The Way to More and Cheaper Houses
Reader’s Digest – October 1947 (From Fortune, August 1947)

The incredible news of 1947 is that,
in spite of the worst housing shortage
since the James River landing,
home construction in this country
is in the doldrums.

In 1946
every conceivable obstacle
stood between
the home seeker
and a house.

Now materials are comparatively plentiful,
Government regulations are only a vestige –
and the industry is perilously close
to falling on its face.

The housing industry has been behaving like this for the last 30 years.

When it was returned to private management after World War I,
with the inspiring task of providing “Homes for Heroes,”
it met the challenge by inflating the cost
of an ordinary five-room house
40 percent in less than 12 months.

Thereupon the volume of new construction fell off by two thirds.

Costs fell, and from 1921 to 1925 there was a marked recovery:
4,000,000 houses were built.

But costs rose again, and after 1925 the volume of residential building went into a ten-year decline.

In 1936 and 1937, after the depression had dropped costs by perhaps one quarter, a promising recovery promptly brought another big cost increase.

The most recent challenge has been met in the normal manner.

Since the removal of war-imposed restrictions last fall, the cost of a finished house is estimated to have increased from 15 to 50 percent.

From January through May of this year,
300,000 new houses were completed and only 280,000 begun.

Any reasonable schedule for filling the nation’s housing needs
would call for at least twice as many new houses,
at prices a whole lot lower than now.

An industry that functions as badly
as the house building business
must have some really distinguished ailment.

The truth is
that house building
is the one great sector
of modern society
that has remained
largely unaffected
by the industrial revolution.

Its production methods
consist of a succession
of uncon¬nected handicraft operations
by masons, carpenters,
electricians, plumbers,
plasterers and painters.

While labor productivity in all American industry
has about doubled in the last 40 years,
responsible authorities
are prepared to argue
that in residential construction
it has actually declined.

The building-trades unions
outlaw technological progress
and keep labor productivity low;
subject to many local exceptions,
the unions prohibit
the use of spray guns for painting,
outlaw the wheelbarrow,
insist on plastered walls,
limit the amount of plaster to be applied in a day,
keep the energetic man
from laying too many bricks,
and engage in costly bickering
among themselves.

Many (perhaps most) build¬ers string along; they have combined with the unions to write restrictive rules into municipal law.

Given uniform wage rates,
regulated labor productivity,
and restricted techniques of construction,

only a genius
could build
a better house
and sell it for less.

There might be a loophole that would permit competitive cost cutting if a large builder were able to buy supplies in volume at discounts.

But this loophole has been plugged by a firm code of ethics that requires all sup¬pliers of building materials to quote uniform prices to all customers; even to such big builders as the U. S. Government itself.

No individual builder, large or small,
is permitted to buy at wholesale prices.

Building houses is a manufacturing operation,
yet the manufacturers must buy their materials at retail.

Retailers in turn are supplied by jobbers, who in turn are supplied by the manufacturers of bathtubs, plywood, wallboard, and building paper.

Before the manufacturing of a house begins, there is already a markup of 75 to 100 percent on the cost of materials.

Thus every participant in the industry –
builder, supplier and worker –
has endeavored to make himself secure, against competition.

The result has been security for no one.

Residential building in the United States is a feast-and-famine industry, because only in times of general feasting will customers pay the prices on which – come feast, come famine – it rigidly insists.

The most striking evidence
of housebuilding’s resistance
to capitalism
is its small scale.

Of the 200,000 odd prewar builders,
86 percent built only four houses or less a year.

The man who builds one house a year, or ten or 20,
simply cannot produce efficiently,
for he is not big enough to assume full managerial responsibility
instead of dividing it with subcontractors,
to oppose strength to strength in dealing with labor,
to counter the rapacity of materials suppliers,
and to take the responsibility for making a fair price to the customer.

The search for reform in the house building business therefore becomes primarily a search for large¬ scale operations.

There are several large-scale builders scattered over the country,
and in certain areas they are producing houses in promising volume.

Let’s examine two such builders:
one a well-established builder
of conventional houses
on Long Island
and the other
an imaginative newcomer
who is building
cheap houses near Baltimore.

The firm of Levitt & Sons,. Inc.,
of Manhasset, on Long Island’s north shore,
is the biggest private housebuilder
in the eastern United States.

Last year it produced 1000 houses
for a gross turnover of about $12,000,000;
this year 3000 houses are projected or in production
for an expected $24,000,000.

The basic Levitt product is a four-room bungalow
which no one would call beautiful- or spacious, or elegant.

A number of tricks are performed with the eaves and roof line,
and the houses are painted in different colors.

But they are basically as alike as Fords.

The house stands on a concrete slab and is radiant heated – copper coils carrying hot water are buried in the concrete floor.

Its price, with a well-equipped kitchen –
steel cabinets, sink, stove, refrigerator and washing machine¬
ranges from $6990 to $7850, depending on location.

Two thousand of the $6990 houses that will be built this year
will be rented to veterans for $60 a month,
and for these there is now a waiting list of 10,000.

The $6990 house represents a great deal of money for a very small house.

However, it is perhaps $2000 cheaper than any other house avail¬able in volume in the neighborhood – and, compared with most, it has an edge of a thousand or two in value when size and equipment are considered.

Also, there is at least $1000 profit in every house.

Levitt has performed this considerable feat
by breaking through the restrictions
that bind the ordinary builder.

In the first place Levitt has capital.

The firm was started in 1929 developed a number of subdivisions in the ‘30′s, and made money.

Dur¬ing the war it got experience with low-cost housing
when it built rental units for the Navy at Norfolk.

The distinctive feature of the Levitt method
is the precutting of all materials.

Rafters, studding and roof sheathing
are all cut to length at a Levitt shop,

and the proper number of pieces are dumped off
in front of each bungalow,
along with wallboard, paint, shingles and nails.

The assembly is principally a matter of fitting and nailing;
a Levitt carpenter rarely uses a saw.

The economy with which precut materials
can be trucked to the site
is as great as any savings
that might come from extensive prefabrication.

Only staircases, plumbing assemblies, window frames
and other easily transported subassemblies are prefabricated.

The price of this orderly, factory-like flow of materials is an enormous inventory of materials on hand, in process, or in neat piles by the bungalows awaiting assembly.

Currently that inventory runs to more than $4,000,000.

Investment on a similar scale runs through the entire operation.

The trench for the foundation is excavated
by a trenching machine which costs $7000,
and the foundation of each house
occupies the machine for only 27 minutes.

Obviously it takes a good many houses to make this gadget worth while.

Similarly, back of the concrete slab,
which is installed with a labor cost of about $55,
is a $200,000 fleet of Transit-Mix trucks.

Levitt uses subcontractors for every operation on the site
except the sale of the house.

Levitt’s subcontractors, however, do not work for anyone else.

Their fee is set not by bidding but by negotiation,
and they are subject to the close supervision
of the firm’s own project engineers and superintendents.

Thus, while preserving one of the most sacred forms of the guild,
Levitt has eliminated its substance.

The subcontracting system has been turned into a device for putting foremen on an incentive plan.

Levitt’s approach
to the building trades unions
is to ignore them.

Neither the firm nor any of its semi¬subcontractors has any union contracts.

Mechanics get prevailing wages and work a five-day week.

For about seven months of 1945 and 1946 the unions picketed the firm’s projects, but this did not interfere greatly with production; sundry boycotts were equally ineffective.

Levitt buys everything at prevailing prices from a local building ¬materials dealer called the North Shore Supply Company.

All conventions against direct dealing with the manufacturers are thus respected.

But Levitt & Sons is the sole owner of North Shore Supply.

This means that at least one of the markups,
that go to pyramid building costs has been eliminated.

