Services

Water Mitigation

Because we understand how important it is to react quickly in the unfortunate event of water, smoke, or fire damage, you can rely on Tru-Colors to provide emergency response and quick professional service 24-hours a day.

When emergencies occur including broken water pipes, fire, floods and other natural disasters, you will quickly see that water is one of the most powerful forces in our world. It can cause untold damages that must be immediately addressed.

Many homes experience water damage to some degree. The majority of these water damages are a result of
some type of plumbing failure. When water damage occurs, it is important that you locate a company that is well-trained and has the equipment to completely dry your home as quickly as possible like Tru-Colors. Water damage is progressive and items that could be restored within the first 48 hours of the water damage may not be restored if emergency response is delayed. Although you might be tempted to use a shop vacuum or call a company that only has equipment to dry carpet, you should consider that water will wick up walls and travel under base molding and sillplates. It will penetrate through floor coverings into sub-floors, even causing water damage in rooms below. Allowing water to stand increases the chances of mold and permanent structural damage. Other possible effects of water and humidity may result if humidity inside the structure is not controlled properly. Items that were not damaged from the original water damage could be damaged as a result of absorbing moisture from the air. Structures that are not dried out quickly and properly can become a food source for mold growth.

Tru-Colors® service professionals are trained on current procedures, such as Rapid Structural Drying, to dry your entire structure as quickly as possible, using state-of-the-art equipment and technology. Moisture meters are used to locate moisture that may not be visible or may be hidden behind walls or cabinets, so that our service professionals can ensure that all wet materials are dry.

Applied Structure Drying and Dehumidification

After the excess water has been thoroughly removed from all the flooring, the structure drying begins. A properly planned building dry-out and dehumidification provides cost reduction, decreases the drying time, and reduces the potential of mold growth.

The results are simple: The building occupants return to their normal daily routine.

Structural Drying is very important in areas that you can’t see, like the cavities within the walls, are the areas that are more likely to mold or rot if the water is not removed and dried quickly. Even if the water appears only to be on the floor, the walls can quickly wick it up, which can lead to structural damage.

After location and evaluating the water damage on your structure, our trained technicians can begin the drying process. Of course, the first step is to stop the leaks that were found. Then using dryers, fans, and dehumidifiers the next step is to get the water to evaporate as quickly as possible.

If there is water intrusion into the walls, demolition might be necessary. The baseboards will possibly need to be removed to get air flow in contact with the porous structures in the wall cavities. If any insulation has gotten wet, this will have to be removed. Thus, the walls might be cut open for air movement or repair of the interior. The wall can be repaired and repainted after the area is dried out.

Your insurance company may or may not cover your water damage–it will depend on your policy. However, our members have plenty of experience dealing with insurance companies and will provide detailed reports for insurance claims, which includes written reports, digital photos and moisture readings from the equipment.

Sewage Clean Up

Sewage (black water) poses a VERY significant threat to human health!
Water Damage: Category III Black Water Damage

Historically speaking, August and September are the most active months for hurricanes in the Atlantic/Gulf Regions. In addition, there are often severe storms throughout the rest of the nation during these months. All of these events have the potential of releasing record amounts of rain in some areas and causing serious flooding across wide regions. According to the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) standard for professional water damage restoration (ANSI/IICRC S500-2006), Category III water damage (often called black water) is water damage to a structure where the origin is unsanitary or potentially infectious to humans. The black water classification also includes less contaminated water not treated in a timely manner. The classification depends on the origin of the water damage and the time of exposure- regardless of the actual color or appearance of the water. Some examples of Category III black water include: all sewage backflows and all rising water from rivers, streams, and seawater that enter a structure. Hurricanes and storms are usually the causes of this type of damage. When dealing with Category III water damage, a professional restoration business should consider several basic factors. First, the safety of the building occupants and all workers is the primary consideration. Second, the business should conduct a thorough inspection to determine the severity of the damage since that will affect the restoration process. Third, there should be the rapid removal of excess water, the removal of all contaminated porous items, and the proper disposal of the sewage and other wastes. Finally, the professional will need to establish a Balanced Drying System to restore the environment to its pre-loss, normally dry state.

