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How Ivy May Be Damaging Your Home

How Ivy May Be Damaging Your Home

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It is hard to argue with the aesthetic appeal of ivy covered homes. When the conditions are right, ivy makes a beautiful accent to your structure, but ivy growing on structures that are not strong enough to support them or sturdy enough to resist their root system can be very troublesome. In such a bad situation, it takes considerable effort to rid ivy from the area before restoration of damaged surfaces can even begin. So it is important to know where ivy growth is safe and unsafe to grow on your home.

How Ivy May Be Damaging Your Home

Good Ivy Locations

If you have a newer brick home you have a perfect environment for growing good healthy ivy. Ivy grows up the wall by clinging to cracks and crevices, but it is far too weak to create them. Ivy grown on new sturdy brick structures not only looks good but can benefit the wall by aiding in temperature control and moisture reduction.

Train your ivy to grow where you want it to and be vigilant that it does not take hold on any wooden portions of your home.

Also ensure that you are growing the right kind of ivy on your home. There are many invasive species of ivy that can actually penetrate even newer masonry and also threatens nearby trees.

Poor Ivy Locations

Brick walls may seem like an automatic good choice for a place to grow ivy. But if the bricks are cracked and the mortar is old and crumbling, you have a very poor location to grow ivy. The roots will be able to dig in, weakening the structure and allowing water to penetrate into the structure.

Other places you should avoid allowing ivy to grow:

  • Wood Surfaces: Wooden structures are easily damaged by ivy growth, weakening the structure and promoting wood rot and insect infestation.
  • Siding: When ivy gets into the seams of the structure it can creep under the siding and cause damage.
  • Stucco: Ivy roots will penetrate stucco, and as the plant becomes heavy, the stucco can crack and break apart resulting in discoloration and an unsightly appearance.

 

Tips To Protect Your Home From Disasters

Tips To Protect Your Home From Disasters

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There’s never a good time for a disaster to strike your home. You can, however, be prepared for when the unexpected happens. Here are action steps you can take now to better protect your home from disasters.

Routine Maintenance

When it comes to fire damage, most fires are caused by electrical malfunctions. Prevent fires from ever happening by making sure all electrical cords are in excellent condition. This is one thing duct tape can’t fix.  If you have exposed wires, call an electrician to take care of the problem. Additionally, check to make sure all major appliances are plugged directly into wall outlets and not power strips or extension cords. For smaller electronics, invest in power strips that have surge protection.

Get your roof inspected regularly to insure that your roof is in excellent condition before bad weather hits. Keep your trees properly trimmed. Make sure branches are not hanging precariously over your roof.  Keep your gutters clean as they help prevent foundation issues caused by oversaturation.

Regularly check for leaks in your pipes. If there’s a leak, call a plumber to take care of it. A little leak can cause a lot of damage over time. If you will be away from your home for an extended period of time, consider shutting your water off altogether and draining the water present in the pipes. You can also invest in covers for outdoor faucets and tube pipe insulation for exposed pipes inside of the home. Both are handy for preventing pipes from bursting due to frigid conditions.

Be Prepared

No matter how well you maintain your home, disaster can strike. Here are a few supplies and strategies to have on hand when those happen:

  1. Have a water and fire-proof safe for important documents.
  2. Know where the main water valve is for your home and how to properly shut it off.  There’s nothing like coming home to water flowing from a burst pipe. It would be even worse if you didn’t know how to take care of it.
  3. Invest in a wet/dry vacuum. Having one of these on hand in the event of flooding decreases the chance of damage and mold. You’ll want to get to work right away pulling the water out of your home.

No one wants a disaster but there are ways to lessen the effects. If you keep your home properly maintained and have a few tools on hand when disaster comes knocking on your door, you’ll be prepared.

This Is Why You Want Disaster Specialists To be ASCR Certified

This Is Why You Want Disaster Specialists To be ASCR Certified

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When your place of business or home needs restoration due to mold, water damage, or sewage contamination, then you want to be sure to get quality professionals. Those offering cleaning and restoration services are plentiful, but securing a company that truly has the skills, expertise, and experience is not as easy to find.

Just what makes a restoration specialist top in the industry? Anyone can make claims but if the company staff went through training for the job and received certification for it, then you can trust them to do a superior job. The certification standard in the industry is from the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR). When hiring for your next cleaning and restoration job, consider a business with the ASCR certification. Here are 4 benefits you get with an ASCR certificate.

This Is Why You Want Disaster Specialists To be ASCR Certified

Nationwide Recognition

The ASCR certification has been providing people with professional training in the industry since 1980, and they’ve been in the business even longer. Their standard of excellence expands across the states. When you receive the ASCR certification, you get the gold standard in restoration and cleaning.