Last June, Levitt opened its own lumber mill at Blue Lake, Calif.

The Blue Lake mill not only eliminates the manufacturer’s markup on about 30 percent, by value of the materials going into the Levitt houses, but makes it possible to precut the lumber at the mill and ship it direct to the building site.

President Bill Levitt has his critics
and the local builders’ association
has expelled him,
but he is a hero
to local GIs
who want houses.

When the Hempstead Town Board
showed some reluctance about revising its building code
to permit Levitt’s cellarless construction,
nearly 800 veterans and their families
jammed the town hall
to help him demand the change.

WHEREAS Levitt shows that a capitalist revolution in home building is possible, the Byrne Organization shows what it takes for anyone starting from scratch.

The Byrne Organization is the dressy cognomen for a collection of peripatetic Texans who, for the last 35 years, have been building whatever needed to be built from Cuba to Wake island.

The founder and head is John E. Byrne, a ruddy¬faced, outspoken ex-cowpuncher.

A good 75 percent of the brains and energy of Jack Byrne and his men are now concentrated on a development five miles from the edge of Baltimore, where Byrne is producing 1200 houses with an aggregate sales value of $8,000,000.

There will also be some rental apartments, a shopping center, theater and other community facilities. Houses at Harundale, as the development is called, are being finished at the rate of between ten and 15 a day.

Byrne’s basic house, which sells for $6950, is larger than Levitt’s; it has three bedrooms instead of two, but no attic.

Like Levitt’s, it stands on a radiant-heated slab, but unlike Levitt’s it is of highly unconventional materials.

The walls are of welded steel-frame construction, lathed and plastered on the inside.

The exterior is stucco, composition shingle or painted aluminum clapboard.

The roof is of welded steel-truss construction covered with wood sheathing and asphalt shingles.

The whole house could be turned over and dropped without appreciable dam¬age.

Nevertheless, when finished, it is surprisingly orthodox and attractive in appearance.

At Harundale, Byrne operates open shop without contracts.

For ordinary building materials he has negotiated direct purchase con¬tracts with suppliers, although this has usually involved arrangements with local building-materials dealers.

He buys a good deal of unorthodox material – steel and aluminum in particular – where there are no trade agreements to be respected.

The core of Byrne’s system is the inexpensive temporary shop adjacent to the site.

At Harundale this shop consists of nine huge Quonset huts.

The unsolved problem of prefabrication is how to ship a house or any substantial part of it at reasonable cost.

By locating his fabricating plant next to the building site,
Byrne believes he has side-stepped this problem.

He thinks the shop can be moved from one site to another at small cost.

The complete assembly of copper coils for the radiant heating, the plumbing assembly, walls, partitions and the complete roof down to shingles and chimney are all put together in the Quonset huts.

The roof section, which weighs four tons, is hauled on a specially built trailer to the site, where a power crane drops it on the walls.

Within minutes after it is in place, a welder has fused it to the walls.

Because he has a large and experienced organization, Byrne has been able to dispense almost entirely with subcontractors.

The preliminary result of this system is a supply of substantial small houses at a thousand dollars or more below the market.

But Byrne estimates that his present system could not be used effectively for fewer than 300 houses at a time.

Unlike Levitt, Byrne is not yet out of the woods.

The Federal Housing Administration has given the Byrne house full approval, and during the first six weeks after sales opened 76 were sold.

However, customers have to be persuaded that the unconventional construction is good.

Moreover, what Byrne, or any similar builder, does in the future depends on ability to find a lot of money.

Before the first foundation was laid at Harundale, Byrne had invested $750,000 in an inventory of lumber, steel and other materials; $350,000 in trucks, bulldozers and power tools; and $150,000 in his temporary shops.

An examination
of only two builders
may not be final proof
that the hope
of the housing industry
lies in larger-scale operations.

But what size can accomplish is at least significant.

Both Byrne and Levitt are large enough to afford a management that actually manages and to evade the toll gates where the rest of the industry pays tribute to the industry’s antique distribution system.

By building several hundred houses at a time
they are able to use power equipment
and production-¬line methods,
the basis of capitalism’s
claim to superior efficiency.

If the result is not yet a cheap house,
there is reasonable indication
that this is the route
by which cheap houses
will have to come.

Copyright 1947, Time Inc., Time and Lift Bldg., Rockefeller Center, New York 20, N. Y. (Fortune, August, ’47)

Reader’s Digest – Post article comedy:

» ONE Texas town has posted a sign that really slows down motorists:
“20 MILES AN HOUR OR $19.90.” -Contributed by Coleman Cox

» SIGN in a Bayshore, Long Island, dry-goods store window:
“ALTERCATION SALE – PARTNERS SPLITTING UP.”

By M.P. MCQUEEN

You may have noticed the lines at home-improvement stores getting longer or heard the whirring of buzz saws in your neighborhood. After years of economic recession and housing-market malaise, people are starting to fix up their homes again.

According to an April 15 report from the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, annual spending on remodeling is expected to accelerate this year, with nearly 5% growth over 2009. “This year could produce the first annual spending increase for the industry since 2006,” the peak of the housing boom, says center director Nicolas P. Retsinas.

But the forces driving today’s action couldn’t be more different from those during the boom. Back then, people wanted to renovate their places so that they could trade up to bigger homes, or because their home equity was soaring and they wanted to reinvest some of the spoils.

A Look at a Kitchen: Before and After Remodeling

Now, the opposite is happening: Many people who bought during the boom years are accepting the reality that they won’t soon be swapping up for a sybaritic spread. Their mortgages may remain above water, but after years of falling home prices, their equity is so low that the transaction costs of buying a new house would leave little for a down payment.

In short, they are stuck.

“People have seen their down payments kind of wiped out,” says Harvard economist Jeremy Stein. “They are locked into their house. They can’t really move, even if they thought the other house was cheap and a good deal.”

So these people are making their homes more comfortable for a longer-than-expected stay. Setting aside old calculations of how much a particular improvement will add to resale value, they are making smaller tweaks that can make a big difference in livability. You might call it “psychological return on investment.”

Nowadays, say real-estate agents and contractors, smaller projects like updating kitchens and baths and humble attic-bedroom conversions are more popular, while two-story master suites and $100,000 kitchen blowouts are decidedly out of fashion. Hidden improvements like insulation also are on the rise, as people realize they won’t be able to pass on their drafts, leaks and other problems to the next guy. Tax credits that expire in 2010 are enticing people to make energy improvements, too.

One of the most cost-effective improvements, say contractors, is removing a wall to create an open kitchen-dining area. The project “makes the kitchen feel bigger and the kitchen and dining room more usable,” says Sarah Susanka, an architect and author of “The Not So Big House” book series. “It’s such a simple thing to do.” It can cost as little as a couple of thousand dollars, according to David Merrick, a home remodeler in Kensington, Md., but can run much higher if plumbing and electrical work are involved.

A surprising number of people fall into the category of being above water on their mortgage but anchored to their property. According to First American Core Logic, at least 24.5 million borrowers in the U.S. have home equity of less than 25%, and of those, 13.2 million are above water. Considering the 9% in commissions and fees that typically come with buying and selling a house, as well as the typical 20% down payment on the new one, it is easy to see why people aren’t house-hopping like before.

This applies even to affluent professionals. Paul Sorbera, an executive recruiter in Greenwich, Conn., is seeing it firsthand among his clients. He says many financial-services executives “bought $2 million homes in the good times and have $1.3 million houses now because of the price decline. They have some money in the bank and can afford their current living standard, but moving is very impractical for them.”

Economists, whose models often assume the rationality of hypothetical consumers, say remodeling makes sense for such people. “If they don’t have a lot of equity in their houses and can’t move, they should have a propensity to improve rather than move,” says Richard K. Green, director of the University of Southern California’s Lusk Center for Real Estate. “When you renovate, you save a lot of transaction costs.”

