A Music Store Owner's Swan Song...

Owen Ray’s International Music store was the victim of a fire on Monday, but it was water damage that was the final nail in the coffin for the legendary music establishment. 

Fire broke out on the first floor of the Chandler House Monday evening, resulting in severe smoke and water damage and preventing him from being able to re-enter his store to assess the damage until late Wednesday afternoon.   Staff and friends were helping Mr. Ray salvage as much of his stock as possible.  Engineers had been concerned over the structural integrity of the building following the fire.

Mr. Ray and his staff were able to salvage musical instrument, books, and musical records.   The stock was taken to a local warehouse to be examined by insurance assessors. 

Construction crews had braced the roof of the structure to prevent any possible collapse, and fire investigators finished their on scene investigations by Tuesday afternoon.  Officials have yet to list an official cause for the blaze.

Mr. Ray’s scenario is one of the worst that any property owner could imagine.  The damage done by a fire is bad enough, but the water damage that follows, be it the result of a sprinkler system or efforts by firefighters to extinguish the blaze, may result in much more extensive property damage.  In whatever form, water has the potential to do as much, if not more, damage than fire.  Worse yet, water continues to cause damage and wreak havoc until it has been properly remediated.  

Many times, the fire itself may only cause minor damage, but the sprinkler system, if activated, could cause major water damage.  It really does become a darned if you don’t, danged if you do proposition.

Of course the combination of fire, smoke, and water can make for an overwhelming and traumatizing mess, no doubt leaving most property owners wondering if their home or business will ever be the same again.  The cleanup process is also quite a bit beyond the abilities of the average homeowner, no matter how handy they may consider themselves to be.

Water damage restoration is a process consisting of a number of steps, to be taken in a predetermined order, and preferably done right the first time, and it may take a period of days or even weeks to complete correctly.  

In short, there are numerous reasons why property owners would not wish to undertake such a massive project on their own.

Fortunately, there is an answer.  Your local, IICRC certified water damage professionals.  They are in every community, and can handle all aspects of your water or flood damage restoration needs.  From water extraction and drying, to carpet cleaning and mold removal, and structural repair and restoration, they will be able to take care of your water damage problem from start to finish, and all work is guaranteed for one year from date of completion.

Don’t just settle for calling the first listing that pops up on your Google search, or the first one in the Yellow Pages (does anyone actually use phone books anymore?).  Take your time and do your homework, and make sure you are hiring a company that is IICRC certified, licensed, bonded, and insured.  Making the right choice out of the box will save you time, effort, and money.