Certified: SERVPRO® Clean

12/5/2023 (Permalink)

Dont let viruses keep your business from operating - call the Cleaning Professionals at SERVPRO® today!

As we heading into Cold and Flu Season - and COVID-19 hasn't gone anywhere, we need to look to a NEW standard in Commercial Cleaning.

Starting in 2005, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) established the National Influenza Vaccination week “to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.” In 2017, by the end of November only about 41% of the recommended US population had been vaccinated. And in 2020, we saw the tremendous toll COVID-19 on families and businesses across the country.

If you’ve already gotten the flu or COVID you can still get vaccinated to protect you against other strands of the flu, according to the CDC. People with high risk of complications from the flu include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions and people over the age of 65, and should get vaccinated. Although anyone is at risk of getting the flu, for high-risk people, hospitalization or death is more likely than for others.

According to the CDC, flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations. Get a flu or COVID shot today to protect yourself, your loved ones and your place of business.  And Certified: SERVPRO® Clean brings a higher standard of clean to business across our Communities if the Flu or COVID impact your place of business.

Here for your Commercial Loss needs!

11/15/2023 (Permalink)

Do not let your company become another statistic after experiencing damage.

Nearly 50% of businesses will not reopen following a property disaster such as a pipe break or fire leading to water or fire damage. Our team in Hillsboro wants to make sure that you do not become part of that staggering statistic. Our team of trained, experienced and skilled professionals are ready to respond 24 hours a day. We know that property damage can not only distract you and your employees but can also cause delays in getting business done and taking care of your clients.  We work with you and your team to minimize disruption to everyday workflow.

Our on-call teams in Hillsboro and Forest Grove are ready to respond to any kind of damage you may suffer, and can leap into action to help make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 541-745-2097.

Here for your Commercial Loss needs!

11/15/2023 (Permalink)

Do not let your company become another statistic after experiencing damage.

Nearly 50% of businesses will not reopen following a property disaster such as a pipe break or fire leading to water or fire damage. Our team in Hillsboro wants to make sure that you do not become part of that staggering statistic. Our team of trained, experienced and skilled professionals are ready to respond 24 hours a day. We know that property damage can not only distract you and your employees but can also cause delays in getting business done and taking care of your clients.  We work with you and your team to minimize disruption to everyday workflow.

Our on-call teams in Hillsboro and Forest Grove are ready to respond to any kind of damage you may suffer, and can leap into action to help make it “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 541-745-2097.

Malodors can impact your business

10/30/2023 (Permalink)

After water damage, lingering unpleasant odors can impact your business

Have you experienced flooding or water damage in your Commercial business?

 These issues can leave unwelcome and defiantly unwanted odors in the air. This odor is most always displeasing to customers, employees or yourself. Based on the source of the issue, we have 5 tips to help solve the problem: 

1. Ventilate the Building and Evaluate the Situation- Allows any lingering scents to disperse through a window, if possible. You can then work to identify and locate any centralized, problematic scents. If sewage loss is causing the odor, it’s best to stay away from the contaminated water and contact SERVPRO® to mitigate.
2. Dry Wet Carpeting and Flooring- Carpet holds moisture and it could be the source of the scent. A wet and dry vacuum, which can be rented if needed, can shampoo the carpet and then dry it afterward. This sanitizes the area to potentially remove some of the smell.
3. Scrub Moldy Surfaces- Mold growth left alone will continue to reproduce and spread along with its musty odor
4. Spray Furniture and Upholstery- Furniture can be sprayed and scrubbed. Porous materials are likely not able to be fully cleaned this way since the fungus settles within.
5. Consult Professionals for Extensive Cleanup- There are many instances that commercial-grade machines will need to be used to remove the malodor. An expert SERVPRO® technician can help remove problems caused by floodwater and/or other water damage. When dealing with flood odors, most do-it-yourself remedies will fix only the symptom. Trust the help from SERVPRO® where we can assist you to remove most of the unwanted smells alongside any mold growth or other nuisance.

Call us today 541-745-2097!

Always ready to help!

9/8/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO® is always ready for when life catches you off guard.

Late at night, you may be the last one in the office…it’s quiet, it dark outside, and you begin to tidy up your desk to head home. Only when you turn off the faint noise of your 80’s music playing on your laptop do you hear it, you hear something…It sounds like a water fountain. Only you know that your office doesn’t’ have one of those…hmmm…you make the decision that each doomed horror movie expendable character makes, and you start to look and see what the noise is.

As you get closer to the source of the noise, your shoes begin squishing on the carpet below…you look down and realize you’ve walked into puddles of water. You round the corner in the hall and find the culprit - a single solitary sprinkler head spraying water in an awkward fashion onto the floor and surrounding walls. You don’t know what to do?? You worked late, and it’s now after business hours. You try to reach out to your boss, no response. You think of what to do next, and you remember the facilities man that was in to fix the overhead lights last month. You rush to the company call list and find his name and title. You try calling the manager of facilities. He picks up right away.

When you tell the facilities manager what is happening, he instructs you to turn off the water. As he walks you through how to find the shutoff switch and how to turn it off, he says he will reach out to a contact he has within the community. Someone who deals with water damages like this all the time.

You let out a sigh of relief as the water stops flowing from the sprinkler head. A moment later, your phone rings and a SERVPRO® technician gives you their ETA.

Shortly after you notice a bright green van pull up outside and several team members pile out and enter the building. They greet you, their hands full of what appear to be large green machines, with hoses and vacuum heads. Some of the other team members are carrying what appears to be large green fans.

After going over the process with you and confirming they have received the facilities managers signature to move forward, they get to work.

Like a well oiled machine they move throughout the soaked space, assessing damage, and extracting water where needed. A little while passes and the facilities manager shows up, he informs you that you can leave and head home now. He also said you did a great job calling him right away.

As you leave you feel relieved and yet a bit of adrenaline still courses through your body…it has been an exciting evening. SERVPRO® is always prepared, even when life catches you off guard.

The Importance of ERPs

8/7/2023 (Permalink)

ERPs are extremely useful tools provided by your local SERVPRO Team to help your business be better prepared for any emergency

Being a business owner can have many responsibilities, and you may have to take on multiple roles.

In most cases, disaster is the last thing you are thinking about, but every business owner, regardless of how new or old your business is, should have a plan and guide for what to do in the event of a disaster.

SERVPRO® of Benton County offers a free community service called the "Emergency Ready Plan", or an ERP.

ERPs are handy little guides that we make at SERVPRO that contain basic information regarding your property, who owns the property, and where your emergency shut off locations are.

We document and photograph where your electrical, water, and gas shut offs are, as well as your sprinkler system and security system. We also have the contacts for those utilities companies in the event that you must make contact.

Key contacts are also listed in the ERP, such as the owner, the insurance agent for the property, the SERVPRO® representative, and the managers of the building.

The emergency contacts and services page has the fire department and police department's emergency and non-emergency numbers as well, that way, if contact is needed, you know where to find all those phone numbers and contact points.

It's very beneficial to have an ERP because although the business owner might know where everything is and who to contact, your employees might not. Having a guide like this can help so much if the business owner is not present.

ERPs are very convenient as well, we are able to provide a paper copy, and we can provide a digital version on the Ready Plan app! Which makes ERPs very easy to access in times of need.

When you run a business, it's good to prepare for not just the next day's shift, but for the things that happen unexpectedly.

SERVPRO® to be here to help! 541/745-2097

SERVPRO can help your business during Wildfires!

7/21/2023 (Permalink)

There are steps you can take to protect your business during Wildfire Season. And SERVPRO can assist you!

Even states as wet as Oregon and Washington are affected by wildfires several times a year. When the Eagle Creek fire shut down businesses our phones rang off the hook with concerned business owners. In times like these SERVPRO® is the first to call as we are faster to any size disaster. 

