Wolgast Restoration Blog Page

The Cost of Ice Dams to Your Business

Posted by Cory Sursely on Tue, Feb 14, 2023 @ 09:58 AM

IceDam

Ice dams can cause a variety of damage to commercial structures from roof collapse to mold through perpetual leaks. The risks include ice hitting staff/patrons or possessions on property, sickness from exposure to mold or “grossly contaminated water”, or continual maintenance costs to find and fix a leak in the roof or ceiling.

Business structures with sloped and flat roofs both are able to pool water during the regular melt/freeze of snow in the winter. Owners can prevent ice dams by clearing leaves and other debris that can clog roof drainage systems in the fall, as well as maintaining adequate levels of insulation in the attic to prevent the roof material from heating up and melting the ice from the inside. Keeping roofing material as cold as possible will prevent thawing to occur prematurely.

The cost of lost work time due to illness from mold exposure or if a worker gets hit by a sheet of ice as they enter or exit the building makes an impact on productivity, but if you suffer a roof collapse, productivity can stop completely and restoration costs could be incurred. Not to mention the liability of an injured person on your property having a financial impact. According to property360.com article “Accounting for Ice Dams When Underwriting Property Insurance Policies”, the 2020 average “settlement from ice dam is $8,000” for interior damage only. This is for all structures, not just commercial buildings, and doesn’t include exterior restoration to the roof or property damage.

Same as at your house, if you have icicles forming at the edge of your roof or eaves on your business structure; if you can see that snow is melting high on your roof, but not at the lower portion; or if you notice new water marks or leaks inside your building on ceiling material, you may have an ice dam. Prevention through gutter cleaning, consistent maintenance, and early detection are the best ways to protect your building and business from the hazards of ice dams.

Wolgast Restoration has provided restoration services after roof collapses to several schools in Michigan and can help your business to reconstruct, clean mold, and fix leaks associated with ice dams if you have disaster strike. Keep our number on file in the event of an emergency, 888-WOLGAST. This is our 24-Hour Hotline number. We will mobilize quickly to take whatever action is needed.

Topics: Ice Dam

Fall Is the Time to Check Your Business for Fire Prevention Measures

Posted by Cory Sursely on Tue, Nov 08, 2022 @ 10:26 AM

FireAB

The month of October holds the “longest-running public health observance” in the United States, according to the www.nfpa.org website. It’s the Fire Prevention Week, which has taken place annually since 1922 during the week of October 9th. President Calvin Coolidge declared the observance to recognize the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This massive fire with many casualties and property loss significantly “changed the way fire fighters thought about fire safety.”

October and fall time in general still remains an appropriate time to recognize fire safety 100 years later. This is when the weather starts to cool and daylight lessens, requiring HVAC units to heat back up, electrical lighting to be used more frequently, and portable heaters to be plugged in across office settings everywhere. For older buildings, these events are all common causes of fires. Other common causes for small businesses include cooking, cigarettes, loose electrical connections, over loaded circuits, or combustible dust build-up to name a few.

In the article What to Remember about Small commercial Structure Fires from www.fireengineering.com, small businesses commonly have large open spaces on the main floor and in the attic or rafter area, which allows a fire to spread rapidly. They point out that when there is a drop ceiling present, it can hide smoke as the fire builds and (depending on the type of business) if shelves are stocked with combustible contents, it makes a fire more difficult to fight.

