Restoration: After Fire Or Water Damage

Having to deal with fire or flood damage to your home, office, or commercial space can be shocking and overwhelming. But the times that seem the most jarring are often the ones that require the most diligence and care. That is why it is to your benefit to know the basic dos and don’ts of any post fire/water damage situation.

The superiorly trained staff of The Mazzei Group knows what it takes to help get people back on their feet after such unfortunate occasions come to pass.It is imperative to remember that these scenarios are a lot more intricate than they may seem. For instance, the soot left behind after fire/smoke damage may be either wet or dry and determining which type is present determines both subsequent cleanup and the risk of permanently embedding soot in upholstery.

Therefore, the most important lesson to learn is: Do Not Try To Clean It All Yourself. Many different factors are considered in both assessing and remedying the damage. The Mazzei Group staff is highly trained in both fire damage restoration and water damage restoration. Our technicians will be able to get you through these trying times. But, until we get there, there are some useful tips to bear in mind.

Fire Damage Restoration

Fire restoration can be quite an involved process. The smoke from a fire has the potential to infiltrate every crevice of your home and affect areas you can’t even see. Therefore, it best serves your needs to obtain the services of a fire damage remediation service to ensure that more than just the superficial cosmetic damage is cleaned up. However, until the experts arrive, here is what you can do to help the process along.
Do:

• -Ensure that your hands are clean at all times so that you do not add further damage to an already affected area.
• -Lay old towels and rags over carpeted areas to help prevent any soot not already affecting the area from becoming a problem.
• -Tape double-layered cheesecloth over air registers, to help filter the soot and ensure it does not get circulated throughout the given space.
• -Clean all chrome with a light coat of Vaseline or oil.
• -Wash both sides of the leaves of household plants.
• -Change HVAC filters.

Don’t:

• -Clean electric appliances.
• -Use canned or packaged goods that may have been stored near the heat of the fire.
• -Turn on ceiling fans.
• -Send your clothes to any dry-cleaner (this may cause the smoke smell to set in).
• -Walk around carpeted areas where you will permanently press and embed the soot into your carpet or flooring.

Water Damage Restoration

Water damage cleanup can be just as difficult to contend with as fire damage restoration, if not more difficult. A trained expert will utilize hydrometers and various other implements of the trade, such as portable truck mounted extraction units and disinfectants, to ensure that the water damage is cleaned up properly and quickly. This may prove to be an intricate process best handled by the professionals. However, there are a few things you can do and a few things you can avoid to aid in the cleanup process.
Do:

• -Remove excess water by blotting and mopping affected areas.
• -Remove lamps and electric appliances from/wipe down wood furniture.
• -Remove and prop up wet cushions and upholstery to allow drying
• -Place aluminum foil or wood blocks between furniture legs and wet flooring
• -If flooding occurs in the summer turn on the air conditioner to aid in the drying process.
• -Remove colored rugs from wet carpeting.
• -Remove expensive or sentimental items and store in a dry area.
• -Clean debris from the flooring.

Don’t:

 
• -Hang wet fabrics. Do not let them sit as this may cause the formation of mildew.
• -Do not leave colored items on a wet floor as the colors may bleed and stain the flooring.
• -Do not use your household vacuum to remove excess water from the floor.
• -Refrain from turning on electric appliances until it can be determined that doing so would not cause any injury or short out the appliance.
• -Do not turn on ceiling fans if they are wet.
• -Don’t remain in rooms where the ceiling begins to sag.

These are just a few helpful hints that can help get you on the right track in handling the delicate situations in an effective and expedient manner. There are many courses of action you can take in aiding the fire damage cleanup or water damage cleanup in your home, office, or commercial location. Following the guidelines of “do’s and don’ts” will surely help expedite the process. However, there are some things that are just better left to the professionals. The Mazzei Group has trained professionals on staff who are here to help finish the job we hope our helpful hints have helped you start. Let us worry about attending to your fire damage restoration or water damage restoration so you don’t have to.

