The Hidden Dangers Of Mold - - Five Towns Jewish Times

The Hidden Dangers Of Mold - - Five Towns Jewish Times

Long Island Toxic Mold Victims to Get Relocation Assistance

Long Island Toxic Mold Victims to Get Relocation Assistance

Multi-Million Dollar House Being Torn Down

WJHG - HomePage

Westport Minuteman - King's Highway portable has high mold spore level

Westport Minuteman - King's Highway portable has high mold spore level

Update: Ellenton Clinic mold issue

Moultrie Observer - Update: Ellenton Clinic mold issue

Eagle County won't bend rules for Employee Housing

Vail Colorado-Todays information & news from Vail Daily - News

SteamMaster: Restoration and Cleaning for Your Fine Rugs and About Everything Else

By: Joy Overbeck
Vail Valley Magazine Winter 2007/08

SteamMaster in Minturn is celebrating 30 years in the valley in 2008, and during that time, the business has expanded into all manner of ways to make damaged goods exquisite again, and to keep them that way. Who better to consult when it comes to cleaning and beautifying your prized Oriental rugs than a man who is himself a connoisseur, steeped in the rare knowledge of history and craftsmanship that goes into each masterpiece.

Adam Kiss is such a man, so passionate about these rugs that he has personally collected antique Sarouks for years. He is the top rug expert at Abrash Oriental Rug Cleaning, a division of SteamMaster also located in Minturn. An accredited member of the International Society of Appraisers, Adam can tell you the value of your grandmother’s rug, the one you’re thinking about giving away and replacing with a new one at Crate and Barrel. And you may be very surprised.

“I’ve heard Adam tell people the story behind their rug, and then they decide they should hang it on the wall rather than put it on the floor,” says Raj Manickam, CEO of SteamMaster. “These rugs a can really go up in price over the years.”

Kiss has also been certified an Oriental Rug Specialist by the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration. As a top expert, he personally supervises the cleaning of each rug, and treats them in the same way he treats his own magnificent pieces. Every rug goes through a 10-step cleaning process that begins with first evaluating the rug for color fastness, and progresses through compressed air dusting, pet stain or spot removal techniques, hand washing, and stain prevention protector treatment.

Many valley homeowners have regularly scheduled rug cleaning just before the holiday season in order to ready their homes for this festive time when friends and family are on hand. Spiffing up may also include cleaning their wall-to-wall carpets, which SteamMaster offers for both residences and commercial applications. They also can be relied upon to clean leather and suede furniture, cloth upholstery and drapes, and tapestries of every kind.

Over the years, SteamMaster has built a group of local experts trained to provide restoration solutions after fire, smoke or water damage as well. Since founding the company in 1978, Gary Gilman and his team have continued to add quality services that meet the growing needs of both commercial and residential clients. In case of burst pipes or a home flood, SteamMaster can be counted on to dry and restore carpeting or valuable hardwood floors. The company also offers recovery of damaged documents, and can pack out and store furniture and other property while the home or business is being restored. If the need arises, SteamMaster works closely with The Chicago Conservation Center to painstakingly repair costly damaged artwork.

As heightened mold awareness has increased locally as well as nationally, the company has expanded into this field. Certified Mold Remediators at SteamMaster are trained in addressing the complicated issues of mold. The staff is also knowledgeable about EPA guidelines and can remediate mold problems, large and small. The company pioneered the use of innovative cryo cleaning or “dry ice blasting” to remove mold from structural wood surfaces, and SteamMaster President Gilman has written several articles on the topic for industry publications.

Restoring a home or office environment from a fire and smoke incident also takes a professionally trained staff with expertise in the latest methodology. Different surfaces require different treatments, and SteamMaster’s technicians are experienced in what works best. Their arsenal includes a number of high-tech machines and remediation devices for cleaning and odor removal.

In addition, SteamMaster offers cleaning of hard surfaces such as tile, or natural stone like slate, marble, and sandstone and granite. Move-out cleaning or construction cleaning are two more specialties of this versatile company.

With its heart in this valley for the long haul, the company makes a habit of reaching out to help the community. Each September 11, SteamMaster crews clean over a dozen fire stations in Summit and Eagle County as a way to show appreciation for the emergency heroes among us. Also in September, the company holds a golf tournament that raises tens of thousands of dollars for charity and to honor Kim Matthew, their marketing director, who died of liver cancer several years ago. The tournament also raises college funds for the Matthew children.

Says CEO Manickam, “We call September our Month of Giving. Everything we try to do really ties in with who we are.”

