May
4
Lead Paint Removal Requirements For Colorado Contractors
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Thinking of having your house remodeled this summer? One added requirement went into effect April 22nd of this year that may add more to the cost of your remodel. 
The Lead, Renovation, Repair and Paining rule requires all contractors working on home and child occupied facilities built before 1978 to be trained and certified in lead free work practices. In addition to having the training in place with all contractors, you must also keep records that demonstrate compliance with this rule, and provide the results of any testing that occurred. A copy of these results must be given to the home owner or resident within 30 days of invoice or completion of the project.
If you are considering a home remodel, ask your potential contractors for evidence they are certified to handle lead paint removal, and are aware of the new guidelines. Failure to comply can bring problems for both you and the contractor that handled your remodel.
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Feb
27
Mitigation Services Is More Than A Good Cleaning
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“How do I know if I have more than a surface issue? Why can’t I just clean up the damage myself?”
Maybe you’ve faced a fire in your kitchen. Or your pipes have frozen, and your basement stood for several hours with an inch of water.
How do you know when you can do it yourself, and when you should hire a professional?
Jumping online can yield you a ton of different resources. You can read sites on do-it-yourself strategies, and even find a video or two that shows you how to accomplish things on your own.
But is that always the best route to take?
Not always. Even if you are trying to cut costs, there are many hidden costs associated with mitigation services. And hidden problems that may not surface until weeks, even months after the accident.
For example, water standing in your basement can destroy your carpet, padding, and personal belongings. It can seep into the floorboards and the wallboards. If the water finds its way behind the wall, and seeps into different rooms and areas that you miss, you could be at risk for mold.
As a person without mitigation experience, it’s easy to clean just the surface, assuming everything else is fine. But a mitigation service company understands the risks, and can provide a thorough checking and cleaning, repairing everything affected by the damage.
Giving you peace of mind now, and the ability to avoid further costs and headaches down the road.
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Dec
31
Top Ten Restoration and Remodeling Posts for 2009
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As we bring 2009 to a close, and head forward towards 2010, I wanted to share with you our favorite posts here at Paul Davis.
Tips For Recovering From Water Damage
Water damage can be hazardous to your health, and can put your home in danger. When water damage occurs, cleaning it up and getting to the root of the problem as quick as possible is imperative. If treated quickly, you can minimize the damage, prevent the growth of mold and other harmful contaminants, and reduce the amount of restoration needed to be done.
Can I Use Bleach To Kill Mold?
Mold. It’s something we always live with, yet may never give much thought. As long as we clean regularly and avoid water damage, we’ll never have trouble with mold. Right?
Pets and Water Damage
When most people think of water damage, they instantly think of their property. Can your personal items be restored or replaced?
But how does it impact the things most precious to us? How does it impact our pets?
Identifying Molds In Colorado: Are Some Molds More Hazardous Than Others?
Exposure to mold isn’t healthy for anyone. Yet for some people, the risks of mold exposure are increasingly higher.
Denver Water Damage Restoration Tips: Do’s and Don’ts
When you walk into your home or business, and see flooding and signs of water damage, the first instinct is to begin cleaning. As a Denver restoration expert with more than 18 years of experience, we know there are certain things you should do. And certain things you shouldn’t. Here is our list of do’s and don’ts for restoring your area to its originally condition.
Fire Damage Restoration Tips For Your Colorado Home
Colorado is known for its dry climate. And as we come into the dry, hot summer months, many things can make the area we love dangerous and ready for fire.
Remodeling Projects – Top 10 Project Paybacks
If you’re thinking of remodeling your home, what is the best project to undertake that offers the best return on investment when you resell your home?
Aging In Place Design – A Checklist Before You Begin Your Remodel
Are you thinking about remodeling your home, and using an aging in place design concept as your plan? Here’s a checklist to consider before you begin construction. Make sure you hire a quality remodeling contractor that has experience in designing age-in-place floor plans.
Home Interior Design for the Disabled
Since the passing of the American Disabilities Act, industries are becoming more aware of the needs of people with disabilities. While much is said and written about commercial and public interior design, it is more difficult to find information regarding private residences. While having accessibility in commercial locations is highly needed, so to is the ability to have a fully functional home; one where comfort and safety is equal with functionality.
Basement Flood Damage – 10 Things That May Affect Your Home
Whether you have on inch or one foot of water in your basement, proper cleanup is necessary to prevent more problems down the road. Here are 10 things to check as you are cleaning up your basement flood damage.
Dec
18
Kitchen Restoration Services In Colorado
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Have a grease fire while cooking this holiday season?
