. Appliances usually contain surfaces made from metal, paint, plastic, and glass. These surfaces can be cleaned using a water-based detergent solution. If the soot is challenging to remove with the cleaning agent, then our SERVPRO technicians use another chemical to increase the alkalinity of the detergent.

Many appliances have highly polished finishes that can get damaged by cleaning agents. Chrome or aluminum can pit if industrial detergents are left on the surface. After using soaps to remove soot residues, applying a rinse chemical can prevent damage caused by the cleaning process.

In some cases, heat from a fire can cause finishes on appliances to turn yellow. When yellowing occurs, wood creme paste gets applied to the affected surface with a towel. We then allow the creme to set on the surface for two to three minutes. After it sets, we use steel wool to gently scrub the yellowish staining off. Once we agitate the surface with the paste, it gets polished with a clean towel.

Using the correct methods to remove soils can reduce the overall cost of the restoration project. For help from the professionals with any mitigation project, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard, at (321) 638-4947 seven days a week.

Click here for more about Merritt Island.

What It Takes to Restore a Cocoa Home after Fire Damage

7/26/2022 (Permalink)

Fire damage cleanup and controlled demolition are cornerstones of SERVPRO. We make your Cocoa home look "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Provides Comprehensive Resources to Cocoa Homeowners after Fire Loss

Fire is a combination of different elements. Apart from the heat, it produces various chemical agents that spread across properties as fine particles, aerosols, and gases. These byproducts have distinct effects on materials, so restoring fire damage takes several approaches, including applying different cleaning products and procedures. Without sufficient resources, restoring your Cocoa home to its preloss state can be a mirage.

In your Cocoa home, fire damage occurs in stages. The most significant damage occurs when materials are engulfed in flames. This stage can consume many elements, reducing them to ashes. The gases, aerosols, and fine particles floating around the home during combustion, soil, stain, and leave a strong odor in fabrics, wood, and other materials. Finally, when residues like soot settle on surfaces, they can degrade them through corrosion and staining. Polished metal and stone surfaces such as backsplashes or countertops are susceptible to such damage.

Fixing fire issues requires the right:

• Knowledge
• Equipment
• Workforce
• Chemical agents

You can categorize knowledge about fires. Knowing what is affected, what can be salvaged, and what should be immediately disposed of are some of the top categories of information. Whether something is salvageable depends on factors like the level of damage, restoration cost, and the ease of replacement. SERVPRO has extensive industry experience, making it easier to categorize items as salvageable or unsalvageable. Whether canned or refrigerated, foodstuffs fall in the unsalvageable category since they are readily replaceable and become toxic from heat or chemical exposure.

Resources that Help Resolve Fire Damage

Appropriate resources are essential whether you need to clean, strip, or refinish a burnt area. These could be products or equipment to facilitate specific processes. Extra pair of hands is also helpful in facilitating simple or complex tasks. SERVPRO combines all these factors by sending a well-staffed and equipped team to your fire damaged property.

Necessary restoration equipment

• Abrasive cleaners
• Deodorization equipment
• Deep cleaners
• Drying equipment

Fire and smoke residues adhere strongly to surfaces due to bonding with the surface or deterioration of the underlying material. For example, areas with wet smoke residues are deeply soiled. Breaking the bonds requires sufficient force that only abrasive cleaning equipment can deliver. Pressure washers and rotating brushes are standard tools when a strong physical force is needed. For deep cleaning, immersion in cleaning solutions may be necessary. Ultrasonic cleaners help when cleaning small items.

In some cases, chemical breakdown of soils is better than using physical force, especially when it might damage the affected materials from poor handling. Our SERVPRO crews use specially formulated products to facilitate such cleaning. Heavy-duty cleaning detergents that are highly alkaline and contain ammonia are essential for this task. They are reliable in removing greasy fire residues and other difficult soils.

One should not forget secondary or invisible problems after dealing with the soiling and material deterioration left in a property by fire. Moisture issues and odors fall in this category since it is easy to overlook them until they interfere with your daily routines. Our SERVPRO technicians set up dehumidifiers or air movers to manage moisture, whether from cleaning processes or firefighting efforts. An air mover evacuates wet air from the house. A dehumidifier removes the humidity accumulating in the air. In both cases, the evaporation rate from wet materials increases, thus boosting drying.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard addresses all aspects of fire damage, from deteriorated materials to strange odors. Call us at (321) 638-4947. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Fire Damage Experts In Cape Canaveral Talk About Different Cleaning Products and Methods

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

Cape Canaveral House Fires Can Leave a Lot of Smoke and Soot Behind--Call SERVPRO for Rocket-Fast Cleanup and Restoration

SERVPRO Technicians Provide a Large Arsenal of Equipment and Cleaning Agents to Mitigate Fire Damage

Any fire that burns on your Cape Canaveral property can cause several different kinds of damage to buildings. Even small fires that do not burn building materials can cause smoke damage throughout the house. Smoke first rises with the heat of the blaze; then, it is attracted to cooler surfaces. When smoke hits cold surfaces, it leaves behind soils and soot residues. 

Since fires burn various types of materials, the chemical composition of the soot also varies. During fire damage mitigation in Cape Canaveral, the removal of soot residues is a significant part of the project. Residues can ruin the finished contents inside your home and produce burnt aromas. Some types of soot are easily wiped off, whereas others can be nearly impossible to remove. 

To find the most efficient method, our SERVPRO technicians try until they find the one that works best for each scenario. In some cases, multiple methods are needed to remove different types of soot found in the same building. Other times various techniques must be used to clean the same kind of soot off different materials. Typically, vacuuming coated surfaces is initially a practical first step.

If the surface is non-porous, our SERVPRO restoration team can use wet chemicals to clean off soot damage. Using wet chemicals on porous substances can cause the soils to soak into the item and create more problems. Permeable surfaces are best cleaned with dry cleaning methods such as compressed air or dry sponges. 

When wet cleaning items, most paintable and washable surfaces can be cleaned with a general surface cleaner. These cleaners have a low enough alkalinity to where they will not ruin the interior paint. Heavy duty cleaners remove heavy grease and thick soils. These chemicals usually have high alkalinity and contain ammonia. The high alkaline detergents cannot be used on some surfaces because they will eat away the finish and ruin the item. 

Once the best cleaning method and chemicals for the job are discovered, we clean everything inside your home that got affected by smoke with detail. Often items can get hand scrubbed until there is no soot present. If you ever need help with smoke-related problems, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard at (321) 638-4947 24/7.

The Importance of Deodorization to Cocoa Fire Damage Restoration

7/25/2022 (Permalink)

SERVPRO knows how to remove malodors left over from fires. Call us today!

Deodorants Used in Fire Damage Restoration

Regulating post-fire effects combines several cleaning and air quality improvement strategies beginning when SERVPRO professionals first arrive at damaged residences. With how fast threats like malodors can move in the house and infiltrate porous materials, swift action is needed to neutralize the smell and return to normal living conditions.

How Does Pairing Work? 

One of the more effective methods of reducing the impact of smoke during fire damage restoration in Cocoa is the pairing products we use. Odor neutralization gets achieved with this approach by combining the odor molecules with unstable compounds capable of bonding with the malodor byproduct in the environment. Two common varieties include:

• Humectant –These chemicals get distributed as a vapor that attaches to odor molecules and falls to surfaces to be wiped clean. 

• Counteractant –These products destroy bacteria or will change the properties of a molecule, so combining odor molecules with these products can neutralize their effectiveness. 

What is Masking? 

In some cases, the desire to have normal operating conditions for a household or business supersedes the full deodorization process. Masking agents help to overpower smoke smells temporarily for this purpose. These products are stronger than the present smells, which is especially effective when contending with situations like imaginary odors common with customers after experiencing fire damage firsthand.

Disinfection Cleaning

Disinfection cleaning is another effective management of odors in the environment. We have several methods of overcoming the more odorous and problematic airborne contaminants and air quality obstacles. There are numerous approaches available for overcoming bacterial, viral, or other threatening microbes and particulates creating offensive odors, including: 

• Ultraviolet light
• Extreme temperature changes
• Oxidation with ozone

Post-fire cleanup and recovery cleanup can often hinge on the efforts made in odor management. Our SERVPRO of Central Brevard team is ready to help with all the cleanup your home needs after a disaster. Call now at (321) 638-4947. 

