Meet The Herd

We've got a friendly bunch of people over here at Buffalo Restoration. And we know that when you have a home disaster, you want a friendly bunch to help out.  You have enough to worry about, and the people who are in home shouldn't be one of them.

Customer service is incredibly important to us, along with implementing the best technology, utilizing the best training, offering competitive pricing, and arriving on site as quickly as possible. But none of these other things matter at all if you don't have caring and professional people to do the work.

Watch this short video which features some of our staff. You'll want them to stay for tea and cookies. And trust me, they all like tea and cookies.

Are you covered? Assessing your flood risk

We get inundated with calls during Springtime from people with water in their crawlspace or basement. We're forunate here in Montana and Gallatin County in particular, we don't see major floods all the time. But there are certainly some people who live near or in floodplains that experience this year after year.

Without coverage, the cleanup after Spring run off or a flooded stream can be incredibly costly. And most standard homeowner's insurance policies do not cover water coming from outside (groundwater or flooding).  The average flood claim in Gallatin County is $12,305. Who has that kind of cash lying around?

So how do you know if you're at risk for a flood?

 Buffalo Restoration recently sponsored the Montana Association of Floodplain Managers Conference in Bozeman. At the conference, we attended a presentation on a very helpful online educational tool to determine flood risk, www.floodtools.com. This website illustrates your flood risk at your exact address. It shows you a map of the floodplains in your area and assesses your risk on a scale. It provides tips, FAQ's, and historical information about floods in your area. Unless your mortgage company requires flood insurance, you may think you're in the clear. But some homes may still have considerable risk.

You can also type in the dimensions of your home and the value of your personal property to calculate the estimate dollar amount of damage that would occur with different levels of water in your home.

You may not need flood insurance, but it is always worth checking before it is too late. Flood insurance policies have a 30 day waiting period before they go into affect. So get it now before the Spring run off really picks up. Check the website and call your insurance agent today to get the facts on your coverage.

Hidden Fire Hazard: Clothes Dryers

Your washing machine and dryer are conveienent and you probably don't think much about them beyond the weekly loads of clothes. But your dryer could be a fire hazard in your home. There are 15,000 residential fires caused by dryer vents every year.

Common causes of these fires include:

• Lint build up in the trap (causes it to run in overdrive and reach high temperatures)
• Lint on the back of the dryer
• Improper items including foam back rugs, athletic shoes
• Plastic exhaust system

So what can you do to prevent these fires and prolong the life and efficiency of your machine?

• Clean the lint trap before AND after each use
• Clean the back of the dryer, it goes unoticed
• Be careful what you wash and dry, no flammables
• Get your vent cleaned by a professional (Buffalo Restoration can do this)
• Replace the exhaust system with metal materials

Call Buffalo Restoration with any additional questions about dyer fires and cleaning.

Guest Post: Mold Clean Up

Mold Remediation – What does the Clean-Up Involve?

The concern of having mold growing in your home or business is something that many people worry about because of the negative effects it can have on your health. Mold can be found anywhere because of its ability to grow on any organic substance as long as moisture and oxygen is present. This heightens the level of worry, especially on older buildings that accumulate more moisture.

               

Mold grows where there is excessive moisture, and can grow substantially if the problem is not addressed. It’s impossible to eliminate all molds in an indoor environment, but it can be controlled. If you’ve already found mold or moisture problems, there are ways to remedy the issue.

               

Before you can remove the mold you need to find the location that is experiencing excessive moisture. Once you know the location you need to stop the source of moisture and remove the mold growth. Some common remedies for smaller mold growth include sunlight, ventilation, wall insulation, non-porous building materials, household cleaners, and dehumidifiers. If you have significant mold growth a professional is required to remove the affected materials and eradicate the source of excess moisture.

               

In order to remove the mold there are a few different methods. Wet vacuums remove water from floors, carpets, and hard surfaces and can only be used when the materials are still wet. An easier way is by wiping or scrubbing with water and then drying the surface quickly to discourage further mold growth. The best and most efficient way to remove mold growth is to remove the damaged materials, double bag it into polyethylene sheeting, and disposing as you would of construction materials.