Some tips from FEMA to protect you and your property from hazards are as follows:

• Wear protective clothing 
• Lock up your business
• Choose a route away from fire hazards
• Close windows, vents, doors, and blinds
• Shut off all utilities, if possible
• Move flammable items to the center of the building
• turn on a light in each room to increase visibility of your property
• Turn off gas lines and propane tanks
• Connect the outside house to water taps
• Gather fire tools

These tips along with preparation and quick thinking can and will protect your investments!

Let us get your business back up and running

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO, our trained professionals have the right equipment to protect your business

When it comes to owning a business, especially in a large commercial building, you may be so
wrapped in the day to day tasks that you may not have noticed the signs pointing to water
damage. Undiscovered leaks can cause damage to floors, walls and ceilings and may lead to
soft dry wall and stained ceiling tiles. These leaks can be coming from old damaged pipes, or
damages to the roof. As a business owner you should

• Inspect ceiling tiles regularly for discoloration or leaks
• Check the waterlines in coffee makers, refrigerators and water filtration systems for kinks and leaks
• Remove standing water with a mop and seek professional assistance for proper drying.

As a SERVPRO® franchise, we have thermal imaging equipment that can detect even the smallest amounts of moisture. If or when moisture is detected, we have trained professionals in water extraction and drying. SERVPRO has been serving commercial properties for over 50 years, and will help protect your business from further damage!  Call us today at 541/745-2097!

Like it never even happened!

7/5/2023 (Permalink)

Sprinklers can help put out a fire in your office, but they can cause extensive damage to your workplace...SERVPRO can help!

When water damage from a broken sprinkler, or when smoke and soot from an electrical fire cause havoc in your office, warehouse, store, or restaurant SERVPRO® is ready to spring into action and help you make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO has decades of experience serving our customers in the area when property damage strikes. We know that no matter where the damage came from or whatever caused it, there is still work to be done to begin mitigating the problem.

Our teams of on call technicians are ready to leap into action around the clock because we know that property damage does not happen when it is convenient for you or us, that is why we are ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

What Can I Do to Ensure My Business is Storm-Ready in Cornelius?

1/31/2023 (Permalink)

We restore commercial property damage 24-hours a day in Washington County.

Our local Hillsboro and Forest Grove team responds to commercial property damage emergencies throughout the year in Cornelius. Here are some tips for making your business storm-ready from The United States Small Business Administration:

• Check your insurance coverage for protection against winter hazards
• Develop a procedure for restoring electrical services
• Develop a system for relocating salvageable and undamaged stock and supplies
• Add the following supplies to your disaster supplies kit: rock salt, sand, and snow shovels
• Determine your greatest risk potential: loss of heat, frozen pipes, or loss of access due to snow and ice
• Identify who is responsible for keeping heating equipment in good working order: the business owner or landlord
• Identify who is responsible for snow and ice removal: business owner or landlord
• Determine what equipment needs to be protected from freeze-up, i.e., computers, telecommunications, manufacturing equipment, etc.
• Make sure heating and heat-producing process equipment is in good condition and operating efficiently
• Drain all idle pumps and compressors, making sure jackets are vented. Provide proper lubrication on equipment for cold weather operation
• Test cold-weather equipment
• Clean and inspect boilers and firing mechanisms and controls. Maintain automatic sprinkler protection in idle buildings; promptly handle sprinkler system impairments; notify the local fire department
• Monitor building temperature, especially in hard-to-heat areas containing vulnerable equipment
• Keep temperatures above 40°F

Call Us Today!

When your commercial business or home in Cornelius needs commercial restoration services, our team in Hillsboro and Forest Grove will restore your damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

What Should I Do If I Discover Mold in My Hillsboro Business?

12/20/2022 (Permalink)

We remediate mold damage 24-hours a day in Washington County.

Our local Hillsboro and Forest Grove team is trained and certified to mitigate and remediate commercial mold damage. Mold is a pervasive problem in Hillsboro and has been present in the Earth’s atmosphere since the beginning of time. Mold serves an essential role by helping to break down organic materials. Water leaks or excess moisture can encourage mold to colonize, and the mold can become visible in as little as 48 hours.  

Here are some?Mold Damage Emergency Tips?from our website about things you can do and not do while waiting for help to arrive: 

Important Facts: 

• Significant mold growth can occur in 48 to 72 hours 

• Mold may present a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems 
• A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting 

What to Do: 

• Stay out of affected areas 
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans 

• Contact our office in Hillsboro and Forest Grove for mold remediation services 

What Not to Do: 

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold 
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth 
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself 

• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold 

Call Us Today!  

When you discover a mold problem in your commercial business or home in Hillsboro, we can help. Our Hillsboro and Forest Grove team will restore your mold damage “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 503-648-8513. 

Franchises are independently owned and operated. 

Is Your Commercial Roof Prepared For Storms in Orenco?

11/21/2022 (Permalink)

We respond to commercial property emergencies 24-hours a day in Washington County.

Our local Hillsboro and Forest Grove offer these tips from the Insurance Institute of Business and Home Safety to prepare your building in Orenco for winter weather: 

Low-slope (flat) roofs 

• Inspect roof and repair leaks before the winter season 
• Remove all debris and other items from roof and roof drainage systems that prevent drainage of water from the roof during the melting process  
• Check that all flashing and seals are flush and secure

Steep slope roofs

• Inspect your roof and repair leaks before the winter season 
• Secure loose shingles
• Check roof-edge waterproofing and seal to prevent potential drafts
• Add extra insulation in your attic or surrounding areas 

Gutters 

• Inspect gutters and ensure they’re secured to the building. Replace any missing gutter fasteners.  
• Clean gutters and interior downspouts thoroughly, removing all debris and unclogging drains 
• Test gutters and downspouts to be sure water does not back up. This can be done by using a hose. 
• Check downspouts to ensure they divert water away from the foundation

Call Us Today!

You never know when a storm will cause damage to your Orenco business or home. Fortunaltey, our Hillsboro and Forest Grove team is on call 24-hours a day to help you with storm damage emergencies. Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Forest Grove Business Exposed to Smoke Damage?

10/24/2022 (Permalink)

We clean and restore smoke damage in Washington County.

If the building next door catches on fire, smoke exposure may compromise your property. Our local Hillsboro and Forest Grove teams are trained and certified to restore smoke damage. Here is some of the equipment we use:

Air Scrubber or Filter

Heating, ventilation, air conditioning system (HVAC) air scrubber, or a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) air purifier can capture larger smoke molecules. There will still be some residual odor from smaller molecules or surface residues.

Ozone Generator

An ozone generator is a fast and highly effective smoke odor restoration method. These machines emit ozone, which follows the same paths through the air as smoke and oxidizes any residual traces in the air or on surfaces.

Thermal Fogging

Thermal fogging is an intensive treatment involving fogging machines. After residents evacuate, smoke cleaning professionals fill a structure with petroleum distillates that neutralize odors and ventilate the area.

Hydroxyl Generator

A hydroxyl generator is a slower and gentler alternative to ozone. These machines use ultraviolet light to generate hydroxyl radicals that eliminate smoke odors. It will take about three to five days of continuous operation to achieve the same results as a single ozone treatment.

Vapor Modification

Vapor modification is another odor elimination method that relies on aromatic compounds and a blower or fan to neutralize smoke odor

Call Us Today!

Our local team in Hillsboro and Forest Grove is Here to Help ® when your commercial business or home has smoke damage. Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Property Management Companies Rely on Our Commercial Cleaning Services in Forest Grove?

9/20/2022 (Permalink)

We provide a full range of commercial cleaning services in Washington County.

Commercial businesses and property management companies rely on our Hillsboro and Forest Grove teams to provide deep cleaning services that exceed what a standard cleaning service can do. We use environmentally friendly cleaning products approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Here is a recent Google review from one of our happy commercial customers:

“Used them for general deep cleaning of rental unit and removal of carpet and padding. They did a great job and got everything sparkling clean top to bottom. Prompt and accommodating they exceeded my expectations and cleaned every surface to my satisfaction. I definitely would use them again.” Laurie Van Roekel

Positive: Professionalism, Punctuality, Quality, Responsiveness

Commercial Cleaning Services

We have extensive experience cleaning all kinds of buildings and workplaces, including:

• Biohazard and Sewage
• Trauma and Crime Scene
• Carpet and Upholstery
• Drapes and Blinds
• Ceilings, Walls, and Hard Floors
• Odor Removal and Deodorization
• Vandalism

Commercial Properties

• 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

Call Us Today!

When your commercial business or home in Forest Grove needs deep cleaning services, our local team in Hillsboro and Forest Grove is Here to Help. ® Our technicians will leave your property looking and smelling great! Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Crime Scene Cleanup Services in Forest Grove?

8/30/2022 (Permalink)

We provide crime scene cleanup services in Washington County.

Our Hillsboro and Forest Grove team cleans and restores trauma and crime scenes 24-hours a day. These events leave behind blood and other biohazard contaminants that can cause serious illness. Our technicians have the equipment and protective gear required to clean and restore trauma and crime scenes.

Additionally, crime scene investigations leave behind fingerprint and evidence-gathering chemicals that are difficult to remove without the right cleaning agents. Our technicians follow Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines and protocols.

 Crime Scene and Trauma Cleaning Services

• Fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals
• Tear gas and pepper spray residues
• Fire extinguisher residue
• Blood, bodily fluids, and tissue remnants

Crime Scene Residues

We can clean and restore your property after a crime scene investigation, from fingerprint powder and evidence-gathering chemicals to tear gas and pepper spray residues.

Bloodborne Pathogens

We remove and dispose of bodily fluids, tissue, and other potentially pathogenic substances resulting from accidents, trauma, crime, or death. Our trained Professionals clean, disinfect and deodorize the structure.

Illegal Drug - “Meth” Labs

Many of the chemicals used in producing illegal drugs, such as “meth,” are volatile and can leave harmful residues throughout a structure. Our technicians follow federal and state guidelines to clean all surfaces properly.

Call Us Today!

When your business or home in Forest Grove needs trauma and crime scene cleanup services, our local team in Hillsboro and Forest Grove can help. Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Mold Outbreak in Local Cornelius Company?

7/27/2022 (Permalink)

We mitigate and restore commercial mold damage in Washington County.

Mold is a common challenge for commercial businesses in Cornelius. Our Hillsboro and Forest Grove team is certified to remediate commercial mold. We follow a comprehensive mold removal process as follows:

• Emergency Contact
• Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

We follow local and state laws regarding inspection and documentation based on your unique situation.

• Mold Containment

We may use advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to prevent mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process.

• Air Filtration

We utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

• Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

We use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. We remove and dispose of mold-infested porous  materials when remediating heavy mold growth.

• Cleaning Contents

We clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, and other restorable items affected by mold. We also remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

• Restoration

Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet, or it may require the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business. 

Call Us Today!

Our local team in Hillsboro and Forest Grove is Here to Help ® when your Cornelius business or home has mold damage. Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Commercial Deep Cleaning Services in Forest Grove?

7/12/2022 (Permalink)

We provide a full range of specialty cleaning services in Washington County.

Over time we can become “nose blind” to odors and adjust to the look of dulling fabrics and carpets in the workplace. Routine cleaning and maintenance of your commercial property will protect your investment by prolonging the life of many surfaces and furniture. Even if you use a standard cleaning service, cleaning products can build up over time, leaving carpets, floors, drapes, and upholstery looking old and dingy.

Our Hillsboro and Forest Grove office provides deep cleaning and deodorizing services that exceed the scope of a routine janitorial service. Forest Grove businesses can feel confident knowing their workplaces are deep cleaned and deodorized.

Commercial Cleaning Services

• Air Ducts and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning (HVAC)
• Biohazard and Sewage
• Trauma and Crime Scene
• Carpet and Upholstery
• Drapes and Blinds
• Ceilings, Walls, and Hard Floors
• Odor Removal and Deodorization
• Vandalism

We have extensive experience working in all kinds of business settings and buildings:

• 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 and Industrial
• Government/Military

Call Us Today!

When your Forest Grove commercial business or home needs emergency restoration services, our local team in Hillsboro and Forest Grove is Here to Help. ® We’ll clean and restore your workplace “Like it never even happened.” Call us today at 503-648-8513.

Franchises are independently owned and operated.

Forest Grove Commercial Property Damage

3/16/2022 (Permalink)

Nearly 50% of businesses will not reopen following a property disaster such as a pipe break or fire leading to water or fire damage. Our team in Hillsboro wants to make sure that you are not part of that staggering statistic. Our team of trained, experienced and skilled professionals are ready to respond 24 hours a day. We know that property damage can not only distract you and your employees but can also cause delays in getting business done and taking care of your clients.  We work with you and your team to minimize disruption to everyday workflow.

Our on-call teams in Hillsboro and Forest Grove are ready to respond to any kind of damage you may suffer, and can leap into action to help make it “Like it never even happened.”

Fire Sprinkler Break In Hillsboro Commercial Building

2/21/2022 (Permalink)

Fire sprinklers are incredibly important in any commercial building. They help limit the spread of fire and provide additional time to vacate the building and get to safety. But when a fire sprinkler breaks or leaks it causes a huge disaster and water damage. 

Our team in Hillsboro / Forest Grove has teams on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help restore your property when disaster strikes. Our team of professionals have the training, skills, and experience to step in and restore your property. 

Our teams work alongside you to make sure that your business is able to stay open and continue to serve your customers. If property damage strikes your business, call our team who is available night and day to help you make it "Like it never even happened."

Sewage Spill in Banks?

12/14/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove are trusted leaders in commercial damage mitigation in Banks.

Sewage Spills Are Dangerous

SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove technicians are on-call 24-hours a day in Banks and have required safety gear and equipment to handle any form of sewage spill.

Sewer system water, or “Category 3 black water” carries dangerous viruses and bacteria, so it is imperative for the health and safety of your employees and customers to mitigate the damage as quickly as possible.

This water is highly unsanitary and could cause severe illness or death if ingested, and any contact should be avoided. Black water can come from flooding from rivers or streams, water from beyond the toilet trap, water from the toilet bowl with fecal matter, or standing water that has begun to support microbial growth. Black water may also contain untreated sewage, harsh chemicals, and microbes.

Sewage backups happen for many reasons. Some examples are:

• Blockages due to tree roots
• Broken or collapsed sewer lines
• Septic tank obstructions
• City sanitary main line obstructions

Call Us Today!

When you have a sewage spill or another form of commercial damage, SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove has a team of highly trained restoration technicians ready to assist you 24-hours a day. We’ll restore your commercial damage in Banks, “Like it never even happened.” 

Commercial Fire Damage in Gaston?

12/9/2021 (Permalink)

Gaston businesses rely on SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove to restore commercial fire damage.

You would never know that this office had fire damage.

Fire damage can happen at any time and when it does, it’s important to act fast to minimize the potential for further damage. After the Gaston Fire Department leaves the scene, you will be left with fire debris, smoke, soot, and water damage left from the firefighting efforts.

Mitigation Process

SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove has been helping commercial businesses restore fire-damaged properties in Gaston for years. We understand the importance of getting your business operational as soon as possible. Our teams of highly trained technicians are on call 24-hours a day and, upon arrival, will provide an assessment of the damage and immediately begin the cleanup and restoration process. Here is the process we follow when mitigating commercial fire damage:

1. Emergency Contact
2. Inspection and Fire Damage Assessment
3. Immediate Board-Up and Roof Tarp Service
4. Water Removal and Drying
5. Removal of Smoke and Soot from All Surfaces
6. Cleaning and Repair
7. Restoration

Call Us!

SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove has a team of highly trained technicians with the specialized training and experience to clean and restore commercial fire damage quickly and efficiently. We’ll restore your commercial fire damage in Gaston, “Like it never even happened.”

Commercial Property Cleaning In Forest Grove

6/8/2021 (Permalink)

No matter when the disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Yamhill / Tillamook Counties has the teams, skills, and experience.

