How SERVPRO Deals With Finding Asbestos While On the Job

Upon occasion, when damages happen inside of your home, they can unveil other problems. In a lot of cases, these problems are relatively small, as they do not cause a lot of extra work. However, there are times when much more significant problems are revealed, such as finding Asbestos.

When SERVPRO of Santa Ana South arrived at a water loss site, that is precisely what occurred. Jose Payan, the production manager of the franchise location, explains that the water damage was "...caused by a fire in the upstairs unit. When the fire department put the fire out, water drenched the entire unite below, from floors to ceiling." It is not uncommon for water damage to happen during firefighting efforts, as so much water is used to extinguish fires. Naturally, the water must go somewhere, and going down is the will of gravity.

However, when SERVPRO arrived at the job site, the technicians immediately knew they had to test the building for asbestos, because of its age. "The asbestos testing did come back positive," Payan explained, showing the gutted inside of the apartment unit. "...we had to gut the entire unit, floor to ceiling. [We had to remove] insulation, drywall, baseboards, [and] flooring."

When asbestos is found on site, it is essential for the space to be gutted. Asbestos is a very toxic cancer-causing material that was used as insulation primarily between the 1930's and 50's. In order to safely remove it, our technicians must wear hazard suits and take anything that could have been contaminated out.

"As you can see behind me, everything is gutted down to the frame," Payan said, before going onto explain how SERVPRO would approach making the space habitable again. "Once everything is cleaned and treated, we can start the construction process ..." After the construction has been finished, and the apartment is returned to its preloss state, it can "be ready for our tenant to occupy."

When damage occurs to your residence, always seek help as soon as possible. Get in contact with SERVPRO of Santa Ana South by phoning the number (714) 558-7772. Day or night, our teams are always available to assist you in your time of need.