Addressing Contents in Your Cocoa Property After Fire Damage

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Let your local SERVPRO of Central Brevard professionals resolve your fire damage problems.

Cocoa Residents Count on SERVPRO for Fire Damage Cleanup

Once first responders deem your Cocoa property safe to enter after a fire, the next thing to do is contact SERVPRO to initiate house fire cleanup services. We know that property fires are financially and mentally devastating, but our team is here 24/7 to give you the prompt response you need to try getting your home back in order. We’re Faster to Any Size Disaster, handling debris removal, drying, smoke remediation, and detailed contents cleaning.

A common question many homeowners have after fire damage in Cocoa is what items they can keep. Some of the things SERVPRO technicians will tell you are easy to clean include:

• Metals – Generally resistant to smoke damage, many metal-crafted items can withstand surface cleaning and light sanding and refinishing. This all depends on the item, the design, and coatings or paint.
• Glass – Glass is relatively resistant to fire, so our crew may be able to use immersion techniques or spray and wipe methods to clean various glass items in your home.
• Furnishings and Hardwood Flooring – Unless the smoke and fire damage is severe, we can work to clean and restore furniture and hardwood flooring with specialty cleaning techniques, sanding, and refinishing.

Items that often get disposed of after a fire

In many situations, the following may not or cannot get salvaged after a fire:

• Linens, mattresses, and clothing – Some clothing or linens may successfully get cleaned with light smoke damage. Otherwise, disposal is often best.
• Hygiene products, cosmetics, and medicines – These items are sensitive to temperature changes and fragile. Due to the loss of efficacy, discarding it after a fire is better.
• Food – It is always advisable to toss food items, even those unopened. If your home is without electricity, things within your refrigerator or freezer can start to spoil after 6 hours.

No matter the level of fire damage, SERVPRO of Central Brevard is here to help! Call us 24/7 for rapid response with our Green Fleet – (321) 638-4947.

Cleaning Fire Damaged Window Areas in Your Cocoa Beach Home

5/24/2022 (Permalink)

Living in a home after a fire occurs in Cocoa Beach can leave everything smelling quite awful.

Cleaning Fire Damaged Window Areas

After a fire occurs in Cocoa Beach, living in a home can leave everything smelling quite awful. This odor comes from the layers of soot, ash, and other smoke by-products made by the fire. Even though it may feel oily when you accidentally touch it, it contains many corrosive components. Removing it from your home's surfaces helps remove the smell and protect your home's contents and your family.

Cocoa Beach residents often notice that the fire damage in their homes includes thicker soot deposits near windows. Because the fire pushes the smoke outward, it often gets sucked outside through cracks near windows. As it leaves your home, more massive particles become attached to the walls, window glass, drapes, and anything else near the window. Part of this phenomenon often involves a change in temperature near windows.

Our IICRC-certified technicians understand that these areas require specialized care to fully restore your home after even minor fires. We use a pH-neutral glass cleaner that quickly leaves windows streak-free and eliminates soot build-up. Other cleaners remove soot from all types of window frames. Removing the soot from these areas often includes detail work that refreshes your windows, making them look "Like it never even happened."

Draperies and their rods also need highly responsive care to protect them from the disintegrating effects of corrosive soot. We vacuum draperies to remove the drier portions and then carefully clean them so they become clean and odor-free once again. Rods also require some care after a fire to keep them functional. Wood can become dull instead of bright and shiny when soot remains too long. Window blinds can also become saturated with soot, and we tackle this occurrence with specialized equipment and procedures that quickly remove the soot from them. Moving parts receive silicone spray treatments to keep them working well, without sticking, so you can continue to use your windows as usual.

We at SERVPRO of Central Brevard know that your home's windows help shape your home's personality and look, both from the inside and to passers-by who drive past your residence. Even when most fire damage remains hidden on the exterior, windows can often show more than you might like. Call us to begin the process of restoring your windows and their dressings, making your home light, airy, and beautiful once more. Our 24-hour line is (321) 638-4947, where we can be reached every day of the year.

The Biggest Problem After a Fire in Cocoa can Oftentimes be Water Damage

3/10/2022 (Permalink)

After a fire affects your home, the cleanup and remediation can be extensive. Contact SERVPRO for assistance right away.

Saving a Structure from Effects of Fire Damage in Cocoa

After fire affects a structure, several steps are necessary to restore it to its pre-damaged condition. Structure means anything permanently fixed to the building. Therefore, fixtures such as cabinets, HVAC systems, floors, and attached floor coverings are part of the structure. We offer professional restoration services that can help deal with the damage "Like it never even happened."

Water plays a part in any restoration effort of fire damage in Cocoa. From the efforts to quell the blaze to the cleaning process, water is involved one way or another. Most of this water ends up soaking into the structure, so walls, floors, ceilings, and any other part of the structure are made from porous materials, so proper drying is necessary. Taking this step helps prevent moisture problems like rotting, warping, and microbial growth. Our SERVPRO technicians help extract any standing water from the building immediately after restoration starts. We also dry the structure thoroughly after finishing the cleanup process.

Depending on how intense the fire is, it might affect the supportive parts of the structure. Assessing the level of damage on frames helps determine the next step. In most cases, though, the damage is restricted to charring or heat searing fixtures such as cabinets, doors among others. In such cases, we have to remove the affected materials and replace them with new ones or refinish the affected surfaces.

Do you know that it is possible to ruin the structure in an effort to mitigate the effects of a fire? Depending on the method used when cleaning smoke deposits from surfaces, it is possible to create more problems. For example, aggressive wet cleaning on textured ceilings might dissolve the finish. When our SERVPRO technicians clean your structure, we use different approaches, including specialized techniques such as peroxide active cleaning. Doing this helps remove deposits without harming the finishing of the affected surfaces.

Saving a building from the long-term effects of a fire is possible. Contact SERVPRO of Central Brevard to assist. You can reach us at (321) 638-4947 any time.

SERVPRO Can Protect Cocoa Homes from Permanent Damage After Fire Damage

10/29/2021 (Permalink)

Contact Team SERVPRO right after the firefighters leave. We are available 24/7 365 days a year for your emergency fire damage call.

How SERVPRO Restores Your Cocoa Home after a Fire Damage Incident?

Restorative cleaning after fire damage to your Cocoa property is a job for the professionals. A restorer has a tough job of removing the fire and smoke damage and returning the structure to a preloss condition.   

There are several different types of deodorizing equipment that SERVPRO techs use to restore fire damage to your Cocoa properties. The importance of using professional deodorizing equipment as soon as possible can’t be emphasized enough. Not only does this prevent new odors from developing, but it also prevents you and your family from entering a hazardous environment during the post-fire restoration process.

Why do SERVPRO Techs use Active Oxygen Deodorization During House Fire Cleanup of Your Cocoa Home? 

Passive methods, such as ventilation and fans, merely remove the odor-causing particles from your Cocoa home and send them back into the air. Hence, SERVPRO techs use active deodorization methods that render the odor-causing molecules inactive. 

An ozone generator is one of the most commonly used equipment that actively neutralizes odor-causing molecules. However, there is a safety concern regarding ozone gas. Hence, SERVPRO technicians prefer hydroxyl radical generators in place of ozone generators when the premises are occupied.

Hydroxyl radical generators produce highly reactive hydroxyl (OH-) radicals that cause a ‘cascade effect’ that makes unstable compounds when hydroxyl radicals react with odor-causing molecules in the air. The effect continues till all the odor molecules are broken down into simple molecules that no longer produce odor. 

Another advantage of hydroxyl radicals in fire damage restoration is that they do not reach surfaces and damage them like ozone. Hence, SERVPRO techs can use this equipment even in occupied areas with proper monitoring. 

Call SERVPRO of Central Brevard at (321) 638-4947; our technicians are available round the clock in case of any fire damage-related inquiries.

Need Fire Damage Restoration in Cocoa – Don’t Wait for First Responders to Leave – Call SERVPRO

9/30/2021 (Permalink)

After the firefighters deem your home safe to re-enter, contact SERVPRO for fire damage remediation services. We are standing by 24/7.

SERVPRO Provides Fire Damage Restoration in Cocoa

The fire department must make sure that all occupants of a home in Cocoa are safe and the fire is completely extinguished before they can leave the site of a fire. First responders, like the fire department, have a huge responsibility to keep us safe. They respond to many emergencies, including fires in homes, small businesses, and commercial properties. We are very grateful for their response and the work they do.