Opportunity for Advanced Certificates

The diversity of restoration projects calls for specialized certificates. The ASCR provides course for advanced damage and restoration control. Taking the certification program one can choose from any of the following specialties:

Rigorous Course of Study

When you obtain a certificate from any institution, you want to be sure that you will come away with the knowledge and expertise you need to complete your job successfully. The ASCR certification program requires that participants complete the following:

  • Intensive study course
  • Research in the industry
  • Pre-certification education requirement course
  • Formal report
  • Final paper

Once these steps are completed, you will proceed to the advanced certification course.

Pre-certification Needed to Take the Course

Before anyone can complete the certification program, they must complete one course in each of the following:

  • Basic fire, smoke, and water damage restoration skills
  • Restoration of structural damage
  • Contents restoration
  • Health and safety
  • Management

The reasons for securing a company that has the ASCR certification are plentiful. When it comes to keeping your business office or home in top shape, you can rely on experts with the ASCR seal of approval. The ASCR certificate doesn’t come easily. Those who earn the certification put in a lot of hard work to gain it, because they are serious about offering professional and effective services. For more information about restoration services, please contact us today.

Stay or Go? How to Live Around a Home Being Rebuilt

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When contemplating a major home renovation or rebuilding project, it’s important to consider whether it will be possible to continue living there while all the work is going on.

Whether the construction is due to the addition of a new structure, or a kitchen update, or if the house has suffered a disaster of some sort, like a fire or a flood, any effort at reconstructing is going to involve a significant amount of noise, dust, and visitors. The scope of the project generally determines the feasibility of living on-site during the process.

This is especially true if children or pets are part of the equation. Many construction contractors will refuse to be held responsible for pets that escape, and stopping work due to kids’ naptimes or curious questions will quickly increase costs.

Smaller projects like single rooms can easily be worked and lived around. Even a kitchen remodel is just an excuse for more picnics and restaurant visits, or residents can make do with a temporary kitchen set up in another room. Larger projects involving multiple rooms, foundation work, or anything that requires removing part of the roof merits serious consideration of alternative living arrangements.

During major reconstruction projects, household utilities are usually shut off, and construction workers have nearly total control of what can become a fairly hazardous area. That lack of basic utilities during reconstruction may make a temporary housing arrangement elsewhere absolutely unavoidable.

Given all of that, a number of hotel chains cater to individuals and families that need to be away from home for an extended period. This can also include the possibility of renting a unique Airbnb house, which could be a fun experience.

Homeowners may be able to find a very inexpensive place to stay while they rebuild if any nearby friends or associates who like to take long vacations can offer the opportunity to house-sit for a few weeks or even months while they’re away. This would depend on the timing of the reconstruction.

Other than these possibilities, The normal remaining options are staying together temporarily with other family or friends, or renting another house or apartment for the necessary time. Homeowners may also consider the possibilities of long-term camping in a nearby natural area, as long as it’s one that has sufficient nearby shower facilities (or a gym on the way to work). They may also like to try renting an RV and possibly booking a space at a nearby RV park.

Whichever tactic works best is a consideration for each family to make before they begin reconstructing their house. It’s important to remember that the safety and comfort of each member of the family depends on that decision.

Weathering Disaster: The Emotional Impacts Of Disaster In Your Home

Weathering Disaster: The Emotional Impacts Of Disaster In Your Home

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When disaster strikes, your first instinct may not be to address the emotional impact that this event will have on you and the members of your family. However, as the dust settles and cleanup begins, you may feel yourself experiencing unfamiliar feelings and seeking the answer to questions as you seek closure to the ordeal you’ve been through.

Losing a home is traumatic, even if you don’t experience injuries or personal loss as a result of the disaster which wreaked havoc on your home. Your home represents safety and security, among a host of other intangible benefits you may not even be able to describe. And the contents of your home, which may be lost too, are your memories, valuables, and more.

If you’re feeling out of sorts, angry, or depressed after a disaster in your home, know that you’ll be okay. First of all, it’s okay to not be okay in the weeks and months – perhaps even years – after your home damage or loss. It’s alright to have a heightened sense of fear and other unexpected feelings and triggers that come from this event.

Over time, the extreme feelings and anxiety of experiencing trauma again will fade, as the human psychological complex is fairly resilient. If in the meantime you feel particularly depressed, are unable to function reasonably, or are experiencing extreme relational challenges as a result of your home disaster, it’s okay to seek help.

Finding a counselor or therapist who specializes in handling trauma or a talk group for trauma victims can be a good place for you to hash out your feelings about the disaster that occurred in your home. Even talking out your feelings or the events of the disaster with a close friend might help you to relieve some of the emotions that you have bottled up inside.

Finally, engaging in meaningful life activities and physical exercise can help to boost your mood following a disaster in your home. Staying active physically and mentally can help your emotional state to rebound and will give you a healthy outlet for expressing yourself while you cleanup and/or rebuild.

We understand that the impacts of disaster on your home are many and far reaching. And we’re here to help. Whether you need to cleanup after a flood or other natural disaster, we can handle the details to help you get your home and life back on track.