Kowalski Construction faced an extraordinary task in one of its recent projects. After a large fire ravaged one of Arizona’s largest malls, one-third of the shopping center was affected with heavy smoke and water damage. As one of the area’s only construction companies qualified to handle a job of this magnitude, they were asked to perform restoration services, but with a twist. Managers wanted to keep the mall open for business.

The oldest and most complex of the restoration disciplines, fire remediation work requires an understanding of how fire and combustion residues behave to effectively neutralize and return a structure to a livable state. Cole Stanton explores four fundamental chemistry subsets of fire damage and how each can impact restoration work.

Within a matter of minutes, fires of any size can wreak havoc on large retail businesses. Whether it is a clothing store, a grocery chain, a gym, a theater, a large restaurant, or any other large retail setting, fires damage merchandise, equipment, seating, decor, and the structure of the building. 

Rainbow International Restoration of South Central Iowa has been in business since 2009. Throughout that time, the local franchise has become a trusted resource to its midwestern community that is made up of more cornfields and farms than it is planned communities and town squares. 

One of the most misunderstood and underappreciated products in the paint and coatings market is a primer. What a primer is designed to do and what is expected of it can be a topic for discussion for homeowners/customers and contractors alike.

Any size fire is enough to interrupt operations at an educational facility. It’s how to recover from the fire in a timely fashion that often proves to be challenging.

Treating contents has always been, and always will be, a necessary component in the restoration industry. Unless a home or business is completely empty when damaged, there will be a variety of items that need attention.