SERVPRO of Yamhill / Tillamook Counties is Here to Help our communities when disaster strikes. That includes even a deep cleaning that needs a little bit more elbow grease than your normal cleaning. 

SERVPRO of Yamhill / Tillamook Counties were called out to help a commercial property owner with one of their apartments who had a bit of a mess to clean up after a resident moved out. Our crews were able to get on-site quickly and help the customer clean up the space making it look like new so that it would be ready for the next resident who gest to call this beautiful place home. 

No matter when the disaster strikes, SERVPRO of Yamhill / Tillamook Counties has the teams, skills, and experience to help make it "Like it never even happened."

Commercial Property Damage In Hillsboro

6/4/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove is Here to Help 24/7.

Property damage from things like pipe breaks or kitchen fires anywhere and commercial buildings are no exception. SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove is no stranger to property damage with our 20 years of experience helping customers make it “Like it never even happened.” In your business, it is important that not only you know what to do and who to call when property damage strikes but everyone on your team also. Ensure employees in your facility, office, or organization know and have access to critical data in the event of fire, or water damage with the SERVPRO Ready Plan app. Download and create your free profile here or call SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove to speak with one of our great marketing representatives about a free Emergency Ready Plan.

Large Commercial Water Loss in Woodburn, OR

2/24/2021 (Permalink)

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove for immediate restoration service.

A 3000 square foot, 2 level office building suffered from water damage. The building had water coming through the ceiling and down to the 2nd floor due to a water heater leak. The ceiling had fallen through and the carpet, linoleum, flooring, electronics, and records were all affected. Our crews dried the floors and completed repairs to the structure.  SERVPRO of Hillsboro /. Forest Grove was able to help this company get back in business!

We're faster to any disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage ad reduces cost. Our professional make disaster, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call SERVPRO of Hillsboro / Forest Grove for immediate restoration service. To see more about our services and see our before and afters, read here. 

Plaza Broken Sprinkler Line

2/16/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove is available 24/7 for your home or business emergencies.

In a Plaza located in Warrenton, a business was having construction work being done when a sprinkler line accidentally broke by a worker. When our crew arrived on site the water had already affected two adjacent stores. Our crew got to work extracting the water out of all three stores. We set up our equipment to start drying the structure. We were able to dry the structure quickly and the construction crew was able to continue their work.

We're Faster to Any Size Disaster

We're dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. a fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces cost.

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove is available 24/7 for your home or business emergencies. If property damage strikes, call us to help you make it "Like it never even happened." 

To see more before and afters, read here. 

Portland Business Pipe Broke In Warehouse

2/14/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove is available 24/7 for your home or business emergencies.

While a business in Portland was getting new insulation installed in their warehouse, a scissor lift hit a water valve during the insulation causing an excessive amount of water, affecting several rooms throughout the building. Our crew responded immediately with emergency water damage services. Once our crew arrived on sight they started by extracting all of the standing water and moving all of the large contents in the warehouse in order to get all of the water out of the structure.

We're Faster to Any Size Disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage, limit further damages, and reduces cost.

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove is available 24/7 for your home or business emergencies. 

To see more before and after photos look here. 

COVID Cleaning in the Hillsboro and Forest Grove Area

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

We know that 2020 brought one of the strangest and hardest years for many businesses and families. And that is no different for those of us at SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove. We have been busy reorganizing, and reacting to the biggest change in many years, COVID. We have been very lucky in that we have been able to continue to work and help our community in their time of need after property damage strikes. 

We work hard for you around the clock and it is great to have that hard work recognized. SERVPRO has been named to the top 10 franchises by Entrepreneur Media and #1 in our Industry. 

"SERVPRO had a busy year. The company specializes in fire and flood cleanup, and between blazing forestland in the West and hurricanes blowing in off the Gulf and the Atlantic, 2020 served up plenty of both. But it was the pandemic that ultimately tested — and proved — the company’s tenacity." The full article can be found here. 

If you or your company need COVID cleaning services give us a call to schedule your Certified: SERVPRO Clean. 

Commercial Restoration In The Hillsboro Area

2/3/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/ Forest Grove has been helping customers make it "Like it never even happened," for 20 years. So if your Hillsboro area business

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove has the skills and experience to restore your commercial property to preloss condition. We know that this past year has been very difficult on most businesses, both larger box stores, and our local mom and pop businesses. Nearly half of all businesses that suffer from property damage do not reopen again. The stress and financial toll can be too great to come back from. 

That is why you need to select a property restoration company that you can trust and rely on. SERVPRO of Hillsboro/ Forest Grove has been helping customers make it "Like it never even happened," for 20 years. So if your Hillsboro area business or commercial property suffers from water or sewer damage, or fire, soot, and smoke damage, give us a call. 

Keeping your Forest Grove Business Safe and Clean

12/4/2020 (Permalink)

2020 has been a very strange year that has introduced all sorts of new activities and terms, like social distancing. We know that as a business this has likely been one of the most challenging and difficult years in your history, from working remotely or limiting capacity or providing curbside pick up. All changes have been done to help keep our neighbors safe and healthy as does making sure your commercial space has been sanitized and is safe for your employees, customers, and yourself. 

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove is able to provide you 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 of Hillsboro / Forest Grove Professionals to bring a higher standard of clean to the places we gather.

Commercial property damage in Forest Grove

11/19/2020 (Permalink)

When water damage from a broken sprinkler, or when smoke and soot from an electrical fire cause havoc in your office, warehouse, store, or restaurant SERVPRO of Hillsboro/ Forest Grove is ready to spring into action and help you make it “Like it never even happened.”

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove has decades of experience serving our customers in the area when property damage strikes. We know that no matter where the damage came from or whatever caused it, there is still work to be done to begin mitigating the problem.

Our teams of on call technicians are ready to leap into action around the clock because we know that property damage does not happen when it is convenient for you or us, that is why we are ready 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Emergency readiness plan

11/4/2020 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile Advantage By developing a SERVPRO Emergency READY Profile for your business, you minimize business interruption by having an immediate plan of action. Knowing what to do and what to expect in advance is the key to timely mitigation and can help minimize how water and fire damage can affect your business.

A no cost assessment of your facility. This means there is no need to allocate funds, giving you a great value at no cost.

A concise Profile Document that contains only the critical information needed in the event of an emergency. It will only take a little time to complete and will not take you away from current projects. But it will save a lot of time if ever needed.

A guide to help you get back into your building following a disaster. This can help minimize the amount of time your business is inactive by having an immediate plan of action.

Establishes your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional as your disaster mitigation and restoration provider. You have a provider that is recognized as an industry leader and close by.

Identification of the line of command for authorizing work to begin. This saves time so we can begin the work of mitigating the damage which can save you time and money.

Provides facility details such as shut-off valve locations, priority areas and priority contact information. Having a quick reference of what to do, how to do it and who to call provides solutions in advance of an emergency so that during the emergency you are "Ready for whatever happens."

How can SERVPRO help during a pandemic?

11/4/2020 (Permalink)

Starting in 2005, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) established the National Influenza Vaccination week “to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.” In 2017, by the end of November only about 41% of the recommended US population had been vaccinated.

If you’ve already gotten the flu, you can still get vaccinated to protect you against other strands of the flu, according to the CDC. People with high risk of complications from the flu include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions and people over the age of 65, and should get vaccinated. Although anyone is at risk of getting the flu, for high-risk people, hospitalization or death is more likely than for others.

According to the CDC, “flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.” Get a flu shot today to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Cold season and your commercial facility

11/2/2020 (Permalink)

Free Here to Help® Class for Facilities Cleaning

A 30-45-minute instructional class to update staff on cleaning methods to reduce biohazard risk. Hosted at your facility and taught by our IICRC® (Institute of Inspection Cleaning & Restoration Certification) certified bio-remediation manager.

