Training Employees To Mitigate Disaster

5/2/2022 (Permalink)

In the case of a fire, flood, or severe structural damage to a property some inhabitants may need to be evacuated. Conduct dry runs of evacuations, testing communication systems, and controls, as practicing reporting emergencies through scenarios can be helpful in training teams in crisis response. A clearly defined emergency plan that is consistently reviewed and rehearsed limits business interruption during an emergency event. Below are a few key areas of emergency management that can benefit your West Palm Beach business.

Crisis Communications

Designate a flow of information within internal staff and contractors as well as externally to clients, customers, and the greater community. Establish a chain of command and clear procedure for reporting incidents within your office or business spaces. Communication platforms that allow for mobile application users can be incredibly convenient. Run drills where they practice leadership tasks and critical thinking skills. Encourage the team (both in management and other departments) to follow local and state weather advisories.

Empowering Employees With Proper Tools

Emergency management training goes beyond mandatory training from meeting OSHA requirements. Each business will naturally follow its own industry’s best practices when it comes to ensuring a safe and efficiently run operation. Simplify the process by having a central plan for the team to reference in case they need to address water damage, fire damage, or storm damage emergency. The Emergency Ready Profile is a customized guide to mitigating disaster in your specific space. The plan instructs your team on vital access and control points on the property, who to contact, and allows them to quickly report the damage.

Authorize them to Call in The Reinforcements

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach is prepared for any size disaster at any time. Allow the certified restoration and reconstruction experts to assist your operation in recovering from disaster. For your free West Palm Beach business emergency plan call 561-795-5410.

Managing Water Leaks in West Palm Beach Commercial Buildings

3/18/2022 (Permalink)

It is National Fix a Leak Week and we are reminding businesses in West Palm Beach to understand leak prevention, detection, and insurance protection. Commercial building leaks can range in severity and size but there are a few proactive measures you can take to try to mitigate and prevent damage before a leak spreads.

Secure a Certified Water Restorer

Preventative maintenance can save communities considerable money in the long term. Having a qualified restoration company vetted and selected before disaster strikes will help restore and repair water-damaged areas after a leak. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach assists many high-rise condominiums and office buildings in the Palm Beaches to address their water damage and prevent secondary damage. We are an IICRC Certified firm with highly-certified technicians on our teams. We work with and around tenants and other vendors to complete a job quickly and efficiently.

Proactive Inspection

Through proactive inspections and consistent monitoring, maintenance teams can prevent problematic leaks in an office space. Don’t wait to diagnostic look to determine an issue within the building. Leak detection can be tricky and intricate. A good way to watch water use is to install water meters to track water use. These meters and submeters allow facility management teams to narrow down specific areas and timeframes linked to heavier water use.

Other methods of general leak detection include listening and visually inspecting areas for water use. Wet spots, floor puddles, and any sounds of running water.  Be data-driven when evaluating the water use within your West Palm Beach commercial facility. View water bills from the past year or two and try to find trends or inexplicable inconsistencies. Determine if there are unexplained factors for changes year over year.

Keep Insurance Agents Close

It is important to know what is covered by your commercial property insurance policy. The insurance market experiences change constantly. Review your policy terms when you notice signs of water damage.  Always document losses with photos. Insurance agents keep open communication with local and national vendors, like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach in order to provide you with the best recommendations.

What to Look for in West Palm Beach Commercial Restoration

2/6/2022 (Permalink)

When commercial buildings and mixed-use facilities experience damage, it affects a larger number of people. West Palm Beach businesses require restoration teams that will understand the unique risks associated with those buildings. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach has the experience and 24/7 flexibility to respond to commercial building emergencies.

Some of the job sites that we complete commercial restoration projects for include but are not limited to:

• University and higher education buildings
• Government buildings
• Hotel buildings
• Elementary school buildings
• Sports stadiums
• Private or public airport facilities
• Museums
• Commercial cargo trucks
• Business parks
• Residential homes
• Multi-use retail and residential buildings
• Healthcare facilities

The important factors that go into our commercial restoration process are outlined below.

The Right Restoration Crew at the Right Time

No maintenance or engineering personnel member can handle a large loss alone. Proper inspection, mitigation and restoration begins with a large team that can respond quickly. The right restoration team prioritizes limiting the scope of the damage and protecting the safety of everyone involved. We collaborate with property management teams to create detailed mapping of crew access. Our sophisticated containment and air pressure controls ensure other areas of the building remain unaffected. We ensure that we have the right size crew at each project so that we can accomplish client goals on established timelines.

Meticulous Monitoring

A dynamic team with proper certification, training and direction is what makes our projects run efficiently. We can scale a crew down or up in size depending on the continuous and precise oversight of the area we are working in. Our experts rely on industry-trusted technology to monitor equipment and the timeline of a project. A proactive and through approach allows us to leave a site looking as if the mold, fire, or water damage never even happened.

Working Collaboratively with Subcontractors

It is common for some restoration and repair projects to require multiple specialized teams to properly restore the property and personal property affected by water damage in commercial spaces. Sometimes a commercial project needs help from a restoration company to secure vendors such as plumbers, septic specialists, or AC technicians to complete a job. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach can help direct those project operations. SERVPRO also collaborates with subcontractors that property management teams have pre-selected for different parts of the restoration process.

Addressing emergency water damage in commercial buildings is simple when you choose a qualified company like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach. Enlist this team for any size of disaster. Our quality restoration and remediation teams can acclimate to any commercial loss setting.

2022 Emergency Management Training for HOA & Condo Managers

2/4/2022 (Permalink)

Apartment and condo residential communities require maintenance and delicate planning. Many residents do not think that they will have to endure water damage, fire damage, or storm damage but rest easier if they have the resources, they need to handle it. One of the trickiest parts of emergency management can be streamlining the procedures for employees and ensuring they are confident to carry them out in a crisis. Here are a few guidelines to improve your emergency management plan in your residential building.

Utilize free tools and resources

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach offers a free training tool and emergency planning tool. We offer a free Emergency Ready Profile for your business to properly prepare for commercial crises. This free emergency management tool for condos offers unparalleled convenience. Making an emergency plan simple and more accessible to all employees can increase reaction time in the event of an emergency.  

Our ERP enables teams to access the plan from anywhere with the SERVPRO Ready Plan mobile app. This app allows commercial teams to access your plan from anywhere, by logging into your customized plan. This service allows for quick referencing from any maintenance and emergency staff personnel. Connecting quickly to your guide can mitigate the spread of water damage in your West Palm Beach building, for example. 

Stay informed

Throughout the rainy season and hurricane season, it is important to consistently watch for weather events that could impact the safety of the building or the quality of life for the inhabitants. Often, storms can create inconvenient power or internet outages throughout the area. The burden of relaying information to your tenants can fall on the concierge team and maintenance staff who directly communicate with the community.

Sign up for the City of West Palm Beach Emergency Communications alerts so that you are always able to track threats to your employee and tenant safety. The communication system sends out information about events such as flooding and hurricanes in West Palm Beach. Share these alerts with the team through email or text, accordingly. Making community alerts a priority for your team will help keep everyone prepared for a crisis, which inevitably creates a better customer service experience for tenants.

Follow-through with non-emergency maintenance requests

Non-emergency maintenance requests from tenants can be a way to properly prioritize maintenance projects in a residential building. An influx of lower-level maintenance concerns such as burnt lightbulbs in a common area may divert valuable maintenance time. However, if tenants feel encouraged to report an engineering or maintenance-related concern to the management teams, then they could help management catch safety or emergency hazards ahead of time. That open flow of communication could result in community members feeling safe. Be sure to consistently follow up on all maintenance requests to reinforce the community’s trust.

Whether a natural disaster or random accident threatens to damage your commercial building, having a trusted emergency management strategy is crucial for property management. Build emergency management training into an employee onboarding process. Run drills and inspections regularly. Hold a brief refresher training quarterly to ensure everyone on the team is comfortable and prepared. Select a qualified and trained restoration company in West Palm Beach that can handle large loss, like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach.  If you would like a free Emergency Ready Profile created for your HOA or condo, call 561-795-5410.

2022 Commercial Cleaning for Viral Pathogens

1/10/2022 (Permalink)

As South Florida enters a new calendar year, we have seen an uptick in winter illness and a rise in COVID-19 infections throughout the state. While viruses can threaten the health and operation of a team year-round, the post-holiday timeframe has proven to be more difficult than many commercial teams and individuals expected.

