CPR Nashville Blog

Boost Your Curb Appeal: Concrete Cleaning

Whether you’re looking to sell your home or business or not, its curb appeal tells those who are driving by a lot about you as an individual. In order to boost curb appeal, you must first identify your trouble areas. This means taking a careful inventory of everything, and being very objective while doing so.

Concrete stains are a real pain!

Don’t let concrete stains ruin your property’s curb appeal. Your concrete driveways and sidewalks are not immune to mold and mildew and seem to attract stains like a magnet; rust stains can be especially difficult to remove! Over time, your concrete surfaces can begin to lose their light gray appearance and begin to look black or green when mold and/or mildew are present and myriad colors where stains are concerned.

Concrete is very easy to clean (as long as you have the right detergents and the know-how) and is a cost effective way to increase your home’s value and curb appeal. Cleaning concrete periodically will extend its service life and enhance its beauty.

Is saving a few dollars really worth it?

Unprofessional cleaners can quickly damage the surface, thereby compromising what lies beneath. The lowest bid is not always the one that will protect your property best or give you the most satisfactory cleaning results; some homeowners may even find themselves paying someone else to come in and do the job right after paying the other guy who came in and did it wrong.

It can be difficult to tell when concrete is in need of cleaning in some instances because the dirt and grim build up slowly over the course of many years. However, once the process is completed, the results are very noticeable. The key to the entire cleaning process is using the proper detergent (this can vary widely depending on what caused the stain in the first place) and maintaining the correct pressure.

Pressure, pressure, pressure

If the water pressure used to clean the surface is too high, sand can be blown out of your concrete, which will expose the rocks just below the surface; this will expedite the weathering process and could leave you with a hefty concrete repair bill sooner than you’d like. A professional cleaner will be able to tell you what pressure is applied by each accessory used and, upon request, should be able to connect a pressure gauge to show you that pressure.

Although water alone can remove dirt from concrete, cleaning chemicals are often needed to remove specific stains. The cleaning procedure can be accomplished efficiently by using the appropriate cleaning solutions in conjunction with the appropriate pressure carried out by professional quality equipment. Removing any one part from the equation will lead to a finished product that is less that acceptable for our viewpoint.

The dry summer months are the perfect time to refresh the outdoor look of your home or business in simple ways such as cleaning concrete walks, patios and driveways. Years of weathering, fading oils, dirt, gasoline and general traffic can make a first impression of an outdoor space less than exciting. Refresh your curb appeal and lighten up your outdoor entertainment spaces with specialty concrete cleaning and driveway sealing to clean, protect and brighten it by calling CPR.

Are All Molds the Same?

Mold can be found in a multitude of locations and has been a problem for centuries.  In recent years, mold has developed into more of a problem. Not because it’s become more widespread, but instead because knowledge and awareness about it has increased. Mold growing in your home is never a good thing, as it will perform the same function here that it performs in nature (breaking down anything it senses is decaying). Don’t let your home fall into this unfortunate category!

Categorizing mold

The most common categories of mold are:

• Allergenic molds—They contain allergens, which can cause allergies in humans.
• Pathogenic molds—They can cause severe health problems in people who are undergoing chemo, people who have HIV, and those with weakened immune system.
• Toxic molds—They produce harmful toxins.  They are very rare and are known to cause grave health problems, including death in rare circumstances.  The two main types are stachybotrys and memnoniella.

Mold in Your House

Many different types of mold can be found in homes, and different health problems accompany each one.  While many different kinds can be found, we’ll just focus on a few of the most common types here:

• Cladosporium—Although more commonly found outdoors, it can thrive in any damp, dark environment (your toilet is a common breeding ground). Because it’s an airborne mold, it can be very difficult to eliminate completely. Surfaces where it’s found should be scrubbed vigorously with bleach and wiped dry. One thing to remember though. Bleach will not kill the seed if it is growing on a porous surface.
• Penicillium—This is commonly found growing on our food (it’s that little fuzzy green, white or blue fuzz). It’s another airborne mold and can be difficult to eliminate. To prevent it from becoming a problem in your home, be vigilant in throwing away food at the first sign that it’s beginning to spoil.
• Aspergillus—It’s one of the most common molds in the world; it’s also one of the most dangerous. This fast-growing mold often appears after a basement flood or large plumbing leak but can also form anywhere there’s extremely high humidity and organic matter for it to use as a food source. It should be cleaned up with bleach and proper safety precautions such as gloves, a mask and potentially even eye protection. Like we mentioned before, bleach will not kill the seed. Also, the EPA states that if the area where mold is found is larger than 10 square feet, someone trained in mold remediation should do the cleaning.
• Alternaria—Although more commonly found outside, it’s an airborne mold that can easily find its way into your home. It often settles in carpets, clothing and on flat surfaces. It needs far less water than other molds to grow, making it possible for it to grow in more areas. It can be found in the same areas as aspergillus and can be removed in much the same way as well.