Safety in all instances must be the very first consideration when exposure to Category III contaminates is a possibility. Category III water intrusion could contain many harmful viruses including Hepatitis A, Rota-virus, Adenoviruses, and Enteroviruses. Several parasites and many kinds of harmful bacteria could also be present. And, of course, numerous fungi in the form of mold spores are also present and can become a serious problem if timely decontamination does not occur and if professional drying does not begin within twenty-four to forty-eight hours.

Category III water intrusion can be subdivided into three levels that will help the professional restoration business process the contamination efficiently.

- Category III Level 1 contamination is usually a very limited waste problem. It always originates inside the building or house, affects a small area, does not affect porous material, does not penetrate the structure, and has had limited time of exposure. A small toilet overflow is one example.

- Category III Level 2 contamination also originates inside the building. However, the area of direct contamination is larger. Porous materials, as well as non-porous materials, are affected. Restoration must be more thorough to include removing moisture barriers like vinyl and plastics that will contain the contamination. Cabinets and other structural enclosures must be inspected and possibly removed if the contamination is present – especially if it is inside the walls behind these items. All contaminated porous items such as drywall, carpet, pad, upholstery, drapery, or particleboard furniture must be removed and properly disposed of.

- Category III Level 3 contamination includes water and waste coming from an outside source such as
a septic system, main sewage line, rivers, streams, and ocean waters. Level 3 indicates more contamination
for a longer period and presents a much greater health risk. All black water losses present serious risk of illness.
Therefore, contractors should ensure that all employees wear appropriate personal protective equipment. For
Level 1 losses, eye protection, gloves, and boots (or shoe covers) may be sufficient. For Level 2 and Level
3 the protection would be more extensive, which could include waterproof coveralls and respirators.

Tru-Colors Restoration members will know when to use an air scrubber to clean the air, or a negative air machine with containment to prevent contamination from spreading to unaffected areas. They will also make certain that all remaining surfaces are cleaned and sanitized with appropriate cleaners and EPA-approved disinfectants. Following a Category III black water loss, Tru-Colors Restoration understands and uses proper procedures, techniques, products, and equipment (such as professional dehumidifiers and high capacity air movers) to establish a Balanced Drying System to help restore property to its pre-loss condition safely and as rapidly as possible.

Most importantly, to prevent contamination of unaffected areas in your home, do not walk through the affected water and then walk throughout the rest of your home.

Digital Meters
The moisture meter is one of the most indispensable tools among water damage restoration companies. It can’t remove water like the air mover, flood pumper, or dehumidifier. It also can’t clean the air like air scrubbers and ozone generators, but it can tell the water damage restoration expert if he’s job is done or whether there’s still more water than meets the eye. For an ordinary household member just like you, you can have a moisture meter on hand just so you can determine by yourself whether the moisture level of your house is still tolerable or whether it would be time contact the experts.

Moisture meters are hand-held devices, about the size of a multi-tester (or if you’re not familiar with a multi-tester, then twice the size of a calculator), that allows you to determine the moisture content in a given substance. Some of them are analog but there are also digital varieties. This device can come in very handy to water damage restoration crew members.

Moisture meters, previously suitable for wood only, have already evolved into more specific forms such as the concrete moisture meter. This modern version of the meter is capable of detecting moisture up to a depth 1-inch from the concrete surface. There are however moisture meters that are versatile enough to detect content in wood, dry wall, brick, plaster and concrete.

Since the ideal moisture content varies from one material to another, many of today’s models allow you to preset a certain level of moisture on the meter. The moment this level is breached an alarm goes off. When you want to measure the content in another area, presumably having a different material, you simply set the meter to the newly desired level.

Some water damage restoration professionals use meters that are equipped with probes to allow for deep penetration readings.

Determining the moisture content of a given substance is important to water damage restoration professionals. Most structural and building materials, such as wood and concrete, may appear dry on the outside but can definitely still be wet in the inside. This is because water can creep into the grains or crevices through capillary action. The narrower the crevice, the deeper water can tunnel into.

