laminate floor water damage san mateo ca

How to Tell if Your Laminate Floor Has Water Damage

Steve VanDenBerg Blog, water damage

Water damage can be incredibly destructive to any building material used in the San Mateo, CA and San Francisco, CA areas; however, some materials will fare better against excess moisture than others. One of them includes laminate flooring; if you simply wipe up a spill as soon as it occurs, there shouldn’t be a problem. But in the cases of …

how to clean fire damaged walls california

How to Clean Fire Damaged Walls

Steve VanDenBerg Blog, fire damage

Cleaning a small amount of fire damage or smoke damage on walls of a home can seem doable yourself. If your home has fire damage or if you are looking to purchase a home with previous smoke or fire damage on its walls, you should consider how much work might go into cleaning. Smoke damage, smoke stains, and other types …

attic plywood mold

How to Remove Mold From Attic Plywood | ServiceMaster

Steve VanDenBerg Blog

Mold growth in the attic is a common occurrence. Homeowners rarely visit the attic, which allows the mold colonies to flourish undetected. Attic plywood, which is mainly utilized as flooring, can develop mold infestations. Here are ways to remove mold from attic plywood. Why does mold grow in the attic? Attics in the San Francisco, CA area are ideal places …

water heater flooded basement san francisco ca

Water Heater Flooded Basement | What to Do

Steve VanDenBerg Blog, water damage, water damage restoration

A malfunctioning or old water heater can easily leak and cause a basement flood in your home. Know how to respond to a flood in your basement when a water heater breaks or leaks. Actions when water heater flooded basement Drain the Water Heater Tank Just because the water heater is off, doesn’t mean the leaking will stop. There are …

How to Clean Your Keurig of Mold and Bacteria

How to Clean Your Keurig of Mold and Bacteria

Steve VanDenBerg Blog

Almost any drink dispensing device, whether it be a soda fountain, coffee machine, or water cooler, runs the risk of developing mold within its parts. That includes the Keurig or similar K-Cup coffee machine in your home or office. If the possibility of drinking coffee from a machine that has mold inside it is disturbing, there are some simple routines …

Hoarding Cleanup by ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration and Recovery

Helping Hoarders After the Holiday Season

Steve VanDenBerg Blog

People who suffer from a hoarding disorder are likely to experience greater stress once the holidays roll around and even after the merriest time of year ends. The reason is clear: The busiest gift-giving season leads to splurges on presents, gift wrap and ornaments.   Hoarding is a complex that urges sufferers to excessively accumulate goods that others would deem …

Biohazard and Trauma Scene Cleaning by ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration and Recovery

The Consequences of Improper Crime Scene Cleaning

Steve VanDenBerg Blog

Encountering the scene of a tragic accident, it can be an overwhelming and even traumatic experience. While it can be difficult to take action right away, doing so is crucial. The first step to take after finding a crime scene or gruesome accident is to call the authorities, report the incident, and they will arrive right away to investigate. Once …

Hoarding cleanup ServiceMaster Disaster Recovery and Restoration

Are You or a Loved One on the Hoarding Spectrum?

Steve VanDenBerg Blog

Hoarding involves compulsively finding and keeping objects that have no real use or value. Hoarders commonly keep items like trash, newspapers, animals, boxes, food, clothes, plastic and paper bags, electronics, and appliances. This condition can be much more serious than some clutter around the house and depending on how extreme a person’s condition is, it can affect their emotional and …

Smoke and Soot Removal by ServiceMaster Disaster Restoration and Recovery

Health Hazards Caused by Smoke Damage

Steve VanDenBerg Blog

Finding smoke damage on your property from a recent fire is stressful. In most cases, homeowners are not financially prepared to take on the expenses of fire damage restoration, especially if they don’t have insurance to cover it. So many people decide to handle the cleanup work themselves. But just as you get to work, you notice that not only …