Mold is all around us. It plays a vital role in our ecosystem; however, it can play an equally detrimental role in our homes. For this reason, it’s important to be aware of the areas in our homes to which mold gravitates in an attempt to better prepare us to treat and remove it.

When mold is discovered, decisive action must be taken immediately. Call the professionals at Choice Property Restoration. Our technicians can inspect your problem areas, determine the extent of your mold issue(s), the type of mold you’re dealing with and what’s causing the mold problem in the first place.  We’re always here to help!

Remodeling Tips for a Successful Project

Thinking of remodeling a room in your house? Before doing so, consider these tips to make the remodel as smooth sailing as possible.

At Choice Property Restoration, we are known for coming into your home after it has suffered a natural disaster, whether it is a flood, a fire, or a tornado, and restoring it to its previous state. Our construction professionals share over 35 years of experience working to repair and restore damaged homes, and we are extremely detail-oriented in our work. Not only do we use our expertise to perform restoration work, but we also offer remodeling services on ordinary homes. Our remodels include kitchens, bathrooms, basements, offices, and family rooms. Planning for a remodel takes some thought, and we would like to share some re from Better Homes & Gardens.

• Remember the big picture. When you are planning your budget for your remodel, do not forget to include long-term maintenance, energy-efficiency, and repair expenses. Also allow for extra money in case an emergency arises.
• Plan ahead. Selecting your products early can prevent delays from happening. Planning ahead can help you stay on budget as well.
• Be a good boss. Treat your remodelers well. The perfect clients can be honest, easy to get along with, and appreciate the work being done by the construction team.
• Know what you are getting into. Be prepared for frustrations to arise during the remodeling project. Living in a construction zone means you will be dealing with unexpected snags, delays, and inconveniences on a daily basis. Knowing there will be possible problems ahead better prepares you for the reality. Just keep in mind the project will come to an end, and you will have a beautiful, newly remodeled room.
• Pitch a temporary camp. If your kitchen is being remodeled, living without this important room for a few weeks can be difficult. Set up a temporary kitchen in another part of the house away from the construction zone with a refrigerator and a microwave oven so that you can continue to cook your own meals at home.
• Pack away your valuables. It is a good idea to protect the valuable items in your home before the remodeling project gets started. Take down pictures and pack up all breakables. Protect your immovable fixtures like chandeliers and built-in cabinets. Cover all flooring with cardboard sheets to keep it in good condition.
• Communicate effectively. If anything occurs that is unsatisfactory to you, let our company supervisor know immediately so that we can deal with the issue. We cannot read your mind, so informing us when something is wrong is important in doing the best job we can.
• Prioritize luxury items. It makes no sense to install a whirlpool tub if you are not the kind of person who likes to take baths. Instead, spend the extra dollars on something you will use every day, such a luxury shower with dual heads. The same thing applies when you are planning out a kitchen. Will you really use a desk in your kitchen, or does it make more sense to utilize that space better with more cabinets?

Ready for a remodeling project at your house? Contact Choice Property Restoration today to talk to our staff about giving you a new kitchen, bathroom, or other room in your home.

Mold FAQs from Homeowners

No one likes mold! Most people know that it can be bad for your health and bad for your home, but not everyone knows how mold grows, why it can be detrimental to your health, or how to get rid of it.

If you’re dealing with mold issues — or think you might have a mold problem — give Choice Property Restoration a call. We’re here to help!

If you live in the Nashville area and think you have a mold problem, we hope you’ll count on the professionals at Choice Property Restoration to handle mold remediation for you, as this is one of our specialties. We would like to provide you with some of the questions we hear most frequently from our customers and our answers to those questions:

Why is mold dangerous?