Call RIGHT NOW for your FREE ESTIMATE: (347) 723 – 1825

Crime Scene Cleanup

Crime scene cleanup is available for Staten Island and Tri State area residents via the Mazzei Group. Yes, when the unthinkable happens, the staff of The Mazzei Group Environmental Projects Division are here to respond. Your physical as well as your mental health is our primary concern and we are dedicated to the recovery of all accident, crime, trauma and bio-hazardous cleanups. Anything from suicides, homicides, hoarder cleanouts, sewage back flows, microbial contamination issues such as Norwalk Virus, MRSA, Legionella, H1N1, C-diff and many more.

Our technicians are available to respond 24/7 for crime scenes, death, and blood clean ups in the Tri-State area.Unfortunately, in the after-math of tragedies and criminal activities there is a scene that must be cleaned. That is where the dedicated staff of The Mazzei Group Environmental Services Division enters to offer their unique services.

Typical Crime Scene Environments: A Visual

To truly appreciate the cleaning process and what The Mazzei Group EPD is willing to do for you, it pays to first acknowledge the appearance of the typical crime scene. Crime scenes that require specialized kind service are ones that typically involve a homicide or other type of criminal activity. Sadly, an example of such a sight would be a murder crime scene. To that end, death scene cleanup usually entails disposing of a great deal of biological matter. Therefore, for the safety of both you and our trauma scene cleaners, The Mazzei Group EPD ensures that the appropriate crime scene cleanup supplies and protective gear are utilized at all times, during the cleaning process.

Crime Scene Cleanup Supplies: What is Used for Crime Scene Cleanup?

The crime scene cleanup supplies used by crime scene cleaners is basically standard but also, very comprehensive. For personal protection, the crime scene cleaner uses a one use body suit, gloves, a respirator (to avoid inhaling possibly air-born contagions), and chemical spill boots. As far as containers to transport matter from the scene, fifty-five gallon bags and hard plastic containers are staples in the crime scene cleaners’ arsenal. The crime scene cleaner also employs the tools of any skilled porter, including mops, buckets, spray bottles, sponges, brushes, and tools of that nature.

The more unique tools of the trade are ozone machines to purify the air by eliminating odors; foggers, used to thicken cleaners to ensure that the cleaners fully permeate the areas needed to be cleaned, and enzyme solvent, used to both liquefy blood and kill bacteria and viruses that might be present at the scene. However, quite possibly the most unique tools of the trade are a truck-mounted steam-injection machine used to liquefy biological matter that cannot be removed in its dry form, and a chemical treatment tank, employed to disinfect and store matter that is essentially vacuumed up at the scene).

Finally, our intuitive crime scene cleaners use some conventional supplies of other trades in some unconventional ways in order to guarantee that the site is cleaned thoroughly so you and your loved ones can resume your normal routines and move forward with your lives. It is our mission to utilize whatever means necessary to make the transition back to your day-to-day life as easy as possible.

Armed with all these tools, our crime scene cleaners will arrive at the scene, which at that point should have already been processed by the police and other crime scene specialists, and complete the task of crime scene cleanup as quickly and discretely possible. From this point, depending on the type of scene, our crime scene cleaner uses the appropriate tools to clean the scene. Any given crime scene can take up to forty (40) hours to clean. Homicide crime scenes usually involve a great deal of blood and various solvents must be used to not only to ensure that the matter is removed not only topically, but also to ensure that any remaining matter doesn’t get left behind that may cause mold. However, nomatter what the situation The Mazzei Group possesses the skill and compassion necessary to ensure the job is handled appropriately

The Mazzei Group EPD will ensure that your  Staten Island and Tri – State area crime scene cleanup is thoroughly done with compassion. We specialize in the confidential cleanup of homicide, suicide, natural death, accidents, crimes and other trauma and biologically hazardous scenes that occur in residential, commercial, and industrial locations. Your safety and your physical, as well as mental, health are our primary concerns, and all our services are performed discreetly in order to respect your privacy. We are a fully-licensed and insured company providing our services in tri-state area. Our highly-skilled personnel are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to attend to all of your specific needs.

When tragedy strikes, the last thing you should have to worry about is the cleaning process. Let us handle that for you, so you can attend to more important matters.

Call RIGHT NOW for your FREE ESTIMATE: (347) 723 – 1825

If you’ve been following our blog, you know that The Mazzei Group was recently featured on an episode of the Discovery Channel’s “Construction Intervention” The special 4 day speed build was for the renovation of an upscale nightclub located on Staten Island called Locale.