Web sites such as Remodelormove.com offer calculators to help consumers make the decision.

Kate Anderson, 42 years old, of Sunnyvale, Calif., a technical writer and homemaker, and her husband, Scott, 43, a vice president at Hewlett-Packard, say they considered buying a larger place to accommodate their growing children, a daughter, 10, and son, 8. But they surmised that buying and selling now would be too expensive. “We didn’t think it was worth the whole sale purchase expense … just to get a few extra square feet,” Mrs. Anderson says.

Instead, they opted to fix up their 1950s-era tract home, worth an estimated $750,000. Most houses in their neighborhood with new kitchens and baths sell for up to $850,000, she says. While their home “is a little squished,” they chose to “gradually improve it,” she says.

In December, the Andersons remodeled their kitchen, putting in hardwood floors, cherry cabinets and stainless-steel appliances, ripping out a closet and expanding a doorway to improve the flow. They also installed new incandescent ceiling lights and under-cabinet fixtures, which Mrs. Anderson says she especially loves.

Because they made no major structural changes, they kept the cost to about $50,000, a bargain in the pricey Silicon Valley market. It wasn’t easy to hew to that budget, though; the couple decided to ditch a garden window over the sink and self-closing drawers, which would have added several thousand dollars to the cost.

Even in the ever-grander suburbs outside Washington, people are thinking smaller. A few years ago, Mr. Merrick, the contractor, says, more people were doing two-story additions, and most people who remodeled kitchens made them larger. Now, “four of the last six kitchens I did, the footprint stayed exactly the same,” he says.

Home-improvement retailers are seeing a clear trend toward smaller renovations. Craig Menear, executive vice president of merchandising at Home Depot, says there has been strength recently in projects involving simple décor updates such as ceramic tile, interior paint, faucets and bath fixtures. At Lowe’s, customers were drawn to products to update flooring, cabinetry and countertops during the last few months of 2009, the most recent period for which data are available, spokeswoman Maureen Rich says.

Part of the reason, of course, is money. With home prices slumping, there is less equity for homeowners to tap. An April 20 survey by American Express, the first of its kind, found that 72% of affluent homeowners planned to make improvements to their houses in 2010. But they expected to spend an average of just $11,500. And most respondents planned to pay for their projects with cash; just 16% planned to use debt.

Banks also are making credit less available than they used to. Keith T. Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, a mortgage-data firm, says that before the housing bust, banks would often lend for projects based on the value of the house after completion of the project, but they are less likely to do so now because “there’s no guarantee the improvement or the market will lead to price appreciation.” The result: even affluent homeowners aren’t able to borrow as much as they used to.

With little reason to expect huge price gains in the housing market in the next few years, some homeowners are thinking especially long-term. Diane Ausavich, a remodeling contractor in Milwaukee, says a pair of physicians, as part of a bathroom renovation, recently installed a barrier-free, walk-in shower and higher countertops in their three-story lakefront home built in the 1890s. They did it “so that as they get older they can wheel in and out with a wheelchair if they should have to,” Ms. Ausavich says. The homeowners are in their mid-40s and, “being doctors, I’m sure they see the gamut,” she says.

Likewise, Marge Kumaki, 57, a marketing and public-relations consultant who resides in Silver Spring, Md., says she and her husband decided to do some basic upgrades on the post-World War II split-level home they have owned for 21 years after their two children left the nest for good in 2007.

She says she would prefer to move to a new high-rise condominium in downtown Bethesda, but that they decided to stay and renovate because it is more cost-effective and they like where they live now. Last summer’s severe thunderstorms, which flooded their finished basement and required repairs, spurred them to get started.

Ms. Kumaki says they are planning to spend in the low $30,000s to update the upstairs bathroom, kitchen and family room.

But the couple have decided to hold off on another dream. “I’ve always wanted an addition, since it is a split level and you can go up or down,” she says. “I’d like another level on top, but that’s the future.”

Document Recovery – Restoring Water Damaged Books

By Ben Anton

Museums, libraries, and schools across the United States are continually researching new and effective ways to prevent water damage to ensure the longevity of rare and precious books and documents. Rare book rooms are commonplace in many major libraries and some museums and organizations are home to the most valuable, important pieces of literary history. Places like the American Bible Society’s Rare Book and the Rare Book & Special Collections division of the Library of Congress house some of the most highly-valued first-edition books from throughout American history. It is vital for future generations that these collections are protected against water or mold damage.

Just as these rare books are important to posterity, each homeowner also keeps items they consider precious for their future family members. Things like family photo albums, family bibles and other books and documents could fall prey to water or mold damage if not properly stored or cleaned. There are things to consider when assessing the ability to salvage water damaged books as well as various methods for doing so.

The Extent of Water Damage

Water or mold damage, unfortunately can strike even the most prepared institutions. Broken plumbing pipes, natural disasters or broken ventilation systems can all lead to damaged books. Museums, libraries and schools try to understand the different types of drying techniques and how they affect certain composite materials in order to best save water damaged books when these problems happen. Water absorption depends on the age, condition, and material of the paper that has been damaged. Books published before 1840 will generally absorb much more water than currently printed books, therefore running a much higher risk of experiencing swelling or mold damage. Leather bound books of the 15 through 17 centuries can usually be restored using extremely controlled procedures. However, modern books typically use badly processed leather which makes water damage restoration nearly impossible.

Professional recovery service providers are the best at determining the precise extent of water damage your books have sustained and what drying technique is most appropriate. You can reduce the risk of permanent damage to a book collection, however, by taking a few steps immediately after the damage has been found.

Humidity

Humidity is one of the main sources of book mold or water damage. It is important to keep your archives in a very cool, dry place to reduce the likelihood of mold outbreaks. If damage has already set in, open windows and doors and set up as many fans in the affected area as possible. This creates air flow in the area and reduces the amount of humidity. De-humidifiers are also a good option. Never open water-damaged books or separate individual sheets of paper as this may cause further damage that can be irreparable.

Consider Restoration Professionals

For most books, especially those of extreme importance, the salvaging and drying process should be done using a professional service. Book restoration specialists use technologies and drying techniques that are much more effective and far less damaging than basic do-it-yourself techniques. Two techniques are widely used and very effective. The desiccant air dry distribution systems lowers humidity in the drying area, allowing more of the water trapped in the book or document to evaporate. The vacuum-freeze drying system distribute pressure evenly around the drying book, reducing warp, maintaining the original look and feel of the books or documents, and ensuring that future damage does not set in.

Most attempts by individuals to dry damaged books themselves will result in warped or ruined products. By employing book restoration experts, books can be better handled and more closely be returned in nearly new conditions.

Water and mold damage can affect both prepared and unprepared institutions and home owners. Taking the time to understand how the damage has effected important materials, especially precious books, and incorporating the aid of professionals will ensure these items will be restored for future generations.

~Ben Anton, 2008

Quick book restoration is essential when water or mold damage has been discovered. Contact Rapid Refile immediately to find out about their approach to document recovery service.

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What to Do About Water Damage

By Benjamin Moulton

There are many reasons basements get flooded. The majority of water damage comes from frozen pipes and broken sub pumps. Will your insurance company cover this? The answer is yes but, it depends on how the claim is reported to the insurance company.

I work with thousands of customers every year helping them overcome the damage caused by heavy rain and cold winters. Each situation is different but, there is one thing all these customers have in common. The home owners’ insurance policy, when shopping for homeowners insurance people need to make sure they are covered 100%.

What do I mean by 100%?