• Covers basic principles of biohazard cleaning
• Demonstrates how to reduce virus/bacteria spread at your facility
• Shows where and when to clean
• Demonstrates proper PPE usage
• Answer questions and address concerns

Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned Program

A defensive cleaning program that goes well beyond daily janitorial cleaning. Provides daily or weekly bio-remediation cleaning at your facility. Communicates to your customers and employees that you are committed to higher level of clean through logoed entrance door stickers.

• Helps reduce likelihood of viral transmission
• Uses IICRC® Certified cleaning procedures
• Provides dated and logoed certificate stickers on entrances
• Demonstrates to the public that you are practicing increased cleaning procedures

Many of our clients have found these resources helpful. Please be advised that the Here to Help® Class for Facilities Cleaning tends to book quickly, and I recommend getting on the schedule early. Also, if you have any questions about how our Certified: SERVPRO® Cleaned Program works, I am just an email or phone call away. I hope you are well and look forward to seeing you again.

Inspect for mold prior to listing!

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Spring and summer are the most popular times of year to sell a home, and the best!

However, the last minute repairs and detailing can really put a ding into closing on a sale or purchase of a home. 

Now is a great time to begin getting inspections and repairs done to your home. You avoid long waits for contractors, pricey estimates, and later closing dates.

Fall is also a great time to get final repairs and detail work completed because most contractors tend to slow down due to weather concerns. 

Call us today for a free estimate on mold remediation in unfinished spaces such as attics, crawlspaces, basements, and garages!

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. If you suspect mold, we can come inspect it for you.

We're faster to any disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage. limit further damages and reduces the cost. Our professional make disasters, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call (503) 648-8513

Protect your business and employee's during flu seaon

5/5/2020 (Permalink)

Starting in 2005, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) established the National Influenza Vaccination week “to highlight the importance of continuing flu vaccination through the holiday season and beyond.” In 2017, by the end of November only about 41% of the recommended US population had been vaccinated.

If you’ve already gotten the flu, you can still get vaccinated to protect you against other strands of the flu, according to the CDC. People with high risk of complications from the flu include young children, pregnant women, people with certain chronic health conditions and people over the age of 65, and should get vaccinated. Although anyone is at risk of getting the flu, for high-risk people, hospitalization or death is more likely than for others.

According to the CDC, “flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations.” Get a flu shot today to protect yourself and your loved ones.

You can't see them, but they are there! Bed Bugs

11/22/2019 (Permalink)

What Are They? 
Bed Bugs are parasitic insects of the Cimicid family that feed exclusively on human blood. They are mostly nocturnal. They can cause skin rashes, allergic symptoms and psychological effects. They have been with us for thousands of years, even though they were almost eradicated in the 1940’s in the developed world. However, they have become resistant to pesticides and have made a comeback. They are here to stay. 

Where Do They Come From? 
The Southwest, Southeast, Eastern US, Washington, and Alaska have a high concentration of Bed Bugs. This puts us at risk of an outbreak here in Oregon. 

Now What? 
As business owners and managers it is crucial to train employees so they can spot Bed Bugs as soon as they arrive. You need to have policies in place to deal with guests or residents that have encountered Bed Bugs. You should also have protocols in place to get rid of the Bed Bugs. 

Bed Bug Prevention (Early Detection) 
There is no way to stop Bed Bugs from being brought into your facility. New folks are arriving every day from all over the world, and bringing their potentially infested personal items with them. You can be Bed Bug free one day and infested the next. 
So, prevention relies on early detection. Bed Bugs must be detected very quickly after they are brought in, hopefully before they bite someone. 

Employees in every department should receive Bed Bug identification training. 
Why everyone? Because employees are located all over the facility and if everybody is looking for Bed Bugs there is a greater chance that they will be discovered quickly. 

How to Get Rid Of Them 

Some pest control firms utilize specialized heating equipment to de-infest furnishings, rooms, and entire dwellings. The procedure involves heating up the infested item or area to temperatures lethal to Bed Bugs. Portable heaters and fans are used to gradually heat the air to 120 - 130°F while monitoring with strategically placed sensors. When dealing with high temperatures remove all aerosol products and check with your fire suppression company to make sure that you DO NOT EXCEED THE WORKING TEMPERATURE OF THE SPRINKLERS! 

While the former methods are helpful, insecticides are widely used by most pest control companies. A variety of EPA-registered materials are available formulated as liquids, dusts and aerosols. Baits used to control ants and cockroaches are ineffective in this case since Bed Bugs feed on blood. Professional-use insecticides such as Temprid®, Transport® and Phantom® tend to be more effective than Bed Bug sprays sold by retailers. Bleach, alcohol, cigarette lighters, etc. should NOT be used to control Bed Bugs. 
Important Note 
It is extremely important that employees do not attempt to treat Bed Bugs themselves. Always have Bed Bug infestations treated by an experienced pest management company. If your current company does not have Bed Bug experience, call us for suggestions or an inspection. 

Sources 
Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture 
Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_bug 
For More Info See: 
http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-11-08/the-cost-of-bedbugsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice 
http://www.ndhealth.gov/Disease/Documents/faqs/Bed%20Bugs.pdf 
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7454.html 

How SERVPRO better assist you during your claim

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals understand your situation. As an agent or adjuster, you have a responsibility to keep claims costs down while still providing the best services possible for your customers.

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals are uniquely qualified to help. Our results create a measurable difference, giving you many competitive advantages.

Emergency Response to Claims

Restoring property is the SERVPRO Franchise Professional's first priority. Your customer will appreciate the immediate response and you will know everything is being done to limit the damage.

Pretesting Reduces Claims Expense

Restoring property is less expensive than replacing property. Claims Professionals know the rule is, "Restore whenever possible, replace only when necessary." SERVPRO Franchise Professionals make sure pretesting is completed on every loss to determine restorability.

Claims Inventory Service

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals can provide an itemized loss inventory. You will receive an Excel formatted report and pictures of important items.

Electronic Claims Information

Our Claims Information Center provides fast, accurate information you need to make sound decisions, including:

• A Complete Electronic Job File.
  • First Notice of Loss.
  • Detailed Estimate.
  • Digital Loss Photos.
  • Scanned Forms and Paperwork.
  • All delivered by email or hard copy.
• On-line Access to All Files.
  • New Assignments.
  • Pending Jobs.
  • Completed Jobs.
• Informative Reports to Improve Results
  • Job Cost Data.

• Performance Comparison to Industry Standard.

Superior, Time-Tested Training

Effective training is the best way to help ensure your customers receive the service they deserve. Franchises are trained to IICRC standards in Fire and Water Cleanup and Restoration. In addition, continuing education classes are available to Franchise Professionals and Insurance Clients at our state of the art IICRC Approved Training Facility. 

Vendor Qualification Compliance and Professionalism

If you call SERVPRO, we will use only qualified vendors to service your customer. That commitment resulted in:

• A National Call Center to achieve prompt handling of the claim.
• Implementation of best practices and job process programs.
• National Accounts qualification criteria and annual compliance checks.
• Crew and vehicle standards.
• Insurance requirements.
• File documentation requirements.
• Quality assurance program.

Serving Adjusters and Their Clients

A SERVPRO Franchise Professional's job is to reassure the customer, perform quality service and to report to you quickly. We know your job is to interpret the policy and adjust the claim... and not to deal with problems from vendors! Working together we strive to save you time so you can focus on priority files, while having complete control of every loss you are assigned. 24-hour emergency response, damage mitigation, loss assessment, and an electronic file are available to you within hours. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals’ documented, measured performance increases value to you and your shareholders, managers and customers.

Hard-earned results have made SERVPRO leaders in the fire and water cleanup and restoration industry. The SERVPRO System is geared to achieve customer satisfaction and mitigation results, adding to your company’s competitive advantage.

How SERVPRO can assist your educational facility during a disaster

11/21/2019 (Permalink)

Learning Shouldn't be Paused or Canceled, Even in the Face of Disaster

When disaster strikes an education facility it can disrupt the learning environment, costing students and their educators valuable time and resources. Cleaning up the aftermath of a flood, fire, storm or other tragic event requires an efficient, timely response. Whether you have a small school building or a higher education campus, SERVPRO Professionals will work quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area so that normal operations can resume while we restore your facility.  