Moultrie Observer - Mold contaminates Ellenton clinic

Moultrie Observer - Mold contaminates Ellenton clinic

Westport News - PSBC Chairman Questioned Reopening KHS Modulars

Westport News - PSBC Chairman Questioned Reopening KHS Modulars

Parent: Mold still a problem in School

Jackson Sun - www.jacksonsun.com - Jackson, TN

“Clerical Error” Led to KHS Students in Mold Classrooms - WestportNow.com - Westport, Connecticut

“Clerical Error” Led to KHS Students in Mold Classrooms - WestportNow.com - Westport, Connecticut
posted by SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning

How do you select a restoration expert when you have severe water damage in your home?

It can be very distressing and disturbing to restore your home after water damage.

Fortunately, Natural disasters like this do not happen evey day in our Valley.The chances of our vallety being flooded from rising water are very remote. However, water damage from sprinkler systems, broken pipes, blocked drains, malfunctioning appliances are far more common in the areas we live in.

Some water carries contaminants and should be considered hazardous, like sewage backups. In these types of situations contaminated porus materials should be removed and discarded. Non-porous surfaces can be cleaned and effectively decontaminated. A successful restoration project depends largely on timeliness and thoroughness of the initial emergency response. Excess humidity and moisture can lead to secondary damage of the building contents and to the structure, which may lead to mold and bacterial growth.

Responding to emergency water damage 24 hours a day is crucial to minimizing the damage caused by broken pipes and and other water intrusions. It is important to extract as much clean or black water from affected areas as soon as possible to avoid other complications. The consequences of an incomplete restoration project, including potential health effects and structural damage, are far too great to leave water damage improperly fixed.

A professional water damage restoration contractor will use modern diagnostic equipment, including penetrating and non-penetrating moisture meters and digital hydrometers combined with state-of-the-art infra-red thermal imaging cameras to track where water damage is throughout various levels of an affected structure. A qualified contractor must have the necessary capacity to the situation at hand, including a highly skilled and trained work force as well as the necessary drying and dehumidification equipment to complete the project in a timely manner.

Water can easily penetrate into structural cavities and assemblies creating trapped pockets of moisture. Improper drying, undetected moisture and trapped water can cause discoloration, warping, de-lamination, musty odors and microbial growth.
A quick emergency response and advanced drying equipment, such as Injecti-dry hardwood floor drying system, can often prevent cupping, warping and heaving of your expensive hardwood floors. Elaborate wall finishes, murals and built in cabinets can frequently be saved by an experienced contractor.

During an extreme cold snap, homes can lose their heating system operations because of a malfunctioning furnace, boiler or an electrical power outage. When this occurs it is not uncommon to see 10 to 20 broken pipes in a single residence. It is important to have large trailor-mounted construction heaters such as the Dry Air 0250central heating module available that can heat and thaw a home up to 8,000 square feet. Standing water from flooded crawl spaces can be effectively pumped out and dried using the same type of heating and drying equipment.

Restoring a disaster-damaged home or business is a complex and challenging process. There isn't just one criterion for selecting a certified restoration firm to restore your home or business. Several combined factors must be considered.

EDUCATION: Formal education in water damage restoration and advanced structural drying are a must. Certifications for properly trained and qualified firms and technicans are available through IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification). Health and safety training including employee medical evaluations and respitory fit tests are mandated by OSHA.

INSURANCE: General liability, excess and polution coverage, incuding a microbial matter endorsement and workman's compensation coverage, are inportant for any restoration contractor entering your home.

AVAILABILITY: Available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year emergency response availability.

REFERENCES: Check with friends, neighbors and other professionals to find a reputable restoration firm in your area.

The National Institute of Disaster Restoration lists some of the Do's and Don't to observe in an emergency water damage situation:
1. Do not operate TV's, vaccums, or other appliances while standing on wet carpets or floors, especially not on wet concrete floors.

2. Do not use heat to dry closed building interiors; mold and expanded moisture damage may result.

3. Do not leave wet fabrics in place, space them apart and dry as soon as possible.
Gary Gilman is the owner and president of SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning. Local experts-World Class Solutions
(800) 527-1253

Dry Ice Blasting - February Home-Aid Newsletter

Dry Ice Blasting - February Home-Aid Newsletter
posted by SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning

SteamMaster Charity Golf gives $35,721 to local charities - Industry News - ICS: Cleaning Specialist

SteamMaster Charity Golf gives $35,721 to local charities - Industry News - ICS: Cleaning Specialist
posted by SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning

(Mold) Day Care Must move again - Canmore Leader

Day care must move again Jan. 4
posted by SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning

Houston Community Newspapers Online - Willis to spend more to rehab moldy PD station

Houston Community Newspapers Online - Willis to spend more to rehab moldy PD station
posted by SteamMaster Restoration & Cleaning
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