Insurance companies are not up-front about coverage for your home when it comes to water damage and mold damage. For example: If it rains really hard and your basement sub-pump cannot keep up with the amount of water that is coming in the basement it is considered a flood and if you do not have flood insurance you will not be covered.

If your sub-pump stops working and you need to purchase a new one you will not be covered unless you have flood insurance. If water comes into your basement from cracks it is considered seepage and will not be covered by flood insurance.

Flood insurance will not cover mold damage caused by water damage even if the mold damage is from the original water damage. This is called secondary damage. The insurance companies will not pay to have secondary damage repaired because the homeowner is responsible due to lake of proper mitigation.

Mitigation is work preformed by first response companies. This work is done to stop secondary damage from occurring. Mold will only grow if the relative humidity is above 60% for more then 48-hours. To stop secondary damage (mold growth) the mitigation company will extract water from the carpet, set up dehumidifiers, and air movers. The extraction process is the most important part because there are only two ways to remove water, 1-extract water using an “Extreme Extractor”, 2-dehumidacation.

The extraction process is fast and most effective in removing water. Dehumidifiers remove water from the air and create a thrust thus water is transformed from vapor to solid. The air movers create evaporation so the water is transferred from solid form to vapor so the dehumidifiers can transform the water again from vapor to solid and drain the water out of the basement and into the drain or bath-tub.

It normally takes 3 to 4 days to remove all the water using dehumidifiers only after the extraction process is done. After the basement is dry it is a good idea to have all the effected areas deep cleaned by an IICRC certified company.

Not all water damage is the same. There are 3-catagories of water and in each category there are 4-classes. Following is a listing and description of categories:

Category 1 Water – That which is clean at the releasing source and does not pose a hazard if consumed by humans. Category 1 water may become progressively contaminated as it mixes with soils on or within floor coverings or building assemblies (walls, decking, subflooring). Time and temperature, which promote the growth and amplification of microorganisms in water can cause Category 1 water to degrade. Examples: burst water pipes, failed supply lines on appliances, vertically falling rainwater.

Category 2 Water – That which begins with some degree of contamination and could cause sickness or discomfort if consumed by humans. As with Category 1 water, time and temperature can cause Category 2 water to become progressively more contaminated.

Category 3 Water – That which is highly contaminated and could cause death or serious illness if consumed by humans. Examples: sewage, rising flood water from rivers and streams, ground surface water flowing horizontally into homes. There are two ways in which water enters a building as a result of wind storm damage:

The first involves falling or windblown rainwater that enters as a result of damage to roof components or wall assemblies. The second involves horizontally traveling ground surface water (Category 3) containing silt and soil contaminants that infiltrate into structures, generally through doors or around foundation walls. This ground surface water (storm surge) may accumulate to a depth of several inches or several feet. When structures are partially submerged or remain substantially flooded for weeks, far more elaborate procedures usually are required.

Take time to visit our website [http://www.eddiezinhomecleaners.com/RestorationServices.html] for service with water damage in Milwaukee or Chicago.

Benjamin Moulton

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Water Damaged Indoor Environments

By Jason Yost

It seems as though, as with the subject of mold, that water damages have become controversial and complicated. Maybe one person heard this and another that; this company is saying do this, while another says do that; or some people feel they’ve gotten sick during a water damage, while others don’t. Either way, most people have either experienced a water damage or known someone who has, but few understand its affects on the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and their health. I hope that this page might help you understand a little more about the indoor environment of a water damage.

Wikipedia Encyclopedia defines water damage as, “a large number of possible losses caused by water intruding where it will enable attack of a material or system by destructive processes such as rotting of wood, growth, rusting of steel, de-laminating of materials such as plywood , and many, many others.

“The damage may be imperceptibly slow and minor such as water spots that could eventually mar a surface, or it may be instantaneous and catastrophic such as flooding. However fast it occurs, water damage is a very major contributor to loss of property.”

Water damage can be caused by a number of sources, such as leaking plumbing, sewage back-ups, vandalism, hail damage, clogged guttering, natural disasters, hydrostatic pressure, leaking or congested crawl spaces and attics, and many others. Whatever the cause, prompt, thorough attention should be given to the situation in order to protect everyone’s health, the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), and the building components from compromising degradation. The Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC) in its Standard & Reference Guide for Professional Water Damage Restoration (hereafter referred to as the S500), states several times how “it is important to begin mitigation procedures as soon as safely possible following the initial loss, as the quality of the water is likely to deteriorate over time.As the quality of water deteriorates, the greater damage to the structure and contents, along with increased environmental hazards, are likely to develop.”

The IICRC S500 goes on to say, “If increased water activity and/or ERH (Equilibrium Relative Humidity) (from high relative humidity, leaks or floods) is allowed to exist for more than 24 hours, the high moisture condition changes the normal stable ecology of either a part of the indoor environment (a micro-environment such as carpet or wallboard) or of the entire building.”

So, “What are some of the changes taking place in a water damaged environment?”

1. chemical and microbiological off-gasing

2. mold and bacteria amplification

3. in some cases, virus transmission

4. parasitic infestations

5. and much more

“Where do these things come from?” Indoor and outdoor environments naturally harbor, in varying degrees, microscopic life forms, termed “microbes”. Microbes is a term used in short for microorganisms. Microbes are tiny, one-celled organisms, bacteria, fungi (such as mold), and viruses. Being found in all living things, they are ubiquitous, that is to say they are existing or being able to be found anywhere, especially at the same time. When exposed to excessive moisture for a prolonged period of time microbes will begin to flourish into a population, or ecology, that is not natural and may cause harm.

The off-gasing that takes place comes from the microbes, cleaning agents and the building components, such as pesticides and other biocides used on water damages, plastic, paints, synthetic fibers, and many more. This off-gasing and chemical distribution has been contributed to a number of health effects in sensitized people. Some examples of these health effects include, but are not necessarily limited to migraine headaches, excessive fatigue, neuro-cognitive symptoms (“brain fog” or memory loss), muscle pain (fibromyalgia), joint paint (rheumatoid arthritis), burning, tingling or numbness in peripheral nerves (parasthesias), and even gastrointestinal symptoms.

Because of the seriousness associated with health effects and water damage, the IICRC felt it necessary to categorize water damages based on the cleanliness of the water, to help remediators, restorers, home owners, and all other materially interested parties make decisions on what action would be appropriate to first provide for the health and safety of everyone involved, and, secondly, how to restore the home to its pre-loss condition. The three categories of a water damage are:

1. Category 1, refers to “water originating from a source that does not pose substantial harm to humans. Also referred to as ‘clean water’.”;

2. Category 2, refers to “water containing a significant degree of chemical, biological and/or physical contamination and having the potential to cause discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans. Also referred to as ‘gray water’.”; and,

3. Category 3, refers to “grossly unsanitary water, containing pathogenic agents, arising from sewage or other contaminated water sources and having the likelihood of causing discomfort or sickness if consumed by or exposed to humans. This category includes all forms of seawater, ground surface water and rising water from rivers or streams. Also referred to as ‘black water’.”

I had someone ask me once, “I had a water damage company come to my home and tell me that I had a Category 3 water damage. Does that mean they found hidden mold?” Remember that the Category of water is referring to the cleanliness of the water not the presence or absence of mold. The S500 states that when “suspect or visible mold growth is present” whomever is inspecting the home to determine the scope of work, or protocol, should refer to the IICRC S520, Standard & Reference Guide for Professional Mold Remediation. This is termed a “Specialty Situation” rather than a Category.

