Restoration logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Restoration logo
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products & Technologies
    • Submit Your Product
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
  • EDUCATION
    • KnowHow.
    • Podcasts
    • Trade Shows & Expos
    • Training & Certification
    • Webinars
    • Whitepapers
  • TOPICS
    • Water Damage
    • Fire & Smoke Damage
    • Mold
    • Contamination
    • Odor
    • Contents
    • Architecture
    • Catastrophe
    • Cleaning
  • BUSINESS
    • Managing Your Business
    • Insurance/Legal Matters
  • BUYER'S GUIDE
  • VIDEOS
    • Ask Annissa
    • Ask the Expert
    • Ironclad Marketing Minute
    • TradeTalks
    • Video Channel
  • INFOCENTER
    • Mold and Mycotoxins
  • THE EXPERIENCE
    • Conference & Exhibition
    • Convention & Trade Show
    • R&R Special Issue
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archive Issues
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
Catastrophe Restoration

Case Study

Working with Community Associations during a Pandemic

By Michelle Blevins
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community

Photo credit: Paul Davis of Greater St. Paul and Minneapolis

fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
fire damage restoration at a senior living association community
May 3, 2021

Last year, Paul Davis of Greater St. Paul and Minneapolis worked on a major fire damage restoration project for a senior living (age 55+) condominium association community. In addition to the regular challenges of a large loss fire job – from mitigation through reconstruction - the project presented additional difficulties posed by COVID-19, as the residents were considered high risk.

Initially, the association managers brought in a different restoration company. When the results weren’t entirely positive, the association board of directors brought in Paul Davis based on another recommendation. Via Zoom, Paul Davis presented a plan and was immediately chosen to take over the job. 


Scope of Work

The fire sparked on the 11th floor when a resident placed a baseball cap on a light stand. Hoarding conditions accelerated the fire’s spread, affecting nearly the entire 17-story building.

“The unit where the fire originated acted as a fuel source as the areas were densely packed with furniture which allowed for rapid acceleration of the fire,” explained Andy Banas, the senior project manager on the job.

Efforts by the fire department resulted in water damage from the 11th floor to the basement, due to outdated construction features in the 40-year-old building.

“The building, composed of post-tension concrete slabs, had many shafts and plumbing stacks that allowed water to easily transfer the soot-contaminated water all the way down the building to the basement level,” Banas said. 

As a result, more than 80 of the 230 units in the building units experienced water and/or smoke damage. Thirty of those 80 residents were displaced anywhere from two to six months during the restoration process. 


COVID-19 & Civil Unrest

One of the most important considerations on this job was working with a community of high-risk seniors during a pandemic. This made adequate PPE even more critical for the numerous workers needed to complete the demolition and decontamination phase. 

On average, the onsite team used 300 to 400 N95 masks per month, five boxes of gloves per day, and a large quantities of Tyvek suits. 

In addition to COVID-19, this building was in close proximity to civil unrest happening in the Twin Cities, which added to anxiety levels for everyone involved.

Protecting the health and safety of their team members and the seniors living there was a top priority.


Handling the Contents

Once selected to take over the job, Paul Davis mobilized immediately not just for remediation, but also for contents cleaning. This meant taking over one of the elevators during working hours, as the building lacked a freight elevator. A Paul Davis employee acted as an elevator operator, using radios to pick up crews and items on affected floors throughout the day. 

Banas said all the contents were moved offsite, to the Paul Davis warehouse, for cleaning and restoration due to “the immense level of damage and reconstruction work necessary in the units with contents damage.”


Concurrent Planning & Production

“The biggest challenge on the job was to maintain progress and get homeowners closer to returning home, while efficiently handling project estimating, claims settling, and project management functions of scheduling, managing trades, and managing budgets,” Banas explained. “Due to the extreme level of damage throughout the common areas and impacted units, the project needed to get underway immediately without taking the time to operate as one might with a normal claim.”

This meant the Paul Davis team was in the planning and production phase at the same time, rather than in sequential order. They used an onsite project management team, housed in a construction trailer on the property, and made sure the team had clearly established roles in production, management, and communication. 


The Goal & Outcome

The Paul Davis team set the aggressive goal of completing this $2+ million project within six months, and they did it. 

“All this was top of mind when the Paul Davis team gave their everything at this property to deliver the extraordinary care the customers so desperately need," Banas said. “As the result of the success of this project, we have been hired to do a complete remodel of the lobby and the basement common areas which include fitness rooms, locker rooms and community room." 

As a thank you to the association and residents, Paul Davis is hosting a catered open house at the property on the one-year anniversary of the fire. This will be both a thank you to the residents and association for working so closely with Paul Davis to ensure the project was a success, as well as give the Paul Davis team a chance to connect with those they served and help.

KEYWORDS: case study COVID-19 deodorization infectious disease control smoke cleanup structural drying

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Michelle blevins headshot 200px

Michelle Blevins is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation. From April 2015 through July 2021, Michelle oversaw all of the editorial content and focused on multimedia efforts for the brand.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
To unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • mold remediation

    Fighting Mold and Bacteria Damage

    Successful mold remediation can be multidisciplinary,...
    Mold Remediation
    By: Josh Woolen
  • certifications and licenses for restoration professionals

    Certifications and Licenses Every Restoration Company Needs

    Restoration companies need to make sure they have the...
    Restoration Training/Education
    By: Sharon Elzarat
  • a wall covered in moss and fungus

    Zero Tolerance for Toxic Molds: Essential Steps for Successful Remediation

    Understanding the importance of zero tolerance for toxic...
    Mold Remediation
    By: Michael A. Pinto CSP, SMS, CMP, RTPE, FLS, ERS and Kendra Seymour
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Popular Stories

Pop Art Female Superhero Punches a Masked Villain

TPAs vs. Independence: The Restoration Industry’s Own Version of the Cola Wars

RIA Carrier Advocate Mark Springer

Turning the Page: A New Era of Trust and Collaboration in Restoration

particle count hands-on demonstration of a HEPA filter

The Truth About HEPA Filters

Submit Your New Product/Technology to R&R!

Would you like to promote a new restoration, remediation or cleaning product/technology with Restoration & Remediation? Fill out the question below to start your submission:

Events

September 3, 2025

The Experience Convention and Trade Show

The Experience Convention & Trade Show logoJoin us in Las Vegas for The Experience Convention & Trade Show, the leading event for cleaning, restoration, and remediation pros, packed with hands-on demos, expert speakers, and high-impact networking. Happening September 3–5, 2025 at Caesars Forum—this is where the industry comes to learn, connect, and grow!

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Doffing PPE

When you are doffing your PPE, do you sanitize between every step?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary

The Cleaning, Restoration, Inspection, and Safety Glossary.

See More Products
Prepare for CATASTROPHE with R&R!

Related Articles

  • Industry News

    Industry Associations Team Up with CIRI to Provide Science-Based Research on COVID-19, Pandemic Preparedness, Disinfection and Measurement

    See More
  • Photos courtesy of Jarvis Property Restoration.

    Handling Critical Elements during Large Loss Restoration

    See More
  • annissa corona nos

    Ask Annissa: 5 Things to NOT Do during the Coronavirus Pandemic

    See More
×

Stay ahead of the curve with our eNewsletters.

Get the latest industry updates tailored your way.

JOIN TODAY!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Submit a Press Release
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Reprints
    • Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing