What Are the Phases of Structural Drying?

What is structural drying? Simply put, it is the removal of excessive, trapped moisture from building materials (both structural and non-structural) in an efficient amount of time. “Drying down” a structure can be an art, and there is a balance to find in every building and structure.

by Jayson Ottensman

A Hands-On Infection Prevention Strategy   

J. Darrel Hicks, author of Infection Prevention for Dummies, defines “cleaning” versus “disinfecting” versus “sanitary.” He also shares two basic principles of cleaning and shares four criteria for selecting disinfectants from the EPA’s List N, including six products on the list he found meet those criteria.

by J. Darrel Hicks, BA, MESRE, CHESP

Managing Restoration Costs in Remote Locations

In mid-February 2021, Prism Specialties of Greater Wisconsin and Western U.P. received a water pipe break claim at a high-end waterfront home that sits just 40 feet off Lake Superior on Madeline Island, Wis. The first decision to be made: Ice road or ferry?

by Tony Freeman

Structural Drying: A Detailed Introduction for Property Restoration Contractors

Drying a structure is not a one-step process. In fact, it is a multiple-step process that requires an understanding of how to manage the environment within the building, the moisture in the structural materials and contents. The intent of this article is to provide an understanding of what structural drying is, and provide an educated and informed conclusion related to the restorability of environment, materials and contents.

by Josh Woolen

How to Increase Restoration Project Management Communication

In a time when production schedules are full, lead times are long and resources thin, what exactly are contractors to do to appease their customers? The answer can be found in improving project communication. While this might seem to be a daunting task for some, a simple tool that can be used to guide the efforts is a project communication plan.

by Timothy E. Hull, CR

Mastering the Buy Versus Rent Equation and Other Money-Saving Equipment Tips  

Advice on what equipment to own, rent and pre-rent for property restoration projects, plus tips on what to look for in an equipment supplier.   

by Doug Distel

Speaking the Language of Healthcare

Since Hurricane Sandy pummeled New York City in 2012, new and more stringent emergency management programs and compliance requirements have been implemented for healthcare systems. With the new mandates, plus the advent of COVID-19, cross-contamination prevention and disinfection is more critical than it has ever been in the medical arena.

by Marlene Linders, RN, MS, AIA

The Future of Contents Restoration is Here

Purchasing and implementing technology, and adding more services in-house is not just an investment in your future; it just might secure your future. Complacency and delay will separate companies in our industry into two categories we can sum up in six words: Be a Netflix, not a Blockbuster. Let’s embrace technology and bring more contents in-house to become the contents restoration experts carriers and policyholders want to work with.

by Russell Jacobs

Contents Corner: Why the Pack-Out is Critical to Building Customer Relationships

The technology and tools we now have at our disposal for contents cleaning and inventory are great and so nice to have, as long as we remember to use them to enhance our ability to create the right kind of experience for our clients and not use it to replace human interaction and relationships.

by Annissa Coy

Media Blasting in Restoration

Media blasting expert Wayne Lawrence covers what media blasting is, common applications in property restoration, the range of tools available, notable case studies, product advancements, the importance of equipment training, buying versus renting, equipment cost, and much more.

How Can You Tell if Your Mold Remediation Is Good Enough for Sensitized Occupants?

Mold-sensitized individuals need to have a living/working environment that is better than the normal understanding of clean. Standard mold remediation techniques for source removal have to be completed with an acute attention to detail; the job is not done when the source material has been removed.

by Michael A. Pinto, CSP, CMP, RTPE

Restoring Smoke-Damaged Textiles

Not having textiles tested after a cleaning could expose people to a wide range of chemicals and health risks. This could, in turn, expose restoration contractors and insurance companies to considerable liability.

by Sean Scott & Briana Scott