“Well, then how do I know what the Category of water is, and whether or not I really need to get all of this demolition and reconstruction done that my contractor is telling me I need?” An inspection, testing and consultation from a Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant (CIEC) can provide you some laboratory work and description of the conditions in your home or office. SOLUTIONS Indoor Environmental Consulting can perform tests such as the PCR – Environmental EPA Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI), as well as Endotoxin testing, sewage contamination in buildings testing, and microbial Volatile Organic Compound (mVOC) screening, along with thermography and moisture content measurements of building materials (such as drywall, plaster, wood, etc.), and psychrometric measurements (such as temperature, relative and specific humidities, dew point, and thirst) all to help diagnose the condition of your water damaged environment and provide you with a recommendation of care, or protocol.

The good news is that you can do things to help avoid water damage in your home or office with routine maintenance. Here area few suggestions:

1. Routinely check and secure water supply lines, such as those under sinks, around toilets, tubs and showers, the dishwasher, washing machine, water heater, and refrigerator.

2. Make sure to test your sump pump before the start of each wet season to make sure that it is functioning properly.

3. Battery-operated back-up sump pumps and/or a generator can also be used to protect against power failure or failure of the primary pump.

4. Check your water heater for signs of rust or moisture.

5. Have your HVAC system serviced by a qualified contractor, making sure they include in their inspection and cleaning the condensation pan drain line (keep it free of obstruction).

6. Make sure that your Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system’s filter stays clean and use a filter with a MERV 6 rating or greater. This helps to cut down on the particulates flowing through your HVAC system; thereby reducing the likelihood that this system will be a source of poor indoor air quality.

7. Consider installing a water alarm. These systems can be set up as individual appliance systems or whole house systems. Some systems can be set up to sound an alarm when moisture is sensed, others can shut off the water to the building when leak is detected.

But if you have the unfortunate experience of having a water damage in your home or office, make sure to process the damage quickly and completely. Water damaged environments can be impacted by mold and other microbes (like bacteria), in some cases, as quickly as 24 – 72 hours. That doesn’t necessarily mean you will see mold growth that soon, but the IAQ could be compromised by mold or bacterial activity, so can the cleanliness of the water.

The S500 says of Category 1 and 2 water damages that “water contact with structural surfaces and content materials may deteriorate in cleanliness as it dissolves or mixes with soils and other contaminants, and as time elapses.”

“How do you find a qualified Water-damage Restoration Technician (WRT)?” I am familiar with two organizations that can help you find WRT as they certify them. The first is the Restoration Industry Association (RIA). You can search by certificant or member on their website. The second is the Institution of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration Certification (IICRC). They list firms that are certified through their training and certification programs. You will also find references to other professionals that they certify such as fire restoration technicians and carpet cleaners.

There are times and places where you may find yourself in a position where there isn’t a WRT available to help you remedy, or re-mediate, the water damage problem in your home or office. SOLUTIONS Indoor Environmental Consulting offers moisture mapping, monitoring, and project management services to help those in need of a WRT on remediation/restoration projects. We do not re-mediate or restore the building, but we can work with your contractor on-site and manage the remediation/restoration process with you. If you feel like there is no one close enough to your area to manage the re-mediators on your water damage contact us and we’ll be happy to assist you.

The founder of SOLUTIONS Indoor Environmental Consulting, Jason Yost, has been in the cleaning, restoration, remediation, and indoor air quality industries for over sixteen years, doing everything from carpet cleaning, installation and repairs; water and fire damage inspection, consultation, and restoration; microbial inspection, consultation, and remediation; crime scene remediation and restoration; as well as been an educator to private and public groups through various business network groups, classrooms, seminars, and news programs.

Jason currently holds four of the most prestigious board-awards in the industry, awarded by the American Indoor Air Quality Council:

Council-certified Indoor Environmental Consultant

Council-certified Indoor Environmentalist

Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor

Council-certified Microbial Re-mediator

Additionally, Jason holds a certification as a Water-damage Restoration Technician from the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC).

Jason volunteers his time as a member of the American Indoor Air Quality Council’s certification board, and is an Individual Member of the Indoor Air Quality Association. For more information you can review Jason’s IAQA PRO.FILE at http://www.iaqa.org/profile.asp?id=223 or visit his website at [http://www.SolutionsIEC.com]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Yost
http://EzineArticles.com/?Water-Damaged-Indoor-Environments&id=1780195

Cleaning Tips – How to Repair Water Damage and Handle Water Emergencies

By Marco Ferlini

As a homeowner, you should always be concerned about how to clean up water damage, even if it has not yet happened to you. In truth, this is every homeowner’s worst nightmare scenario, and it makes no difference whether the damage is caused by a faucet that was not turned off, a burst pipe, a bad rainstorm, or a flash flood. The fact is that water can cause massive amounts of damage in a very short time, and you should know what to do if you should ever have to go through a cleanup.

It is quite evident that the first thing you need to do is to find the source of the water and begin from there. If your bathtub or toilet overflowed, or if rain got into your basement or crawlspaces, that is very easy to see. On the other hand, if water is seeping through cracks in the ceiling, or if it is staining your walls, it may be very difficult to get to the source.

If you have a leaky roof, then you need to fix your roof immediately so that you can stop any further damage. If you have a leaky pipe or a burst pipe, you need to shut off your water supply until you find the damaged pipe.

Before getting started on your cleanup, you need to determine just how badly things are damaged in your home. You may have a limited amount of damage to your drywall, floors, ceilings, and so on, or you might even have damage to the home’s structural integrity, including the foundation. It depends on how long you have had the leak, and on how long the water has had to cause damage to your home.

This article will proceed on the assumption that you have the time and equipment to handle the cleanup on your own, so the very first thing that you need to do is to get fresh air moving through the area that is water damaged. You need to open your windows, your doors, turn on your fans, bring in box fans, etc. What you are trying to accomplish is to completely dry out the area, and this will help to reduce bad smells later on.

The next thing you are going to need is a dehumidifier, and you need to get it going as quickly as you can. The dehumidifier will take that moisture out of the air, which will really help in your water damage cleanup and perhaps even ameliorate the effects of the water damage.

When you have plenty of air going and the dehumidifiers running, you need to pick up books, magazines, photographs, cardboard, and any other paper products. You need to throw them away if they are not valuable and if they are heavily damaged.

You should be able to make copies of most of your paperwork, but then make sure you throw the damaged paper away. If you have valuables that have been damaged considerably, put them in a frost-free freezer, and find a water damage restoration professional as quickly as possible to see whether they can be restored and saved.

The next step in the process would be to get hold of a wet and dry vacuum and clean up all the water that you can. You will find that the vacuum will be especially helpful with carpeting, upholstered furniture, wooden and tiled floors. You have to continue using the vacuum until you have cleaned up the bulk of the water and to prevent any further water damage to your home.

You need to be especially careful with wooden surfaces that were water damaged, so get the fans and dehumidifiers going around your wooden surfaces as quickly as possible so they can dry out. While you have the machinery going, you may want to try using fresh, clean water and mild detergent to clean treated wood. However, you should know that if the wood was not effectively treated, you will end up with permanent damage unless you work very quickly and effectively.

You can also clean other surfaces with mild detergent and fresh, clean water, and you may even want to scrub them with a small brush if needed. You may want to repeat the process if there are areas that were badly water damaged or if they were greatly affected by your water emergency.

Drywall and ceiling damage will probably occur as a result of your water emergency, so you are going to have to carefully inspect your walls and ceilings to try to spot the damage. In general, drywalls and ceilings can probably be dried out as long as they have not swelled or buckled and the seams are still intact. Swelling, buckling and seam separation are signs of greater damage, and that means that you will have to replace the entire damaged area. Even if you manage to dry things out thoroughly, you will probably have to prime and paint the places that water affected the most.

You need to continue ventilating and dehumidifying, and this may take some time until everything is completely dried out. If you want to avoid giving mold and mildew a chance to get a foothold in your home, make sure everything is completely dry.