Or maybe you returned from a trip away for the holidays, only to find Colorado’s latest cold spell froze your pipes, causing your kitchen pipes to burst and flood.
After speaking with your insurance company, the next phone call should be to a reputable kitchen restoration service that can 
help bring your kitchen back up par, maybe even adding a few updated items along the way.
Instead of focusing on the loss, work with your contractor and concentrate on the improvements.
What is your budget? Your insurance company will be paying to restore what was damaged, minus your deductible. Are you able and willing to upgrade during the restoration process? Depending on how old some of your furnishings are in your kitchen, replacement may not be possible with exact duplicates. Which may mean you need to choose new materials. Your contractor can help you choose from a variety of items, and offer you suggestions on quality and durability.
What is your style? If you haven’t thought about upgrading your kitchen, chances are you aren’t aware of the styles and looks that are popular. Don’t rush into anything. Yes, you may be in a hurry to get your kitchen and your life back in order, but you will be living with the results for years. Make sure you plan first, and choose materials that you are willing to live with for many years into the future.
What is realistic? Thanks to the many makeover shows on television these days, it’s easy to expect instant results from a remodel or restoration. In reality, it can take weeks to move through the entire process. Ordering specially cut countertops, finding cabinets that fit your measurements, and gaining required permits can all take time – sometimes longer than expected. The important thing is to keep the communication lines open with your contractor, and understand the process the whole way through.
Nov
21
While no one is ever prepared for an emergency, it’s nice to know there are emergency restoration services available for you, and that are prepared for any type of disaster.
Here in Colorado, we’ve been helping clients for over 40 years recover from a variety of emergencies, big and small. We know it’s not the size of the problem that matters. It’s the ability to recover quickly and 
restore your life to normal as quickly as possible.
Fire
From a small grease fire on the stove that gets out of hand, to a complete loss of a mountain home, we’re here to help restore your home to its original condition. Not only can you sustain damage from the fire itself, but also from the smoke and water used to control the fire. Smoke and fire can seep through walls and floorboards, and penetrate other areas of your home, so it’s important to do a complete search of all possible problems before you begin restoration.
Flood
It doesn’t take a lot of water to sustain water damage. A broken pipe left over night can do quite a bit of damage in your basement. It’s important to find the cause, and follow the damage throughout your home, cleaning up and repairing along the way. It’s also important to watch for other signs of flood damage, such as mold.
Mold
Mold can start out as a tiny problem, and quickly multiply into a major health concern. If you’ve sustained any type of water damage, it’s important to check all affected areas for mold growth as well. Not only is it important to clean the area of all mold residues, but also find and eliminate the source. Mold feeds on water, and can quickly reappear if you don’t eliminate it.
Oct
30
Your basement is flooded. You’ve had a grease fire in your kitchen. Whenever you face disaster, the most important thing is getting back to your normal lifestyle. And 
choosing the right Colorado restoration expert will help you get there quicker.
A restoration expert is someone that not only knows remodeling for repairing your home, but is also equally trained in restoration methods for recovering from the damage that has occurred. Different problems have different needs:
Water damage cannot only penetrate and destroy the things you can see: carpeting, wall board, furniture, drapes, and other personal items; it can also impact things you can’t see, such as mold growth in hard to reach places. A restoration expert knows to look beyond what you can see, and find potentially threatening areas that also need repair.
Fire damage starts out by destroying the immediate items around the fire. It can also penetrate into other parts of your home with both fire and soot, and with odor damage. Smoke has a pungent odor that needs to be completely removed in order to bring your living space back to normal.
When finding a restoration expert, start by asking three questions.
1. What is your experience and knowledge on restoration? What types of clients have you helped in the past?
2. Are you fully licensed and insured?
3. Can I depend on you throughout the project, and have a guarantee on the work that you do?
A reputable Colorado Restoration Expert will answer all your questions before they require money or a contract from you. Be comfortable with your decision before you begin.
[Paul Davis has been helping Coloradoans with restoration services for over 18 years. They can help you restore your home to original condition quickly – give them a call today for your free estimate.]
Oct
16
Home fire restoration can involve a small section of a room, or an entire home. It can be as simple as recovering from a small grease fire on the stove, to a complete loss from a wildfire.
The first step in home fire restoration is assessing the damage. With a complete loss, starting over is the only alternative. But with a smaller fire, make sure you assess all of the damage. Smoke and soot can travel and
penetrate not only the area affected by the fire, but also surrounding rooms. Be sure to assess everything including walls, paint, carpet, upholstery, drapery, clothing and family belongings.