SERVPRO can be onsite in less than four hours from your call for fire damage restoration in Cocoa; however, before we can enter the property, first responders must give the green light for our teams and inspectors to enter the building. They make sure the fire is out, and the building is structurally safe for our technicians and anyone else to enter the building.

Once SERVPRO receives the green light to enter, we immediately begin scoping the situation. For example, we can take mitigation action to control further secondary damage, remove debris and damaged structure, remove water, and subsequent drying of the damaged area cleaning and smoke odor removal. There is typically a great deal to do after a fire. Fast response and action can significantly reduce the total damage if water removal, drying, and cleaning begin as quickly as possible.

Among the services SERVPRO provides residents of Cocoa after a fire are the following:

• Fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup
• Water damage mitigation to prevent secondary damage
• House fire cleanup
• Debris removal

Call SERVPRO of Central Brevard for fire damage restoration services in Cocoa and surrounding areas. We can help 24/7. Call (321) 638-4947.

How Is Fire Damage in My Cocoa Home Likely to Affect my Daily Routines?

9/12/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO IICRC certified techs have the experience and training for any size fire damage restoration service needed for your home.

SERVPRO can Help You Deal with Hazards, Soiling, and Other Problems that Fires Cause

Daily activities such as heating, cooking, or operating electrical gadgets pose a risk of starting fires at your Cocoa home. Various safety measures, such as the installation of sprinkler systems and placement of fire extinguishers within the home, help add a layer of protection. Still, you cannot rule out the chance of a fire happening. Such incidents have several implications, including monetary costs involved in restoring or replacing items. Most people rarely think of how a fire incident changes daily routines, thus causing unnecessary inconveniences. Since each incident presents unique challenges, you cannot have a perfect action plan before the fire happens. However, the actions you take after the incident matter.

Is it Safe to be in a House After a Fire? 

After an incident leads to fire damage in your Cocoa home, you are likely to feel inclined to venture into the house to see what was damaged or at least to salvage any valuables that survived the blaze. Such a visit can have severe implications and can end up worsening the damages to your property. Unplanned forays into houses ravaged by fire are not ideal because you might:

• Expose yourself to harmful substances
• Cause additional damages such as spreading residues
• Risk injury from physical hazards

The reasons why fire damage sites pose such risks to you include:

• The presence of residues from combustion processes
• Weakened structural supports
• Damaged electrical cables

Professional restorers are aware of the risks and therefore take precautions to safely enter the damaged house. Our SERVPRO technicians have various PPE, Personal Protective Equipment, including heavy-duty gloves and rubber boots, which guarantee their safety when they enter the site the first time to evaluate the damages. The information we gather from scoping the area is what helps us deal with an incident "Like it never even happened." 

The immediate response includes simple as well as advanced steps. For example, we remove all foodstuffs from freezers and other storage units. We also check the depth of charring on structural supports and other physical hazards, such as frayed wires. Suppose the fire only affects a specific section of the property, such as the kitchen. In that case, we can use engineering controls such as setting up containment barriers with plastic sheets to isolate the area, allowing you to access the rest of the house safely.

What Safeguards Does a House Need After a Fire Incident?

The pain of losing valuables in a fire can distract you to the point of forgetting that you still have a duty to safeguard what the fire did not consume. In most incidents, parts of the structure and contents remain intact, thus necessitating protection before an action plan is formulated to address the damage. Our SERVPRO technicians help protect the structure by installing tarps or boarding up openings on the roof and walls, respectively. We can also help move contents within the structure or move them out to an external storage facility.  

Boarding up helps protect the house by keeping out small animals, people, rain, and other weather elements. It can also help retain the visual appeal of your home in case that matters to you. Our technicians use different board up techniques:

• Cover over
• Insertion
• Bolt with tension

The cover over technique places plywood boards over an opening by attaching them to surfaces around the opening. Although it is fast, it offers minimal security since the boards are easy to pull out with a pry bar or other flat tool. Insertion involves cutting the boards so that they fit into openings such as windows and doors that we need to seal, offering more security. For the bolt with tension technique, a plywood board overlaps the exterior wall, covering the opening. It is connected with bolts to two-by-four planks on the inner section of the wall. Apart from security, we also consider prevailing factors on site, including how long we expect the restoration process to take when choosing the board-up method.

Does It Take Time To Restore Fire Damage? 

Although you may want to regain access to your home without any delays, it is not always possible. Tasks such as cleanup and restoration of affected areas can take time. One reason why delays occur is that it is difficult to carry out different tasks simultaneously. For example, cleaning surfaces, drying, and refinishing them cannot happen concurrently. After scoping damaged sites, our SERVPRO technicians can give accurate estimates of how long the process is likely to take, allowing you to prepare accordingly.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard can help better navigate the woes of a fire-damaged property in Merritt Island, Cape Canaveral, or Cocoa Beach. Call us any time at (321) 638-4947. We're Faster To Any Size Disaster.

Fire Damage Can Devastate Your Merritt Island Home

8/6/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO professionals are available 24/7 to assist with fire damage in your Merritt Island home. Give us a call right away.

Rely on the Professionals at SERVPRO for Expert Fire Damage Restoration

Nothing can be quite as devastating to witness as a fire breaking out in your Merritt Island home. Even if the blaze does not ravish every inch of the structure, lingering effects can still make it challenging to live comfortably in your house following the incident. Fortunately, this is nothing that you have to correct all on your own. By employing professional restoration specialists, you can have your home back to preloss conditions much more quickly and begin the process of moving on from the traumatic event.

These lingering effects of fire damage to your Merritt Island residence can hit you in several different ways. Everyone responds to these conditions differently, and your family might get bothered more by specific symptoms than others. This fact makes it critical to keep an open line of communication with the SERVPRO technicians that arrive to begin the restoration process in your home following the fire. By talking about the effects and damage that bother you the most and challenge comfortable living for your family, our specialists can prioritize these areas to help you through the restoration process more efficiently.

Lingering odors are a typical complaint for homeowners following any sized fire, and deodorization is a crucial component of the restoration process for our SERVPRO professionals. Utilizing thermal foggers and other similar equipment, we can chemically alter the molecules in these noxious areas of your house and leave the site without any scent at all.

Smoke and Soot Damage

Another typical complaint for those who have recently experienced a fire in their home is the smoke and soot damage to specific regions of their residence. Our IICRC certified technicians utilize vacuums and cleaning equipment to prepare walls and ceilings for repainting. We also use a wet solution for set-in soot in conjunction with the conventional cleaning processes to penetrate the damage and remove it as much as possible. Air scrubbers with HEPA filters remove any lingering debris in the air and provide fewer sources for further marring damage to surfaces.

There is nothing easy about contending with fire damage to your home. However, with our experience and professionalism, SERVPRO of Central Brevard can help you restore your home to preloss conditions and move on with your life. Give us a call today at (321) 638-4947.  

Full Fire Damage Restoration For Your Cocoa Home

7/16/2021 (Permalink)

Fire can leave your property with many issues. Trust our experts to bring your home back to its original state "Like it never even happened."

SERVPRO Remediates All Types of Fire and Soot Damage in Local Homes

Significant structural fires involving your Cocoa home can leave a lot of lingering damage. You might not even be aware of the full extent of the damage until you have competent inspections accomplished to determine everything that has gotten affected. The traumatic event is almost impossible to move forward from without restoring the immediate pressing damages, not to mention the lack of comfortable living from the lingering effects that fire presents to your house.  

Fortunately, your home can get restored from its recent fire damage in Cocoa. With the efforts of our experienced SERVPRO restoration technicians, we can bring a highly damaged home back to preloss conditions. Through communication and prioritization of the most pressing concerns, our experienced professionals can isolate the most substantial symptoms to help you feel comfortable in your home once again throughout the entire restoration process.  

Assessment of Fire Damage

When we arrive at your house to do initial inspections to determine the full range of the damage, we also put a strong priority on sealing up structurally compromising holes and broken windows/doors. The reason for doing this is to prevent elemental damage to make matters worse for both our restorers and for your family.  

While your family might be able to live in a home that has some smoke and soot damage for a short time while the restoration process is underway, many families cannot often stomach the smell that circumstances like these tend to leave in the affected areas. Using our state-of-the-art equipment like foggers with odorless chemical compounds, we can neutralize noxious odors that linger behind after a fire and make your home life vastly more comfortable simultaneously. 