We are continuing to support the safety of our team and community during this time. Cleanliness, quality, and meticulous operations are a part of our value system as a restoration franchise. Below are a few of the ways that our team is taking precautions for the health and safety of everyone this season.

Masking Measures

Our teams are properly masked while on the job site and are equipped with full Personal Protective Equipment when needed for specific jobs. Differing forms of respiratory equipment are provided to teams when applicable. 

Focusing on Proper Training, OSHA and CDC Compliance

We take measures around our office and on each site to comply with guidance from both the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in addition to the Centers for Disease Control. Our teams at SERVPRO of West Palm Beach are trained in the proper use and disposal of Personal Protective Equipment. This helps protect our technicians, our customers, and their property.  OSHA outlines four levels of PPE to match the proper amount of equipment to the scenario.

Our PPE materials range from multiple categories including headgear, eyes and face shields, hands, feet, respiratory equipment, and full-body suits (when necessary). These materials prevent the potential spread of pathogens, mold microbes, and other health hazards.

Our Viral Pathogen Commercial Cleaning Services

With proper precaution, you can protect your team, clients, and the flow of business operations. Our pathogen cleaning program is an intensive and thorough set of cleaning processes. This is proactive viral pathogen cleaning. With over 50 years of experience in biochemical spill remediation and decontamination, you can trust SERVPRO of West Palm Beach pros to deliver a higher standard of cleaning.

We have teams available for commercial cleaning services within offices and other commercial building spaces. We can help your operation return to safe and optimal conditions. If your business or shared space needs our pathogen cleaning, call (561) 795-5410 to reach our highly trained staff.  

Hiring A Restoration Company For Maintenance

11/24/2021 (Permalink)

Businesses require constant maintenance so that disruption is kept to a minimum. Depending on the size and specific needs of a business, certain services are typically outsourced. Take inventory of areas that need attention and select the proper team to assist you. Verify that the professionals you choose are licensed, well-trained, and certified (if applicable). Restoration companies are often considered to be in an industry of emergency response. However, restoration companies provide a line of services that can help your business stay running optimally. Below are some of the services that SERVPRO of West Palm Beach can provide for commercial maintenance.

General Cleaning & Pathogen Cleaning

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach offers businesses hot-spot cleaning and wiping for heavy traffic area. A cleaned and sanitized area creates a better environment for employees as well as clients and customers. When routine cleaning is not enough to make a building or business safe and comfortable, SERVPRO can offer a pathogen cleaning. This deep clean service uses proprietary EPA-Approved, Hospital-Grade cleaning solutions. We are experienced with 50 years of biochemical spill remediation and decontamination.

Air Duct Cleaning & HVAC Cleaning

Ventilation systems should be regularly cleaned to prevent the spread of dust, pollen, and other contaminants. When you are often inspecting your HVAC unit, you can reduce the potential for mold growth. Keeping this equipment cleaned will also extend the life of it.

Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning   

Hard floors and carpeting build up soils over time. Our proprietary cleaning system allows our professionals to properly clean and restore your floor’s original beauty. We use several carpet cleaning methods including dry encapsulated carpet cleaning and hot water extraction.

By using specific technology and equipment, we can quickly address and mitigate damage while preventing secondary damage.

Quality & Trustworthy Maintenance

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach has the equipment, technology, and highly trained staff to assist with the businesses in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Wellington, and surrounding areas. Commercial cleaning, decontamination services, HVAC cleaning and carpet cleaning can keep your business in the best shape.

How to Minimize Wellington Business Disruption After a Storm

9/15/2021 (Permalink)

September is peak hurricane season and National Hurricane Preparedness Month. South Florida businesses are no stranger to natural disasters as we are a coastal state. However, many factors can impact how effective disaster planning is for a business. Employee turnover, building renovations or construction, and any changes in the neighborhood could impact the emergency response.

Stop your business from being a statistic

As many as 50% of businesses may never recover following a disaster, according to the latest industry research. Of the businesses that survive, the majority had a preparedness plan in place. Pre-planning can serve as an insurance policy aimed at peace of mind. By developing a SERVPRO® Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how storm damage can affect your business.

An ERP is an efficient employee training tool

Statistics found in a survey suggest that 50% of employees think their team is unprepared for a crisis. Train all employees using the ERP as a guide in disaster situations. Practice scenarios and even drills when a new employee is onboarded so that they are familiar with the procedures prior to an emergency. The plan is functional, streamlined and the mobile app speeds up response with an in-app damage restoration request.

An ERP adds credibility to any building or property management team

For apartment and condo communities, the ERP is an added peace of mind. Management can reassure residents that a trustworthy emergency plan is in place. The more personal relationship property managers and maintenance engineers have with the community. The more likely the residents will recall and comply with safety measures of a building.

An ERP is easy to create and covers any size loss

As currently seen in the northeast region, SERVPRO of West Palm Beach works with the corporate’s Large Loss Division to manage operations of large commercial disaster projects. Whether your business needs mitigation services due to storm damage, water damage to fire damage, we can make it look "Like it never even happened." The process to create an ERP is quick and requires little effort from a business. Call 561-795-5410 to schedule an ERP visit.

Preventing Water Disasters in Commercial Buildings

6/21/2021 (Permalink)

Commercial buildings serve many purposes from office buildings and retail spaces to residences and hotels. Regardless of the building use, these large spaces have interconnected systems that make water damage potentially dangerous and widespread. Prevention is crucial to maintain the integrity of the business and safety of the people inside. Here are some guidelines for preventing water disasters in a commercial building.

Reexamine the Roof Often

The roof is the barrier between the rain and storms. Protect the most vulnerable part of your building by keeping on top of roof repairs.  While repairs can become expensive, the investment in the short-term helps prevent the high cost of water damage restoration for an entire building later.  Commercial roofs often include HVAC equipment and other building equipment, which if damaged, could lead to cascading effect to floors below. Water intrusion is particularly threatening during heavy rains and storm season. 

• Check rooftop penetrations and HVAC systems regularly.
• Look for any water stain marks, which could be a sign of roof issues.
• Inspect roof drains monthly.
• Be sure the drain outlets are free of debris.

Be Maintenance-Minded and Inspect the Property Regularly

It is important to diagnose and repair issues within a building efficiently and consistently. Water is pervasive and persistent.  Building operations should include a complete routine checkup of all systems that are vulnerable to water damage and other emergencies.  Catching issues early on will also minimize the cost needed to fix problems.  

A maintenance plan should include inspection of:

• Windows
• Plumbing, drains, mitigation
• Wall Systems
• Heating and cooling systems
• Machinery
• Sewer issues

Be Prepared to Respond Quickly to Water Damage Events

While proper planning can help prevent water damage, some water events such as storm damage, are unavoidable. Know the process for filing claims with your insurance agency in the case of unpreventable water emergencies.

Choose a certified, qualified cleanup and restoration company like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach. have 24/7 response team that is available to respond to water damage, mold remediation, storm damage and restoration needs.

Maintain a rehearsed emergency response plan, like those developed for free by SERVPRO of West Palm Beach specialists in the Emergency Response Profile (ERP). It includes: a profile document that contains only critical information needed in the event of emergency, facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and priority contact information.

Water issues can lead to extensive damage and mold infestations later. Prepare with routine maintenance, repairs, listening to concerns of tenants, and developing a thorough disaster preparedness plan. Call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach today at 561-795-5410 for assistance and visit our blog for more tips.

Storm Season Preparation for Hotels and Resorts

6/16/2021 (Permalink)

Hotels are often viewed as a sanctuary during a storm crisis.  To keep operations running efficient when a hurricane hits the West Palm Beach area, proper planning is required.

Seek Guidance from Insurance Providers.

Understand the specifics of your coverage and seek guidance via checklists or other information your provider can offer you. Insurance companies have a shared interest of minimizing any storm damage, fire damage, water damage, or need for restoration.

Develop a Plan. Communicate it to Employees and Visitors.

The best way to ensure customer trust and employee cooperation is to begin preparation before an immediate threat of a storm arises.  It is helpful to review hotel policies for any modifications that may better serve the comfort of guests (pet or cancellation polices) or the safety of the staff (hours of operation, and evacuation plans). Inform guests of the policy changes and procedures upon booking their stay.  Mutual aid agreements with other businesses or hotels outside of the evacuation zone could provide a stable backup plan.

Let the Professionals Build A Preparedness Plan. 