               

Gloves and eye protection are important when cleaning up mold. Mold spores can become airborne, raising the risk of respiratory exposure. Disposable protective clothing is recommended for large mold removal projects to prevent the transfer and spread of mold to clothing and to eliminate skin contact with mold. Full containment is also recommended for large mold contamination. Creating a barrier between the moldy area and other parts of the building along with a decontamination chamber for entry intro and exit from the remediation area are required for these large containments as well.

               

Removing mold is a process that needs to be taken seriously as it can affect your health and the building significantly. A professional can safely remove the mold and the affected areas in an environmentally friendly way. They are also able to dispose of all harmful materials properly. After you have had all mold removed, keeping up with moisture buildup in your home will help reduce the risk of mold accumulating.

About the Author:

Asbestos Abatement is pleased to bring you this article on the mold remediation clean-up process. Asbestos Abatement specializes in mold remediation in Denver, as well as mold removal in Denver.

14 Tips to Preserve the Life of Your Hardwood Floors

You've spent a pretty penny on your hardwood floors. Make them last by taking proper care of them. With kids and pets and snow, they can get beat up pretty quickly. Here are some helpful tips to prolonging the life of your floor.

• Make sure you know information on the floor type and finish. Your manufacturer should have included recommendations for care. If you can't remember, visit a professional at a flooring store and they can help. Every floor is different and every finish is different.

• Sweep regularly. It will keep your floors clean from dirt, grit, or sand (or crumbs) that will scratch and dull the surface. 

• Use rugs in high traffic areas like entrances and hallways to prevent tracking in dirt, grit, or sand. Leaving your shoes at the door will help as well.

• Never wax a urethane floor. A majority of floors installed today have urethane finishes.

• Don't use oil soaps. They may cause build up and can dull the appearance of your floors. They can also make refinishing more difficult. 

• Put felt feet on your furniture so that if it moves around it doesn't create marks on the surface.

• Don't let your floor get wet, even minor spills. If you experience any kind of water loss, extract the water immediately. If it is a lot of water, call a restoration company who can bring in equipment to extract it quicker. Water is absorbed into the wood very quickly and can cause swelling and buckling. Buffalo has hardwood floor drying systems but depending on how long the floor has been wet, they may be ruined.

• Don't even wet mop your hardwood floor. Standing water can dull the finish, and as you heard above, damage the wood. Try using a dust mop.

• Put a rug in front of your kitchen sink to catch any excess water.

• Sun can discolor your floor so pay attention to where the light comes in and consider using blinds.

• Cleats, sports shoes and high heels  can put dents in your floor.  Be careful.

• Use a buffer on wax finish floors. You can rent them but if you have a lot of hardwood in your house, consider buying one for yourself.

• When using cleaners, make sure you're using them in the intended way. Don't use tile, linoleum or laminate cleaners on hardwood floors.

• To remove stains in wax finished floors, rub them gently with fine steel wool then reapply wax. 

More floor questions? Call a flooring expert. Buffalo Restoration can help answer questions about cleaning and water damaged hardwood floors. 

Resources: www.curbly.com,  www.woodfloorsonline.com

Brrrr.... Be Careful with Your Space Heater!

When Winter hits, we pull our space heaters out of storage, grab all the blankets from the closet, and hunker down for what's sure to be a bitterly cold few months. But we often forget that our portable heaters are also a very serious fire hazard.

Here are some things to think about when buying a space heater and using it in your home or office.

• Keep the heater far away (at least 3 ft.) from combustible materials such as newspaper, bedding, blankets, pillows, clothing, drapes, or furniture.
• Keep it on level ground so it doesn't tip over. Keep it out of high traffic areas where it could get knocked over. 
• Do not leave it on while you are out of the home, or when you sleep. Its tempting but don't risk it.
• Avoid plugging the heater into an extension cord. Ideally the heater is plugged directly into the wall.
• Keep the heater away from the bathroom or any source of water.
• When buying a heater, only purchase newer models that have an overheat protection featured, tip over switch, and a guard around the heating element. 
• Buy a heater that has a label showing it was tested in a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Many older heaters aren't tested for safety.
• If you're going to use a kerosene heater (which are more dangerous), do NOT use gasoline in it. Also do not use a propane heater inside.

And while you're at it, check the batteries in your smoke detectors.

 Be safe, stay warm, and we'll see you in May after hibernation time is over.