Types of Facilities:

• Early Childhood - Preschool and Nursery Schools
• Primary - Elementary and Middle Schools
• Secondary - High school and Academies
• Higher Education - College and Universities
• Athletics - Gymnasium, Sports Complex and Stadiums

Our professionals are available 24-7/365 to help remediate any damage, regardless of the cause, scale of the loss, or the size of your facility. 

Have an emergency at your education facility? – Call Us Now 1-800-SERVPRO

Restoring Education Facilities Presents Unique Challenges

We understand that education facilities can host a variety of spaces from simple offices and classrooms to gymnasiums and laboratories. Our professionals are trained to be mindful of the unique safety, environmental, and legal challenges that each facility presents, while collaborating with your existing janitorial staff and institutional decision-makers. We will work efficiently to fully restore the damaged area while working within your budgetary constraints. Your job is to teach your students to the best of your ability; our goal is to make sure you have a safe place to do so.

Our Experience Includes:

• Biohazard Remediation
• Flooding and Water Damage Cleanup
• Air Ducts and HVAC Cleaning
• Smoke and Soot Cleanup
• Vandalism Cleanup
• Odor Removal
• Mold Removal
• Document and Records Recovery
• Total Project Management

The mold remediation process

11/20/2019 (Permalink)

Understanding The Mold Remediation Process

Every mold damage scenario is different and requires a unique solution, but the general mold remediation process stays the same. The steps listed below illustrate the “typical” process:

The mold cleanup and restoration process begins when you call our National Call Center. Our representative will ask a series of questions to help us determine the necessary equipment, resources, and personnel.

Step 2: Inspection and Mold Damage Assessment

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will carefully inspect your property for visible signs of mold. Mold feeds on cellulose and water and can be hidden from plain view. They use various technologies to detect mold and hidden water sources.  

Step 3: Mold Containment

They use various containment procedures to prevent the spread of mold. They may use advanced containment procedures like negative air chambers to isolate the contaminated area with physical barriers and negative air pressure to keep the mold spores from spreading during the cleanup process. All fans and heating and cooling systems will be turned off to prevent the spread of mold.

Step 4: Air Filtration

Their specialized filtration equipment allows their Professionals to capture microscopic mold spores out of the air. They utilize powerful “air scrubbers” and HEPA vacuums to prevent the spread of these mold spores while the mold remediation is in process.

Step 5: Removing Mold and Mold-Infested Materials

The mold remediation process depends on the amount of mold growth and the types of surfaces on which the mold appears. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals use antifungal and antimicrobial treatments to eliminate mold colonies and to help prevent new colonies from forming. Removing and disposing of mold-infested porous materials, like drywall and carpeting, may be necessary to remediate heavy mold growth.

Step 6: Cleaning Contents and Belongings

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals clean your furniture, decorative items, curtains, clothing, and other restorable items affected by mold. They use a variety of cleaning techniques to clean and sanitize your belongings. They’re also trained to remove odors and deodorization using fogging equipment.

Step 7: Restoration

Depending on the level of mold damage, drywall, subfloors, and other building materials may be removed. Restoration may involve minor repairs, such as replacing drywall, painting, and installing new carpet; or it may entail major repairs such as the reconstruction of various areas or rooms in a home or business.

Mold damage tips

11/7/2019 (Permalink)

In as little as 48 hours, mold can quickly become a problem in your home or business when there’s a water intrusion, like a roof leak or leaking water line. Mold can cause health effects and can also cause significant damage to your property. SERVPRO Franchise Professionals have the training, protective gear, and specialized equipment necessary to handle your mold problem.

Have a Mold Problem? Call Today 1-800-SERVPRO

If you have a mold problem in your home or business, your primary focus should be safety:

• Significant mold growth can occur in 48-72 hours.
• Mold may present a greater risk to children, the elderly, and anyone with respiratory problems.
• A strong, musty odor may indicate hidden mold behind drywall or under carpeting.

What to Do:

• Stay out of affected areas.
• Turn off the HVAC system and fans.
• Contact a SERVPRO Franchise Professional for mold remediation services.

What NOT to Do:

• Don’t touch or disturb the mold.
• Don’t blow air across any surfaces with visible or suspected mold growth.
• Don’t attempt to dry the area yourself.
• Don’t spray bleach or other disinfectants on the mold.

What is really going on behind closed doors

11/5/2019 (Permalink)

What does Crime Scene Clean Up, Meth Labs, Vandalism, Unattended Deaths, Flooding, Sewage, Smoke Damage, Mold, Hoarders, Infectious Disease Contamination, Bat Guano, Homeless Encampment Clean Up, Medical Waste, Industrial Accidents, Animal Feces, Suicide and Flooding have in common? 

They are ALL Bio-hazards!!! 

Unfortunately, bio-hazard claims tend to be very expensive. Most of us do not plan to handle a bio hazard situation. Whether you are a homeowner, insurance agent, property manager or real estate broker some of the issues you are apt to face include: 

• Health & Safety of occupants/insured 
• Cost to clean the bio-hazard 
• Response times of cleaning company—longer response times increases damage and cost 
• Selling or renting a property after a bio-hazard/stigmatized properties 
• Stalling sales time 
• Disclosure issues and liability 

What can you do about it? Well, it is nearly impossible and quite unimaginable to plan for a bio-hazard situation, but here are some tips that may help: 

Have a plan and a reliable company you can turn to in a time of crisis.

 Know who to call?---I hear SERVPROis very GOOD  

• Faster response times will limit and/or reduce damages. 
• Use certified and reputable vendors with bio-hazard experience and training in order to reduce liability and overall cost. 
Remember to have compassion for the clients 
• Keep in mind that clients are often traumatized by these incidents. 
• Fast restoration response times go a long way towards helping clients move forward emotionally. 
• Use professional vendors that are trained to treat clients with compassion. 
Find out about the procedures and relative costs of a bio-hazard clean up 
• Bio-hazards can be one of the most expensive claims, but if you have an idea of what your restoration vendor will be doing it will help you to understand the costs better and guard against bad vendor price gouging. 
• Use vendors that have a scientific and approved protocol for addressing a bio-hazard 
• Check out this link to The Insurance Journal to get an idea of what procedures are followed by professional bi-ohazard restoration vendors. 

Dealing with a bio-hazard can be very traumatic and at times confusing. SERVPRO is a specialized vendor that is trained and certified to deal with bio-hazard situations. If you have questions concerning bio-hazard issues, give us a call at 866-888-3894 and we will be happy to answer any of your questions.

Maintain your Laundromat free of fire

5/21/2019 (Permalink)

With a recent influx of Laundromat fires here are some helpful tips to prevent fires. 

According to Martin-Ray Laundry systems here are some very helpful tips to prevent a fire in your commercial laundromat:

Keep exterior of laundry equipment clean: No matter what type of commercial laundry equipment you use, keeping the outside of it clean is always an easy first step. Not only will the clean equipment improve the overall look of your laundry facility, regular cleanings can help prevent lint and other debris from getting inside the machines and causing damage. Regular cleaning can also prevent leftover soaps and detergents from corroding and damaging the machines.

Clean soap dispensers: Soaps, powdered detergent, and boosters can quickly gum up dispensers. Regularly cleaning out these dispensers or soaking them in water can help prevent major clogs or corrosive damage that might require you to completely replace them.

Clean or replace the water filter inlet screens regularly: These screens can become blocked by small particles over time, which may prevent proper water flow into the machine.

Check inlet and outlet hoses regularly: These hoses can get sediment buildup and tiny leaks. Inspecting and changing these as needed can help prevent loss of water and a high-water bill.

Check the belts from the motor to the drum on machines: Look for things like fraying or splitting and replace these belts as needed. Generally, these must be replaced about twice each year.