Protecting Your Staff and Business:

Prevention and preparedness are the keys, especially when many small businesses are less than 5,000 sf and typically aren’t required to have a sprinkler system. Simple practices that you can do to help prevent or prepare for fires include:

  • Post microwave safety posters
  • Move smoking areas and receptacles away from building exterior and entrances to prevent people extinguishing their cigarette in your landscape or near the base of your building
  • Visually check offices for inappropriate electrical strip use
  • Frequently wipe down and clean surfaces that may collect combustible dust
  • Store chemicals appropriately
  • Keep fire extinguishers current and make sure staff members know where they are located
  • Keep fire exits clear
  • Keep important documents in fire safe boxes
  • Keep fire doors closed at all times
  • Get input from the Fire Department to make improvements from your building

Extra Precautions for your Server Room:

 Clean Agent or Gaseous Fire Suppression systems are expensive, but they use gas to stifle a fire instead of damaging water or foam. Many business owners would want to save their server or document rooms, which are typically smaller spaces, using a Clean Agent Suppression system. Since it is a smaller area to cover, installing in this area could be a good investment. Additionally, a basement with only one egress could be more cost effective to install a Clean Agent Suppression system rather than removing the building exterior to run a waterline for a sprinkler system. This would be an efficient way to add square footage when you need it. There are several options to fit your needs and Wolgast can help you figure out what will suit you best. As you prepare your budgets for next year, these protections may be something to consider.

Also, for those businesses in the mid Michigan area, store our toll-free number in your phone in the event of a building emergency – 1-855-WOLGAST. We can help you mitigate, clean-up, and restore your building after a fire, flood, storm, or impact. Wolgast Restoration and Wolgast Corporation team together to offer efficient and professional design and re-construction services to get you back in business faster.

Topics: fire damage, business preparation

Protecting Your Investment from Vehicle-into-Building Crashes

Posted by Cory Sursely on Wed, Jul 06, 2022 @ 08:18 AM

Vehicle-ImpactWithout proper obstruction, motorists accidentally drive their cars into buildings 60 times a day in the US, causing damage and loss to businesses and homeowners.

The Storefront Safety Council is a group of volunteers that are “passionate about ending vehicle-into-building crashes.”  They have a variety of experts to help them address the causes and prevention of cars hitting buildings.  Members include architects, risk managers, parking specialists, lawyers, and perimeter safety professionals.  They have collected data from years 2014-2021 and have determined that there is an average of 60 vehicle/building impacts daily, 500 deaths annually, and 4,000 injuries each year.

The main cause of these accidents are operator error, happening 20% of the time.  The top impacted storefronts are retail stores – 29%, commercial buildings – 20%, restaurants – 19%, and the remaining 32% includes “other” buildings.

When a Vehicle Impacts Your Building:

It is critical to call 911 immediately to address the medical needs of any patrons, workers, pedestrians, or vehicle occupants.  Additionally, the fire department should be called on site in case any gas lines were effected, which could start a fire or explosion.  The emergency response report is also useful in your insurance claim for timing and dates.

Additionally, you will want to call your insurance company (after emergency units) to make a claim and so they can assess the damage.  Your restoration contractor, general contractor, and/or engineer should be your third call, so that board-ups can take place and structural support can be implemented.  Structural damage makes the building unsafe for any occupants.

The key is to protect people on site and also protect your investment in your building.  Preserving the least amount of damage will get you back to business faster.

Ways to Prevent Vehicle Impact:

The Storefront Safety Council recommends that keeping parking away from the building through space or barricade.  Even if it isn’t required through codes or standards, adding bollards, parking blocks, and guardrails can be beneficial in protecting your business.  Also adding sidewalks and landscaping between the parking lot and the building could add enough space to account for those who mistakenly push the gas rather than the break while parking.  When designing a new commercial building, it is a good idea to talk to your architect about features that can protect your investment from automobile users.

For those businesses and residents in Michigan, keep our 24-hour number 855-WOLGAST stored in your phone should you have an emergent need for board-up or structural support.  We can also design and restore your building if needed.

Topics: structural damage, commercial, business preparation, prevention

Why Business Owners Should Prepare a Business Continuity Plan

Posted by Cory Sursely on Mon, Jan 31, 2022 @ 11:49 AM

BusinessContinuityPlan

Come tornado, heavy snow storm, pandemic, IT ransom attack, or high water, business owners need to plan for many threats that could shut them down anytime during their existence. One effective way to do this is to create a Business Continuity Plan (BCP).