In the end, you have to consider the time that it is going to take for you to go through the entire water damage cleanup process, as well as the cost of buying or renting the necessary machinery. You will also have to decide what needs to be thrown out, and what needs to be saved, and you may end up throwing things out that could have been saved, and that will add to your cost.

When you have taken all of these things into consideration, it may be more cost effective for you to call the professionals at Orange Restoration to handle the water damage cleanup. It may just be that will end up saving money by calling the best water damage restoration professionals in the San Diego area.

When you have taken all of these things into consideration, it may be more cost effective for you to call the professionals at Orange Restoration for your water damage cleanup. It may just be that will end up saving money by calling the best water damage restoration professionals in the San Diego area.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marco_Ferlini
http://EzineArticles.com/?Cleaning-Tips—How-to-Repair-Water-Damage-and-Handle-Water-Emergencies&id=3912265

Water Damage Detection – No Time is Too Early to Do This

By Valerie Caulin

Water is known to be an essential factor in human’s life, and to all living things. It is known to be in liquid form but water has solid form and gas form as well. It is a chemical substance that has one molecule of oxygen combined with two hydrogen atoms. Water has much usage and it is the most important chemical substance in our everyday lives. Water has no odor, transparent and no taste.

Mainly, water is important in all aspects of life. Nature needs water, animals need water, and humans as well. It is being used in agriculture, as a dissolving agent, used in heat transfer process, recreation, industrial applications, food processing, and fire extinguisher. As population grows, need for water goes high as well. That is why sometimes, water is being abuse by many of us and we never thought that water supply will never be enough if we don’t take care of it.

Water is very useful but can be damaging as well. In nature, it is life-threatening. This is one of the reasons why most people claim their home insurance. We have to be ready when water pipes burst and the basement gets flooded. Some appliances may be leaky, or when disaster strikes. There is no such ‘too early’ to be ready. We need to be sensitive and ready all the time when the event arise. If others can be ready, why shouldn’t we? There are few tips to consider being ready in the event that water damage arises. Let us collate some information on how to easily detect water damage.

Water damage can destroy even the most solid built and well- maintain houses. If you’re house or building has water pipes installation, be aware that water burst happens in some unexpected times. Maintaining your water system properly will help minimize the possibility of damage. Always think that your house or building is designed to protect you against any form of water and moisture, and you need to have a regular, routinely inspection of your house. If in case water damage emergency arises, you can expect minimal damage or none at all. Home maintenance is number one aspect in preparing for water damage. It gives you and the whole family a peace of mind, security and safety. You don’t just protect it, you also simply increasing its value.

If in case you were already a victim of any natural disaster such as hurricane, typhoon, floods that results you to leaky pipes, damages or leaky roof, and totally destroyed house, here are some basic tips on what to do. First of all, if you were a victim of hurricane or tornado, make sure that you check your house first if it is still safe to live in. If you are certain, just look for a temporary place like lodge for you and your family to live in. If in case a typhoon arises, make sure that your gas supply lines are off, same as your water supply. If you have feelings that there will be a power outage, make sure to turn off the main switch or circuit breaker panel. If there were waters inside the house, make sure you sweep waters and dried it all up. After the event, check for damage water pipes or plumbing connections. Check your electrical and power wirings as well. Be careful upon checking, and make sure that you always watching out your steps. If there were exposed installation with hazardous chemicals or components, make sure that you fix it first of all. Cover it with safe, plastic sheets or tarps to avoid leakage. Remove wet carpets and rugs immediately and have it dried first. If there are parts of the house that has been damaged or broken, make sure that you clean off the debris and keep your children away on it. Consider safety, always. If you have to do the above checking or procedures, you can bring your family on the safe place first together with your valuable belongings and keep them safe. Write down all your observations and create a checklist of your inspection. After that, you can call your insurance company or any person whose expert in each type of damage. Arrange some basic agreement and always keep important tracking or invoice number.

Since you’ve already aware of safety and precautions, we have to give you an idea on how to check if you have water damage and teach you how to detect water damages. In cases like typhoon or hurricane, you should always check your roof. Check if there is missing or bent flashing, if there’s any damage gutter and chimney. Check your walls as well. Is there any damage bricks? Cracked on stucco? Wet and stained stucco or bricks means there is possible water damage that needs to be checked and fixed right away. Check also for warped or loose siding boards. Check for water intrusions through the windows and basement.

In your attic, check for any wet and damaged insulation. Check missing parts, vents, rotting or warping. In your basement, check for wetness. Your floor above basement should be free of wet and stains. Your ductwork should be dry and intact and free of wetness and stains. Don’t forget to see your furnace. Check if it is still operating or damaged. Your water heater should be disconnected if it is damaged.

Valerie is a freelance article writer. You can check more articles of Valerie in her site, http://www.valcaulin.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Valerie_Caulin
http://EzineArticles.com/?Water-Damage-Detection—No-Time-is-Too-Early-to-Do-This&id=1508574

Water Damage Hazards – How to Protect Yourself

By Valerie Caulin

A flood is a natural phenomenon that can occur anywhere that have harmful effects on people and the environment, it brings too much water damage in a certain place. There are many reasons or causes of flood, it can be developed and may happen very quickly over a short period of time due to heavy rain that cause river and/or seas to over flow their banks that may happen anytime, anywhere even without warning or signs.

It is very dangerous, it may bring tragedies, and it can damage your home and may bring property loss. Before a flood could happen make sure that you are ready. Make sure that you do not have valuable items and appliances in your basement. Get a flood insurance, it will help you restore everything after a flood happens. And also, make sure your fuse box or the main breaker and utility meters are raised above the flood level in your home because water and electricity cause electrical spark that can cause fireand to avoid electrical shock. It is better to check your local building officials or city engineers, if you are not sure what your flood level is.

Water damage is any damage done by water like the flood and could also happen inside your home like a leak on your sink. This water damage causes wetness or dampness that helps the growth of moisture-related mold and mildew that are toxics, and bring reactions such as immune disorders, pathogenic disease and cancer, and also causes an allergic reactions like headaches, disorientation and dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, chronic asthma, open sores, rashes and chronic fatigue.

Water damage can cause molds, it can be found everywhere; they are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes that digest organic matter to reproduce spores. They are part of the fungi family; it also includes yeast and mildews. In nature, mold plays a key role in the decomposition of leaves, wood and other plant debris because without mold, we wouldn’t have great foods and medicines, such as cheese and penicillin. A problem starts when mold starting to digest organic materials like our homes.

Once the mold has settled in your home due to water damage, they need moisture to begin growing. They can grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. To control mold, we need to control moisture in our house.

There are many reasons for water damage and are requiring an adequate care to avoid the water damage that can occur in your residence or place like checking and fixing regularly any drips.

Providing attention to the roof is also very important. A leaking roof can do more damage due to rain than a leaking faucet. With a leaking roof, it is possible to have damage that the water might turn into mold.

To avoid this, here are some helpful things that you should do to prevent water damage in your bathroom and kitchen:

- Check if there is hidden water leaks in your home; it is easy and is possible that you have one in your house.

- Turn all appliances off that use water, and then check your water meter.

- After an hour of leaving your appliances off, check again the water meter to see if the reading has changed. If the water meter reading changed then it is possible that there’s a leak.

- Check underneath your dishwasher to see if the water pipes are or not leaking. If there’s water near the base of the dishwasher, you have leak and may water damage.

- Then, check your refrigerator; it is one of the usual reasons of water damage.

- Then check your sink area under and on top of the counter.

- Also check your bathroom, soft spots in the floors near the tub or shower, and discoloration, means that it has leaks.

- And also check your toilet bowl; the overflow of toilets is also an obvious cause of water damage.

When it comes to water damage, what you don’t know can hurt you! Water damage can result increased of insurance rates, decreased value of home and property resale, and even health issues, if not properly repaired.

To protect yourself and your family from water damage and related issues, here are some tips:

- When water damage takes place it is imperative to contact a water damage and extraction company as soon as possible. Do not wait until the next day.

- After all the water is extracted and the humidity levels returned to normal, it is necessary to remove furniture and other items from the area even if they aren’t in direct contact with the water. A high humidity and a general unsanitary condition may contaminate other materials in your home. It is better to contact and work with a reputable water damage repair company that provides relocation and storage assistance for your belongings.

- An extensive water related damages sometimes requires the financial support of insurance. Do not risk the health and security of your family, better to contact a reputable water damage and restoration company that works with your insurance to help you begin the process of restoring your property.

- If the water damage is due to sewage overflow, it is necessary to eliminate contaminated items or materials. A qualified water damage restoration expert can assist and provide valuable information whether or not your belongings are safe to keep and capable of being cleaned.

- Water damage can cause and ruin air quality, drywall, upholstery and even hardwood flooring in your house. It is better to deal with a company that is capable of providing a full service. In contacting a Water damage restoration and Water damage extraction company, make sure that they have a full service like carpet and wood floor restoration, air vent cleaning and upholstery cleaning.

Here are some tips if you prefer to do water damage restoration all by yourself:

- Eliminate the source of water if possible; remove the water by mopping and blotting or sweeping it off.

- Wet furniture cushions and then dry them by wiping it off and under furniture legs place a small wood blocks or an aluminum foil.

- Make sure that you wiped all the furniture dry.

- Keep the draperies off the wet carpet, loop the bottom through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.

- Open all furniture drawers, closet doors, and luggage for better air flow.

- Move all your photos, paintings, and art objects to a safe and dry place.

- Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings.

- Remove all wet fabrics and dry them.

- Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry to avoid mold and mildew.

- Do not ever use an ordinary household vacuum to remove water.

- Do not use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or wet floors.

- Do not go into rooms with standing water if the electricity is still on.

- Do not lift carpet without professional help because lifting the carpet incorrectly could bring shrinkage.

Water damage may also be caused by a clogged in your sink or bathroom. Most clogged drains can be easily cleared off by using things that you can found in your house.

Clearing a blocked drain isn’t fun. It is much better to prevent a clog from happening to avoid water damage. Here are some tips on how you can keep your bathtub and sink drains clog-free:

- You can use strainers in your bathroom drains to stop hair from going down the drain. It’s easier to clear out a strainer than unclogging a drain.

- Do not drop soap down the drain assuming they will dissolve and wash away, it can cause clogs in a drain. Pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain will also help you. This will melt any grease and will wash it away before it can build up any clogging but don’t do this in a toilet, it could break the porcelain. Once in a while, pour a half cup of baking soda in the drain and then slowly add half cup of vinegar. Leave the mixtures sit in the drain for a few minutes and then rinse it away by hot water down the drain.

Here are simple checks to keep your home safe from water damage and the mold infestations:

- Check your window frames and exterior door frames for any sign stains, and apply caulk or molding as needed because stains on your drywall are the most obvious sign of interior water damage.

- Keep an eye for any buckling or warping of your wooden floors. Even if your home doesn’t have hardwood floors, vinyl and carpets are often installed on top of a wooden board layer that can swell when exposed to water.

- Check your attic regularly for stains and other signs of water infiltration. Always pay special attention to the roof and also check the flashing where the roof meets the wall. Also check your roof outside for damaged and cracked or curled shingles.

- Check how your home’s gutters handle a heavy rain. If it overflows then your gutters need to be cleaned regularly to keep them free of leaves. Installing a screen in your gutter keeps the leaves out.

Water Damage Hazards- How to Protect Yourself

A flood is a natural phenomenon that can occur anywhere that have harmful effects on people and the environment, it brings too much water damage in a certain place. There are many reasons or causes of flood, it can be developed and may happen very quickly over a short period of time due to heavy rain that cause river and/or seas to over flow their banks that may happen anytime, anywhere even without warning or signs.

It is very dangerous, it may bring tragedies, and it can damage your home and may bring property loss. Before a flood could happen make sure that you are ready. Make sure that you do not have valuable items and appliances in your basement. Get a flood insurance, it will help you restore everything after a flood happens. And also, make sure your fuse box or the main breaker and utility meters are raised above the flood level in your home because water and electricity cause electrical spark that can cause fireand to avoid electrical shock. It is better to check your local building officials or city engineers, if you are not sure what your flood level is.

Water damage is any damage done by water like the flood and could also happen inside your home like a leak on your sink. This water damage causes wetness or dampness that helps the growth of moisture-related mold and mildew that are toxics, and bring reactions such as immune disorders, pathogenic disease and cancer, and also causes an allergic reactions like headaches, disorientation and dizziness, nausea, diarrhea, chronic asthma, open sores, rashes and chronic fatigue.

Water damage can cause molds, it can be found everywhere; they are microscopic organisms that produce enzymes that digest organic matter to reproduce spores. They are part of the fungi family; it also includes yeast and mildews. In nature, mold plays a key role in the decomposition of leaves, wood and other plant debris because without mold, we wouldn’t have great foods and medicines, such as cheese and penicillin. A problem starts when mold starting to digest organic materials like our homes.

Once the mold has settled in your home due to water damage, they need moisture to begin growing. They can grow on wood, ceiling tiles, wallpaper, paints, carpet, sheet rock, and insulation. To control mold, we need to control moisture in our house.

There are many reasons for water damage and are requiring an adequate care to avoid the water damage that can occur in your residence or place like checking and fixing regularly any drips.

Providing attention to the roof is also very important. A leaking roof can do more damage due to rain than a leaking faucet. With a leaking roof, it is possible to have damage that the water might turn into mold.

To avoid this, here are some helpful things that you should do to prevent water damage in your bathroom and kitchen:

- Check if there is hidden water leaks in your home; it is easy and is possible that you have one in your house.

- Turn all appliances off that use water, and then check your water meter.

- After an hour of leaving your appliances off, check again the water meter to see if the reading has changed. If the water meter reading changed then it is possible that there’s a leak.

- Check underneath your dishwasher to see if the water pipes are or not leaking. If there’s water near the base of the dishwasher, you have leak and may water damage.

- Then, check your refrigerator; it is one of the usual reasons of water damage.

- Then check your sink area under and on top of the counter.

- Also check your bathroom, soft spots in the floors near the tub or shower, and discoloration, means that it has leaks.

- And also check your toilet bowl; the overflow of toilets is also an obvious cause of water damage.

When it comes to water damage, what you don’t know can hurt you! Water damage can result increased of insurance rates, decreased value of home and property resale, and even health issues, if not properly repaired.

To protect yourself and your family from water damage and related issues, here are some tips:

- When water damage takes place it is imperative to contact a water damage and extraction company as soon as possible. Do not wait until the next day.

- After all the water is extracted and the humidity levels returned to normal, it is necessary to remove furniture and other items from the area even if they aren’t in direct contact with the water. A high humidity and a general unsanitary condition may contaminate other materials in your home. It is better to contact and work with a reputable water damage repair company that provides relocation and storage assistance for your belongings.

- An extensive water related damages sometimes requires the financial support of insurance. Do not risk the health and security of your family, better to contact a reputable water damage and restoration company that works with your insurance to help you begin the process of restoring your property.

- If the water damage is due to sewage overflow, it is necessary to eliminate contaminated items or materials. A qualified water damage restoration expert can assist and provide valuable information whether or not your belongings are safe to keep and capable of being cleaned.

