Recent Commercial Posts

Is Your Business Ready for Disaster? | SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties

12/4/2023 (Permalink)

emergency ready plan binder Our team at SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties is ready to help you get an ERP ready for 2024, and beyond!

As business owners ourselves, we fully understand the importance of planning for disaster. After all, we are a trusted expert when it comes to overcoming disasters, so we uniquely understand how unexpected and frustrating they can be.

Having a plan in place for a variety of different scenarios can help you stay in control and help you avoid permanent closures. You love your business, and we do, too! This is why our commercial services team can help you develop an Emergency Ready Plan. 

Building an Emergency Ready Plan 

You may be able to plan for minor emergencies on your own, but serious situations like warehouse fires, large floods or storm emergencies can quickly create chaotic environments that become dangerous for everyone under your roof. Having a SERVPRO® Emergency Ready Plan for your business will ensure everyone understands what to do and how to act during various different situations.

Did you know that about a quarter of all businesses in the United States that suffer a disaster don’t reopen? That’s a lot of failed businesses, simply due to an insurmountable disaster situation. We don’t want that to happen to you! Having a plan for the unexpected will make sure you stay in control of your future no matter how destructive the disaster is.

What Does the Plan Entail? 

We first send one of our team members out to your property to do a no-cost assessment of your building. We will walk around the entire space to assess the different threats and emergency scenarios that your building could experience and we tailor our plans based on the kind of work you do, the materials you have onsite and the varying level of danger that is possible. For example, an emergency plan for a small storefront will be much different than for a large warehouse that deals with chemicals or fire.

Your plan will include things like emergency exit routes, fire extinguisher locations, a reliable communication strategy and even suggestions for things to do before the emergency even occurs.  We will identify secure places to store important documents, different ways to prepare go-bags for your employees to grab in an emergency, and we can even help you develop a plan to help navigate remote work while any repairs are taking place.  

Our Restoration Services
We will work hard to help develop a reliable and thorough Emergency Ready Plan, but that doesn’t mean that your business is immune to disaster. We all know that Mother Nature is unpredictable and the unexpected can happen at any time.

If your business does suffer from some sort of disaster, utilize your Emergency Ready Plan to stay on task and then get us on the phone so we can handle your entire recovery from start to finish. No disaster situation is too large or too destructive for us to handle, so call us for the most reliable and efficient restoration possible. 

SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties can help you stay open for business. Learn more about our Emergency Ready Plan today.  

Time is of the Essence

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

In business, you always have to have a plan. You plan budgets, you plan schedules, you plan
responsibilities for your workers, and the list goes on and on. What happens, though, when
things don't go according to your plan? You receive a call at 6 am when the janitor shows up
and water is pouring in through the roof and flooding area after area of your business. We
know in business, time is of the essence and as the old saying goes, “time is money”. That's
why at SERVPRO of Cullman, we are “Ready for Whatever Happens”. While you may not have
planned for that roof leak, rest assured that we have a plan already in place that will help your
business get back up on its feet and you back to work. Our trained and dedicated staff are
standby 24/7/365 just in case you need us. So when that unexpected disaster strikes, call on
SERVPRO of Cullman to issue the counterstrike you need to be back in business.

Ready Plan

7/22/2022 (Permalink)

When it comes to disasters, I'm as guilty as the next when it comes to passing it off as
something that happens to everyone else. I go about my everyday life feeling as though I'm
bullet proof. And then BAM! The next thing I know life dealt me a blindsided left hook that I
wasn't expecting. In our lives, there are things we can do to build inner strength to help
minimize the damage such a left hook could leave. We turn to our foundations in our faith, we
turn to family, and we turn to those relationships we've cultivated for years to walk with us
through those times. Now, how does that template fit on your biggest asset, your business.
No one ever plans to wake up and find that their business is under water from a busted
supply line. No one goes to bed wondering, “is this the night a fire starts in my warehouse?”.
That's where SERVPRO of Cullman comes in. We can give you a foundational tool that can
specifically help in such a time as mentioned above. We have an Emergency Ready Plan
that is customizable to your specific needs in order to minimize the damage of that
unexpected catastrophe. All of your emergency shutoffs and contacts all at your fingertips
that can be accessed in seconds. It's inevitable that life is going deal unexpected blows, but
that doesn't mean you can't have a plan in place to counter it's devastating punch. Contact
your SERVPRO of Cullman rep today and find out how you can get this free resource delivered
to the palm of your hand.

Commercial ERP

6/29/2022 (Permalink)

Years ago, SERVPRO began to research the affects that a major fire or water loss can have on a
commercial business. The numbers found were staggering. It is estimated that over 50% of
businesses that sustain a major fire or flood lose so much revenue during shutdown that they
don't have the finances to reopen, and that's with loss of revenue insurance. What if I told
you that your local SERVPRO had a way to help you be ready PRIOR to such an event. Your
dedicated SERVPRO rep can build a profile of your business that helps identify and locate all
your major shutoff valves, whether that be an electric panel, a water main, or even a sprinkler
system. By knowing where to find these, when that even occurs, you can quickly shut down
the source and minimize the damage to your commercial business. The cherry on top to all of
this is that it's all in the palm of your hand in your phone whenever you need it on the SERVPRO
Ready App. This app will have all your basic property info, locations and pictures of all your
major shutoffs, as well as any significant contacts you may need in such a crisis. Now,
instead of relying on memory, you have all the key info right in your hip pocket. Contact your
local SERVPRO of Cullman rep today and let him have you disaster ready!