SERVPRO West Palm Beach offers water damage restoration for commercial businesses. We develop an Emergency Ready Profile (ERP) to streamline the process of emergency response. Our Emergency Ready Profile is a resource to help guide you through disaster and prevent the situation from escalating and a path toward restoration.  An ERP can include:

• A complete profile document that contains only critical information needed in the event of emergency.
• Establishes SERVPRO West Palm Beach as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider.
• Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas, and priority contact information.
• Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin.
• A no-cost assessment of your facility.
• The user-friendly SERVPRO Ready Plan app, which is a mobile application that provides quick, portable access to your plan that was prepared by the SERVPRO West Palm beach team.
  • Through this app you can submit water damage claims at the touch of a button and the SERVPRO West Palm Beach team can quickly process and respond to the request.

The ERP is not only beneficial for hotel/ resort managers and SERVPRO West Palm Beach.  If other vendors need to come to the property to assist with repairs, they will have access to this thorough guide including shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information.

Refresh Your List of Community Resources.

Keep a close watch on all alerts issued by authorities. Plan as if a hurricane path near the hotel perimeter will hit and treat “watch” statuses to “warning.” This helps the hotel and resort teams to feel calm and prepared if a situation worsens.

For national storm updates, follow the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

For Local Evacuation Zone Tools Visit Palm Beach County’s web page for Hurricane Preparedness Information in Palm Beach County

To learn more about fire/water damage, and water damage restoration visit our blog

To learn what to do if you are experiencing a water damage emergency, read our tips for emergency water damage.

Have You Cleaned Your HVAC Recently?

5/10/2021 (Permalink)

What Is HVAC Cleaning?

HVAC stands for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. HVAC cleaning is important when it comes to ensuring your system is working efficiently and safely for you and your office. When it comes to cleaning your HVAC system, most people are referring to air duct cleaning. The air ducts are passageways that transport cooled and heated air throughout your office and require regular maintenance. According to the National Airduct Cleaners Association (NADCA) it is recommended that air duct cleaning happen every 3 to 5 years.

Why Air Duct Cleaning Is Necessary

Did you know that the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) states that indoor air can be up to 5 times more polluted than outdoor air? Impurities such as mold and other pollutants can build up over time in your air ducts and as a result will circulate throughout your office potentially putting your clients and employees in harms-way.

As we all know, mold loves to grow in dark damp environments, and your HVAC system provides the perfect setting for these spores to flourish. If you ever see physical mold, smell a must in the air, you might need a cleaning performed on your duct work.

New Construction

With all the construction that is going on in downtown West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County, even new construction air duct cleanings should be performed. This will rid your ducts of the drywall dust and other construction debris that can accumulate during the construction process. 

Air Duct Cleaning Can Save You Money

Have you ever walked into an office and for some reason the air conditioning is blowing noticeably colder and more forcefully in one room in comparison to another room in the office? This is an additional sign that you might need a duct cleaning. Dust and debris build up over time can affect the efficiency of your HVAC system over time, not only resulting in the system overworking but also costing you more money. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about 25 to 40% of the energy used for heating or cooling is wasted. A professional cleaning can not only allow your ducts to circulate cleaner and safer air but it will save you money on your energy bill.

Post Construction Cleaning Capabilities

2/11/2021 (Permalink)

New construction is ALWAYS an exciting time! Once the job is finally finished, there is nothing better than stepping into your brand-new office for the first time, but before anyone can step into their new space and bask in all its glory there are a lot of clean up steps that need to take place after the construction is finished.

In the city of West Palm Beach, we have seen increased commercial construction projects to compensate for the number of businesses migrating from the north east to sunny south Florida! Additionally, the Business Development Board of Palm Beach County has also offered incentives for businesses to expand and relocate to Palm Beach County in order to create increased employment opportunities. Companies such as Elliott Management (a prominent New York investment firm), Citadel and Moelis & Co are the latest to say they will open offices in Florida. On the building side we have new workspace construction underway for the 360 Rosemary offices located at Rosemary Square in the heart of Downtown West Palm. Needless to say, many companies are eager to get up and running in their new spaces and SERVPRO of West Palm Beach is eager to get their new office looking move in ready!

Once the last nail has been hammered in and the dust has settled (and we mean ALL the dust) it is time to put on our gloves and masks and get to work! Our staff here at SERVPRO of West Palm Beach will take care of everything!

Post construction cleanings can include:

• Cleaning off scuff marks from walls.
• Sweeping/mopping floors to remove settled dust.
• Wiping down all countertops, baseboards, and cabinets.
• HVAC dust cleaning.
• Cleaning and polishing restroom fixtures.
• Removing of left behind lumber, drywall, and garbage for both the interior and exterior.
• Cleaning up left behind screws and nails.
• Cleaning windows and light fixtures so that visibility is at its most optimal.

By hiring SERVPRO of West Palm Beach for your post construction cleaning, not only do you avoid the serious headache of having to meticulously clean every little nook and cranny of dirt and dust, but you can save yourself the risk of getting injured on the job. Left over debris can pose serious safety concerns if you decide to clean up on your own, especially if you are under equipped with the proper safety equipment. We highly recommend you leave the cleanup to the experts. We’ll get it done efficiently and safely, so that you can do what you do best!

Disaster Management Tips and Tricks for Your Business

2/4/2021 (Permalink)

According to a report from FEMA, 50% of businesses do not reopen following a disaster. Having a disaster preparedness guide is one of the easiest ways to help ensure your business survives and recovers. Follow these tips below in order to give you and your business the best chances of surviving a disaster.

1. Prevention: The best way to avoid a disaster is to do everything you can to prevent one from happening. Accidents happen, but by routinely performing safety and system checks within your business you decrease your chances of experiencing a disaster. Ensure equipment such as fire sprinklers and fire alarms are working properly and ensure that office cords aren’t frayed or worn.
2. Evacuation plan: As stated above, accidents happen. But when they do, how will you respond? Will you freeze up and panic not knowing what to do, or will you establish and follow a plan to ensure your safety and help minimize damages to your business? Know your evacuation routes and establish a meeting place to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone in your office, as well as the procedures needed to take to minimize additional property damages and ensure help is on its way.
3. Emergency contacts: In addition to having emergency personnel and disaster relief agencies contact information, you should include information for customers, suppliers, and distributors. Be sure to keep an extra copy off site in the event that the office copy is not accessible. Here at SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, we offer the ERP (Emergency Ready Program) where we will organize and compile all of the necessary shut off valves to consider during a disaster as well as the proper contacts to speak with immediately following.
4. Emergency kit: Depending on how much time you have to react to the disaster your experiencing, creating an emergency kit can come in handy. Be sure to include items such as first aid supplies, flashlights, and universal tool kits to help keep you safe no matter what the scenario.
5. Protect important business records: These days, most of our important documents can be stored electronically up in the cloud. However, if your business carries hard copies of important business records, be sure to keep them in a secure safe that is tested and approved by UL (Underwriters Laboratories) as being resistant to fire, heat, burglary, tools and torches.
6. Create backup copies of critical data and programs: Keep the back-up copies in a location separate from your primary facility. In the event of a flood or fire, you will be happy to have your irreplaceable data destroyed.
7. Understand your insurance coverage: Be sure to review and understand your insurance policy with your local agent to make dure you know what your responsibilities are in a disaster and what your covered for. There are a variety of different insurance policies with different deductibles and amounts of coverage, so in order to save yourself additional stress, find a policy that will cover what is most important to you.
8. Call the professionals: Immediately following a disaster, call the professionals at SERVPRO of West Palm Beach. The sooner we can evaluate and repair the damages the sooner you can get your business back up and running!

Why SERVPRO is the #1 Choice for Commercial Restoration

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

When it comes to commercial restoration in West Palm Beach, we are experts and well known throughout Palm Beach County for the solutions we offer to our commercial clients. Our biggest advantage has been the range of commercial clients in which we have provided emergency damage restoration services. In fact our experience from over 750 projects along with the myriad of solutions we offer, has helped multiple businesses in varying industries in our area including:

• Property Managers
• Government and Education Facilities
• Warehouses and Distribution Centers
• Business Parks & Corporate Buildings
• Hotels, Convention Centers & Entertainment Venues
• Retail & Restaurant Space 

The above list is a mere glimpse into who we have worked with but does not limit us to who we can work with in the future. Each project has provided us an insight into the needs of each industry, ensuring we properly respond no matter the service that is needed. These services have ranged from fires, water damage, mold remediation, storm response or biohazard cleanup.