Check seals around washer doors: Regularly checking for and removing buildup around the seals on your washers can help make sure your equipment always has a water-tight seal to prevent leaking.

Leave washer doors open when possible: Leaving the washer doors open when they are not in use, can help ensure air circulates to the interior and the machines dry properly.

Check lint filters after each load: Customers may forget to clean out the lint filter on dryers between loads. You should consistently be monitoring this in your laundromat equipment to help prevent potential fires and overheating.

Commercial review

5/14/2019 (Permalink)

This review was left by a customer from a commercial lodge we restored after the California wildfires.

We waited almost 5 weeks for another contractor to get us a cleaning estimate for cleaning our Lodge facilities after the Camp Fire tore through Paradise only to leave several unanswered messages. One of our Lodge members mentioned that SERVPRO was working right up the street. Woody Nelson approached SERVPRO's Anthony Noble about cleaning the Lodge for smoke and soot damage from the fire. Anthony and Matt were there within 2 hours to see what we needed. We had a detailed, comprehensive estimate to present to the insurance adjustor within a week. Keep in mind that this facility is over 20,000 square feet in area and covers 2 stories. The bid was accepted and cleaning was commenced shortly after. These people brought the necessary resources and personal to complete the cleaning process rapidly, professionaly, safely and cautiously, without damage, while working under some pretty extreme weather conditions, not to mention the complete devastation surrounding us in the town of Paradise. There was excellent communication throughout the arduous process of this huge undertaking.
I can't thank SERVPRO and their professional staff enough for their Caring and Professional work in restoring our Masonic Lodge to its sparkling appearance and would recommend this company without reservation to anyone who needs or requires their service.

Clean your HVAC vents, it could cost you!

5/14/2019 (Permalink)

We have recently seen a spike in Commercial fires due to HVAC vents not being properly maintained. To ensure your business does not lose crucial income due to a fire, please refer to the following tips.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 25-40% of the energy* used for heating or cooling is wasted because air pollutants require an HVAC system to work harder to heat and cool a facility. According to the EPA, a buildup of just 0.42″ of dirt on a heating or cooling coil can result in a decrease of efficiency of 21%. Dirty duct-work can load filters quickly and lead to more stress on the air handler and potentially higher energy costs

1. Maintain filters.
   Use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by the manufacturer of your HVAC system and change filters regularly. If your filters become clogged, change them more frequently. Also, be sure you do not have any missing filters and that air cannot bypass filters through gaps around the filter holder.
2. Minimize dust.
   Dust and vacuum your home regularly, using the highest efficiency filter bags your vacuum cleaner can take – preferably HEPA bags. If you undertake dusty construction or renovation work in your home, seal off supply and return registers and do not turn your HVAC system on until you have cleaned up the dust.
3. Clean cooling coils and drain pans.
   Cooling coils, which are designed to remove water from the air, can be a major source of moisture contamination that can lead to mold growth in your HVAC system. Make sure that the drain pans under these coils drain properly and check any nearby insulation for wet spots. If you see substantial standing water and/or debris in these pans, contact a qualified service professional immediately. If your system includes an in-duct humidifier, be sure to follow manufacturer operating instructions.

We're faster to any disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage. limit further damages and reduces the cost. Our professional make disasters, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call (503) 648-8513

Commercial maintenance

2/28/2019 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO® Commercial Large Loss Division is composed of our best of the best in restoration. Our elite large-loss specialists are prequalified and strategically positioned throughout the United States to handle any-size disaster. Every large loss is supervised by a commercial operations manager to help ensure seamless communication and timely mitigation. The SERVPRO® Advantage is our ability to dispatch trained production professionals and cut costs through the strategic placement and oversight of temporary labor.

You don’t have time to worry about the common wear and tear that gradually soils your office. When grime, odor and moisture challenges go beyond the scope of your regular janitorial staff, call in your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional. Whether it’s removing an odor problem or deep cleaning flooring or carpets, you can rely on SERVPRO Franchise Professionals to make your workspace look its very best. Your local SERVPRO Franchise Professional will get the job done right and get it done quickly.

The water loss process

10/25/2018 (Permalink)

Extraction from an after-hours water loss

In order to be prepared for our water mitigation process please see the 4 steps below!

Inspection:

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will inspect affected areas to determine the extent of the water damage and will review the inspection with you to answer any questions before beginning any work.

Emergency Services:

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will take steps to help protect your home or business, as well as your personal belongings and other contents, from further damage by extracting the excess water and preparing the area for drying. They will explain the needed emergency services to you step-by-step.

Monitoring:

To help ensure your home or business and belongings are dried to appropriate industry standards, a SERVPRO Franchise Professional will monitor the drying process. The updates will be consistently communicated to you.

Restoration Services:

SERVPRO Franchise Professionals will repair structural materials, reinstall carpets,  and clean affected areas of your property and belongings. A Final walk-through of the job site will be conducted with you to help ensure the property was returned to preloss condition. 

John's Tip of the month, bed bugs!

10/18/2018 (Permalink)

What Are They? 
Bed Bugs are parasitic insects of the Cimicid family that feed exclusively on human blood. They are mostly nocturnal. They can cause skin rashes, allergic symptoms and psychological effects. They have been with us for thousands of years, even though they were almost eradicated in the 1940’s in the developed world. However, they have become resistant to pesticides and have made a comeback. They are here to stay. 

Where Do They Come From? 
The Southwest, Southeast, Eastern US, Washington, and Alaska have a high concentration of Bed Bugs. This puts us at risk of an outbreak here in Oregon. 

Now What? 
As business owners and managers it is crucial to train employees so they can spot Bed Bugs as soon as they arrive. You need to have policies in place to deal with guests or residents that have encountered Bed Bugs. You should also have protocols in place to get rid of the Bed Bugs. 

Bed Bug Prevention (Early Detection) 
There is no way to stop Bed Bugs from being brought into your facility. New folks are arriving every day from all over the world, and bringing their potentially infested personal items with them. You can be Bed Bug free one day and infested the next. 
So, prevention relies on early detection. Bed Bugs must be detected very quickly after they are brought in, hopefully before they bite someone. 

Employees in every department should receive Bed Bug identification training. 
Why everyone? Because employees are located all over the facility and if everybody is looking for Bed Bugs there is a greater chance that they will be discovered quickly. 

How to Get Rid Of Them 

Some pest control firms utilize specialized heating equipment to de-infest furnishings, rooms, and entire dwellings. The procedure involves heating up the infested item or area to temperatures lethal to Bed Bugs. Portable heaters and fans are used to gradually heat the air to 120 - 130°F while monitoring with strategically placed sensors. When dealing with high temperatures remove all aerosol products and check with your fire suppression company to make sure that you DO NOT EXCEED THE WORKING TEMPERATURE OF THE SPRINKLERS! 

While the former methods are helpful, insecticides are widely used by most pest control companies. A variety of EPA-registered materials are available formulated as liquids, dusts and aerosols. Baits used to control ants and cockroaches are ineffective in this case since Bed Bugs feed on blood. Professional-use insecticides such as Temprid®, Transport® and Phantom® tend to be more effective than Bed Bug sprays sold by retailers. Bleach, alcohol, cigarette lighters, etc. should NOT be used to control Bed Bugs. 
Important Note 
It is extremely important that employees do not attempt to treat Bed Bugs themselves. Always have Bed Bug infestations treated by an experienced pest management company. If your current company does not have Bed Bug experience, call us for suggestions or an inspection. 

Sources 
Michael F. Potter, Extension Entomologist University of Kentucky College of Agriculture 
Dini M. Miller, Ph.D., Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_bug 
For More Info See: 
http://www.bloomberg.com/bw/stories/2007-11-08/the-cost-of-bedbugsbusinessweek-business-news-stock-market-and-financial-advice 
http://www.ndhealth.gov/Disease/Documents/faqs/Bed%20Bugs.pdf 
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7454.html 

How can wildfires affect my business?

4/19/2018 (Permalink)

Even states as wet as Oregon and Washington are affected by wildfires several times a year. When the Eagle Creek fire shut down businesses our phones rang off the hook with concerned business owners. In times like these SERVPRO is the first to call as we are faster to any size disaster. 

Some tips from FEMA to protect you and your property from hazards are as follows:

• Wear protective clothing 
• Lock up your business
• Choose a route away from fire hazards
• Close windows, vents, doors, and blinds
• Shut off all utilities, if possible
• Move flammable items to the center of the building
• turn on a light in each room to increase visibility of your property
• Turn off gas lines and propane tanks
• Connect the outside house to water taps
• Gather fire tools

These tips along with preparation and quick thinking can and will protect your investments!

When wildfire strikes we are here to help!

4/19/2018 (Permalink)

Even states as wet as Oregon and Washington are affected by wildfires several times a year. When the Eagle Creek fire shut down businesses our phones rang off the hook with concerned business owners. In times like these SERVPRO is the first to call as we are faster to any size disaster. 

Some tips from FEMA to protect you and your property from hazards are as follows:

• Wear protective clothing 
• Lock up your business
• Choose a route away from fire hazards
• Close windows, vents, doors, and blinds
• Shut off all utilities, if possible
• Move flammable items to the center of the building
• turn on a light in each room to increase visibility of your property
• Turn off gas lines and propane tanks
• Connect the outside house to water taps
• Gather fire tools

These tips along with preparation and quick thinking can and will protect your investments!

Post-Construction Needs

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

Post Construction Cleaning

Once the floors are down and the drywall is up, it's time to remove the debris and dirt in order to lay carpet, paint, and decorate. SERVPRO professionals can provide debris removal services to prepare the building for interior design.

Dehumidification and Drying

During the construction phase, a building can trap moisture. Excessive moisture could result in mold growth. If you think one of your projects may have a moisture issue, rely on SERVPRO professionals to provide the help you need initiating moisture and preventing the potential for mold growth. 

Final Cleaning

You want the facility to look its best when the doors open. Your Local SERVPRO professionals provide cleaning services to give the building that extra shine. Services include:

• Carpet, resilient and non-resilient floor prep and finish
• Ceilings, walls and fixture cleaning
• Deodorization
• Air Duct Cleaning
• Debris Removal
• Window Cleaning

The last thing you need is a fire or, water intrusion or mold growth slowing down or stopping the completion of one of your projects. SERVPRO professionals provide 24-hour emergency mitigation, cleanup and restoration services to help you get back on schedule quickly. 

Severe Weather Safety

4/17/2018 (Permalink)

Severe weather can happen at any time, anywhere. I think us here in the pacific northwest are very accustomed to that. Each year Americans cope with an average of the following storms:

• 10,000 severe thunderstorms
• 5,000 floods or flash floods
• 1,300 torandoes
• 2 land-falling deadly hurricanes

Approximately 98% of all presidentially declared disasters are weather-related, leading to around 650 deaths per year and nearly $15 billion in damage. Knowing your risk of severe weather, taking action, and being an example are just a few steps you can take to be better prepared to save your life and assist in saving the lives of others.

When fire or water damage puts the things that matter most on the line, you need the very best help on the line as well. That why knowing the easiest ways to contact SERVPRO is so important. Just got to SERVPRO.com on your mobile phone or call 1-800-SERVPRO to get the team that faster to any disaster!

Your Commercial Needs

12/4/2017 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove provides 24-hour emergency service and is dedicated to being faster to any-sized disaster. We can respond immediately to your emergency and have the expertise to handle your restoration or cleaning needs.

• 24-Hour Emergency Service
• Faster to Any-Sized Disaster
• Highly Trained Restoration Technicians
• Locally Owned and Operated
• Advanced Restoration and Cleaning Equipment

Have Questions? Call Us 24/7 - (503) 648-8513

Residential Services

Whether your home needs emergency flood damage or your upholstery cleaned, you can depend on us. Our Professionals have extensive cleaning and restoration training. Learn more about our residential services:

• Water Damage Restoration
• Fire Damage Restoration
• Mold Remediation
• Storm Damage Restoration
• Cleaning Services
• Building/Reconstruction Services

Commercial Services

There's never a convenient time for fire or Water damage to affect your commercial property. Every hour spent cleaning up is an hour of lost revenue and productivity. So when the need arises for professional cleaning or emergency restoration services we have the training and expertise to respond promptly with highly trained technicians to get your property back to business. Learn more about our commercial services:

• Commercial Water Damage Restoration
• Commercial Fire Damage Restoration
• Commercial Storm Damage Restoration

Help your apartment residences

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

In an apartment community residence will share walls from the sides and from above and below, sharing spaces. If a water damage occurs, it can get out of hand quickly. As a water damage could not only affect one residence but multiple residences.You can never know when an emergency situation will occur, but it’s in your best interest as a property manager, as well as in the best interest of your residents, to always be prepared for anything. Taking these measures today to help prevent water damage in the future.

1. Check On Aging Appliances Regularly – If the property you manage includes a fridge, dishwasher, and/or washer/dryer in unit, you should closely monitor the age of the appliances as well as routinely checking them for cracked or damaged hoses or connections. Washer hoses should be replaced about every five years. It’s a good idea to replace washers and dryers before there’s a problem. It may cost more money now, but it could save you a lot of money and a headache or two in the future.
2. Repair Old or Damaged Roofs When It’s Dry – Don’t wait for a big rainstorm to find out that the roofing at your unit(s) needs replacing. Make routine checkups to monitor the condition of the roof(s) at your property. Make time and room in the budget to make any replacements or upgrades necessary during the dry season so that you can avoid water damage in the wet season.
3. Stay in Touch with Your Residents and Know When they’re Traveling – Many people go on vacations during the summer. Talk to your residents about having their water shut off while they’re gone or, alternatively, having someone check on their apartment from time to time while they’re gone. If a water leak occurs while they’re away and no one is checking in, a small problem could potentially turn into something much worse.

We're faster to any disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage. limit further damages and reduces the cost. Our professional make disasters, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call (503) 648-8513

We are here to help your business

12/1/2017 (Permalink)

In manufacturing, assembly of the finished product, Water from flooding or a major leak can stall lines and keep production halted, making your plant late with orders.

No matter where the water comes from, plant managers and business owners can solve the situation with SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove. We are ready 24-hours a day, quickly remove standing water with the proper equipment. When the water is extracted we do our best to make sure our equipment is out of the way as much as possible given the situation. So your business can continue to operate while also drying the structure as effectively as possible.

Wherever absorbent or porous materials exist within your plant, water fills the pores and holes. Using water's own properties against it, we heat different areas to speed up evaporation. We also create air currents with large air movers to direct moist air, so it goes exactly where we want it – outside through open windows or toward a desiccant machine or large dehumidifiers.

Without professional water removal services, your plant's interior might seem dry after your employees take care of the problem with mops, squeegees, and towels, but this often results in a more significant problem later if microbial growth starts to occur in areas that didn’t dry properly. SERVPRO professionals can help your plant avoid this much more costly situation. Doing so and quickly responding to your plant's emergency situation can eliminate a substantial amount of future downtime, financial expenses, and other issues.

We're faster to any disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage. limit further damages and reduces the cost. Our professional make disasters, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call (503) 648-8513

Commercial Drying

11/1/2017 (Permalink)

Our managers at SERVPRO of Hillsboro/Forest Grove have taken  the IICRC Commercial drying specialist (CDS) class and obtained special certification to complete water mitigation in commercial buildings. With this knowledge, our managers are able to effectively lead our crew chiefs that had taken and acquired the IICRC Advance structure drying (ASD) class. These certifications provide our management and crew the knowledge, and the experience that they have acquired while working at SERVPRO to be able to dry out a commercial building efficiently. There is no job that is too big or too small for our Professionals.

We're faster to any disaster

We are dedicated to responding immediately when you contact us. A fast response lessens the damage, limit further damages and reduces the cost. Our professional make disasters, "Like it never even happened."

If your home or business suffers from an emergency, call (503) 648-8513