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Those first warm days of spring are exhilarating. Warmer weather has us thinking of all the possibilities for our yard’s landscape. Off we go to the local nursery where brightly colored packages of flower bulbs call our name and young sapling trees come tagged with the promise of blossoms or fruit. “We’ll plant the tree just outside the window where we can watch it grow for generations”, you say. It all sounds great. Until the tree grows up.

Planting a tree too close to your house can be dangerous. In addition to the risk of falling branches, roots from mature trees can weaken your homes foundation and cause basement water leaks not to mention potential clogged plumbing and sewer pipes that could lead to water damage and repairs. When the roots of trees infiltrate your pipes, costs can go upwards of $5000 for repairs.

Plant trees that will grow medium to large size at least 30 to 50 feet away from the house. Smaller trees (30 feet or less) at least eight to ten feet away. Following these planting tips should protect you from fallen tree mishaps, and water damage due to rogue root growth around sewer pipes and plumbing.

If you experience water damage due to foundation leaks or broken pipes, call the professionals at Advance Restoration—We’re there when you need us.

It’s not what is included in an inspection that’s important—it’s what’s not.

A typical home inspection does not include looking for insect or animal infestations, cracks that cause water damage, or mold. E-gads! Most people assume that these dastardly home damaging items are a part of every home inspection punch list, but inspectors are not licensed to find them.

Termites, Rats, and Mold, oh my!

Your inspector may note that the floors are spongy or saggy and may be evidence of termites or that your insulation is torn and tattered and is possibly caused by rats, or that the black junk on the walls might be evidence of growing fungus however; to prove that it indeed is termite, rodent, or mold infestation, you need to hire a specialist.

Splish splash, you might be taking a bath

Home inspectors are not certified for all types of damage that can befall a property. For instance, if your home has a pool, they may turn on the heater or pump to be sure they are in working condition but not necessarily look for plumbing leaks due to cracks–you need to hire a septic systems expert or a property damage expert to really get to the bottom of what’s really going on with the pool. With the amount of water contained in a pool, a leak could cause significant flood damage issues.

Roofing it or…not

It’s quite possible your inspector will get up on the roof to look at shingles and gutters but they are not required to do so. If the weather is inclement, or your roof is more than one story high, they may stay squarely planted on terra firma—taking notes from there. A property damage specialist will inspect the roof by walking the roof, checking for loose or missing shingles, damaged gutters or downspouts along with the general condition of the roof in addition to checking inside the dwelling for leaks in areas that appear compromised from the outside.

If your home inspection even slightly eludes to termites, rats, mold, cracks, leaks, or missing shingles it might be a good idea to call a property damage specialist for a free consultation to eliminate the possibility of damage that runs deeper than the eye can see. Advance Restoration specializes in property damage of all kinds from water damageto fire damage, roof damage to mold remediation and, with our free inspection promotion, there is nothing to lose. Give us a call. 877-363-7462.

Subzero temperatures in Metro Detroit can cause even interior pipes to freeze causing water damage due to burst pipes.

The comforts of a cozy home can help you forget about the lack of sunshine and bundling up like the Abominable Snowman. The pipes at risk are the ones in unheated interior sections of your home such as the attic, garage or basement. Oftentimes even pipes that are under cabinets or on exterior walls will freeze.

We often think about bundling ourselves up or our kids but what about our home’s pipes? To help you prepare for the colder weather now and for the months ahead, here are some guidelines designed to keep old man winter from ruining the season.

According to the IIBHS, a burst pipe can cause more than $5,000 in water damage! Fortunately, there are things you can do to protect your pipes from the bitter cold. Pipes located near outer walls may be in danger of freezing in extreme temperatures.

• Let water drip from hot and cold faucets to keep pipes from freezing
• Open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate to places where pipes exist such as below sinks
• Keep the thermostat set to the same temperature during the day and at night. This is not the time to save a few extra bucks!
• Exposed pipes, such as those found in attics, basements, or crawlspaces, may require extra insulation around them
• Seal cracks and openings around windows, doors, and at the sill plates where the house rests on its foundation to prevent drafts

If a pipe has frozen or you have a burst pipe, turn off the water at the main valve, this is usually at the water meter where the main line enters the house. If the pipes have not yet burst you can take the following precautions but if you believe the problem to be more serious, call a professional at Advance Restoration.

Turn the faucet on. As the frozen pipe is heating and the ice jam begins to melt you will want the water to flow through. Even a cold pipe will begin to melt as the water runs through it.

Apply heat to the pipe.  Using towels soaked in hot water or an electric heating pad to wrap around the pipe. Do not use a blowtorch, kerosene or propane, charcoal stove or anything with an open flame as high heat will burst the pipes or cause a fire. Continue to apply heat until full water pressure is restored.

Being prepared can make cold weather mishaps a thing of the past but if you find you are unable to remedy the situation resulting in a burst pipe causing water damage, call the professionals  Advance Restoration—We’re there when you need us.

Looking for Restoration Services in Oakland County Michigan?

Suffering from water damage from flooding, ice daming, storming, or plumbing problems in Oakland County, Michigan? Advance Restoration provides superior restoration services for all types of property damage.

At Advance Restoration, we offer comprehensive damage restoration services. Our 24/7 response experts will respond quickly with the experience and equipment necessary to minimize the long-term damage to your industrial, commercial, or residential property. From the initial damage assessment to drying the structure and packing out its contents for secure storage and restoration, we can help you through every step of the restoration process.

Experienced Water Damage Experts

With over 10 years of experience, IICRC certification, and a stellar reputation, you can be sure that the job is done with expertise and care, and that it is done right. Our team are all IICRC certified. What that means for the customer is that we follow industry standard guidelines that are considered the “gold standard” for the restoration industry. Using these standards is what sets us apart from the competition. Standards, along with our commitment to safety and customer service that is unparalleled in the industry. At Advance Restoration, we supply a customer service satisfaction survey to every customer. This feedback allows us to have our finger on the pulse of the customer’s satisfaction level. We use that information to adjust and train our staff to be at our very best at all times.

Looking for “water damage restoration services near me?” Call 877-581-9176 for help or contact Advance Restoration today before the damage gets worse. We offer fast response times throughout Macomb and Oakland County, Michigan with our 24/7 emergency service.

While you wait for our team to arrive, follow these Water Damage Tips to mitigate the impact as much as possible.

We all know good customer reviews are hard to come by. At Advance Restoration, our goal is 100% customer satisfaction, every time. We value our customer’s feedback because that tells us if we are meeting our goal of 100% customer satisfaction.

Recently, Advance Restoration enjoyed our annual Christmas party, themed “Christmas Around the World “. The party was a resounding success with friends, family, vendors, and even a few customers stopping by to celebrate.

Two of those customers were Dick and Nancy Adams, who dropped in to partake in the festivities, and it was a true joy. Having customers come to your home during the holidays in such an intimate setting sends a message loud and clear that you have done your job, customers are satisfied because your team is making good on their promises. The other take away is that our customers feel taken care of to the point that they feel like family—and that warms our hearts!

Good people help to make our process easier and are the backbone of what we do and why we do it. Thanks Dick and Nancy for stopping by, for being great customers and for helping us go into the New Year with our heads held high.

Best wishes to all our customers for a happy and healthy New Year!