Our commercial clients trust us to provide white-glove, quality experiences bringing efficiency to any job so that they may return back to business as soon as they can. As our past clients also know, we will work to create a business plan that minimizes business disruption in the case of an emergency disaster. Aside from our experience, what sets SERVPRO of West Palm Beach apart from other commercial restoration companies?

1. Restore Vs. Replace Mentality

Our priority is to always reduce the amount of damage a commercial space has endured. Rather than considering the entire job a loss, we enlist our expertise to properly determine what is salvageable and what will need restoration.  

2. Large Loss & Disaster Response Team

Though we are a local franchise, our enterprise capabilities and resources positions our team to handle any size disaster efficiently.

3. Trusted National & Local Vendors

SERVPRO is a preferred vendor for multiple national commercial clients including insurance companies, retail spaces, management properties, hospitality groups and more.

4. Reconstruction Capabilities

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach has the licensure, experience, and resources to provide reconstruction services for any commercial or residential site.

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach consistently meets high performance guidelines for all of our commercial clients, providing seamless communication and timely mitigation.

Are Your Employees Prepared for an Emergency to Happen to Your Business?

10/13/2020 (Permalink)

As a business owner in West Palm Beach, having set plans in place in case of an emergency, a hurricane, and now COVID-19, is essential to keeping the doors open and continuity of business. As a business owner, you may also have the entirety of these plans memorized or in a convenient location in the case it is needed, but do all of your employees know exactly what to do in the case of an emergency? 

While you can plan for an emergency, you can never plan when the emergency will occur. This means that you may not always be available during an emergency to put your plan into action. Ensuring your employees know what to do when an emergency disaster occurs is important to keeping your doors open.

1. Establish a Chain of Command

If there is someone beside you, whom you trust or whose direct responsibility it is to take charge in your absence, make sure they are fully aware of what a plan of action looks like. Have a second employee as an option in the line of command in the case your first choice is also not available.

2. Keep Your Plan Organized & Easily Accessible

Have a list of all of your vendors, access points, important contacts like an insurance agent or emergency services, and utility shut-off locations in one document. Include pictures, contact information, and important need-to-know details. Make sure this document is neatly stored in a file or on a shared computer network for quick access.

3. Consider Alternative Ways of Sharing a Plan of Action

While having a file in office is not always ideal and a shared network is not always an option, consider using a program that all employees can access via their own computer or smart phones. SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan is available via an easy to navigate mobile app, making it extremely convenient for more than one employee to access. The ERP app can hold all of the necessary information a hard copy plan would including contacts, vendors, access points, instructions, photos and more. A SERVPRO team member will always help set up your app and profile making sure all pertinent details are recorded. Once set up is complete, you are free to share the app and access with any employee you choose!

Having a thorough, well-communicated plan will get you back to business quickly and  provide a peace of mind. Many business owners may be apprehensive of taking a day off or vacation time in the case they are needed should an emergency disaster occur. With SERVPRO’s Emergency Ready Plan, not only will your employees be extremely prepared but your local vendors, including SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, will have easy to follow instructions and plan as well!

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned - A Defensive Cleaning Program in West Palm Beach

6/17/2020 (Permalink)

SERVPRO's defensive cleaning program gives your business a way forward by providing your employees and customers reassurance of ongoing safety.

Let us help you get back to business

As our communities re-open, we’re all moving back toward a new kind of normal. The expectations of visitors, customers, and employees who come into our establishments have evolved, and staying safe and well is a top concern. The global COVID-19 pandemic has changed what it means to be clean, and we’ve developed a program to help your business meet the new higher standard of clean that is now expected.

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned is a defensive cleaning program we’re offering to businesses and commercial locations to address the current COVID-19 pandemic. This proactive viral pathogen cleaning program goes well beyond janitorial or carpet cleaning. By choosing Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you, your employees, your customers, and your community can rest assured that you’ve selected a higher cleaning standard – you are Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.

Extensive training and specialized products

As the #1 choice in cleanup and restoration*, we stand on more than 50 years of experience and expertise to help your business become Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.  Beyond fire & water, SERVPRO professionals are trained and experienced in biohazard decontamination and chemical spills – always adhering to the cleaning and decontamination standards set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local authorities. 

From formulating and creating our proprietary cleaning products, like SERVPROXIDE, at our headquarters in Gallatin, TN, to taking the utmost care while disinfecting, we will ensure you and your business are set up to inspire consumer confidence as the economy continues to reopen.

3 C’s – Consult, Clean, and Certify

When the stakes are this high, you want a partner who has developed an industry leading, proprietary training program, cleaning solutions, and remediation processes over decades. We’ve cleaned up some of the most challenging biohazards imaginable. Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned reflects our unique experiences and capabilities. The program is grounded with our unique 3 C’s: Consult, Clean, and Certify.

• Consult – Every business is different, which is why you’ll be assigned a Cleaning Protocol Consultant who understands your business and will create a cleaning program to meet your specific needs. This program will be developed based on your business type, size of space, amount of high frequency touchpoints, foot traffic and congestion points.
• Clean – Based on your specific business needs, your location will undergo a thorough, deep clean, using exclusive cleaning products, according to protocols set forth by the CDC. Our employees have years of experience, and we will go beyond the scope of work that regular janitorial staff perform. Cleanup procedures generally include cleaning of porous and non-porous surfaces, disinfecting of non-porous surfaces, cleaning and disinfecting of equipment, tools, and/or supplies used for cleanup process, and disposal of hazardous materials.  In the event of a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 event, we will be there cleaning within 24 hours to ensure you get back to business as quickly as possible. 
• Certify - Once your business location has been Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, you will gain access to proprietary signage, digital emblems, and other collateral that communicates that you’ve selected a higher standard of clean available to help protect your employees and customers. And because we add the day, month, and year to that proprietary stamp of clean, your guests will know that not only did you choose Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, but that your location is being cleaned regularly at this standard.

Call today for a Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation

We’re Here to Help – 24 hours a day, seven days a week – until life is back to normal in the communities we all call home.

Call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach today at  561-795-5410 for your Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned consultation.

* #1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. Study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019

Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the requested cleaning, sanitizing and disinfection services according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry and CDC standards with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience.  Each SERVPRO franchise is independently owned and operated.

Is Your Business Ready For 2020 Storm Season?

6/16/2020 (Permalink)

Prepare your business for hurricane season and minimize disruption.

Preparing your business way before an anticipated storm is essential to survival.

Since the beginning of 2020, many businesses have endured the challenges and impacts of the current pandemic. With the pandemic still at large and hurricane season underway, little room is left for some business owners to overcome any potential damage caused by a hurricane. Without a plan, 50% of businesses have closed following a hurricane. While this number is daunting, that percentage can be lessened with a proper storm season preparedness plan.

This year’s storm season will be extremely active and will likely see above average number of storms. This does not mean that all storms will become major hurricanes or even hit Florida, however, based on numbers alone having an emergency plan for your employees and business is vital.

• Ensure all employees have emergency kits and evacuation plans. Talk to your employees about planning for a hurricane during COVID-19, ensuring their kits as well as evacuation plans have been adjusted. This means including personal safety items like masks, gloves, sanitizers or soaps in their kits. It also means considering social distancing when creating their evacuation plans.
• Create a plan for your business that includes:
  • Documenting all important contents.
  • Taking before and after photos of the interior and exterior of your business for insurance purposes.
  • Knowing where all your main shut off and valves are. This will come in handy before a hurricane if any major utility will need to be shut off to prevent damages.
  • Having a list of important company contacts, vendor contacts, and chain of commands. Include in your vendor contact a company like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach in the case you will need mitigation or restoration services after the storm.
  • Having the proper materials to secure important equipment or contents prior to a storm, like windows, computers, doors and more.
• Review your insurance policy to ensure you have the proper coverage. Talk to your insurance agent in the case that additional coverage is needed in the case of any damage or loss.

If you are unsure of where to start or how to properly plan, check out our complimentary Emergency Ready Profile. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach’s ERP provides a guideline for your business in preparation for and in case of emergency. The ERP has an easy use to interface, documenting all the vital information your business will need. The ERP's goal is to give business owners the power to quickly mitigate damage and minimize any business interruptions during an emergency event. 

While the timeline for the next major storm is unknown, its occurrence is imminent. Are you ready?

Reopening Guidelines and Tips for West Palm Beach Businesses

5/12/2020 (Permalink)

This week certain establishments in Palm Beach County have been given the green light to begin reopening. As a part of what officials are calling Phase 1, there are multiple parameters in which businesses will need to abide by. Here are a few:

• Most restaurants and retail can only operate at 25% capacity.
• Employees and guests, based on the establishment, must wear masks.
• Social distancing guidelines must still be enacted including small groups of 8 or less, within 6 feet of one another.
• Sanitizing guest areas must occur before and after each guest.

With these rules as guidelines, develop and share a plan that promotes a healthy environment. Be sure that customers are aware of the precautions your business is taking as well. It is best to allow room for revisions in the plan as local authorities or day-to-day operations may call for some.  

Consider these tips when developing a plan:

• Determine what needs to be cleaned vs. disinfected and how often. Sanitizing is one of the most important guidelines as it reassures employees, and customers, that an establishment is prioritizing cleanliness and safety.
• Equip your business with enough cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment as needed. Create an area specifically for supplies; this allows for easy access and visibility.
• When rearranging your business layout to maintain the 25% capacity and social distancing rule, consider accessibility. Be sure that any rearrangement of furniture or items does not impede the flow of business or put the safety of your staff and customers at risk.
• Post signs or reminders regarding social distancing and proper hygiene. This is for both employees and customers.
• Designate a specific day of the week or time in each day in which your business will close for thorough cleaning. Hiring a company like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, will ensure that your business is thoroughly sanitized with medical grade disinfectant.

As a business owner, it is important to remember that many people may be grappling with the realities of current events and the idea of reintroducing themselves into public. By committing to proper guidelines, businesses are reassuring their employees and customers they are committed to the health and safety of all.

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach Offers Biohazard Cleaning Services

3/18/2020 (Permalink)

During the past few months, much of the world has been preoccupied with staying safe and healthy. Proper hand washing, social distancing, and making accommodations for disruption in everyday life is prevalent for many people in Palm Beach County. Staying informed and taking the proper health precautions should be a top priority and because of this, SERVPRO of West Palm Beach wants to remind our customers we are specialists in biohazard cleaning services. 

For residential and commercial properties, our crew can provide specialized cleaning, following the highest sanitization standards set in place by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. While we are well-versed in dealing with biohazard situations, we have taken additional precautions as recommended by the CDC. These guidelines include which areas of a home or business to treat with hospital-grade disinfectants that can treat pathogens similar to the coronavirus; SERVPRO carries several EPA-certified products with similar claims to products endorsed by the CDC.

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach has experience in cleaning buildings that are typically highly populated like schools, gyms, retail spaces, or offices. Our biohazard cleaning services take care to disinfect high-touch areas including table-tops and desks, doorknobs, light switches, bathrooms, equipment and more. We recommend for our customers to regularly clean their personal devices like computers, phones, and tablets.

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach urges our customers to stay informed and proactive. The well-being of our customers and employees is always our number one priority. We do our best to keep our community informed and safe. If your home or commercial space is in need of specialized cleaning call us today, 561-795-5410.

Large Commercial Loss in West Palm Beach

3/11/2020 (Permalink)

Many large commercial loss jobs require numerous air movers to properly dry out areas and prevent secondary damage.

During Super Bowl weekend, while most of West Palm Beach was watching the big game, our  crew was working on a big job. Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business experienced a broken pipe, with enough water to flood most of the first floor. The flooding extended throughout the entrance, faculty offices and lecture halls. 

Our crew needed to work quickly to get the building reopened with minimal disruption for faculty and classes held. Extracting the water was the first step taken, removing close to a foot of water from the floors. Following the extraction, the dry out began. Over 130 air movers were placed throughout the building, along with many dehumidifiers. Both types of equipment along with the number of pieces used are common in large commercial loss. Each air mover and dehumidifier was needed to make sure that any water not extracted was thoroughly dried, preventing any secondary water damage like mold. 

A job like this would be classified as large commercial loss. Situations are categorized as large loss when there is a significant amount of damage occurring in a sizable area. These are areas like offices, warehouses, or in this case, whole first floors of a building. Damage can range from water, mold or fire, calling for extensive cleaning and restoration as well as utilization of commercial grade equipment. Large commercial loss can be complex, taking into account many factors.

Large losses can also be disruptive to businesses, especially if there is no contingency plan ready to be implemented. We stress our Emergency Ready Plan to our commercial customers often as we understand, in an instance like FAU’s water damage, how useful they can be.  To mitigate the time businesses are unable to operate, SERVPRO of West Palm Beach works efficiently, readily available with the necessary equipment and number of crew needed. 

Large commercial loss can be overwhelming but does not always mean that your business will be put on halt or closed indefinitely. Restoration professionals like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, are here to respond promptly to your loss, minimize damage, and be your strategic partner from start to finish.

Why Commercial Mold Inspections are Important for Your Building

11/18/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial buildings are huge investments, which would make sense why finding the right building to invest in requires a lot of vetting. Along with checking square footage, the surrounding area, plumbing, wiring and the works, a mold inspection should be immediate also.

Professional mold inspections in commercial buildings are a fairly new concept. Health issues brought about by mold was not advocated for until the 90s, when a light was shed on the possible consequences of mold infestations. Now, homeowners and business owners alike are meticulous in inspecting for mold when purchasing a building, as they should be.

Mold can grow on virtually any surface, so long as it is presented with a damp enough climate to persist. Mold spores can be extremely apparent via smell or sight, or it can only be detected through specific testing. Mold survives on or “eats” away at materials, causing damage and change to the look, smell, or structure of whatever it is affecting. Structural changes can include the reliability or strength for a building. For an investor or building owner, this could raise working hazards and building safety.

Allowing employees to work within mold-ridden spaces is another costly situation. Due to mold’s potential health risk, employers and building owners should be weary of allowing employees, visitors, tenants or vendors to inhabit the building. Even if the mold is quarantined to one specific area, it still has the potential to travel through HVAC systems, affecting other areas.

If you are purchasing or currently own a commercial building, a mold inspection should be mandated. A commercial mold remediation company can perform visual assessments, sampling, and mold remediation strategies. Even if mold is not found, remediation companies can provide insight into future issues. Any situation that is a potential playground for moisture accumulation and mold growth will be addressed by a professional. This includes a leaking roof, structural characteristics that may allow water into the building, building maintenance issues or more.

Scheduling pre-move in or purchase mold inspections as well as implementing routine inspections, especially in Florida, are vital to your building and business. 

How a Mold Remediation Technician Can Help You

10/22/2019 (Permalink)

At SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, many of our technicians are IICRC Certified in mold remediation. For people who are not in the restoration industry, this certification may not seem like much. When it comes to tackling mold, this certification is what qualifies our crew to provide remediation to any mold damage in your home.

Mold Remediation Technicians have experience analyzing air quality, sources of moisture, and areas that have been affected. Our technicians are also well-versed in the mold remediation process and make recommendations based on the extent of damage that has occurred. Proper training on identifying and utilizing needed equipment is also a big part of a technician’s job as these are the tools they will use not only to remediate current mold but to mitigate any further damage. With any restoration site, our mold remediation crew take precautions to properly seal off the affected area as to not expose anyone to the potentially harmful effects of mold.

Understanding the job of a mold remediation technician and the certifications that come along with it are important to your home, business, and potentially your health.  Often, handymen and other contractors may lack the experience and advance training on how to carefully deal with mold. Relying on uncertified individuals may mean further damage to your home and wallet. It is also important when looking for a reputable company to be weary of any promises of “mold removal”. This is because mold is found almost everywhere, making it near impossible to completely remove it. Using professional, certified services, like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, ensures that your mold infestation will be properly remediated in a safe and efficient manner.

If you are unsure of your next steps or what services SERVPRO of West Palm Beach can offer you, call us today! One of our team members can walk you through the mold remediation process and have someone on site to assess your mold damage.

How SERVPRO of West Palm Beach Prepares for Hurricane Season

6/24/2019 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO of West Palm Beach team meeting to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.

At SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, each year it seems as though we blink, and hurricane season is upon us once more. As an emergency restoration services company, hurricane season is a big time of year for us. Preparing our staff and business takes additional time, cooperation, and a lot of organization. Lack of organization allows room for communication gaps that can hurt a business in the event of a hurricane.

