Lightning Strike - house fire - update

4/3/2019 (Permalink)

This photo shows the exterior the house that was struck by lightning during a thunderstorm.

This home was struck by lightning during a severe thunderstorm.  No one was home at the time of the lightning strike, which made the damage to the home much worse.

When the fire was discovered by the neighbors over half of the back of the house had been burnt.

Our crews had to work very hard to clean the contents and the structure of the home. Almost every SERVPRO cleaning product we have available to us by HQ was used on this loss.  Boy are we lucky we have such great products that make our crews so successful!  The chemists at SERVPRO HQ are the BEST!

We were very successful in removing all of the lingering soot and fire damage odors from all of the different items that had burned.

This homeowner was very happy with the outcome of this loss.

Call us today to help you with any cleaning needs you may have (804)730-6788.

Tree fell on house during a storm

4/3/2019 (Permalink)

This photo is of a house that had a tree fall on it during a spring thunderstorm that had high winds.

This house suffered a large amount of damage from a very large tree that fell on it.  The tree fell during a spring thunderstorm last year, this storm had very high, straight line winds associated with it.

As a result, the contents of the home had to be packed and move out in order for the extensive structural repairs to be able to be performed by the contractor.  There were broken roof trusses, siding ripped off the house, drywall and blown in insulation everywhere inside the home including on all the contents in the home.

The damage was so extensive that this homeowner had to have a textile company come out and clean all of her textiles (linens and fabrics) in the home due to the extent of the damages that blew the debris through the house.  There was blown in insulation on almost everything in this house.

Unfortunately, this type of storm damage is very common in March, April and May in this area.

Hurricane Season

7/23/2018 (Permalink)

Flood waters are very dangerous, please don't drive through any flood waters.

With hurricanes, flooding can follow.  Here are some interesting facts about flooding.

According to records during the past 30 years:

• A person can be swept away by six inches of moving water.
• An automobile can be swept off the road in 12 inches of moving water.
• Rainfall is typically heavier with slower moving storms.

It is important to stay safe during hurricanes and be prepared.  Check out this website to prepare yourself in the event your area is in the path of a hurricane: 

https://www.ready.gov/hurricanes 

Should you experience water damage from a hurricane, call SERVPRO of Hanover, Goochland & Caroline and we will make it "Like it never even happened."  Our office number is (804)730-6788.  We would love to be able to help you.

Storm Damage - Tree Damage

7/18/2018 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hanover, Goochland & Caroline can help with any storm damage from a fallen tree. Call us today!

Some people love to sit and watch thunderstorms from the comfort of their porch or covered deck, while others wish they would hurry up and move on!  No matter which you prefer do you know what to do if a tree were to fall on your home?

As soon as the storm has passed you will need to survey the extent of the damage.  You may want to contact your homeowner's Insurance company to see if they can help you contact a tree removal company to remove the tree or limbs that fell on your home.  After the tree has been removed the damaged area may need to be tarpped or boarded up by a contractor.  Once the area has been confirmed to be structurally sound, any water mitigation mitigation or debris clean-up may begin.

Mitigation would include any additional demolition necessary, such as the removal of any wet drywall, flooring, trim etc.  Sometimes, the contents in the affected area may need to be packed and moved out of the affected area in order to complete the demolition.  SERVPRO of Hanover, Goochland & Caroline will then dry the remaining structure back to its normal moisture content using air movers and dehumidifiers.

SERVPRO of Hanover, Goochland & Caroline hopes you never have to experience a tree falling on your home, but should it happen we will be here ready to help you through the process! Call us at (804) 730-6788 and we will make it "Like it never even happened."

Protecting Your Home from Water Damage

5/9/2018 (Permalink)

Properly taken care of gutters will result in a water damage free home!

Soon we will be approaching thunderstorm season.  With thunderstorms comes the possibility of water damage to your home or business.  Be proactive and protect your property by taking care of the outside, especially the gutters.

A rain gutter's main purpose is to funnel water off the roof and away from the home. But, if you do not take proper care of your gutters and clean them regular they can get clogged with leaves, pine needles, pine cones or other debris. The fascia boards that hold the gutter system are often made of wood. When gutters clog and fill with water, the boards start to deteriorate and rot. If a home has wood siding, clogged gutters can also cause water to overflow out of the gutter system and down the sides of the home.

Be proactive and take care of the outside of your home, so you do not experience water damage on the inside.  If it does happen, know that you can call SERVPRO of Hanover, Goochland & Caroline!

Bomb Cyclone

1/5/2018 (Permalink)

Single digit temperatures, bomb cyclones, snow - OH MY!

Who is ready for the snow and cold snap to exit the area? Me for sure.  Snow was fun when we were younger because that meant we did not have to go to school, but as I have gotten older I have learned that snow throws a wrench in my day.  The uncleared roads for several days, the interesting people on the road driving and the overall inconvenience of delaying my day, not for me.

What a crazy week it has been with temperatures barely getting above freezing during the day and in the single digits at night.  My heat pump is tired!  This week we experienced what they call a bomb cyclone.  I have been doing some reading on what exactly that bomb cyclone is or another fun name for it is bombogenesis. It is when drastic drops in barometric pressure occur when a region of warm air meets one of cold air. The air starts to move, and the rotation of the earth creates a cyclonic effect. The direction is counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere (when viewed from above), leading to winds that come out of the northeast — a Nor’easter.  So to me it sounds like a winter hurricane!

Stay safe and warm out there! Remember to keep an eye on your pipes, we only have a few more days with these super cold evenings and then hopefully we can get back to normal Virginia weather!  

SERVPRO of Hanover, Goochland & Caroline is a phone call away!  If you need us to make it, "Like it never even happened." call us at (804) 730-6788