How Fast Can My Restaurant Reopen After Water Damage?

7/30/2020 (Permalink)

We understand the importance of getting back to business as usual. We will have you back up and running in no time at all.

SERVPRO technicians have the knowledge and equipment to get your Bridgewater eatery reopened quickly after a water loss incident.

When you have a business that relies on foot traffic for the on-going success of your company, something like a supply line break or other plumbing issues can derail your business until the water gets removed. This is a situation you should hand off to a professional restoration services company in Bridgewater, to ensure that your restaurant gets cleaned, dried, and sanitized to meet health department standards for food prep so you can reopen without issue. 

Does My Restaurant Need to Have Everything Moved Out to For Commercial Water Cleanup?

SERVPRO techs have extensive training for commercial water cleanup in Bridgewater properties and try to limit the disruption to the contents of the property as much as possible during mitigation. Drying in place actions include:   

• Placing tables on blocks and moving out chairs during extraction and drying
• Removal of food prep equipment out of the loss area for deep cleaning
• Use of sanitizing cleaners to ensure no bacteria gets left behind

In cases of extreme loss, the techs may need to perform a pack out to mitigation the loss. With their Contents Claim Inventory System (CCIS), the techs catalog and document each item as to its condition and location within the restaurant, so when the restoration services complete, the things get put back in place. 

Why Does My Business Need to Close During Water Loss Mitigation? 

In a business that the public frequents, the people entering your restaurant expect the property to be safe. A wet floor can leave your patrons at risk of slip and fall accidents. Bacteria may be present, and if the water contains sewage or solid waste, it is dangerous to come into contact with or aspirate. The techs have protective clothing that allows them to extract the water and dispose of loss items safely. They also have the testing equipment to determine any pathogens or bacteria that are present, so the appropriate cleaning agents get chosen to eliminate them. 

Common Damages Seen in Commercial Properties  

Flooring by far gets the brunt of water loss, and glue-down tile and carpet fare the worst as when exposed to excessive moisture, they delaminate and allow seepage into the substrate below. Composite flooring tends to deteriorate upon exposure and, in most situations, is a loss.

When moisture gets left behind, it can cause foul odors and, in some cases, mold growth. When cleaning a restaurant, the techs pay special attention to areas of excessive moisture, as found through the use of their detection equipment to ensure that nothing gets left behind.   

Sheetrock wicks water rapidly upon exposure, and when that happens, the result is to buckle or warp. When this occurs, the techs use their moisture detection equipment to determine if the water is behind walls or under flooring, so nothing gets removed that does not need it. This controlled demolition limits the number of building materials that get disposed of so the property owner does not end up replacing an entire wall when only the bottom portion of the sheetrock got affected by the water loss. 

The techs set up a cleaning station to handle any contents that require cleaning for reuse. Immersion cleaning is the most common method. 

Drying and Disinfection are Pivotal to a Rapid Reopening  

The drying process is more than setting up fans and hoping for the best. SERVPRO techs use their equipment to monitor the process carefully and assure that preset drying goals get attained. They take air measurements during the process to determine if additional air movers and dehumidifiers are necessary to stay on track.   

Once the site is confirmed as dry, the techs wipe down the tables, and loss area to sanitize surfaces and ready the property for any needed repairs. SERVPRO has rolled out our unique program--Certified: SERVPRO Cleaned--to provide exceptional applications of disinfectants. In cases where the water loss included sewage, such as a toilet backup, the restaurant may require odor control measures. Frequently turned to include:   

• Time-release gel pellets for on-going scent control 
• Thermal fogging which neutralizes surface and embedded odors
• Hydroxyl generators which work to eradicate airborne particulate 

In many situations, the techs rely on multiple applications for odor control. They may use all three methods or a combination to ensure the property has no residual scents lingering behind once the mitigation efforts complete.

When your property needs commercial water cleanup, contact SERVPRO of Bridgewater at (908) 222-2020. The certified technicians have extensive training in the safe handling and restoration from any size water loss problem.