The Herd is a Proud Sponsor of the President's Plunge to Support Special Olympics

Buffalo Restoration is proud to sponsor the President's Plunge on Feb. 18th to support Special Olympics of Montana. Our community has supported our business since 1991 and we feel that it is important to constantly give back.  Special Olympics has always been a special cause for Ben and Gail Yanker. And the plunge happens right across the pond from our new office! So naturally, our mascot Chip, insisted we join the fun this year.

Special Olympics Montana's mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. 

The President's Plunge is one of the Big Sky Area's major fundraisers for the year. The plunge starts at noon but show up early to meet the athletes.  All you need to plunge is pledges of at least $100. Visit http://www.somt.org/events/plunges/presidents-plunge/ for more information and to register.

Chip is ready to cheer on some plungers and support Special Olympics athletes in our community, are you?

How to Choose the Right Carpet Cleaner

You've got about a million choices for carpet cleaners.
They all have some kind of huge discount, flashy ads in the Yellow Pages, and trucks that claim they are the best AND the cheapest. So how the heck do you choose the right one?

You've heard the horror stories. Your friend got their carpets cleaned and they were wet for days. Susie from next door didn't want to pay for a professional so she rented a DIY at Walmart. 6 hours, a sore back, and tons of supplies later and the stains are totally gone. Your coworker got the BEST deal from an online site, 6 rooms for the price of 2! But when the carpet cleaner showed up, they claimed his carpets were excessively dirty so there would be an additional charge of $200. There goes the savings.

Here's why you should hire a professional and how to choose:

Carpet cleaning eliminates trapped pollutants from your home including pet dander, dirt, and dust. Your carpets can also house dust mite infestations. This is nasty stuff and you'll never know they are there becuase they're microscopic. But they can leave behind body fragments and feces in your carpet. Professional carpet cleaners heat your carpet to such a high temperture that they kill bacteria and dust mites.

Not all carpets and rugs are the same. A professional is going to know which method will work the best with each type.

You'll eliminate the hassle of renting your own equipment and supplies. And the DIY systems are not nearly as effective. You may even make a stain worse by cleaning it yourself. The systems you buy at the store don't have sanitizing systems which means they won't kill the dust mites and bacteria that get caught in your carpet.

Stains are tough stuff. Professionals know how to treat them specifically.  Hire a professional that has had the training to deal with stains.

When hiring a professional, be wary of discounts that seem too good to be true. As the experts from Angie's List say "Always insist on an in-home estimate to get the estimate possible and remember that even a small area may cost around $79 to be cleaned. Always be careful when you hear promotions for carpet cleaning. Never go with an estimate that sounds too good to be true. You always want to be sure that you're going to get the right estimate so you don't en up with extra charges after you hire someone."

How often should you clean? Good question. It is important to clean at least once a year to remove the dust and allergens. But also know that the dust and dirt in your carpet is not only an allergen, but breaks down the fibers of your carpet. The less particles in your carpet the longer your carpet will last.

And finally, here are some things to do before your professioanl carpet cleaner arrives.

1. Vacuum. You want your carpet cleaner to be working on the deep down dirt, not the stuff you could easily remove on your own.
2. Dust your baseboards and vents so that debris and dust don't contaminate your newly cleaned carpet when the professional leaves.
3. Remove furniture or fragile items that will get in the way.
4. Free up a parking spot outside of your home. Many professionals use truck mounted equipment and they'll need to run hoses from their trucks to your door. 
5. Identify areas that you'll want the professional to focus on including stains and spots.

We Are Family...

Ben and Gail Yanker started Buffalo Restoration back in 1991. Ever since the beginning its been a family business. Their daughters Alisa and Emily and son Christopher were put to work at an early age, crawling in wet basements and drying up water losses on weekends.The children grew up and the company expanded. For the last 6 years Alisa has run the marketing efforts and Christopher is at the helm the company's production team.

But Ben and Gail treat their business as if they have an extra 23 members of their family. With home cooked breakfasts on your birthday and team announcements and cake on the anniversary of your hiring, it is hard to not feel special. When we jokingly refer to our company as the Buffalo herd, there's truth in that. Because a herd moves together, they support each other, through the cold Winters, and the lush Summers. And buffalo are a strong and rare breed. They're about as local as an animal can get in Montana, and so are we.

And being a family company has an impact on how we do business.  When you choose Buffalo, you're part of the herd, no questions asked. We're going to treat you like family, and we won't rest comfortably until you can. 

Learn more about the members of our herd here.