Disaster Plan

You never know when disaster will strike. ARS offers Disaster Plan seminars and binders for our Priority clients. Contact us today for info!

Bed Bugs

Of the many issues affecting apartment communities today, bed bugs are still prevalent. Learn more: http://huff.to/I1Uxhu

After the Fire: Restoring Wood Furniture

If your furniture is wet, don’t dry it in the sun. The wood will warp and twist out of shape.

To clean it, first remove soot, dirt and other debris with dry rags or brushes.

Then, wearing gloves, scrub the furniture with a stiff brush and a gentle detergent.

Remove the drawers. Clean and dry them separately to prevent sticking when you replace them.

After cleaning, dry everything in a well-ventilated indoor space. Open windows, or circulate air with fans, air conditioners or furnaces.

Think the wood is dry? Wait! Surface moisture may be gone, but it can remain in the fibers of the wood for several days.

If mold forms, wipe the wood with a cloth soaked in a mixture of borax dissolved in hot water.

To remove white spots or film, rub the wood surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup household ammonia and 1/2 cup water. Then wipe the surface dry and polish with wax, or rub the surface with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1/2 cup turpentine and 1/2 cup linseed oil.

Be careful. Turpentine is combustible, and oily rags can spontaneously catch fire. Dispose of these rags in an airtight container like a paint can, and place them outdoors, far from your home.

Alternatively, you can rub the surface with a fine grade steel wool pad dripped in liquid polishing wax. Clean the area with a soft cloth, then buff.

After the Fire: Restoring Walls, Furniture & Floors

Even tiny, contained fires can devastate property. Soot and smoke are often more damaging than flames, but don’t worry—you can scrub away the thick, black mess on your walls, furniture and floors.

Clean affected areas with a mild detergent or mix the following solution:

• 4 to 6 tbsp. Tri-Sodium Phosphate

• 1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach

• 1 gallon warm water

Wearing rubber gloves, wash a small area of wall at one time, working from the floor up. Then rinse with clear water immediately. Ceilings should be washed last.

Rinse furniture and floors with warm water after cleaning, then allow everything to dry thoroughly. If possible, open windows and use a fan to circulate air.

Don’t repaint until walls and ceilings are completely dry.

Is your wallpaper dirty or peeling? Use commercial paste to secure loose sections. Your wallpaper dealer or installer can provide more information on wallpaper cleaners. Washable wallpaper can be scrubbed like an ordinary wall, but care must be taken not to soak the paper. Work from the bottom up to prevent streaking.

Restoring Rugs & Carpets

After a fire, rugs and carpets should be cleaned and dried as quickly as possible. This will rid them of harmful substances and prevent mold growth.

Clean rugs by sweeping, beating or vacuuming, then shampoo them. When finished, lay rugs flat and expose them to warm, circulating air. If possible turn on a fan to speed the process. Be patient—though the rug may seem dry on the surface, the base can remain damp for a long time.

Qualified carpet cleaning professionals can provide specialist tips on cleaning and preserving your carpets.

Fire Damage: What to Do First

Damage from even minor fires can be devastating.  It’s natural to want to immediately clean and repair the area, but keep these tips in mind to ensure a speedy restoration process.

Do
- Open windows (weather permitting)
- Brush or vacuum soot from upholstery and carpets.
- Protect chrome faucets and other bright trim by brushing with detergent and coating in Vaseline.
- If it’s cold, pour antifreeze in toilet bowls and drains.
- If heat is off during winter, call a plumber to drain and blow out water lines.
- Remove pets to a clean environment.
- Send a sample group of garments for cleaning. Observe the results before sending a large quantity.
- Board up windows, roofs, or other structural gaps to protect against further damage. Retain a contractor, if necessary, to help stabilize the structure.

Don’t
- Wipe or attempt to wash affected surfaces.
- Use affected furniture or upholstery.
- Use exposed food items.
- Turn on appliances until they’ve been cleaned and checked.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks for tips on how to restore furniture, photographs and other valuable items following a fire.

Restoration 101: What You Need To Know

When your home or business has been damaged by a disaster, professional restorers help your life return to normal. We want that to happen as soon as possible, so let us explain what we do, how we do it, and what to expect in the days ahead.    

Restoration is the process of restoring a damaged object to its previous condition, or better. Insurance companies may bankroll restoration, but professional restoration firms actually bring damaged homes, businesses, and personal property back to life.  Professional restorers save millions of dollars in insurance costs every year, and their repair estimates are the basis for settling an untold numbers of claims. A professional restoration is a vital part of the insurance process.

However, the relationship between a professional restorer and his/her client can be complicated. An insurance adjuster is caught in the middle, and unfortunately the adjuster’s role is not quantified in the policy or by industry standards. The restorer is required to contract with the property owners and be responsible to them for the performance of the work, despite the fact that specifications and price may have been determined by an insurance adjuster.

Members of the Restoration Industry Association (RIA) provide impartial advice on the scope of disaster repairs. RIA members adhere to a comprehensive code of ethics and are backed by institutional expertise and laboratory resources. Call on an RIA member to bring your property back to life.

Emergency Restoration Guidelines Are On The Way…

Check back for updates shortly!