Disaster Services
- Fire Damage
- Smoke Damage
- Water Damage
- Mold Remediation
- Reconstruction
- Trash Outs
Givens Disaster Restoration has trained and uniformed employees who work around-the-clock to respond to your loss because we understand quick response can prevent additional damage to your home or office.
Givens Disaster Restoration provides written, detailed, by-room scopes and estimates. We will describe everything that will be done in the remediation process, which will support our detailed estimate.
Fire Damage
From the initial board-up securing your structure to the final repairs, Givens Disaster Restoration is prepared to handle every last detail. As a general contractor, we will handle every aspect of your rebuilding process to your satisfaction.
It is important when choosing a contractor for your fire-damaged structure to choose a contractor that is familiar with rebuilding after a fire. Special steps need to be taken to ensure that soot damage and smoke damaged areas are properly cleaned or replaced to guarantee odor control. Even one stud that is not properly cleaned can lead to a lingering smoke odor. Because of our smoke odor removal guarantee you can rest assured Givens Disaster Restoration will leave your property odor free.
We will try to help you understand fire and smoke damage, and the residue and unseen odors that accompany them. We invite you to discuss any information on-site with restoration professionals, this will ensure your home, business and furnishings is being correctly restored to pre-loss condition, or better.
At Givens we are always conscious of time in a fire loss, we understand that just because the fire is out, this does not mean the damage has stopped. The longer corrosion control and emergency cleaning is delayed, the greater the loss.
Our certified professionals have the experience to work with the insurance company’s, (if available), and the home/business owners to coordinate the efforts in choosing the best avenue in restoration techniques to fully restore your home.
Do's and Donts' in the event of a Fire Loss
Do:
- Keep children, elderly adults, individuals with asthma and pets away from the affected area
- Open windows for ventilation, if outside conditions are favorable
- Tape a double layer of cheesecloth over air registers
- Apply petroleum jelly or WD-40 to chrome, such as faucets, fixtures, frames etc.
Give Givens A Call
(316) 265-1315
- Remember, handling a fire loss requires special training and knowledge. Many companies claim to handle fire restoration, so verify their qualifications. They should be IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration) certified and/or be members of ASCR (Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration), such as Givens Disaster Restoration
Do Not:
- Use radios, televisions, appliances, etc.
- Attempt to wipe off walls or furniture with household cleaners
- Use home carpet cleaner sprays
Smoke Damage
A fire loss is not just the physical destruction of combustible materials, but there are those unseen damages that are the side effects of this type of damage.
Let’s take a look at the type of losses
- Wet Smoke- this type of damage is caused by a low heat fire where there are numerous areas of smoldering. This smoke leaves a "wet" sticky substance that should be remedied by a professional fire restorer. The smoke webs created by wet smoke are difficult to clean and easily smear if not treated correctly. Do not attempt to restore an area affected by this type of smoke damage without consulting a professional fire and smoke restoration service.
- Protein- is smoke damage as a result of an extreme burn of a game animal or other protein enriched fiber. Extremely pungent odor that is virtually invisible, but does a number of damages to varnishes and paints. Protein fire damage should be professionally handled by a smoke and fire restorer.
- Oil Soot from Fuel - fireplaces and furnaces can "puffback" as a result of soot from fuel oil. This damage can ruin upholstered products such as drapery, couches and carpets. The soot emitted from a fuel oils can be devastating to nearby household items or office goods. Proper restoration is the key to salvaging sentimental
The behavior of smoke is exclusive to the type of fire and building that has been affected. The nature of smoke is to migrate to areas of a building that may have not been directly impacted by a flame, therefore knowing the exact type of fire and smoke is essential to a proper restoration.
Smoke damage repair requires an experienced professional fire and smoke restoration service to effectively repair any smoke related damages.
Water Damage
Floods and Water leaks hit you when you least expect it all of a sudden your property is disrupted and in a shambles.
If you have been hit by water damage, you will want to get help fast. Call on our professional water extraction company to get things back to normal as quickly as possible.
Here at Givens we understand that you may have been caught unprepared to respond, and are sensitive to the potential loss you may suffer, of valued and irreplaceable possessions.You must respond swiftly to water and flood damage
For this reason we have an emergency team at your service in the event you suffer water damage. We are ready to help you meet this challenge successfully. Our qualified technicians employ ultramodern drying methods to restore your home and salvage your belongings. We have at our disposal advanced moisture detecting instruments that can spot the most minute signs of dampness-even behind walls and under floors.
Speed is of the essence, because mold, mildew and other micro organisms start to build up in the presence of water.
WHAT IS WATER DAMAGE?
Water damage describes 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-lamenting of materials such as plywood , and 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 is typically classified into one of the following three categories:
Category 1 Water
Refers to a source of water that does not pose substantial threat to humans and classified as "Clean Water". Examples are broken water supply lines, tub or sink overflows or appliance malfunctions that involves water supply lines.
Category 2 Water
Refers to a source of water that contains a significant degree of chemical, biological or physical contaminants and causes discomfort or sickness when exposed or even consumed. Known as "Grey Water". This type carries micro organisms and nutrients of micro organisms. Examples are toilet bowls with urine (no feces), sump pump failures, seepage due to hydrostatic failure and water discharge from dishwashers or washing machines.
