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Common Causes behind Water Damaged Ceilings in Your Lake Worth, FL Home

Water damaged ceilings are a massive safety risk, as there is a possibility that they could cave in without much warning. Along with this, they also encourage the growth of mold and bacteria, and can often attract pests, like mice and rats. With this in mind, repairing water damaged ceilings in your Lake Worth, FL, home should be at the top of your list of priorities. However, actually finding out the reason why they have been damaged in the first place is an important step, too! These are the main causes behind water damaged ceilings to keep a look-out for:

  • Damaged Roof Gutters 

If your roof gutters have been cracked and are leaking, they will inevitably cause water damage to your ceilings. If they haven’t been cleaned in a while, they may also be overflowing, which can be the reason for the water damage. In short, it may be time to call on an expert to assist with getting them back into good condition!

  • Leaking Roof 

If there are weak spots on your roof, or a few of your roofing tiles have chipped or broken as a result of weather damage, the roof itself might start to leak. Often, this is a gradual process that can go on for a while before any significant water damage is visible (unless the area experiences a lot of rain for an extended period of time). The good news is that repairing a leaking roof is rather simple and cost-effective to do.

  • Burst Pipes 

If there is a bathroom on the second floor of the house, the water damaged ceilings might have been caused by burst pipes or cracks in the floor boards. If a burst pipe is the culprit, it is imperative that you call on a plumber as soon as you can – the problem can get very bad, very quickly!

Here at National Restoration Experts, we specialize in repairing water damaged ceilings in Lake Worth, FL. Our teams have been thoroughly trained in all aspects of repairing water damage to ceilings of all types, including water damage to plaster ceilings. For more information about our services, do not hesitate to give us a call.

Buying a Home in Florida?

Check for Poly-B Plumbing!

Polybutylene is a plastic resin that was used in residential plumbing pipes from 1975 through 1995. Even though it was an inexpensive alternative to copper plumbing, and saved builders hundreds of dollars per home, the pipes caused millions of dollars in damage when they ruptured. Houses became harder to sell with this type of plumbing material, so some builders disguised the polybutylene.

How to Check for Poly-B in Your Home

Here are some ways you can identify Poly-B so that you can avert future problems:

  • Color and Size: The most common colors are blue, gray, silver, or black, with their most common diameters being 1/2” to 1”.
  • Stamping: Generally, they are stamped with “PB2110” and the manufacturer. Manufacturers include Qest and ASTM.
  • Areas Commonly Noticed: You can find the pipes peeking out from walls leading to sinks, showers, tubs, and toilets and near water heaters. On the exterior of the home, look at the water meter and the main water shut-off valve.
  • Additional Warning: If you see copper, aluminum, or brass crimp fittings, it is highly likely that they are attached to polybutylene pipes.

Avoid a watery catastrophe later. These pipes will rupture and cause extensive damage to your floors, walls, and foundation. You may even discover dangerous black mold. When disaster does strike, call a professional leak repair service to replace the plumbing and fix the damage.

If you notice extensive mold infestation, get a professional from National Restoration Experts to visit the site. Call us at 1-800-556-3472 or fill out our online contact form and we will get in touch with you soon.

Why Are Polybutylene Pipes Banned?

From 1975 to 1995, some manufacturers utilized the plastic resin called polybutylene to create the “pipe of the future”. This was meant to replace expensive copper pipes in plumbing. Builders then used polybutylene pipes in the construction of new homes saving quite a bit of money in the building process. It was not long before these pipes failed, causing millions of dollars in damage.

The Importance of Replacing Not Repairing Polybutylene Pipes

When buying a home, many buyers are not concerned with the type of plumbing inside their walls. They know it needs it to work. It is critical, however, to understand why polybutylene pipes are banned in Florida.

  • Failure Is Not a Matter of “If” but “When”: Soon after building contractors started using polybutylene pipes, these pipes deteriorated quickly from exposure to the chlorine in a city’s water supply.
  • Pipe Damage Is Not Always Noticeable from the Outside: It can take 10-15 years for the piping to show signs of breakdown because it deteriorates from the inside out. You can move in and five years later have a deluge in your dining room from pipe breakage in an upstairs bathroom, leaving a potentially dangerous mess from mold spores.
  • Insurance Companies May Drop You: Some homeowner’s insurance policies may refuse coverage for homes that have polybutylene plumbing. You will be stuck with the repair bill instead.

Not all homes with plastic pipes have polybutylene. PEX pipes are plastic pipes that are a good, affordable alternative for plumbing. If a leak occurs, contact a professional in leak repairs to help replace all the plumbing with proper piping and repair water damage, including any mold that accumulates.

Talk to us at National Restoration Experts so we can help you replace banned polybutylene pipes and remove mold in your Florida home. Call us at 1-800-556-3472 or fill out our online contact form and we will get in touch with you soon.

When Hiring Emergency Restoration Services, Check Their Credentials First

When faced with a fire, flood or sewage backup you not only need an emergency restoration service that can reach you immediately but also a qualified one. A botched up remediation job will make a bad situation worse. You could be faced with future repair work costing thousands of dollars. Worse still, you may end up with a badly damaged property that is in danger of collapse.

Don’t hire an emergency restoration service based on how quickly they promise to complete the job. Examine their credentials to ensure they have the necessary qualifications. Check their track record to evaluate their customer satisfaction rate.

Understandably, in an emergency you might not have the time to ask for and check references. A contractor’s license and being insurance-approved are good indications of the level of training and assurance that the company conforms to industry standards. Besides, if your property insurance is likely to cover the cost of the emergency restoration services, you will need to work with an insurance-approved company.

National Restoration Experts is an experienced general contractor with a stellar track record. Property owners across Florida including West Palm Beach, Lake Worth, Wellington, Pompano Beach, Delray Beach and Boca Raton trust our emergency restoration services for cleanup and repair.  We specialize in remediation work and will take care of any kind of damage including:

  • Fire and smoke damage
  • Water damage
  • Storm damage
  • Mold remediation
  • And more

When faced with an emergency, call in the National Restoration Experts. We have a State of Florida license, plus we are bonded and insured.

Call National Restoration Experts at 1-800-556-3472 for reliable emergency restoration services in Florida.

Emergency Restoration Services: We Always Have a Team on Standby 24/7 

National Restoration Experts always has an emergency team on standby 24/7. We will reach you within the hour and begin work immediately. Our vans are also well-stocked with everything we need to avoid any unnecessary delays.

Engaging our emergency restoration service offers the following advantages:

  • Quick turnaround
  • A free, detailed estimate to get you started
  • Latest equipment—we detect hidden damage quickly and work efficiently
  • Skilled work by remediation experts
  • Direct insurance billing
  • Complete customer satisfaction

In an emergency you need professionals you can trust. National Restoration Experts offer the peace of mind that comes from knowing your property is in experienced hands.

Call 1-800-556-3472 now for skilled emergency restoration services by National Restoration Experts in Florida.

How to remove mold safely from your home

Mold can cause a number of illnesses and allergies. Mold in a building poses a serious health risk for the occupants of a building. If there is mold in your home on your property, then investing in mold removal services is a must.

The source of the mold needs to be removed for a long term, sustainable solution. The source, which is often water, needs to be found and fixed or else the mold will re-occur. The mold removal process that will be needed depends on the extend of the area affected, the level of contamination as well as the type of building. Continue reading “How to remove mold safely from your home”