Building Maintenance Going Into Summer

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

Sunny weather is the best time to spruce up your commercial property. Let’s go over a few maintenance tips that can help your Cullman or Blount county property.

  1. Gutters and Downspouts – sticks, leaves and debris can build up in the tracks of your gutters and clog downspouts over the fall and winter months, which could lead to water intrusion. Water intrusion could lead to water damage, mold, or deterioration of building materials. 
  2. Roof Inspection – getting your roof inspected once a year is one of the best ways to prevent roof leaks. If you notice loose tiles, shingles, or hail damage, contact a roofing company to address any issues. 
  3. Exterior Washing – the wet summer weather can bring in dirt and moss to the exterior of your building. With a pressure washer, you can easily remove, dirt, dust, grime, moss and the like from walls, fences, parking lots, driveways and sidewalks to maintain the outside of your property.
  4. Fresh Coat of Paint – New paint can provide a new protective layer to your structure. helping to fight against the risk of potential damages from outside forces.
  5. Clean up vegetation around the building – the summer months bring high heat and dry conditions which can increase the chances of fire. Trim or remove vegetation that has dried up to help reduce the risk of fire spreading to the building.

Busted Pipes in A Commercial Building

6/15/2022 (Permalink)

Busted pipes can wreak havoc and spell disaster in a commercial building. It is important to have to protocols in place to get the water turned off and cleaned up as quickly as possible. 

The #1 priority when a pipe burst, is to get the water turned off ASAP. After the supply has been turned off, open up every faucet to drain the remaining water from the lines. Also turn off the water the heater and flush every toilet at least one time. Once these objectives have been completed, the next phase can begin. 

Step #2 is to reduce secondary damage. This is done by getting the water removed from the structure in a timely manner. Water will continue to move through building materials as long as it is present. If there is any doubt that water ran through an area that contains electricity, turn off the power at the breakers and consult an electrician to perform an inspection. 

Step #3 is to contact a certified mitigation specialist such as SERVPRO. Even though you may have removed the standing water, there will still be elevated moisture levels and humidity. It is crucial to make sure that moisture levels and humidity are returned to preloss levels to reduce the risk of mold forming. 

Should busted pipes cause water to infiltrate your building, call SERVPRO today to let us help you get your business back in working order. 

What Is An ERP and How Can It Help My Business?

5/17/2022 (Permalink)

ERP stands for Emergency Ready Plan. An Emergency Ready Plan is a free service that we provide to commercial customers to give them an additional tool to help them during an emergency event such as a, fire loss or a water loss. This tool can come in the form of a paper copy put together in a binder, a digital copy accessible from any mobile device, or both.

In an ERP will be information such as, the best location for first responders to park, as well as, the best entrance point for them. Other information that will be documented will be, potentially dangerous chemicals, elevators, stairwells, and backup generators. Water, Electrical, Gas, Sprinkler systems, and Servers will also be noted, along with pictures and directions to the location of these individual items to help with identifying these areas in the midst of chaos. Building contacts such as, Maintenance supervisors, building managers and owners, and utility contacts with phone numbers will be added as well. We can also insert emergency response contacts for local hospitals, fire departments, and police departments as well. 

Every second counts when disaster strikes, so reach out to SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount County today to set up your appointment for an ERP!

Post Construction Cleaning In Cullman or Blount Counties

2/1/2022 (Permalink)

Here at SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties, we are very experienced in cleaning, and construction sites are no stranger to us. We offer quick and easy cleanup services after the work has been completed, before the finishing touches go into the building's construction. For when you have work done, big or small, we can handle any size site cleanup with our extensive network and readily available equipment. 

Post Construction Cleaning: Once the floors are down and the drywall is up, it’s time to remove the debris and dirt in order to lay carpet, paint and decorate.  SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties can provide the debris removal services to prepare the building for interior design so you don't start off with a dirty base .

Dehumidification and Drying: During the construction phase, a building can trap moisture. Excessive moisture could result in mold growth. If you think one of your projects may have a moisture issue, rely on our highly trained professionals to provide the assistance you need to eliminate moisture and prevent the potential for mold.

Final Cleaning: We know you want your business to look its best. We provide cleaning services to give the building that extra shine; these include:

  • Carpet, resilient and non-resilient floor prep and finish
  • Ceiling, walls and fixture cleaning
  • Deodorization
  • Air Duct Cleaning
  • Debris Removal 
  • Window Cleaning

How Can SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties Help My Business?

12/22/2021 (Permalink)

The SERVPRO Brand is recognized nationally as a leader in water, fire, mold, storm, and biohazard cleanup and restoration in the residential sector, but did you know that we also offer ALL these services for commercial properties as well?  That’s right, we have the training, equipment, and experience to handle commercial losses of all shapes and sizes! Serving the communities of Cullman, Oneonta, Crane Hill, and surrounding areas, we’re here to help when disaster strikes, no matter what kind of business your business is in:

  • Office Buildings
  • Multi-Unit Apartments
  • Hospitals
  • Schools
  • Restaurants
  • Government Buildings
  • …and so many more!

For the highest level of customer service, quick response, and 24 hour a day emergency service, trust SERVPRO of Cullman/Blount Counties for your property damage cleanup and restoration needs. Following guidelines set forth by the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration (IICRC), our team strives to provide the best possible remediation experience for business leaders and owners throughout our community. Give us a call today!