Recent Posts
Storm Damage Cleanup and Restoration
8/22/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO was called to help this business recover from heavy storm rains.
Deep east Texas is no stranger to the ever changing and sometimes damaging weather. A typical day in Lufkin or Nacogdoches may start off with beautiful warm friendly skies and by days end have changed to heavy winds and threatening wind and rain. Have no fear, you have a friend in the business. Your local SERVPRO team has the right experience and training to handle all that Mother Nature may bring. Our team has helped with Disaster Recovery in 30 other states here in the U.S.. We have helped literally over hundreds of people when their homes or business have been impacted by: Fire, Water, Rain, Flash Floods, Strong Winds, Tornadoes, Wildfires or Hurricanes. We want our customers to know that we have seen just about everything Mother Nature can do and want you to know that help is just a phone call away.
936-559-0404
Commercial Building Restoration Services
8/22/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO after-hours services can help your business be ready for business after a water loss.
SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County is ready to respond immediately and work quickly to clean or restore your business. We understand that your property’s appearance is important and that every hour spent restoring is an hour of lost productivity. When you need a restoration or cleaning professional, SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County has the training and expertise to help make it “Like it never even happened.”
- Small Office Buildings
- Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
- Apartment Buildings
- Restaurants
- Hotel/Motels
- Small Retail Stores
- Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
- High-Rise Residential
- Manufacturing & Industrial
- Government/Military
With over 20 vehicles in our local fleet, SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County can be just about anywhere in Deep East Texas in a quick hour! Getting to your loss sight quickly is just the beginning. Rest assured we will have the right equipment and trained staff to handle your loss no matter the size. From initial and ongoing training at SERVPRO’s corporate training facility to regular IICRC-industry certification, rest assured our staff is equipped with the knowledge to restore your property.
Certifications
- ASD - Applied Structural Drying Technician
- CCT - Carpet Cleaning Technician
- ECTP - Employee Certification Training Program
- FSRT - Fire & Smoke Damage Restoration Technician
- IICRC Certified Firm
- RRRP - Lead-Based Paint Activities and Renovation
- WRT - Water Damage Restoration Technician
- Small Office Buildings
- Large Office/High-Rise Office Buildings
- Apartment Buildings
- Restaurants
- Hotel/Motels
- Small Retail Stores
- Large Retail/Big-Box Stores
- High-Rise Residential
- Manufacturing & Industrial
- Government/Military
Have Questions? Call Today – (936) 559-0404
Fire Damage Emergency Tips
8/22/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO helped repair this dorm room recover after fire and smoke damage.
What you can do until help arrives
The steps you take immediately after a fire, especially within the first 24 hours, can determine whether or not you successfully restore your property and belongings. Your actions also have an impact on your health and safety, as there are many hazards to be aware of during the cleanup and restoration. The smoke and soot left behind after a fire can be extremely hazardous and even cost lives. In fact, smoke inhalation is the leading cause of death amongst fire victims. Soot inhalation can cause severe illness or death as well. Your first priority is to have a qualified fire damage restoration specialist come right away to assess the damage and ensure that the proper steps are taken as quickly as possible.
Have Smoke or Fire Damage? Call (936) 559-0404
What To Do After A Fire
- Limit movement in the home to prevent soot particles from being embedded into upholstery and carpets.
- Keep hands clean so as not to further soil upholstery, walls and woodwork.
- Place clean towels or old linens on rugs, upholstery and carpet traffic areas.
- If electricity is off, empty freezer and refrigerator and prop doors open.
- Clean and protect chrome with light coating of petroleum jelly or oil.
- Wash houseplants on both sides of leaves.
- Change HVAC filter.
- Tape double layers of cheesecloth over air registers.
What NOT To Do After A Fire
- Don't attempt to wash any walls or painted surfaces or shampoo carpet or upholstery without contacting us.
- Don't attempt to clean any electrical appliances that may have been close to fire, heat or water without consulting an authorized repair service.
- Don't use any canned or packaged food or beverages that may have been stored near the fire, heat or water.
- Don't turn on ceiling fixtures if ceiling is wet. The wiring may be damaged.
- Don't send garments to an ordinary dry cleaner. Improper cleaning may set smoke odor.
Safely using your generator during a storm
8/16/2022 (Permalink)
Severe weather and wind caused this roof and tree to be damaged.
We want to make sure you are safe during the next storm power outage
If you have a generator on hand for power outages during severe weather, follow the safety tips below from American Red Cross:
- Never use a generator, grill, camp stove, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices inside a home, garage, basement, crawl space, or any partially enclosed area.
- To avoid electrocution, keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet Operate it on a dry surface under an open canopy-like structure, such as under a tarp help up on poles. Do not touch the generator with wet hands.
- Opening doors and windows or using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide (CO) buildup in the home. Although CO can’t be seen or smelled, it can rapidly lead to full incapacitation and death. Even if you cannot smell exhaust fumes, you may still be exposed to CO. If you start to feel sick, dizzy, or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately.
