Jan from Ipswich, MA's 5-Star Review

9/12/2023 (Permalink)

Jan was kind enough to share these before and after photos with us when he left his review. Thank you Jan! We're so glad we could help!

Earlier this year we received a very kind and detailed review from our friend Jan in Ipswich after we helped him with the remediation and reconstruction after a tree crashed through his roof. We wanted to once again thank him for the incredible testimonial and share his review here on our blog!

"A large bough from a tree crashed onto the roof of our house during a severe rain and wind weather event 2 days before Xmas last year. It damaged two bedrooms at one end, and necessitated a huge clean-up and an extensive exterior and interior rebuild. The master bedroom sustained major exterior and interior damage, and the interior of the 2nd bedroom considerable above-ceiling and roof damage as well as leakage. The damage included a roof, supporting strapping, insulation, 2 ceilings, 3 walls, carpet-cleaning and removal, wall and trim painting, many supportive tasks and a multitude of materials.
SERVPRO of Haverhill responded within a day of the damage to assess and begin designing a project plan. Josh, the project estimator and manager of the mitigation team, and Noel, the project manager of the reconstruction team, designed and supervised both components with a customized plan of intervention that could be executed with high efficacy. An estimate was performed, a proposal submitted, and a work authorization was signed. I judged the cost cited in the proposal as very acceptable and the project affordable, as did my insurer, Concord Group. The project was completed in a very timely and professional manner, and below the estimated cost. Josh and Noel stayed in touch with me while coordinating all phases of each component of the project. They returned calls, explained what had to be done, gave encouragement and reassurance, and answered questions.
Office and administrative staff at SERVPRO of Haverhill, such as Lori, Stephanie, and Jessalyn, were equally responsive to questions about procedures, billing, and other support needs, and handled contacts from me with affable, respectful diligence.
The crews who performed the work were highly skilled, prompt, respectful and thoughtful, hard-working, quiet, clean, and beyond conscientious.
The mitigation team tackled the first part of the project. Rob spent two days cleaning up the master bedroom, which had sustained extensive water damage as well as debris from the ceiling and insulation everywhere. He removed all debris, (from slabs of sheetrock to specks of plaster), vacuumed and cleaned the carpet, cleaned furniture and furnishings, dehumidified the entire room, and disposed of debris.
Branden and Justin of the mitigation team then demoed the interior (ceilings, strapping, walls) with no damage to intact structural elements or to furniture) and eradicated mold that had formed. Bob, Christian, Patrick, Jake, and Dylan of the reconstruction team worked together in phases to replace a hip girder truss, strapping, insulation, perforated sheathing, and all of the shingles at the gable end of the roof, 2 ceilings, and 3 walls. The interior was repainted in the master bedroom and the ceiling of the 2nd bedroom was painted after installation. By the end of the project, there were no traces of the catastrophe that had occurred prior to it.
SERVPRO contracted KC Carpets of Haverhill to replace the carpet in the master bedroom, and 2 techs installed it within a few hours one morning. They were efficient, polite, and tidy.
My daughter and I could not be more pleased with both the processes and the products delivered by SERVPRO of Haverhill, all of its staff, and cooperating entities. The project was a series of jobs each very well done. A hint of the before and after of our experience can be gathered from the attached photos. What had begun as a disaster has ended as a delight. If, God forbid, another disaster strikes our house, I would not hesitate to call SERVPRO of Haverhill again for the services it has provided us. Thank you, genuinely, SERVPRO." 

Beware at-home water damage remediation hacks!

6/8/2023 (Permalink)

Here in New England, we are fortunate to live in an area rich with history. Many historic landmarks are still standing to this day, some people reading this may even live in one of these incredible houses. It is no hidden secret that as buildings get older they require more upkeep and tend to be more susceptible to water damage and mold. These situations are not only devastating but can also be incredibly overwhelming to try and deal with on your own. The internet is full of at-home, do-it-yourself solutions, but there is a high likelihood that the homemade solutions offered up will only be a temporary fix, or may even make the situation worse! We have many trustworthy and factually accurate resources here on our blog, as well as trained professionals on call 24/7 ready to help you make it “Like it never even happened.”

Fire Damage Remediation FAQ's

5/17/2023 (Permalink)

When it comes to fire damage, we get a lot of questions. So, we asked our project managers to answer some of the most commonly asked fire damage remediation queries.

Here is what they said:

Can my clothes/photos/artwork be cleaned after a fire?

Yes. There is a network of different specialty companies that we can coordinate with to quickly remove these items from the source and clean/restore to their original state if no permanent damage has occurred.

Can I use water to clean soot off my walls?

No. A product with degreaser is needed to clean soot, but be warned, there are different types of fire which can require different methods of cleaning. When in doubt, give us a call!

Is it possible to get rid of the odor after a fire?

Yes. Each fire is unique in the scope of work that is required to remove the odor, however. Some are as simple as light cleaning and deodorizing, and others may require demo of heavy areas and encapsulating the framing before new materials to remove the odor.