A BCP is a way to prepare your critical business functions to keep working in the event of a tragedy or any threat to your business operation in order to maintain success and get through it faster. Ready.gov, a national, public service campaign by the government to help constituents prepare for emergencies has a lot of guidance for business owners to create their BCP at www.ready.gov. To start, they suggest that owners conduct at Business Impact Analysis of key functions and the impact they could face. These include what would the impact of lost or delayed sales and income be? Also, what could the cost of outsourcing or overtime labor be to get you functional again? Would there be regulatory fines, or contractual penalties if you were shutdown. Could customer dissatisfaction from delays have a long-term income impact? What would a breakdown be if you have to delay or cancel your operations for various durations? Once you realize what you could be facing, it will help you to think about what you’ll need before you need it and how to create recovery strategies.

By forming a team of operations managers, department heads, HR department, and essential workers they will help you to form a thorough, well-thought out plan. You may also want to include your IT company and chosen Restoration Contractor (more below). The ready.gov website offers significant information and direction on how to create your specific plan. They provide forms to work through and recovery strategies to include. Visit their site for tips and guidance.

When it comes to preparing for building loss due to flood, fire, storm, vehicle impact, or falling trees, a Disaster Response Plan (DRP) should be added as part of your BCP and shared with your Restoration Contractor. It is a record of documents including pertinent information about a building or campus of buildings and the systems or equipment it features. Knowing this information, a Restoration Contractor could quickly mobilize appropriate equipment, along with the contact information for responsible parties of building functions prior to visiting the site.

Working with Wolgast Restoration to develop the DRP portion of your plan means that we will already have knowledge of your facility in the event of an emergency and can react quickly to minimize the damage earlier and in turn save you time in the restoration process. This will lessen interruption to your business.

If you have further questions or would like to set up an appointment to learn more about a partnership, please contact Jeremy Wagner, Wolgast Restoration’s General Manager, at 989-781-0173. In the meantime, if you have an emergency and are facing a loss due to fire, flood, storm or vehicle impact, please call our 24-hour, emergency hotline at 855-WOLGAST (855-965-4278).

What to Do When a Business Finds Mold Growing in Their Building

Posted by Cory Sursely on Tue, Oct 26, 2021 @ 01:00 PM

MoldMold spores can enter a building in a number of ways, even a commercial or public building. Additionally, spores are common in all kinds of buildings according to the cdc.org website. They can be carried in through the door, blown in through windows, vents, or heating and air conditioners. The problem happens when a source of water mixes with the spores, like from a flood, a leak, or persistent condensation.

Whenever a building owner finds mold spores growing or existing in their building, it is critical to take action to completely remove them and replace infected materials, so not to expose building users. The biggest problems that businesses face with mold is exposure making their staff or customers sick, and (if necessary to mitigate the mold) keeping their operations going. The earlier a water source is stopped, the easier it is to remove without stopping business operations. It is Wolgast Restoration’s goal to keep your staff working while we safely remove the spores by following regulatory and specialist guidelines.

What to Do?

Not all mold spores are harmful and a natural level of spores are present in all buildings at all times. Any areas where harmful mold has grown to more than 10 s.f. in size, the EPA recommends hiring a certified professional because a written plan by an Industrial Hygienist is mandatory at that point. They will assess the type of mold and if it is harmful, create a method for getting the area back to an acceptable level and instruct the Remediation Team on how to remediate and prevent spores from spreading. This is important so spores don’t become loose and therefore able to be inhaled by building occupants or have them take up residence on another surface. The spores make people sick with headaches, allergies, asthma attacks, or worse, which is bad for staff’s wellbeing, productivity, and attendance.

Wolgast Restoration has certified professionals that mitigate and/or clean mold spores in homes, commercial buildings, and public institutions. We work with building owners to temporarily relocate occupants, while identifying the source of the water, fixing the issue causing mold growth, following the written Indoor Air Quality procedures, wearing appropriate PPE, and using containment equipment. The professionals will use drop clothes to cover and protect contents, use containment walls when necessary to block off whole rooms/sections of the building, and also use air scrubbers to reduce dust so that the rest of the building can remain open for business operations.