- Install CO alarms in central locations on every level of your home or property and outside sleeping areas to provide early warning of accumulating carbon monoxide.
If your home or business is damaged due to a storm, call SERVPRO of Longview/S. Nacogdoches County! We have the training, tools, and equipment to make it “Like it never even happened.” 936-637-0404
How Do Fire Sprinklers Work
8/13/2022 (Permalink)
Sprinkler Systems are among the most useful tools in your firefighting arsenal.
Sprinkler Systems are among the most useful tools in your firefighting arsenal. Today’s systems have been shown to reduce deaths and property loss by more than 65 percent.
For this reason, you certainly want fire sprinklers on your commercial property! But how do fire sprinklers work?
Step 1: Fire Sprinklers Detect Heat
Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers are not triggered by smoke. It’s an easy mistake to make since heat is carried upward with smoke from a fire. But if smoke was the trigger, simply burning your toast in the office kitchen could be enough to drench the kitchen with water from a fire sprinkler head.
Fire sprinklers work because high heat triggers the sprinkler system. When a blaze ignites, the air directly above it heats rapidly. This hot air rises and spreads along the ceiling. When the air is hot enough and reaches a sprinkler head, it triggers a chain reaction.
Most sprinkler heads feature a glass bulb filled with a glycerin-based liquid. This liquid expands when it comes in contact with air heated to between 135 and 165 degrees. When the liquid expands, it shatters its glass confines and the sprinkler head activates.
Step 2: Fire Sprinklers Douse The Fire
Each sprinkler head is attached to a pipe that connects to a reliable water source outside the building. When heat activates a sprinkler head, a valve opens, allowing pressurized water from the pipe system to flow out.
It’s important for water in a fire sprinkler system to be pressurized. This allows the water to spray outward in an arc to more thoroughly douse the fire and prevent it from reigniting.
Step 3: Fire Sprinklers Minimize Water Damage
In movies, sprinkler systems operate misleadingly, leading many people to believe a fallacy that all the sprinklers in a system are tied together and when one is triggered by heat, they all activate.
If this was the case, putting out a fire would simply be trading fire damage for water damage, and it’s not how fire sprinklers work.
Fortunately, sprinkler heads function individually. Most of the time, fires can be completely extinguished after just one or two sprinklers activate. This allows water damage to be confined to the small area where the fire started. Plus, since fire sprinklers douse fires with about six times less water than a fire hose, their quick action is less damaging to your property than a visit from the fire department.
It is best to have your sprinkler system on regularly scheduled maintenance and keep their contact information available for your entire staff in case of emergencies.
We can help your historical home after a fire or water loss.
8/8/2022 (Permalink)
Saving and drying out wood floors is our specialty.
Our number one priority is to help our community. Our clients have helped transform us from a small franchise to the Large Loss Response Team we are today, serving all of Deep East Texas of SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County would not be here today as an industry leader in your local area without the faithful community members that have trusted us with their mitigation, restoration, and cleaning needs.
The communities we serve are full of beautiful historic homes inside and out and in a water loss situation, we have the expertise it takes to salvage as much of your home’s historical structure as we possibly can. We especially cater to the natural hardwood floors, trim, and base as well as the plaster that was used for ceilings and walls in most of the older homes. From our hands to our specialty equipment, SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County handles these materials with the utmost care and diligence for preservation.
When catastrophe strikes anywhere in Deep East Texas you can always call SERVPRO of SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County 936-559-0404. Available for emergency services 24/7365 and we are always just a phone call away!
Does my home have a water leak?
8/8/2022 (Permalink)
Water spots in the ceiling
Do you know how to spot a water leak?
You never expect a water leak in your home, but it’s good to be prepared and know what to do in case it happens! Sometimes, leaks can go undetected due to where they happen in the home (inside walls, under floor, or in your crawlspace). The following tips can help you determine if a leak is present, whether you can see it or not!
- Watch your water bill for unexpectedly high usage. High water usage could be a sign of a problem.
- Use no water for two hours. Read your water meter before and after this period. If this reading is not the same, you likely have a leak somewhere.
- Check your toilet by placing food coloring in the toilet tank. In 15 minutes or less, if the colored water is in the toilet bowl without flushing, there is probably a leak.
- Fix leaks and drips as soon as you see them.
- Use water leak alarms and automatic water shut off systems to catch leaks quickly.
In the event that you have a water leak and need mitigation, call SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County! Our highly trained technicians will be happy to help get your home back to its preloss condition.
The Science of Drying Your Lufkin Property
8/8/2022 (Permalink)
SERVPRO uses moisture meters and other testing equipment to verify the moisture content
Do you know the science SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County uses to dry out your home or business?
Did you know there is actually a science behind the process of drying? The knowledge of psychrometrics is essential to restoring a water-damaged structure to its preloss condition. While your initial reaction may be to grab a few towels to mop up the mess and place a fan or two around the damaged area, SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County Professionals are trained in the science of drying and follow strict industry-approved standards to help lower the chance of any secondary damages. If your business suffers from water damage, your local SERVPRO professionals will:
- Inspect the building to detect every component that is wet, to help prevent secondary damage from happening.