With significant blazes that affect your home, restoration efforts might not always be a possibility. In these circumstances, our SERVPRO technicians can work to prepare the area for reconstruction. Often, this involves controlled demolition to specific areas to ensure that the scope of the construction does not exceed what is necessary. Our efforts in this regard ensure that a contractor can begin work on this right away.  

You might be looking at the fire damage to your home and are unsure where to begin. When you contact our experienced restoration specialists at SERVPRO of Central Brevard, we can help you to better understand the full scope of what you are facing. You can reach our emergency response team anytime by calling (321) 638-4947.  

Cocoa Residents Trust SERVPRO for Fire Cleanup and Restoration?

5/11/2021 (Permalink)

When the red fire trucks leave, the Green SERVPRO trucks arrive for the house fire cleanup in Cocoa

SERVPRO Helps Cocoa Residents in Fire Cleanup and Restoration 24/7

The aftermath of a fire incident at your Cocoa home can be overwhelming to handle. Trying to initiate the fire damage restoration process by yourself can make an already bad situation worse. Taking quick action and involving SERVPRO restorers as soon as possible can help minimize any potential permanent losses to your Cocoa property.

In Cocoa, Fire and smoke damage restoration and cleanup is a complex process and involves meticulous planning. SERVPRO of Cocoa has a team of experts with years of experience and expertise in planning and executing the mitigation process to minimize the damage. Our goal is to restore the material to a preloss condition “Like it never even happened.”

The SERVPRO Smoke Remediation Process

One of the most significant parts of the fire damage mitigation process is the cleaning of smoke residue. Smoke contains fine particles of soot that settle on various surfaces and can be difficult to clean depending on the surface involved. SERVPRO restorers apply the following cleaning principles to get the job done at your Cocoa property:

• Identify the type of residue after smoke damage
• Identify the type of surface that needs cleaning
• Capture the smoke particles in dry particulate or solution form
• Properly dispose of the residue from fire damaged homes

If you need help in house fire cleanup at your Cocoa home, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard at (321) 638-4947. We are here 24/7 to assist you.

Celebrate the Women in Your Life at a One-Day Event Near Cocoa

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO doesn't cosmetically cover fire damage. We go to the root of the issue and completely restore your home.

Attend Cocoa Area’s Space Coast Women’s Day Festival

Pamper the women in your life at Melbourne Square Mall’s second annual Space Coast Women’s Day Festival.  The festivities, which are being held a short twenty-mile drive away from Cocoa, occur between 11 AM and 4 PM on Saturday, January 16th.  Some of the event’s offerings include:

• A fashion show
• Door prizes
• Makeovers and massages
• Nail and henna art
• Photo opportunities
• Self-defense classes

Enjoy all the fun at 1700 West New Haven Avenue in Melbourne.  Admission to the festival is free, the activities are free, and tickets are available online.

Your helpful neighbors at SERVPRO of Central Brevard welcome you to this local celebration of women.  Treat all the women near and dear to you to a special day of pampering just for them.  With that said, as one of the Space Coast’s most respected fire damage restoration services, we would like to remind you of the ever-present risk of house fires.  If you ever need help recovering from a residential fire, call us at (321) 638-4947.

Check out our fire damage restoration  BBB rating.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard saves Thanksgiving for a local Merritt Island family after a fire.

12/8/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Central Brevard saved the day!

Our job at SERVPRO of Central Brevard is the most rewarding when we are able to take care of people and show them that everything will be alright in the midst of a crisis.

On Nov 25^th we received a call from a homeowner who was hosting Thanksgiving dinner for her family the next day.  They had just had a fire in one of their bedrooms was caused by a battery charger malfunctioning.  Fortunately, no one was hurt and the major damage was contained inside the bedroom. However, the rest of the home was filled with a strong smoke odor and covered in soot from ceiling to floor. 

We immediately jumped into action and sent a crew and our Operations Manager to the Merritt Island home ready to get to work.  We sealed off the bedroom to contain any further odor or soot and concentrated on the rest of the home. Our primary goal was to get it in shape to host Thanksgiving dinner. The bedroom would have to wait until the insurance adjuster arrived the following week.  We set up air scrubbers and a hydroxyl generator to help eliminate the smoke odor and began the task of cleaning surfaces and contents. After several hours of elbow grease, the homeowners were able to start cooking even before we had finished. By early evening the home was in great shape to host dinner the next day.

We are so proud of our crew that worked so hard to make sure a fire would not ruin the joyous family time that was planned for the holiday weekend! We are thankful we could save Thanksgiving for them.

In the event that you ever experience water or fire damage at your Merritt Island property, please give us a call.  It will be our honor to serve you and get your home back to “Like it never even happened.”

Professional Fire Restoration for Cocoa’s Historical Attractions

11/23/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is ready to restore your fire damaged property.

Tourism is a driving force in Cocoa, making our protection and upkeep of specific properties vital. 

Cocoa can often be a day trip for many tourists to the Space Coast area and a stop on tours and cruises departing from the Cape Canaveral Port. However, tourists and guests arrive, Cocoa has become a destination designed to embrace the uptick in travelers through retail, festivals, activities, and beachfront events. In addition to the modern advancements and construction to promote the local economy's growth, the protection and upkeep of some of the town’s historic properties can also be instrumental in improving the annual turnout for travelers. Also accommodating the passion, many have for local history and stories that shaped Brevard County.

The Mystery of Cocoa’s History 

There are several stories that travelers hear about the origin of Cocoa and how it came to be named what it is. Surprisingly, as many might think, it is agreed that the name does not come from an abundance of production of the cacao plant. Two of the top stories for the name involve either the prominence of a hotel called the Cocoa House or that mail used to arrive on a riverboat and placed in a Baker’s Cocoa tin box nailed to a piling along the river.

Accrediting the Space Industry to Cocoa’s Successes 

From the 1940s through the 1960s, the population of Brevard County and Cocoa specifically more than quadrupled. The country took a stern and severe interest in the space program and explored what lies beyond our atmosphere. In every capacity, NASA and the respective manufacturing facilities began to grow and require more and more personnel to meet the growing demands. In turn, this allowed areas like Cocoa to go from a smaller community of a couple thousand to the current level of nearly 18,000 residents.

Attractions for Day Trippers and Locals 

When you consider all of the attractions of the Space Coast area of Central Florida, Brevard County alone has multiple sites attributing to many tourists returning numerous times over subsequent years. A commitment to a clean and evolving community can be attractive for travelers, especially those looking for quality beach destinations with sprawling resort settings along the water. A blend of long-term attractiveness and short-term draw keeps tourism active and alive. Some of the most frequently visited locations include:

• Eastern Florida State College Planetarium and Observatory – Information about this facility might also bring up results about the Astronaut Memorial Planetarium and Observatory. The massive structure features more than just a planetarium and observatory wing, however. It also boasts a large-screen movie theater, classrooms, exhibit halls, and a frequently changing art gallery showing local and global talents.

• Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science – This massive structure is nearly 15,000 square feet and a 22-acre preserve for flora, fauna, and wildlife. Perhaps one of the most renowned and recognizable exhibits on display in the museum is the Windover Woman. This find continues to be the oldest human remains found in North America. In this same wavelength, the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science has also replicated the Windover Dig where the woman was found and a massive Ice Age exhibit with creatures that once were found in Florida. 

• Historic Cocoa Village – While the area now serves as one of the most promising retail locations in the area to attract visitors, those interested in the history of Cocoa can also visit 11 historical sites spread out through this district. Some of the most prominent and recognizable of these properties include the Porcher House, Derby Street Chapel, and the Parrish Grove Inn. 

• Aladdin Theater – Though it is more recognized now as the Cocoa Village Playhouse, the structure has been up and running since 1924. As a historic location in Cocoa, it is worth noting that the building continues to host multiple types of entertainment throughout the year and is operated and upkept by the municipality since ownership was acquired from Brevard Community College in 2010. 
• Special Events and Festivals – Every month is a new reason to celebrate in Cocoa. This comes through with the plentiful festivities, festivals, fairs, and parades happening throughout the year. When guests come to visit, it is likely happening along with one of the many celebrations ranging from patriotic parades to tree lighting ceremonies and craft bazaars for the holidays. 