What should I do after a fire but before SERVPRO comes?

• Take lots of photos from different angles.
• Determine what items you need in case you can't live in the home.
• Order refills of all medications located in a room with visible soot damage. Bottles may not be airtight & it's advised nothing exposed to soot be ingested.
• Call your insurance company.

How does SERVPRO clean fire damage?

We have access to a complete line of SERVPRO cleaning products that are tailored for any situation that we may encounter. The type of fire, material or fabric will determine which product we will need to complete the job.

Still have questions? Need our help getting your home or business back to normal after a fire? Give us a call! We are happy to help!

Press Release - SERVPRO Franchisees Sign Sponsorship Deal with New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium

3/29/2023 (Permalink)

SERVPRO Franchisees Sign Sponsorship Deal with New England Patriots, Gillette Stadium  

SERVPRO also named the “Official Cleanup and Restoration Company” of Patriots, Stadium 

Boston, Massachusetts, March 29, 2023—New England SERVPRO franchisees are proud to announce SERVPRO has partnered with the New England Patriots to be named the “Official Cleanup and Restoration Sponsor of Gillette Stadium.” A total of 40 individually owned and operated SERVPRO franchises in New England joined to participate in this sponsorship.  

SERVPRO branding will be featured on Gillette Stadium’s new digital videoboard, which is being constructed in the north end of the stadium. The video board, scheduled for completion prior to the 2023 NFL regular season, will be the largest outdoor digital video board in the country and will feature the famous SERVPRO orange logo during events held at Gillette Stadium each year. 

SERVPRO will also present two article series on Patriots.com: Offseason PROfiles introducing new Patriots players, and PRO Predictions which will provide expert predictions for each game during the season.  “Much like it is our honor to bring you the restoration industry’s finest and best, we are eager to help keep Patriots fans up-to-date on their favorite team all year long.” said Jesse Mathewson, director of marketing & business development with SERVPRO. 

“As a national brand and forty locally owned franchises, SERVPRO strives to support our communities and neighbors,” Mathewson said. “We can’t think of any better way to show our New England pride than by joining forces with the Patriots and Gillette Stadium. Our SERVPRO teams can’t wait to see the brand’s colors on this ground-breaking videoboard! Go Patriots!” 

About SERVPRO® 

For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, construction, mold mitigation, biohazard and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 2,000 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small – from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Teeing Off for the Cause(s)

9/23/2022 (Permalink)

Some of our favorite moments from this year's golf tournaments.

Summer has always been one of our busiest seasons here at SERVPRO. Between the increase of seasonal losses, like fire damage and community events we regularly volunteer with, there is never a dull day!

The most common of these community events are charity golf tournaments. This year alone we have sponsored and/or participated in over six tournaments. The Haverhill Firefighters Relief Association tournament kicked off the season at the Bradford Country Club, followed closely by the YMCA of the North Shore’s tournament at Turner Hill Golf Club in Ipswich.

Next up our Key Account Manager Nury Cardoza hit the green to play in the North Shore Chamber of Commerce’s annual tournament at the Ipswich Country Club. A little rain didn’t stop her and other fellow chamber members from having a great day on the course!

 August brought us back to the Bradford Country Club for the Haverhill Police Relief Association tournament to support our brave men and women in blue. We then found ourselves at the Merrimack Valley Golf Club, where the Veterans Northeast Outreach Center held their first annual tournament to raise funds to assist in their mission to give back and support the Veterans within our community.

Finally, we rounded out the year at the Rowley Country Club for the Ascension Memorial Church’s Remembrance Cup. The tournament also benefitted The Open Door in their mission to help fight food insecurity within our community.

It's always great to give back and support so many local organizations that help make our community a better place. We can’t wait to tee off again next year for more worthy causes!

Earth Day 2022

6/14/2022 (Permalink)

A big thank you again to all of our wonderful volunteers!

Here at SERVPRO of Haverhill/Newburyport, green is kind of a big deal. From the literal color, like our trucks and branding, to the figurative meaning, like our eco-friendly products, it’s truly in every part of our business. 

This commitment to green has also extended into our community, most recently with our Earth Day celebration. On Saturday, April 23rd, we joined the Haverhill city-wide Earth Day cleanup, leading a team of volunteers to clean Riverside Park and Athletic Fields. Our all-star team of volunteers consisted of SERVPRO Haverhill employees and their families, members of the Haverhill High School Varsity Wrestling team, members of the Consentino Middle School National Junior Honor Society, as well as kind-hearted members of the community who heard about the event and wanted to join in on giving back to our planet. 

A massive thank you once again to everyone who came out and volunteered their time! The park looked beautiful once we were done and we could not have done it without you! We had a fantastic time at what we are sure will become an annual event. If you missed it, be sure to follow us on Facebook, where we post about any events we will be taking part in as well as advice on what to do if you experience a loss, like fire damage.

  We also did an Earth Day Cleanup down in Danvers with our sister franchise, SERVPRO of Danvers/Ipswich. You can read all about that cleanup on the SERVPRO Danvers blog.