Mold’s Effect on Different Industries

Old buildings aren’t as well ventilated, and in their roof’s lifetime, have most likely experienced leaks. There are many K-12 school districts out there that have original buildings built 50+ years ago, and children are more susceptible to issues with mold due to their developing lungs. Since school buildings are used daily for an extended period of time, exposure can be extensive.

Likewise in an office setting, users or staff members have prolonged exposure that could be causing headaches, active allergies, or asthma attacks. Productivity or attendance issues could result.

In healthcare office settings, the exposure may not be as prolonged, but patients could be more sensitive if their immune systems are compromised.

Restaurants could be shut down for not addressing mold issues in their kitchen, bathroom or dining room.

If an infected area is less than 10 s.f., the EPA says a trained maintenance person can handle the cleanup using appropriate PPE and equipment. It’s good to note that according to the cdc.org website, “bleach does not kill mold. To remove small-scale, less than 10 s.f. mold infestation, use a mix of household detergent and water.” Again, infestations larger than that require trained remediation professionals, like those at Wolgast Restoration and an Industrial Hygienist to work together to properly mitigate the mold without spreading the spores. Michigan business owners and home owners, please keep our 24-hour emergency hotline number for your restoration needs, 855-WOLGAST.

Topics: Mold, Water Damage in Schools

Fire Resistant Building Elements for Business Owners

Posted by Cory Sursely on Mon, Oct 05, 2020 @ 02:24 PM

Forty to sixty percent of businesses that face disaster, such as a fire, never reopen according to FEMA.gov. To prepare for Fire Prevention Week the beginning of October, we have compiled information about making a business structure more fire resistant.

In 1922, the NFPA originated Fire Prevention Week was a small organizational observance. President Coolidge adopted it nationally in 1925 to be recognized every year during the week of October 9. That date coincides with The Great Chicago Fire, which happened in 1871, killing 250 people and leaving 100,000 homeless (nfpa.org).

This yearly reminder to building inhabitants whether end users or owners is a good practice to help save many lives, homes, and businesses, and we feel that knowing what causes the most fires in a commercial or industrial setting will help business owners protect themselves from hazards, see graphs.

Commercial Building Fire Causes         Industrial Building Fire Causes

Sources: nfpa.org: U.S. Structure Fires in Office Properties, Aug 2013     nfpa.org: Fires in Industrial and Manufacturing Properties, Mar 2018

For commercial buildings, the majority of fires are started while cooking, so having flame retardant materials and furniture is important in the kitchen area. It’s also important to know that intentional fires are commonly arson caused by a disgruntled person either in the bathroom or an exterior dumpster, therefore, it’s good to be aware of who is in a building when there has been an altercation, empty trash daily, install motion sensor cameras, and keep the dumpster away from the building.   Additionally, most unintentional fires are commonly started by cigarettes in the landscaping or space heaters placed against the wall. Having designated disposal units for cigarettes and a policy about the use of space heaters are great, low cost means to protect from everything going up in smoke (smokeguard.com).

Depending on the size and use of a building, a sprinkler system may be required by code. For example, an office or medical building, AKA light hazard, over 12,000 s.f. is required to be “sprinkled”, but a restaurant only needs to be 5,000 s.f. to require a sprinkler system. I interviewed Bernie with Jimco Fire Protection, Inc. about what materials building owners should use to be more fire resistant and he suggested, “Metal trusses with fire retardant sheeting is the best way to go on a roof.” By using these materials, an attic doesn’t need to be sprinkled regardless of the size even if the rest of the building needs to be. Another option that Bernie doesn’t readily recommend is instead using wood trusses and installing a dry suppression system. It may be less upfront cost, but there will be regular ongoing maintenance of the system that will likely add up to cost more and cause more risky down time. According to sciencedirect.com, other material selections good for fire protection of a building envelope (i.e. walls, ceiling, floors, columns, and roof), are heat resistant materials and/or metal choices, such as concrete, coated steel, brick and mortar, treated wood, glass, and other metals to name a few.

