Warnings

Mold is one of the top considerations in keeping a home’s indoor air clean and healthy. Exposure to some types of mold can cause health issues such as eye irritation, wheezing and nasal congestion. Though homeowners should always be on the lookout for potential sources of mold growth, rainy fall weather makes it an important time to ensure a home can stand up to moisture intrusion that can lead to mold problems. To raise awareness and keep these issues top of mind, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates the month of September as National Indoor Mold Awareness Month.

Here are a few tips to help prevent mold from growing in your home:

•  Fix leaks in faucets, pipes, roofs and foundations;
• Keep humidity under control.  Relative humidity can be measured with a humidity meter. Between 30-50 percent humidity is ideal.
• Stop mold in its tracks.  Look for products that inhibit mold growth and are moisture and mold resistant in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms.
• Remove wet materials as soon as possible. If a home has experienced flooding or other water damage, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends removing all porous items, such as carpet, upholstery, drywall and ceiling tiles within 48 hours. If an area larger than 10 square feet has been affected, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends hiring a qualified mold remediation specialist to help with removal.

-excerpt from news.certainteed.com

If you have mold damage in your home or business, contact Smart Restoration Services.  The experts at Smart Restoration Services can address all phases of restoration, remediation and reconstruction. Contact us at 847.577.2900 or contactus@smartrestorationservices.com.

Identifying whether your roof, siding or windows have sustained damage from a hail storm may be difficult. The experts at Smart Restoration Services and Smart Roofing, Inc. can help! Also, many insurance companies will consider paying for storm or hail damage. Smart Restoration Services and Smart Roofing, Inc. has helped thousands of customers in the Chicago suburbs navigate the insurance roof claim process. Call us at 847.797.0404 or email contactus@smartroofers.com today!

http://www.smartroofers.com/smart-roofing-inc-april-2016-chicago-roofing-hail-damage-experts/

Flooding is the most common natural disaster in the US,  and, as we know in Chicago, it  can happen anywhere and at any time of the year.  Be prepared by reviewing the important information in the link below, which includes  a Flood guide, which provides the basics of floods, explains how to protect yourself and your property, and details the steps to take now so that you can act quickly when you, your home, or your business is in danger.

https://community.fema.gov/hazard/flood/be-smart

If you’ve had damage to your home or business, contact Smart Restorations Services.  The experts at Smart Restoration Services can address all phases of restoration, remediation and reconstruction. Contact us at 847.577.2900 or contactus@smartrestorationservices.com.

At this time of year, we receive many reminders to take precautions against the cold weather.  Did you know that frozen pipes are one of the biggest risks of property damage when the temperature drops?

When water freezes, it expands. That’s why a can of soda explodes if it’s put into a freezer to chill quickly and forgotten. When water freezes in a pipe, it expands the same way. If it expands enough, the pipe bursts, water escapes and serious damage results.

Ideally, it is best not to expose water pipes to subfreezing temperatures, by placing them only in heated spaces and keeping them out of attics, crawl spaces and vulnerable outside walls. In new construction, proper placement can be designed into the building.

Be sure that everyone in the home knows where the main water shut-off valve is located.  If you have a leaking or burst pipe—turn off the water right away.

If you’ve had damage due to frozen pipes in your home or business, contact Smart Restoration Services.  The experts at Smart Restoration Services can address all phases of restoration, remediation and reconstruction. Contact us at 847.577.2900 or contactus@smartrestorationservices.com.

To-Dos: Your February Home Checklist

• Change furnace and humidifier filters. Replacing the filters regularly helps your furnace run more efficiently and keeps the air in your home cleaner. According to the U.S. EPA, the air inside your home can be 2 to 5 times worse than the air outside.
• Do a home safety check. It doesn’t take long to check home safety devices and the peace of mind is well worth the effort. Test smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors, changing batteries as needed. Check the expiration date on fire extinguishers and replace as needed.
• Check insulation and venting in attic. The soffit and roof vents in your home are how your house dissipates moisture in the attic. They can’t do this is they are blocked or clogged. While you’re checking the vents, make sure there are no signs of leaks or ways for water to get in. If your house looks like this, there is likely an insulation or venting problem.  

If you’ve had damage to your home or business, contact Smart Restorations Services.  The experts at Smart Restoration Services can address all phases of restoration, remediation and reconstruction. Contact us at 847.577.2900 or contactus@smartrestorationservices.com.

Smart Restoration Services is pleased to announce that Rich Wojcik is now Haag Certified!

“Haag Certified” is the mark of a true professional. In the roofing and insurance industries, that phrase carries a lot of weight. It means you’re a true authority in your business. It means you can quickly and accurately inspect for damage and correctly evaluate that damage. And it means that when you report your findings, your conclusions have true credibility.

The experts at Smart Restoration Services can address any disaster-recovery issues.  We handle all phases of restoration, remediation and reconstruction. Contact us at 847.577.2900 or contactus@smartrestorationservices.com.

You already know that house mold is a serious threat to both you and your family, but you may also end up with irreparable damages to your house.  The problem with mold is that it is everywhere. The air carries it inside, and if your house is not properly ventilated, it is a prime candidate for house mold colonies. Sometimes, you will never know that you have mold in your house until it is too late.

How do you know that you have mold in your house? Here are common signs:

1. There is a stale and musty odor inside your house.
2. The stale and musty odor clings to fabrics you use at home – your curtains, linens and clothes – even when they have just been washed.
3. There are black and white speckles on various surfaces in your house, especially in areas near the water filter or the water softener tank.
4. There are crystalline substances present on your ceiling or in your basement.
5. The speckles and the crystalline substances keep reappearing no matter how often you clean them.
6. The cardboard items in your basement, attic or garage feel damp.
7. The wooden parts of the structure of your house are soggy.

When you see any signs of mold in your house, it is important that you act upon it immediately. If you ignore your mold problem, you may be endangering the health of the people around you as well as running the risk of damaging your house.

The experts at Smart Restoration Services can address your mold or other moisture-related home issues.  We handle all phases of restoration, remediation and reconstruction. Contact us at 847.577.2900 or contactus@smartrestorationservices.com.