This moisture, precisely in hard to reach areas such as crevices, can serve as a catalyst for the growth of hazardous organisms such as mold and mildew. The presence of moisture in these areas beyond 48 hours is enough to promote the growth of molds. It is therefore necessary to determine the moisture of walls, floors, ceilings and other portions of your house so that the necessary action can be implemented when it is determined that the moisture content in any of these areas is still too high for comfort.

Fire Restoration

In the unfortunate event that you experience a fire in your home, you should call Tru-Colors Fire & Water Restoration® for professional restoration service.

It is important that the cleanup begins as soon as possible. Smoke residues are acidic in nature and with time they will cause surfaces to corrode and stain permanently. Smoke residues that were pressurized during the fire will permeate cracks and crevices of building materials and deposit odor-causing residues.

Tru-Colors service professionals will work quickly to stop the damage and restore your home and contents back to pre-fire conditions by using cleaning systems and equipment that will help eliminate costly replacement of restorable items. Smoke odors can be difficult to remove due to its penetration and absorption into building materials. Tru-Color service providers have the knowledge, products, and equipment to permanently remove these stubborn odors. Place our phone number with your emergency numbers and call us for an estimate of damage repair in the unfortunate event of a fire or smoke damage.

In the event of fire or smoke damage, do the following:
• Stay calm! First, call Tru-Colors Fire & Water Restoration
• Inventory contents
• Open all windows
• Empty freezer and refrigerator completely if electricity is off. Prop open doors.
• Remove pets (especially birds) to clean environments.

Tru-Colors Fire & Water Restoration will:
• Professionally clean upholstery, drapes, carpets, walls, and all other contents.
• Clean and protect trim and hardware on kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances.
• Clean and protect bathroom fixtures from smoke damage.
• Deodorize to permanently remove any smoke odor.

Do not attempt the following:
• Attempt to wipe or wash the walls, ceilings, or other absorbent surfaces without professional assistance.
• Use upholstered furniture if it can be avoided.
• Use exposed food goods or canned goods that have been subject to excessive heat.
• Use TVs, stereos, or any other electrical appliances until cleaned and checked.
• Send smoked garments to an ordinary dry cleaner, because improper cleaning may set the smoke/odor.
• While soot may resemble smoke residues from a fire, the restoration of soot damage often requires different
techniques. Incorrect action can make restoration more difficult and delay the return to normal.

DO…
• First, call Tru-Color Fire & Water Restoration for quick professional service.
• Change and save the old furnace filter.
• Blow off or brush-vacuum loose soot particles from upholstery, draperies and carpets.
• Cover upholstery with clean sheets before use.

Mold Remediation

Concern about mold growth has increased as homes, schools, and business owners have become better educated about the health risks of excessive mold exposure. These health risks, as identified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can range from allergic reaction, asthma or even worse. In most homes today, children tend to spend more time indoors playing video games than outside which makes them more at risk for these types of afflictions. In addition, our elderly live a sedentary lifestyle which also puts them at risk for contracting airborne illnesses.

Tru-Colors® can help eliminate this threat. Our trained experts will come to you with the equipment, technology, and established processes needed to identify mold problems where they exist, clean, restore the environment, and take measures to prevent the problem from reoccurring.

Home and business owners can underestimate the severity of mold in their structures and the degree of difficulty involved in removing the mold. Simply cleaning with bleach and water will not kill it. Proper mold remediation requires removing the mold carefully and correctly to eliminate the spread of mold spores to other rooms. This may require removing moldy material and with reconstruction returning the structure to like new condition. Mold remediation is best performed by trained professionals that understand the required processes and procedures needed for proper mold removal.

If you suspect you have a mold issue, call the professionals at Tru-Colors today and set up a free on-site consultation where we can inspect your environment and provide you with a remediation estimate.