Combatting Fire Losses in Cocoa Properties Quickly 

Fire damage can be a swift and fierce force to area homes and businesses. The objective in any of these disasters is to get professional restorers on-site as soon as possible once the extinguishment completes. Our SERVPRO professionals stay prepared for these emergencies with a massive roster of Fire & Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT) and a growing inventory of industry-leading equipment, products, and technologies.

The initial response of our technicians helps to address the pressing concerns of your house. Fire damage restoration for Cocoa homes varies based on the type of fire and the spread of the effects throughout the property. Emergency services change respectively. With both experienced technicians on our staff and a division of general contractors, we can complete several immediate actions to prevent worsening conditions from developing. These include:

• Debris removal
• Air quality control
• Surface cleaning
• Controlled demolition
• Board-up
• Roof tarping

Surface cleaning is one of the most considerable obstacles for fire restoration in your home. Because the composition of soot and smoke residues changes based on the material that combusted and the underlying hosting material, many products and approaches are involved in the cleanup and restoration of these affected surfaces. Solvents, detergents, and abrasive cleaning tactics all have a place.

Despite how devastating fire losses can initially seem, the fast and reliable response of our SERVPRO of Central Brevard team can help to make it “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call anytime you need us at (321) 638-4947.

Does a Fire Restoration Team Address Air Quality in a Cocoa Home?

10/25/2020 (Permalink)

When you reach out to SERVPRO of Central Brevard by calling (321) 638-4947, you access an expert team ready to work for you.

A Professional Fire Restoration Team Can Help Purify the Air in a Cocoa Home After a Home Fire Erupts.

Defective electrical cords, combustion of flammable materials in a garage, or a simple kitchen accident can all cause a fire at your Cocoa home. Whether the flames died down quickly or burned for a while, the smoke and soot remaining in your home can sneak into closets, cabinets, and vents. For a comprehensive restoration process, rely on a competent team to help you.

In Cocoa, fire damage restoration is our specialty at SERVPRO. We are certified by the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) to use the latest techniques to restore fire damage, including treatment of the air in your home. Using technology such as air scrubbers and thermal foggers, we seek to neutralize and eliminate harmful molecules from your environment.

Can homeowners just wipe soot away from its surfaces to finalize the cleanup process?
Most people don’t realize that there are different soot types depending on the item burning to create it. Natural materials such as wood make a cloud of fine dust, whereas man-made materials can leave a sticky residue harder to remove. Each type of remnant requires a corresponding cleaner, which is typically abrasive. A misstep in the cleaning solution can exacerbate the damage to your home and belongings, making them unsalvageable.

As far as the smell in your home following a fire, our SERVPRO crew pays close attention to it and applies different tactics to remove it from your home permanently. Some of those tactics may include the following:
    •    Use of deodorizing pellets
    •    Thermal foggers to spray neutralizing solutions throughout your home
    •    Ozone generators to kill smell molecules

When you reach out to SERVPRO of Central Brevard by calling (321) 638-4947, you access an expert team ready to work for you. By taking a holistic view of the damage, we can make a robust plan with the ultimate goal of leaving your home, “Like it never even happened.”

What is the Best Way to Handle Fire Damage?

9/29/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO is the team you need after your Cocoa fire damage, call us today.

SERVPRO’s Fire Restoration Services Bring Your Cocoa Property Back to Pre-Loss Condition Quickly and Efficiently

There is much emotional damage involved when you have a house fire beyond any charred belongings and building materials. You may have had keepsakes, photographs, and other unique items in the fire that leave you feeling lost and frustrated. SERVPRO features a team of highly-trained fire and smoke restoration technicians (FSRT) who take the cleanup burden off your shoulders. When you want results quickly, you can rest assured that we are Faster to Any Size Disaster. Our crew arrives within four hours or less of your call so that we can begin work right away.

Regardless of the age or condition of your home, no structure is indestructible. When it comes to fire restoration in Cocoa, you need a team that understands fire, smoke, and water damage to ensure you have the best results. SERVPRO works to minimize damage to your personal property, the structure, and all building materials. 

When Will the Home Be Safe to Enter?

There can be many hidden dangers within a Cocoa home right after a fire incident. It is essential that you know not to enter your home until the first responders deem that the building is safe. Depending on the extent of the damage, entering too soon could be hazardous. In addition to charred building materials and overhead hazards, there is also the potential for electrical shock or slip and fall dangers. It is also best that you never turn on any utilities unless the fire department gives the green light.

When Does the Insurance Company Get Notified?

Within most homeowner’s insurance policies, it states that the company must be contacted as soon as possible with a loss report. After a fire in your home, you must contact your insurance provider as soon as possible to notify them of the incident. Our team at SERVPRO will assist you with ensuring you have all of the necessary documentation regarding damage. Working to help customers streamline their insurance claim process to take some burden off of their shoulders is essential to our team at SERVPRO.

What Type of Damage Gets Addressed with Fire Restoration?

Flames are just a particular component of a fire incident in your Cocoa home. Heat and smoke also destroy your interior, but it is important to note that there could be hidden damage. You may also have water damage from the first responders on the scene, extinguishing the flames. Additionally, smoke particles travel throughout the air and your HVAC system if it was on at the time of the blaze. Even the smallest fire can bring on smoke-related issues that must get addressed before corrosion sets in. In some cases, smoke solidifies into soot, which brings foul odors throughout your structure. 

Smoke and soot residue removal followed by deodorization is two vital elements of our fire restoration processes here at SERVPRO. We handle this by:

• Removing any severely charred materials
• Cleaning all soot and smoke residues on surfaces, contents, and building materials
• Should malodors remain after the initial two steps; we then have further methods for odor removal

Our IICRC-certified technicians have been trained to distinguish between varying levels of smoke odors, including minor, moderate, or heavy. With moderate smoke within a home, there is often residue present on surfaces, both horizontal and vertical in nature. When this occurs, there may also be structural damage confined to a single zone or room of the home.

What if the Odors are Stubborn?

When fire restoration includes heavy smoke and odors, our SERVPRO technicians utilize a range of innovative techniques. Some of the methods that we use may include the use of:

• Deodorant pellets or granules
• Vapor diffusers or diffusers
• Hydroxyl generators
• Ozone generators
• Thermal fogging
• Specialized sealants, and more

What About Materials Damaged Beyond Repair?

As part of our fire restoration services, SERVPRO works to mitigate damage and rebuild any of the impacted areas. While it is our goal to restore rather than replace, there are some instances when materials must be removed entirely and replaced with all-new materials. You can count on us to handle the removal of drywall, baseboards, fixtures, and any other components damaged beyond repair. Everything is replaced and then finished off to ensure that your interior is just “Like it never even happened,” so it looks just as it did before the fire. 

Of course, all surfaces throughout your home get thoroughly cleaned, deodorized, and sanitized with the help of EPA-registered cleaning agents and products. We ensure that your interior is safe and inviting for your family to resume life as you knew it before the fire took place.

Never feel as though you have to go through the aftermath of a house fire all alone. Call in the help of SERVPRO of Central Brevard for prompt-reliable fire restoration services at (321) 638-4947.

What Should I Do If My Personal Possessions Get Cover in Soot Residues After a Fire in Merritt Island?

8/3/2020 (Permalink)

If you ever notice that your furniture or other personal items got coated by soot residues after a fire, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard!

For Fire Damage Repair and Soot Removal Inside Your Residence in Merritt Island Call SERVPRO

During most structural blazes, partially combusted particles in the form of smoke get dispersed inside your building in Merritt Island. Smoke can flow throughout your entire home and solidify, causing soot residues to get stuck on the surfaces of your contents and building materials.

How can you remove soot residues from my furniture and other personal items?

During fire damage repair in Merritt Island, our SERVPRO technicians can often save many of your building materials and contents that got affected by soot residues. We have many cleaning methods at our disposal, and we can choose the best technique for your specific type of soils and surfaces affected. For example, since wooden furniture items like your kitchen chairs are non-porous, we can use water-based detergents to remove most residues. However, other things such as your upholstered chairs or couches cannot be cleaned using wet methods because water can soak the soot in deeper, so we clean these items using dry methods. Some of your smaller contents can best get cleaned by using immersion cleaning methods.

What is immersion cleaning, and what items does it get used to clean?