- Water damage can cause and ruin air quality, drywall, upholstery and even hardwood flooring in your house. It is better to deal with a company that is capable of providing a full service. In contacting a Water damage restoration and Water damage extraction company, make sure that they have a full service like carpet and wood floor restoration, air vent cleaning and upholstery cleaning.

Here are some tips if you prefer to do water damage restoration all by yourself:

- Eliminate the source of water if possible; remove the water by mopping and blotting or sweeping it off.

- Wet furniture cushions and then dry them by wiping it off and under furniture legs place a small wood blocks or an aluminum foil.

- Make sure that you wiped all the furniture dry.

- Keep the draperies off the wet carpet, loop the bottom through a coat hanger, and place the hanger on the drapery rod.

- Open all furniture drawers, closet doors, and luggage for better air flow.

- Move all your photos, paintings, and art objects to a safe and dry place.

- Remove wet area rugs or other floor coverings.

- Remove all wet fabrics and dry them.

- Remove damp books from shelves and spread out to dry to avoid mold and mildew.

- Do not ever use an ordinary household vacuum to remove water.

- Do not use electrical appliances while on wet carpet or wet floors.

- Do not go into rooms with standing water if the electricity is still on.

- Do not lift carpet without professional help because lifting the carpet incorrectly could bring shrinkage.

Water damage may also be caused by a clogged in your sink or bathroom. Most clogged drains can be easily cleared off by using things that you can found in your house.

Clearing a blocked drain isn’t fun. It is much better to prevent a clog from happening to avoid water damage. Here are some tips on how you can keep your bathtub and sink drains clog-free:

- You can use strainers in your bathroom drains to stop hair from going down the drain. It’s easier to clear out a strainer than unclogging a drain.

- Do not drop soap down the drain assuming they will dissolve and wash away, it can cause clogs in a drain. Pour a kettle full of boiling water down the drain will also help you. This will melt any grease and will wash it away before it can build up any clogging but don’t do this in a toilet, it could break the porcelain. Once in a while, pour a half cup of baking soda in the drain and then slowly add half cup of vinegar. Leave the mixtures sit in the drain for a few minutes and then rinse it away by hot water down the drain.

Here are simple checks to keep your home safe from water damage and the mold infestations:

- Check your window frames and exterior door frames for any sign stains, and apply caulk or molding as needed because stains on your drywall are the most obvious sign of interior water damage.

- Keep an eye for any buckling or warping of your wooden floors. Even if your home doesn’t have hardwood floors, vinyl and carpets are often installed on top of a wooden board layer that can swell when exposed to water.

- Check your attic regularly for stains and other signs of water infiltration. Always pay special attention to the roof and also check the flashing where the roof meets the wall. Also check your roof outside for damaged and cracked or curled shingles.

- Check how your home’s gutters handle a heavy rain. If it overflows then your gutters need to be cleaned regularly to keep them free of leaves. Installing a screen in your gutter keeps the leaves out.

Valerie is a freelance article writer. You can check more articles of Valerie in her site, http://www.valcaulin.com

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Getting Creative With Garage Shelving

By MJ Marks

Garage shelving may not be something you equate with creativity. But if you think about it, home owners all over the world bring a wide range of ideas to how to best manage their storage needs with the help of shelving. There is a huge range of options that you could go with. It can be as simple as basic wooden shelves, or as complex and deluxe as you can imagine. Products are available that will serve nearly any conceivable storage need. Use creativity for how to best use your space.

In America, garage shelving ideas range the gamut from super basic to fairly complex. On the simple end of the spectrum, it is common to see shelving that usually consists of some arrangement of dimensional lumber and some plywood. Though, ask any college or university student about shelves and they will promptly teach you about the diversity and portability of cinderblocks and simple pine boards. This is fine for dorm rooms, but in the garage it needs to be just a bit more. So, back to the lumber and ply. It is the rare individual that isn’t capable of putting something functional together with these materials. If you can measure, cut, and fasten you can make shelving in your garage from these things.

On the fancier, more complex side of things, people will tend their garage shelving toward nicer materials like finished melamine or even hardwoods. Once the decision is made to move away from the purely functional, the sky is the limit. Personally speaking, I find that shelves hidden behind lockable doors are really desirable. Being able to secure your belongings, hide them from prying eyes, and still keep things up and out of the way, is a big step in the right direction.

One thing some people can do to supplement their garage shelving needs is to use old cabinets. When we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago we found use for some of the old cabinets out in the garage. Chances are, most people don’t happen to find themselves with extra kitchen cabinets on hand, so just keep it in mind if you happen to be one of those who may be remodeling soon.

Usually, storage needs in the garage are best met with garage shelving that is heavy duty, designed to look good and last for many years. Fortunately, many manufacturers today make some really nice quality shelving products. These usually include features like secure welds, powder coated finishes, full adjustability, and heavy duty steel construction. Of course, there are lighter versions made out of composites and other metals that are not meant to store super heavy items. Overhead storage is another option that, while not typically seen as shelving, is, in fact, exactly that, a shelf that attaches to hang from the ceiling. Being able to put things up out of the way overhead is a great way to go.

Garage shelving, of all types, is meant to serve a purpose. The point is that it doesn’t really matter whether you decide that something simple is best for you, or that you really need something a little more polished and deluxe. What matters is that you have a place to solve the problem of clutter and random mystery piles of stuff. Get creative and find garage shelving that best helps you organize your space for you!

MJ is a freelance writer for ClickShops Inc, where you can find a great selection of garage shelving for your garage at garagecabinetsonline.com.

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Built-In Bookshelves Are For Great For Storage – Might Not Add Value

By Joel D McDonald

If you are thinking about adding built-in bookshelves to your home, you should consider them for your personal convenience, but don’t expect to recoup the cost when it comes time to sell your home. They can be an attractive feature that helps to sell your home, if they are built properly, but not everybody likes the same interior features or confinement that built-in bookshelves can represent.

They are quite attractive on each side of a fireplace that seems lonely on a wall that doesn’t leave much room for any other furniture and they can help anchor the room. When it comes time to re-sell your home, it can add additional storage, if the bookshelves contain lower drawers or cabinets for storage space. On the other hand, it is important that they aren’t just a bunch of shelves that attract clutter or they can detract from your home’s attractiveness, when it comes time to sell.

Built-in bookshelves have to be considered closely, because many people don’t have books in the traditional sense, like they used to. Now you can get eBooks that don’t require storage, so bookshelves are more of a decorating feature, when done correctly. If you decide to devote an entire wall to built-in bookshelves because you need places to store the children’s toys, you have to keep in mind that some people might not like the look or have other plans for the room, when you are ready to sell the home.

Any money you put into built-in bookshelves might not be recouped, since you can’t take them with you to your new home. Consider a resale possibility when you are making any home improvements or you might find that they might not add any value, but could be viewed as something that will need to be removed. Make sure that they are attractively designed with trim that is appropriate to the rest of the room or home and serve function instead of additional shelving to be dusted, de-cluttered or just wasted space.

The best rule of thumb on built-in bookshelves is that they belong on walls that contain a fireplace or an end wall that will contain an entertainment center. They should be part of a focal part of the room and contain an opening large enough for today’s larger big screen televisions, if they are going to be an entertainment center wall. Usually the furthest, smaller wall is a good place for built-in bookshelves, although some people will put them in bedrooms, along with built in chest of drawers to make more space in the room.

While they might not add that much value, they will be a feature that competitive homes for sale won’t have. They should be professionally built and trimmed, so you will need to hire a professional carpenter, unless you are one yourself. Just keep in mind that you might not recoup the money spent on them when it comes time to sell your home and you can’t take them with you, so make sure they add the storage and comfort you need, without detracting from the value of your home, when building built-in bookshelves.

Be sure to check out Automated Homefinder – your real estate expert in: Longmont Colorado.

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