We have shared advice on contingency plans and even on how to use SERVPRO’s ERP. An Emergency Ready Plan provides a defined guideline on preparing and staying organized for the unexpected. Our crew members always share the how-to and knowledge on our ERP because they understand how imperative it can be as well as it’s efficacy during storm season.

SERVPRO of West Palm Beach remains open during hurricane season to help our community get back to normal after a storm. As a business we utilize our own ERP to make sure our documents, building, and equipment are secure. Our crew takes inventory of all of our assets including restoration equipment, our fleet, cleaning supplies, computers and important documents. We properly store all assets until we can carefully access them following the hurricane.

Our crew is our number one priority, so we also ensure there are provisions within our ERP that account for the safety of our team. Staying connected in time of a hurricane can be difficult but is possible. Our team stays in constant communication during a storm, checking on the safety and location of each other.

Preparing for a hurricane as a business is not difficult. In fact the two most important factors to your business, your assets and your people, are easiest to arrange and protect. Planning before the storm, helps to bring a peace of mind for business owners during the storm.

Multi-level Water Damage: What This Means for Commercial Building Owners

6/18/2019 (Permalink)

The larger the commercial building along with number of working or inhabited areas the building has, the higher chance of  a water-related accident or damage transpiring. Commercial buildings tend to have more than one floor, hosting a number of pipes. Maintenance on a building can be costly and may occur less often than needed. Lack of maintenance tends to lead toward leaks, burst, or broken pipes and accompanying hardware. Even if a property owner had rigorous routine inspections, emergencies, accidents, and coincidences can still occur.  

A single-level business' concerns mirror that of a multi-level building or business. Restoring damaged roofing, repairing burst pipes, airing out drywall and other nooks are all considerations when experiencing commercial water damage. The contrast between the two businesses is the existence of multiple floors or not.

Even with all things considered including the amount of water and source of the flood, the probability of multiple floors seeing damages is high. Finishing on the floor, subflooring and the material between each level are all permeable enough for water to require serious repair. Most floors only have 12 to 14 inches between the subfloor and the ceiling of the next level. The material in between known as a joist is typically made of lumber, which is in fact processed wood; mold and mildew can indeed grow on treated lumber. 

A reputable restoration company should know to check for damage on all floors, subflooring, and ceilings. Should these layers be neglected for an extended period, damage tends to be irreparable as well as dangerous for multiple reasons. The threat to employees and other building visitor's physical safety increases. Mold growth, wiring damage, and collapsing floors are all hypothetical stemming from standing water and unresolved corrosion of floor material. 

The stress of returning to business quickly after an emergency can be tempting for a commercial building owner or restoration company to forgo crucial steps in water damage restoration. However, when weighing the outcomes of overlooked damage and the potential of having to pause business again, it is best to be diligent and patient.

Commercial property owners need to ensure they are properly vetting restoration companies that will look at all potential damage, current and future. Rushing through a water damage job affects the safety of employees and visitors, continuity of business, and a commercial building’s bottom line. 

Commercial Cleaning Services in Downtown West Palm Beach

3/21/2019 (Permalink)

Commercial cleaning is not limited to restoration services after a disaster for the team at SERVPRO of West Palm Beach. Commercial buildings in downtown West Palm Beach undergo extensive use regardless of the related industry. Many businesses use janitorial staff for surface cleaning like vacuuming or wiping down a restroom, but there is more cleaning to be done. Deep cleaning of carpets, walls, air ducts and more, are not services business or building owners always have as top-of-mind.

Choosing a commercial cleaning service can be difficult as you are entrusting your business’s appearance to someone else. One determining factor to look for is the extent of services offered by the cleaning and restoration company.

Commercial Cleaning Services

1. Interior Cleaning

 Carpet

Heavy trafficked areas can leave carpets with built-up soil that can become unsightly. Carpets tend to trap dust, dirt, and other bacteria, creating a potentially unhealthy environment for those walking and exposing the area to the kicked-up soil. Our routine professional service relies on a few methods to maintain carpets and upholstery.

Bonnet Cleaning, preconditioning and rinsing, as well as dry cleaning, are all gentler ways of getting deep to the dirt. Hot water extraction along with our Showcase Premier cleaning allows for targeting tougher areas.

Floors

Similar to carpet, floors endure high traffic and grime buildup. Sweeping and mopping are sufficient for surface cleaning but are not always adequate in removing dirt that has amassed over time. We tackle tile and hardwood, safely sanitizing the surface and grout with equipment used for heavy duty jobs no matter the area. 

Walls

Walls and ceilings are just as susceptible to dirt as carpets and floors. Walls collect dirt from touch, smoke, grease, and any other substance your HVAC system might distribute. Cleaning walls without ruining the paint or finishing can be tasking for a janitorial company. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach uses proprietary cleaning products to thoroughly and safely clean ceilings or walls.

2. HVAC & Air Ducts

Outdoor air quality is a concern for many people as we are exposed to pollen and air pollution. Indoor quality should be just as big of a concern. Employees in commercial buildings spend a majority of their day indoors and should have access to dust-free, pollen-free, mold-free, clean air. HVAC’s and air ducts often are ignored when routine maintenance is performed. Ventilation system cleaning is  not only necessary to maintain the proper air quality but to ensure proper functioning of these systems, extending the life of the equipment. Our team has the experience and knowledge to inspect a commercial building or offices’ ducts to determine the extent of cleaning needed.

3. Odor Removal

Does your building or office space have a certain smell that lingers? Restaurants and hotels are often inundated with different smells left from cooked food or the various visitors. Other buildings could potentially have a chemical smell, mold smell, or just a stale, stuffy odor. Odor issues stem from a source, caused by a past event or a current problem. Our team carries out thorough inspections to ensure that the source of the smell is not an issue in need of resolving or causing detriment to the building structure. Our methods don’t just mask the smell temporarily; we locate the source and penetrate the surfaces to extract and stop any foul odors.

Choose SERVPRO
Along with these services our team also offers other commercial cleaning including: biohazard cleanup, sewage and toilet overflow, mold and water cleanup.

From restaurants and hotels, to warehouse and office space, SERVPRO of West Palm Beach understands the importance of providing a clean, safe space for your team and customers alike. Call today to begin commercial cleaning services for your downtown West Palm Beach building, 561-795-5410.

Choosing the Right Commercial Restoration Services in West Palm Beach

3/19/2019 (Permalink)

No matter the size of you business or the damage affecting it, SERVPRO of West Palm Beach has the necessary equipment and crew to help.

How to Choose a Commercial Restoration Services Company

West Palm Beach’s downtown district offers a variety of businesses, in many different industries. Just as ample as the number of businesses are the number of commercial cleaning and restoration services. When a disaster hits, some business owners are keen on contacting the first company that they encounter, in a bout of urgency. However, entrusting your business to just any commercial restoration service can turn into a more expensive and damaging job. All restoration companies are not created equal. In fact, there are a number of factors to consider when conducting research.

1. Reputation and Experience

Company biographies and employee pages are not on a website just for cosmetic purposes. Reading into a company, its owner, and crew, provides insight that a simple ad may not have otherwise provided. Company pages in the restoration industry should list any certifications and years of experience. Even if is it not clear as to what a certain certification may mean, knowing that is listed shows that it is important and that the owner’s care enough for their customers to invest into their employees training. When years of experience are provided, whether for individual employees or for the company as a whole, this showcases the extensive knowledge and on-the-job practice gained.

Scanning reviews on the website or third-party pages including Google My Business and social media, gives a sense of customer sentiment. A company with positive reviews generally has a reputation for providing quality work and meeting expectations. Reading through reviews and a company’s response to these reviews can help to reinforce a decision. Be weary of negative comments however. Reading into the negative reviews that seem genuine is suggested as there is typically a reason for the low rating. However, use your own judgment when reading both the positive and negative reviews. 

2. Services Offered

An emergency disaster requiring restoration services usually falls within fire, water, or mold. Of course, there are other situations that call for a restoration company also. Reviewing the website for services offered and details on each service is imperative during the research phase. Some companies are subject matter experts for one or two services, while others are multifaceted and have a wide range of capabilities. Companies that offer assessment, cleaning, restoration, and rebuild are ideal as they provide a more streamlined experience.

Stay sharp as to whether not a company over promises or seems as though they are providing a false sense of reality. Most companies are available 24/7 and should walk through expectations and timelines upon first contact.

3. Types of Businesses Served

Accidental or emergency disasters require a company who can adapt to a business including the time in which a business may need to be fully functioning and any intricacies that come along with a project. A hotel job site could require expedited timelines while a car dealership may afford to stay closed a bit longer as the level of work needed is more complex. 