- Measure how much moisture is in wet materials and monitor whether those materials are drying
- Speed up Mother Nature by using professional drying equipment.
What exactly does “speed up Mother Nature” mean? A wet building can often dry naturally because the environment always seeks equilibrium. When materials are wet, moisture will naturally move to drier air at the surface of the material- but only if the air is, indeed, drier. The only problem is, that nature often takes too long, and secondary damages may occur while the building is drying out. For this reason, the professionals at SERVPRO have been trained to use top-of-the-line equipment to help Mother Nature along, including equipment to help dry hardwood floors, tough-to-reach spaces inside walls, and much more. SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County also has state-of-the-art monitoring equipment and a proven scientific process to help speed the drying of your home or business.
The bottom line? Your local SERVPRO of Lufkin/S. Nacogdoches County has the training and equipment to help make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 936-559-0404.
Protecting the windows of your home during a storm.
8/5/2022 (Permalink)
Protecting the windows of your home during a storm.
Some homes in Lufkin, Texas may be especially susceptible to high winds. However, you don’t have to sacrifice style and comfort to prevent windblown glass and exposure to the elements. Examine the following shutter designs to choose the best one for your home.
1. Traditional Designs
When many people picture shutters, they imagine a wooden frame on either side of the window with rows of slats. This is called the colonial design, and it is so common that many homes use a non-functional version as a decorative window accent. However, depending on the conditions in your area, the colonial shutter variety might be a solid choice for storm protection as well. Another traditional design called the Bahama shutter has vertical hinges, allowing it to open into a small awning to provide shade in warmer climates.
2. Modern Equipment
Other homeowners choose a sleek and compact look to keep their shutters out of the way when no high winds are present. Accordion and rolling shutters are made of light metals or polycarbonate, giving them a high degree of strength and flexibility. This enables the window cover to fold away or roll up when not in use. These designs are typically more expensive than the traditional varieties, and can even be electrically-powered for added convenience.
3. Temporary Protection
Storm panels and plywood are another window damage prevention method for those in high-risk locations. These storm shutters are not intended for permanent installation, and properly speaking, they do not “shut” over the window at all. Storm panels are corrugated metal surfaces that are simply affixed to the window frame with screws. Plywood is an even cheaper solution and can be implemented faster, but may not be as secure.
Whatever shutter option you choose, remember that protecting your home against high winds is the first step toward avoiding interior flooding. Have the contact information of a qualified water damage restoration service ready if you anticipate severe weather conditions.
Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned
7/15/2022 (Permalink)
Certified SERVPRO Clean Deep Cleaning Keeps Your Space Safe
Ushering in a new standard of clean
As our communities return to business, we all have a new sense of what it means to be clean. In fact, 89% of consumers are uneasy about going back to brick-and-mortar locations*. At SERVPRO of Lufkin / S. Nacogdoches County, we’re dedicated to inspiring confidence in communities across the country as we find our way to a new normal. And we’re doing just that with Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned.
Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned, our new defensive pathogen cleaning program, goes way beyond standard janitorial cleaning practices. This is proactive viral pathogen cleaning. With over 50 years of experience in biochemical spill remediation and decontamination, you can trust SERVPRO Franchise Professionals to bring a higher standard of cleanliness to the places we gather.
So how does it work? It’s grounded in our unique 3 C’s:
- Consult: Not all businesses are the same, so we’ll tailor a bespoke cleaning program based on the unique needs of each facility.
- Clean: Based on the agreed plan, an expert deep clean is initiated using our proprietary EPA-Approved Hospital-Grade cleaning solutions and always adhering to the leading level of cleaning and decontamination standards set by the CDC.
- Certify: You’ll know a business is Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned by the shield posted on their front window. Along with digital emblems and other collateral, this beacon represents their commitment to the comfort and security of their employees, customers, and community.
So when you see the Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned shield, you can walk in with confidence. Because you’ll know the #1 choice in clean up and restoration was there.
Are you interested in our Commercial Services, or are you a consumer who wants to learn more?
*#1 Choice in cleanup & restoration based Commercial Attitude & Usage Tracking study. Polling 816 commercial business decision makers on the first choice for future needs related to cleanup & restoration work. A study conducted by C&R Research: October 2019
**Certified SERVPRO Cleaned means professionally trained SERVPRO franchises perform the job according to proprietary SERVPRO protocols and recognized industry standards (CDC, RIA, IICRC) with EPA approved cleaning products to deliver a SERVPRO certified cleaning experience and result.
(*The Harris Poll conducted online on behalf of Fast, between April 28 and April 30, 2020. About 2,048 U.S. adults aged 18 or older participated.) https://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/350922/89-of-consumers-concerned-about-returning-to-bric.html
24/7 Emergency Service