    •    Immersion cleaning consists of items getting fully immersed in a cleaning solution to remove the soot residues.
    •    This method can be used to clean any item that is small enough to disperse and can withstand being soaked entirely in a water-based solution.
    •    When cleaning soot residues from Venetian blinds, immersion cleaning methods can be useful.
    •    During this process, small soiled contents can get placed in a product like Ultra Content Cleaner that is mixed with water. We then used a brush or a towel to scrub the residues off of the items. Next, we rinse off each piece with water before letting it dry and returning it to your home.

If you ever notice that your furniture or other personal items got coated by soot residues after a fire, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard at (321) 638-4947 any day of the week.

Fire Damage Restoration in Melbourne

6/12/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Central Brevard has been hard at work performing fire restoration on a home in the Suntree area of Melbourne, Florida.  The fire, started by an electrical problem in a golf cart, caused severe damage but was largely contained to the garage and the laundry room.  Almost everything in these two areas, including a car, were burned or melted from the high heat and flames. Smoke however traveled throughout the home, leaving most areas covered in thick layers of soot.  The HVAC system was also severely contaminated.

Mitigating this damage required most of the home to be cleaned and deodorized from ceiling to floor. The homeowners’ contents were packed up and moved to our air-conditioned facility for thorough and detailed cleaning. As with most fires, we also had to deal with the water damage that occurs when firefighters are putting a fire out. Thankfully, this damage was relatively minimal in this case.

Other than the garage, which will require some repair, the home will be habitable as soon as the HVAC system has been cleaned and we run an ozone machine for a few days to complete the deodorization process.

For information about fire restoration and clean up please contact our office at 321-638-4947

Or see more information on our website www.SERVPROcentralbrevard.com

What is the Best Way to Remove Fire Damage from Walls in your Cocoa home?

4/8/2020 (Permalink)

When fire damage is the problem, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard at (321) 638-4947.

SERVPRO techs know that residues need testing to choose the correct cleaning agent and method in Cocoa homes

Even in the cases of minor fire loss, the initial sight of your home after a fire can feel overwhelming in terms of getting things back to normal.

There are three main types of smoke residues that need different methods to remove:

    •    Dry Smoke
    •    Wet Smoke
    •    Protein Residues

How Can I Tell By Looking What Type of Smoke Damage is On My Walls?
After fire damage happens in a Cocoa property, one of the key elements for cleaning the smoke residues left behind is through visually scoping and using different types of testing. The result determines the best cleaning method to get rid of the unsightly staining fire loss can leave behind.

Specific Cleaning Methods for Each Smoke Type
SERVPRO technicians have a vast selection of professional cleaning agents that allow them to work on any type of residue and surface. When cleaning up fire loss, the unique characteristics of the surface need consideration for issues such as shrinkage, marring, or bleeding of dyes, and the appropriate cleaning method gets chosen accordingly.

Dry Smoke does not get any type of liquid cleaner used initially. The techs use dry cleaning sponges to lift away the dry, powdery residue carefully. This is usually the result of fast-moving, high heat fires that burned organic materials.

Wet Smoke is thick, smears easily, and usually well-adhered to a surface. This is often the result of fires that involve rubber or plastic-based items. The techs typically rely on a solvent-based cleaner to release the grip on the surface.

Protein Residues are most frequently found in the kitchen and leave a pungent mist that usually needs cleanup akin to methods used for wet smoke.

When fire damage is the problem, call SERVPRO of Central Brevard at (321) 638-4947. The certified techs are available 24/7 to clean up and restore homes to their preloss condition.

For more about Cocoa click here.

We Act As Quick As Possible In Cocoa After A Fire

2/13/2020 (Permalink)

After a fire we treat the air quality in your home with our state of the art equipment. We are available 24/7 to help you, so call us right away.

Is My Wood Furniture Gone Forever?

Fire damage can happen to anyone. An electrical fire can quickly start in a small home or the living room in a mansion. A scented candle in a condo can ignite a billowing curtain just as a grease fire can engulf your kitchen in flames. Sometimes the damage is widespread throughout your home, and others it is limited to a small area. Regardless of the cause and scope, as homeowners, we seek to restore as much of our personal belongings as possible. Restoration is not only a financial consideration, but it is also about preserving those items that hold sentimental value.

When you are in Cocoa and suffer fire damage, SERVPRO is your source of comfort. Our technicians hold certifications from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) and are available 24/7 to provide a concrete action plan without wasting any time. Prompt action can make all the difference in managing the deterioration of your home following a fire and the ensuing extinguishing agents.

Most homeowners struggle with deciding which pieces of furniture are beyond repair and which we can salvage. Our SERVPRO team knows that the finish on the furniture and the extent of the damage play an important role in deciding if and how to restore the piece. Our expertise and knowledge are crucial in making a realistic and practical attempt when returning your home to top shape. For example, understanding that a piece covered in lacquer or paint is not treated in the same manner as unfinished wood is essential for your home. Similarly, the type of smoke residue present in your home also plays a role in selecting cleaning agents as does proximity to the flames. As a homeowner, you do not need to worry about these nuances because our team has options in cleaning solutions and methodology. Place your trust in our expertise and allow us to develop a comprehensive plan.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard is your ally when disaster strikes. From assessing the damage to coordinating with other contractors, we are the team who walk with you in your moment of need. Call us at (321) 638-4947 and let us work with you to leave your home, “Like it never even happened.”

See more about Cocoa.

Our Specialists Can Save Your Fire Damaged Cape Canaveral Home

1/14/2020 (Permalink)

“Like it never even happened.”

Deodorization Approaches in Fire Damaged Cape Canaveral Homes

One of the most challenging effects to overcome after a fire loss in Cape Canaveral homes is a lingering smoke odor. As a fire spreads throughout a residence, many different materials and contents combust. Many of these can present unique threats to the air quality in the house, and leave noxious scents for professionals like our SERVPRO team to address with various equipment, products, and strategies.

Fire damage in Cape Canaveral homes can occur in multiple stages, beginning as soon as the fire first ignites and spreads throughout the structure. Extinguishment can lead to further damage to the property to protect it. Also, circulating effects like soot particles, smoke, and odors can continually worsen without the direct intervention of restoration professionals. Smells are among the most widespread and stubborn of these damages to address, and this requires a variety of equipment to accomplish.

Ozone Generator
Machines that can create ozone are making a chemical compound that features an additional oxygen molecule. When this ozone encounters odor molecules, it can bond with the oxygen molecule and neutralize the scent. Ozone is unsafe for humans and pets, so it is either used without anyone in the house or under the controlled conditions of our ozone chamber in our SERVPRO facility. During our pack-out process, personal belongings get taken to our warehouse for intricate cleaning and recovery efforts.

Thermal Fogging
Thermal foggers are among the most versatile deodorization tools in the arsenal of our professionals, as they are portable and lightweight. We can utilize scented deodorization products or odorless solutions within the machine, and the unit heats the liquid to a vapor fog. This gas can penetrate porous materials like drywall, wood, and carpet for multiple levels of odor removal.

Many threats exist in a home after a fire loss incident, including structural weaknesses and other immediate hazards. Odors are a lingering effect that must get addressed with a variety of solutions and products to make disasters “Like it never even happened.” However, our SERVPRO of Central Brevard team can help, give us a call at (321) 638-4947.

For more about Cape Canaveral click here.

Let Our Experts Help With Fire And Odor Damage In Your Merritt Island Home

12/8/2019 (Permalink)

Call (321) 638-4947 today for disaster cleanup that you can count on every time.

Taking Care of Thanksgiving Fire and Odor Damage in Merritt Island

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, homeowners may be surprised to know that Thanksgiving is the peak day for home cooking fires. Two-thirds of these fires are the result of food or other cooking materials igniting. If you were considering deep-frying that turkey for Thanksgiving, make sure to be careful: frying poses the highest risk of a kitchen fire, with damage exacerbated by the presence of invisible protein residues.

If you need a team that can clean up fire and odor damage in your Merritt Island home fast, SERVPRO technicians are ready to come to you with state-of-the-art tools and extensive training. This IICRC-certified firm wants to ensure that you get the assistance you need no matter what time of the night or day, including on holidays. If your home has been affected by fire damage and odors, you can count on SERVPRO to get the job done right.