 A company may not always have photos of all of their commercial clients for legal reasons, however, asking about the company’s experience is a simple way to gain an understanding of the extent of work they’ve done within a specific industry.

4. Interaction

Making a decision on a restoration services company goes beyond listing offerings or past projects. Employees should display professionalism, courtesy, kindness, and understanding through this difficult, confusing time. Conversations should center on openness and candidacy. Companies that provide positive interactions from the beginning to the end of an emergency disaster are those that also offer quality service.

Entrust your business to a professional, reputable company, who has the experience and ability to get your business running as soon as possible after a flood, fire, or mold disaster. 

Call SERVPRO For Your Commercial Sewage Backup Disaster

11/16/2018 (Permalink)

Flood damage can occur in many forms for a Palm Beach home or business. The worst occurrence might be a sewage backup and the safety hazards it brings.

Sewer backups in the Palm Beach area can happen due to a blockage in a main drain or sewer line. If a toilet is being treated as a waste basket or a grease is poured down the drain, clogging occurs, inciting possible home and commercial sewer backups. Tree roots are another common cause as they grow into pipes and holes with available space. As with any potential water disaster, irregular maintenance to broken or cracked pipes and lines are all conditions contributing to sewer backup damage. 

Regardless of the source, a sewer backup in your West Palm Beach home or business means sewage cleanup. City and town sewages are shared and can encompass a multitude of biohazard contaminants. Immediate cleanup and decontamination is necessary to mitigate any long-term damage caused by a sewage emergency. Health concerns are evident, both airborne and water-borne. Sitting water also leads to damaged infrastructures, allowing the opportunity for mold to grow. After safely evacuating anyone inhabiting the property at that time, calling a restoration services company in the Palm Beach area to survey the emergency flooding, is essential to keep your business running. Often property owners may make the costly error of attempting to fix the root issue themselves. This can be dangerous health wise and cause further destruction.

Disaster Restoration companies like SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, are properly trained and equipped to remove, dispose, and clean any biohazard properties caused by a sewage backup. Areas serviced include Palm Beach, Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington and Palm Beach Island. Clean up may include any removal, drying, dehumidifying or disinfecting of sheetrock, drywall, carpet, tile or furnishings. As harmful microorganisms are a major concern when dealing with biohazard material, safety suits and equipment are a mandated standard. 

Make sure any biohazard contamination is mitigated by the professionals, (561)795-5410.

Tips for Businesses in Palm Beach County in Need of Commercial Restoration

10/29/2018 (Permalink)

Florida residents are not the only people who run into accidents and damages to their homes. Businesses and commercial buildings also experience disasters. Flood damage, storm and wind damage, mold remediation, water cleanup, and restoration after fires, are all emergency services commercial buildings are in need of. These incidents occur more often than assumed. 

Seek Immediate Restoration Services 

As with homeowners, seeking emergency restoration services as soon as possible is important in mitigating any further damage. This step is even more crucial for business and commercial buildings with water, mold, or fire damage. As these emergency disasters can not only harm your place of business' infrastructure, but there are other dangers lingering, potentially harmful to you and those in the affected area. Keeping business doors closed for any period of time that affects employees, customers, and the businesses bottom line, profit. 

When commercial damage strikes finding a reputable restoration company, like SERVPRO, means restoring and repairing your business as soon as possible. A 24-7 restoration company in West Palm Beach will make sure to have the needed crew on site right away and working, once the damage has been assessed. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach trained and IICRC certified technicians and staff, will survey the damage while taking necessary precautions for the safety of the building and personnel right away.

Prepare for the unexpected

Expecting the unexpected is a mantra every business owner should remember and always ensure they have a trusted, experienced commercial restoration professional they can call. A mishap does not have to be misfortune. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach services West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Riviera Beach and Palm Beach Island businesses. 

If your business or commercial space needs remediation or restoration, call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach at (561)795-5410 or visit our homepage for a list of our commercial restoration services at http://www.SERVPROwestpalmbeachfl.com 

Employee Spotlight: Operations Manager

6/12/2018 (Permalink)

Customer satisfaction is an Operation Manager's number one priority and they work hard to make sure that happens every time for every customer.

What is an Operations Manager and how is one important for you? An Operations Manager makes sure that production managers and crews are following the SERVPRO processes when it comes to doing a job in your home. An Operations Manager also relates to you the customer, and helps with any and all needs you may have during the job. 

The reason why an Operations Manager takes care of customers and the crew is so that they can stay in touch with what the customer needs which helps you feel appreciated and helps focus on what you need. An Operations Manager understands that a disaster emergency is a stressful time and they take their job serious so you can ease away from the stress while your home is being brought back to normal.

Customer satisfaction is an Operations Manager's number one priority and they work hard to make sure that happens every time. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach hires only the best and qualified Operation Managers in South Florida.

Removing The Smell of Cigarettes

5/22/2018 (Permalink)

How Do You Remove Cigarette Smoke Smell from a Home or Office?

Cigarette smoke residue is a yellowish-brown, gluey substance that sticks to every surface in a home or office, making it difficult and time-consuming to remove. In order to completely eliminate cigarette smoke odor, you must thoroughly clean the tobacco smoke residue from every surface and every nook and cranny in the home. First, allow fresh air to enter your home and then start systematically cleaning everything in the home/office. As a temporary solution, try using baking soda to absorb smells from the carpets and upholstery and place bowls of white vinegar, coffee or activated charcoal around the house/office.

However, the best way to get rid of tobacco odor is to clean your home or office:

Open all windows and doors to let as much fresh air in as possible.

Clean or replace the air filters, furnace filters and AC filters.

Clean walls and ceilings using products with ammonia and glycol - two ingredients that neutralize bad odors. Let the walls dry and check if the odor persists.

If you can still sense cigarette odor after cleaning, repaint the walls and ceilings with latex paint. Use a sealant designed to lock in odors before painting.

Clean everything in the home or office: floors, windows, carpets, furniture, upholstery, draperies, blinds and other household surfaces, fixtures and items. Hire a professional cleaning company if the tobacco smoke is too difficult to remove.

If you want inexpensive short-term solutions, try these tips:

Use an air purifier in your home/office.

Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets, leave it overnight to absorb bad smells, and vacuum it the next day.

Place saucers of white vinegar around the home and leave them overnight to neutralize the smell.

Get indoor plants which can absorb up to 87% of indoor pollutants.

Place small bowls of coffee throughout the home.

Use scented or non-scented candles.

Leave orange peels around.

Place pineapple slices around the room with all doors and windows closed for 24 hours.

Place bowls of activated charcoal around.

Completely removing cigarette smoke odor is a very time consuming process. If the situation is severe, call the highly trained professionals with SERVPRO of West Palm Beach, to remove the odor, 561-795-5410

How SERVPRO of West Palm Beach Helps To Control Mold In Commercial Spaces

3/15/2018 (Permalink)

Mold control and remediation calls for safe solutions, like wearing hazmat suits and using EPA registered chemicals.

After mold damage, you want to make sure the mold stays out and doesn't come back. This is especially true for commercial offices, restaurants and other commercial spaces. Keeping appliances well maintained, hiring professionals to remediate commercial spaces, and quickly fixing leaks are some of the top ways to do so. However, what about after the cleanup from mold damage?

The professionals at SERVPRO of West Palm Beach use Concrobium Mold Control® when cleaning up a commercial space. This cleaning solution is an EPA-registered solution that remediates and prevents mold without any harmful chemicals. The colorless, odorless solution is used by professionals for: 1) Mold clean-up and prevention, 2) Disaster restoration, 3) Pre-treatment of building materials 4) Musty odor control Concrobium® Mold Control dries to form an invisible antimicrobial shield that encapsulates and physically crushes mold spores. The antimicrobial barrier remains on surfaces to provide continuous protection against mold growth. This solution is key to helping keep mold away. 

A little tip to keeping mold away from your commercial space is to use se mold-resistant products and materials in your commercial business. When working in a humid climate like West Palm Beach, it’s advisable to equip your commercial space with mold-resistant materials – plastic, metal or glass household items and surfaces (instead of wooden ones), tile or laminate floors (instead of carpeted ones), moisture-resistant drywall in which the gypsum core is covered in fiberglass so that the surface becomes impervious to water (instead of traditional drywall in which the core is pressed between plies of paper), paint that contains mildewcides (chemicals that effectively inhibit mold growth), etc.