Also, depending on the size and use of a building, an owner may be required by code to incorporate the following into the structural design, fire curtain, a minimum number of fire alarms, emergency lights and exit signs, and a minimum number of fire extinguishers. Bernie reminded us that if adding on to a building, it could trigger the additional expense of some of these requirements.

Low cost ways to protect staff, customers and assets from fire damage include good housekeeping inside and out of the building, maintenance, having a disaster response plan, and a contingency plan. The best practice is to take the time to train staff on fire safety and how to use an extinguisher, and discuss a disaster plan with staff including where to meet outside the building to be accounted for in the event of an emergency.

I asked Bernie what was new in the fire protection industry and he said, “Sprinkler heads are the only thing changing. In the 70s there were only 4 options, now there’s an unknown number of options.” He shared that on the market are single heads that can reach 30 ft. one way and 30 ft. the other way, essentially covering entire rooms with its spray. A head of that strength of spray requires only one main line in a room, rather than using more materials to branch out with piping through the space and also needs less labor saving on cost.

Wolgast Corporation and Wolgast Restoration are in a unique position to be able to assist business owners to rebuild during a disaster. We have the insurance restoration expertise to help with clean up along with the design and construction expertise to rebuild the structure if it’s needed. In the event of an emergency call 855-WOLGAST for our 24-Hour emergency hotline, or 800-WOLGAST for other building needs.

Topics: commercial, fire damage, business preparation

The Primary Natural Disasters Threatening Michigan Structures

Posted by Cory Sursely on Mon, Jul 06, 2020 @ 11:20 AM

Property owners of Michigan, this map, credited to redcross.org1, suggests that Michigan has insignificant threat of any natural disaster compared to all the rest of the states.  Sure, we aren’t much effected by earthquakes, although we have felt aftershocks from time to time, and it’s unlikely that we will ever have hurricane force winds hit us, but the rain and lesser significant winds of hurricanes do reach us causing damage.  Though someone looking at the map may pat themselves on the back for choosing to live in the Great State of Michigan, there are definitely natural disasters and other mayhem for which we need to be prepared.

DisasterMapAccording to michigan.gov2, Michigan’s primary natural threats include floods, thunderstorms, tornadoes, wild fires, and of course winter weather.  Knowing a few details and statistics can help us prepare for disasters, even though most disasters are completely unpredictable.

Thunderstorms are the “primary source of summer rainfall” in Michigan according to (weather-us.com)3.  They are a heavy hitter possibly bringing heavy rain, flash flooding, wind, hail, tornadoes, and/or lightning.  Each of these hazards bring their own havoc to property, which we will discuss more below.  They occur mostly from May to September.  Michigan averages 28 – 40 thunderstorms per year in the Lower Peninsula and 20 – 30 in the Upper Peninsula (michigan.gov)2. Building owners also have to be prepared for power outages during these storms.

Ninety percent of damage caused by natural disasters in the US is from a flood event (iii.org)4. There is not a “flooding season” per say, but they historically have happened in the spring and summer in Michigan.  Additionally, Michigan’s potential for early spring flooding is higher because of the thawing of winter ice and snow makes lake and river levels rise.  Floods cause damage to foundations, drywall and contents within a building, and if not cleaned or dried properly can result in microbial growth that makes inhabitants sick.

In Michigan, most tornadoes occur between April and July.  Experts have even predicted that a tornado is more likely to occur between 3PM and 7PM.  An average of 16 tornadoes occur in Michigan each year (michigan.gov)5.  Tornadoes can cause massive damage to property through heavy winds and force.  Depending on the strength of the wind a tornado can break heavy branches or uproot trees that land on a building, push mobile homes off their foundation, tear off roofs, level well-constructed walls, or lift homes off their foundation.  Power outages are prevalent during tornado storms due to tree limbs and debris falling on power lines.