Kitchen Fire Safety Tips
    •    Avoid using your stovetop if you are fatigued or have consumed alcohol. Have others with you monitoring the stove if necessary.
    •    If you are boiling, broiling, grilling, or frying food, stay in the kitchen at all times and do not leave food unattended, as this is the most common cause of kitchen fires.
    •    If you are simmering, baking, or roasting goods, check on it at regular intervals and stay in the kitchen while food is cooking. You can use a timer to avoid leaving food unattended and minimize risk.
    •    Move any flammable items, including oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper, plastic, towels, and curtains away from the stovetop to prevent the spread of flames.

How SERVPRO Can Help
In the event of a kitchen fire, some of the most commonly-affected possessions are often nearby electrical appliances. This can include toasters, toaster ovens, coffee makers, refrigerators, and many other goods that you make use of every day. However, without proper mitigation, soot and protein residues can corrode metals and plastics. SERVPRO technicians can thoroughly clean appliances and ensure that they are properly serviced by an electronic service technician that is authorized to do the job.

To help with odors, SERVPRO can make use of thermal fogging, which allows solvent-based deodorizers to penetrate surfaces the same way that smoke penetrates surfaces after a fire. These solvents can then chemically bind with odor-causing particles to eliminate smells. In the case of protein residues, it is crucial to scrub down surfaces, including vents, to minimize the spread of odors throughout the home.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard is ready to leave your home looking, “Like it never even happened.” Call (321) 638-4947 today for disaster cleanup that you can count on every time.

For more about Merritt Island click here.

Persistent Pungent Odors After a Fire in Cape Canaveral? Call SERVPRO

10/1/2019 (Permalink)

Fire Damage in Cape Canaveral Homes Get Cleaned Up and Restored Fast with the SERVPRO of Central Brevard Green Fleet

The Fire Is Gone from Your Cape Canaveral Home, but the Smell Is Still Here

When disaster strikes in Cape Canaveral, you work hard to recover and return to your daily routine. Some disasters, such as hurricanes and storms, could take a long time to overcome. Smaller events, such as a kitchen fire are easier to control and leave behind. However, fire damage can emit a foul odor. Every time you come home, you the smell forces you to relive the vision of flames threatening your home and your belongings. When you want to put all aspects of the fire behind you, it is best to reach out to a professional team.

Thankfully, if fire damage is the issue in your Cape Canaveral home, SERVPRO is readily available to assist. Our technicians hold certifications from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC), so you can rest assured by their competency. With our guidance and expertise, we can chase the smell of fire out the door, leaving your home in pristine condition. All you need to do is call our 24/7 hotline and allow us to do the rest.

Overall, smells dissipate and leave your home eventually. Our SERVPRO team works hard to accelerate the evaporation process by applying a variety of techniques and products suited to your specific needs. In some cases, we may place odor beads to overpower the offending smell, eventually disguising it. In other instances, we may use odor pellets to absorb the smell from the air. Although both methods are effective, your specific circumstances guide our technicians in making a choice.

Not surprisingly, odor beads and deodorizing pellets are not the only options for our team. At SERVPRO we have at our disposal industry-grade products and solvents to tackle the hardest jobs. Knowing which option to use and its application sets us apart as a professional team. Improper use of solvents on your belongings can cause damage to their surfaces. Proper ventilation and personal protective equipment is an essential part of our job.

We also have mechanical means using our advanced equipment like air scrubbers and hydroxyl generators to eliminate foul odors. Then there is the one problem that SERVPRO cannot rectify--phantosmia--reliving the fire and holding on to the odors in your mind.

Fire damage is scary, but it does not need to be forever. SERVPRO of Central Brevard is here to eliminate all traces, including any lingering smells. Call us at (321) 638-4947 and let us work with you to leave your home, “Like it never even happened."

Cape Canaveral Fires, Bad Appliances, and SERVPRO for Restoration

6/4/2019 (Permalink)

Cape Canaveral Homeowners Welcome SERVPRO for Fire Damage Restoration

Fire Damage Restoration for Your Cape Canaveral Home

The usual appliances you have in your Cape Canaveral home make your daily life easier. Every appliance which operates on electricity or gas, however, presents safety risks. You should, therefore, use the devices according to any manufacturer’s specifications. Also, knowing some fire safety tips can help prevent a fire and keep you and your family safe.

A fire from a malfunctioning appliance in your Cape Canaveral home needs immediate attention after the flames are extinguished. You are left behind with all kinds of damage, including smoke and soot, other than the actual fire damage. A professional restoration company, such as SERVPRO, can have your home restored quickly, and make you feel "Like it never even happened."

The first thing to do to help you stay safe is to keep all appliances at a safe distance from any wet areas. When water and electricity mix, it can be disastrous. Ensure that you take proper precautions and keep appliances from areas which are easily in the path of a spillage. You also need to keep any appliance that generates heat away from clothes, furniture, or curtains.

To some extent, SERVPRO staff may need the assistance of subcontractors to finish the fire damage restoration process. Subcontractors perform work which involves technical expertise or skills that may be out of our scope. Restoring a fire damaged structure can include cleaning and repairing electronics, repairing furniture, drying documents, fixing electrical and plumbing problems, and rebuilding your structure. Only when needed, we can suggest, or you can supply others to complete the work. Our initial goal is to mitigate the damage caused by the flare-up.

You should also be aware of any appliances or lamps which sputter, produce a spark or give you a shock when running. Unplug these immediately and have them repaired as soon as possible since the spark can not only start a fire with the appliance itself but also ignite other nearby items.

Keep an eye on the wires of your appliances regularly as well. Replace or repaired and damaged, frayed wires. Do not plug too many things into one electrical outlet, as this can cause the circuit to overload and spark a fire as well. When not in use, unplug all small electrical appliances like toasters, irons, hair dryers, and the like.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard is always ready to help you restore your home in Viera, Pineda, or Rockledge after a fire. Call us right away at (321) 638-4947 once the flames are out so we can waste no time in getting your home back to its preloss condition.

More about this historic area by clicking here.

Our Skilled Technicians Explain Our Fire Damage Restoration Process In Your Cape Canaveral Property

5/21/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Central Brevard looks forward to the opportunity to transform your fire-damaged home to “Like it never even happened.”

What To Expect When The Experts Provide Fire Damage Remediation To Your Cape Canaveral Property

It is hard to prepare for the devastation of a home fire in Cape Canaveral. If the chaos and mess are not enough stress, homeowners also need to turn their sanctuary over to a remediation company when they are feeling most vulnerable.  Adding the strain of opening your home to crews of workers and an inventory of commercial-grade equipment makes finding a compassionate yet competent and reliable restoration company more crucial than ever.

Our team of fire damage recovery professionals in Cape Canaveral want to make it easy for residents to rely on our industry-leading training and experience. Expect a rapid response to your first call, our project manager arriving within hours to assess the scenario and craft a remediation plan. Because water damage is almost always a concern after firefighting efforts, the first tasks we tackle are usually water removal and structural drying.

Our vehicles stock the equipment and products needed for the full spectrum of our services SERVPRO crews provide, minimizing any delay as we begin your project. Water removal and drying commence immediately as other crew members match tools and products to the characteristics of the sooty residues deposited on surfaces of your home. Dry, ashy debris responds well to dry sponging and vacuuming. Thicker, sticky soot from electrical or smoldering fires needs cleansers with surfactants and wetting agents to loosen the residue, combined with agitation for the best results.

Protein-based soot is thin but hard to remove, requiring solvents and abrasive tools. SERVPRO employees train in the appropriate ways to remove all types of fire debris when they complete the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) as Fire and Smoke Restoration Technicians (FSRT). Count on our professionals to take the care needed to clean up after a fire without causing further damage.

Persistent odors can prolong the recovery from a fire, but SERVPRO deodorization specialists have a protocol that results in elimination of the smells. If removal of burned materials and thorough cleaning leave your home still smelly, we move on to equipment like thermal foggers, ozone machines, and hydroxyl generators. These tools use chemical reactions to neutralize the odor-bearing particles.

SERVPRO of Central Brevard looks forward to the opportunity to transform your fire-damaged home to “Like it never even happened.” Call us day or night at (321) 638-4947 to schedule an evaluation.

Click here for more about Cape Canaveral.

Where to Start With Cocoa Fire Odor Removal?

4/7/2019 (Permalink)

Whether fire damage affects a small or large part of your home, SERVPRO can help both remediate and remove odors. Call right away.