Category 3 Water
Known as "Black Water" and are grossly unsanitary. This water contains unsanitary agents, harmful bacteria and fungi, causing severe discomfort or sickness. Type 3 category are contaminated water sources that affects the indoor environment. This category includes water sources from sewage, seawater, rising water from rivers or streams, ground surface water or standing water. Category 2 Water or Grey Water that is not promptly removed from the structure and or have remained stagnant for 48-72 hours may be re classified as Category 3 Water. Toilet back flows that originates from beyond the toilet trap is considered black water contamination regardless of visible content or color.
Do's and Donts' in the Event of a Water Loss!
Do's:
Give Givens a call
(316) 265-1315
Do Not:
- Use electrical appliances, includes ceiling fans, as wires may be wet if ceiling has damage
- Leave colored items near carpet (like newspapers, magazines, etc) as color may bleed
- Wait to contact a Water Damage Restoration professional, as mold can quickly develop
Mold Remediation
In any disaster situation, consumers need to be aware of fly-by-night operators preying on unsuspecting and uninformed victims. The best way to prevent your being taken advantage of is to arm yourself with knowledge, which we hope to help you here.
Mold growth in buildings can lead to a variety of health issues. Various practices can be followed to mitigate mold issues in buildings, the most important of which is to reduce moisture levels that can facilitate mold growth. Removal of affected materials after the source of moisture has been reduced and/or eliminated may be necessary for remediation.
Mold and most fungi are present everywhere, indoors and outdoor environments. Most are usually dormant until water is added to the area. Water not only will add to the conditions needed for fungal microbes to grow (temperature, light, moisture), but it also brings more contamination through the carrying of new spores from other areas.
Givens Disaster Restoration has developed essential and effective processes to properly remediate your home or office. For instance, containment is an extremely important step in the process as it prevents the airborne spores from contaminating other areas of your home or office.
If mold remediation is done improperly, it can easily do more harm than good. Our technicians will develop a mold remediation plan specific for your needs, ensuring your problem is remedied quickly and effectively.
At Givens Disaster Restoration, we are experts at remediation and restoration. This is what we do best. In addition, we have strong relationships with local construction companies who are experts at construction. They will do an expert job in the rebuild process, as we will in the remediation process.
Givens Disaster Restoration has trained and uniformed employees who work around-the-clock to respond to your loss because we understand quick response can prevent additional damage to your home or office.
Givens Disaster Restoration provides written, detailed, by-room scopes and estimates. We will describe everything that will be done in the remediation process, which will support our detailed estimate.
WHAT IS MOLD?
Molds include all species of microscopic fungi that grow in the form of multicultural filaments, called hyphae. In contrast, microscopic fungi that grow as single cells are called yeasts. A connected network of these tubular branching hyphae has multiple, genetically identical nuclei and is considered a single organism, referred to as a colony or in more technical terms a mycelium.
Molds reproduce through small spores which may contain a single nucleus or be multinucleate. Mold spores can be asexual (the products of mitosis) or sexual (the products of meiosis); many species can produce both types. Some can remain airborne indefinitely, and many are able to survive extremes of temperature and pressure.
Spores need three things to grow into mold:
- Nutrients: Food for spores in an indoor environment is organic matter, often cellulose.
- Moisture: Moisture is required to begin the decaying process caused by the mold.
- Time: Mold growth begins between 24 hours and 10 days from the provision of the growing conditions. There is no known way to date mold.
Mold colonies can grow inside building structures. The main problem with the presence of mold in buildings is the inhalation of mycotoxins. Molds may produce an identifiable smell. Growth is fostered by moisture. After a flood or major leak, mycotoxin levels are higher in the building even after it has dried out
Health Affects
The problems with mold usually stem from the symptoms and health effects resulting from indoor mold exposure. There is public awareness that exposure to mold can cause adverse health effects, symptoms, and possible allergic reaction.
The most common form of hypersensitivity is caused by the direct exposure to inhaled mold spores that can be dead or alive or hyphal fragments which can lead to allergic asthma or allergic rhinitis.
The most common effects are rhinorrhea (runny nose), watery eyes, coughing and asthma attacks.
Another form of hypersensitivity is hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). This is usually the direct result of inhaled spores or fragments in an occupational setting. About 5% of individuals are predicted to have some allergic airway symptoms from molds over their lifetime.
Originally, Toxic effects from mold were thought to be the result of exposure to the mycotoxins of some mold species, such as Stachybotrys chartarum (S. chartarum).
However, studies are suggesting that the so-called toxic effects are actually the result of chronic activation of the immune system, leading to chronic inflammation. Studies indicate that up to 25% of the population have the genetic capability of experiencing chronic inflammation to mold exposure, but only 2% actually experience such symptoms.
A 1993-94 case study based on cases of pulmonary hemorrhage in infants in Cleveland, Ohio originally concluded there was no casual relationship between the exposure and the disease. The investigators revisited the cases and established a link to the exposure to S. chartrum and the infants in their homes. This relationship was later disproved by a different panel and re-evaluation. Prior to this study being retracted, the popular media created the term "Toxic Mold".
