Four Ways a Commercial Damage Restoration Project Differs from a Residential Project

3/14/2022 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: SERVPRO of Media highlights four key factors that make commercial restoration different from residential restoration.

SERVPRO of Media, PA, provides both residential and commercial damage restoration and restoration services. In many ways, property damage restoration in these two venues is similar. A home and a commercial setting such as a professional office, retail outlet, or manufacturing facility both require:

• A reputable property damage restoration company that is bonded, licensed and insured
• A rapid response
• Immediate scalability to meet the challenge of an expanding disaster scene
• An inspection, assessment, and industry-standard estimate with detailed documentation of damages
• Competent, quality-conscious technicians who are trained, certified and experienced in a broad spectrum of property damage restoration services
• Compassionate, conscientious, and caring staff
• A culture of professionalism
• Advanced, industrial-grade equipment to meet any restoration challenge
• Cutting-edge technology for moisture detection, mold mitigation, biohazard cleanup, document, and artwork restoration, and electronics restoration
• Safety protocols and PPG (Personal Protective Gear)
• Advanced cleaning techniques and safe cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing products
• Validation of services and industry-standard reporting apparatus for insurance and regulatory purposes

These factors are crucial for any residential or commercial venue and for any disaster type.

Commercial Restoration and Residential Restoration Compared

Commercial and residential property damage disasters share many non-negotiable requirements, as mentioned above. However, some distinct differences do exist. These differences factor into the decision-making process when choosing a restoration company to restore property damage at a commercial facility in Newtown Square, PA.

1. The scope of the restoration project

One difference between a commercial damage cleanup and restoration and a residential project is the square footage of the disaster. The scope of a residential restoration is usually smaller than that of a commercial facility. A typical home might total a few thousand square feet under the roof; a full basement can double this total. In contrast, a four-story office complex might encompass 5,000 square feet per floor. A weekend fire sprinkler failure on the top floor might infiltrate all four floors and the basement loading and storage area.

A commercial restoration company must have the expertise, appropriate equipment, and adequate manpower to rapidly mitigate the water damage before advanced secondary damage further complicates the water removal, dehumidification, cleanup, and restoration process. The choice to use a cleanup and restoration company only accustomed to small-scale residential projects could be a disastrous decision!

2. Stringent regulations and restrictions

The regulations and restrictions that apply to some commercial settings complicate the cleanup and restoration process. A medical facility cleanup may call for special personal protective equipment, while a daycare facility may require strict sanitation. A food packaging plant such as a commercial bakery requires meticulous attention to detail to ensure a safe and healthy environment. These settings demand the services of restoration technicians who possess expertise, skill, and appropriate training.

3. Sophisticated and expensive equipment

The residential setting will have its share of appliances, electronics, and equipment such as a microwave oven, home theater, and an all-in-one printer. A commercial environment might have sophisticated machinery, several 3-D printers, and a bank of computers valued at millions of dollars. When appliances and equipment are damaged in the home, often it is more cost-effective to discard the damaged items and purchase replacements. In the commercial setting, the cleanup and restoration, though costly, might be only a fraction of replacement costs for some of the damaged equipment. The removal, restoration, and re-installation of the equipment require knowledge and meticulous care.

In many instances, the location and positioning of machines, equipment, workstations, cubicles, testing centers, open spaces, and the copy center are configured to accommodate manufacturing processes, facilitate workflow efficiencies, enhance safety, and channel traffic within the commercial structure. Disruption of the flow of products, information, or client services can be very costly to a manufacturing unit, professional office, or medical clinic. The damage restoration company that takes on a commercial project must pay close attention to details.

4. Complex ventilation systems

Commercial ventilation systems carry a heavy load and are more complex than the typical residential HVAC system. The health and safety of dozens or hundreds of employees, customers, clients, students, or patients depend on the successful cleaning and restoration of the ventilation system in a commercial facility. Chemicals and contaminants must be removed to ensure proper air quality after fire and smoke damage, water damage, or a biohazard incident.

SERVPRO of Media has the equipment, highly trained and experienced technicians, knowledgeable support staff, and the skills and knowledge base of over 1700 other SERVPRO franchises around the country. The professionals at SERVPRO can handle the small-scale residential property damage disaster and the complex, large-scale commercial property damage disaster that requires the rapid, multi-front deployment of local or regional SERVPRO franchises.

Operations managers, facility specialists, property management companies, and homeowners are advised to pre-qualify a competent, capable, caring property damage cleanup and restoration company that can handle any size or type of disaster, 24/7, 365 days a year with a rapid response.

For more information about commercial damage cleanup, contact SERVPRO of Media by phone at (610) 566-5720 or by email at office@SERVPROmedia.com