Hail is common in the spring season in Michigan (weather-us.com)3.  Most Michigan counties see an average of 2 hail events per year.  Hail can cause costly property damage to roofs and siding, resulting in insurance claims and restoration construction.

Wild fires have happened historically between March and October, and most commonly “during the driest part of the year”.  More than 75% of Michigan is covered in forested land in Northern Lower Peninsula and Upper Peninsula.  We see an average of 550 minor wild fire events a year (michigan.gov)2. Most people think that lightning is the main cause of the fires, but it is actually more commonly caused by debris burning.  The Michigan.gov document “MHA 2019 Full Update Natural Hazards” discusses creating a vulnerable structure to be “Firewise” to protect it from wildfires, which includes non-flammable exterior materials and removing vegetation surrounding the building to provide a barrier from wildfire flames and ash.

Winter weather is more hazardous to automobiles and the health of individuals driving or walking/recreating in Michigan.  However, our winter weather causes damage to property through ice dams, frozen pipes and heavy snow on roofs.  The Lower Peninsula averages 90-180 days of below freezing temperatures (michigan.gov)2.  Insulating pipes near outer walls and keeping the heat above 55 can help prevent the pipes from freezing.  Flooding from frozen pipes only occurs once the pipe starts to thaw creating quite a mess causing restoration of your pipes and the water damage remediated.  Ventilating your attic will help regulate the temperature and moisture in the space to prevent ice dams and water infiltration at the roof barrier. And flatter roof styles will need to remove snow built up on their shingles to protect from the weight, ice, thaw, and damage.

Natural-Disaster-ScheduleThe unpredictable behavior of Mother Nature makes it difficult to prepare your structure in some cases and still live daily life, so it’s most important to have a plan to protect yourself and have phone numbers ready to call your insurance provider and restoration contractor immediately after.  It’s a good practice to have needed items ready in case the power goes out, for example: a light source, charged energy source(s), communication device(s), food, drink, and important papers in a safe place.  Call Wolgast Restoration when a disaster hits your property.

24 HOUR HOTLINE: (855) 965-4278

Sources:

1 www.redcross.org

2  https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/MHA_2019__full_update_natural_hazards_653708_7.pdf

3 https://www.weather-us.com/en/michigan-usa-climate?f,in,in,mi#climate_text_4

4 https://www.iii.org/article/facts-about-flood-insurance

5 https://www.michigan.gov/documents/msp-tornado_tips_8781_7.pdf

Topics: wind damage, roof damage, disaster plan, fire damage, spring floods, frozen pipes, prevention

Keys to Establishing a Fast & Accurate Restoration Estimate

Posted by Cory Sursely on Thu, Mar 19, 2020 @ 02:50 PM

EstimatingRestorationWhen a client is displaced from their home or business, time is critical to get them to pre-loss condition, quickly.  Each project starts with an assessment of the loss and a restoration estimate.  There are three key things that make us fast and accurate in our estimating. 

First, we are systemized, so each project is handled the same way and steps are not missed.  Our Project Managers (PMs) know what is needed because of their expertise and an established and comprehensive guide, so they record needed information, such as measurements and materials that are being replaced during their initial site visit. 

Second, the PMs are involved at the start of the project and visit the loss site to evaluate the size of the loss and what needs to be replaced.  PMs have the relationship with the client throughout the process and know the means necessary to complete reconstruction, so they are the best option to be the eyes and ears onsite with the client.  Then the PM collaborates with our expert Estimator who works in Xactimate, an industry standard software for estimating, to provide the most accurate cost for reconstruction.  It is the same software that the adjusters use, so we are comparing our numbers apples to apples with them.  We’re also able to provide our estimates more quickly, accurately and efficiently than many of our competitors because we use a 3D camera to take a walk-thru image of our properties.  This visual allows us to make future measurements and verification without costly travel time spent back to the site. Additionally, our Estimating team has been Xactimate certified and has years of experience to know how to code for accuracy. 