If your business or commercial space needs mold remediation and cleaning, call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach at (561)795-5410

Hidden Commercial Water Damage: How To Spot It and What To Do

3/15/2018 (Permalink)

Learning how to spot hidden water damage in commercial spaces and businesses in West Palm Beach can help you get your business up and running again!

Commercial water damage in West Palm Beach can strike at any time, day or night. With most commercial water damage being invasive in nature, having it restored and cleaned in a quick time frame means your business can be up and running in no time. To do so, you'll have to start by checking to see if your commercial business or space has hidden damage. Sometimes the damage is as obvious as a visible pipe that is leaking water on to your commercial floor. More often than so however, is that the source of water damage is hidden and so are the devastating effects.

Here are some helpful tips to spot water damage:

• Stains on the wall or ceiling
  • Discoloration in drywall is a sign that there is previous or ongoing water damage. The stains may be yellow, brown, or faint outlines.
• A musky smell
  • A musky smell may indicate the presence of mold due to water damage. Mold-especially in the humidity of South Florida- does not take long to grow in the right conditions
• Warping in the floor or baseboard
  • When certain materials like wood soak up water, they buckle and warp. If there is visible warping or buckling of floors, there may be water underneath.
• Excessive utility bills
  • If there are no other visible signs of water damage but you are still suspicious... check your water bill! Excessive charges on your water bill may indicate a damaged pipe that could be releasing water into your home.

If you believe your commercial space or business is being affected by water damage, call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach at (561)795-5410 for a professional consultation.  We'll have your business up and running again in no time!

Water Removal Crucial to Retaining Palm Beach Culture

11/19/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Technicians Focus on Restoration Rather Than Replacement of Damaged Property

No space in Florida is impervious to the effects of water. Our humid climate and seasonal storms enhance the risk of moisture damage in all places, including those devoted to memorializing our unique culture, the arts, and famous personages who made Palm Beach their home. Aging plumbing and operator error or mechanical malfunction may affect these properties, too. When damaging water jeopardizes these special destinations and needs removal, we have all the resources to make it happen.
 
A continually running toilet flooded gallery and administrative areas of a landmark, requiring commercial water removal in Palm Beach. The housekeeping staff could try to mop up the mostly “clean” water, but the quantity involved needs the attention of a firm specializing in water removal and extraction methods. Our professional focus is firmly on providing the most thorough commercial water removal services possible, and we train our workers and purchase state of the art equipment accordingly.
 
The surfaces affected also include carpeted areas, tiled and terrazzo floors, and woodwork. SERVPRO crews have experience in managing water removal from all these areas, and each member of the crew sent to your water emergency has IICRC certification in the theory, planning, and delivery of water removal services. One crucial skill we offer that ensures a successful outcome is structural and content moisture measurement. Our technicians train till adept in determining how much moisture remains in building materials and components after removal of standing water using precision instruments and advanced scanning equipment. They calculate drying targets and monitor the moisture levels until their efforts meet the target.
 
Standing water responds well to pumps and vacuum extractors. The residual moisture needs weighted extractor wands, air movers, desiccant humidifiers, and sometimes the addition of heat to move moisture out of carpeting, woodwork, and subflooring and into the air where it can be condensed and discarded. The HVAC system also needs checking, and if unaffected by the flood, be brought back online to help balance the ambient humidity in the building. SERVPRO workers inspect for any indication of microbial activity as the priceless books, artwork, and documents housed in the center’s rooms are sensitive to any rise in the humidity which could cause mold damage even in non-saturated materials.
 
Let the experts manage water removal for your cultural venue. SERVPRO of West Palm Beach has staffed phones at (561) 795-5410 round the clock.

For more information about the City of Palm Beach, Florida visit:  http://www.townofpalmbeach.com/

What To Do Before Water Removal in a Palm Beach Library

10/29/2017 (Permalink)

Team SERVPRO Arrives Quickly to Dry Out Your Property After Water Damage

A public library is a beautiful thing – and it is not just the public library that stores books in Palm Beach. Many businesses such as law firms or educational establishments have a library that is a vital part of their company. Naturally, you do not want your business’ or institutions’ books to get wet, and in the event of water damage, it is natural to panic.
 
However, professional water removal in Palm Beach can help preserve and save books. Even books that are entirely soaked might be salvageable using a robust process known as freeze drying. First, documents are freeze dried to preserve their current state. Then, we place them in a specialist freeze-drying chamber, and all air is suctioned out. A combination of pressure and temperature are used to evaporate water and collect it outside the chamber.
 
SERVPRO understands that the sight of wet books and papers is upsetting and it is natural to want to take action as soon as possible. However, we recommend caution and offer the following guidelines.
 
Stop water flow if it is safe to do so, to prevent further harm to delicate books.
 
We suggest taking unaffected papers to another, drier, location if you can, to prevent them from being affected.
 
It is essential that the affected area is kept dry and cold. We recommend using a dehumidifier if possible to reduce humidity. You can use a fan for moving the air and aiding the drying process. Do not panic if you do not have access to the correct equipment - our IICRC-certified technicians arrive equipped with dehumidifiers and fans ready to do the job.
 
Be very careful with water-logged books. Do not open the volumes, remove their bindings, or fan the pages. Handle each item as little as possible until our staff arrives.
 
If water is still dripping from a leak or broken pipe or roof, spread plastic sheeting over collections to protect them from drips.
 
Swift action is vitally important. The sooner books are frozen, the higher the chance of salvaging them successfully. That is why we recommend putting in a call to SERVPRO as soon as you can. Our IICRC-certified technicians are ready to remove water from the floor, reduce humidity, encourage evaporation and, most importantly, carefully take your books for freeze-drying.
 
For help with wet books in West Palm Beach, Palm Beach, Royal Palm Beach, Lake Clark Shores, Loxahatchee Groves and surrounding areas, call SERVPRO of West Palm Beach at (561) 795-5410 today.

For more information regarding Palm Beach, click here http://www.townofpalmbeach.com/

Commercial Water Damage in Your West Palm Beach Pet Supply Store

2/25/2017 (Permalink)

Mitigating Damages and Losses in a West Palm Beach Establishment is a Top Priority of SERVPRO

Water damage such as plumbing leaks, floods, sewage backup, storms, and appliance malfunctions all cause sudden loss to your pet supplies store. Getting it cleaned up and back to its normal state is your priority, as should be the same for any water damage remediation company you hire. At SERVPRO, we lower interruptions to your business operations and do all that is possible so you can stay open during the process of restoration so you can keep providing for your family and employees, and of course our furry friends.
 
Water mitigation is the process of preventing or reducing the amount of commercial water damage which happens after any water disaster in your West Palm Beach business. By acting quickly and calling us right away, you can prevent even more damage and costs.
 
Document and Content Recovery
SERVPRO staff offers full services, and we understand how vital it is to recover the contents of your pet store. Anything that is salvageable is taken off site, in the case of catastrophic flooding and restored in a secure facility. Inventory and stock are professional packed and stored with barcodes before returning it to your fully restored building. Once completed, our dedicated staff ensures that everything is put back into your store as it should be. Every care is taken to make sure any hard disks, electronic media, optical disks, and drives are recovered as fully as possible, helping you to keep things running, and thanks to modern technology, it is very possible.
 
Getting Done in a Timely Fashion
The emergency phase is not when you should be moving slowly. Insurance companies are likely to pay sooner if the job is done promptly. If you look at your policy, you will see that it is the responsibility of the property owner to act during an emergency. If your pet shop is in a strip center, as many are, make sure to contact the property manager immediately after the incident.
 
Fast response is crucial to lowering the loss in water damage jobs. Water begins evaporating if the process of cleanup is not started right away. The air soaks up the evaporated water and then redistributes this moisture to other areas like drywall and ceiling tiles, result in secondary damage which can dramatically increase your claims cost. Some of this damage includes hardwood floors buckling, mold spores starting to colonize, sheetrock and plaster sagging and cracking, and vinyl loosening from the floor. No mention of the safety and security of any pets within the premises has been made by SERVPRO. Our responsibilities are restricted to the structure and contents only.
 
SERVPRO of West Palm Beach understands that the job needs to be done fast when it comes to water damage, and during the case of business, it is even more important, so you incur less loss. That is why we encourage you to call us right away if you have a water emergency at (561) 795-5410 so we can take care of your building and restore it "Like it never even happened."