You can read about our work on this project in our four-part blog series here: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Also, check out some clips we’ve edited together from the episode itself below.

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After coming into the general contractor’s arsenal as a material used in the construction of skate parks, Skatelite has seen considerable usage as a eco-friendly option for siding on both commercial and residential builds. Made of pressed paper and resin, Skatelite is durable enough to withstand the most vigorous skateboard session, heat resistant, and unaffected by paint thinners and other graffiti removal tools.

As a result of those properties, Skatelite has potential to become the next big thing in the world of alternative siding. For example architect and avid skater Paul Masi actually used the material to side his own home, as well as using it as his kitchen floor, countertops and facings for appliances. While working with The Discovery Channel on Construction Intervention, The Mazzei Group also used the technique to give Staten Island ultra-lounge Locale, it’s unique appeal.

If you’re interested in having Skatelite installed on your home or business please contact us.

Call RIGHT NOW for your FREE ESTIMATE: (347) 723 – 1825

Last month, Discovery Channel aired an episode of Construction Intervention where The Mazzei Group helped in revamping local Staten Island lounge, Locale.

Check back in the coming days to watch exclusive video of The Mazzei Group construction crew hard at work on the renovations.

Click here to get episode summaries and local times and listings in your area.

Construction Intervention Promo:

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Teri Russo has taken in four boys with Down syndrome and raised them, playing a significant role in their development.  Teri’s dream is to know her boys will always be okay and with their chronic health problems. They need a handicap accessible home that will also be energy efficient.

The Mazzei Group is proud to be a part of it as the General Contractor.

Through fundraising, generous donations of time and materials, this project will happen. According to the SI Advance: “Gianni Russo, Ms. Russo’s brother, who is the fundraising chairman, said that to date $300,000 has been raised for the $900,000 project.”

The house complies with all Americans with Disabilities Acts standards; with six bedrooms, an elevator and a generator. There is a large eat-in kitchen and a full basement. The house is designed to be as comfortable as possible for the boys, in hopes to keep Teri’s dream alive.

When she and her boys are gone it is designed to help more boys and keep the Down Syndrome Foundation alive. The house is going to be built to angle at every possible need, so in hopes the model can also be duplicated for other houses.

Teri’s House will also be using Geo-Thermal energy to heat and cool the home. Aside from being better for the environment, it is also a great money saver. Geo-Thermal energy goes 100 feet below the ground and uses the constant temperature of 50 degrees as a base to heat, and cool the home. It is energy efficient simply because of how much less it has to work to move the temperature. The outside temperature varies, but underground it stays constant.

As groundbreaking began, everyone involved in this project was very excited and waiting as the results manifest over the coming months.

The Mazzei Group is incredibly honored to be a part of something as important and generous as this home. This is a great experience for us from every standpoint. This is going to turn out to be a handicapped accessible, energy efficient home that will save her money, and help her be able to help her boys.

Watch the NY1 clip of the groundbreaking of Teri’s House

Teri’s House web site

Gianni Russo web site

Photos from the groundbreaking

Press in USA Today

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Chances are, buying a home is the single biggest investment that the average American will make in their lifetime. Improving upon the value of this vital piece to your own economic puzzle should be paramount. An instant way to increase the value of your prime investment is an increase in the square footage. But, how can you increase the square footage of a home without an expensive addition? The answer is simple, waterproof your wet basement for more livable room.

By sealing your foundation and creating a waterproof seal you can instantly add livable square footage and finally realize that comfortable finished basement you’ve always dreamed of. Whether it’s to become a large bedroom for a child whose outgrown their childhood bedroom, or a fully functioning bar and games area, a finished basement increases both the perceived and actual value of your home.

In addition to those obvious values, with a finished, waterproofed basement you can also stop worrying about costly flooding because of unpleasant weather. That means no more moving boxes around whenever it rains. Finally by keeping your basement dry you significantly reduce the risk of dangerous mold occurring in your home.

If you’re interested in more information about waterproofing your basement or converting to a finished basement please contact us, we’re happy to take questions and provide serivce should you require it.

Call RIGHT NOW for your FREE ESTIMATE: (347) 723 – 1825