One of the best ways to avoid an expensive mold removal operation in your home is to develop a good mold prevention strategy. As with most unwanted organisms, the key to preventing mold is knowing what it likes. If you can remove the conditions and factors that are favorable to mold growth, then the chances are good that you can prevent a full-blown mold infestation. Mold is a subspecies of fungi. Like most fungi, mold thrives in areas that are moist and dark. Molds are very common in household bathrooms and air ducts for exactly these reasons. These areas can become ultimate hotbeds for unbridled mold growth. A common type of mold is Stachybotrys chartarum, which feeds on paper, dust, lint, and other high-cellulose items. If your home has experienced leakage or a flood, you will have to be particularly vigilant when it comes to preventing mold growth. Experts recommend cleaning up any and all water within 12 to 24 hours after the flooding in order to have the best chance of preventing widespread mold growth. Cleaning up the visible water is really just the beginning. Extracting Water: Destroying Mold-Friendly Environments After you have removed any standing water from your home, you can then deal with any water-soaked items in your home. If you happen to have carpeting and rugs, this issue becomes even more complicated. Carpeting with padding is the ultimate mold hotspot, and it is imperative that all the water is extracted from the carpeting. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. has a variety of tools for extracting water safely and quickly from carpets, rugs, and the air itself. They have sophisticated dehumidifiers that they can adjust according to the relative humidity of the space. This ensures that the air is dehumidified as quickly and efficiently as possible. They are available for emergency services 24 hours a day to ensure that you are able to attack a potential mold problem before it starts. read full post »

Molds, a type of fungi, live in nearly every part of the Earth. They are a highly adaptive and widespread organism that needs little to survive and reproduce. You can find molds on everything from forest trees to clothing, carpeting, and even food items. They are common in damp, moist places like behind furniture, near leaking pipes, and in roofing materials. Unchecked mold growth can become a very serious problem. The least bit of water leakage can create a hotbed for mold growth. Flooding and water main leaks are primary sources of mold infestations. Oftentimes, if the molding area isn't easily visible, homeowners won't even realize the mold problem is present until the musty, pungent odor presents itself. Mold contamination is such a large concern not only because it can be unsightly and odiferous, but because mold can be downright deadly. During the lifespan of mold, it produces substances called mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are the source of many of the health... read full post »

Many homeowners aren't aware of the difference between mold and mildew. In truth, mildew is simply a type of mold. In terms of a home, mildew generally refers to a type of dark or even black mold that can decimate the surface on which it lives. Molds digest organic material to survive, and they will eventually destroy what it is they are ingesting, including walls, floors, or other areas of your home. Molds can be extremely invasive if they are introduced to an optimal growth area. Molds and mildews grow best in non ventilated, moist areas. This is why they are so common in bathrooms and on northern exterior walls that are exposed to little sun. Mildews, once established, can seep behind drywall and absolutely take over the interior of your home. The problem with mildew is at least twofold. Perhaps the most obvious effect of mildew is that it can cause a highly unpleasant odor. Homes may acquire a "musty" smell that can be impossible to clean up in a conventional way.... read full post »

In the world of contracting, home restoration emerges as one of the most demanding fields of expertise. Those who choose to work in the home restoration business have to be not only proficient but expert in a wide variety of jobs. When a home is decimated by disaster, it is up to the restoration company to come in, clean up the mess, and get the building back to its pre-loss condition. Perhaps the first step to any home restoration job is to properly assess the damage. This is a very important step in that it allows one to correctly convey to the insurance claims adjuster the extent of the damage. A proper and accurate damage appraisal can ensure that you are able to speedily get your home back to its pre-loss condition. Not all general contractors are experienced in dealing with insurance claims--this is a very important distinction that many homeowners don't make in time. Choosing Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. ensures that your restoration needs will be communicated... read full post »