Not all mold is bad for your health; in fact, mold can be found in some places without much concern. Furthermore, not all people are sensitive to mold. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some types of mold can not only contribute to hay-fever like allergies, eye or skin irritation, and wheezing, but there’s actually a toxic black mold called Stachybotrys that may be especially harmful.

I see mold on my walls, floors, or in my basement. Where does it come from?

Mold is usually the result of excess humidity or water damage. Water and moisture can get into your house in any number of ways, but we most frequently see water damage come from burst pipes, sewage malfunction, dam breaches, an overflowing washing machine, or flooding from excessive rainfall—something Nashville residents know about all too well.

How do I know if my house has mold or where it’s located?

There are certain places in a damp home where mold will naturally grow. Floors and carpets, basements and crawlspaces are prime targets. Basically, the lower an area is, the more likely it is to grow mold; this is why we often hear Nashville homeowners complain of mold on their carpet, tile or grout, and laminate and wood flooring. Walls, however, can also be feeding grounds for bacteria and mold, especially if the leak has originated from the roof.

Though mold is sometimes visible to the naked eye—or apparent to the nose, thanks to its strong musty smell—it just as often is completely hidden from a homeowner’s view, though he or she may see signs of it. If our team determines that the origin of a leak is especially mysterious, we will actually use thermal imaging to locate the source, as our thermal imaging cameras can find mold even behind your walls. We may also use digital hygrometers to test the humidity in your air.

Only a professional will be able to truly determine if you have a mold problem and suggest the best way for you to solve it. Call Choice Property Restoration, located in Nashville, Tennessee, at 615-866-7989 to solve your mold problem.

After the Flooding

Was your home recently flooded? We offer extensive cleaning and restoration services to help you make your home as good as new.

If your home has suffered water damage from a flood, whether it’s a typical flood caused by heavy rain or something else like burst pipes or an overflowing dishwasher or washing machine, the cleanup process can be extensive. The Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC) sets standards for restoration companies such as Choice Property Restoration to follow as well as provides helpful tips to homeowners who have suffered this tragedy.

We at Choice Property Restoration would like to share these tips as well as tell you some of the flood cleanup and restoration services we provide:

● use caution when entering your home

The most important thing to do if you have standing water in your home is to turn off all electrical power.

● protect yourself

Wear a vapor respirator, rubber gloves, eye protection, and protective clothing. Open windows in the affected areas for ventilation; you can even place a fan in a window to help ventilation. Work towards the fan while you are cleaning to keep from cross contamination.

● know what to throw away

Anything porous that absorbs any of the flood-contaminated water should be thrown away. What should be thrown away includes drywall, carpets and pads, mattresses, pillows, box springs, and particle board. This prevents mold growth. Wet clothing and many household fabrics may be salvageable, as long as you soak them in a washing machine for 10 minutes in detergent and hot water.

● open pockets of saturation

Part of the drying out process Choice Property Restoration can assist you with, the water line should be located and measured 15-20 inches above, and everything below that should be discarded. Base molding should be removed, along with portions of damaged walls and wet insulation. All flooring should be removed to get to the pockets of saturation underneath to clean, sanitize, and dry.

● clean aggressively

Another step we at Choice Property Restoration can do for you as a pressure washer is needed to thoroughly clean all salvageable materials in the house. After everything is cleaned, a strong disinfectant is liberally applied. With these sorts of chemicals being used, we recommend strongly you call a professional like the technicians at Choice Property Restoration.

● prevent mold growth

Mold only takes a few days to appear, so this step is very important. Mold grows quickly in a damp environment with temperatures between 68 and 86 degrees. Keep air flowing, and try to maintain moderate temperatures.

● dry out before rebuilding

You must wait until all moisture content falls below 16 percent before rebuilding, and this is where Choice Property Restoration comes in to use the latest technology and equipment to properly dry out your home, no matter the size of the area of the water damage. We use everything from dehumidifiers to fans to desiccants to wall injection systems to completely dry out areas that have been flooded by water.

If you have suffered a flood or any sort of appliance malfunction that has caused standing water in your home, do not hesitate to contact Choice Property Restoration as soon as possible to have our technicians come out to fix the problem quickly.