Board-up & Tarp-over

Wind damage can strike unexpectedly at any time of the year. Damage from windstorms, tornadoes, and hurricanes can range from minor to severe. In many cases, it is important to secure your property as soon as possible to prevent additional damage, such as water intrusion. We here at Tru-Colors desire to help you preserve, protect, & secure your home ASAP with whatever means that are necessary.

Content Inventory & Pack

If your home or business suffers water, fire, smoke, or mold damage, the cleanup and restoration experts at Tru-Colors are the premier choice for content restoration.

We understand that valuable possessions, irreplaceable family treasures, and retail inventory are a critical component of many damage restoration jobs. That is why Tru-Colors Restoration offers a comprehensive content restoration system designed to help return your items to pre-damaged condition. Often, this means we can help save items previously considered in-salvageable. This can help save home and business owners time, emotional distress, and money.

Pack-Out and Inventory

There are scenarios that require home and business content removal and relocation for prompt and thorough cleaning and restoration. If a home suffers fire and smoke damage, for example, it is often easier, more secure, and cost-efficient to take certain contents to another location for restoration work. Tru-Colors offers complete pack-out and inventory services to fit this need. Our service professionals will carefully and respectfully take the contents to be restored and pack and deliver them to an off-site facility. The pack-out process involves meticulous documentation to ensure your items receive the best possible care, including photo documentation, identification numbers, and detailed lists.

Storage

While at an off-site Tru-Colors restoration facility, your items are housed in a secure, climate-controlled environment. They remain there until the cleaning and restoration process is complete.

Reconstruction

After a disaster, you can count on Tru-Colors Restoration for all your repair needs. With over 30 years of professional construction experience, you can rely on Tru-Colors to treat you and your home with professionalism and the knowledge to return your home to a pre-loss condition in a timely manner. Our certified technicians will meet with you and your adjuster to make a detailed plan of repair. Whether it is replacing damaged carpet or rebuilding your home from the ground up, Tru-Colors certified technicians will treat your home as if it were their own.

Tru-Colors will walk you through the complete reconstruction process handling all paperwork required by your insurance company and keep you informed and up to date with a detailed repair schedule. And the best part of it all, Tru-Colors will complete all approved repairs and bill your insurance directly!

 

Cleaning & Restoration

Successful content restoration can help ensure significant cost-savings over item replacement, not to mention the loss of items no amount of money can cover. Tru-Colors uses industry-leading technology, equipment, processes, and training to ensure your valuables are handled in the most responsible and professional manner possible.

While this is by no means an inclusive list, it helps to give an idea as to the diversity of content Tru- Colors has worked to clean and restore to a pre-damage condition.

• Artwork
• Documents
• Books
• Photographs
• VHS and DVD media
• Clothing
• Electronics (televisions, computers, stereos, etc.)
• Furniture
• Rugs
• Retail Inventory

Tru-Colors Restoration utilizes a wide variety of content cleaning equipment and processes. The equipment and methods used are determined by an inspection of the items in question, including materials, composition, durability, type of damage entailed and known reaction to certain restoration processes.

The equipment and processes used may include:

• Specialized drying chambers
• Ultrasonic cleaning
• Launder/dry cleaning
• Spray and wipe
• Immersion cleaning
• Ozone treatment
• Air duct cleaning
• Deodorization

Delivery

After content cleaning and restoration, items are returned to the home or business using the same inventory procedures and documentation employed in the pack-out process. Your items are loaded, transported, delivered with great care, and then reconciled with original pack-out inventories.

Using these industry-leading processes, procedures, and technologies, Tru-Colors provides complete and professional water, fire, smoke and mold damage cleanup and restoration for homes, businesses, and their contents. We understand any water, fire, smoke and mold damage situation is a difficult time as families and business owners work hard to see their homes and structures returned to livable, workable order so Tru-Colors Restoration is committed to working with you to help minimize loss, downtime, and stress as we strive to quickly and efficiently clean and restore structure and content.

Content cleaning and restoration offered on select jobs and services performed. Availability and scope of content cleaning and restoration varies by location, job, insurance provider (if applicable), and other factors. For more information and to verify content cleaning and restoration services offered, contact our office at 610-588-1816.