There! I Fixed It!

We know all you Do-It-Yourself-ers have got some pretty clever tricks up your sleeves...

But before you try to recover from a water/mold/fire damage, why don't you give us a call?

Cayce/West Columbia and Lexington
1831 Pine St.
West Columbia, SC 29170
803-755-9774

Lovely photos brought to you by thereifixedit.com

Sandy Hayden

Composting 101 (You Know You Want To)

What is it?

Composting is when you use the decomposition of plant and other organic remains (like dead leaves, apple cores, and coffee grounds for example) to make a rich, earthy  substance that is perfect for enriching soil.

Why is that awesome?

Composting allows you to recycle your yard and kitchen wastes. You suddenly endow your banana peel with purpose when you compost. It helps reduce the amount of garbage we send to landfills (what should be viewed as a last resort disposal of waste). Not only does composting supply you with a harmless way to dispose of organic materials, it actually fertilizes your soil (ie. guess who will win this year’s neighborhood Best Garden... mmm hmm).

But is it cool to compost?

Yes! Not only do farmers and avid gardeners compost, but skinny jean-wearing, Mac junky, café-loving espresso drinkers are doing it too! So if protecting the earth and having an awesome garden don’t provide enough incentive, just think about how cool you’ll be!

What can compost do?

• Suppress plant diseases and pests


• Reduce or eliminate the need for chemical fertilizers


• Promote higher yields of agricultural crops


• Facilitate reforestation, wetlands restoration, and habitat revitalization efforts by amending contaminated, compacted, and marginal soils


• Cost-effectively remediate soils contaminated by hazardous waste


• Remove solids, oil, grease, and heavy metals from stormwater runoff


• Capture and destroy 99.6% of industrial volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) in contaminated air


• Provide cost savings of at least 50% over conventional soil, water, and air pollution remediation technologies, where applicable

What can compost not do?

• Heal human disease


• Create its own facebook account


• Fly


• Dissolve sheets of metal

How do I do it!? I must know!

There are many different ways to compost. There are several different ways to use bin systems as well as just having a fenced-in (or not) pile in your yard. For a step-by-step article on creating your own compost pile, see here, or watch this helpful video, How to Make Compost courtesy of KitchenGardeners.org.

For a detailed list of what to put in and leave out of compost, please see EPA.gov. You’ll be amazed at what all you can dispose of this way (and some of the things you have to leave out too).

Content Credit: Veg Web Composting, EPA.gov, How to Make Compost.

Image Credit: Dug.org 

Sandy Hayden

Fun Friday: From the Kitchen to the Walls

It's Fun Friday yet again! And this week we're taking it from the kitchen to the walls! With this easy project, you can take discarded spoons and turn them into a rustic wall display.

What you need: three or more spoons, a plank of wood, paint (optional), strong glue (gorilla glue for example), and tea light candles.

Begin by painting the wood if you like. If this display is going outside or on a porch, I recommend applying a protective coat as well. Heat the spoons in order to bend them at the neck. If warming them with your hands is not enough for bending, try boiling the spoons. Bend and let cool. Apply glue to the neck of the spoons, place on the wooden plank and apply pressure until they dry (I like using encyclopedias for weight). After hanging, place a tea light in each spoon and light. And last but not least, enjoy the new rustic ambiance in your home!

Photo Credit: http://coisinhasoutras.blogspot.com/

Sandy Hayden

What We're Up To

We're working on our office addition! Check out the progress we've made!

Sandy Hayden

The Right Stuff

Yesterday we talked about mold cleanup and the overwhelming importance of calling a professional. This is mainly because professional equipment does far more extensive cleanup than is possible with household products. We understand that our equipment makes a measurable difference in reducing claims loss expense. When time matters, the right technology and equipment are vital. So not only do we answer your call with fast action and trained, uniformed personnel, but also with the right equipment for the job!

When it comes to fire damage, we train our teams thorougly. For instance, knowing the different types of smoke and their behavior patterns are vital to proper restoration.

Wet Smoke -- Plastics and Synthetics; Low heat, smoldering, pungent odor, sticky, smeary.
Dry Smoke -- Paper and Wood; Fast burning, high temperatures, dry, powdery, nonsmeary residues.
Protein -- Virtually invisible, discolors paints and varnishes, extreme pungent odor.
Fuel Oil Soot -- Furnace Puff Backs
Other Types -- Tear gas, fingerprint powder and fire extinguisher residue.

Pretesting determines the proper cleaning method and allows us to focus on saving your precious items (what really matters).

Two amazing pieces of deodorization equipment include ultra low volume (ULV) foggers and thermal foggers. ULV foggers will atomize liquid deodorizing agents, producing a fine mist that easily penetrates sites where odor-causing residues accumulate. The device can also be used to apply fungicides and disinfectants. Thermal foggers dispense solvent-based products in large volume, dense fogs suitable for confined areas. The fog consists of tiny particles of deodorant solution that pair with and neutralize odor-causing particles.

We've got the right stuff.

Sandy Hayden

Mold Cleanup 101: Say No to Bleach

It's pretty common knowledge that if you're doing mold cleanup around the house that your weapon of choice should be bleach. As is the way with much common knowledge, this factoid is completely false. While using bleach as an antimicrobial is a nice thought, the truth is that bleach doesn't actually kill mold. Not only is mold caustic (it is capable of burning living tissue -- aka. your skin), but when mixed with the right stuff it can actually be toxic. According to HowToCleanThings.com, "you'd do better simply licking the mold away." This website suggests doing minor cleanups with vinegar, which kills mold and disinfects. An even better (and more expensive) option is also tea tree oil.

Something very important to keep in mind, though, is that when you see a little bit of mold in your home, it's likely that there is a lot you can't see. That's where we come in. The most important aspect of mold removal is to remove the water source, something that we're, well, experts at. Mold in your home can jeopardize your health, so step 1: Don't ignore it. Step 2: Don't use bleach. Step 3: Give SERVPRO a call.

Photo Credit: http://i-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/uimages/re-nest/no-bleach.jpg

Sandy Hayden

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

"Like it never even happened" is more than our slogan for our commitment to restore your home or business, it is also our hope for the future of breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which we take seriously as with more awareness comes more individuals taking their health seriously, more people donating and becoming activists toward the cause, and more people searching for a cure.

What can you expect from us this month? Every morning at 9:05 we will be tweeting about breast cancer, providing you with more information on the cancer, recent articles, and opportunities for you to help. The last week of October we will feature articles on our blog about breast cancer every day, including an interview with a local who became part of a group of women to be diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of 30. So keep your eyes on the blog and follow us on twitter. Here's to hope.

Photo Credit: http://www-cancer.us/breast-cancer-walk/

Sandy Hayden