How To Store Your Rugs The Right Way

When you are having any work done in your home or are moving, prevent damage from happening to your area rugs and store them the right way. I was called by a client in Larchmont that stored her rug in her unfinished basement while construction was being completed on her home. While her intentions were good, her actions created a bigger problem. The rug had a mold problem and large crease marks in it. So if you need to store your rug, do it the right way, and follow the simple steps below to keep your rug in its best possible condition.

 - Never store your rug when its dirty. Have your rug professionally cleaned before it is stored. A quality carpet cleaner, such as myself (shameless plug, I know) can pick up, clean and store your rug, eliminating the hassle all together.
 - Never store a wet rug. Even if the rug is damp, it can lead to mold growth. Other problems include cracking and de-lamination of the backing of the rug. These types of restorations can be costly.
 - Never fold your area rug. Folding you rug will lead to annoying creases and ugly wrinkles and can potentially damage the backing of the rug. The proper way to store your rug is by rolling it around an acid-free cardboard tube.
 - Never store your rug in a room that isnt climate controlled. Basements and attics are not good places to store your area rugs. Basements are typically damp and have the potential for water infiltration. Attics are typically too dry with little air flow. Store your rugs in a cool, dry room with climate control, so it wont get too hot or too dry.
 - Never store your rug on the floor. If the room ever gets flooded so will your rug.
 - Never store your rug in direct sunlight. Sunlight will fade your rug and the cost to fix the problem can be very steep.
 - Never wrap your rug in materials that have acidic properties. When you wrap your rug, it should be in acid-free paper or fabric that does not contain inks or dyes. We recommend using "TYVEK" building paper or Muslin, tucking the ends of the fabric or paper into the edges of the rolled carpet. Dont use any sticky tapes directly on the rug. They will leave residues and attract dirt.

These do's and dont's are important to follow to prevent damage from occurring to your rugs. But to eliminate the hassle and headache of wrapping and storing your rug all together, just call a professional, quality carpet cleaner. We will pick up, clean, properly roll, wrap, store, and even deliver your rug to you when you are ready. So to properly store your rug and keep it in its best possible condition, follow the simple steps above, or just call me!

MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT
MICHAEL BOWERMAN CARPET CLEANING, INC & BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC

Cold Weather Reminder for Westchester County

I just want to remind everyone out there in Westchester County, NY and those in the tri-state area that the weather is changing tonight! The temperature is expected to dip down to about 18 degrees by midnight and then continue to drop thru the early morning, possibly getting as low as 12 degrees! When the weather gets this cold, I always get phone calls from clients with water in their home due to burst pipes. Remember to shut off all of your outdoor water faucets and sources, making sure that there is no remaining water in the pipes. Sprinkler systems and outdoor faucets that are not prepared properly for the freezing temperatures can absolutely burst. These lines must be "bled", which basically means removing the remaining water in the pipes after the main shut-off valve is turned off. Even if there is only a little bit of water in these pipes, they can burst when the temperature drops below freezing. Water expands when it freezes, thus causing pipes to crack, break and burst. Also remember that on days like this, when it is very cold and very windy, check the areas that surround your home. If you see any hanging branches that are lurking dangerously close to your roof, gutters, or windows, call a professional company to have them removed. Many times, it only takes one strong gust of wind to break branches from the trees near our homes. If the branches are big enough, they can leave massive damage in their wake; holes in roofs, shattering windows, or ripping off gutters. Even small branches and leaves that get blown about in windy weather can clog up gutters. You might not even realize that your gutters are clogged until the next rain storm, when water starts seeping into your house because the gutters cant carry it away. Being vigilant about keeping your home safe and periodically checking gutters, trees, and the foundation of your house can prevent a high priced remediation and reconstruction job. Stay warm this winter but most importantly, stay safe. If you do find that your having a problem with water, mold, smoke, soot, fire or sewage, and you live in the Westchester County area, give us a call. We have proudly serviced Scarsdale, Larchmont, New Rochelle, Ardsley, Bedford, Mamaroneck, Chappaqua, Purchase, Rye, Eastchester, Bronxville, White Plains, Yonkers, Tuckahoe, NYC, and Connecticut. We answer your emergency calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT

BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC - EXPERTS IN DISASTER RECOVERY
STORM, WATER, FLOOD, MOLD, SEWAGE, FIRE, SMOKE & SOOT REMEDIATION
17 JEAN LANE, HARTSDALE, NY 10530

WEB:   http://www.bowermanrestoration.com/
E-MAIL:   michael@bowermanrestoration.com
CELL:   914-804-5737
OFFICE:   914-674-1499
TOLL FREE:   800-638-4799

Cleaning Up Sewage In Larchmont, NY

So the latest job we have on our hands (no pun intended) is a sewage job in Larchmont, NY. I really empathize with these clients. They had a beautifully finished basement, with new carpeting, a fireplace, etc. This year they decided to put their Christmas tree down there and like any busy family, after they opened gifts, several of these items were left under the tree till they had the time to put everything away. Unfortunately, there was a sewage backup on Dec. 26 during the night. I really felt so bad because they have young kids and there were some items that got contaminated and could not be salvaged. Aside from the fact that their finished basement was damaged. I'm really trying to get this job done right, but I want it done in a timely manner so that this just becomes a very distant memory for this family. I guess we will be working some serious overtime to move this job along. Sewage jobs are pretty bad but someone has to do it. If you ever have a sewage problem in your home or business, give us a call. Bowerman Restoration proudly services Scarsdale, Larchmont, New Rochelle, White Plains, Chappaqua, Rye, Bedford, Yonkers, and all of Westchester County, NYC and Connecticut.


MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT
BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC - EXPERTS IN DISASTER RECOVERY

Restoring Damaged Rugs

When it comes to a disaster, there is a list of to-do's that can be a mile long. One of the things that we specialize in, is restoring damaged rugs, such as Orientals, antiques, and heirloom rugs. When your home gets flooded, has a sewage leak, fire, or soot damage and your cherished rug gets caught in the mix, many times we can salvage, if not restore your rug. In certain cases, such as a fire, if a rug becomes so badly damaged that it costs more to fix than the actual value of the rug, than I would typically reccomend not bothering. But let's say there is only a small part of the rug that was damaged, then of course I would tell the client to do the repair. Many times, when a basement gets flooded, and it has wall-to-wall carpeting, we can remove the excess water and dry out the space so that we can eventually clean the carpets. But if you have a flood and the water has sat for over 72 hours, it is no longer considered "salvageable" by most industry standards. Usually we would reccomend removing both the carpet and padding underneath it to prevent any chances of mold growth. There are so many things that can damage rugs and carpeting; holes, ripped fringe, insect damage, flooding, burns, soot, and wear and tear in general. When you need an honest opinion and an honest estimate, give us a call. We have been proudly servicing all areas of Westchester County including, Scarsdale, Larchmont, Rye, Bedford, Chappaqua, New Rochelle, as well as NYC and Connecticut for generations.

MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT
BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC & MICHAEL BOWERMAN CARPET CLEANING, INC.
17 JEAN LANE, HARTSDALE, NY 10530

WEB:   http://www.bowermanrestoration.com/
WEB:   http://www.bowermancarpetcleaning.com/
E-MAIL:   michael@bowermanrestoration.com
CELL:   914-804-5737
OFFICE:   914-674-1499
TOLL FREE:   800-638-4799

Before You Light That Match!

During the cold weather months, many of us enjoy sitting by the fireplace with a blazing fire burning. But I would like to remind everyone how important it is to use your fireplaces and wood burning stoves with safety as your first priority. Make sure you have these items inspected, maintained and repaired as often as neccessary. I receive plenty of calls during the fall and winter months from home owners with fireplace related mishaps. Aside from the obvious danger of something in your home catching fire, soot and smoke damage are just as dangerous and disasterous. I had a call just 2 weeks ago from a client in Scarsdale, NY who forgot to adjust the flue in their fireplace. They started a fire, walked out of the room to attend to something else but began to smell and see smoke. Thankfully, there wasnt any fire damage, but their entire living room as well as the rest of their first floor rooms were smoke and soot damaged. The living room was the worst but the smell of smoke traveled throughout the rest of the home through their central heating/cooling system. Smoke and soot damage can be devestating and it can get very costly to remediate. So take my advice please, and use precaution when using a fireplace or wood burning stove.

MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT
BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC - EXPERTS IN DISASTER RECOVERY
STORM, WATER, FLOOD, MOLD, SEWAGE, FIRE, SMOKE & SOOT REMEDIATION
17 JEAN LANE, HARTSDALE, NY 10530
CELL: 914-804-5737

Winter Weather Brings Water Main Breaks and Sprinkler Pipe Bursts

One of the most common calls we recieve during the cold weather months are from clients with burst pipes and sprinkler systems. A very important maintanace tip I  like to relay to my clients is to remember to have your outside water sources, like sprinkler systems and garden taps, flushed, drained, and/or shut off. If these water sources are not maintained properly and prepared for the freezing tempuratures, they can become a disaster waiting to happen. If outside water lines, like sprinkler systems, are not drained, when the temperatures drop below freezing, the pipes can burst. If the pipe or line does burst and enough water flow is present, it will saturate the ground and continue to move to the lowest point on the property. Most of these systems are usually located next to or near the foundations of houses which can cause flooding in basements or even first floors. Keep your home safe during the cold weather months with simple preparation and proper maintenance.

MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT

BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC - EXPERTS IN DISASTER RECOVERY
STORM, WATER, FLOOD, MOLD, SEWAGE, FIRE, SMOKE & SOOT REMEDIATION
17 JEAN LANE, HARTSDALE, NY 10530

WEB:   http://www.bowermanrestoration.com/
E-MAIL:   michael@bowermanrestoration.com
CELL:   914-804-5737
OFFICE:   914-674-1499
TOLL FREE:   800-638-4799

Keeping Your Home Disaster-Free During The Holiday Season

Although this time of year is my favorite, I want to remind everyone that floods, fires and other house-related disasters do not discriminate, even during the holidays. Keep your home safe during this season. We tend to overlook overloaded circuits, or feel that a leaky roof can wait till the season is over. But these are exactly the types of issues that lead to most household mishaps. If you have a sump pump, be sure it has a dedicated electrical line and never, ever assume that just because the forecast isnt predicting rain, that your sump pump can take a little vacation. If you simply check the heating/cooling systems, water heaters, boilers, etc. on a regular basis, as well as keeping up-to-date on their maintenence, you can avoid having a nasty disaster in your home. Prevention is your best defense. Fireplaces are another source of trouble during the holidays. Keeping them clean and up-to-date on their regular maintenence is the best way to prevent a soot, smoke, or fire-related disaster. Keep your home, and most importantly, your family, safe during the holiday season. Happy Holidays!

MICHAEL BOWERMAN - PRESIDENT

BOWERMAN RESTORATION LLC - EXPERTS IN DISASTER RECOVERY
STORM, WATER, FLOOD, MOLD, SEWAGE, FIRE, SMOKE & SOOT REMEDIATION
17 JEAN LANE, HARTSDALE, NY 10530

WEB:   http://www.bowermanrestoration.com/
E-MAIL:   michael@bowermanrestoration.com
CELL:   914-804-5737
OFFICE:   914-674-1499
TOLL FREE:   800-638-4799