If you are in a situation where you are going to have to build or thoroughly remodel a home or building after flood or fire damage, you need a good general contractor who knows what they are doing. A qualified general contractor will correctly and accurately assess the steps needed to return your building to its pre-loss condition. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. is a qualified general contractor who can do just that and more. There is much for a general contractor to take into consideration when assessing a particular building. Good contractors must also have the ability to communicate with insurance companies and describe the nature of the necessary repairs. To be effective and cost-efficient, you need a contractor who is an expert in design and materials procurement. You'll also want a general contractor who can manage a given project from start to finish. They need to have the ability to create and work with architectural and engineering drawings, and they have to... read full post »

There are a few different facts you should know when it comes to flood damage. Floods have the potential to cause a variety of types of damage to homes and the objects within them. Having access to a good flood restoration company is the key to quickly and efficiently assessing flood damage. Floods can cause both immediate and secondary types of damage. Immediate damage might consist of swollen and warped floor boards and drywall. Water can also render electronic equipment and other objects completely unusable. This impact of this damage can be reduced if quick action is taken to remove as much water as possible. With this in mind, water restoration professionals recommend trying to blot flooded surfaces dry as much as possible to remove standing or visible water puddles. In addition to primary flood damage, there is also a secondary (but perhaps more invasive) type of damage associated with floods. Mold thrives in moist areas with little ventilation, and water-soaked carpeting can... read full post »

Perhaps the two most damaging natural elements known to man are fire and water. When it comes to both, one has to be concerned with a series of different types of potential damage. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. can assess, report on, and oversee the restoration process from beginning to end, no matter the extent of the damage. Flood clean up can be particularly difficult because of the timeline required. It is absolutely essential to get the water out of the objects as quickly as possible in order to avoid long-term irreparable damage. In order to extract the water properly, a series of high-tech pieces of equipment are necessary. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. uses highly sophisticated equipment such as the Hydro-X Extreme Extractor. This technologically advanced machine has the ability to extract the water from carpeting without having to remove the padding or "float" the carpet. This is important because "floating" your carpet can cause... read full post »

The restoration process that follows a major fire incident can be both costly and time consuming. Finding a good restoration company is key to minimizing the time spent in the "restoration phase." At Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc., getting you back into your normal routine as quickly as possible is their main goal. The first and most important part of the fire restoration process is the damage assessment phase. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. has a team of specialists who will visit on-site and determine which objects are recoverable and which are not. This allows them to conceive a clear and concise plan of attack regarding the remainder of the restoration process. After they have assessed the fire damaged objects, Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. can then begin the process of restoration proper. Equipped with a full-service cleaning facility, they have the tools and knowledge necessary to clean and restore everything from fabric-lined objects... read full post »

Those in the disaster reconstruction and recovery industry are well aware of the destructive power of fire. Fire can tear through home or even a series of homes in a matter of seconds, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars of damage. Luckily, modern science offers techniques for disaster recovery that allow us to recondition and reconstruct many more homes and possessions than was possible ten or fifteen years ago. Fire can cause damage in a few different ways. First and foremost, fire can simply turn objects into ashes. Fires producing intense heat can do this in a matter of seconds, and there is simply no way to restore something that has been completely destroyed by fire. However, there are ways of combating the less severe damage that occurs. An important part of the fire recovery process is determining what can be saved and what must be reported as a loss. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. can quickly and efficiently assess the damage and let you know how extensive... read full post »

If you have suffered through a disaster, your top priority is likely finding a company that can help you clear away the damage, salvage what remains, and rebuild what cannot be salvaged. You may not know that a single company can do all of this for you--choose Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. to guide you through the process. Their caring and efficient experts will provide the level of service you need during a time that is, by nature, difficult for you. One of the most basic disaster recovery services that you are likely to need is an initial appraisal. A damage appraisal, in addition to being necessary for an insurance claim, can ultimately serve as a blueprint for the entire restoration process. Arizona Fire and Water Restoration, Inc. is fully qualified to provide accurate and fair damage appraisals. They provide on-site inspections, followed up by detailed computer-generated estimates that can be given directly to an insurance adjuster. In addition to damage appraisals,... read full post »