Recent Posts

Waterproofing To Prevent Damage from Heavy Rain

3/18/2024 (Permalink)

rushing flood water with a road and hills in the background Flash flooding happens suddenly during heavy thunderstorms.

It is very important to identify and correct possible points of entry for water during a storm situation. Rushing water, flash flooding, saturated ground and heavy rain can enter a home or business through weakened areas in the structure or a lack of proper drainage systems. Paying attention to potential issues in fair weather can prevent major damage when extreme weather arrives.

Be sure to check the gutter system to ensure there aren’t any clogs and to confirm they are properly draining water away from the structure. Pay attention to evidence of runoff in the vicinity of the building and have a special drainage system installed to prevent water from seeping in during inundating water events. Inspect basement windows, door and walls for openings or improper sealing to prevent floodwater from entering; groundwater intrusion is generally excluded from coverage in general homeowners’ policies. Consult with certified professionals who have expertise in drainage, waterproofing and landscaping for precise evaluation and proper corrective measures.

Utilizing foresight and taking the time to fortify homes and businesses from storm water can prevent costly damages while keeping interiors clean and dry no matter when and how severe weather strikes!

Always Ready to Help After A Hurricane

3/7/2024 (Permalink)

construction debris on a lawn with trucks parked on the street Our team traveled to help with storm recovery after Hurricane Florence.

After Hurricane Florence caused severe flooding and wind damage to North Carolina, one of our professional SERVPRO of Middletown crews headed south from New Jersey to assist with the recovery effort. Many homes had suffered from roof damage due to the high wind speed. Other homes were damaged from the seepage of floodwater which was heavily soiled with contaminants. A vast majority of structures needed extensive interior demolition while those with extreme structural damage were scheduled for complete demolition at a later time.

Our SERVPRO team started work immediately, removing wet materials such as drywall, trim, insulation, hardwood floor, carpet, padding and vinyl. They sprayed antimicrobial to prevent unwanted microbial growth and placed drying equipment to remove moisture from the remaining structural components. Once the structures were dry in three days, customers were able to schedule needed repairs quickly.

Due to our dedication to excellence, SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to mobilize to regions hit by natural disasters. We have the experience, tools, vehicle fleet and trained personnel to master the completion of dozens of mitigation jobs, no matter how large or small. Don’t be surprised to see us on the road; SERVPRO of Middletown- “Faster to Any Disaster!”

Another Floor Saved!

2/26/2024 (Permalink)

Black rectangular mats on a wood floor. Drying mats were used to save the wood floor.

SERVPRO of Middletown received a call to respond to an emergency water loss in Sea Girt, NJ. The customer was very concerned about possibly having to remove the hardwood flooring which was present throughout a majority of the house. Upon arrival to the home, our technicians inspected the flooring to see if it could be salvaged. Since the wood floor was not showing an extremely high moisture content, the technicians decided to use the Injecta-Dry system in an attempt to save it from removal.

The Injecta-Dry system works by utilizing extraction mats placed over wet sections of the wood floor. The mats are connected to a special machine which directs air below the floor in an attempt to dry underneath it quickly. Dehumidifiers are often placed alongside the system to assist in removing as much moisture from the surrounding area as possible.

After the system ran for four days, the mats were removed to revel the wood had dried exceptionally well and would not need to be replaced! The homeowner was so overjoyed to hear we were able to save the flooring. The Injecta-Dry system is an innovative tool often used by our franchise to alleviate costly, time-consuming repairs for our customers.

Never Know What You Can Walk Into

2/14/2024 (Permalink)

Person walking through standing water on a carpeted office hallway. Walking through the flooded office.

When a water line on the upper floor of this Tinton Falls corporation leaked, the owner called SERVPRO of Middletown to help dry out the 36,000 square foot building. The employees walking into the office were alarmed by the water flowing across the carpeted areas of the office but remained calm until our emergency crew arrived on the scene. Using special extraction tools, the expertly trained technicians were able to quickly remove the standing water from the office floors. The affected carpet and trim were removed, and special equipment was placed to completely dry the structure. The owner was so satisfied with the work we completed; they asked us to repair the damaged facility for them. 

It is imperative our technicians are provided with ongoing training regarding the handling of large commercial water losses. Regardless of the size of the loss, SERVPRO of Middletown works quickly to assess each unique situation and isolate the damaged area. Our franchise has the proper tools and expertise needed to dry a commercial property in as little as three days to minimize the impact of the loss on the business.

Mold Hiding Behind the Wallpaper

2/8/2024 (Permalink)

wallpaper peeling off wall next to a garbage can Mold discovered under the wallpaper.

This homeowner did not realize there was mold under the wallpaper after he bought this house in Red Bank NJ. He called SERVPRO of Middletown in to remediate the house so that he and his family could move in as soon as possible.

Mold spores exist naturally throughout our entire environment and are often at levels which are not harmful to our health. Mold which is hidden in your home however, can increase to unsafe levels and cause discomfort to those who reside in the structure. Once the customer in Red Bank started to remodel the home, he was so alarmed by his discovery he called SERVPRO of Middletown right away to remediate the mold growth.

Upon arriving on site, our expertly trained technicians removed the affected wallpaper, drywall and insulation from the home. After cleaning and sanitizing the remaining materials, special equipment was placed to remove any remaining contaminates from the air. The customer was very impressed and appreciative of the job our crew did to return the air in the home to safe breathing levels.

Broken Supply Line

1/29/2024 (Permalink)

Hand pulling a pan out of a lower kitchen cabinet Water can travel everywhere during a water loss.

When a supply line breaks, water will travel far and wide inside a structure. This home in Fair Haven NJ just had a new kitchen installed. As the SERVPRO of Middletown mitigation team investigated the extent of the damage, it appeared the cabinets may have not been affected. Once the cabinets were opened, it was discovered the items inside were soaked. Since the homeowners called SERVPRO of Middletown right away, the technicians were able to save the new cabinets from being removed.

Before our team arrives to take care of your loss, remove personal contents from areas where water can accumulate to begin drying as soon as possible. Please make sure any appliances which are plugged in are removed to prevent electrocution. Safety is the number one priority of our SERVPRO team; it prevents dangerous situations for the technicians and customers as well.

SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-530-9009, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Protecting Your Home in Extreme Weather

1/17/2024 (Permalink)

Icicles hanging from vehicle in a parking garage.  Ice formed from a water loss on the floor above.

When temperatures approach record lows for the northeast region, it is important home and business owners take steps to protect their structures from the extreme weather. Frozen pipes can lead to breakage, damaging personal property and essential heating systems which can create a major disaster at your home or property.

 Be sure to keep all living spaces at a minimum low of 50 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent pipes from freezing. Frozen pipes are often those exposed to the cold weather, such as those outside your house, or in cold areas such as basements, attics or garages. A frozen pipe can burst due to the backflow pressure between the blockage and water source. Some additional prevention methods include:

- Draining pools, sprinkler lines, and shutting off the water source to outside spigots.

-Opening kitchen cabinets to let warm air reach the pipes beneath.

-Daily use of faucets whose source might come from an outside pipe.

In the event of a winter weather emergency, SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to respond to quickly get your property back to normal! Give us a call 24/7 at 732-530-9009.

Always Here to Help!

Fire Spreads Quickly

1/9/2024 (Permalink)

section of siding of a house singed and damaged. Damage to the house caused by the fire.

Fire has the unique ability to spread rapidly and cause an enormous amount of damage. In light of recent wildfires in the west, it is important to remember many structures can be restored with proper remediation efforts. The restoration team at SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to respond to home or business owners who have suffered a loss due to fire.

This damage resulted after a lawn mower caught on fire right outside the house. The owners were not at home at the time and the damage was extensive as the fire spread from the machine to the house very quickly. Our SERVPRO team was able to assess the site quickly and began remediation efforts immediately. Inside, the team removed sheetrock, removed affected contents, and performed smoke and soot remediation. HEPA vacuuming, deep cleaning of remaining materials and air purification were also performed after the demolition. Water from the fire department was removed via extraction and our effective drying equipment. After a building affected by fire is thoroughly cleaned, it is ready for our building services crew to repair the structure.

Clean It Right The First Time

12/20/2023 (Permalink)

bottom of a basement concrete wall and floor covered with visible mold Mold caused by moisture in the basement due to a water loss.

Always make sure you hire an emergency service company with expert knowledge and experience. A frantic customer in Manasquan, NJ called us at SERVPRO of Middletown after another restoration company failed to properly dry out his home. Instead of taking care of a general water loss, our team needed to perform a mold remediation on her entire home. Mold is provided with an ideal growing environment when wet building materials are not dried correctly.

The water technicians here at SERVPRO of Middletown always use special meters to verify wet materials progressively dry within a few days to prevent mold from growing. We encourage our customers to understand the drying process so they can be confident a job is being done correctly.

The home in Manasquan was returned to safe breathing levels following the cleaning of the mold. The customer was relived and extremely pleased with the job completed by our mold remediation team.

SERVPRO of Middletown is always ready to take care of homes and businesses affected by disaster. Call us at 732-530-9009, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Restoration After Fire and Water Damage

12/7/2023 (Permalink)

section of clean and new cabinets and counters in a kitchen The completed kitchen after the restoration.

Fire and water combined cause a seemingly catastrophic situation. SERPVRO of Middletown was called following a kitchen fire to help this apartment building get their tenants back in their units. Our professional cleaning staff worked their magic in 24 hours to extract and dry the water damage before our construction department replaced the sheetrock, kitchen cabinets, painted the walls and finished the floors within 2 weeks. The property manager was thrilled with the results and the tenants were able to move back into their units quickly. Small kitchen fires can cause an incredible amount of damage in a short span of time in an apartment building when the sprinkler systems go off. There were over 5 units in the building, including the main hallway which were flooded following this unit’s fire loss. Our SERVPRO team is always ready to respond to an apartment complex which has a large-scale loss due to fire.