Home fires are classified in different ways. Some are the result of ordinary combustible materials, such as paper, wood and plastics. Combustible liquids such as gasoline or oil cause others. Still others are caused by electrical equipment, including wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Depending on the type of damage determines your next steps.
In all cases, start by contacting your insurance company, and a reputable fire restoration company. Both can help you recover from your loss quickly, and offer you advice on the best way to proceed. For you, fire damage is an isolated experience. For both an insurance company and a fire restoration company, they deal with these types of losses frequently.
From there, concentrate on your personal assets. Remove as many items as possible to save and restore. Start making lists of items that have been destroyed. If you have video, photographs, or journals listing your assets, pull them out for the insurance company. The more proof you have of what was lost in the fire, the easier replacement will be.
Always rely on experts to get you back on your feet again. This is an emotional time for you, and you could miss important steps along the way. Having an expert along side of you to help pick up the pieces can not only save you time and money, but can also help you recover and restore areas you aren’t even aware of.
Oct
1
The first freeze of the season is upon us, reminding us that the warm summer days are gone for another year. If you are looking for a home winterization service to help you get your home or second home ready for the cold 
winter months, here are some tips to keep in mind.
Home winterization is the process of getting a home ready for the cold winter months. In general, the term home winterization typically refers to sealing, draining, wrapping, and adding anti-freeze chemicals to prevent freezing of water, which ultimately causes breakage of pipes.
While some home winterization services are necessary for your home, additional services are needed to protect investment property like rentals and vacation homes, and foreclosures.
Winterization can include:
- Draining water lines
- Draining water heaters
- Turning off water heaters
- Shutting off water supplies
- Insulating pipes and fixtures
- Covering outside faucets and pipes
- Closing fireplace dampers
- Adding anti-freeze
Prevention at the beginning of the season is well worth it to avoid devastation due to a broken pipe.
If proper winterization isn’t performed, water damage can quickly run into the thousands of dollars to repair and correct. Water will continue to flow from a broken pipe indefinitely until the water is turned off at the source, which could be days or weeks on a vacation home or a rental with no one in the home.
[Whether you are looking for a home winterization service, or clean up from a broken pipe, Paul Davis has been helping Coloradoans with restoration services for over 18 years.]
Sep
25
With cold weather and winter just around the corner here in Denver, Colorado, it’s important to start winterizing your home now. Here are 7 tips for winterizing your home.
1. Clean the gutters. Fall brings out the beautiful colors in the trees. But once the leaves fall, they can quickly accumulate in your gutters, clogging the drainage systems. Clogged drains can form pockets of water, which freezes, and slowly seeps water into your home. Hose them out regularly this time of year to prevent blockage.
2. Check for leaks. Over the summer months, sun and hail can cause damage to the outside siding and roof. Seal up any cracks or fix problem areas. Even the smallest crack can turn into a large problem as water and ice form during the cold winter months.
3. Check the furnace. A strong, short lasting smell is common with turning on the furnace for the first time in a season. If the smell lasts for a long time, its time to bring in a professional for checking. Have the furnace cleaned and inspected, changing out furnace filters and checking ductwork.
4.Give ducts a thorough check. While most people think about checking over the furnace at the beginning of the cold season, very few people think about their ventilation system. A home with central heating can lose a significant amount of its heated air before it reaches the ductwork if its not properly connected and insulated. Repairing and fixing gaps, and properly insulating in areas like attics and crawlspaces can have a considerable effect on your overall heating bills this winter.
5. Check for drafts. Windows and doorframes can cause a large amount of heat loss. While replacing old windows is an option, you can start with other measures. Install weather stripping and sweeps. Or affix insulator kits to window frames.
6. Wrap pipes. Especially in older homes that may not be properly insulated, it’s important to protect before a problem occurs. Turn off outdoor water supplies and store garden hoses for the season. Insulate outdoor sprinkler system pipes, and indoor pipes that are along outside, vulnerable walls.
7. Check and update alarms. Make it a regular habit to check out smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Replace batteries and test with a small amount of smoke – don’t rely on a push-button. Also consider replacing your alarm systems if they are 10+ years in age.
Sep
17
The last thing anyone plans for is an in-home disaster. From fire damage to water damage, the most precious thing you’ll need if you find yourself in an emergency situation is to know what to do. Here are some tips for restoring your Denver home back to its original condition.
The first reaction whenever your face water damage is to 
begin cleanup on your own. While there are some things you can do, there are many others you shouldn’t try doing without professional help. As we covered in our Denver Water Damage Restoration Tips: Do’s and Don’ts post, moving area rugs Read more
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