Third, we’re a Division of Wolgast Corporation, a 70+ year old construction company that supports us in our estimate planning when necessary (i.e. a total loss).  We know construction and are able to provide accurate estimates quickly as to keep the restoration momentum going and satisfy our client faster.

 

Topics: restoration, Estimating

Dedicated Restoration Team to Clean Valued Contents after a Loss

Posted by Cory Sursely on Mon, Nov 25, 2019 @ 12:37 PM

ContentCleaning2Contents are a substantial part of a property insurance loss.  Not only the cost of replacing, but also an owner’s emotional attachment to items can be significant.  Being able to clean or salvage 80% or so of a building’s or house’s contents after a flood or fire is beneficial to reducing the loss for the owner.  Years ago, insurers didn’t think it was worth taking the time or effort to clean the contents, but with modern practices and equipment, the quicker turn-around time and success has proven to save on restoration costs.1

Content cleaning is a job of precision for dedicated and compassionate technicians to restore another’s personal items.  We’re one of the few Restoration Companies in Michigan to provide this service in-house with an Ultrasonic Machine.  Our Employee-Owner Cleaning Technicians are well trained with the knowledge of the right process, temperature, PH levels, and settings for the Ultrasonic Machine to really get into the cracks and crevices of the items being sanitized.  The machine uses sound waves and water to also remove soot and rust from many types of materials.  We’ve been able to restore old style floor grates from older houses that are hard to find for replacement and we can also use the Ultrasonic Machine to clean ceiling diffusers that are impacted by restaurant fires.  Its versatility and ability to remove difficult to reach dirt from tiny crevices of knick knacks and other intricate or hard to clean items really surprises our clients.  Recently, we were able restore a widow’s collection of old hand tools that had been her husband’s.  She’d suffered a fire loss at her home and the Ultrasonic machine had the precious items looking better than they had in a long time.

Secondly, we offer the Ozone Generator that uses O3 to take out the smells associated with smoke damage or other unpleasant odors.  Restoration companies that have their own content cleaning staff and equipment can deodorize many items that wouldn’t be expected to be restored.  As part of our Content Cleaning Service, we have trained professionals in house to run the equipment and see that impacted materials are cleaned effectively and safely to be returned to the insureds home or place of business, toxin free.  Additionally, we’re able to use the Ozone Generator on site, which speeds up the restoration process and gets business owners back in business faster.

1 https://www.propertycasualty360.com/2014/07/01/the-perils-of-pack-outs/. “The Perils of Packouts”, 7/1/14.

Topics: Contents Restoration

360 Degree Walk-Through Technology Saves on Restoration Time

Posted by Cory Sursely on Thu, Aug 22, 2019 @ 09:23 AM

MatterportWolgast Restoration has added technology to make their service even more efficient. The Matterport 3D Camera is a high resolution scanning device that lets us take 3D photos to turn into a high quality, precise, 360 degree, walk-through, interactive image online. The qualities and capabilities of the scan have many benefits that are useful to Insurance Companies, including quicker estimating and more efficient management of restoration activities. By scanning a building interior with the camera on an initial site visit, we can use the software’s capabilities to do follow-up measurements or verification if needed, get additional/outside input via email without subsequent site visits, and keep high-quality documentation of the state of the property.

Speed is everything in the restoration business and we continually invest in technology and equipment to better serve our mutual clients in order to get them back to a pre-loss state as quickly as possible.  The time saving aspects of the Matterport camera allows us to take on more claims in a shorter time frame, which is beneficial during a wide spread loss in our coverage area. 

If you’d like to know more or have a client that needs our expertise, please call us today.

Help your clients find us in their time of need at 855-WOLGAST

Topics: Contents Restoration, Technology