Enjoy Your Stay!

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

With the spring season seeing an uptick in travel, SERVPRO is standing by to support New England hotel and motel owners when it comes to unexpected commercial maintenance issues, which can sometimes result in professional commercial restoration needs. 

Where do these issues come from? 

Well, inclement springtime weather can pose a significant threat via high wind gusts or torrential rainfall.

A simple solution? 

SERVPRO’s Emergency Readiness Profile, which provides commercial property owners with complete access to their critical contact information and shut off locations in a single spot. 

Many of our hotel and motel chain owners find this a very helpful tool when it comes to tracking and preparing against seasonal storms and the damage they can cause.

However, there are other commercial property pitfalls to be aware of, especially when your business hinges on customer satisfaction based on exemplary accommodations. 

Preparation is key, particularly for the hospitality industry. 

Two key preventive priorities for hotel and motel managers should always be their commercial property’s HVAC and plumbing systems, both of which can cause extensive and costly water damage to your building… not to mention business interruptions and maybe even a few bad reviews on popular travel websites. 

While prevention may be better than cure, as the saying goes, it’s practically impossible to prepare for every eventuality. That’s why, your neighborhood SERVPRO team is simply a call away -- eager to deliver commercial services you can count on.

Time to Toss the Tchotchkes

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

So, maybe it’s a silly title but your local SERVPRO team knows that fire safety is nothing to joke about. However, you might be surprised to learn about some odd fire hazards that pose a real threat, despite almost sounding made up. 

Though they look innocent enough, did you know that crystal figurines -- like these guys -- can actually cause a fire in your home. Sure, it’s a rare enough occurrence; however, depending on where these mementos are placed, specifically, within direct sunlight, these items can actually lead to a residential fire. 

Even if you did toss any glass or crystal tchotchkes, your home might still be susceptible to the smoke and flames caused by glass doorknobs, jam jars, and even fishbowls. 

Avoid the need for professional fire restoration service by ensuring that glass or crystal objects are placed well away from windows, where they won’t encounter direct, sustained sunlight.

In the event that a particular item escaped your notice and things became too hot to handle, your SERVPRO of Haverhill / Newburyport team is standing by to provide expert fire restoration for your home.

It’s Springtime: The Season of… Snain?

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

It sounds a little like something out of a Dr. Seuss book, but “snain” is actually a real, albeit unofficial weather term, and one that you’ve likely experienced, especially in New England. 

More commonly referred to as sleet, this mix of rain and snow is often observed during the colder winter months, and, coupled with high winds, can be the culprit behind storm damage leading to slippery roads and downed trees or power lines. 

So, while you won’t necessarily encounter snain in the spring, you might find yourself grappling with graupel. 

In fact, several sites across New England reported the sudden appearance of graupel on Easter Sunday. 

Described as soft hail or snow pellets, graupel is “not uncommon in the spring when there’s cold air aloft and warmer air towards the ground.” 

Commonly confused with hail, you can easily get a grip (quite literally) on the difference between graupel vs. hail. If the graupel pellet easily crumbles in your hand, that’s your first clue that you’re holding graupel and not hail. 

An even better description for graupel comes from a Maine-based radio station, which reported “Easter Sunday saw Dippin’ Dots Falling from the Skies in Maine, Sorta.”

While graupel isn’t tough enough to pack a punch that results in storm damage, your 

SERVPRO servicepro team of Haverhill / Newburyport is always standing by for any other spring storm remediation you might need, following heavy rains or high winds.

The Mother of Floods

4/29/2022 (Permalink)

As we look ahead to May and Mother’s Day, your neighborhood SERVPRO team thinks it’s important to mark the Mother’s Day floods of 2006, which caused unprecedented damage to New Hampshire’s landscape and its communities.

Sure, they weren’t that long ago, but most people have probably already forgotten that 2006 brought historic flooding to NH, which led to an official disaster declaration by former president of the United States, George W. Bush. 

While no one, fortunately, perished in these floods, water damage across the state of New Hampshire exceeded $14 million, with an estimated 600 roads closed and approximately 60 washed away. 

With these statistics, it’s easy to assume that people just didn’t do enough at the time to mitigate the disaster. 

However, Goffstown fire Lieutenant Bill Connor recalls, “It started as a typically rainy weekend. We started getting calls that were giving us a hint that something bigger was happening.”

As we now know, something bigger did happen, of course; however, for the Goffstown Fire Department, the floods came with a small, but significant silver lining: “We now have boats with engines that are made to operate in different conditions than the ones we used to have. We’ve changed our suits that we use for rescue,” according to Connor.  

Sometimes it takes a mother of a flood to shine the light on the need for stronger emergency forces, in the event that our state should ever experience another flood of this magnitude again. 

Should you find yourself dealing with water damage on your property, your local SERVPRO of Haverhill / Newburyport team will show up to save the day, delivering water restoration and water remediation services you can trust.