After the Blaze, Fire Odor Removal in Cocoa

Flames from a fire in your home are not the only damage done. Water to put out the fire, soot and smoke leave a residue throughout the burn area and you will most likely need fire odor removal to get rid of all traces of the fire even after the visible signs have been wiped away. The cleanup after the fact is a multi-level process that needs to be done thoroughly to avoid secondary damage such as mold.

When SERVPRO comes to your home, they will first ascertain the area is completely dry and no moisture remains. Once we determine the scope of the actual spread of the smoke and residue from the fire, our technicians choose the best method of odor removal in Cocoa that applies to your unique situation. After the technicians have cleaned up the visible soot and smoke residues left by the fire, the real process removing unpleasant odors left by not only the fire but wet home structures and furnishings can begin.

In some cases, odors can be eliminated by simply using professional-grade cleaners to completely remove residues and odors by hand. If the smoke penetrated deeply into walls, floors and furnishings, other methods can be employed such as deodorizing pellets or gel. For the strongest odors, we use thermal foggers that deliver a deodorizing, high-temperature fog that goes anywhere the smoke went and overtakes it, removing the unpleasant odors left in the home. This method is especially effective for treating porous items such as drywall carpet and also fabric covered home furnishings. No matter how strong the odors are in your home, our certified technicians have the knowledge and tools to return your home to its preloss condition.

Contact SERVPRO of Central Brevard for quick and efficient fire odor removal from your home. Our experienced technicians are on hand to assist you 24/7, just call (321) 638-4947 to get started immediately.

Click here for more information about the city of Cocoa.

Improperly Stored Items In Your Merritt Island Garage Can Spell Big Fire Damage Problems

2/12/2019 (Permalink)

Fire damage in your garage is a situation that can be turned around with a single phone call to (321) 638-4947 and talk to an expert 24-hours a day.

Improperly Stored Items In Attached Garage Leads To Fire Damage Cleanup In Merritt Island

Fire is opportunistic. In the case of your garage, something as innocent as failing to store common combustible solvents, fertilizers and cleaning products can lead to a blaze. Other common items that need special attention when storing are oil, gas, and paints. Many of these products have VOCs (volatile organic compounds) that discharge vapors and can ignite when stored improperly resulting in fire damage.

This Merritt Island attached garage fire, fortunately, was localized and contained without spreading to the rest of the home. SERVPRO technicians put up barriers to contain the residual smoke odor from spreading to the rest of the home during the cleaning process. Because solvents and cleaners burn quickly and at high temperatures and are often in plastic bottles, they leave a wet, smeary residue that needs to be cleaned with wet cleaning techniques to completely lift all traces of the smoke and soot left by the fire on walls, ceilings, floors, and salvageable items.

Our structural cleaning services remove all traces of the fire, including the removal of items melted or otherwise too damaged to be restored. We also have the challenge of removing the odors left behind, and in this part of Florida, humidity is part of the package. The higher the humidity, the stronger the odor can seem as the moisture dissolves and carries the vapor. SERVPRO technicians know that using the same methods that delivered the smoke can also be used to neutralize it. Our fogging machines work by penetrating the same paths taken by the smoke but delivers scientifically formulated cleaners in its place. This method quickly deodorized the odor and made the garage look “Like it never even happened.”

Fire damage in your garage is a situation that can be turned around with a single phone call to (321) 638-4947 and talk to an expert 24-hours a day. SERVPRO of Central Brevard is local, and our technicians understand that special challenges of dealing with the unique climate conditions of this area of Florida.

Click here for more about Merritt Island.

Fire Damage Can Leave Your Rockledge Home In Urgent Need Of Remediation

6/18/2018 (Permalink)

Fire damage is perhaps one of the most challenging forms of damage to remediate inside of your home.

Fire Damage In Your Home

Fire damage is perhaps one of the most challenging forms of damage to remediate inside of your Rockledge home. Many people misunderstand just how excessive and intense the damage that is left behind can be. After all, a fire is not just a blaze that goes up and then leaves ash behind. A fire can leave smoke-residue, soot, and ash in its wake. Smoke damage is a category all on its own and is directly caused by a fire. Firefighters who put out the fire are likely to cause water damage in the process. The cleanup and remediation process after a blaze is anything but easy.

When a fire breaks out inside of your Rockledge home, it is always wise to call SERVPRO as soon as possible. Soot adhered to your belongings can actually change the color of those items and, if given excessive time, it is almost guaranteed to do so. In reality, it is best for your home if you call SERVPRO as soon as the fire has been put out. The sooner that our professional techs can get there, the more likely they are to be able to remediate the fire damage successfully.

Our IICRC-certified technicians have the advanced equipment that will get the job done. When you hire us, you do not need to worry about trying to require tools like thermal foggers or ozone machines on your own. Even without our tools, one of the most valuable aspects of hiring us is our experience and knowledge. When multiple materials are burned in a fire, they can all cause various types of residue. Varying types of soot require diverse cleaning techniques, and our professionals understand how to spot the numerous types of soot and what application is needed to remediate them.
 
If a fire breaks out in your Rockledge home, trust the professionals at SERVPRO of Central Brevard to handle the damage. We can come quickly and are entirely prepared to address the multitude of obstacles that may fall in their way. You can rest assured knowing that we understand how to remediate your home correctly and can help return it to its preloss state. Contact us today at (321) 638-4947.

Click here for more about Rockledge.

Cocoa Beach Condo Fire

5/17/2017 (Permalink)

A Few days ago, we responded to a fire Damage in Cocoa Beach.  The fire started in the downstairs laundry closet, it appears that it is an electrical fire as the problem came from shorting wires in the dryer while it was not running.

Smoke engulfed the entire two story condo.  It was kind of unusual as the soot only seemed to find a resting place on all the flat surfaces.  The walls seemed pretty clear of it.  In fact when we did some test cleaning we got almost nothing from the walls.

Now the flat surfaces were another story all together.

Prime example was the girls desk upstairs. 

The desk appeared to be a very dark grey, with 3 painted areas where books or paper would be placed.  but it turns out that that was where paper and books were.  They are perfectly white and really looked like they were painted there but in fact it was just that the soot was so thick it created the out lines. It was like this all over the condo- I move a book on the carpet and underneath it the carpet was about 5 shades lighter.  It is going to be a job to get this place clean.

Fire Damage in Rockledge, Florida

4/24/2017 (Permalink)

We responded  to a report of a house fire in Rockledge Florida.

When we arrived on site the fire department was finishing up and speaking to the homeowner.

From the outside of the it did not look very bad, however, once we were able to look inside the damage was clear.

The fire started from a back bedroom  and when the door was opened the smoke was pushed through the house and because the chimney flue was open, up the chimney causing the smoke and soot the be drawn all over the home

Now most of the major damage was contained to the back bedroom where the fire started because the bedroom door had been shut.

The inspector said that the cause of the fire was a short in a hair dryer that was left plugged in.

So please unplug your hair dryers!!!!!!!!!!!

Fire Damage in Melbourne Florida

4/10/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Of Central Brevard responded to a fire damage located in Melbourne, Florida. at the request of State Farm.

First things first- there were no injuries with this fire!!!!!!!

Upon arriving at the site our techs had to tarp the roof as lightning had struck the home and started the fire- leaving a large hole in the roof-

We then had to get the excess water out of the home which was a mixture of rain water and fire suppression  water.-

This looks to be a pretty large job as almost all contents will have to be removed-

The ceiling and walls and part of the house will have to be pulled out down to the bare studs- as well as the insulation in the ceiling.

With hard work and some time we will get this family back into their home-

Bring in the Crew

3/9/2017 (Permalink)

This pic shows one part of the kitchen line that was effected by the fires, what a mess!!

We often speak to our clients, insurance agents and property managers about how we can handle any size job. We speak to them about if they have a large loss, we can pull in a team.

Last month we received a call from a local McDonalds.

They had fire behind one of their fryers and smoke was everywhere. We responded quickly and, took pictures and a sketch of the store. The scope of the job showed we were going to have to clean every square inch of the restaurant; remove all the ceiling tiles, etc. We knew we were going to need a lot of manpower to get them back up and running. 

In less than 24 hours, we had a full 16 man crew working. 

We started on a Thursday and finished by Sunday!

Needless to say, they are back serving chicken  mc nuggets to the public!!